caroline lubbers of goldfish marketing spends a lot of time behind the scenes helping promote some of our favorite designers, but today we’re excited to turn the tables on her and show off her home in today’s sneak peek. she and her family live in chicago in a 1915 condo that was rehabbed 10 years ago (they have been their 5 years and are currently putting the place on the market). caroline has created a wonderful palette of bright color mixed in with neutrals where one can rest their eyes that fits in nicely with her love of old things with “previous lives.” you can check out more from caroline on her blog, whipped, and don’t miss additional images right here. [thanks, caroline!] -anne
[in the words of caroline: I am quite a practical person so the things in my life are almost always comfortable and usable. I am also very nostalgic and love old things with a history. I prefer family antiques, hand-me-downs, used books and finds from estate sales… anything with a story behind it. Over the past years, I have been lucky and have found myself surrounded by wildly creative and talented people that have most certainly influenced my style. Professionally, I have been fortunate to work with such creative geniuses as Katrina Markoff of Vosges Haut-Chocolat and Ebony Snow Chafey of Snow & Graham. Personally, I have been influenced for years by old friends including Stephanie Waddell of Agnes & Hoss and artist Maria Vettese, to name a few. ]
Instead of a headboard, we have a piece of Agnes & Hoss silk stretched around a large canvas and hung on the wall. The pillow is also one of my favorite Agnes & Hoss patterns, Jellyfish. The bedside tables are antiques painted white and dressed up with Anthropologie nobs.
I love swimming and the sea. Our bedroom was designed to create the same peace and calm that I get from floating in water. On the dresser I keep my blue glass bottle collection that has been mostly scavenged from Michigan antique stores. Tucked next to them are a few shells and a rock found on beaches during recent vacations.
My daughter Vivian and I each have antique dressing tables. Mine belonged to my great grandmother. Hers was a find from a small shop in Portland, Oregon.
When we moved in 5 years ago, the one thing I wanted to do was redo the kitchen. Somehow it never happened. I did make a few changes like adding chalkboard paint to the back door. I use it the top half for menu planning and list making. Vivian uses the bottom half for her own musings.
I keep my main spices on the counter on top of a simple white tray from CB2. Somehow, everything seems more organized when sitting atop a tray or dish.
The painting on the wall is by Chicago artist Rob Funderburk. He painted it on the back of wood taken from a set at the Goodman theatre where he had a part-time job.
Living room fireplace with decorative cover, tile work.
The sunroom chairs are an antique store find and sit around a hand-me-down cherry wood table from my parents. Our built-in bookshelves and fireplace add to the vintage charm of the old condo. We never did hook up the gas fireplace as I find the iron fireplace front with the white brick and square tile just as pleasing.
CLICK HERE for the rest of caroline’s peek after the jump!
On the deck.. we bought a bunch of buoys when we were in Key West, hung them from ropes and have them hanging down around the plants. [right] Our small entryway is painted a bright orange. I love the pop of color when you walk in the house. It is energizing in the summer and warm and cozy in the winter. One of the main reasons we bought the condo was the sunroom that overlooks historic Graceland cemetery. Graceland is famous for Louis Sullivan tombs and as the final resting place of many notable Chicago architects and founders. I like to joke that we have permanent, quiet neighbors
We love entertaining and luckily have huge built-in cabinets to store all of our glassware and serving ware. The table and chairs are from my childhood home where we gathered in the formal dining room only at special occasions and holidays. In my house, we use it everyday and allow normal wear and tear.
We kept the nursery simple with all neutrals. The prints are from Marisa of Creative Thursday. Hanging over the side of the crib is one of many Jellycat friends.
Above the bar is a pin-hole camera photo taken under the Chicago El train tracks that run near our house by a local artist.
