My Houzz: Color and Vintage Style Jazz Up Tradition in Chicago
Orange walls and one-of-a-kind artwork enliven a small fixer-upper for a couple in Chicago's Hyde Park
First-time homeowners Susie and Mat Daly welcomed the challenge of an early-1900s fixer-upper in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago. The challenge was natural for the couple, who are both rooted in creative endeavors. Mat is an artist; Susie is cofounder and director of Renegade Craft Fair, an annual curated marketplace attended by more than 250,000 people that's committed to showcasing work by indie artists and makers from around the world.
But when the couple started their home search, they found that most units were being built faster than they were being sold. The style of the homes they toured — spec homes filled mostly with granite countertops and cherry cabinets — was nice, but it felt too impersonal. They wanted a space with a little more history and character, something that could provide an opportunity for them to add their own creative touches. They found a unit in a multifamily building with rich wood, high ceilings and plenty of light. After adding some blazing orange paint and brightening up some details, they finally felt right at home in the neighborhood.
"It’s such a beautiful part of the city, located right on Lake Michigan. The architecture is beautiful; there are so many parks and tree-lined streets," Susie says. "It’s kind of a little city within the larger city of Chicago. I love taking walks along the lake, through the Zen garden and down the quaint streets."
Houzz at Glance
Who lives here: Susie and Mat Daly and their dog, Che
Location: Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago
Size: 850 square feet; 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
But when the couple started their home search, they found that most units were being built faster than they were being sold. The style of the homes they toured — spec homes filled mostly with granite countertops and cherry cabinets — was nice, but it felt too impersonal. They wanted a space with a little more history and character, something that could provide an opportunity for them to add their own creative touches. They found a unit in a multifamily building with rich wood, high ceilings and plenty of light. After adding some blazing orange paint and brightening up some details, they finally felt right at home in the neighborhood.
"It’s such a beautiful part of the city, located right on Lake Michigan. The architecture is beautiful; there are so many parks and tree-lined streets," Susie says. "It’s kind of a little city within the larger city of Chicago. I love taking walks along the lake, through the Zen garden and down the quaint streets."
Houzz at Glance
Who lives here: Susie and Mat Daly and their dog, Che
Location: Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago
Size: 850 square feet; 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Susie stands at an opening in one of the kitchens wall the couple cut out to allow additional light to stream through the back windows and flow into the hallway and the rest of the home.
The hardwood floors were stained from their original light blonde to a dark ebony to complement the trim. A mini cow head figurine watches over the small vintage breakfast table.
Chairs: Reed Zinc, CB2
The hardwood floors were stained from their original light blonde to a dark ebony to complement the trim. A mini cow head figurine watches over the small vintage breakfast table.
Chairs: Reed Zinc, CB2
The hutch in the dining room is an original built-in and one of Susie's favorite features of the home. It holds her parent's wedding china and a cuckoo clock from CB2. The dining table and chairs are thrift store finds.
The Dalys widened the passageway between the kitchen and the dining room. Their carpenters created molding in line with the dark ebony trim throughout the home.
Two large windows let light flood in.
The living room has a large, comfortable sofa that's a favorite spot for the couple and their dog, Che. "We aren’t home a lot, so when we are, we like to spend most of our time in the living room just unwinding, watching movies," says Susie. A large window and a balcony door allow for plenty of natural light. A vintage stained glass piece hangs in the center of the door.
The Dalys kept the walls white and added accents of color with curated accessories. The collage above the sofa is made up of vintage pieces, gifts from friends and artwork purchased at the Renegade Craft Fair over the years. The artists include iamhome, Small Adventure, Diana Sudyka, Sonnenzimmer, Leah Duncan and Amazing Talking Paintings.
Couch: Kivik, Ikea; end table: Hemnes, Ikea; side table: vintage; bear print above side table: Nora Ayogi
Couch: Kivik, Ikea; end table: Hemnes, Ikea; side table: vintage; bear print above side table: Nora Ayogi
A hallway leads to the front door. To the right is the very first Renegade Craft Fair poster, designed by Mat.
The media stand doubles as storage for the couple's vintage vinyl collection. The piece above the TV was part of a larger installation by friend Chris Natali that reads, “It’s one big accident waiting to happen, a little bit of everything you can’t quite figure out.”
Susie says their next big home improvement project is to refurbish their radiators: "We had [them] refurbished when we moved in, but unfortunately they were flaking paint within a year. I think in the summer we will take [them] out to have done professionally, and hopefully that will fix them once and for all."
Susie says their next big home improvement project is to refurbish their radiators: "We had [them] refurbished when we moved in, but unfortunately they were flaking paint within a year. I think in the summer we will take [them] out to have done professionally, and hopefully that will fix them once and for all."
Susie advises other first-time homeowners to be patient with their renovations. "Don’t rush into all of your renovations all at once. Spend a lot of time thinking about different styles, designs, colors — you only get one chance with a lot of renovations you’re going to do, so make sure you’re going to love it."
Clock: Drum Cymbal Pendulum Clock, Chris Natali; lamp: Pottery Barn; end table: Hemnes, Ikea
Clock: Drum Cymbal Pendulum Clock, Chris Natali; lamp: Pottery Barn; end table: Hemnes, Ikea
The quilt in the master bedroom was a gift from Susie's sister. The framed print next to the bed is by Standard Deluxe, inspired by the Quilts of Gee's Bend. The cat print above the bed is titled "Sleeping Akiko," by Jay Ryan of The Bird Machine.
Nightstand: Charlotte, Pottery Barn; lamp: Macy's
Nightstand: Charlotte, Pottery Barn; lamp: Macy's
The Dalys tried to match the home's existing ebony tones with their furnishings whenever possible. Opposite their bed is an Ikea dresser with replaced knobs and a mirror that came from Susie's parents' bedroom set.
One of their recent splurges is a $2,500 Murphy bed in their spare bedroom. "We used to have a pullout couch, and let’s just face it: They don’t make comfortable couches or bed," Susie says. "We invested in the Murphy bed that fits a normal mattress, so it’s comfortable for our guests and provides the privacy of their own room. But we can also use it as a room for exercising, yoga, reading and things like that when we have it to ourselves."
Murphy bed: More Space Place; bench: Baja Red, CB2
Murphy bed: More Space Place; bench: Baja Red, CB2
They updated their unit's only bathroom with new tiles that have a vintage feel. They updated the shower with subway tile and glass strip tile, and the floor tiles are in a pinwheel design. Altogether the bathroom remodel cost $5,000.
Vanity: Fullen, Ikea
Your turn: Show us your colorful home!
Vanity: Fullen, Ikea
Your turn: Show us your colorful home!
They added a cheerful orange to the walls to offset the light backsplash, while glass cabinet doors show off the couple's colorful Fiestaware. "The blue dishes are a collection of Royal Copenhagen Christmas plates given to my mom every year by my dad as a gift while they were married," Susie says. Other personal pieces are scattered throughout the kitchen, like the cuckoo clock hanging above the stove, from Christkindlmarket Chicago, and salt and pepper finger bowls by Rae Dunn.