Hey friends, design-lover here, leaning in close because I stumbled upon the most joyfully over-the-top renovation by North & Madison on House Beautiful and had to share. (Yes: there really is a whole room for the pups.)
The Backstory
Image: House Beautiful / Photography by Jordan Herron
Image: House Beautiful / Photography by Jordan Herron
Located in the wooded, horse-friendly enclave of Barrington Hills, Illinois, this 1920s farmhouse clocks in at 6,500 square feet with six bedrooms and five-and-a-half baths. Designers Jess Milburn and Robin Flaherty admitted from the start: “We only buy houses that need everything.”
That fearless mantra is exactly how you end up with purple-tiled kitchen hoods, neon green drapery, and yes—dog rooms.
Design Highlights Worth Copying (or obsessing over)
Image: House Beautiful / Photography by Jordan Herron
- Kitchen drama: The backsplash is tonal purple tiles (yes, purple!!) paired with cabinetry in a vintage-vogue green. Bold? Absolutely. Balanced? Surprisingly yes, thanks to warm woods and stone.
Image: House Beautiful / Photography by Jordan Herron
- Primary suite: Neon green drapery niche meets a blue & black lyrical wallpaper. If your idea of “quiet luxury” includes electricity, this is it.
Image: House Beautiful / Photography by Jordan Herron
- Pantry escape: Pink hallway leads into antique Mexican doors, then an emerald ceiling and star-patterned tile floor. “‘Custom’ doors don’t have to be expensive. Sometimes custom looks like a 12 am Etsy find of 18th century antique doors from Mexico”
Image: House Beautiful / Photography by Jordan Herron
- Laundry? Make it magical: Instead of “ugh chores,” we’re talking cabinets in Autumn Purple, a Razzle Dazzle ceiling and yellow zellige tile. Yes, the mismatched appliance is actually green (surprise!).
The Highlight: Dog Room!
Image: House Beautiful / Photography by Jordan Herron
Okay world, this is the pièce de résistance. For a household with four kids, three dogs, and three cats, Milburn declared: “I hate the way regular crates look” — so the dog-zone gets its own fully styled room. Wallpaper by Wallshoppe with whimsical animal-portraits, built-in pet friendly cabinetry (no clunky wire crates in sight).
I mean: how many homes do you know where the dogs get a spa-grade space? Exactly.
Why This Works & What You Can Steal
Image: House Beautiful / Photography by Jordan Herron
Image: House Beautiful / Photography by Jordan Herron
Image: House Beautiful / Photography by Jordan Herron
- Personality is the hero: Instead of playing it safe, this home leaps. If you’re scared of purple tile or neon drapery — maybe you’ve been playing too safe.
- Function + fab: Every space is useful (dog room, pantry, laundry), but none of it feels boring. That’s the sweet spot.
- Respect the bones: The original built-ins and 1920s charm are still present; the new design leans bold but bows to history. That’s design done right.
- Make special spaces: Whether it’s pets, kids, or your own hide-away — give them a spot that feels intentionally theirs.
Final Thought
Image: House Beautiful / Photography by Jordan Herron
Image: House Beautiful / Photography by Jordan Herron
If you think your home’s “functional room” has to be a boring beige, think again. This house proves you can combine utility with unexpected joy — and yes, the dog can have their own runway-ready lounge.
In the words of Milburn: “Let’s stop taking ourselves so seriously. Let’s have some fun with this.”
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