Kitchen of the Week: Colorful and Moody With Industrial Roots
In a landmark Chicago building, designers bring efficient storage and vintage vibes to a condo kitchen
This couple purchased a pied-à-terre in Chicago’s Holden Block building, an Italianate-style landmark dating back to the rebuilding period following the 1871 Great Chicago Fire. Designed by architect Stephen Vaughn Shipman and built in 1872, the building is a standout, as many other Chicago commercial loft buildings were demolished to make way for skyscrapers. Its ornately carved Buena Vista sandstone facade earned it landmark status. The building’s conversion to residential condos in the 1990s was thoughtful, but the original kitchen in this unit did not celebrate the building’s history or architecture.
The owners brought in trusted designer Laura O’Brien of O’Brien Harris, who had designed two other kitchens for them in the past. The first kitchen she designed for them was classic white, while the second featured dramatic black. “This time they were ready for something entirely different — a moody, colorful space that embraces color in a way that feels timeless and unexpected,” O’Brien says. The new kitchen nods to the building’s industrial history and its elegant facade.
The owners brought in trusted designer Laura O’Brien of O’Brien Harris, who had designed two other kitchens for them in the past. The first kitchen she designed for them was classic white, while the second featured dramatic black. “This time they were ready for something entirely different — a moody, colorful space that embraces color in a way that feels timeless and unexpected,” O’Brien says. The new kitchen nods to the building’s industrial history and its elegant facade.
Before Photo
After: By removing the L-shaped peninsula, O’Brien made the 154-square-foot kitchen feel much larger and more open to the living area.
“Preserving the original exposed brick influenced many design decisions that led to bringing warm tones into the space,” she says. “We designed a sculptural walnut range hood trimmed in brass and added a brass-and-glass rack system at the coffee bar that nods to the building’s industrial roots.” The designers repeated wood and brass elements to add more warmth. Oversize pendant lights with a vintage look also bring in historic flair. The panel-front fridge, located on the left, blends right in with the cabinetry.
“Sarah is amazing at finding really special vintage pieces,” O’Brien says. “She selected a 19th-century French fruitwood trestle table that functions as a center work surface and as a dining table. The table pays homage to the building’s past. Because this was such a small space, we knew the clients’ request to incorporate dining would preclude it from having a traditional island. Sarah’s vision of the vintage table pulled it all together.”
Pendant lights: Hendricks, Visual Comfort; custom cabinets: Refectory with a non-beaded inset, O’Brien Harris; refrigerator and freezer drawers: Sub-Zero
“Preserving the original exposed brick influenced many design decisions that led to bringing warm tones into the space,” she says. “We designed a sculptural walnut range hood trimmed in brass and added a brass-and-glass rack system at the coffee bar that nods to the building’s industrial roots.” The designers repeated wood and brass elements to add more warmth. Oversize pendant lights with a vintage look also bring in historic flair. The panel-front fridge, located on the left, blends right in with the cabinetry.
“Sarah is amazing at finding really special vintage pieces,” O’Brien says. “She selected a 19th-century French fruitwood trestle table that functions as a center work surface and as a dining table. The table pays homage to the building’s past. Because this was such a small space, we knew the clients’ request to incorporate dining would preclude it from having a traditional island. Sarah’s vision of the vintage table pulled it all together.”
Pendant lights: Hendricks, Visual Comfort; custom cabinets: Refectory with a non-beaded inset, O’Brien Harris; refrigerator and freezer drawers: Sub-Zero
One of the homeowners shared an inspiration photo of a vintage green kitchen, which was a jumping-off point for the color scheme. While they ultimately went with a bold blue for the cabinetry, there’s a dollop of vintage green above the sink. A painted shelf with brass inlay provides an edge between the green wall and the marble backsplash. The shelf’s brass trim adds a vintage touch and plays off the brass hardware, faucets and range hood detail. “Sarah brilliantly used this space as a focal point for vintage accessories and highlighted the artwork with a picture light,” O’Brien says.
Goesling recommended the Champagne marble countertops. “Natural stone was important to the authenticity and vintage vibe and the Champagne marble embodied that,” O’Brien says. It also pays homage to the building’s Italianate style. The marble continues up the backsplash and forms an apron in front of the sink. “We wanted the sink apron to flow from the countertop and didn’t want to introduce another material,” O’Brien says. Both the trash pullout on the left of the sink and the dishwasher on its right blend into the cabinetry for an uninterrupted look.
Green paint: Great Barrington Green, Benjamin Moore; cabinet hardware: Waterworks; sink: Kohler; bridge faucet: Kallista; Champagne marble: Calia Stone
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Goesling recommended the Champagne marble countertops. “Natural stone was important to the authenticity and vintage vibe and the Champagne marble embodied that,” O’Brien says. It also pays homage to the building’s Italianate style. The marble continues up the backsplash and forms an apron in front of the sink. “We wanted the sink apron to flow from the countertop and didn’t want to introduce another material,” O’Brien says. Both the trash pullout on the left of the sink and the dishwasher on its right blend into the cabinetry for an uninterrupted look.
Green paint: Great Barrington Green, Benjamin Moore; cabinet hardware: Waterworks; sink: Kohler; bridge faucet: Kallista; Champagne marble: Calia Stone
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The exposed brick wall provided the perfect spot for a coffee bar. Its character adds the right amount of crusty industrial texture to the refined space. The cabinet beneath the bar has six pullout drawers, making it easy to access items stored in the back.
A brass-and-glass rack system from Urban Archaeology provides display space and adds vintage vibes. The push-button light switches with polished brass backplates also have a historic look.
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A brass-and-glass rack system from Urban Archaeology provides display space and adds vintage vibes. The push-button light switches with polished brass backplates also have a historic look.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
Walnut was used on the range hood and in other places to tie together the open-plan room. The range’s stainless steel finish adds an industrial touch, while its brass knobs play off the cabinet hardware, faucet and lighting.
Making the most of the storage was crucial in this compact kitchen. The efficiently outfitted cabinets contain custom features such as pullout drawers and utensil and cutlery inserts. “We always like to take the cabinets up to the ceiling, as it elongates the space and creates a refined look while providing additional storage opportunities for items less frequently used,” O’Brien says. She repeated the walnut on the cabinet interiors, which can be seen through the glass doors of the top cabinets. Puck lights installed in those cabinets provide mood lighting and showcase special items. Undercabinet lighting illuminates the elegant marble countertops.
Other unseen details will extend the life of the kitchen by preventing damage. “We love details that are easy to clean and make kitchens last for a lifetime,” O’Brien says. These include metal stops for the trash cabinet and dishwasher and a stainless steel liner under the sink. A metal stop is a band that’s fixed to the top edge of the cabinet panel to protect it, typically placed in cabinets that take a lot of abuse. The sink liner protects the cabinets from any potential damage from leaks.
30-inch range: Bertazzoni
Making the most of the storage was crucial in this compact kitchen. The efficiently outfitted cabinets contain custom features such as pullout drawers and utensil and cutlery inserts. “We always like to take the cabinets up to the ceiling, as it elongates the space and creates a refined look while providing additional storage opportunities for items less frequently used,” O’Brien says. She repeated the walnut on the cabinet interiors, which can be seen through the glass doors of the top cabinets. Puck lights installed in those cabinets provide mood lighting and showcase special items. Undercabinet lighting illuminates the elegant marble countertops.
Other unseen details will extend the life of the kitchen by preventing damage. “We love details that are easy to clean and make kitchens last for a lifetime,” O’Brien says. These include metal stops for the trash cabinet and dishwasher and a stainless steel liner under the sink. A metal stop is a band that’s fixed to the top edge of the cabinet panel to protect it, typically placed in cabinets that take a lot of abuse. The sink liner protects the cabinets from any potential damage from leaks.
30-inch range: Bertazzoni
Opening up the kitchen to the living room meant creating a cohesive feel between the two spaces. The living room walls are painted the same green as the area above the kitchen sink.
“Since the space is small, this was a nice opportunity to bring some of the entertaining features out of the kitchen,” O’Brien says. The designers repeated the kitchen’s cabinetry finishes and Champagne marble countertop on the bar.
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“Since the space is small, this was a nice opportunity to bring some of the entertaining features out of the kitchen,” O’Brien says. The designers repeated the kitchen’s cabinetry finishes and Champagne marble countertop on the bar.
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The designers repurposed wood from the original mantel and used it to fashion the bar’s shelves, which add another dash of industrial style that nods to the building’s history. Vintage brass items echo the brass used in the kitchen.
Floor plan: The plan illustrates how the rooms fit together. The kitchen is in the top left corner and the living room bar is in the bottom right corner. Repeating the cabinetry, colors and other finishes created a pleasing cohesion between the two rooms within the open space.
Elements that nod to the 1872 building’s industrial history and Italianate architecture:
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Elements that nod to the 1872 building’s industrial history and Italianate architecture:
- Original exposed brick
- Vintage green paint
- Antique trestle table
- Marble countertops and backsplash
- Era-appropriate lighting
- Brass-and-glass rack system
- Bridge faucet
- Brass finishes
- Classic cabinet hardware
- Panel-front appliances
- Vintage art and accessories
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Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple who have two grown children
Location: Chicago
Size: 154 square feet (14 square meters)
Designers: Laura O’Brien of O’Brien Harris (kitchen and cabinetry design) and Sarah Goesling of Goesling Group (interior design)
Builder: MW Craftsman
Before: The homeowners wanted to bring back the building’s history and style, which was missing from the existing home.
O’Brien designed the kitchen layout and cabinetry and her firm fabricated the cabinets. She worked in close collaboration with the interior designer on the project, Sarah Goesling of Goesling Group. In the kitchen, Goesling selected the faucets, hardware, furniture, light fixtures, countertops and accessories.
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