Name: Dennis and Jose
Location: Ukrainian Village — Chicago, Illinois
Size: 1,200 square feet
Years lived in: 1 — rented
Two years ago, Dennis and Jose experienced a hardship that most of us fear, yet are lucky enough to avoid: their entire apartment building was rendered uninhabitable by a fire. Luckily no one was injured and they scrambled quickly to find a new place. Many of their belongings were salvaged, but for the next year, they were living in a space that never quite felt like home. For their next move, they had much more planning and pavement pounding time to find a new apartment and they wound up with a lovely Ukrainian Village gem. Natural light, ample space and gleaming woodwork abound, and Dennis and Jose are finally at home.
Enter House Tour
It's no surprise that this particular home is so inviting and styled down to the smallest component. Dennis is a hairstylist and Creative Director for Gro Salon and a country DJ and Jose is a graphic designer for Artemis Design. One can see that every last detail of their home is given serious thought and attention, yet the end result is playful and charming. But, as often happens when two strong design minds come together, agreeing on the small details is not always easy. On my visit they told a funny story about a back-and-forth involving bobblehead figurines that had been put on display by one of them, been tucked away by the other, and then put out again, (as you can see, they are mysteriously not pictured). Though Dennis and Jose take the design of their home seriously, a sense of humor and relaxed style comes through in everything they do.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
Dennis's answers are first — Jose's follow in italics
Our Style: Eclectic. Mod, scary monsters, Frankenstein
Inspiration: Comfort and life memories. Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha, (none of the above).
Favorite Element: Natural light, (East, South, West) and bringing the outside in — having family heirlooms mixed in. Color, mixture.
Biggest Challenge: Bringing an old apartment up to date, mixing my décor with my boyfriend's things and agreeing. Nazi-design boyfriend.
What Friends Say: Feels home-like, amazing for cost, clean, makes sense for me. Nice.
Biggest Embarrassment: Constantly shopping for a new sofa and new/loud music. When I get really, really drunk.
Proudest DIY: My plants and organizing. Bringing the little things together to make it my own. Art, music, humor.
Biggest Indulgence: Buying vinyl and needless grooming products. Beer, video games and loud music.
Best Advice: Make it you without overdoing it. Everything should have a place, including your home. A sense of community is important. Remember that it's ok and healthy to change your mind. Mix it up. If you don't like it anymore, it doesn't belong. Don't fight it, feel it!
Dream Sources: Someday, it would be fantastic to have a personal shopper! I'd really love to spend lots of money at Wright. Also, it's great when friends go through an identity crisis and give away their stuff. I was a sixties and seventies hippie, looking for a place to wash my hair.
Resources: Kubrick, Michelangelo Antonioni, Neu!, psychedelic
Thanks, Dennis and Jose!
Images: Smith Schwartz
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it's a beautiful apartment with lots of separate 'spaces' within 1200 square feet.
please note, i have the same ET tv tray and i was so elated to see someone else with it.
and goodness, the theme in the master bedroom. although i love it, you really ran with it...gutsy =)
I love what you've done with the back porch. So much nicer than rusty bikes and cases of beer...
yay! i'm so excited for you guys....LOVE what you've done with the back porch and look at pumpkin <3
love everything BUT the bedrooms. they just seem less.... thoughtful.
Your plant with dark, shiny citrus-like leaves in the terra cotta pot by the window is very hardy. That kind stores water in its roots so well that it can squeeze out of, even break, its container. The less it's watered, the less it needs to be pruned and repotted. I've had a few of those. Your home's colors are soothing, and your cat is pretty. Thanks for sharing them.
The hanging fruit basket in the shower=genius!
Your home has so much character! I especially love the fishy painting in the bathroom.....brilliant!
Love your effortless style...nice work!
Very cool!
Wow! This place is fabulous! Here's the lesson:
As long as you glue it all together with style and personality, it doesn't matter how much unrelated stuff you throw together.
These guys have some *serious* talent.
Great place....but that baby impaled on a pole has got to go.
Fun to see. Thanks for showing.
I, too, covet that fishy painting
Really great place. I wouldn't fight you for the freaky plastic baby doll, but the rest is wonderful.
Where in the world did you find those cute mustache pillows?!
I really enjoyed it! I HAVE to know who the artist is of the "squares" piece hanging on the wall in the title picture (with the recharging ipad).
I think the mustache pillows are from Urban Outfitters but I could be wrong.
I love love LOVE this.
They seem like genuine, joyful people who aren't afraid to laugh. Their clever use of space and organization are inspiring. It feels cohesive, too, and that can be hard with plants and tiny things everywhere.
One piece of advice, concerning the kitchen, though. Bulk spices, people! Far fresher.
The small mustache pillows are from Rotofugi and the pillowcases are available at Urban Outfitters. The squares painting was purchased at Stop Look on Western. Don't know the artist but the name is B. Luna.
Thank you bluemamie for the nice words and the spice advice. We recently just switched to a rack and will go bulk shopping.
I like your baby, and the rest.
These guys have style, no question! What I love about the apartment is that it's full of personality without being precious or contrived. I don't think I could live in a cowboy bedroom, but they certainly make a convincing case for one.
(And the place has good bones -- mon dieu, the built-in storage by the kitchen!)
I especially love the kitchen, which (for me, anyway) is balanced perfectly between beauty and utility. Bravo!
Design solutions for small spaces can be challenging as I found out in a recent project of my own. You quickly discover just how much stuff you can live without. I think my favorite pic would have to be the room with the fan. It made me think of the porch scene in Top Gun. It looks like a great space to unwind and enjoy the simple pleasures in life. I love the big pieces of artwork and of course the hardwood floors. Thanks for sharing.
So are too old and fake lived-in the new statements?
Anyway, I liked pics 29 and 44 and the comment about the nazi design boyfriend -- but above all I'm really curious as to the baby statue. Why is it there?
Awww very nice and clean,,i love the porch how you made it a sitting room,, and the whole layout of the kitchen and dining area,,the wood on the floors match the doors and door panels,,, looks very comfy all the rooms have their own character to it,,all retro furniture goes well with the open area you have there.. Thanks!!