4 min read“The Golden Rules of Decorating” from House Beautiful’s October 1989 Issue:
Dorothy Draper, a maximalist before the term was coined, asserted to House Beautiful, there should never be “any doubt about what your color has to say.” In this Chicago home, Bishop Studio lets every hue speak with confidence, alternating rich shades of ocher, plum, and navy around standout silhouettes and bespoke touches to create rooms that are joyful, welcoming, and full of character.
There are clients who hire a designer to solve a problem, and then there are those who hand over the keys to possibility. By the time Jennie Bishop began work on this penthouse in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood, she had already spent nearly a decade building a creative rapport with the homeowners that most designers chase for their whole careers. The third of four homes they would create together, their relationship was one built not on predictability, but on the confidence to continually surprise one another. “We’ve developed a shorthand,” the Bishop Studio founder says. “They know we’ll challenge them, and we know they’re willing to come along for the ride.”
That partnership took shape in the 3,500-square-foot apartment at the same time that the family’s Florida retreat—inspired by 1960s Havana—was underway, making this what Bishop calls its “dressier, older sister.” Instead of relying on time and place to inform the scheme, Bishop allowed color to drive the narrative, drenching the home in tones that chase richness with abandon—aubergine meets camel in the dining nook, blush mingles with chartreuse in the living room, navy holds its own against pattern in the snug. “The trick isn’t using only bold colors,” Bishop explains. “It’s knowing when to stop. We layer it, step back, rebalance it, then rebalance it again until everything feels like it’s having the right conversation.”
It’s a home filled with arresting furniture profiles, ambitious materials, and painstakingly precise details, but none of it exists simply for show. Years of mutual trust make every daring design decision possible, a tangible reminder that the most compelling interiors don’t come from following convention, but from following your creativity—and your designer, wherever they may lead.
FAST FACTS
Designer: Jennie Bishop, Bishop Studio
Location: Chicago, Illinois
The Space: A 3,500-square-foot penthouse apartment in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood.
LIVING ROOM
Arched windows play into the soft silhouettes found throughout the home.
To riff on the shape of the Stahl + Band sectional—one of the first selects made for the room—Bishop worked in other organic forms, like an amoeba-shaped coffee table. Marble plinths line the fireplace wall, serving as bonus seating.
SNUG
Family time comes easy in this comfortable retreat.
Part theater, part family retreat, this was Bishop’s chance to “go crazy,” creating an immersive design anchored by a transportive House of Hackney wallpaper. Quattro Stagioni marble from Artistic Tile brings elegance to the bar and coffee nook. A custom hidden desk by Lawson Fenning offers a cozy spot to work from home.
KITCHEN
A simple facelift was all this spot needed to fall into pace with the rest of the apartment.
Though the room was already underway by the time Bishop came on board, she dressed it up using “perfectly imperfect” zellige tiles from Clé on the backsplash. Kooij counter stools add just the right amount of modern funkiness.
DINING NOOK
A custom, irregular-shaped table maximizing dining space while maintaining the home’s DNA.
This intimate corner with an eight-person, custom banquette upholstered in Pierre Frey fabric suits everything from family breakfasts to animated dinner parties. Smoked bronze inset mirrors add a touch of old-world elegance.
POWDER ROOM
Bold stone is the star of the show in this petite washroom.
A love letter to Italian design, this petite bath makes a grand impression with inky blue Venetian plaster walls, a vintage Murano sconce from 1stDibs, and a jewel-like Calacatta Turquoise Antique marble vanity top from Calia Stone.
PRIMARY BEDROOM
Elegant draperies call attention to the room’s grand proportions.
In lieu of paint, a fluid Anna Glover wallpaper envelops the space in dreamlike serenity. A textural Haute Living bed, clad in Pierre Frey chenille velvet, beckons for lazy Sunday mornings. Silk draperies in Dedar fabric have blackout lining for uninterrupted sleep.
GUEST BEDROOM
Integrated nightstands make the most of a snug space.
Just big enough to fit a king bed, Bishop chose to integrate the nightstands into the frame to ensure the room had enough storage for guests to live comfortably. A wash of dusty pink paint keeps the room feeling tranquil.
ROOFTOP PATIO
The 850-square-foot space is the spot to be during Chicago’s beautiful summers.
Bishop calls this terrace the “icing on top of the cake” for the homeowners. To promote comfortable outdoor living, she outfitted it with a durable Harbour Outdoor sectional and RH fire pit.
About the Designer
Jennie Bishop is the principal and founder of Bishop Studio, based in Chicago. Her designs are defined by ambitious patterns and palettes, merging modern comforts with her signature brand of bold livability. Known for weaving clean lines with rich contrasts, Bishop infuses her work with striking shapes and textures for an unmistakable aesthetic. She embraces exciting, unexpected details that deliver expressive environments with a comprehensive narrative.
