space planning in Chicago
Space planning is how we determine the best layout for a room or a home. We analyze how you use your space and then create a new, more efficient floor plan. This service focuses on the physical arrangement of walls, doorways, and built-in elements.
What we do
Our Discovery phase involves understanding your current space and how you live. During Design, we develop multiple layout options, then refine one into a final plan. Documentation includes detailed drawings and specifications for your contractor. We assist with Material procurement by providing selections for fixed elements like flooring and cabinetry. We consult during Construction to ensure the design is implemented as planned, and assist with Furniture procurement & installation for your new layout.
Who it suits
This service suits homes in Chicago, Atlanta, and Southwest Michigan where the existing layout no longer works. It is ideal for 1920s bungalows in Atlanta needing a kitchen reconfiguration or 1970s ranch homes in Southwest Michigan seeking an open-concept living area. Jennifer Peterson leads this work in Chicago and Southwest Michigan; Jill Kearns leads in Atlanta.
Questions
What specifically do I receive with space planning?
You receive detailed drawings and specifications for your new layout during the Documentation phase. This includes floor plans, elevations, and any necessary details for your contractor to implement the design.
How does space planning differ from Full-Home Design?
Space planning focuses specifically on the layout and arrangement of walls and built-in elements within a room or home. Full-Home Design encompasses all aspects of interior design for an entire residence, including furnishings, styling, and color consultation, in addition to space planning.
Does J. Peterson Design handle the construction?
No, we do not handle construction directly. Our role is to design and document the new layout. We work with your chosen contractor during the Construction phase to ensure the design is executed accurately.
Is this service suitable for a single room?
Yes, space planning is suitable for a single room, such as reconfiguring a kitchen or bathroom. It is also applicable to larger areas like a basement remodel or an entire living space.
How does this service relate to Kitchen Design or Bathroom Design?
Space planning is a foundational part of our Kitchen Design and Bathroom Design services. For these specific rooms, space planning focuses on optimizing the layout of appliances, fixtures, and cabinetry to create a functional and efficient space.
In Chicago
Homes in Chicago
Chicago's housing stock includes many 1920s brick bungalows in neighborhoods like Portage Park, often featuring galley kitchens closed off from dining rooms. We often address these layouts with Kitchen Design services. In Lincoln Park, 19th-century greystones frequently have primary baths split into two small rooms, which we combine and reconfigure with Bath Design. Many 1980s townhomes in areas like Lakeview have unpainted oak trim and cabinetry, prompting requests for updated Furnishing & Styling or Color Consultation to modernize these spaces. We also work with 1950s ranch homes in Beverly, where low basement ceilings are a common challenge during Full-Home Design projects.
What homeowners in Chicago ask for
Homeowners in Chicago often seek Kitchen Design to open up 1920s bungalow kitchens. Bath Design is frequently requested for combining small, split primary bathrooms in 19th-century greystones. Many projects involve Full-Home Design for 1950s ranch homes, addressing challenges like low basement ceilings. Furnishing & Styling updates are common for 1980s townhomes to refresh dated oak finishes.
Led by Jennifer Peterson
About the studio
Two sisters, one studio
Jennifer Peterson founded J. Peterson Design in 2008 and leads our work in Chicago and Southwest Michigan. Her sister, Jill Kearns, leads the Atlanta studio. Together, we design homes that feel considered and beautiful, but also comfortable, functional, and personal to the people who live in them.
Although we work in different cities, we operate as one studio. We talk through plans, share ideas, question each other, and bring another experienced set of eyes to the decisions that matter. Being sisters makes that collaboration especially natural — there is a shorthand, an honesty, and a shared standard that has been there long before the studio.
Other services
Contact
Ready to talk about space planning in Chicago?
Tell us about the space and what is not working in it.
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Jennifer Peterson
[email protected]
(847) 809-7344 -
Jill Kearns
[email protected]
(404) 626-6952
Chicago
Led by Jennifer Peterson