Cozy interior of the Staszak couple's apartment, photo of Julia Brenner

Cozy interior apartments - this is certainly something that it is worth to spend their energy and money. Luke and Claire share their extremely successful experience in creating their own design. Their small detached apartment with 2 bedrooms and an office on Logan Square in Chicago attracts hospitality and warmth.

Simple and soulful interior of the apartment, photo of Julia Brenner

Luke and Clare are two incredibly soulful and inspirational personalities. Visited the couple, the reporter Julia Brenner, shared her impressions of staying in their warm beautiful house:

"Magnificent interior, stories from life in New Zealand, details of their impressive projects" With Your Hands ", discussion of music played by the player, and lots of laughter !! If the house is where the heart is, then the house of Claire and Luke will always be cordial "

Luke and Claire Staszak, photo by Julia Brenner

Cozy interior of the Staszak couple's apartment, photo of Julia Brenner

One of the most inspirational features of the interior of Luke and Claire were numerous beautiful handmade items. Luke - carpenter, history teacher, musician, - he designed and made a magnificent dining table.

Cozy interior of the Staszak couple's apartment, photo of Julia Brenner

Luke himself made this magnificent dining table, a photo of Joe Tighe

Claire turned a narrow long veranda near the back entrance to a pretty sunny living room, using mostly second-hand things. She is just a master in finishing rough diamonds and creating with their help something even more worthwhile.

Sunny veranda

Lamp from the can, Claire's handiwork, photos of Julia Brenner

When life presents you with difficulties, take center stage, the design of Claire Staszak

Another saved sofa with a new upholstery and pillows, photos of Julia Brenner

Window with curtains

Step-steper in the corner

A special charm of design

Claire's passion for design and decoration was the reason she decided to leave the world of event marketing and opened her own studio for interior design "Centered by Design". Claire's approach to creating interior design was greatly influenced by her work as a yoga instructor. During the yoga classes the understanding of the connection between body, mind and personal space deepened.

Claire's idea is to combine these three elements in his work, helping people to turn their house into a beautiful sanctuary, and not into a very beautiful showroom. It's nice to see the embodiment of her philosophy in theirs with Luke's house. Below the couple told about their style and its implementation.

Plan at home, photo by Claire Staszak

Style

"We like the style of the middle of the last century and the aesthetics of Scandinavian modern design, but we also tend to something more bohemian and like when a lot of textiles. We have combined these elements to give the interior an eclectic look "

Inspiration

"We are inspired by our travels, love of ancient things and craftsmanship with our own hands, and also the desire to create something ourselves. Luke is a carpenter, and he made our dining room and my desk. I'm learning to sew, and sewed a few curtains and pillows for our apartment "

Claire's lovely office

Cozy interior of the apartment, bedroom

Curtains on windows sewn by Claire

Design Claire

Favorite place

"The fireplace and its decoration look very nice. Tiles and wooden details on the wall around the fireplace influenced several stylistic moments. We searched and were worried for a long time, because we wanted to rent a house with a working fireplace "

Magnificent dining table and built-in fireplace, photo by Joe Tighe

The biggest test

"I would say these are the owners with their too strict attitude towards redevelopment. We could not implement a few new ideas and changes, because they had to respect the wishes of the owner "

What friends say

"They love our style! Everything looks so clean. "

Photo by Julia Brenner

Guest bedroom

Bathroom in black and white

The greatest difficulties

"Kitchen. We like that we have updated technology in the kitchen, but everything else is just a nightmare. It was poorly designed from the very beginning, it is inconveniently located and there is little natural light in it. We really like vintage, but vintage in the kitchen is a bad vintage. Our first project at home will someday begin with the design of an excellent new kitchen "

Cozy kitchen

Kitchen interier

Cozy kitchen

Family heirloom suitcase of Luke's grandmother

The greatest pride in your own hands

"Luke will have a dining table, the first furniture he made (except for the tower for a cat). For me it's a chair of jeans in my office. I found this chair on a sale for $ 15. This was my first experience in changing the upholstery, I had to use a pair of old Luke jeans for fabric and pattern. I had a lot of work, but I really like the result "

Claire came up with a design and covered the denim chair herself

Claire's office

Shelves in the office

Claire Staszak watches

Homemade Scarf Hanger

The biggest expenses

"Chandelier over the dining table. I revised a lot of chandeliers, choosing one that more or less unites the living room with its mid-century style and a more traditional dining room style "

Best advice

"Create your own note board or mood board to determine and approve the style that you will try to achieve. Make sure that your friend or partner agrees with your choice. I have many friends and clients with whom I work, who wants to remake something, but do not even know what they like.

Here are some of my favorite fresh ideas sites - Apartment Therapy, Remodelista, Houzz, Pinterest, Domino, and Rue Magazine »