Name: Jason Loper & Michael Schreiber
Location: Rogers Park, Chicago
Size: 800 square feet
Years lived in: Purchased 2 ½ years ago
You might have heard us mention the name Jason Loper around the proverbial water cooler lately, as his repurposed storage and office makeover have been making well deserved waves. He and his husband Michael call Rogers Park, Chicago home and have made quite the little handmade haven, that sports a bright bohemian vibe that packs quite a punch...
Jason is the mastermind behind Zola Jones in Chicago. He slaves away every day behind his sewing machine making most wonderful bags and accessories. When he comes home, he's designed a space that not only reflects their style, but gives everyone a place to take a break and truly enjoy being home!
Every inch of space has been maximized in this 800sqft space. The colors make it come alive and keep it feeling comfortable, cozy and energetic all at the same time. There's lots of little details to catch as you check things out, look for chalkboard paint in the kitchen, a cat door into the pantry, vintage treasures, a closet/office combo, framed out diy silhouettes of the whole family (including the cat!) and best of all fabric wainscoting in the dining room. There's diy around every corner and the touches they bring add personality and truly finish off the space!
AT Survey:
My/Our style: I describe my style as structured bohemian. I like clean, organized and open spaces but I also like to mix patterns and textures.
Inspiration: After being a renter for so long, I was excited to get to PAINT so color has played a large role in our home. Mostly I went with light pastels; the chalkboard paint in the kitchen and dark green in the bedroom are the darkest.
Favorite Element: We intentionally bought a third floor unit for the light and do we ever get it! With east and west facing windows we have light even on dark Midwestern days. My other favorite element is our building’s close proximity to the El. When I was a kid in rural Ohio, I couldn’t wait to grown up move to a city with public transportation. So in the middle of the night, when I hear the speaker from the train platform announce “bing bong doors closing,” I smile.
Biggest Challenge: Staying organized and clutter-free after downsizing from a 1500 sf rental to an 800 sf condo.
Favorite Room: Kitchen/Dining Room. We’re inevitably in one of these two rooms – which is why I was confident we could live in a small home when we considered downsizing. I’m usually in the kitchen – cooking, crafting, or cleaning – while The Mister sits with laptop at the table.
What Friends Say: It feels homey and warm.
Proudest DIY: Using the outdoor upholstery fabric as “wainscoting” in the dining room. It was one of the first things I did when we moved in and I still love it. The fabric’s texture and deep copper color lend warmth to the room.
Biggest Indulgence: Elfa shelving from Container Store. It is so worth the investment. Sure, Home Depot makes a cheaper version but you really get what you pay for in this instance. Elfa shelving is super durable and easy to install.
Best advice: It can be very difficult to get started on a project. It can feel totally overwhelming until you get started. So just jump in! Take a Friday night, pour yourself a glass of wine, grab a paintbrush and jump into the project. Once you get started it’s fun. And if it’s not fun, the wine will help.
Had Forever: The vintage Marshall Field’s desk is one of the few big, old pieces of furniture we kept after downsizing. It’s a little oversized for our space — measuring a massive 38” x 32” — but our love of Chicago history just won’t let us give it up. Plus the deep drawers make for great storage space.
Dream source: Jonathan Adler
Reality Source: Alleys and Flea Markets
Just got: The captain’s bed — it’s a little tall and the kitty makes a great thump! when she jumps off it in the middle of the night, but this one piece of furniture replaces the three pieces we had in the bedroom previously.
Resources:
Furniture: IKEA, Kane County flea market, Target.com
Accessories: The curtains are handmade by Jason.
Lighting: The fixture in the dining room is from Neiman Marcus, most rooms have can lighting, or ceiling fans. The accent lamps are a mix of vintage and Target finds.
Rugs and Carpets: FLOR
Beds: www.furniture.com
Artwork: I’ve used a lot of mirrors to decorate in our home – both for vanity and to make the space feel larger. The artwork around is all DIY — from silhouettes in the living room to fabric in the entryway and so forth.
(Thanks, Jason & Michael!)
If you'd like to learn more about Jason's endeavors, check out the links below!
• Zola Jones Designs
• Zola Jones Blog
Images: Jason Loper
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
"Take a Friday night, pour yourself a glass of wine, grab a paintbrush and jump into the project. Once you get started it’s fun. And if it’s not fun, the wine will help."
If not the best advice, the most true at least.
view quinnley's profile
Wonderful house tour! I love the wainscotting - so original and warm.
The kitty silhouette is fantastic...I hope kitty appreciates being immortalized!
view bitdot's profile
love that green bedroom!
Question- I've always loved the chalkboard in the kitchen idea, but doesn't the dust get ALL over the counter?? I don't think I could live with chalk dust so close to all the food! How do you guys handle it?
view CozyLittleCave's profile
Are you sure this is only 800 sq ft? It looks and lives larger than that! I think it's because of the multiple colors and interesting mixes of furnishings and decor.
I like how the radiator appears to be PART of the decor with the use of the slat wood benches:
http://gallery.apartmenttherapy.com/photo/ch-zola-jones-tour/item/76607
Love the green room with the captains bed:
http://gallery.apartmenttherapy.com/photo/ch-zola-jones-tour/item/76618
Being able to store everything in the bed makes so much sense. And the green is like being surrounded by nature. Were the walls that smooth when you moved in? Everything in my place has that textured stuff.
The Wall of Malma is GREAT!
http://gallery.apartmenttherapy.com/photo/ch-zola-jones-tour/item/76602
I always wanted to do something like that. But I'd NEVER get them hung that evenly.
view #9's profile
Immaculate paint job. This is a lovely home.
view ah2Bthee's profile
Wow! The green room with the captain's bed is amazing! Love the silhouettes in the living room, the one with the cat is just adorable! Thanks so much for sharing your unique home and providing some inspiration!
view suzy8track's profile
This is going into the favorites file for SURE.
view megan macdonald's profile
awwww I love this home! Lucky lucky lucky!
view dunklekatze's profile
Its nice to see black being use in a way that isn't ultra modern.
view Jose A's profile
Love the pea green in the bedroom. Very handsome.
view slowdown's profile
The desk where you have your laptop is absolutely AMAZING. I would love love love to have that. Any thoughts about where I might get my hands on one?
Emily
view Emily Sneds's profile
I'm sorry but that green wall is a hot mess. Their are so many beautiful shades of green available it's a shame you didn't choose one of those.
view ironie's profile
It's a shame some people feel the need to be so rude. I'm with slowdown, the green in the bedroom is a handsome and unusual color.
view tequila red's profile
@ Emily--it's an antique typing desk. The centre part swings up to accomodate a typewriter. Try looking on CL or Kijiji--they come up for sale in my area from time to time.
view Mlle Kate's profile
Comfortable looking place. Do they really use a percolator? I haven't seen anyone use one in several decades.
view aaakid's profile
I like the unexpected color choice in the dining room
http://www.modernests.com
view MODERnestS's profile
Somehow I knew this was a Chicago apartment from the first picture. There's a lot here that I really like. The green is a little intense for me but it works with their overall color choices. And can I just say how much I hate the expression "hot mess"?
view sally305's profile
There are some lovely elements, like the hooks for the bags, the shape of the leather couch, love how the laptop fits so nicely into the desk.
Unfortunately most of this house does not work for me, simply because it makes me feel like a home my old granny would live in. The plaid curtains make me cringe. I think they would work better if that fabric went down to the floor. And the green ( to me ) is one of those greens that I never liked ( reminds me too much of the dark crayola green and makes me think of fake christmas trees).
But of course this is just a comment, and what's most important is that the owners are happy in their home.
view Aster's profile
@ aaakid, Yes! my mother-in-law uses a percolator. When the one her mom left for her was out of commission, she finally found one from Pottery Barn! She will not even use any other coffee making thingies other than her percolator! BTW, the house is wonderful. Personally I don't like the green in the bedroom. But if they love it, it is then a great color for the owners! Great JOB!
view flobeau's profile
@aakid My oma (grandmother) uses a percolator. I only found out a couple of months ago. I too was shocked as, me being in my 20s, didn't think anyone used one anymore. It was a tan/brown colour too- very 70s/80s. I laughed. But each to their own I guess. If they like percolated coffee then go right ahead.
BTW love the house. The green isn't in my taste but I love the look. Love the hook thingy (what is the word for that?...) and the floor in the dining room. Gorgeous.
view bkk's profile
It looks HUGE! And I love your color courage. Great job.
view quiltmaster's profile
Would it be possible to get instructions to make those beautiful autumn leaf napkin rings?
view DLC8's profile
the little "mister and mister" made me smile. Lovely, homey place.
view mjr's profile
The cat silhouette is cracking me up. I missed that the first time through. I love this place because it's not super-trendy (not a keep calm poster in sight) but it still looks like young, fun people live here. Plus, I REALLY want one of Jason's bags!
view tequila red's profile
Hello - I think you have a lovely,comfortable condo. Beautifully decorated - nothing out of place.Love your cat, its beautiful.
view Betty14's profile
can i move in? they look happy and any style works. love it.
view hernandezeligio's profile
I enjoyed reading the owner's write up of their space, you can tell he has a great sense of humor and their place certainly reflects his writing. The place is fun, I love the use of color throughout the home. It's very much Chicago, which is about the best compliment I can give!
view Laurie615's profile
To DLCB: I got the free template for making the napkin rings at the Merriment Designs blog:
http://www.merrimentdesign.com/felt-leaf-napkin-rings-and-placecards-for-thanksgiving.php#
And re: the percolator - yes, that's our everyday coffee maker. It makes delicious coffee, there are no filters to buy, and unlike an automatic drip it can easily be put away in a cabinet when not in use. Perfect for this neatnik!
:-) Jason
view JasonLoper's profile
Adorable couple. Cute place.
view kelleyk's profile
This is such a lovely, thoughtful home... without seeming staged... and yes, my mother -in-law also uses a percolator every morning.... and I painted my son's room a very similar green... he loves it... as do I. Thanks for sharing your home!
view megs22's profile
Nice work. The furniture and decorative elements work cohesively without appearing to be over-designed. The bold yet tasteful paint colors look contemporary without disrespecting the vintage aspects of the place. The lack of pretense is refreshing.
view mtrrm's profile
and here i thought a hot mess was a good thing!
i love the pea green bedroom, the gorgeous antique desk and the overall handsome, clean and fresh look of this place. it's warm, unpretentious and looks like it's easy to maintain.
sweet kitty too!
view darlingclementine's profile
oh and i also use a percolator!
view darlingclementine's profile
Love the houndstooth carpet tiles in the kitchen.
view torlee's profile
wow wow wow beautiful!!!
view ryumama's profile
and beautiful cat!!
view ryumama's profile
I think the green bedroom looks FAB!!!! Would you share and let us know what color you used? Great job, looks cozy, warm and real. Love it.
view Carey1's profile
I'm torn regarding the green walls in the bedroom; one moment I like them, the other not. But they are perfectly painted and that's admirable no matter what I end up thinking about the colour *green of envy*
Timeless and personal style; thumbs up for that!!!
view luftskibet's profile
The "Scout Camp Green" doesn't work for me, but I like that it's kinda glossy. The big mirror on the same wall as the window is good -- anywhere else and it might read as "design magazines told me that this mirror would make my place look bigger."
view biglinguist's profile
I want to be there :)
view emal's profile