Houzz Tours
My Houzz: Calming Style in a Chicago Brick Tudor Bungalow
Minimal accessories, a simple palette and vintage finds fulfill this couple’s dreams for their updated 1935 home
Stephan bought the house in 2009, before the couple married. While Ninelle was still living in a small mother-in-law unit in Seattle, he updated the interior himself by painting the walls, staining the floors, replacing the baseboards and installing central air.
“When he finished, he said he wanted to wait for his ‘other half’ to decorate the place with him,” Ninelle says. “I appreciate that he was considerate of my input because that is something I absolutely love doing. I was thrilled to move into a space he had worked so hard renovating to make our own.”
“When he finished, he said he wanted to wait for his ‘other half’ to decorate the place with him,” Ninelle says. “I appreciate that he was considerate of my input because that is something I absolutely love doing. I was thrilled to move into a space he had worked so hard renovating to make our own.”
The couple love the original arched doorways in the living room, where they spend a lot of their time. “We lounge around, catching up on our favorite shows and playing on the floor with Simone,” Ninelle says.
Leather sofa: West Elm; blush pillow cover: West Elm
Leather sofa: West Elm; blush pillow cover: West Elm
A corner of the living room doubles as an office area.
Modular wall shelf: CB2; desk and copper table lamp: Randolph Street Market; navy striped curtains: Ikea (no longer available)
Modular wall shelf: CB2; desk and copper table lamp: Randolph Street Market; navy striped curtains: Ikea (no longer available)
When designing each space, Ninelle chose to display only items the couple really love. The larger print seen here above the leather daybed is by artist Anna Bülow. The couple bought the smaller print of Positano when they vacationed there. The daybed is a newer addition to the living room. “When we find pieces for our home now, it must be something we both absolutely love and have purpose for,” Ninelle says.
Leather daybed: CB2; throw pillows: HomeGoods
Leather daybed: CB2; throw pillows: HomeGoods
A velvet pillow makes a plush addition to a vintage armchair.
Copper velvet pillow: West Elm; lamp: West Elm + Rejuvenation
Copper velvet pillow: West Elm; lamp: West Elm + Rejuvenation
Original built-in shelves in the living room hold a collection of Ninelle’s favorite Danish lifestyle magazine, Kinfolk.
It’s important to her that the home feel airy, organized and uncluttered.
It’s important to her that the home feel airy, organized and uncluttered.
The marble top on the coffee table is a recent $20 Craigslist buy. “For a few years we’ve wanted a marble top. But we didn’t want to pay $200 to $300 for it,” Ninelle says. “If you’re patient enough, whatever it is you’re looking for will eventually pop up!”
The decorative bowl is a souvenir from a trip.
Books: Wabi-Sabi Welcome, Lobster Is the Best Medicine
The decorative bowl is a souvenir from a trip.
Books: Wabi-Sabi Welcome, Lobster Is the Best Medicine
A natural rattan cabinet near the entry stores other treasures. German photographer Xenia Berg made the black-and-white wedding portrait of the couple.
Cabinet: Stockholm 2017, Ikea (no longer available); bud vase: Gather Home & Lifestyle
Cabinet: Stockholm 2017, Ikea (no longer available); bud vase: Gather Home & Lifestyle
Rug: Joss & Main
Sunlight flows into the dining room, which is open to the kitchen. “It brings me so much pleasure when our guests feel completely relaxed and comfortable in our home,” Ninelle says.
Wall paint: Snowy Pine, Behr; dining room table and chairs: Domicile Furniture; chandelier: World Market; rug: Overstock (no longer available); curtains: Amazon (no longer available)
Wall paint: Snowy Pine, Behr; dining room table and chairs: Domicile Furniture; chandelier: World Market; rug: Overstock (no longer available); curtains: Amazon (no longer available)
Pantry staples fill the kitchen’s open shelves. The couple like to experiment with new recipes and enjoy them over conversation at their tiny bistro table. “I find we communicate and share more about our day over a table setting than eating on the sofa, which still happens once in a while!” Ninelle says.
Bistro table: Target; chairs: Craigslist; high chair: Skip Hop Tuo convertible high chair
Bistro table: Target; chairs: Craigslist; high chair: Skip Hop Tuo convertible high chair
A glass-front cabinet nestled into a recess neatly displays the couple’s favorite serveware.
Cabinet: Bjorksnas, Ikea
Cabinet: Bjorksnas, Ikea
Pictured on the daybed in Simone’s room are some of her favorite things.
The nursery is also inspired by Scandinavian style, with white walls, neutral furniture and plush but neutral textures creating a warm and inviting space.
The wooden dollhouse is a Craigslist find.
Top rug: Overstock; bottom rug: Crate & Barrel; bench daybed: World Market
The wooden dollhouse is a Craigslist find.
Top rug: Overstock; bottom rug: Crate & Barrel; bench daybed: World Market
“The bird basket in the nursery was something I had fun designing for Simone,” Ninelle says. She made it by attaching faux birds she found at Michaels to a basket.
Curtains: Target
Curtains: Target
A neutral-colored garland, tiny baskets and animal hooks create a sweet vignette above a midcentury dresser Ninelle found for free.
Wall hooks: Anthropologie
Wall hooks: Anthropologie
Closet dividers keep Simone’s wardrobe tidy.
The master bedroom features a stunning brass flower pendant light, which the couple found at Chicago’s Randolph Street Market. “Sunday-Monday is our weekend,” Ninelle says. “So lying around in bed with our little crawling babe and then getting up to make breakfast together is perfect. Before we had her, it was certainly going to our usual cafe for coffee and croissants, or a new breakfast place. But now, just a peaceful morning together in our pajamas is bliss.”
The area rug is vintage. “It’s amazing how a room can be completely transformed by simply choosing the perfect rug,” Ninelle says.
Bed: West Elm; side tables: West Elm; duvet: H&M
The area rug is vintage. “It’s amazing how a room can be completely transformed by simply choosing the perfect rug,” Ninelle says.
Bed: West Elm; side tables: West Elm; duvet: H&M
“Last year we collected all the things we didn’t love or find useful in our home, packed it up and sold almost all of it at a local flea market,” Ninelle says. “We dropped off whatever didn’t sell at Goodwill. And we came home with more free space and a weight lifted off our shoulders.”
The couple used Ikea’s PAX Wardrobe Planner to create their white armoire for more storage.
Brass bar pulls: Wayfair
Brass bar pulls: Wayfair
They went to Chicago’s Rebuilding Exchange to look for a cozy feature for their bedroom. “We left with this mantel and painted it white to match the room,” Ninelle says.
Mirror: vintage; shams: West Elm (no longer available)
Mirror: vintage; shams: West Elm (no longer available)
Stephan updated the master bathroom himself by installing new tile and lights, painting the walls and mounting the vanity.
Hand soap: Aesop
Hand soap: Aesop
For the holidays, a boxwood wreath hung on the six-panel arched front door. “Stephan stripped many layers of paint off all of the doors to get them looking back to life again,” Ninelle says.
Wreath calligraphy: Victoria Krav
Wreath calligraphy: Victoria Krav
The couple love their lively, family-friendly neighborhood in northwest Chicago. “We enjoy the quiet and friendly neighbors as well as all the greenery” in spring and summer, Ninelle says. “One of our neighbors’ homes is completely covered in vines — it’s pretty magical.”
See more of this home
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
See more of this home
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
Who lives here: Ninelle and Stephan Mikula and their 9-month-old daughter, Simone
Location: Schorsch Village neighborhood of Chicago
Size: 2,000 square feet (186 square meters); three bedrooms, 1½ baths
Year built: 1935
Ninelle Mikula’s favorite interior design aesthetic is Scandinavian-inspired: “simple, minimal, functional,” she says. She and husband Stephan own and run The Barbers, a barber shop in Highland Park, and for the last six years they’ve worked on personalizing their bungalow home, shown here during the recent holidays.
Wall paint: Chantilly Lace, Behr; wall ladder: Food52; wool blanket: Gather Home & Lifestyle; oversized cotton blanket: Joinery