Our Best Residential Architectural & Interior Design Ideas (part 1)

Fred Wilson, AIA

Fred Wilson, AIA
Founding Partner at Award Winning Chicago Architects, Morgante Wilson

Feb 15, 2017 - 5 min read

Our Best Residential Architectural & Interior Design Ideas (part 1)

As residential architects and interior designers in Chicago, we understand our clients – and readers of this blog – come to us seeking inspiration, ideas, and truly innovative solutions for every room in the house. So with the new year upon us, we thought it would be fun to share some of our favorite residential architectural and interior designs for Chicago– and the reasons we love them.

Outdoor Space:

This clean, serene outdoor space connects to the adjacent family room in a way we are absolutely loving right now. A fully retractable Nana Wall between the two spaces allow both rooms to open up to the outside. Screens can come down to protect occupants from bugs and mosquitoes, for a fully-integrated indoor-outdoor experience.

Kitchen Interior Design:

There are so many reasons we’re crazy about this kitchen, from its striking combination of metal and wood finishes, to the fact that it manages to be both industrial and homey without skipping a beat. Large enough to accommodate two islands, it’s the ultimate gathering space – yet allows the cook to work without worrying about traffic interference from children and guests.

Bathroom Design:

More than just pretty, this bathroom ranks as one of our favorites for its windows – and the way their small glass panes are repeated, style-wise, in the vanity drawers below. Notice how the windows wrap around the corner of the room without being interrupted by walls between them. Note, too, the manner in which the oval mirrors above the sinks are suspended directly in front of the windows, allowing light – and views – to bounce throughout the space.

Dining Room Architectural Design:

This is one house that continues to excite us every time we look at it. An architectural backdrop to an open-concept dining space, the hallway and staircase behind the table are crowned with ribbed arches that make moving between rooms, and going up and down stairs, a truly exciting journey. We also love that our clients were up for the idea of using vertical wall space to incorporate cubby-style bookshelves.

Family Room Design:

If there’s such a thing as rustic farmhouse glam, we think this is it. Exposed beams and trusses are the hallmark of this two-story room, which is punctuated by a fireplace surround that narrows gracefully toward the vaulted ceiling. Its gray coloration not only anchors the room, it acts as a welcome stylistic counterpoint to white furnishings.

Kids Bedroom Design:

At Morgante Wilson, we’ve been fans of bunk rooms for quite some time. They simply can’t be beat for hosting guests of all ages, ensuring our clients’ homes can easily and effortlessly host slumber parties, out of town guests, and the whole gang for holidays. This one in particular appeals to sleepers of all ages thanks to its mostly-white décor that’s simply and subtly enlivened with a geometric patterned rug.

Sitting Room Interior Design:

Glamorous, sophisticated, and abundantly comfortable, this sitting room is furnished not with a pair of loveseats, but with an unexpected quartet of not-quite-matching chairs. We love the combination of muted jewel tones, the shimmering draperies, and the graphic circular rug that grounds it all.

More Kitchen Design:

This kitchen proves you don’t need to forgo upper cabinets to enjoy natural light – simply back your cabinets with glass, and you can have the best of both worlds: storage and pretty views. Glass shelves further the effect, minimizing the boundaries between indoors and out. This is a smart, simple way to usher light into the most-used room in the house.

Another Favorite Kitchen Design:

Oh, how we love this kitchen! From its arched stone recess to its black pantry cupboards, we’re crazy about the mix of textures and materials here. Part modern – note the squared-off island, colorful counter stools, and contemporary globe lights – and part rustic – again, that stone recess! – it makes us feel as though we’re somewhere in Europe.

Master Bedroom Design:

This suburban bedroom on Chicago’s North Shore could easily be mistaken for one in a luxurious spa. The ultimate setting for rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation, it incorporates a plushly upholstered sitting area and a romantic fireplace at the foot of its sumptuously dressed bed. Need we say more?

The transformation of this historic Highland Park house on the shores of Lake Michigan was one of our favorite projects, as it allowed us to sensitively restore a noted architectural gem – and at the same time, turn it into a lively hub for a thoroughly modern, active family. (Yes, we know this makes 11 ideas – consider this last our bonus gift to you, our valued reader!)

As you can see, we’ve been busy at Morgante Wilson Architects. To learn more about these projects, please stop by our website (link to website) – or give us a call about your own project!

Fred Wilson, AIA

Fred Wilson, AIA

Founding Partner at Award Winning Chicago Architects, Morgante Wilson