Name: Sarah E. Polster
Location: Logan Square — Chicago, Illinois
Size: 2,000 square feet (Top two floors of a 3-flat)
Years lived in: 8 — owned
Sarah's house was built in the late 1890s and, as with many older homes, it has the character traits of age. Slant-y floors and drafty windows are reminders that this building has stood tall on this lot in Logan Square for more than 100 years. Sarah has a penchant for things in "a perfect state of disrepair" so this house fits her farmhouse vintage vibe perfectly.
Sarah occupies the top two floors of this three-flat. She readily admits this is too much space for just one person but it was also an opportunity she couldn't pass up when she purchased the building. With the first floor rented out to tenants, Sarah set up her home on the upper two floors. The first of the two top levels contains the living and dining room combo, plus the kitchen and sunroom, while the third floor offers space for an office, bedroom, TV room and guest quarters. By having her bedroom and office on the third floor of the building, with a full floor between herself and her tenants, Sarah is assured to not experience any neighbor noise. (As I write this I can hear my neighbor's thumping R&B music and loud phone conversation... so you can imagine how much I relish Sarah's space!)
Apartment Therapy Survey:
My Style: Farmhouse Vintage Modern
Inspiration: Anything in the perfect state of disrepair! Lately, I realize I have been unconsciously inspired by my grandmother's rural Lake Michigan property - rustic, patina'd, outdoorsy and peaceful. That, combined with studying historic preservation, years spent working at modernist architecture firm SOM plus the influence of uber-creative friends and loved ones mix to inspire my design choices.
Favorite Element: The space (embarrassingly large for one person, but I couldn't resist) and daylight (the top floor has unobstructed views on all sides).
Biggest Challenge: Living in an OLD building (1896) equals drafty windows, slanted floors, odd room configurations and handyman special "improvements" by previous owners. However, this has allowed me to master the art of applying window caulk in winter, the placement of shims under furniture, the frugality to save money for "glamorous" upgrades like new electric service and overall how to accentuate the positive!
What Friends Say: "Delightful." "Great colors." "Umm, can you do my place?" But, without fail, nearly EVERYONE says, "Wow, are those LEVELS? I love them." My standard comeback is, "I am a Libra, so I like to stay balanced." But the truth is, I just like them - and they remind me of my father, who's an engineer.
Biggest Embarrassment: After nearly eight years, I still haven't renovated the kitchen or bathrooms. I've also acquired too many THINGS, so I've begun to "de-acquisition" them through an Etsy shop.
Proudest DIY: This is tough, as I've tried to do a LOT myself - from sewing window treatments to installing light fixtures. But I'm truly proud of the amazing, original mid-century furnishings I've found by diligently scouring thrift and secondhand stores - and how I've managed to mix them with lots of funky industrial and rustic objects.
Biggest Indulgence: The sectional from Jayson Home & Garden (but at least I got it at a warehouse sale!). Jayson's Creative Director Caroline Scheeler rocks. Oh, and paying the heating bill!
Best Advice: Patience. Time flies, so don't be freak out if you can't have what you want immediately. The best homes are made over time. Enjoy the process in the meantime and have fun with your home. It's your refuge.
Dream Sources: The awesome thing is, my dream sources are also (almost) all my reality sources!
ABC Carpet and Home
A Lamp & Fixture Shoppe
Brooklyn Flea
Copenhagen Flea Markets
The Estate Sale of Ray and Charles Eames!
Fish's Eddy
Holly Hunt
Jayson Home and Garden
Maharam Showroom
Marco Polo Antique/Modern
Obsolete
Parisian Flea Markets
Scout
Shipshewana Antique Auction
Resources of Note:
PAINT & COLORS
- • Entry: Martha Stewart Muslin and Martha Stewart New Khaki
• Living Room: Behr Monroe Bisque
• Front Foyer: Martha Stewart Muslin
• Dining Room accent wall: Benjamin Moore Intrigue
• Bathroom: Valspar Celadon
• Sun Room: Custom mix
• Stairwell: Behr Castle Stone
• Master Bedroom: Behr Gossamer Blue
• TV Room: Glidden Sudan Sand
• Office: Benjamin Moore Intrigue
• Trim throughout: Benjamin Moore Decorator's White
LIVING ROOM
- • Sectional - Jordan Sectional from Jayson Home & Garden
• Rug - Oscar Isberian Rugs
• Credenza - Paul McCobb (secret source)
• Antique Aqua Table - The Ark (refinishing by Ted Harris)
• Cityscape Oil Painting - Peter Fagundo
• Eames Shell Chair on Rocker Base (secret source)
• Pillows - IKEA and handmade by me
DINING ROOM
- • Danish Modern Teak Sideboard - The Ark
• George Nelson Saucer Bubble Lamp
• Burke Tulip Table - The Ark
• White Naugahyde Swivel Base Chairs - Salvation Army
• Sisal Rug - IKEA
• Red Metal Letter S - Stonehouse on Cedar
KITCHEN
- • Arthur Umanoff Wood Slat Bar Stools - craigslist
• Photography - Pete Barreras
• Work on Paper - Betsy Walton
BEDROOM
- • Dresser - Thrifting find (repainted)
• Saarinen Knoll Office Chair - Thrifting find (reupholstered)
• End tables - Village Discount (repainted)
• Pillow and chair fabric - Alexander Girard Quatrefoil from Maharam
SUNROOM
- • Danish Modern rocker - St. Vincent DePaul
• Bubble lamp - Pier One
• Antique Black Table - Shipshewana Auction
• Black Metal Trunk - Pine River Antiques
TV ROOM
- • Sofa - The Ark (reupholstered)
• Cateye painting - The Ark
• Bookshelf - IKEA
• Rug - Pottery Barn
• Small silver arc lamp - The alley behind my last condo
OFFICE
- • Desk and Wardrobe - Antique store in Wisconsin
• Emeco chair - Thrifting find
• Florence Knoll Slipper Chairs -Thrifting find
• Silkscreen - Keelin Meyer
• Oil Painting - Erik Neff
Thanks, Sarah!
Images: Jason Loper
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So adorable! I love the Eames rocker and how different styles were collaborated into one.
hi, this is nice & cheery& authentic! love the use of color !
the grey velvet slipper chairs caught my eye - they looks especially nice against that wall, and those orange "back" covers on the kitchen stools - did you make those?
Love it!
love love love. so cozy and lived in.
HOLY WOW.
Was this in the color contest a few months back? Because it should have been. And should have WON.
I love your house!
Yes. Really put together, and amazing use of color. It really takes skill to make something very eclectic also seem restful and you've accomplished it.
I absolutely love your style Sarah! I also really covet that pulley under the lamp in the 5th gallery picture.
I adore Sarah Polster and her wonderful home! I aspire to catching some of the cast offs. Heading to your Etsy store RIGHT NOW!
One of my favorites ever on apartment therapy. What a happy jumble of funky good design and homey warmth.
@medusa23, have you never read Charles Gilman Norris? Highly recommended!
Also, I am ~le jealous of Sarah's beautiful apartment! I wish my three-flat was half as charming and homey as hers. Beautiful job.
And by @medusa23, I clearly mean @medusa12120. Wow. Go to bed, self.
Such a cozy home... Hooray for vintage!
I adore your couch!
I should specify: the burnt orange sofa. LOVE.
Oh my. Lovely apartment. I miss Chicago. Miss it bad.
This is definitely one of my all-time favorites on AT. It has warmth and charm and quirkiness without being cluttered or overly designed. It's hard to imagine that the people who live there are not interesting or nice. I could move and feel right at home. I picked quite a few ideas. Thank you for sharing.
Just discovered AT recently. Enjoying daily visits to many beautiful homes but this is the first time I've felt compelled to comment. Thank you, Sarah, for sharing your lovely home. I've saved half a dozen pictures from your house tour with ideas to use when I'm land-based again. Merry Christmas!
Hello! It's Sarah. You are all so kind, I blush. Thank you! The positive reinforcement is so nice as I begin to build my own interior design business!
Allow me to respond and/or elaborate:
@TAmom -- Yes, I did make the Umanoff chair slip covers! It was easy, like making a tea cozy.
@ohmeursault -- I missed the color contest, darn it!
@deweydefeatstruman96 -- The pulley is actually a wood tractor wheel! A farmer came up to me after I won it at a farm auction wanting it to buy it for his actual tractor!
@medusa12120 -- Bizarre, right?! That's why I had to pick it up from my friends at manlyvintage.com.
Happy holidays, everyone!
Wow an all time favourite ,just lovely
I love your coffee table!
@Sarah from cushion - Actually a wood tractor wheel you say? Now I want it even more. Though I feel bad for the farmer that needed it for his antique tractor, those aren't easy to come by. Surely either one of us should get it, but I suppose it does look rather awesome in your home!
You've got some great individual pieces, but I'm not too sure about the mix, which certainly epitomizes the term "eclectic!" LOL
I want to live here.I love the bedroom wall color and the endtables.The levels can (maybe?) be used as ledges to hold artwork.(Just an idea.)
Gorge! love it!
Super duper in Love with your place... Congratulations on pulling together such a spectacular home.
Love your place...love your junque.
Love.
In picture 10 of the living room, labeled sarah11.jpg., who is the artist responsible for the piece above the couch, right above the pillows?
Thanks for the tour!
uber lovely!
Love seeing the homes of Logan Square neighbors! You have a beautiful home and I covet all of your space. Happy winter!
Saving this forever. Great colors all over the place, love it!
The first picture stands out to me. The room would not have the same personality as it does without that mural posted on the back wall. It adds so much to the room. http://www.katsartmurals.com
@LAKarr -- the painting is by Chicago artist Peter Fagundo. His Web site is listed in Resources. His recent work is more abstract than this piece, which is several years old. But I know there are more like this one available. He's a great guy; feel free to reach out to him.
Lovely place! How did you hang the levels?
Sarah, this is an absolutely adorable home! DROOL!!!
Where did you get the white perpetual wall calendar? I haven't seen one in a long while. It's to die for!! Is it Conrans, maybe. Gosh! Do tell!
@BluGinhm -- Thanks! Small nails did the trick. The levels have round openings that served as "hooks", and I drilled a few tiny holes in them where more balance (pun intended!) was needed.
@SoulSharon -- Thanks! It's vintage. Got it from a photography studio that was going out of business here in Chicago years ago. That's the good -- and bad -- thing about vintage decor: It's not easy for someone else to re-create!
Sarah,
We love the round geometric rug in front of the wardrobe. Were did you find this awesome piece or who makes it? Love you taste by the way, we envy your space!
Very creative. I love the white coffee table. Who makes it or where did you get it? I have been looking for the exact table for too many yrs now.
@Laura Anderson, sorry to leave you hanging. The off-white laminate coffee table was my parents. They bought it in the 1980s! In general, I don't like the table itself, but I like the juxtaposition of it against the vintage sofa. Surprised even myself!
Hi Sarah,
The interior design looks great, however it was nice to have beautiful Persian rug on the dark wood floor.
Thanks
Shawn Nejad
Your home is lovely. I think it's great that you have the top two floors, rent out the bottom, and have peace and quiet on the top floor. Awesome that you have so much light and unobstructed views on the top floor. It's true that a home is built over time with distinctive and special items and furniture. I agree re: too much stuff, but you're on the editing tip. When you enjoy your home and design and decor in general, it's hard not to be in an acquisitive vein.