Modern Makeover: Sweet Home Chicago

The second in our three-part series, Homepolish designers offer an inside look at how they reinvent spaces for any lifestyle.

The Windy City provides the backdrop for Kanwar and Avanti, who recently moved from the suburbs to the city's East Loop. After sending their daughters off to college, the couple downsized from a spacious 6,000-square-foot home to a slightly less sprawling 4,000-square-foot townhouse.

The couple sought the design expertise of Homepolish's Jennifer Talbot, and to help determine what furniture, art and decorative items to keep or let go.

Reinventing the 'White Box'

As described by Jennifer, the new house "was very much a white box with an ordinary floorplan and no character." The location and space was stunning but lacked a sense of history.

"Layering textures such as leather, metal, wood and upholstery create natural interest in a space," says Jennifer, who implies that big dollar signs don't always add up to the best design. "Combine high and low -- it's not about where you shop but how you put it together. Don't be afraid to splurge a bit on a piece or two and mix it with low-end items," she says.

With the Chicago home, she chose a beautiful boxy white sofa as the standout piece in the living room, with touches of artwork and rich texture. "Every well-balanced room has at least one element that is black. Black grounds and centers a room," says Jennifer. The piano and the fireplace pull this color out of the room's neutral tones. The home looks modern and also blends in the couple's treasures acquired while traveling, like a custom prayer cabinet.