Keara Miller’s Transformational Remodel Inside Her Chicago Condo

When Keara Miller bought her condo in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago, she was excited to put her interior design skills to work on her first home. “It was the perfect level of ugly that I wanted,” she laughs. The condo had a good floor plan, wonderful natural light, and skyline views, but the mix of dated parquet flooring, kitchen tiles and “grungy carpeting” detracted from its assets. “The condo was perfect because I knew it could be transformed with a fairly simple facelift,” Keara explains.

Foundational Style

Her top priority was to transition the mishmash of flooring to a wide plank hardwood in the kitchen, dining and living areas. As a Carlisle Wide Plank Specialist, Keara knew the quality of the floors and had seen their power to transform spaces. “I considered all the options but I knew I needed the highest quality in two areas – flooring and countertops. That’s what people really notice,” she explains.

Since Keara would be living in her home while the floors were replaced, she opted for a prefinished floor so she could use it as quickly as possible. She selected Haven from Carlisle’s Tranquil Collection, explaining that “the color is light and bright but with a slight gray cast. The cool tone balances out the yellow of the sunlight that floods my condo.”

After considering different widths, Keara selected 8” boards because the wider boards reduced the number of seams between planks. Fewer seams make spaces feel larger and more serene. Keara points out that the wider planks also display more of the beauty of the wood, bringing the tranquility of nature indoors without creating overwhelming visual patterns.

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A Natural Showstopper

Keara loves the natural variations that give a real wood floor character and warmth. Like all Carlisle floors, the planks on her floor were custom-crafted one plank at a time from wood harvested in America. “I love that my floor brings nature into my city space. It is so calming,” Keara says.

Tom Smoliga of Red Oak Hardwood Floors carefully installed Keara’s floor to spotlight the beauty of particular boards. Keara ordered heirloom grade planks with almost no knots, but every board had unique grain patterns. Keara and Tom went through each board to decide where it would be placed. “Tom’s attention to detail was phenomenal,” Keara comments.

Tom placed a gorgeous, 10’ board right at the home’s entrance.  Keara says that “People walk in and immediately comment on how beautiful the floor is. It sets a good tone and makes my home feel larger and more unified.”

Beauty that Lasts

Keara’s floor has also received a stamp of approval from Nellie, her Australian Shephard dog. Keara says that the two still play tug-of-war inside and Nellie runs all over, but Keara doesn’t worry about the floor. Haven’s lighter color and a low sheen finish help disguise any minor wear and tear or paw prints.

The new prefinished White Oak hardwood flooring and a fresh coat of light gray paint on the walls have transformed her ugly duckling condo into the tranquil, minimalist retreat that she had envisioned. She is loving her first home and knows that when she is ready to move on, investing in a top-quality wood floor from Carlisle will enhance the resale value. According to realtor.com, a hardwood floor is a coveted option that can add up to 2.5% to a home’s sales price.

For now, Keara is enjoying being both an owner of a Carlisle wood floor and a company employee. “When I’m educating clients about the investment in Carlisle wood floors, what really draws them in is that each floor is made specifically for them by a company that has been the leader in wide plank flooring for over 50 years. Each floor is hand-made and has its own personality. And that’s what draws me in too!” she explains. “Knowing that you have a quality floor that will last a lifetime is a wonderful feeling.”

Watch the video to see more of this project and Keara’s insights into why wide plank flooring is a smart design decision even in smaller spaces.

For more photos of Keara’s Chicago Condo project, contact one of our Specialists or schedule a showroom visit.  Our showrooms are located in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, New York, San Francisco and Washington, DC.  We also have local representation in Los Angeles and Western Florida.  If you are not near a showroom, just give us a call at 800-595-9663.  Our Specialists have been working successfully with clients all over the world since 1966.