Discover how Rockenbach Design Studio transformed this Queen Anne-style home in Chicago with elements of Japanese and Scandinavian design
Expansive yet intimate: that phrase was the touchstone that Dan Rockenbach used in renovating a Chicago home that was first built in 1886. Situated in the Lincoln Park neighbourhood, Rockenbach wanted to create a space that would grow with the client’s family over time.
Keeping in mind that the property was featured on the National Register of Historic Places, Rockenbach enhanced the home’s elegant features with an interplay of Japanese and Scandinavian designs. The Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi or ‘less is more’ inspired Rockenbach to use natural materials and a neutral palette, creating the perfect backdrop for a couple to raise their two children amid the bustling city of Chicago.
A unique feature of the home is its blend of natural light with sculptural light fixtures, which add character to the space even during the daytime. One of the most notable light fixtures in the home is a custom pendant lamp by Filipino designer Mirei Monticelli, whose ethereal creations work in harmony with the sophisticated space.
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Natural flooding the living room, which features distinctive arched shelves and couches with organic forms
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Upon entering the Chicago home, guests are immediately taken with the leather chandelier that juxtaposes leather swags with faceted glass beads. This sets the tone for the rest of the home, which features rustic elements that add warmth to the space. The expansive living room features a curation of pieces in beiges, browns, and whites over warm wood flooring. The nearby fireplace uses local Indian Limestone to keep the family feeling cosy on winter nights, complemented by arched shelves that echo back to the home’s original design.
