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CHI House Tour: Glorily and Jeremy's Evolving Wicker Park Victorian

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Name: Glorily and Jeremy
Location:Wicker Park
Years lived in: Almost 3 years, until the owner sold the building

Glorily took amazing photos of the apartment she and Jeremy shared before they (sadly) had to move, cataloging a really well put together, totally original third floor perch high above the city in a Victorian in Wicker Park. We especially like the photos since they show a bit of history of a great place evolving over time - all the changes and improvements, additions and edits as the rooms take shape and change. We got in touch with Glorily after seeing that she tagged the photos with "apartmenttherapychicago" in Flickr and asked her if we could turn them into a tour - along with a few nosy questions to get the scoop on the great looking old place and their plans for the future...

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Photos: Thanks to Glorily!

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Here's the scoop on the old place from Glorily: "It was (and still is) a Victorian mansion that we rented. My boyfriend Jeremy and I lived on the 3rd floor. We spent almost 3years there but had to move out because the owner sold the place. I can't even begin to express what a bummer it was to move out. Not only was the rent a steal for WP, the place also sat on a double lot and had an above ground pool shaded by giant trees."


>> Enter Tour Slideshow


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And the history of her decorating style:
...when we first moved in together Jeremy and I only had a bed, a futon, a TV and a little kitchen table. Most of the decorating choices we made came out of being broke, but wanting to express ourselves in the new place. I spent a lot of Sunday afternoons at the Ark looking for lamps, picture frames, mirrors, tables, glasses, tableware, etc. Finding inexpensive things and making them our own is so much fun, I don't think I'll ever stop.

>> Enter Tour Slideshow


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And, finally, where they are now and where they are going next! : "With heavy hearts we moved to another Victorian a block away on the same street. Also the 3rd floor. Also beautiful, but waay more expensive and with no pool :(. I'm actually working on posting pics of THAT place so we can remember it since we will be moving yet again this Sunday. We bought a condo (yay) about 3 blocks away. Jeremy and I will miss the Vctorians but are excited to have a place to call our own. And now that we have (thanks to a promotion) the chance to tap into more resources to decorate, I don't think I'll ever quit going to the thrift store. It'll be interesting to see how our thrifty finds look in our shiny new condo!"


>> Enter Tour Slideshow


Thanks, Glorily and Jeremy and Good Luck in the new place!

Got a house tour you'd like to share with all of us? Email us today and we'll arrange it: chicago@apartmenttherapy.com

Comments (40)

I love the dining room chairs!

N.

http://badhuman.wordpress.com

posted by http://badhuman.wordpress.com on 2008-03-20 15:09:13
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I'm glad someone else loves panton chairs as much as I do!

posted by JuliaL on 2008-03-20 15:11:53
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Wow this is beautiful. Fantastic colour story, tastefully accessorised, well-chosen furniture pieces - just floored...

posted by siongchinchan on 2008-03-20 15:30:19
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Those Victorians are amazing.

It's really cool to see someone's appreciation for that reflected in their interior design.

Really nice place, I'm sure you will miss it. At least you have it documented and archived in such a cool way!

posted by art on 2008-03-20 15:30:58
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Oh god... was this on Pierce (aka the street I always look at from the train and wonder what the homes look like inside)?

posted by any such name on 2008-03-20 15:44:48
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I love this space! Wish there was more like this on AT lately..

posted by PlanItGirl on 2008-03-20 15:48:38
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Love your place! I was floored to see your little tv! Been my favorite set since my parents bought one new. I have 5 of them, and am so glad to see you using yours, too!
(Yes, I know a few tv sets is overkill, it just sorta happened that way and I can't say I am sorry it did. Love that little set.)
Looking forward to seeing your new condo, best of luck there! I'm sure your cool pieces will work just as well in your new spot!

posted by merl on 2008-03-20 15:51:53
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You had a swimming pool?!?!

posted by Kathryn on 2008-03-20 15:53:18
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see how much fun flokatis are?! LOVE the flokati with the panton chairs...

...and the bedroom paint colour reminds me of Martha Stewart's Clay... do you remember what it was?

posted by monika1 on 2008-03-20 16:04:36
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the whole space is lovely and relaxing... it looks very welcoming.

i love love love the tv, who makes it? and where can i get my hands on one?

also, what are those leaves on the dining room table?

posted by chessieann on 2008-03-20 16:53:41
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That first vignette is utterly beautiful...the Saarinen with the Pantons on the flokati works so well in that bay window space with the green trees outside... it was as if everything in that picture was designed to go together.

posted by lightspeed on 2008-03-20 17:03:57
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I love the rug under the dining table. Where is it from?

posted by pixystic on 2008-03-20 17:35:33
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The bedroom color is gorgeous--details please!

posted by urbanopulence on 2008-03-20 19:01:00
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wow, excellent job. never been a fan of flokatis but they really went perfect with your look and were a great addition. Love the colours and arrangement.

the bedroom paint colour is great. what is it?

posted by TheoJ on 2008-03-20 19:16:25
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I lived in this neighborhood for 7 sevens years. I think the building is at the corner of Hoyne and Schiller. One of the only houses I know of that has a pool!!

posted by kellybeegee on 2008-03-20 21:39:12
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Such elegent peices. I love that the simple palette extends everywhere. It pulls everything together. This is one of the very, very few modern collections in which I would feel comfortable. The colors are cool, but the curvilinear shapes and touches of honey/yellow in paint, textiles, and wood add warmth. I've never felt envious of such modern pieces, but I really love these together.

posted by kimg924 on 2008-03-20 21:44:41
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Now this is what I call a house tour!

posted by ARC on 2008-03-20 22:26:46
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Fabulous job! I love the hanging lights above the dining table and sitting area. Source?

posted by KidMoe on 2008-03-21 00:15:22
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I've been thinking about getting a kitchen table like this. Where is this one from? I saw one like it on IKEA but I have yet to see it in person...

posted by sfsilvia on 2008-03-21 03:07:13
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Utterly beautiful: and interesting to see the spaces change over time, too. Well done.

posted by Alana in Canada on 2008-03-21 03:33:17
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Hello everyone and thank you for the encouraging comments.

To answer a few questions: The place is on Hoyne and Schiller.

Yes there was a swimming pool. It was above ground , but it was still fun when it was clean (and even a few times when it wasn't...yuck).

The bedroom color was Rock City by American Pride. It is a zero VOC/low odor paint from Greenmaker Building Supply on Pulaski.

The leaves on the dinning room table are actually fig branches. I think we got them at the Wicker Park Farmer's Market.

The flokati rug was a gift from a friend who did not want it anymore.. score! I think her mother got it in Greece in the 80s.

The hanging light above the dinning table and sitting area was made by Jeremy with socket splitters and night-light bulbs from Home Depot.

And sfsilvia, the table is from IKEA and has served us well over the years. It still looks good and is quite durable. At $145 it was well worth it.

Again, thank you for all of your comments. Looking forward to seeing more CHI house tours soon!

posted by ladynite on 2008-03-21 04:09:24
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the street with the fall colors was glorious

posted by LaDonnaNichole on 2008-03-21 10:37:39
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The slide show left me somewhat confused as to which permutations were befores and which were afters, but I have to say that the first picture, with the dining table in the windowed alcove, and those great chairs rising up from the flokati, is my idea of an absolutely perfectly realized room. As God is my witness, if I could ever get my rooms to that degree of perfection, I might actually have a lot more time moving on from designing my space to other subjects!

posted by Aulaire on 2008-03-21 10:52:45
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I feel your pain, leaving such beautiful place....But with your sense of style and proportions, it's evident you'll make any new place look homey, comfortable and gorgeous! good lack with move and have fun decorating new place. make sure to invite us over for a tour when you are done.

posted by Astrid Vladi on 2008-03-21 10:57:17
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That is a stunning apartment. Both the architecture of the apartment itself (and the view of the treetops), and the way you've decorated it.

I'd love to know the paint colors you used, particularly the white on the trim, and the dining room. Thanks for posting the bedroom color - that's just what I've been envisioning for our bedroom.

Give us a tour of your condo once you're done with it, please!

posted by greer on 2008-03-21 11:12:49
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the white is mesmerizing

posted by BlackandWhite on 2008-03-21 12:32:06
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You did a beautiful job. So much to look at, but not overwhelming. Modern yet classic. I love the colors you chose for your walls!

posted by alisong on 2008-03-21 12:39:16
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Amazing apartment, Gorgeous accents. Love that picture of the street, what a colourburst!

posted by jess p on 2008-03-21 13:42:18
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No so apartment related, but I adore the last image. What a dreamy neighborhood!

posted by IAGRL on 2008-03-21 13:56:09
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Thanks for sharing! I live around the corner on Pierce and always wondered what the inside of your building looked like. It is much more beautiful than I expected, especially with your decorating. Sorry you had to leave, but glad to hear that you are able to stay in the neighborhood.

posted by csq on 2008-03-22 01:15:35
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I lived in Wicker Park too and would always run down Hoyne wondering who lived in all those beautiful homes. Your place was spectacular. You guys have a beautiful eye.

posted by IDstudent on 2008-03-22 13:28:52
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What a beautiful place! I'm in an apartment carved out of a Victorian also and you've given me great ideas. A couple of questions:

1) Do you know the brand and color name of that gorgeous buttery yellow paint in the living room? It's so fresh and cheerful.

2) How do you care for your flokati. I love the look but I wonder if the threads would get yanked up into the roller of my vacuum.

Great work-- can't wait to see your next place!

posted by PhillyLass on 2008-03-22 15:48:53
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I love what you have done with your place! The Panton chairs on the flokati rug work so well together! Excellent job!

posted by suzy8track on 2008-03-22 19:46:53
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Beautiful! But I have a question concerning the placement of the TV in the living room. It's odd to see the TV facing a single chair and not watchable from the sofa. Is this really the spot you keep and view your TV?

posted by anne on 2008-03-23 13:06:43
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Can you give me more information on the tv? Manufacturer and price? Thanks! Your apartment is lovely.

posted by jmk on 2008-03-23 16:05:00
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PhillyLass. Although I love it, I can't take credit for the living area wall color. It was already painted when we moved in. I was told the wall color is Linen White by Benjamin Moore. It really looks great with the nice glossy white trim.

As far as cleaning the flokati... I wouldn't recommend a vaccum cleaner on it. I had this little handheld vac that I would use to pick up visible debris. As far as just plain dust- I would actually sweep the rug with one of those old school hard bristle brooms and then just vaccum off the dust from the hard wood floor. Also, it was good to lift up the rug, move it, and sweep underneath it. It sounds complicated but it was really quite easy.

Anne- It's funny that you mention the TV's position because when I pulled up this photo I was like "hum that's weird". But, I do remember trying to take the pic and then moving the TV to face the camera so that you could see the front and not the back. So the TV was "posing" for the picture. It actually sat facing the couch.

JMK- I foud this TV at the Ark (thrift store) on Lincoln. It was like $20 bucks. Maybe you can find one on e-bay. I'll let you know the manufacturer as soon as I find it and it gets unpacked!

Side note- J is happy about the great response to the dining area set-up in the turret. This was his favorite set up, but I made him move it so we could put the couch there. Although he won't say it, I know he feels like this is a little personal victory for him in the old "him vs. her decorating battle".

posted by ladynite on 2008-03-24 13:55:14
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Great apt. So sorry that you had to move, but I can't wait to see how your new condo works out. :-)

posted by glassesgirl on 2008-05-05 02:18:04
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Gorgeous and very unique!

Would you mind telling me where you got the perfect sunburst mirror in your DR? I swear, I've been searching for that very one.

posted by jul on 2008-06-03 01:25:34
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can you tell me more about the rug under the dining table?

posted by misaacg on 2008-06-14 09:05:27
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Where can i get that floor lamp in that bedroom?

posted by cscamp20 on 2008-07-03 23:37:08
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