COZY, CHARMING ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE

The Illinois-based Kate Marker Interiors sought to create an oasis for a busy family. Marking a fresh start for the homeowners, the quaint home can easily fit right in with the rolling hills of the English countryside — even though it’s located on a quiet street in the Chicago suburbs. We’re taking a look at this striking home that seamlessly blends modern and rustic.

After graduating from design school, Kate Marker worked as a merchandiser for several years before deciding to branch out on her own. Beginning her solo journey in an upstairs home office, she has since grown Kate Marker Interiors to a team of about 12, including four designers. Now principal designer, Marker is known for her fresh, timeless looks that uniquely reflect each client’s personality.

One of those clients wanted to make a fresh start in a quaint home on an overlooked corner lot, located on a quiet street in Barrington, a suburb of Chicago. Marker’s team had previously worked with the builder, Grand Traditions Homes, so when the homeowner approached them about the project, they recommended the two join forces.

While the ground hadn’t yet been broken, the floorplan was nearly complete. A large family in tow, the homeowners sought to create a functional space that made everyone feel welcome and considered all of the children’s styles and needs. Their main criteria: functionality for a busy lifestyle.

“They knew they wanted an English style or influence—sort of an old-meets-new [vibe], like it could be a house on the English countryside,” says Marker. “We went with authentic, moodier materials but also a farmhouse-fresh look.”

With no existing architectural elements to preserve, Marker’s team took the opportunity to start from scratch. The homeowners gave them free reign on the design—with some must-haves like a breakfast nook, where they could sit down as a family, and an open family room and kitchen.

A reclaimed wood ceiling breathes history and warmth into an otherwise crisp, clean entryway. Unique light fixtures and a colorful rug add a sense of whimsy to the welcoming space.

To kick off the creative process, the team started planning the plumbing fixtures and cabinet design, looking for inspiration from photos the family shared and possible color palettes. “They wanted darker cabinet colors for a timeless look, as well as brick around the fireplace. They also wanted reclaimed wood on the island, ceiling and in the entryway hall,” says Liisa Gent, design communication manager at Kate Marker Interiors. “We needed to come up with some of those materials and identify the architectural finishes for certain areas.”

The juxtaposition of rustic and modern led to a striking combination of textures and colors. In the kitchen, the team landed on a multidimensional cabinetry color that appears grey in some light, and green in others. “Everyone was all about the white kitchens at this time, so this was a very refreshing and grounding colour. That color, mixed with the wood tones, is a bit masculine but then [it’s paired with] the more feminine counter stools. The lighting fixtures were just the icing on the cake,” says Gent.

The fireplace, too, seamlessly blends the two genres for a refreshing take. “Instead of painting it, we used limewash on the interior and exterior of the brick fireplace. It was more authentic to the actual stone and that way, we could control how much color went on,” says Gent. Tying into the kitchen and reclaimed wood features, the rustic mantle boasts decorations like an antique-looking mirror for a pop of personality. “It’s those final little touches that make a house a home,” Marker adds.

To maintain a classic look, timeless elements were built into the home, including large windows that flood the space with light and stunning stone flooring. The builder also incorporated an “X” motif throughout the interior as well as on the exterior, seen on the window shutters and cabinetry.

“If you choose the right authentic materials, you can bring in pattern in subtle ways and it can still look very timeless,” says Gent. “Having a clean, classic foundation is never going to look dated. You can bring in more personality with the finishings and accessories.”

To that end, the homeowners’ personalities were most exemplified in the dining room, which was driven by their style preferences. “There were formal lines in the table and chairs, whereas they wanted it to be more casual in the family room,” says Gent. “Their master bedroom is also softer, muted colors—very relaxing, as they wanted a bit of an oasis—while the rest of the house is a little more saturated.”

While wall colors remain neutral, textiles offer personality in spades.

For an extremely personal touch, the homeowner chose to incorporate a bird motif to honor and remember a close family member who had passed away. “Birds reminded her of her brother, so she wanted to integrate an homage to him,” says Gent. They applied soft, subtle bird wall coverings in the powder room and found pillows with a bird motif for the master bedroom.

After an 18-month process, the homeowners were thrilled with the end result, the comfortable, accommodating open floor plan meeting their vision. “They were very grateful to have everyone together and a space to call their own. Though it’s an open floor plan, there are kind of quieter, more compartmentalized spaces,” says Gent. “They loved their bedroom the most—it felt like such a sanctuary for them with their busy lifestyles.”

Farmhouse modern meets English countryside in this new build that features timeless landscaping and classic exterior colors.