
Name: Jen Schuetz and Naz Hamid
Profession: Jill-of-All-Trades and Designer
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Size: 1200 Square Feet
Years lived in: 2 1/2
Type: 2 Bedroom Apartment
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We first met Naz around 2000, when we were both members of a fledgling Chicago bloggers group. Later, we had an opportunity to write together when he co-founded Gapers Block, with Andrew Huff. During these past 8 years, it has been our pleasure to know this creative, great individual. When we saw the apartment Naz and his wife, Jen, a talented photographer, had created together we knew a tour was in order...


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A lovely, open space with great flow, Jen and Naz's apartment seamlessly combines vintage finds, like complete bedroom set previously belonging to Jen's great aunt and a dentist chair, with iconic pieces such as an Eames Molded Plywood. The great personal DIY touches displayed throughout -- Naz's silk screened posters, the cardboard letters over the headboard, Jen's work on the dress form -- let their personalities come through. The total effect is charming, modern and eclectic.

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Naz and Jen's Survey
My Style: Americana, mid-century modern, minimal, clean and fun.
Inspiration: Mid-century, classic Americana, things that endure.
Favorite Element(s): Sitting corner in living room; the office - I spend all day in there.
Biggest Challenge: Finding what we wanted. It takes time, especially when you want to avoid off-the-shelf mass-produced items, but it's sometimes unavoidable. Also, colour since we can't paint.
What Friends Say: They like the colour, brightness and space.

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Biggest Embarrassment: The bathroom.
Proudest DIY: Our "fake" sconces. Construction paper!
Biggest Indulgence: Other people's places. We're pseudo voyeuristic, looking into people's spaces while walking by to see how they did their space.
Best Advice: Be creative in sourcing materials. Sometimes, solutions are in the simplest and obvious places. Re-appropriating items for other uses is what did a lot of good for us.
Dream Source: We don't really think of a dream source but more of dream items - things that we have in mind but either don't exist or we haven't found.

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Resources:
Dining Room
Bench - Ikea
Pillows and drapes - Urban Outfitters
Table - Target, Thomas O'Brien
Chairs - CB2
Rugs - Cost Plus World Market
Bar Stools - Praha (a vintage shop on Lincoln)
Living Room
Rug - Crate and Barrel
Coffee Table - Ikea
Chairs - Vintage
Sectional - Ikea
Book Shelf and Side Tables - Value City Furniture
Square Bookshelves - Container Store
Lamps - CB2
Sewing Machine - Vintage
Pillows - Etsy and CB2
Drapes - CB2
TV Stand - Ikea
Magazine Rack - Container Store
Bedroom
Bed - CB2
Side Tables and Dresser - Vintage Set
Drapes - Cost Plus World Market
Frames - CB2 and Ikea
Floor Lamp - CB2
Table Lamp - Ikea
Bedding - Bed, Bath & Beyond
Office
Desks - CB2
Bins - Ikea
Shelves - Ikea
Chairs and Ottoman - Ikea
Rugs - Cost Plus World Market and Ikea
Lamps - Ikea
Frames - Ikea
File Cabinets - CB2 and Ikea
Thanks, Jen and Naz for the tour, and to Evan for the photos!
brindle boxer baby! soooo cute.
view thekatieway's profile
awesome and I adore you puppy
view hanako66's profile
You obviously have a ton of Ikea in your home, but it doesn't feel like a showroom. I love the cardboard(?) words above the bed. I'm stealing the idea. ;)
view Kimber's profile
whoa! i have a cat named loki & use the same tapestry from urban on my couch AND made curtains out of them.
get out of my head ;)
i love it!
view saltyc's profile
The two comic/pulp-style women pictures in your office are wonderful! Where did they come from?
view mabith's profile
mabith â our friend, christian, made them for us. you can find more of his paintings and artwork here.
view treesquirrel's profile
great place, I actually like your cream (?) walls, they bring a calmness to the space. I love the undersized art but one big, great pice might be nice too. Thanks for sharing --
view outonalimb_2008's profile
great space! I love the walls in the dining room and the "frames" on the wall (Is that molding?). Looks great!
Tabitha @http://www.fromsingletomarried.com
view Tabitha (From Single to Married)'s profile
I like it except for the words on the bedroom wall.
view hrhprincessfiona's profile
love the place, also love the jay ryan art prints.
view costa's profile
Your space is very airy and light feeling. Wonderful!!!. I am sooooo considering getting the same sofa from IKEA. How does it wear over time?
view Sylvia K's profile
sylvia, considering we have two cats and a dog, i think the leather kramfors couch/chaise from ikea has held up well in our household. we've had it for 2 1/2 yrs, and there are some spots of wear, but nothing major.
view treesquirrel's profile
diggin' on your photog
view laHAMMER's profile
thanks :) i would say well worth it. again, i love your space.
view Sylvia K's profile
where did you get your dog dishes? I like the idea of them being up off the floor, but can't find anything my style.
view shalg's profile