Matchbox Factory Renovation

Set within a former matchbox factory in the heart of Lincoln Park, this home carries its history openly. The structure—exposed beams, steel, and original industrial elements—was preserved, then softened. The plan was opened to create continuity between spaces, allowing the kitchen to move easily into both indoor and outdoor living areas, one continuous environment.

Material choices do the balancing. Distressed leather seating introduces warmth against darker cabinetry and stone surfaces. The existing bones remain visible, but the atmosphere shifts—industrial, but no longer hard-edged.A double-sided fireplace anchors the main living area, offering two distinct places to gather without dividing the space. It’s both functional and atmospheric, holding the room together.

Outside, a live garden wall and rooftop deck extend the experience upward and outward, creating a sense of retreat within the city. The result is an iconic home that juxtaposes rawness and refinement, shaped as much by what was left in place as what was changed.