She Moved Back To Illinois But Brought Her Love Of Florida Interiors With Her

by Erin Miller on October 30, 2026
A coastal-inspired dining room featuring pale blue wallpaper with large illustrated birds, a natural wood dining table, upholstered chairs, a woven round mirror, and a sculptural glass chandelier.

When a homeowner returned to Naperville, Illinois, to be closer to family, she wanted to bring some of the atmosphere of her much-loved home in Naples, Florida, with her. For the renovation of Salt & Story, interior design firm Dawn Reeves Design, Inc. drew inspiration from the Gulf Coast’s relaxed interiors, combining coastal colors and natural textures with furnishings and artwork that reflected the homeowner’s personal history.

Bringing Coastal Style Into a Traditional Midwestern Home

The goal wasn’t to recreate a Florida beach house in Illinois. Instead, the designers focused on the elements the homeowner loved about Naples, including soft blues, natural materials, and a light, relaxed atmosphere. These influences were adapted to suit the home’s traditional architecture, creating a connection to Florida without relying on an obvious coastal theme.

The kitchen shows how this approach works. Light cabinetry and stone surfaces are paired with a warm wood-toned island, barstools, and a decorative range hood. A breakfast nook just beyond the kitchen continues the mix of natural textures, with upholstered bench seating, a round table, and fringed stools.

A contemporary white kitchen with a large natural wood island, woven barstools, three glass pendant lights, stone countertops, and a decorative wood range hood beneath a white beamed ceiling.
A traditional kitchen with white cabinetry, a marble-look backsplash with gold veining, a stainless steel range, and a custom wood range hood featuring curved corner details.
A bright breakfast nook with built-in upholstered banquette seating, a round wood dining table with a textured pedestal base, fringed stools, and windows with woven shades.

Blue, Pattern, and Texture Give Each Room Its Own Character

While blue appears throughout the home, it takes a different form in each space. The dining room makes one of the boldest statements, with large blue birds decorating the pale wall covering behind a substantial dining table. A sculptural chandelier, upholstered chairs, and a woven mirror introduce contrasting shapes and textures.

An arched doorway frames a dining room with pale blue bird-patterned wallpaper, upholstered dining chairs, natural wood flooring, and a large decorative ceramic vase.
A coastal-inspired dining room featuring pale blue wallpaper with large illustrated birds, a natural wood dining table, upholstered chairs, a woven round mirror, and a sculptural glass chandelier.

In the living room, the palette becomes more neutral. Soft upholstered furniture, patterned cushions, and a dark wood coffee table sit beneath a white paneled ceiling with exposed beams. The combination of traditional architectural details and relaxed furnishings helps the coastal influence feel at home in its Midwestern location.

A coastal-inspired living room featuring neutral upholstered sofas, botanical patterned pillows, a dark wood coffee table, white ceiling beams, and large glass doors that fill the room with natural light.

Not every room follows the lighter palette. A small bathroom introduces a dramatic combination of deep blue wall paneling and red botanical wallpaper, while a light wood vanity and marble countertop provide contrast. These changes in color and pattern give individual rooms their own identity while continuing the home’s emphasis on texture.

A small bathroom with dramatic red tropical wallpaper, deep navy blue wall paneling, a light wood vanity, marble countertop, black wall-mounted faucet, and an irregularly shaped brass-framed mirror.

Meaningful Objects Bring the Homeowner’s History Into the Design

An important part of the renovation was finding places for furnishings and belongings that the homeowner already owned. Instead of filling the house entirely with new pieces, the designers incorporated objects that carried memories of previous homes, family, and travel.

One example is an antique screen brought from the homeowner’s previous Naperville home. It now stands behind an upholstered chair in a bedroom reading corner, where its painted panels add color and character to a space finished with textured walls and blue patterned curtains.

A cozy bedroom reading corner featuring an antique painted folding screen, a curved upholstered armchair, blue and white patterned curtains, a brass floor lamp, and textured neutral wallpaper.

The homeowner’s travels throughout Africa also influenced collections of artwork and sculpture, while gallery walls incorporate artwork honoring her father’s military service. Gifts from her grandchildren and other treasured pieces are part of the interiors, allowing the house to reflect experiences that extend well beyond the renovation.

A contemporary bar area with cream geometric wallpaper, a round dark wood pedestal table, upholstered wood barstools, and a gallery wall featuring framed aviation artwork and small sculptural pieces.
A bright dressing and vanity area with white cabinetry, two tall mirrors, marble countertops, a woven accent chair, decorative wall sconces, and a gallery of small colorful framed artworks.

A Favorite Blue Fabric Inspires the Primary Bedroom

The primary bedroom offers another example of how the homeowner’s past influenced the new interiors. Its color palette began with a favorite blue fabric from her former bedroom, giving the designers a familiar starting point for the space.

Blue and cream patterned curtains, textured wall coverings, upholstered furnishings, and natural finishes bring different layers to the room. The result continues the coastal influence seen elsewhere in the house, while the original fabric inspiration gives the bedroom a particular connection to the homeowner’s previous home.

A coastal-inspired primary bedroom with blue and white floral curtains, textured neutral wallpaper, exposed ceiling beams, an upholstered bed, a large round mirror, and turquoise table lamps.

Other bedrooms explore blue in different ways, including a room with softly striped blue walls and patterned bedding. The changing combinations of color and texture help distinguish the rooms without requiring them to share identical finishes or furnishings.

A blue bedroom featuring textured striped wallpaper, geometric patchwork quilts, dark curved headboards, a light-colored dresser, and a woven table lamp.
A contemporary bedroom with deep blue bedding, a textured upholstered bed frame, botanical patterned curtains, a gold table lamp, and a neutral woven wall covering.

The name Salt & Story brings the two sides of the renovation together. “Salt” refers to the coastal atmosphere of Naples, while “Story” represents the furnishings, artwork, and memories the homeowner brought with her. The house carries forward the feeling of a place she loved while making room for the next chapter of her life in Illinois.

Photography by Ryan McDonald