18 DESIGN CHICAGO THE MART designchicagomag.com Place Gathering W R I T T E N B Y C H A R L O T T E VA L E TRENDS COME AND GO, BUT THE KITCHEN REMAINS THE MOST IMPORTANT ROOM IN THE HOUSE. A late-night scroll through real estate listings led designer Deborah Silver- Fagel, of Manor House Interior Design, to a 1920s Evanston home she couldn’t shake. Seeing a moody photo of a willow tree, an in-ground pool, and interiors that hadn’t been touched since the 1990s, she knew it was the place for her. The original kitchen had a postage-stamp- size layout with no eat-in area, so she worked with architect Melisa Cameron to create a space flooded with natural light. Soapstone, marble surfaces, and custom oak cabinetry give the kitchen an “its always been there” feel. Fabric by Zak + Fox, through Holly Hunt, covers the mixed-style chairs, and an antique door from France adds historical patina. Painted cabinetry in one of the designer’s favorite colors, Benjamin Moore’s Porch Swing, continues into the adjacent pantry. photography by margaret rajic