Jessica has owned this 1000-square-foot home with husband, Marcel Urbanski, and their Siamese cat, Fifa, for five years, and explains more about the home hunt: “I think I only viewed a handful of spaces with my real estate agent within a few days, and this place was the last on our list. I viewed this condo during the winter months so when I stepped in and saw the arched doorways and heard the radiators clicking and hissing, I was sold,” she explains. 

The condo had charm, but the space did need some work to be a fit for the couple, and Jessica says they renovated “every single room slowly while living in the home. We started with the bathroom, as that was a timeline priority. My husband, who is a general contractor, was able to do the majority of demo work and prep before plumbers and electricians came,” she explains. 

Their next project in the reno was “refinishing all the floors and painting before applying any decorative touches like custom trim work and window treatments. We didn’t really think about certain projects as falling under a specific budget allowance, but made sure to source from vintage stores mixed in with some local retailers like CB2 and then shops like Etsy for quality soft goods like curtains and pillows to avoid breaking the bank.” 

Jessica explains that older Chicago buildings have quirks, like “towel bars that were apparently cemented to the wall or super-creaky floors,” but there are plenty of charming characteristics of a vintage home. “I do love how cool the building stays in the hot summer months and the creeping vine that has obstructed my windows almost completely,” she explains. 

• Living room — Benjamin Moore “Revere Pewter HC-172”
• Dining room — Sherwin Williams “Arugula SW6446”
• Kitchen cabinets — Benjamin Moore “Gray 2121-10”
• Trim — Benjamin Moore “Mountain Peak White OC-121”
• Bedroom — Benjamin Moore “Pewter 2121-30”
• Bathroom — Sherwin Williams “Mint Condition 6743”

• Pierre Cardin console table — Dial M for Modern
• Chair — Anthropologie
• Side table — West Elm 
• Bookcase — IKEA 
• Floor lamp — Target 

• Sofa — West Elm
• Pillows — Amazon
• Desk — CB2
• Coffee table — Anthropologie
• Console — Custom 
• Sconces — Anthropologie
• Floor lamp — Target 
• Rug — Loloi 
• Roller shades — IKEA 

• Dining table —CB2
• Chairs — Local store, Vern + Vera (reupholstered in pindler fabric)
• Light fixture — Thrifted via craigslist 
• Curtains — Target
• Consoles — White post-modern waterfall console found on Craigslist 
• Bar cabinet — Megmade 
• Art — Thrifted 

• Rug — Ruggable 
• Cabinet knobs & faucet — Moen 

• Dresser — Blu Dot
• Armoire — Urban Outfitters
• Rug — Anthropologie
• Bed — IKEA
• Art — Dial M for Modern 
• Bedside tables — Target 
• Lamps – All Modern 
• Light fixture — Home Depot (painted!) 

• Plumbing fixtures — Moen
• Shelving unit — Urban Outfitters
• Pendant light — West Elm 
• Mat + shower curtain — Urban Outfitters

Thanks, Jessica!

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