Cozy Hues

By
February 2020 View more

The great room features a calming gray, white, and blue color palette. Added visual interest comes from a textured rug, luxurious upholstery fabrics, and layered pillows.

The light gray ceiling provides a subtle contrast to the white shiplap walls. “We wanted to bring attention to [the ceiling’s] big expanse and the beautiful woodwork up there,” Abrams says.

Multiple seating areas help divide up the large, open-plan main floor. “We didn’t want it to look like an airplane hanger,” Angie says. Ottomans that cleverly tuck under tables in the TV area provide bonus seating for parties.

“Michael [Abrams] warmed up and grounded the space with window seats with pillows,” Angela says. “It gave additional seating and became these little cozy spots for the kids to curl up in,” Abrams adds. Drawers underneath store blankets, toys, and games. 

When Chicagoans Wes and Angela set about building a home in Hinsdale, they assembled their own dream team: builder Dave Knecht, architect Michael Abraham, designer Michael Abrams, and kitchen designer Laura O’Brien. 

This is actually the third home they’ve worked on with Abrams. “Michael’s style is subdued, it’s very luxurious, and it has a nice masculine touch, but it still looks feminine,” Angela says. The homeowners have three young children and also entertain large groups of family and friends often. “That was the overarching theme of the house,” Wes adds, “to create a space that was casual—but still elegant—that would be durable and kid friendly. One that everybody walks in and feels comfortable immediately.”

The home has six bedrooms and nine bathrooms; pictured here is the master bath. “The inspiration really came from this Waterworks zinc tub,” Abrams says. “From there, we wanted something classic and timeless, so we went with Carrara marble and chose some timeless patterns on the stone.” The cabinetry is painted a rich, deep gray (Benjamin Moore’s Kendall Charcoal), and a mirrored vanity adds a touch of glam. The original plans called for a fireplace built into the wall. “We instead decided to make it a decorative niche and place an orchid in it,” Abrams says.

This sunroom with a heated floor is where the family hangs out for watching movies and sports. The custom curved couch was upholstered in indoor-outdoor fabric that can be cleaned with bleach. For a real wow factor, all you have to do is look up. “The ceiling is so beautiful, we didn’t want to put any recessed lighting in there,” Abrams says, “so we have lighting in the coves instead.”

Photos courtesy michael abrams interiors