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Name: Edgar and Larry
Location: West Rogers Park — Chicago, Illinois
Size: 900 square feet
Years lived in: 1.5 — rented

When a very stylish mutual friend, Christina, put me in touch with Edgar and Larry, I knew their apartment would be something special. Christina only knows stylish people so I knew I could trust her judgement. And so it came as no surprise when I walked into Edgar and Larry's home to see that they have put together a handsome apartment that blends many styles and decades and also represents their love of art and collecting.

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Edgar and Larry have decorated their apartment with a collector's eye. When they moved into this apartment a year and a half ago, they shed almost all of the belongings that filled their former home and decided to start over. Since moving in they have scoured the antique and thrift stores of Chicago, picking up some great finds along the way. The walls of the apartment are lined with thrifted art, much of it by seemingly amateur artists and unsigned.

I love that Edgar and Larry were able to bring together many divergent styles into their home to create a dynamic look. They cite the book New Paris Interiors as an inspiration for this apartment and you can definitely see the influence here.

Apartment Therapy Survey:

Our Style: New Parisian

Inspiration: I was inspired by my love for furniture, my partner Larry, my friends, Angelika Taschen's book New Paris Interiors, author and decorators Kelly Wearstler, Richard Shapiro, and all of my interior décor/design magazines.

Favorite Element: 99% of all our stuff has come from a resale store. Another favorite element is all of our white walls. After a long and stressful day at work, we always come home to a clean and bright home that relaxes us.

Biggest Challenge: Finding and waiting for the right pieces to come our way. When you buy resale there is no one-stop shop for everything you need. You have to pick and choose and wait for the right thing to come along. We were also challenged by finding a place for our desk top computer and printer. We had no room for a desk. So, we solved this by converting our credenza into a media cabinet.

What Friends Say: "You have an eye for things," "we love it," and my favorite,
"oh! what did you buy this time?" because our home is constantly evolving.

Biggest Embarrassment: Our building's common hallways. I wish our association management would clean the hallways every week.

Proudest DIY: Painting our whole place in 1 week and making all of our curtains with my mom. Also, converting our Drexel credenza into a media center.

Biggest Indulgence: Re-upholstering our Milo Baughman sofa and chair. When we found it, it was upholstered by the previous owner in an ugly 90's beige flowery velour.

Best Advice: If a piece of furniture or art catches your eye and heart, BUY IT! It was meant to be with you. Also, if you have something in your home and it doesn't fit or help your vision, DONATE IT! You will feel so much better when you get rid of it. Finally, clean, nourish, and love your home because after a hectic day your home is the place where you will find peace and rest.

Dream Sources: Brownstone Antiques, over half of all our stuff has come from there. I love them. Things change daily there and if you see something there, buy it. Because, it probably will not be there in 30 minutes.

Resources of Note:

ENTRY

    • Entry table, all art pieces, cement bench, gold mirror, cement pedestal, mid-century modern white statue, Italian gold candle holders, priest banner, pair of McCoy urns, and all decorated smalls from Brownstone Antiques.

LIVING ROOM

    • Pair of chrome and brown chairs: Scout.
    • Chrome coffee table: Edgewater Antique Mall.
    • Iron oval table: The Brown Elephant.
    • Roman large Bust: George Lowell.
    • Pair of French Louis XVI Chairs: Wiggys Resale.
    • Milo Baughman sofa and chair, roman art, mid century modern art, white marble lamp, end table, and Asian Lady painting: Brownstone Antiques.
    • Chrome Sputnik light fixture: eBay.

BEDROOM

    • Bed: Urbanest.
    • Pair of chalk male nude art pieces and marble lamp, Brown Elephant.
    • Mahogany bookcases, 1800's gold chair, all 5 male busts, wood pedestal, Victorian birdcage, gold mirror, black mirror, gold iron chandelier, small end table, oval oak end table, highboy dresser: Brownstone Antiques.

TV ROOM

    • Room & Board sofa: The Brown Elephant.
    • 2 blue Ralph Lauren chairs: Craigslist.
    • Drexel credenza, Paul McCobb green stool, Mid-Century Modern folding table, all art pieces, Ralph Lauren white floor lamp, Ralph Lauren green and black planting pots, Ralph Lauren blue and white vase, and all Haeger vases: Brownstone Antiques.

Thanks, Edgar & Larry!

Images: Jason Loper

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