At Home With: Libby & Ryan in Ravenswood

Libby and I had been corresponding about Chicago junk shops and estate sales via email for a while and when I saw this post on her blog I knew she possessed some serious secondhand savvy.  (Not to mention she recently picked up 3 Eames fiberglass chairs at an estate sale for $10.)  When I visited her apartment last weekend it was clear: Libby knows how to take an ounce of thrift and turn it into a boatload of style.

She describes her style as, “Mid-century modern with a splash of Hollywood Regency and LOLs.”

And dude — not only does she love Malort and greyhounds, she totally used to read my zine.  LOL?  Try BFF!

Name: Libby and Ryan

Occupation: Libby: Part-time at a Non-profit, Etsy Seller (www.blogbloglog.etsy.com), and freelance copywriter. Ryan: Bartender and Grad Student.

Age: Libby: 30, Ryan: 27

Rent or Own?: Rent

Size of dwelling (square foot): Approximately 1,000

Number of bedrooms: 3

Number of occupants in the dwelling: 2 humans, 1 dog

What do you like BEST about your living space?
We get great indirect light, which is fantastic. I also really love the white painted brick fireplace. The backyard is the terrific, too. Free laundry on-site… We’re very lucky.

What do you like LEAST?
I would say the age and wear of certain elements, like the kitchen floors and the bathtub, which makes it feel like you can never get them clean enough.

What are your future plans for the space?
I am constantly rearranging, adding, and subtracting. I’m sure if you come back in a month the apartment will look a little different. But, nothing major is planned.

Most prized piece of furniture?
It changes for me all the time, but currently, it’s the reproduction Arco lamp. It adds a sleek modern feel to the otherwise bold and humorous vibe. I also really love the salvaged wood table because it clashes nicely with the Herman Miller shell chairs. Plus, it’s big enough to accommodate several people. I know Ryan’s favorite is the green stereo cabinet. Green is his favorite color and it houses his PS3 stuff.

Most prized piece of decor?
I really love my collection of animal statuary and tchotchkes. But, the houseplants are a close second. They all have names and I talk to them.

Do you collect anything?
Owl décor and, lately, chairs.

Does your lifestyle or work impose any requirements on your living space (i.e. need for studio space, spare bedroom, lighting requirements)?
Ryan is a student and I work on my Etsy shop and freelance projects at home. It is imperative that we both have space to work. The whole house is functional enough to support that purpose, what with the desk and computer out in the front room and the wood table giving me space to work on my jewelry. But, we set up the office space well enough to store all of Ryan’s books and things along with my Etsy inventory, so you can close the door and remove yourself from the visuals of work.

Visit Libby’s Etsy store here.
Or read her blog here.

You can see more photos from Libby and Ryan’s Ravenswood apartment on the BackGarage Flickr photostream.