See How Interior Designer Gregory Socha Transformed His New Chicago Home Into A Stunning Haven

By J.P.Anderson By J.P.Anderson | December 4, 2024 | Home & Real Estate, HBCH Home, HBCH Home Tours, Home & Real Estate Feature, Home Feature,

After a pandemic-inspired career change and move to Chicago, Gregory Socha officially launches his interior design studio with the splashiest of home projects—his own.

“Poseidon and the Quahoger” by Michael Galvin adds an additional pop of color to the living room, which also beckons with a pair of Karpen of California lounge chairs in Dedar bouclé fabric in Nimbus Loden. photographed by RYAN MCDONALD
“Poseidon and the Quahoger” by Michael Galvin adds an additional pop of color to the living room, which also beckons with a pair of Karpen of California lounge chairs in Dedar bouclé fabric in Nimbus Loden.

THE PROJECT

Talk about a pandemic pivot: Inspired by the shutdown in 2020, Gregory Socha and his partner, Tom Eslinger, decided to sell their East Hampton, NY house, rent out their Manhattan loft and move to Chicago. Explains Socha of the pair’s new start, “We each left or were about to leave our successful corporate jobs and follow our dreams: Tom of being an artist and me to design residential interiors. We found the perfect pre-war co-op on North Lake Shore Drive with amazing views of the lake and of Montrose Harbor, and it needed to be completely renovated. We also needed to purchase all new furniture since we sold the bulk of what we had prior to moving.”

In the foyer, a vintage bench by Stewart MacDougall for Glenn of California from 1st Dibs upholstered in Kravet Couture fabric in New Ideas Anthracite perches below the photograph “Ginette on Avenue A” by Suzanne Stein.

THE PRIORITY

Explains Socha, “Since we both needed in-home offices, it was really important for us to have that separate space. Even more so, it was critical that all of the rooms were places we both felt comfortable. We wanted a space that was really beautiful but not so precious that our Lakeland Terrier, Berkeley, could not join us on the sofa. We also wanted a space that lent itself to entertaining. And lastly, we wanted a home that highlighted our art collection.”

Artist Michael Parekowhai’s Batman and Robin-inspired “Night at the Opera” prints take pride of place in the living room.

“IT WAS CRITICAL THAT ALL OF THE ROOMS WERE PLACES WE BOTH FELT COMFORTABLE. WE WANTED A SPACE THAT WAS REALLY BEAUTIFUL, BUT NOT SO PRECIOUS THAT OUR LAKELAND TERRIER, BERKELEY, COULD NOT JOIN US ON THE SOFA.”

In the dining area, a Paavo Tynell for Taito Oy chandelier hangs above a vintage table plus vintage chairs covered in Donghia’s St. Tropez Sharks Tooth Black fabric; an untitled painting by artist Don Harger adds visual interest.

THE CHALLENGE

One obstacle in the home renovation almost had literal sparks flying, as the team discovered a previously unknown electrical issue, including multiple live wires and junction boxes buried under plaster. “Everything had to be ripped out and rerun. Not an easy task when every wall in the apartment was constructed of 6-inch-thick ceramic brick,” notes Socha. “We also needed to skim-coat every wall due to multiple layers of wallpaper and paint hiding some rough plasterwork. Every cloud has a silver lining, though: Because every wall needed to be touched, we discovered a window in the living room that we did not know existed when we purchased.”

The powder room has major panache thanks to Cole & Son’s Fornasetti Acquario wallpaper, floating Teorema 2.0 vanity by Scarabeo Ceramiche and a framed print by Paul Klee.

THE DETAILS

“We love the new fireplace surround that I designed, which was inspired by a Thierry Despont example I fell in love with after buying several pieces from that particular apartment at auction. We replaced all of the doors (which were not original) with solid 8-foot single-panel doors, which completely changed the feel of the entire apartment—immediately, the 9-foot ceilings felt much higher. In the kitchen, because I’m a big believer in repurposing pretty much everything, and also because the existing kitchen cabinets were from Leicht and in excellent condition (and very much ahead of their time when they were installed in the ’90s), we decided to reimagine the kitchen with these cabinets. We were able to shuffle around the existing cabinetry to create a 12-foot island (in a pre-war Coop!). In this shuffle, we were also able to take advantage of the entire 5-by-7-foot window that was previously 80% covered with cabinetry.”

Inspired by the existing Leicht cabinets, Socha added personality to the kitchen with an Ilve range in blue grey with a matching glossy tile backsplash and wall in Passion Azul by Emser Tile.