designchicagomag.com designchicagomag.com THE MART DESIGN CHICAGO 63 62 DESIGN CHICAGO THE MART hall presented what she dubbed “the hallway of doors”: four openings, each a different size. Her first moves were to demo three of those openings, rebuild them at equal widths, install proper overhead lighting, and paint the ceilings white. The house immediately opened up while still maintaining the room-by-room intentionality she loves about older homes. Jay studied art history in college and took a course called Materials and Methods that she still thinks about. Students learned how pigments were produced in different eras, then ground their own by hand to make egg tempera. That experience gave her a lasting appreciation for honoring historical materials while using them in fresh ways. Her palette nods to the greens, yellows, and reds typical of Victorian interiors, but rendered brighter and Jay collects art for each of her children so they’ll have pieces for their first homes. In Colin’s room, a Piet Mondrian hangs above the turquoise-framed dresser, setting the color scheme for everything that follows. The coved ceiling is original to the house. lighter. William Morris fabrics appear throughout, entirely appropriate to the period. And she is unabashedly pro- wallpaper — even in the kitchen, where a vertical pattern makes the lower ceilings feel taller. As a designer, she is equally pro-estate sale; the mix of humble and precious pieces lends an air of being collected over time — the secret sauce of great decorating. A mahogany dining table came off Facebook Marketplace and was refinished. A marble mantel salvaged from an 1890 Chicago greystone replaced an unfortunate midcentury brick piece. Commissioned artwork hangs alongside vintage mirrors, and custom slipcovers dress old chairs. With the details attended to — plush toss pillows, stenciled floors, and contemporary lighting — the result is a home that honors its history without being held captive by it. n Just off the entry hall, the playroom reveals its whimsical flair only once you’re inside. It features a swirling-bird wallpapered ceiling, a vintage Stark carpet from an estate sale, and French doors that close the space off to reduce noise when needed.