Settling In

By Michelle Dellinger
October 2019 View more Home

When Kirk and Jennifer Bonniwell chose to move their family from the city to LaGrange—a quaint village close to the commuter train line—finding a home with five bedrooms proved difficult. Once Kirk found a house that qualified, Jennifer was less than enthusiastic at first.

“I didn’t even want to look at the house when I saw it online,” she admits. Ultimately, they bought the home since it had the “bones” they were looking for. After living there for a few years, the family embarked on a first-floor overhaul to make the space flow better for them.

Enter designer Irene Lamiot. “Jennifer came into the showroom, telling me they wanted to flip-flop the family room and dining room, and change the fireplace. So we talked about design goals and how they wanted to use the areas.”—MD

A remodeled sitting room provides a cozy spot to have coffee or cocktails. Flanking the fireplace—originally red brick, which was resurfaced—are custom cabinets that house a wine bar and refrigerator, plus board games.

Oak Brook designer Irene Lamiot chose fresh hues of silver and blue to complement the warm tones in the stain on the original molding, which offers a transitional look.

The Noir coffee table ($884.30) and Company C rug ($850.53) from Walter E. Smithe.

The kitchen and family room were combined into one large, open space during construction. The low-profile Louise sectional ($6,274, Walter E. Smithe) was chosen for the family room so the home’s original windows wouldn’t be blocked. “The cool blue fabric on the sectional was the beginning of the palette,” says Lamiot. Despite the Bonniwells’ three daughters—12, 8, and 5—they don’t worry about spills since the upholstery is coated with fabric protection. “It does work,” adds Jennifer.

Dark ebony furnishings create an elegant, formal space in the dining room, with a design inspired by the chandelier ($3,200, Restoration Hardware). White-on-white tones offset dark furnishings, including Roman shades and soft linen panels that expose as much trim work as possible. Herringbone chair fabric mirrors the rug design.

Photos Courtesy Walter E. Smithe