How a Loft in Downtown Chicago Grew Into a Family Home

When Sixtysix magazine editor-in-chief Chris Force set out to renovate his downtown Chicago loft, he was after something that would give the space significance. “One thing I’ve consistently looked for in any project, whether it’s a home or a creative venture, is meaning,” he says. “I’m always searching for signs of connection, some sense of fate or deeper reason to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to something.”

That sense of purpose began with the loft’s location itself. Designed by George C. Nimmons in 1916 as a piece of Chicago School architecture, the historic building is part of the City of Chicago’s Printing House Row landmark district. It functioned as an old printing press until 1989 when it was converted into lofts. 

Once the hub of Chicago’s publishing industry, Printers Row had an instant pull for someone whose career is deeply rooted in print magazines. “I’ve always been obsessed with the Gutenberg Bible and the history of print itself,” Chris says. When he discovered the building had a tiled mosaic on the building’s façade depicting the Gutenberg Bible being printed, it felt like a sign.

The loft originally featured a wide-open floor plan consisting of two units that had been gutted and combined into one large, wall-free area. “At first it was this bare-floor bachelor pad,” he says. “Eventually I added an art studio, offices, and a big walk-in closet that later became one of the kid’s rooms. Another room started as a home office and turned into our second kid’s bedroom. This house has literally grown with me.”

For the recent renovation of the 2,000-square-foot space, Chris partnered with design firm PROjECT Interiors to transform the loft. Together they embraced the building’s historic bones while incorporating modern materials and functionality for family living.

Before launching Sixtysix, Chris spent nearly two decades publishing magazines within the music industry. Unlike most homeowners who often conceal their speakers within a space, the design team celebrated the Bowers & Wilkins sound system’s glossy black finish as an intentional design element.

“I really geek out over sound being super awesome,” he says. “Music has always been a huge part of my life, so having a great sound system is a big part of that. Half of the bookshelf is full of records.”

The living room subtly blends work and life, with several pieces reflecting Chris’ editorial world. The Herman Miller Rohde Easy chair was featured in Sixtysix Issue 13. “It’s a classic design that was reissued, and I love that it feels both iconic and fresh,” he says. “I felt the same about the Sarah Ellison pieces from Australia. We featured her work in Issue 12 and I’ve been obsessed ever since. The sofa and the brown-and-chrome chair are both hers.”

This philosophy extends to the rug from Armadillo, a female-founded, Australian-based company that’s B Corp-certified and committed to sustainable practices. “Australian design has such a strong connection to earthy, textural, natural materials. It’s a vibe I really connect with,” he says.

One of the renovation’s most unexpected changes was the addition of thoughtfully designed window treatments. The team selected James Dunlop fabric for its natural linen look, which beautifully softens light within the space. Hunter Douglas motorized blinds from Skyline Window Coverings allow control of all 11 windows with a single push of a button. “The folds in the fabric create these soft waves of light across the ceiling,” he says. “It’s the kind of detail you wouldn’t notice at first, but once you do it really elevates the room.”

Chris’ home office sits adjacent to a small seating area that doubles as a play zone for his children. The space features the Link sofa by Sancal that was also featured in Sixtysix. “I loved it then, and when it came time to renovate I knew I wanted it in my own home,” he says.

The sofa quickly became a family favorite—comfortable, kid-friendly, and often the center of activity when other children visit.  “It’s the kind of area where you wouldn’t mind sitting on the floor,” he says.

A pair of Fris pendant lights from Marset illuminate the room. “What I really love about Marset is that they care not just about how their lighting looks but about the quality of light,” he says. “It sounds obvious, but a lot of lighting companies skip that part. These produce an even spread of light and dim really nicely. They add a great architectural element to the space too.”

Marset’s Fragile light sits on an Ethnicraft desk featuring a vertical LED tube running down the middle. One of their Ginger wall pendants peeks out from the ceiling. The classic Humanscale Freedom chair offers ergonomic seating. “It’s a zero fuss chair, you don’t need to adjust anything; just sit down and you’re good to go.”

Behind the desk stands the Lesire credenza from Design Within Reach, a Mabeo Studio piece with a scalloped panga panga wood front and cone-shaped legs. It’s designed by Botswana-based designer Peter Mabeo and celebrates the richness of African craft and the expertise of the artisans who make it. 

“I absolutely love it,” he says. “It’s actually two credenzas placed side-by-side. They add great texture and provide tons of storage.” The Marantz Grand Horizon wireless speaker sits on top of the credenza. With solid wood construction, heavy brass detailing, and a beautiful finish, Chris says it resembles an art piece more than audio equipment—though it delivers exceptional sound quality with lossless audio streaming.

With two young children in the home practicality matters too—an iRobot vacuum handles cleanup, automatically docking, refilling water, and even mopping. “You don’t even have to set it up or tell it what to do, it just figures it out,” he says.

The dining area’s bold and whimsical light fixture also makes an immediate impression. “We really wanted it to make a statement in this room,” Chris says. “PROjECT Interiors is known for their bold lighting choices, and they selected this amazing Vitis 5 chandelier by RBW. I actually wrote about them years ago when they were just starting out. It’s been cool to see how far they’ve come.”

Chris says the dining table is his favorite new piece in the entire home. “It’s from the Italian company Porro, and in my opinion no one makes a better table,” he says. “The craftsmanship is unbelievable.”

The team chose a finish with a black top and brass base. It’s solid, textured, and big enough to host 10–12 people comfortably. PROjECT Interiors also suggested adding a leather-upholstered banquette from West Elm. “It’s durable and easy to clean. Perfect for kids,” Chris says.

The Bok dining chairs by Ethnicraft match the table’s level of craftsmanship. Designer Alain van Havre combines sculptural elegance and contemporary crafting into a graceful and airy form. “These are all wood with leather upholstered seats,” Chris says. “They’re well-made and designed with an interesting character without being overly cumbersome.”

A ceramic dining set by Villeroy & Boch anchors the table—special and thoughtfully designed, yet appropriate for everyday use. The ceramic’s subtle striations pair perfectly with the flatware’s fluting.

Though the kitchen is modest in size it received some of the home’s most thoughtful design upgrades. The renovation transformed a kitchenette with European-scaled appliances into a fully functional, family-ready cooking space.

GE’s Monogram line provided a suite of appliances including a wall-mounted oven and microwave that frees up space under the counter. The three-compartment refrigerator also offers flexible storage: the middle drawer toggles between refrigeration and freezer modes. “In the summer when we’re loaded up on popsicles we just switch it to a freezer. It’s super handy,” Chris says.

An induction stovetop streamlines cooking even more, a win-win in a household where boiling pasta for kids happens frequently. Under the sink a built-in InSinkErator water filter and faucet eliminates the need for a pitcher, working alongside a Grohe pot filler. 

Lighting comes from Brooklyn-based brand Apparatus. “PROjECT had the idea to have them custom-wrap one of the tubes in leather, which they kindly did,” Chris says. “It adds a nice personal touch.” Stone from Calia covers the backsplash and counters. Chris says the team kept a lot of the natural striations and imperfections to emphasize the natural materiality, and added details like the double-hung ledge that gives the illusion of folded layers. 

Staub’s enameled cast iron pot and frying pan also suits the family’s daily cooking needs. The space features Buster + Punch outlets with built-in USB ports—a practical upgrade recommended by the designers. 

A Cleon Peterson print hangs on the wall to the left. Originally from Chicago, he’s an artist Chris has been a longtime fan of. “He recently relocated to Los Angeles where he tragically lost his home in the wildfires,” he says. “He created this screen print as part of a fundraising effort to help rebuild. Thankfully his family was safe. I’ve always been drawn to works on paper, and I love his style—but this piece also serves as a reminder to be grateful for home and the people in it.”

The kitchen seamlessly transitions into the entryway where sleek, all-black cabinetry by nobilia is designed to recede into the walls and minimize visual clutter. 

“The custom cabinetry from nobilia—a German brand, I realized later—was a major part of our renovation,” he says. “I’d never had much built-in storage before, but we needed a smart way to add a lot of it without overwhelming the space. They delivered this incredibly sleek and uniform system that keeps everything seamlessly integrated. The level of customization is seriously impressive.”

Buster & Punch hardware and Schlage’s electronic door locks also keep the look clean and integrated. “Not having keys is such a game changer,” he says. “When we had construction going on we could set codes that only worked during certain hours.”

Hardwood floors throughout were treated with Bona “Red Out” to remove their aging orange cast followed by Bona ClearSeal and Traffic GO, a non-toxic water-based sealant and finish combination to keep the space kid-safe and breathable. A decorative partition wall by Wow Design adds structure and texture, marking the threshold between rooms.

The Tecno AT16 coat rack by Osvaldo Borsani from Artemest stands as an iconic piece that recalls the solar system. Tucked into a corner, a compact home bar makes use of additional Monogram under-counter refrigerators and Buster & Punch shelving for glassware.

The bedroom’s design revolves around an anniversary-edition Artichoke lamp by Louis Poulsen. “It’s one of those pieces I’ve always loved,” Chris says. “When I heard they were releasing an anniversary edition I knew I wanted to build the room around it.”

The West Elm bed frame features a soft fold in the headboard, another reference to the home’s material language. The mattress and pillows are from Saatva. “This is, no joke, the most comfortable mattress I’ve ever slept on,” he says. “We’ve basically turned our whole extended family into Saatva fans.” A low-profile custom shoe storage cabinet beneath the window addresses clutter. 

Additional pieces include the Moroso Anomaly pouf, West Elm dresser, the Panthella lamp by Louis Poulsen, and some favorite design objects from Artemest—a basket by Gaetano Pesce and a Studiopepe wall hanging. Tonester Paints supplied the Oliveblack wall color that softens the space. 

A concealed bathroom off the kitchen provided an opportunity for bold design choices. “We wanted it to feel like a secret room, and to do something fun and interesting here for when you do finally discover it,” he says.

A painting by Chris and his daughter was turned into the room’s custom wallpaper created in collaboration with Astek. “We added this amazing fluted scallop tile from Wow Design that adds a tiny bit of texture,” he says. “They also provided this beautiful pattern on the floor that gives the space a ton of personality.”

A terracotta wash basin from Concretti introduces an earthy red accent, complemented by fixtures from Grohe Spa. A DXV smart toilet from LIXIL (affectionately dubbed “the robot toilet” by Chris’ kids) includes a night light, heated seat, bidet, and dryer. “It’s the kind of thing you don’t realize you’ll love until you have it,” he says. A frameless glass door by Basco leads to the shower, featuring an Infinity Drain allows the shower floor to lay completely flat.

Nearly 15 years after moving in, Chris’ Printers Row loft has grown up alongside its owner, evolving from a wall-less blank slate into a home that’s both modern and functional. Whether hosting, working, or enjoying a quiet evening, the space continues to support the life unfolding within it.

Interior Design: PROjECT Interiors
Home Builder: Chavez Carpentry
Photography: Daniel Peter
Stylist: Miriam Bouleanu
Cabinetry: nobilia North America
Window Coverings: Skyline Window Coverings, Hunter Douglas
Drapery: James Dunlop, Drapery Avenue
Audio: Bowers & Wilkins, Marantz
Grilles: KUL Grilles
Locks / Doorknobs: Schlage
Kitchen and Bath Fixtures: LIXIL, GROHE Spa, DXV
Lighting Hardware: Buster + Punch
Stone: Calia, BeckerWorks
Office Lighting: Marset
Dining Lighting: RBW
Kitchen Lighting: Apparatus
Bedroom Lighting: Louis Poulsen
Decor: Dumæ, Zwilling, Normann Copenhagen, Aesop, Jayson Home
Kitchen Appliances: Monogram
Wallpaper: Astek
Paint: Tonester
Rugs: Armadillo
Dining Furniture: Porro, Ethnicraft, West Elm, Sancal
Dinnerware: Villeroy & Boch
Office Furniture: Ethnicraft, Humanscale, DWR
Bedroom Furniture: Moroso, Artemest, West Elm
Bathroom Vanity: Concretti Designs
Bathroom Tile: WOW Design
Bathroom Drain: Infinity Drain
Floor Maintenance: iRobot, Bona