A Smooth Transition

By Lisa Arnett
January 2026 View more Home

Soon-to-be parents pull off a first-floor reno on a tight deadline

Last spring, Magda Petersen of Magda Interiors in Bolingbrook got a call from a couple referred by one of her previous clients. “They were living in a downtown Chicago condo when they found out they were expecting their first baby and they decided to buy a home in the suburbs,” Petersen says. They settled on a brick home in Western Springs built in 1952. “The sellers were the original owners. It was well maintained, but everything was very outdated,” Petersen says. “I met with [the new homeowners] before they bought the house, and as soon as they got their keys, we all met with their contractor.”

Their goals? Expand the narrow kitchen, update the finishes, carve out space for a home office—and still have time to move in before their baby was born. They also wanted to incorporate furniture from their Chicago condo. “In the city, their condo was very modern. But this house is in an older neighborhood with very traditional homes, so we wanted to make sure the inside of the house also reflects that, and they knew they had to pivot with their style a bit,” she says. Petersen brought design choices to the table that were more transitional in style.

The homeowners purchased the home in March, and their contractor, Chicago-based Straight Cut Renovations, finished by August, weeks before the couple’s baby was due. When all the furniture and accessories were moved into place, Petersen was able to breathe a sigh of relief. “It’s always the most satisfying outcome to see the final results and see how happy the client is, and how they can finally relax and feel like, ‘This is my home now,’ ” she says. “I remember [the homeowner] saying, ‘Now I can have a baby; I’m ready to settle in.’ ”

1. (above) In the kitchen, designer Magda Petersen chose cream-perimeter cabinetry, and for the island, a warm-toned wood that matched the homeowners’ dining set and coffee table, both treasured pieces from their Chicago condo that they wanted to keep. For the countertops, she chose a human-made quartz with similar look to Taj Mahal quartzite, a popular natural stone. “The backsplash tiles add a little bit of texture, and they’re a little darker in color to connect the island with the rest of the space,” Petersen says.

2. The bronze cabinet handles are from Top Knobs. “They have a little more of an industrial feel,” she says.

3. This custom plaster hood is a major feature in the kitchen. “We did look at the option for a wood hood, but it felt too traditional,” Petersen says. “The plaster made this more of a transitional piece. If you look up close, it does have a texture—it’s more like a concrete texture that’s painted over.”

4. As for lighting, “in some cases you might do accent lighting to pop, but we wanted the kitchen to be more neutral so your eyes go through the kitchen to the tile and hood instead,” she says. “We chose these light fixtures from Birch Lane with the metal white shade and a brass mounting and chain.”

5. The old kitchen design had a lower, narrower window at one end, which didn’t leave room for cabinetry on that wall. “We decided to raise the window and that gives you more countertop and cabinet space and also a view out the backyard when the kids are playing outside,” Petersen says.

6. The design for the living room revolved around two of the homeowners’ existing pieces: the wooden coffee table and striped accent chair. “The chair had been in the family for a long time, and it had been reupholstered,” she says. “We brought in more natural textures, like the jute rug and basket, for more natural finishes.” Petersen chose a Crate & Barrel couch in a medium gray and accent pillows with navy windowpane plaid to match the striped chair.

7. As for the fireplace, “we had to keep budget in mind so we didn’t want to tear down and redo the fireplace, plus a wood-burning fireplace is more rare and a nice traditional touch,” Petersen says. They chose to whitewash the existing brick and add a custom wood mantle.

8. The homeowners wanted a neutral color palate throughout the first floor but were open to color and pattern in the office. Petersen found this floral wallpaper that complemented the wood tones of the homeowners’ existing desk and as well as the navy blue and cream tones in the neighboring living room. In this space, Petersen also was able to incorporate an heirloom light fixture. “This art deco fixture belonged to one of their family members, and when they showed it to me, they said, “Where can we use this in the house?’ ” Petersen says. “The office was the perfect spot to use it.” For additional task lighting, she added a floor lamp with a textured shade.

9. In the dining room, Petersen incorporated the homeowners’ own dining room set from their Chicago condo, which has a mid-century-meets-Scandinavian vibe. A simple wrought-iron chandelier with ivory shades from Lamps Plus and a neutral rug from Birch Lane finish off the look.

Photos: DANET Photography by Aneta Danuta