A Fresh Take on Tradition

A mix of abstract art, fun wallcoverings and contemporary furniture updates this suburban Chicago family home

The young professional couple had loved high-rise condo living in Chicago’s Lincoln Park and had begun raising their family there. But with their children growing older, they felt it was time for a move to the suburbs. The bones and airy floor plan of the traditional house they bought in Winnetka, Illinois, were ideal, but the aesthetic didn’t quite match their style. Enter interior designer Jeannie Balsam, who infused the family’s traditional suburban home with a fresh, modern aesthetic.