House Tour- Elizabeth

Name: Elizabeth Reilly
Location: Chicago, IL
Square Footage: approx. 700
Years Lived in: 2
Rent or own: Rent
Describe your style: Patchwork vintage
Blog/Website/Twitter: www.cafepress.com/hexedsince1975

What's your favorite free/found item?
The small card catalog in my living room. I work at a museum and called dibs on it the minute I saw it in a storage space that I knew we would eventually be clearing out. A year later and it was all mine for the taking. I attached some casters and now it’s the perfect movable container for my plethora of tiny collections that’s also sturdy enough to sit on.


What's your favorite purchased item?
My vintage bedroom dresser that I purchased off craigslist for only $50. I had to rent an I-Go car and drive 2 hours in traffic to pick it up, but it was well worth it.

What has been your biggest obstacle in decorating/design?
Color. Bold color decisions frighten me, so for now I stick with white walls and neutral colors for larger items. Slowly I’m learning to use accent colors through accessories.


Is your design style organic or planned?
A little of both. Sometimes I have a very specific idea of what I want for a piece of furniture or décor and other times I stumble across something that I want to integrate into my space.

What is your favorite spot in the house?
Sitting on the couch in the living room. From there I get to gaze at the things I love, from the artwork on the walls, the plants on the window sill, to the various items I’ve collected over the years.


How has your style changed in the past 5 years?
In the past 5 years I have lived in 6 different places in 5 cities and 2 countries - that’s what grad school will do to a person. My style hasn’t changed much since then, only that I have finally been in one place long enough to start decorating for the “long term”.

What is your favorite resource or store?
Definitely Craigslist. I've had the most fun scouring Craigslist for great deals on vintage furniture and acquired nearly all of my furniture in the 2 years since I moved to Chicago (aside from the George Nelson chair that my father "borrowed" from his college campus in the 60s). Through Craigslist Chicago I found the coffee table for $20, the dresser for $50, the glass cabinet for $30 and the bookcase for $25. It has taken a lot of patience to find the right pieces, and I'm still looking for cushions for a chair in the living room, but I love the thrill of the hunt. Persistence is the key.


What is your biggest decorating/design pet peeve?
Pre-packaged design. I find it boring when a space is decorated with too many things from one source that were designed to go together.

What has been your favorite design trend?
The resurgence of Mid-century modern, even though it means I can no longer afford most of the things that I want. The challenge is that much greater - I have to search harder for a good deal.


What is the biggest influence on your design/decorating style?
That’s hard to say. Perhaps my childhood. I love many of the remnants of my family’s décor from the 60s and 70s and I’ve been so happy to incorporate actual pieces that were from our house or my grandparent’s house into my current space. I also seek out items that I remember and enjoy hunting down replacements for my very own.

What in your home dictates how you design/decorate?
Space & a roommate. The small space often limits my decorating options. I'm a bit of a collector and pack-rat, so the limited storage space in my apartment has proved a big challenge. I try to keep the clutter of my collections at bay with glass cabinets (essential for keeping the dust away), but I still have boxes of photo albums, CDs, vintage board games, art supplies, etc. in a small self-storage space. Also, I have a roommate that I must consider every time I bring something new into the common areas.


What is the simplest thing you have done that has made the biggest impact?
Bulletin Boards. When I was a little younger I used to cover my walls with all of the artwork, flyers, posters, photographs, etc. that I loved to look at. The overall effect of this salon style presentation was cluttered to say the least. Since then I’ve downsized and now I use a large bulletin board to contain my visual collage. I still get to look at things that inspire me, but in a much more clean and organized way.

all photos courtesy of homeowner. If you would like to have your home featured please send me an email or submit pictures of your home to the flickr group.