Total Refresh

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February 2019 View more

A skylight and peekaboo shutters allow sunshine to stream into the bathroom during the day, while providing privacy.

A wave tile design by Emser creates visual interest behind lighted mirrors that hide an integrated television on the right (electricmirror.com).

“It’s such a nice, tranquil bathroom. You just want to sit in there now,” says Salomon. “Even through it’s the same room, it just flows so much better.”

Wall-hung cabinets allow for soft lighting underneath, a great feature in the middle of the night.

Large-size rectified porcelain floor tiles have double-cut small grout joints for cleaning ease.

Janene Salomon and her husband took on an ambitious five-phase overhaul of their Lisle home in 2016. “We needed to update the whole house,” says Salomon. “It was really dark and closed off.” The two-year project managed by Joan Kaufman of Interior Planning & Design totally transformed the contemporary house. “I loved this project,” says Kaufman. “It’s pretty rare that you have a client that lets you be creative.” Kaufman’s spa-like plan for the master bathroom created such a relaxing oasis for the couple that it resulted in a 2018 design excellence award by the American Society of Interior Designers’ Illinois chapter.—MD

A traditional sofa is purposely absent from the Salomon’s cozy front living room. “People like chairs better for conversation,” explains Kaufman. Other creative features of the room include a repainted bedroom armoire, plus carpet that was cut and bound into the shape of a circle—which Kaufman says is much less expensive than purchasing a round rug. “It’s a very conversational room,” says Salomon. “If I have some girlfriends over we’ll have a glass of wine in there, or if we sit in there and read, we’ll pop in with a book.”

Conversation is also key to the dining room design. “I love the table because everyone faces each other,” says Salomon. The Sarreid table and console, plus Design Master chairs—upholstered in a neutral metallic that is one of Kaufmann’s favorites—sit atop a colorful hand-knotted rug from Oscar Isberian Rugs in Evanston.

Photos courtesy Interior Planning & Design