A Condo Gets A Casual Makeover With A Little Bling

It takes a lot of planning to create a carefree look. That’s a lesson Stephen Young learned when he teamed up with Chicago newlyweds to completely redesign their tired River North condo with an aesthetic that embodies casual sophistication.

Today, sunlight floods through the sheer draperies in the living room, where a Moroccan-style woven wool rug defines a cozy seating area in front of the limestone fireplace. New wide-plank white oak flooring evokes the casual ambiance the clients envisioned, while black doors and strategically placed dark wood furnishings introduce a sense of sophistication.

“The feeling is rich with texture and materiality, so it doesn’t feel like a plain white box,” Young explains.

It’s exactly the right formula for the owners — self-described homebodies who enjoy curling up on the cozy sectional with a glass of wine and having friends over for impromptu dinners.

“Stephen is young and totally understood where we were coming from,” the wife explains. “This place turned out exactly how I imagined it would be.”