Becca’s Bright & Free-Spirited Loft

Name: Becca Kannapell
Location: Noble Square; Chicago, Illinois
Size: Approximately 1,400 square feet
Years lived in: 1 year; Rented

When Becca and her boyfriend moved from New York City to Chicago a year ago, they were amazed by their new-found apartment options. Both of them lived in tiny 400-square-foot apartments in Manhattan, and now they have all this space to create in — and Becca has been taking full advantage.

Becca, her sister, and her mother run a jewelry business called POUND Jewelry. Her apartment is often used for company photo shoots because of the white brick walls and incredible light. The extra bedroom became a studio space for her jewelry work as well as a space for friends to stay when they visit. She says she tries to keep the jewelry confined to her studio, but you can find tiny pieces all over the apartment.

There are some obvious themes in the space as well as a few more secret ones. Looking around quickly, you can tell that many of the pieces come from other countries and cultures. There are many colorful textiles and sculptures. There are also plants in every nook and cranny. But if you look more closely, you can see a distinct art history influence: There are tiny Frida Kahlos hiding everywhere, and Francesca Woodman books that echo the aesthetic of the space.

Our Style: Lovingly curated, with a free-spirited global vibe.

Inspiration: Traveling and exploring are my biggest inspirations. When I travel, I try to absorb every moment of magic that comes my way and I store it away to infuse later into my own space. I like objects and pieces that have meaning or a story to them. I am inspired by synchronicity and the hunt for interesting textiles, oddities, and treasures. When it is financially possible, I only bring things into my space that evoke a feeling or have a unique and fascinating beauty to them.

Favorite Element: All of the windows and the way the light plays inside my space throughout the day. Every part of the day is a little different in regards to how the light hits objects in my home and it is fun to watch and photograph. I also love the expansive space I have to create and dance in, having come from a tiny East Village NYC apartment for the previous eight years. I imagine our home as a constantly evolving museum sometimes, as I am editing and reviving where all of the little treasures go pretty much weekly.

Biggest Challenge: The slanted mismatched funky floors in the living room/dining area. But this is also one of my favorite parts of the space. The floors give this place character. I TRY my best not to keep jewelry and POUND pendulums all over the place because I do share the space with my boyfriend, but it is quite difficult because I am photographing and packaging and playing with them all day long.

What Friends Say: “You have got to be kidding me.”

Biggest Embarrassment: I have so many clothes that my shelves literally came of the wall in my closet and collapsed. Whoops. But my clothes are all pretty much necessary, so I fixed it.

Proudest DIY: I am super proud of my boyfriend’s handmade TV stand and the shelves in my closet. I am also really proud of my sacred but stylish altar in the guest room/POUND Jewelry studio dedicated to my grandfather, who is my angel.

Biggest Indulgence: The king-sized bed. My boyfriend is 6’6” so it was a must.

Best Advice: Be radically, unapologetically YOU when you decorate. And if you are a hoarder, try to be an organized hoarder. Buy things with meaning or a story as often as you can afford to.

Dream Sources: Brooklyn Flea, Humboldt House, Asrai Garden, MAVEN Collection, India, Guatemala, Turkey, Mexico, Morocco, Grand Ave Design District, Salvage One, and a million other places.

• Coffee table: Treasure Aisles
• Bench: Treasure Aisles
• Vintage Bertoia chairs: estate sale in Chicago
• Couch: Ikea
• Pillows: Maven Collection
• TV stand: hand-built by my boyfriend
• Silver lamp: Humboldt House
• Poofs: Anthropologie and a little Moroccan shop in the East Village, NYC
• Snakeskin side table: antique mall in Five Points Down in Jacksonville, Florida

• Small gray couch: World Market
• Black leather chair: TFA in St. Louis
• Faux fur throw: IKEA
• Pink picture of boy: Humboldt House
• Beaded wall hangings: Africa

• Dining room table: World Market
• Spray painted blue shelves: my mom’s basement
• Print of woman: by Matt Grant

• Island: Ikea
• Vintage stools: Treasure Aisles in St. Louis
• Plants: Sprout and Asrai Garden
• African baskets: Africa
• Copper fruit basket: Whiskey & Honey
• Vases and oddities: mostly vintage from antique stores and vintage shops, as well as ABC Carpet & Home.

• Bed: Ikea
• Bedspread: West Elm
• Moroccan pillows: Maven Collection
• Vintage dresser: stolen from my sister
• Plants and moss: Sprout
• Antique wooden chest: my boyfriend’s parents
• Laundry basket: World Market
• Cow skull: Humboldt house
• Brass African head vases/bowls: TFA in St. Louis
  

• Bed: Ikea
• Pink dressing table: Treasure Aisles
• Rug and tapestries: flea markets and Renegade craft fair, sourced from Morocco and Guatemala
• Red cabinet: Ikea (I think)
• Faux fur throw/rug: Brooklyn Flea
  

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