Amy Storm & Company - A Renovation Project in Wheaton
For over 18 years, Amy Storm has created striking interiors homeowners love to live in. With a penchant for luxurious details and her eye always on livability, Amy’s elevated, modern-classic designs have attracted celebrity clients like a Tony award-winner, an NFL Quarterback, and an MLB star. Her modern design sensibilities with nods to the classics have become her signature and she has grown her design firm by crafting her ever-growing portfolio of custom new construction clients around the Chicago area and across the country. Amy and her team are in great demand, all over…and for good reason. Working directly with builders and architects, her ability to create beautiful, custom designs, ranging in various design styles and inclusive of all parts of a luxury home project, make Amy Storm & Company the high watermark of interior designers.
This home, located in Wheaton, IL, has the traditional beauty of a 1920’s center hall colonial. Some cosmetic enhancements to the interior architecture with some sleek, modern furnishings and appointments is exactly what these homeowners wanted, and they researched just the right designer to bring their vision to life. Enter, Amy Storm & Company who collaborated directly with Patrick Murphy Builders, to bring this dream home remodel to fruition. Homeowner Kim is a former Ford model and Bruce is a businessman who has become quite the car enthusiast. Evidenced by his home office which includes commissioned artwork that hangs over his desk from Yuriy Shevchuk, a historical automotive artist who happens to share a passion for high-end car brands. That piece is merely one of many in an impressive art collection. Amy helped add to the collection to create the overall design aesthetic in the home. Pieces from artists including Ted Collier, Andy Blank and Kerri Rosenthal are meticulously showcased in their spaces and live beautifully on the walls.
The homeowners wanted a timeless yet colorful palette, strong design features in art and furnishings and subtle design to the bones of the house, that would stand the test of time. Amy custom-designed the Kitchen, in collaboration with Aronson Woodworks, to feature a range hood and large island cabinet with panels treated with the patented Claize finish and embellished with brass accents. “The kitchen is a showstopper with classic appointments, functional features, and luxurious details perfect for daily living as well as large family entertaining. The rest of the home was re-designed using eternally beautiful materials such as Nero Marquina marble, exotic quartzites, solid walnut and brass accents alongside furnishings from Baker, Holly Hunt, and Caracole… to name a few. “Everything was touched, from the workout room in the Basement to the third floor Guest Bedrooms and everything in between. We found ceiling space behind soffits, opportunity when we demo’d built-in decor, inspiration when we salvaged original hardware and doors and joy when we transformed the spaces beyond expectation”.
Wine storage was another beautiful feature of the home. Amy wanted to create a storage system that was equally decorative as it was functional. “We decided to create a wine display which also acted as the separating wall between the formal Living Room and the Lounge. This temperature-controlled wine wall cabinet was built from custom-made metal and glass, floor-to-ceiling panels with a walnut and brass interior built for storage and display. Not only is it stunning and a primary feature on the first floor, but it also draws light and visibility from room to room.” says Amy.
This home, although completely updated from top to bottom, still exudes a classic elegance that is appropriate for the architecture and lifestyle of the homeowners as well as inviting for kids and grandchildren… who happen to be there often! The collected cars are cozy in their heated garage and the renewed interiors more than exceeded Bruce and Kim’s expectations – a result of their trust and granted freedom to Amy to do what Amy Storm & Company does best.