Top Projects: Gregory Socha Design

In its May/June issue, Designers Today launched its Top Projects initiative, which recognizes great design from 10 interior designers across the country, including Gregory Socha Design here.

Like many others during the pandemic, Gregory Socha decided to make a major life change, moving from New York to Chicago with his partner in 2021, and purchased a classic eight co-op apartment with views of two nearby harbors. “Little did we know at that time it was going to turn into an almost-full gut renovation.”

The apartment was bathed in sunlight for most of the day, so Socha decided to make a radical departure from his usual design style: creating “a moody, sexy home that used a full spectrum of color.”  The apartment reflects the couple’s personality, incorporating their art collection, vintage furniture – which included Italian lighting – and fun, graphic wallpaper throughout.

One of his favorite spaces is the butler’s pantry, a pretty space that connects the kitchen to the apartment’s public rooms and has plenty of storage for Socha’s large collection of stemware, dinnerware and entertaining items, including a 120-bottle wine refrigerator.

When it came to the kitchen, Socha had a few must-haves. “I told myself years ago that if I was lucky enough to do another full renovation, that I would have two dishwashers and two ovens.” He also wanted a black ILVE range, but during Covid, only a blue-gray option was available. He grabbed it and changed his original tile and paint color plan for the space. “As they say, sometimes the best designs come accidentally,” he said. “One of the greatest compliments I received of the newly renovated apartment was that ‘it feels like you have lived here for 20 years.’”

Photos: Ryan McDonald   Styling: Darwin Fitz

Vendors:

• A. Rudin sofas
• Kravet Couture fabric
• Emser’s Passion tile in azul
• ILVE Nostalgie 60-inch range
• Cole & Son wallpaper
• Aldo Turo bar card
• Donghia fabric
• Paavo Tynell chandelier
• Mastercraft coffee table
• Paul Laszlo credenza
• Scarabeo Ceramiche’s Theorem
2.0 vanity