After viewing a slew of generic apartments across Chicago, Louisa Potthast and Tyler Roberts were desperate for something different. When they saw the listing for a compact, two-bedroom coach house in the DePaul area of Lincoln Park, they were intrigued. “I was immediately struck by it,” says Louisa. “It stood out because it offered a cottage, countryside vibe in the middle of the city.”

Tucked behind a larger building, the coach house’s shared courtyard was a major plus, as was its pedigree—the unit was originally designed to serve carriages, and they estimate it was built in the late 19th century. “We were looking for a place with history, but also someplace we could make our own,” says Tyler.

Before: Living Room

Although the structure itself is old, the interior has a number of late ’70s interventions, including a free-floating stair that connects the open-plan lower level to the bedroom on the second floor. While Tyler and Louisa were enamored by the stair, the dated kitchen had to go.

They also wanted to delineate living areas within the open space, and they were in desperate need of storage and display solutions for their sizable art collection. As the owners of a start-up that helps museums digitize their collections, and avid folk art collectors and art historians themselves, Tyler and Louisa sought a space that synched with their passions and their lifestyle.

$3,800 Wall Finishes	$2,700 Baseboards & Trim	$3,000 Floor & Stair Refinishing
$3,000 Electrical	$500 Plumbing	$500 Kitchen Sink & Faucet
$800 Lighting	$150 Shelving	$12,500 Cabinets & Installation
$1,650 Countertop	$6,000 Appliances	$2,000 Windows
$12,000 Millwork & Installation	$1,100 Tilework	$2,000 Demolition
$1,000 Window Treatment
Grand Total: $52,700

The duo engaged local firm Studio Becker Xu for the renovation after hitting it off with principals Xiaoran (Sharon) Xu and Robert Becker. “Sharon and Robert appreciated small living spaces, especially coach houses, so it felt like it would be a personal project for all of us,” recalls Louisa.

After: Living Room

“It was an open floor plan, but it felt disjointed—especially with that soffit cutting through the space,” says Xu. Because Tyler and Louisa had a limited budget, the designers hatched a plan for a modest yet efficient intervention that would meet multiple needs. They decided to focus the budget on revamping the kitchen, and a new custom partition that could delineate the entrance and provide separation from the living area.

“We knew the new multifunctional millwork would be very transformative for the small space, because it’s in the center of the room,” explains Xu. “We struck a line through the space that felt more purposeful, and it’s part partition, part storage, and part display.” The team engaged local fabricator Zak Rose to craft the MDF partition, which has open shelves finished in wood veneer, white laminate, an entry “box” and overhead soffit painted a soft terra-cotta red.

Before: Entry

After: Entry

Xu drew inspiration from the floating stair treads to inform the language of the new millwork. “It was important to all of us that the new design responded to the existing stair,” says Xu. The partition’s open shelving allows Tyler and Louisa to display their collectibles, while bringing light into the entry space. The design team also added simple Ikea floating shelves to the wall next to the dining area for additional display space.

Before: Kitchen

From the get-go, Tyler and Louisa knew they wanted to focus a big chunk of the budget on updating the kitchen, as the hodgepodge of appliances and colors made the space feel dated and smaller than it actually was. “We like to host, and obviously that’s made easier with a good working kitchen,” says Tyler.

After: Kitchen

Xu and Becker’s budget-friendly solution was to keep the general layout of the kitchen while incorporating new, panel-ready appliances for a minimalist, streamlined look. “The kitchen is only 12 linear feet, but having all of those appliances built-in created a clean backdrop instead of the cluttered feeling it had before,” says Xu. A new backsplash of turquoise Fireclay brick tiles brings a handcrafted, contemporary feel that is complemented by the terrazzo-inspired Formica countertops.

Before: Dining Area

Along with the stair, the team knew there were other elements of the space they wanted to keep. “The existing fireplace wasn’t objectionable and was functional as is,” says Xu. “The mantle had an existing lower-level shelf, which we knew we could use for displaying art.” The glass block windows were another quirky feature everyone wanted to keep—they used the horizontally arranged grouping to help define a new dining area.

After: Dining Area

Tyler and Louisa enjoy hosting gatherings in their new space, and they’re finding joy in the constant rearranging and display of their ever-growing art collection. Although the couple initially wanted to revamp the powder room on the lower level, prioritizing the changes that would have the biggest impact on their quality of life allowed them to stay in budget and create a highly livable space. “We expect to live here for a long time,” says Tyler, “We’re not done modifying yet—I believe in meaningful, but incremental change.”

More Before & After Stories:

Two Architects Transform Their Chicago Condo With Wonderful Woodwork

A Chicago Architect Straightens Out Her Cottage’s Unwieldy Floor Plan

A Chicago Queen Anne Recovers From a Misguided 1960s Remodel

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Studio Becker Xu / @studio.beckerxu

Builder: Jackson & Green

Cabinetry Design/Installation: Chicago Kitchen Concepts

Custom shelving fabricator: Zak Rose / @zak_rose

Photographer: Brian Griffin / @griffin_imaging_studios

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Before & After: Two Art Lovers Turn Their Small Chicago Cottage Into a Collector’s Paradise for $53K