Jewel Tones Bring A Parisian-Inspired Chicago Condo To Life

From contemporary floor plans to fresh materials, there are undoubtedly many positives to new-build condos, but sometimes they can feel a little impersonal. Though that wasn’t exactly the case with the Lakeview duplex that Bryan Anderson and Allen Gustin purchased—their affinity for all things French drew them to its herringbone floors and boiserie—the couple wanted to further tailor the space to suit their tastes. 

At first they called on interior designer Carly Moeller to simply advise on finishes, but the pair soon realized she could do much more to help achieve their vision. “What we were really looking for was a sanctuary that had a bit of modern, a little vintage, some soothing colors and interesting decor that would make it a place we want to be in all the time,” Bryan says. 

So, Moeller met the couple at their previous residence to “talk through some of their loves,” she explains. “Travel was a recurring theme, as well as cooking, so I knew they had a lot of collections in terms of cookbooks and art.” That included many photographic works—particularly of birds and African wildlife—taken by Allen and Bryan themselves, who both dabble in photography as a hobby.

While they didn’t want to go all out with color, Allen was drawn to blue and Bryan to purple. Moeller incorporated those hues in sophisticated, muted tones. In the living room, an eggplant-hued sofa offers a moody complement to chartreuse (another favorite of Bryan’s) Louis XIV-style chairs. Similar colors echo in the rug beneath that, combined with the antique French mirror on the mantel, evoke a distinctly Parisian ambience. 

A similar palette encapsulates the family room, where the deep jewel tones of the sofa and chairs create an elevated coziness. It’s all about balance, explains Moeller. “We wanted to have recurring colors throughout the home, so it felt cohesive,” she says. “But we also made sure that each room had its own personality.”

In the dining room, rose-toned chairs cluster around a sleek oval table, offering a soothing contrast to the slate boiserie and injecting a burst of color into what was originally an all-white space. The gray wall also provides an apt canvas for two of the clients’ treasures: a pair of framed Hermès scarves. 

Beyond furniture, Moeller turned to wallcoverings to add moments of color and drama. In the wine room—part of the original build—she and her team consulted on finishes and hardware. “We opted for a metallic gold cork wallcovering on the ceiling,” she says. “It brings in a bit of glam while being a little on the nose by using cork in a wine room.”

Since he primarily works from home, Bryan also requested a creative touch for his study. A wallcovering featuring relief maps of major international cities not only pays tribute to the couple’s wanderlust but also serves as an excellent Zoom backdrop. “People at work are tired of listening to me when someone new at a meeting asks if it’s a virtual background,” he laughs. “I’ve had many colleagues roll their eyes and say, ‘Oh, here we go again with Bryan’s wall.’ ” 

The condo’s most dramatic moment, however, is in the primary bedroom, where a wallcovering depicts an enchanted forest. The couple had long been eyeing the sylvan silk, so Moeller used its palette as a starting point for the whole room. “The clients just fell in love with that mural, and so we decided to take everything else—walls, ceiling, trim—dark and lean into the moody vibe of the backdrop,” she explains. A crown-like chandelier provides a regal finishing touch. 

What is most satisfying for Moeller is that the home now truly befits its owners. “An important aspect of our process is that the clients feel like it’s a reflection of who they are,” she says. “I want it to be a beautifully designed space, but at the end of the day, the clients’ friends and family should be able to walk in and say, ‘Wow, this is totally them.’ ”