designchicagomag.com designchicagomag.com THE MART DESIGN CHICAGO 53 52 DESIGN CHICAGO THE MART enovations are often standard fare, but modernizing a home with traditional bones takes on a new layer of complexity when it involves a client committed to sustainability. Jessica Blue, whose namesake interiors firm has a focus on conscious design, proved to be the perfect choice to bridge the gap. “The family transitioned from a modern condo to a traditional Lincoln Park home, and while they wanted a contemporary feel, she [the wife] didn’t want to rip everything out from an environmentally considered perspective. So the goal was to mindfully bridge the two styles into one cohesive, balanced, bright, and neutral-forward refuge,” says Blue. To temper the home’s formality while preserving its historic charm, Blue and her team updated the home’s existing wall detailing—articulated by horizontal indentations and a more buttoned-up look—with fresh paint that brought it into the present. In the living room, a teardrop-shaped sofa in an R Benjamin Moore’s Deep River adds nuance to the home’s beautifully considered entry foyer. Blue reframed the clients’ artwork for the space. A dynamic light fixture from CAI Designs commands attention in the dining room. The designer softened the effect of the frosted windows with soft drapery.