Jaw-dropping interiors that are still family friendly, warm and inviting. That combination describes the Edelmann home in Wilmette that’s featured in the March 2010 issue of Make It Better.
Here’s a preview of the home and some great take-away tips:
A few things I learned from Julia Buckingham Edelmann
Wood as art: We’re talking driftwood here. You’ll see it in many forms in Edelmann’s home: cloaking the foundation of a coffee table, acting as centerpiece on her dining room table, serving as a butler in the masterbath. Each piece is gorgeous, earthy and textural.
You don’t have to be afraid of orange: It’s Edelmann’s favorite color and she brings it into rooms in elegant ways: A French raincoat ad, circa 1965, starring a Audrey Hepburn in a poppy-colored hat and coat; an antique leather wingback chair, an oversize iron toy jack.
Artwork? Follow your heart: Edelmann’s leads her to art featuring faces, pieces with history, and oils. “If I could have an entire wall of old oil paintings, I would in a heartbeat,” she says.
Frames matter: Head to Daken Gallery says Edelmann.
A little dress’ll do ya: Several chairs in Edelmann’s home came from traditional beginnings but got bold, beautiful new looks with re-upholstering. An easy chair from Room and Board, once covered with black chenille got a major makeover when Edelmann re-covered it in cowhides bought from a roadside vendor in Arizona and wispy gray leather. A Midcentury Modern chair got touches of zing with Rose Tarlow fabric.
One of Edelmann’s favorite hunting grounds for antiques: Brimfield Antique Show, an enormous outdoor antique show about an hour’s drive from Boston that’s been around since 1959. It’s held three times each year—this year on May 11-16, July 13-18 and Sept. 7-12.
Favorite local haunts for amazing unique treasures:
Josie’s Antiques
Wilmette
The Find
Highwood
Kimball & Bean
Woodstock
Scentimental Gardens
Geneva
Chicago furniture designer Randall Kramer
Chicago
Randolph Street Antiques Market
Chicago