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My Houzz: Classic Black and White Design in a Chicago Condo

http://www.decor-ideas.org 08/10/2015 23:13 Decor Ideas

Two years ago, Marina Kozak decided she was tired of paying rent on apartments that gave her little wiggle room for creativity, especially as her friends and dorm mates had awarded her dorm room the (unofficial) title Best Dorm Room on Campus four years in a row when she attended college at St. Mary’s of Notre Dame. This 26-year-old graphic designer was ready to take on the challenge of a complete remodel of a Chicago condo she bought.

Transitional Living Room by Kayla Pearson

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Marina Kozak, cats Hoot and Uccia, and an albino corn snake, Norway
Location: Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago
Size: 900 square feet (84 square meters); 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Year built: 1956

When Kozak found this Lakeview condo, it had been on the market for some time and was in desperate need of a renovation. She called on her father, Mike Kozak, for help, as he is a carpenter who owns a company that builds trade show exhibits, and who built her childhood home. Together, they gutted and remodeled the entire condo, which had not been touched since the ’60s. It was a gutsy move for this first-time homeowner, but Kozak is extremely happy with the way her home turned out, and is grateful to her father for being there to help her through the process. “There are so many things you overlook as a first-time homeowner and first-time renovator,” she says. “[My dad] was able to show me the ropes, and save some time and money. I don’t know what I would have done without his help.”

The living room is one of Kozak’s favorite spaces, with its teal velvet tufted couch as a focal point. The color and texture add a luxurious, grandiose feel to the room. “I’m normally only into black and white, but my mom and I saw this fantastic couch in the clearance section at Darvin Furniture and just knew we had to have it.”

Rug: ecarpetgallery; coffee table: Darvin Furniture; wooden chairs: Miami Design District

Eclectic Living Room by Kayla Pearson

Kozak designed a pair of marble side tables using computer-aided design software. She had the frames welded out of aluminum and sourced the marble from local company Artisan Stoneworks.

Matching 1940s zebra lamps top the two side tables. They’re two of many family pieces she has inherited.

Couch: Darvin Furniture; wall paint: Irish Mist, Behr

Eclectic Kitchen by Kayla Pearson

During the renovation, Kozak and her father tore down a wall that closed off the kitchen from the living space to create a more open concept. Her father also made a custom island extender to provide extra work and seating space.

With the kitchen design, Kozak kept practicality in mind, opting for a light granite counter rather than the white marble that she had originally envisioned. “The only thing I know how to make are Hot Pockets, so the kitchen was by no means overthought,” she says. “I wanted something dark and classic that didn’t clash with the living space.”

Despite Kozak’s lack of advanced cooking skills, the kitchen does get its fair share of use, thanks to a supper club she cofounded. Shrub is a social club that throws fancy, eccentric parties for creative types to meet other creative types, and their first gathering was held fittingly at Kozak’s home. Her father is now helping her build a Japanese pagoda for her next get-together.

Bar stools: Hobo

by Kayla Pearson

A Beauchene skull that Kozak inherited sits front and center on one of her favorite pieces, a built-in bookshelf that she and her father designed and he built.

Eclectic Home Bar by Kayla Pearson

Surrounding the bar area in the living room-dining area is a collection of different guitars that Kozak has acquired over the years, going back all the way to when she was in eighth grade. “I bought that guitar with my eighth-grade graduation money,” she says. “The banjo, I got into in high school even though I don’t listen to anything with banjo in it.”

Bar table: Blu Dot for Target; cowhide rug: eBay

Midcentury Bedroom by Kayla Pearson

The guest bedroom is a work in progress, but Kozak wanted to contrast the rest of the home’s glamorous feel with a more masculine, midcentury vibe in this room. “I love contrasting the deep gray walls with the warm red undertones of the wood floors and furniture, punctuated by the bold rug,” she says.

Dresser: Target; rug: ecarpetgallery; posters: French Paper Co.

Eclectic by Kayla Pearson

The guest bedroom is also home to Kozak’s pet snake, Norway, whose own apartment includes a diving lantern from Pier 1 Imports.

Lamp: Target

Eclectic Bathroom by Kayla Pearson

To make the small bathroom space feel as large as possible, Kozak went with an all-white color scheme. “I felt like the only way to open up the space was to keep it light and classic,” she says. White marble floors and subway tiles in combination with the large mirror keep the room from feeling too cramped. Kozak even special ordered a tiny toilet fit for a tiny bathroom.

Turkish bath towels: eBay

Eclectic Bedroom by Kayla Pearson

In the master bedroom, Kozak put together a black and white gallery wall above her bed to play off the dark walls.

Kozak usually is very budget-conscious, finding things on clearance and using family pieces, but one thing that she doesn’t mind splurging on is art. “Not only do I want to support my fellow artists,” she says, “but it also inspires me personally to have other people’s work on my walls.” Shown here are works by Marissa Paternoster, Greg Kletsel and Raleen Kao.

Rug: Target; Moroccan wool blanket: Etsy; mirrored nightstand: T.J.Maxx

Eclectic by Kayla Pearson

A small framed corkboard keeps Kozak’s accessories within close reach. Painted black to match the walls, it makes her jewelry pop. She says, “It’s easy for me to play around with my look.”

Mementos from her travels abroad add even more of a personal touch. “A few months ago I went to Japan and was fitted for a kimono at this cool little vintage shop in Kyoto,” Kozak says. “I think hanging it alongside all my other accessories really amps up the boutique vibe.”

Eclectic Home Office by Kayla Pearson

The black walls of the bedroom, which also serves as her home office, work especially well for creating a simple and clean workspace. “The high-contrast, all black and white setup is actually really great for working because it’s easy to find what I need,” Kozak says. “When I use a light box for illustration, it focuses all the light into my work area.”

As a tip to anybody who is thinking about going with black walls, she says: “I chose Lincoln Cottage Black by Valspar, and I think the 95 percent gray mixed with the eggshell finish makes sure not all the light is sucked out of the room.”

Desk: Ikea; Eames-style chairs: Overstock

Eclectic by Kayla Pearson

Plenty of inspiration, including some of her own works, surrounds the desk. “I wanted the room to feel dark and bohemian, and be a comfortable and inspiring space for me to do my work,” Kozak says.

Wall paint: Lincoln Cottage Black, Valspar

Eclectic by Kayla Pearson