He was living in a turn-of-the-century building in Old Town. She had a third-floor walkup across the alley. When they decided to get married, the couple asked interior designer Robert Pope to find a new apartment for them.
“Although they travel a lot, they wanted to make a larger commitment to Chicago,” says Pope. “I knew they needed 3,500 square feet and up.”
Pope checked every building he thought might offer that space but was frustrated at every turn: Nothing was available.
As luck would have it, an opportunity came unexpectedly. One morning while attending a business meeting Pope was asked if he knew anyone who needed a 5,400-square-foot penthouse. Located on the city’s Near North Side, the duplex apartment topped a building that was midway through construction. Because only perimeter walls were up, the interior could be built to the owner’s specifications. The property also featured a 2,000-square-foot rooftop terrace.
Pope was certain his clients would be interested. “The possibility of building 5,400 square feet to such a custom degree on a fairly immediate basis and having 2,000 square feet of terrace was one in a million,” he says. “The terrace was important because the clients enjoy the outdoors. To have that experience in the city was a premium on which they put a lot of value.” Within days they toured the space, drew preliminary plans and decided to purchase it.
Pope designed a one-bedroom layout specially suited to his clients. “I knew both of them and how they had lived previously,” he explains. “Because they entertain a lot, I carved as large a living room as I could out of that general space. I planned a generous dining room that seats 8 to 16.
“The second floor became bonus space,” he says. “There’s a great room, and we added a solarium, a prep kitchen and a pool room. They use this area for entertaining.”
Having worked with the couple before, Pope understood their aesthetic well. “She has a rather eclectic eye,” he explains. “She understands intuitively and intellectually how to juxtapose materials and finishes and likes juxtaposition. She is very fond of a white environment, but likes contrast. And she likes a clean, contemporary shell, not heavily embellished with moldings.”
A trip to Italy prompted the clients’ choice of gray, antiqued limestone floors throughout the apartment. Old rugs dictated the furnishings in many of the rooms.
In the living room, a predominantly russet, blue and black Oriental rug sets the tone. A tufted, deep taupe leather sofa, two transitional chairs covered in oyster chenille and a gray wood veneer coffee table compose the main seating area.
Not all is neutral ground. Nearby, a sitting room provides another kind of theater: Aubergine walls and matching velvet sofa, a silver-leaf ceiling and an ottoman covered in a whimsical Indian print. “A jolt of color, a little folly,” says Pope.
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Resources: Interior design—Robert M. Pope, Robert Pope Associates Inc., Chicago. Entry: Commode–Lorin Marsh Inc., New York; “Vivia T” lamp–Source of Light Inc., Chicago; tramp art–Kneedler-Fauchere, Los Angeles; carved ebonized wood 19th Century German chair–Quatrain Inc., Los Angeles; “JRS Lead Crystal” mirror–J. Robert Scott, Chicago; artwork–“Paesaggio I and II” oils by Navarro Vives, Contini Galleria d’Arte, Venice, Italy. Reception hall: 19th Century chairs–personal collection; Corbin Bronze Ltd. table–Holly Hunt Chicago, Merchandise Mart; oil painting to left of fireplace –“90 Miles South” by Christian Vincent, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago; oil painting at end of hall–untitled by David Fraley, McLean Gallery, Malibu, Calif.; painting behind table and chairs, “The Dancers” by Fabruccini–personal collection; bronze sculpture on floor by Igor Mitoraj– Contini Galleria d’Arte, Venice, Italy; standing bronze figure by Robert Graham–Robert Graham Studio, Venice, Calif. Kitchen: “Bombo” bar stools–LAN Office Furniture, Chicago; stainless-steel and textured wire glass cabinets–Poliform, Mart; Viking range–Abt, Morton Grove; Corbin Bronze Ltd. rooster sculpture–Holly Hunt Chicago, Mart; through doorway into dining room: Richard Himmel Collection antiqued mirrored commode–Holly Hunt Chicago; artwork–pastel on paper by Jamali, Holly Hunt Chicago; cachepot–personal collection. Spa room: Wicker Works sofa and chairs–Callard & Osgood, Mart; Perennials “Dibble” fabric on sofa and chairs–Holly Hunt Chicago, Mart; hand-carved teak bears–artist unknown, Mimi London Inc., Los Angeles; Bega sconces –Source of Light Inc., Chicago; oil painting, “Canyon” by Merrill Mahaffey–personal collection. Living room: SSL Adam tufted sofa and ottoman, La Jolla cocktail table and Lithic floor lamp–J. Robert Scott, Chicago; antique beaded needlepoint pillow–personal collection; rug–late 19th Century Persian Sultanabad, J. H. Minassian & Co., Los Angeles; 17th Century oil painting–title unknown by Bartolome Esteban Murillo, Universe Antiques Inc., New York; cocktail table items: tramp art box–Kneedler-Fauchere, Los Angeles; reclining figure glass sculpture–personal collection. On page 4: Solarium: Chaise longue, dining table and benches by Christian Liaigre for Holly Hunt–Holly Hunt 18, Mart; chairs by Astuguevielle Ltd. Edition Couture–Holly Hunt 18; all other furnishings–personal collection.
