A 1926 Georgian Colonial in Highland Park, a northern suburb of Chicago, was recently renovated by designer Elizabeth Mollen. The historic home, with its incredible character and architectural details, provided the perfect backdrop for Elizabeth and her firm to take a few design risks and create spaces that feel colorful, layered, and deeply personal.
Elizabeth notes that the home has beautiful old character and the kind of architectural details that immediately give designers something to work with. She also appreciates the mix of architecture in Highland Park, where she lives, and enjoys seeing older homes evolve with the families who live in them.
The Renovation Process
Four years earlier, Chicago designer Caroline Turner had updated much of the first floor, and when the family was ready to renovate the upstairs, they brought in Elizabeth Mollen Design. The clients, Sam and Jason Berngard, were creative and open to new ideas, and Elizabeth notes that they were “so much fun to work with.”
Sam is head of brand at children’s company Monica and Andy, and Jason spearheads fashion and travel for financial tech company Affirm. They both travel frequently for work and have stayed in many of the best hotels around the world, which inspired the design of their primary suite.
The upstairs, however, presented a less-than-luxurious starting point, with two separate bathrooms and a closet with an awkward layout. The primary suite also had crumbling walls in the bathroom and bedroom, which needed to be addressed before the renovation could begin.
Design Inspiration
When it came time to tackle the upstairs, the clients wanted it to feel connected to the vintage aesthetic established on the first floor, with a “bed and breakfast” inspired twist. They wanted the bedrooms and bathrooms to feel colorful, layered, and full of personality while still respecting the architecture of the home.
Elizabeth and the clients shared a passion for beautiful hotels, and instead of using adjectives to describe the design, they aimed to recreate elements of their favorite hotels to create a colorful and eclectic primary suite. The result included patterned wallpaper, unexpected color combinations, and distinctive tile.
Many of the vintage furnishings and decorative objects were sourced through The Vault Creative, a Highland Park design shop and gallery. The couple was hands-on throughout the process and shared Elizabeth’s love of vintage. This collaboration allowed for a thoughtful curation of pieces, resulting in a space that feels truly unique and reflective of the clients’ personal style.
The Final Result
The result is an upstairs that feels collected rather than coordinated, with each room taking on a personality of its own while still belonging to the same storied house. The clients were “obsessed with the transformation,” and especially loved the primary suite, which felt like living in a hotel.
After living in the house for three years before renovating the upstairs, Sam and Jason say the bedroom finally feels entirely their own. For two avid travelers, their favorite hotel suite might just be the one at home, a fitting reversal that showcases the success of the renovation.
In practice, this development means that the family can now enjoy a space that reflects their personalities and travels, while still maintaining the historic charm of the home. The renovation has not only improved the functionality of the upstairs but has also created a unique and inviting atmosphere that feels like a retreat from the outside world.
The primary suite’s design, with its mix of vintage and new pieces, has created a space that feels collected and personal, rather than overly designed. This approach has allowed the family to put their own stamp on the home, making it truly theirs.
Elizabeth Mollen’s firm was able to create a space that is both beautiful and functional. The renovation has been a success, and the family is enjoying their new upstairs.
The home‘s historic charm has been maintained, and the new design has added a unique and personal touch to the space. The family’s love of travel and vintage pieces is reflected in the design, making the home truly special.
The success of the renovation is also evident in the way the upstairs spaces now flow together seamlessly, creating a sense of continuity and harmony throughout the home. This cohesion is a sign of Elizabeth Mollen’s design expertise and her ability to balance the clients’ desires with the historic character of the house.
