Designer Elizabeth Stamos Shares How She Renovated Her Own Home

Elizabeth Stamos gave her home a functional and style update while still keeping the space family-friendly for her husband and two sons.

Elizabeth Stamos in her master bedroom, which is a tranquil space in an otherwise busy family home.

What did your house need?
We live in a cookie-cutter townhouse in Lincoln Park. We absolutely love the location and the space, but the kitchen and bathrooms were dated and the whole house needed an infusion of personality. We renovated the kitchen, which made an enormous difference, and I am now beginning to think about updating the baths.

In her own home, Stamos mixes high and low. A perfect example is the gallery wall that features art by Francine Turk and Josh Young, with the pink velvet chairs that she found on Amazon.

Any hiccups?
This is the first home we have purchased as a family, and as a designer, I wanted to turn it into my dream home, but I had to be realistic. We have two young boys, and glass coffee tables with sharp corners or delicate pieces wouldn’t have made sense for how we live. Once I stopped focusing on creating a certain look, and just focused on what I love, it all came together.

In the living room, the armchairs were Stamos’ grandparents, and she had them reupholstered by Anita’s Custom Upholstery. The ottoman is custom-designed by Stamos and made by Justo Paz Custom Furniture.

Favorite pieces?
Our living room chairs were my grandparents and had been in their living room for about 50 years. I reupholstered them in a bold print and added a tassel fringe at the base. They feel brand-new, but have a history that makes me smile every time I look at them.

When Stamos and her husband purchased the home, the kitchen cabinets were in great shape, but they were a terrible shade of cherry. Stamos had them repainted and replaced the sink, faucet, backsplash, counters and hardware.

What did you learn that you can apply to client projects?
It was the other way around. I’m process-oriented when it comes to working with clients, but for myself, I’ve always just collected pieces and made them work. It was only after I put pen to paper and worked through our home like I would a client’s project that I completed it. Deadlines and all!

She used modern classics in the kitchen dining area. The table is the Saarinen Tulip table by CB2 with Hans Wegner Wishbone chairs. Stamos added the cushions to protect the roping from kid spills.