Two Graduate Students, a Cat, and a Chinchilla Divide Their Chicago Space in a Creative Way

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An orange cat on a brown couch
Credit: Meredith Raymer

Name: Meredith Raymer, roommate, cat, and chinchilla
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Type of home: Apartment
Size: 1200 square feet
Years lived in: 5 months, renting

Credit: Meredith Raymer

Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: We are graduate students at Northwestern on a limited budget. Meredith tries to DIY everything she can and most of the pieces in the home have some DIY modification.

Credit: Meredith Raymer

As grad students, we need flexible spaces to accommodate both of our schedules. This need led to the creation of the room divider shelf! The home design overall combines a variety of styles and objects to be minimal but not too minimal.

Credit: Meredith Raymer

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Mid-century modern and modern organic

Credit: Meredith Raymer

What is your favorite room and why? The bedroom is Meredith’s favorite room because of the playfulness of the wavy headboard and depth achieved with the dark green fabric. The rug in the room came from Abu Dhabi where she lived for four years and adds more traditional feeling to contrast the more modern shapes.

Credit: Meredith Raymer

Any advice for creating a home you love? When you have an idea go for it! Everything can be changed or re-done, but that inspired moment can’t be replicated.

This submission’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
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