THE LONG VIEW

AN EAGLE-EYED DESIGNER TURNS A COUPLE’S CHICAGO AERIE INTO THE WARM AND STYLISH HOME THE EMPTY NESTERS ENVISIONED.

- LAURA FENTON,DUSTIN FOREST HALLECK

When interior designer Libby Palmieri Schwartz’s clients commissioned her to redesign a Chicago loft, they didn’t much like the apartment itself. The couple purchased the penthouse unit to be closer to their adult children, liking the location and stunning views. The interiors, however, needed work. “It was very boxy and imposing with a very distinctive, late ’90s vibe,” recalls Palmieri Schwartz, who founded House of L Designs. The clients wanted to open and warm up the space, creating an inviting place for hosting friends and family.

Palmieri Schwartz started by reimagining the spatial arrangements. “I’m a firm believer that functionality comes first,” she says. She moved the dining area closer to the kitchen, which was completely redesigned, and removed some dividing walls to improve the flow in the main living areas. She also added dropped ceilings to conceal the raw concrete above and allow for recessed lighting. “Having that softer surface instead of concrete immediately brightened and lightened the space,” Palmieri Schwartz says.