One of the things I enjoy most about what I do is seeing the transformation that happens when a homeowner stops settling for “good enough” and finally decides to create spaces which feel like them. Recently, I’ve had the pleasure of helping a wonderful client transform his riverfront townhome in McHenry into a space which feels updated, polished yet comfortable, and “exactly what he wanted”.

The project took about five months from start to finish. It was a great reminder that creating a truly beautiful home is rarely done in the blink of an eye. It’s about taking time to make the hundreds of thoughtful decisions that work together to create something that looks and feels just right. And trust me, there were a LOT of decisions.

My client, a retired professional, openly admitted that decorating is not his area of expertise. (His words, not mine!) He knew what he liked when he saw it. But choosing everything from flooring and countertops to furniture, new window treatements, artwork, and accessories felt overwhelming. That’s why hiring a decorator (me) made sense for him.

Many people assume interior design is simply picking pretty things. (If only it were that easy!) The reality is that a successful design comes from understanding how all the pieces work together: colors, textures, scale, lighting, function, and how a home should feel when you walk through the door. Again, this project was a perfect reminder.

Starting With a Strong Foundation

Because this home already had nice river and city park views and a floor plan that couldn’t really change, the goal wasn’t to completely reinvent the space. It was to enhance and refresh what was already there to create a more updated, cohesive look.

We started by refinishing the existing hardwood floors and adding new hardwood in his small, home office to create a seamless flow throughout the home. Nice flooring is one of those things you may not notice immediately, but it quietly elevates everything else in the room. And as it often does, his oak flooring had faded and ‘oranged’ over time. So we had our friends at Ridgefield Flooring in Crystal Lake sand and refinish the floors to better compliment the existing cabinetry and staircase. With the literal foundation of the spaces taken care of, we could begin layering in the details.

Painting the Backdrop: Small Changes But a Big Difference

Next came a fresh coat of paint for the entire downstairs. We opted for a combination of Benjamin Moore’s OC-15 Baby Fawn in the open areas, CC-460 Inukshuk in the office and powder room and the ever-popular OC-17 White Dove for all the doors and trim. Eliminating the fleshy undertones in his previous paint color helped update our backdrop and made more sense of all the other updates and furnishings we had planned.

Updating the Details That Matter

After discussing the possibilities and expense, my client and I agreed that the open-concept kitchen, while feeling a little dated, still had some life left before needing to be completely overhauled. But, it too needed some attention if it was going to play well with all the other updates going on around it.

So, the kitchen received a fresh look with stunning new Bianco Antico granite countertops, a new, three-tone backsplash, and updated, larger black cabinet hardware. Along with minimal styling, these changes gave the space a completely different personality without requiring a full kitchen renovation.

The powder room received a similar refresh with the same new finishes which made it feel more intentional and pulled together.

We also updated the light fixtures and door hardware throughout the home. These are often overlooked details, but they are the jewelry of a room. The right fixtures can instantly make a home feel more current and thoughtfully designed.

DESIGNER TIP: Remember, if you haven’t updated things in a while, the stuff you ‘touch’ can make the stuff you don’t ‘touch’ look even worse. Hiring a professional to help with the updates can help you change one area without making it stand out from all the rest.

A Fireplace Worth Gathering Around

One of the biggest transformations for this project was the existing fireplace.

We worked with Fireplace By Design in Crystal Lake to remove the existing tile and hearth as well as the dated wood mantel. We updated this architectural element with subtle, yet beautiful, floor-to-ceiling, stacked stone. A new leathered Coffee Brown granite hearth as well as a new insert were added to create a warm focal point for the living area. For the first time, I used a metal floating “beam” mantel (in lieu of wood) for this update and love the way it turned out. The result is a fireplace that draws the eye (in a good way) and feels like it belongs in this riverfront retreat rather than simply being something attached to the wall.

It became exactly what a fireplace should be: a cozy invitation to sit down, relax, and enjoy the space.

Bringing the Rooms to Life

Once the architectural “backdrop” pieces were complete, we moved on to the fun part: furnishing and accessorizing.

We selected all new furniture, artwork, and accessories for the Foyer, Home Office, Dining area, Kitchen, and Living room. With lots of feedback from my client, every piece was chosen with purpose, balancing comfort and style for the way my client actually lives and entertains (and he loves to entertain). Along with new, custom roller shades from The Shade Store as well as all the other new decorative accents we collected along the way, we added:

  • a new foyer table, bench and hall-tree by the front door courtesy of HomeGoods and Wayfair
  • a new Crate & Barrel Tate writing desk and matching file console in the office
  • an expandable counter-height dining table and chairs and a small arched cabinet in the dining room from Steinhafels Furniture
  • a custom Bentley sofa, bar console table and stools, a power leather recliner, castered cocktail table and new end tables plus a media cabinet in the living room (also from Steinhafels Furniture)
  • four swivel counter stools by the kitchen island from Ballard Designs

And while it all looks picture perfect, a home should never feel like a showroom where everything is too precious to touch. It should feel welcoming and it should tell your story. Speaking of stories…

A Touch of Ireland

From the Before pictures below (taken just before my client’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations), you might guess my client is of Irish descent. So without being too literal, I wanted to incorporate green and orange accents into the design as a personal connection to his proud heritage.

No bright, Kelly-green walls. No shamrocks everywhere.

Instead, we introduced sophisticated shades of olive-y, mossy greens through carefully selected accents that feel timeless and elegantly masculine. (Think nature-inspired tones that complement the river views and bring warmth into the home.) The result is a subtle nod to his heritage which feels both grown-up, yet personal and beautifully integrated.

We were also able to introduce oranges as well. Instead of primary orange, we chose hints of orange in the new camel-colored leather, Zion swivel counter stools from Ballard Designs and a slatted-front media cabinet from West Elm. Without being in-your-face Irish green and orange (colors which usually fight one another), we opted for earthy, sophisticated variations of these colors. By pairing muted tones with plenty of warm neutrals, we created a refined and organic aesthetic. A new area rug containing all these colors unified and helped drive the new color palette home.

The Real Value of Working With a Designer

At the end of the project, my client shared how much he appreciated everything that goes into creating a finished home. And that’s another of my favorite parts of this job.

The finished rooms (below) might look effortless, but behind every space are dozens of decisions: Which flooring color worked best? What countertop complements the cabinets? How large should the artwork be? Does the furniture actually fit the scale of the room? Will this wall color still look beautiful at sunset when the light comes across the river?

Those choices are where the magic happens. A beautiful home isn’t created by simply buying beautiful things. It’s created by making the right choices and compromises for the people who live there.

And after five months of planning, decisions, deliveries, installations, and the inevitable pivots along the way, this riverfront townhome became more than just updated. It became home again.

Take a look:

Foyer Before

Foyer After

Powder Room Before

Powder Room After

Home Office Before

Home Office After

Living Room Before

Living Room After

Fireplace Before

New Fireplace After

Before

After

Kitchen Before

Kitchen After

So, if you’re considering your own home transformations, we hope this helps illustrate the value in seeking professional help and advice. Smart decorating choices and thoughtful design doesn’t happen overnight and can’t be achieved with ChatGPT. Anything to the contrary is just a bunch of blarney! ☘️

Happy Decorating from Decor Designs. 815-245-2433