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Chicago People, Décor

A Chicago Greystone “Before & After” Transformation

Here’s a transformation you have to see to believe. Local Chicagoan and co-founder of The Everygirl, Alaina Kaczmarski took a vintage Chicago greystone from drab to fab in less than a year.

Kaczmarski found the 1,600 square foot rental on Craiglist last winter and has since transformed the space to fit her “modern meets traditional” style, alongside her husband, Dan, and their two dogs, Tucker and Fiona.

Take a look inside and you’ll find tons of architectural charm, like oversized windows and multiple fireplaces, paired with Alaina’s knack for styling “old and new.”

See inside this chic and modern Chicago greystone…

Compare “before and after”…

INTERIOR DESIGN AND STYLING: Alaina Kaczmarski PHOTOGRAPHY: Aimée Mazzenga

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS AND SOURCES: TheEverygirl.com

Inside Bill and Giuliana Rancic’s Chicago Home

Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood is home for Bill and Giuliana Rancic. The celebrity power couple known from E! News, The Apprentice and RPM restaurants live in a beautifully restored brownstone with their 5 year-old son, Duke.

The Rancics purchased the home in March 2013 for $2.125 million, with many of its original pre-fire Victorian features in tact. Since then, they have undertaken a series of renovations to modernize and personalize the home, located at 105 E. Bellevue Place. The couple enlisted interior designer, Lonni Paul, to transform the space in a fresh, blue-and-white focused palette.

Bill Rancic grew up in nearby Orland Park, IL and always had sights of moving back to Chicago with Giuliana to raise their family.

“This city has everything to offer, including a community of people with strong Midwestern values,” Bill says of his hometown, and especially their neighborhood, within walking distance of shops, their restaurants, and Lake Michigan. “We knew the family who lived here before, and they put a great vibe in this house that we hope to continue. We’ve always had one foot here, and now we have two. Finally, we’re home.”

See inside the Chicago home of Bill and Giuliana Rancic…

What do you think of the Rancic’s Chicago home?

Remixing Chicago Street Art and Fashion

No one does Chicago street style quite like Jennifer Lake.

As a fashion blogger — and public relations Senior Vice President at Zapwater — Jennifer Lake has amassed a loyal Instagram following of 144,000 engaged fans (and growing). Beyond her fashion-forward outfits, the focus of Lake’s content is often Chicago street art. From River North to Ravenwood, Humboldt Park to Lincoln Park, Pilsen to Andersonsville and beyond, Jennifer Lake covers some serious ground.

Lake is a born and raised Chicagoan, and draws inspiration from our city’s neighborhoods, artists and institutions. She says, “Chicago is an instant source of inspiration, and our cultural institutions became my creative playground. I love visiting and soaking up everything around me… Chicago is such a liveable city – fantastic public transportation, amazing neighborhoods, and of course – phenomenal food, art, sports, and fashion.”

If you glance at Lake’s playful Instagram feed, you’ll notice a colorful array of Chicago murals and street art that’ll leave you asking… “Where is that?” Lucky for us, Lake has documented a Chicago Wall Guide on her fashion blog, Style Charade.