When moving into a new house, it’s common to tackle the most “public-facing” rooms first, like the living room, kitchen, and bathrooms. That was the case with this home on Chicago’s North Side. “The clients are a family of five with three elementary school-age children living very busy and full lives,” shares designer Kara Riggio. “After purchasing their home six years ago, they had finished making each room feel like home, except for their own bedroom. They were seeking a peaceful retreat for resting, reading and working from home.”

Kara, the creative behind Norwood Design Studio, was tapped to bring color, texture, and visual interest to the 1990s-era finished attic primary suite. “My scope was to redesign the entire room, and the clients gave me a lot of autonomy,” she recalls. “I recommended removing a half-wall and adding plenty of custom millwork. This included wainscoting, a custom faux fireplace inspired by the real fireplaces found in British country rooms, a built-in desk with open shelving above and storage below, and a separate bookcase.”

The desk provides a quiet workspace away from the busy family life on the first and second floors, and the chair is a vintage piece that they had reupholstered locally. The bed is from Serena and Lily, dressed in bedding from Rejuvenation, while the bedside tables are by Four Hands. The window seat and Roman shades are made from a fabric by Ralph Lauren Heritage. “The fireplace is one of my favorite details,” the designer admits. “When describing it, the client lovingly refers to it as the ‘not-cheesy faux fireplace.’ It looks like it’s always been there.”

Each choice brought dimension to the room, but the paint color delivered the biggest transformation. “This room is color-drenched in Farrow & Ball’s Parma Gray,” the designer tells us. “It has so many moments that make it feel like a retreat.”