Airoom and Hope Ignites Chicago celebrated “breaking ground” on two major renovations happening at 824 Gaffield Place and 827 Gaffield Place. These properties, along with a third, will serve as the future home of the Foglia Family Campus in Evanston, providing additional housing and resources for at risk youth. Specifically, this marks the beginning of a second girls’ home, and the development of a four-home campus that will help more young people grow, learn, and thrive.
Hope Ignites Local Impact
Hope Ignites Chicago (formerly Boys Hope Girls Hope) helps motivated high school students rise above their disadvantaged backgrounds, pushing them to graduate and preparing them physically, emotionally, and academically for post-secondary education. To date, the program has helped motivate 44 young people achieve their full potential. An additional 24 students are currently supported in their long-term residential programs.
A Brighter Future for Our Youth
Airoom has partnered with the organization since 2024, supporting Hope Ignites with the renovation of three properties. The original homes, built in 1920s, had issues with plumbing and mechanical systems, did not have adequate space for House Parents, and were in desperate need of updating. So far, our team has completed the initial renovation of 823 Gaffield and is assisting in renovating these two additional properties.
Airoom is proud to continue to partner with Hope Ignites to help build stability, expand opportunity, and change the lives of young people in our community.
Tuscan kitchens and accent walls peaked in the early 2000s. In the 2010s, trends channeled modern farmhouse, complete with sliding barn doors and shiplap. Now in 2026, homeowners are looking to add soul and personal touches in ways that feel timeless.
After designing thousands of kitchen, bathroom, basement, and interior remodels we’ve seen these key trends emerge throughout 2026:
- Focusing on functional, luxury details
- Prioritizing intelligent flow over open concept
- Layering high-end materials and finishes
- Increasing functionality instead of square footage
- Integrating wellness into every day
- Leading with architecture
- Pursuing timeless, not trendy
- Invoking emotion through design
We’ll walk through each of these trends in detail, including what they mean and examples you can incorporate into your home renovation.
Trend #1: Focusing on Functional, Luxury Details
Luxury used to be synonymous with expensive materials and flashy finishes. Homeowners aren’t abandoning marble countertops, exotic hardwoods, and custom metalwork in 2026. Instead, they’re focused on adding unique touches that make their home feel effortless, personal, and deeply livable.
This can mean:
- Including custom-built in storage for unsightly golf equipment
- Opting for pet (and kid) friendly upholstery in modern shapes or colors
- Carving out space for thoughtfully displayed art galleries featuring important pieces
Trend #2: Prioritizing Intelligent Flow Over Open Concept
In the 1990s, open concept floor plans became the default, but entering into the 2000s, and especially after the pandemic, demand for more partitioned spaces has grown. Homeowners are now prioritizing flow and functional zoning over wide open floors. The result is a home that adds privacy, feels cozier, and keeps clutter hidden.
We’re incorporating this design trend by:
- Using architectural elements, like arches and textured walls, to break up space
- Creating continuity between rooms through flooring
- Pairing open entertaining space with privacy-focused areas for work, relaxation, and sleep
Trend #3: Layering High-end Materials and Finishes
Minimalist kitchen remodels drenched in white have given way to layered textures, pops of color, and warm tones. Homeowners are rebelling against the unlived in home and are seeking to add interest, coziness, and personality back into their space.
This can mean:
- Incorporating stone-forward kitchen islands
- Mixing warm woods and metals with furniture style cabinetry
- Adding visual interest through unique materials (faux-leather paneled cabinets, custom metal hoods, metal cabinet inlays)
- Including color and texture through unique tile choices
Trend #4: Increasing Functionality Instead of Square Footage
Most people want their existing space to work harder. Whether it’s turning an unused sitting room into a home office or improving the layout of an existing kitchen, we all have areas in our homes that could be utilized to better fit our daily lives.
We’re helping homeowners by:
- Retrofitting prep kitchens with extra cold storage and cooking space
- Reconfiguring beverage bars built for year-round, easy hosting
- Creating hybrid, or flexible, office space
- Converting walk out basements into fully separate in-law suites
Trend #5: Integrating Wellness into Every Day
According to a 2025 real estate report, homes and communities designed around wellness boast resale values 10%–25% higher than standard properties. This paired with recent consumer explosion in wellness, fitness, and health categories underscores why we’re seeing more homeowners seek to bring wellness into their space.
We’ve helped Chicago area residents incorporate wellness via:
- Creating luxury, spa-like primary bathrooms
- Building out complete gym, office, cold therapy, and sauna spaces
- Bringing the outdoors in, with flexible living environments, three season rooms, and oversized windows
Trend #6: Leading with Architecture
More homeowners are engaging architects to answer questions like “How can this renovate integrate with the rest of my home?” or “How will this room fit with my family’s daily routine?” By leveraging architects early on, you can consider how renovations will impact layout, natural light, and structure.
Our in-house architects help clients create functional, bespoke spaces by:
- Ensuring cohesion from room to room and between interiors and the exterior
- Defining zones with ceiling treatments
- Adding interest through integrated millwork
- Using spatial design and architectural features, like arches, to create paths that naturally fit your routine
Trend #7: Pursuing Timeless, Not Trendy
Quick DIYs and jack-of-all-trades contractors have fallen off in favor of legacy considerations. Now, over 90% of homeowners are opting to hire professionals to complete their renovations. Many are choosing to stay in their properties for longer, with most planning to remain for 10+ years. This is likely because many homeowners who bought before 2022 locked in great, low mortgage rates, and real estate performance has outpaced salary growth.
This is especially true in communities across Chicago’s North Shore where families are hesitant to give up great neighborhoods, like Hubbard Woods and portions of East Wilmette, where properties move quickly, in mostly off-market transactions.
We’re seeing homeowners invest in their properties for the long-term by:
- Creating homes that age well architecturally
- Coordinating sustainable decisions early and considering smart systems, water efficiency, and indoor air quality
- Prioritizing premium, resilient materials such as sintered stone and quartzite
Trend #8: Evoking Emotion Through Design
Color, wood choice, lighting, textures, and finishes combine to create an emotional atmosphere within a home. Stark white and gray stone countertops create calm through subtraction. Deeply saturated shades create emotional richness. Both palettes try to solve the same thing: creating calm in a hectic world.
The newer interiors feel “built,” not decorated. We’re moving away from overt decadence toward intentionality, through:
- Using warm colors and shades of deep blue to add weight in a heavy world
- Choosing deep tobacco and honey-toned woods to create visual grounding
- Pairing raw stone with plaster walls, thick wools, and matte metals to build depth and authenticity
Incorporate Trends into Your Home
As the leading Chicago-based home remodeler, we’ve helped thousands incorporate different design trends in a way that feels modern, timeless, and deeply connected to you. Schedule a complimentary consultation with our design experts to see what’s possible for your home.
Article Sources
Wellness real estate market report | Houzz 2024 home professional study
