The Best Interior Designers in Chicago

Last updated on October 9th, 2024 at 09:23 am

When designing your dream home, the stakes are high. Working alongside a good contractor for residential projects in Chicago ensures the work is done correctly, on time, and within budget. With its unique building codes and weather challenges, a skilled contractor can navigate regulations and implement durable solutions, saving time and money while ensuring safety and quality. With an average project cost ranging from $100,000 to $650,000 and luxury renovations soaring to $950,000 or more, choosing an interior designer who understands your vision and fits your budget is crucial. The complexity of the projects, which can take up to 35 weeks to complete, makes selecting the right professional a pivotal decision. The city’s dynamic architecture and diverse neighborhoods demand a designer who can blend creativity with practicality to bring your vision to life.

Chicago, home to approximately 2.665 million residents, has a median home value of $375,900. This bustling metropolis boasts a vibrant housing market where high-quality interior design is in demand. With 247 residential contractors listed in the city’s building permit database, the challenge lies in finding a reliable interior designer who can navigate the intricate process of a renovation or a new build. The average construction cost of $32 per square foot emphasizes the importance of meticulous planning and expert execution to ensure your project stays within budget and meets your aesthetic goals.

With the right guidance and expertise, your home transformation can be a seamless experience, resulting in a space that reflects your style and enhances your quality of life. Let us guide you through the top interior designers in Chicago with the creativity, experience, and reliability to make your dream home a reality.

Overview: The Best Interior Designers in Chicago

See Ranking Methodology at the bottom of this article to learn more. 

Kaufman Segal Design

900 N Franklin, Suite 710, Chicago, IL 60610

David Kaufman and Tom Segal founded this residential design firm. The studio has since expanded to include commercial design as well. Kaufman became an Illinois licensed interior designer in 1989 and worked as senior designer for the late Paul Granata, a well-known Chicago designer, before starting his firm. Segal earned a Master of Architecture from the University of Illinois at Chicago and started as a residential architect for Frye, Gilian, and Moliaro Architects, focusing on interiors. He has served as president of the Board of Trustees of Harrington College of Design. The firm has received several Illinois Design Excellence Awards, Honorable Mentions from the American Society of Interior Designers, and a Best in Design award from CS Interiors. Their work has also been featured in several HGTV shows. Kaufman Segal Design was honored in 2019 on the Luxe Interiors + Design Gold List for Interior Design, establishing a reputation as one of the best interior designers in Chicago.

A 14th-floor apartment offers spectacular views of downtown with its floor-to-ceiling windows. To make it feel more like a home, the design firm called on the owner’s large collection of colorful art as a central design theme. The well-traveled couple filled the studio with curiosities from around the globe. From there, Kaufman and Segal used velvet, leather, and silk-upholstered furniture to add warmth, comfort, and class. The 2,400-square-foot apartment has two bedrooms and three baths. After a historic family home in Lakeview underwent an architectural and interior renovation, Kaufman Segal was contracted to re-conceptualize the new open floor plan. The team used a muted color palette juxtaposed with dark wood and nickel accents that work to visually enlarge the space.

Anthony Michael Interior Design

2825 N Southport Avenue, Chicago, IL 60657

With the interior design completion of more than 1,100 homes, Anthony Michael’s work has spanned single-family residences, restaurants, retail stores, yachts, and private aircraft. Michael has been named Designer of the Year and Retail Designer of the Year by the Chicago Tribune. Michael has received “Best of Houzz” awards for design and customer service. His philosophy is one of adaptability, and he is inspired by European and contemporary South American styles and Parisian styles from the 1930s and 40s. The firm’s work has appeared in many publications, such as Sophisticated Living, Modern Luxury Weddings, Millennial Home, and Traditional Home.

Michael helped a West Coast transplant feel at home in his new Lakeview residence. Michael and his associate Emily Roberson went for “Ralph Lauren glam,” using stone, wood, and concrete paired with dark, lush-colored fabrics. Key bold pieces include orange velvet chairs in the dining room, a blue velvet headboard, and a kitchen banquette with leather and nailhead trim. Newlyweds combined their styles and belongings in their new loft in Bucktown with the help of Michael’s firm. The couple was drawn to the wood-burning fireplace and large living room. The team created distinct living spaces within the large open design by contrasting black floor-to-ceiling back drapes, black painted walls, and natural and white painted brickwork. A fun detail is the sliding chalkboard panels that cover the open kitchen shelves instead of traditional upper cabinets. The space features the couple’s diverse artwork, including the yoga-lovers’ 2,000-pound Buddha head.

Jessica Lagrange Interiors

216 W Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60654

Founder and Principal Jessica Lagrange manages a team of designers that focuses on upscale interior design and architecture projects. After graduating from the interior architecture program at the School of Art Institute of Chicago, Lagrange worked with the prestigious Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill firm. She then founded her practice. This year, Lagrange was inducted into the Merchandise Mart Hall of Fame for her significant contributions to Chicago’s residential design industry. In 2021, Jessica Lagrange Interiors received recognition in Interior Design at the ICAA Acanthus Awards, solidifying its reputation as one of the leading Chicago interior designers.

The Lagrange team assisted a San Francisco family in making their new Lincoln Park high-rise apartment a home away from home. Taking up 4,000 square feet with 11-foot ceilings, the Beaux Art condo was a considerable undertaking. The team started by reviewing images of the family’s West Coast home. They used the couple’s taste for clean lines, modern pieces, and mid-century style to inspire the Midwestern design. They used a mix of custom and retail furniture to balance formal and informal spaces that function well for the two-year-old family. Lagrange called on the assistance of art consultant Kate Lane Ferraro, who paired abstract art with the home’s simple furniture. Lagrange collaborated with kitchen designers Mick DeGiulio and Kathy Manzella for another Chicago high-rise renovation to complete a French-inspired space. The priority was guest circulation, which Lagrange encourages through spaced seating at a built-in banquette and oversized kitchen island. Between two dishwashers built into the island and the double-basin sink on the far wall, the kitchen was designed for easy cleanup — more time to concentrate on the company. The project was featured in Country French magazine.

Suzanne Lovell, Inc.

225 W Ohio Street, Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60654

Lovell earned an architecture degree from Virginia Tech, where she studied with Bauhaus-trained architect Olivio Ferrari. She moved to Chicago to work with the Skidmore, Owings, and Merril firm in 1980 and then started her firm to focus on residential architecture and interior design. She is a member of the Director’s Vision Council at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago and the Society for Contemporary Art at the Art Institute of Chicago. She was named one of the world’s top designers and architects in Architectural Digest’s AD 100. Her work has been featured in national publications Veranda, House Beautiful, and Elle Decor.

While working on a Gold Coast penthouse on Lake Shore Drive, the team added white oak millwork, which contrasts against the darkened wood floor. Bronze, plaster, and stone accents complement the penthouse’s classic elegance. They designed intricate architectural gates, which provide security while allowing light to spill through to the foyer. The pattern re-occurs in a plaster ceiling medallion in the foyer and dining room and a repeated ceiling pattern throughout the living room. A 71st-floor penthouse within Chicago’s famous Vista high-rise offers 360-degree views of downtown Chicago and Lake Michigan. To call more attention to the views, Lovell Studio used a neutral beige and gold color palette offset by a rich dark green. They used a layered approach, alternating between a sparse palette of materials and colors to create consistency and depth throughout the space. The sparsely furnished penthouse also utilizes the client’s extensive sculpture collection.

Elizabeth Krueger Design

124 W. Kinzie Street, Third Floor, Chicago, IL 60654

Principal of the four-person design firm, Elizabeth Krueger has been named one of HGTV’s “Faces of Design” and Chicago’s “One to Watch” by The Editor at Large, the daily news source for high-end residential interior design. She started her career working on the highly esteemed Holly Hunt design team. She is a member of the Leaders of Design Council, one of the industry’s notable member organizations. Krueger’s work has appeared in LVBX magazine, Elle Décor, and LUXE Magazine, among others.

Krueger was tasked with the goal of decorating a Lincoln Park apartment to make a sophisticated and inviting space. Krueger uses plush fabrics, functional modern furnishings, and a light color scheme filled with tans, greys, and ivory. Soft rugs and pillows offer cozy but elegant finishing touches. Elaborate light fixtures and abstract modern art serve as the perfect showpieces. A couple who recently purchased a seventh-floor condo in Lakeview liked Krueger’s industrial and modern aesthetics blend. They were looking for bold, stylish, and yet personal details for their two-bedroom unit in a historic Beaux-Arts building. Krueger started with a bold color palette with black leather, velvet furniture, and gold accent pieces. Krueger and her client mixed local art with elegant antiques in this finely detailed apartment covered by Elle Décor. Dramatic from the start, custom black and white marble tile, along with a painting from Chicago-based artist Francine Turk, welcomes guests in the foyer. Silk wallpaper lines the master bedroom, while custom metal barn doors replace the tasteless sliding closet doors.

Alexandra Kaehler Design

928 Green Bay Road, Winnetka, IL 60093

House Beautiful named Kaehler one of the 25 Next Wave Designers to Watch in 2015. A native Chicagoan, Kaehler has made a national impact, with work featured in Vogue, Domino magazine, and House Beautiful. She’s also a local favorite, often covered by Chicago’s Modern Luxury magazine and Chicago Home and Garden, Chicago Magazine’s design publication. Kaehler’s philosophy is to fill a home with things you love and go from there. She leans toward modern with simple textured pieces and modern patterns.

Kaehler designed a Lincoln Park home to match the fun and lively owners in a project featured in Modern Luxury Interiors. The home’s comfortable, durable design works for the family of four and their dog. She started with a lilac and navy palette and then added pastels from a commissioned painting by local artist Linc Thelen. She balances the rich, colored, patterned accessories with solid, neutral-toned furniture. Domino Magazine showcased Kaehler’s Chicago townhouse, which the designer shares with her husband and their two kids. The townhouse has a formal living and dining room space covered with vivid art from the client’s collection. The use of colorful abstract pieces offsets the largely white walls and white-paneled, built-in cabinets. The townhouse’s open floor plan has sturdy, textured seating to hide day-to-day wear. Her green velvet, brass dining room chairs pop and richly contrast the white crystal chandelier hanging above. Kaehler carefully thinks through her client’s use of space, a philosophy she also applied to her own home. Because she and her husband love to cook, their biggest expense was the kitchen cabinets, which she commissioned a carpenter to custom design.

Donna Mondi Interior Design

1517 West Carroll Ave, Chicago, IL 60607

Donna Mondi Interior Design, named one of the “Top 100 Designers in the World” by Andrew Martin, is a premier interior and product design firm. Led by veteran interior designer Donna Mondi since 2001, the firm has a passion for creating beautiful, functional, and personalized spaces for clients across the country. This Chicago interior designer was awarded the 2018 ASID Design Excellence Award for Outdoor Space design.

At Donna Mondi Interior Design, each home is designed to reflect the personality and lifestyle of the homeowner. The firm collaborates, working closely with clients to create spaces that meet their needs and preferences. Innovation is a key focus for the firm; they travel the world for inspiration and resources to elevate their work. This 1920s co-op on Chicago’s infamous East Lake Shore Drive features a kitchen that honors Beaux-Arts’ style and quality. Lacquered cabinetry, dramatic quartzite countertops, and European details make this a kitchen that will last well into the next golden age.

Julia Buckingham Interiors

1820 W Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL 60622

Founder and Principal Julia Buckingham runs her own interior design firm in Chicago. The team produces custom-designed interiors using their signature style known as “modernique,” also the name of Buckingham’s new book: Modernique, Inspiring Interiors – Mixing Modern and Vintage Style. Buckingham contributes to Traditional Home magazine’s Color Master Classes and is a founding contributor to Material Girls, a popular design blog. In 2015, Buckingham launched her custom furniture and home goods collection through the wholesale company Global Views. The studio’s work can be seen in Elle Décor, The Wall Street Journal, Décor Magazine, Traditional Home, and House Beautiful.

The Spruce, a decorating blog, featured a North Shore Tudor home designed by Buckingham’s team. The home pairs vintage and custom-designed pieces from Buckingham’s Global Views collection. The furnishings and accessories work together with their lively patterns and rich royal purple, red, and gold palettes. Statement pieces include a brass and agate chandelier and a chair featuring a suzani textile. When Buckingham purchased a 6,000-square-foot Queen Anne townhouse, she tag-teamed with her husband to plan their massive new home’s space, décor, and art. Before moving in, they transformed the attic into a third-story master suite peppered with skylights. The couple chose to cross the centuries, from Beaux Art artwork to modern lighting from design superstar Tom Dixon. Each room offers a distinct aesthetic with patterned wallpaper, tin ceilings, and signature wood and metal pieces. The finished home is quirky, eclectic, and filled with art.

Michael Del Piero Good Design

428 N Wolcott Avenue, Chicago, IL 60622

Michael Del Piero founded her interior design company. The New York Times named her a style maven. Her work has appeared in many publications, including Traditional Home, House Beautiful, the New York Times, Interiors, Milieu, and the Chicago Tribune. She has also been featured in several interior design books, including the international publication Visions of Design. She runs a design studio of nine people with offices in Chicago and the Hamptons. Del Piero also runs an interiors boutique in West Town, filled with unusual furniture and art pieces that have captured her eye. Del Piero’s style fuses “rough with luxurious and ancient with modern.”

Stuart Grannen, owner of Architectural Artifacts, lives in an old charcoal factory in an industrial district. The home was converted by architect Patricia VanderBeke, who has supervised the renovation of many historic landmarks throughout Chicago. Grannen cared about his art — featuring Chicago artists like Joe Boudreau and photography legends like Edward Curtis — but left the rest of the interior decisions mostly up to Del Piero (who also happens to be his significant other). They agree on one thing: minimalist. The home is sparsely furnished, with a mix of antique and modern pieces the couple have collected while traveling. She used a steel-plated industrial fireplace, countered by the original timbered ceiling and wide plank flooring, to make the best use of the renovated factory space. Charcoal-colored walls and dark drapery contrast a warm, earthy color palette used for the furniture and accessories. Del Piero’s Chicago home is also filled with her European finds, like the French Rye baskets she found in the Netherlands. Del Piero has them cleverly hanging on the wall. Her modern Holly Hunt sofa balances out the room’s rich antiques, such as the baskets and a ceramic garden stool Del Piero uses for a coffee table.

Ranking Methodology

To evaluate the performance of contractors, our methodology employs a systematic approach that considers various factors contributing to customer experience and satisfaction. We focused on assessing the interior designers in the Chicago area. The methodology involves assigning weightings to specific categories based on their significance in determining customer service quality. Here’s the breakdown of the categories and their respective weightings:

• Average Customer Satisfaction (35%): This metric represents the average rating given by customers across the same review platforms as the Average Customer Satisfaction Score. A higher average rating indicates greater overall satisfaction with the service provided.
• Service Rating Score (25%): We analyze the ratio of high (4-5 stars) to low (1-2 stars) ratings for each business across multiple review platforms: Google, Houzz, and Yelp. A higher percentage of positive reviews contributes to a higher score, reflecting better customer satisfaction.
• Complaint Percentage (25%): We analyze the ratio of complaints to total reviews for each business. A lower complaints ratio indicates better service quality and results in a higher score.
• Business Hours and Availability (10%): The operating hours of each business are assessed to gauge accessibility. Companies with extended operating hours are awarded a higher score, as they offer greater convenience to customers.
• License Status (5%): We verify the licensing status of each contractor with their local licensing board to ensure legal compliance. Companies with valid licenses receive a higher score, reflecting professionalism and adherence to regulations.
• Total Score: We determined the overall rating for every contractor by calculating a weighted average, with the category weight determining the amount the subscore contributed to the total score 

Additional Note: Service Rating Score, Average Customer Satisfaction, and Complaint Percentage are calculated with a Bayesian estimate to account for if the contractor has a low number of total reviews. A Bayesian average is a statistical method used to calculate the average of a set of data points while taking into account prior information or beliefs about the distribution of the data. It combines the observed data with a prior distribution to generate a more accurate estimate of the true average.