Winnetka design firm Rebel House crafts a wonderfully sleek home for first-time clients in Highland Park.
In the dining room, lighting was sourced from Bec Brittain and Roll & Hill.
THE PROJECT
“Oftentimes, projects have protracted timelines, and it’s a race against the clock,” says Marli Jones, co-owner and creative director of Winnetka-based interior design firm Rebel House. Luckily, this was not the case for Jones and the Rebel House team when reimagining a Highland Park home for first-time clients. “They were not in a rush,” Jones says. “[They were] more interested in taking time to find the perfect pieces.” Their vision was a home that reflected their family’s desire for an elevated sense of fun and sophistication via bold, punchy moments weaved throughout a monochromatic palette.
“In every space, we employed a monochromatic foundation with a layer or limited punchy color in each space,” says Jones.
THE PROCESS
The Rebel House team broke ground in late 2019, designing the great room in tandem with the clients’ outdoor furnishings, including a pool lounge, an outdoor kitchen and a fire pit lounge—all spaces the family enjoyed over the following two years stuck at home during the height of the pandemic.
A custom Rebel House coffee table and the clients’ own sectional reupholstered in Fishman’s Fabric’s mohair in the family room.
The dining room, office and daughter’s room were next, followed by the primary bedroom and bathroom. A contemporary,textured aesthetic ties the rooms together while layers and limited use of color create a distinct feel in each area. “Black, white and jewel tones make up the core of the project,” Jones adds. “The client [favored] high-contrast spaces with sculptural furniture and lighting forms.”
Fixtures in the primary bathroom are from Waterworks
THE DETAILS
One standout piece is the family room sectional—the clients’ own, reupholstered in deep-green Fishman’s Fabrics mohair, which is paired with a sculptural custom coffee table in whitewashed white oak courtesy of Rebel House. In the dining room, Zimba wallpaper from Schumacher adds a distinct air to the moody area appointed in primarily black and white selects.
Apparatus’ limited edition Talisman: Loop sconce in the primary bedroom.
“This project is all about crafting uniqueness,” notes Jones. “The goal was to design spaces and pull selections the client hadn’t [seen all over] Instagram. We worked to keep the forms and selections bespoke to this client.”
A custom Rebel House bed with Holland & Sherry’s Militaire Charcoal fabric in the primary bedroom.
THE CHALLENGES
Although time constraints were not an issue, the pandemic provided obstacles from the beginning. “[During] the first installation in March of 2020, just [co-owner and managing director] Michael Kreuser and I met the delivery team in masks and gloves,” says Jones. “It was so early in the pandemic that we weren’t sure the best way to keep everyone safe. It was our first project with these clients, so it was really important to us to complete the install as scheduled. It was a tumultuous time but resulted in a great long-term relationship.”
A custom Rebel House sectional with Geiger Textiles fabric anchors the primary bedroom’s sitting area.
THE OUTCOME
Given Rebel House’s dedication to creating spaces unique to each homeowner, Jones notes that there will be internal discussions on future projects about how to use a fabric, for example, in a different colorway in order to assure this Highland Park space remains as personal to this close-knit family as possible.
Photography by: Photographed by Mike Schwartz
