As the evenings begin to carry a hint of winter, certain homes come into their own. My open, window-filled apartment is perfect for letting as much light in as possible during the San Francisco rainy season, but my parents' 1889 home is the place to be when a much more serious Chicago winter is on the way.

Their home is red brick, sturdy, and the epitome of cozy. Though I would never describe the interior as dark, it is definitely not airy, and I love that my parents have embraced that by painting almost all the rooms in rich, luxurious burgundies & greens. Displays of old family & found silver glow on even the darkest days, and creamy-golden curtains warm the light when the sky and the snow are a uniformly icy white.

Image: Tess Wilson