Hinsdale Historic Terra Cotta Remodel

This Hinsdale, IL house, nicknamed the Terra Cotta House for its ornate exterior detailing, needed its interior to finally match the drama on the outside. Previous renovations had stripped away original character, leaving beautiful bones but not much soul. Our job was to bring back the architectural weight while honoring the clients' collected, modern-meets-vintage aesthetic. We started with wallpaper (always), letting bold patterns set the color story for each room. Then we layered in plaster molding details and ceiling medallions across the first floor, added applied moldings beneath existing chair rails the elevate the interior architecture, and continued those gestures upstairs in the primary suite. The clients had been collecting art for years: a large living room piece became our jumping-off point, and we commissioned new work for the family room. We reupholstered vintage finds, sourced European mid-century pieces from Round Top, and balanced their modern sensibilities with layered texture and warmth. The primary suite got a full reconfiguration: a larger double shower, a long double vanity, custom built-ins, and a bespoke closet with a custom ottoman. It's a project that sits right in the sweet spot between sleek and storied — masculine and feminine, vintage and modern.