A Classic Chicago-Area Home Recalls An Iconic Holiday Movie

Working with general contractor Dane Stevenson, Jones and Clemente Eby set about reimagining the home. Of prime importance was the large open space at the rear of the structure where the family room, a generous dining area and the kitchen live. This was a later addition to the residence, but elements like a long row of multipaned windows and doors topped by dramatic fanlights are in keeping with the original architecture. “Here, with just a few small adjustments, such as changing the hardware and color palette, we made the traditional features feel updated and a touch more modern,” Clemente Eby says.

The pre-remodel kitchen was cramped and moody—not functional for the busy family, who prefer lighter, brighter finishes and use the space as much for hanging out as they do for cooking (“With four kids, this is the spot that’s always busy,” the owner notes). The competing needs of food prep and entertaining inspired a unique layout devised in consultation with architect Goran Simic of Deconstruct Architecture: The designers borrowed square footage from a large dining room to create a scullery connected to the main kitchen via above-counter glass-and-metal doors. “By breaking up the space, we gave them a work zone where they can prepare meals or snacks and then slide the glass doors aside to pass food through to the main kitchen, which now has light-colored cabinets and marble surfaces,” says Jones, noting that the separation keeps the tumult of cooking hidden while allowing the main kitchen to exist elegantly as part of the primary living space.