Houzz Tour: Character for a New House in the ’Burbs

Sometimes character develops over time, and other times you just have to bring it with you. These homeowners decided the talent of interior designer Lara Prince was just the thing to give their newly built French Normandy-style house an independent spirit and personality well beyond its years.

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of 5
Location: Highland Park, Illinois
Designer: Lara Prince Designs Inc.

Prince created a lived-in look by stripping the new oak floors of their glossy dark stain, giving them a custom gray wash to lighten them and sealing them in tung oil for a matte finish. “I was inspired by a recent trip to Belgium,” Prince says. “Gray stains and matte finishes are very popular there.”

The family room combines antiques, such as the baby grand piano and wicker stool, with new finds like the industrial coffee table and slipcovered chair and ottoman. The kilim rug adds muted color to the otherwise neutral room.

Sofa: Montauk Sofa; pillows on sofa: Ige Design; slipcovered chair and ottoman: B&B Italia; coffee table: Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams; petrified-wood end table: Ralph Pucci

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Prince says the dining room’s round table is “fully charred,” unlike some furniture pieces that have only a blackened outside layer that may wear off with frequent use. The table was charred at a low temperature for a longer period, without effecting the integrity of the wood. “This table can be abused. There’s no reason to worry about coasters or trivets,” Prince says. The furniture maker used a chainsaw to give the table its texture.

Dining table: BDDW; dining chairs: Jayson Home; driftwood on table: Aero Studios; chandelier: Ochre


A white Saarinen table with a marble top, the family’s former kitchen table, has found new life as an office desk. Prince mixed a new Eames desk chair with two vintage chairs from Knoll covered in nubuck — a cowhide leather that has been rubbed on the outside to give it the feel of suede.

Table: Saarinen; leather armchairs: Knoll; desk chair: Eames; wallpaper: Romo; drum pendant: O’Lampia

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The kitchen has French limestone countertops near the range and marble countertops on the island. Vintage pendant lights hang from the unstained wood ceiling. The chalkboard wall by the breakfast table provides a handy place for the family to communicate, write grocery lists and support their favorite teams.

Metal table: 1stdibs; chairs: Knoll; stools: Cherner Chair Co.


The builders had painted the powder room’s ceiling purple, one of the few color choices Prince kept. “I loved the boldness of the deep purple and decided to run with it,” she says.

Polygons are the other superstars of the space. The wallpaper, mirror and ceiling pendant all feature hexagonal or octagonal patterns.

Wallpaper: David Hicks for Lee Jofa; mirror: Horchow; pendant light: Marjorie Skouras Design

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When decorating, Prince says she wants every piece to stand on its own and to tell a story. The foyer may exemplify her philosophy better than any other room. The space is a collection of bold pieces that work together to create a cohesive and distinctly individual space.

Console table: custom, Jimmie Martin; mirror: Jean De Merry; chandelier: ABC Carpet & Home; rug: The Rug Co.


Prince commissioned London furniture maker Jimmie Martin to create the foyer’s gold console table. Martin is known for transforming English antiques into modern pieces of art — he created the gold throne Madonna used for her Super Bowl XLVI performance. The console is covered in real gold leaf and has the lyrics to John Lennon’s Imagine and Give Peace a Chance spray-painted in black across it.

Console table: custom, Jimmie Martin; mirror: Jean De Merry


The stairs have a striped navy blue and white silk runner from the company Tai Ping. The oxidized metal statues of an owl and a fly are by different artists and were found at different antiques stores (one in Chicago and one in Los Angeles) but make an ideal pairing for this windowsill.

Stair runner: custom, Tai Ping; owl statue: The Find; fly statue: Gibson

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Views from the balcony inspired the color palette for the master bedroom. “The green of the trees and the blue of the sky creates a soothing mood for the space,” Prince says.

She designed the area rug that covers most of the floor. Its pattern was inspired by the colorful swirl designs of Paul Smith.

Chandelier: Murano Glass Chandeliers; rug: custom, Tai Ping; bed: Rogers & Goffigon; bedding: Yves Delorme; chaise: Ralph Pucci


Chocolate-brown molding frames the doorway to the master bathroom.

Prince used C2 Paint products throughout the house. “It’s my favorite paint company,” she says. “It has a great collection of historic and sophisticated colors. It’s really hard to go wrong using them.”

Tub: Kohler; pendant light: Circa Lighting

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Prince says she wanted the guest bedroom to feel like a Hamptons getaway. The interior has a collection of new and vintage finds. “It’s a cozy space that welcomes guests to unwind and stay awhile,” she says.

Bed, chair and task lamps: West Elm; bedding: Pine Cone Hill; pillows on bed: Anthropologie; nightstands: Ankasa; chandelier: Sputnik; wall paint: Slinky, C2 Paint


The backyard has two dining tables that can be used individually for small gatherings or combined for larger ones. Stacked limestone slabs create a curved bench around a fire pit.

Tables: Mecox Gardens; chairs: Design Within Reach; pillows: Janus et Cie

Have you found a way to quickly add character to a brand-new house? Please share your photo in the Comments below!

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