When you've been making the rounds of the art and craft show circuit for as long as Laurie "The Glasskicker" Freivogel has, you're bound to amass quite a collection of art. Indeed, Laurie's home is chock full of the unique pieces of art and accessories that she has collected over the years. This little single family home is like a living gallery of unique independent art.
When asked how she would describe her style Laurie says, "Eclectic? Frenetic? Chaotic? I LOVE simple, clean lines, but I also love stuff, especially handmade, mid-century modern and art. Maybe my decorating style is "There's ALWAYS room for more!"" This maximalist mentality works in this vintage two-story house.
Since Laurie and her husband, Andy, bought this Oak Park house sixteen years ago, they've gradually transformed it into a family home. They've transformed an attic space into a bedroom for their daughter, expanded the basement to allow more room for Laurie's business, Kiku Handmade, and, most recently, gutted and expanded the kitchen to create a family hangout space. But it is the basement project that has been the most life changing for Laurie and her family.
"My "studio" was the basement, and we had to walk through broken glass to get to the laundry room, plus my kiln was at my back (and, at times, is 1400 degrees). It was a horrible way to work. Also, about 1/3 of the kitchen had previously been an enclosed porch, built on concrete footings. One corner kept sinking and it was time to deal with it. So we knocked it down, dug out an 18' x 10' basement addition (my studio) and rebuilt the back of the kitchen on top, which included an additional 10' x 12' space for a sofa, fireplace and countertop. I got to use soapstone and found beautiful floor tiles and we can actually be together in the kitchen now. And the studio is where I can now go and close the door. Best of both worlds."
Laurie's love of color and creativity is apparent in every corner of the house. The walls are coated in bright hues and colorful art lines most horizontal surfaces. Even the basement floor is covered with a sparkly blue coating. It's also a home that expresses Laurie's love of vintage and handmade. The house has been decorated a little bit at a time, using sources like Craigslist, Ebay and estate sales. "I love rehabbing old furniture pieces," Laurie says, "so I tend to look for used pieces with good bones first. The best place for that for me has absolutely been Craigslist. Ebay is a close 2nd." Laurie spent a great deal of time hitting estate sales a few years back, collecting most of her dining room furniture in the process.
As a big supporter of independent artists and retailers, Laurie makes a point of buying from them. "I get all of my home accessories and art as either gifts, from my artist friends in the form of trades, at art fairs or at independently owned boutiques. I try to only buy US-designed and made, when possible (OK, Canada, you count) and stick to little local shops as often as I can. I usually shop on vacation, or when I'm dropping off my Kiku goods at one of my stores."
Check out more of Laurie's home in the slideshow above. And be sure to click over to Kiku Handmade to see Laurie's designs and support a local artist!
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