Traditional Style Meets Creative DIYs in This Illinois Family Home

We’re welcomed into a beautifully preserved and thoughtfully updated Arts & Crafts-style home on Chicago’s North Shore, where traditional architecture meets heartfelt DIY design.

Homeowners Carissa and Larry Coons fell in love with the home’s early-1900s bones, from original details and built-ins to its connection to the surrounding ravine. They have spent years carefully restoring and personalizing each space.

With a hands-on approach and a deep appreciation for history, the couple transformed dated rooms through creative problem-solving, thrifted and inherited finds, and meaningful DIY projects. From a hand-tiled green fireplace to custom plug-in sconces, reupholstered furniture, and family heirlooms woven throughout, every space tells their family's story.