This Moody 100-Year-Old Chicago Home Has “Practical Magic” Vibes
Adrienne BreauxHouse Tour Director
Adrienne BreauxHouse Tour Director
For more than 10 years, I've led Apartment Therapy's real home content, producing thousands of house tours from around the world. Currently, I live in my maximalist dream home in New Orleans, Louisiana, with my partner, a perfect dog, and a cute cat.
published Oct 23, 2025

This Moody 100-Year-Old Chicago Home Has “Practical Magic” Vibes

Adrienne BreauxHouse Tour Director
Adrienne BreauxHouse Tour Director
For more than 10 years, I've led Apartment Therapy's real home content, producing thousands of house tours from around the world. Currently, I live in my maximalist dream home in New Orleans, Louisiana, with my partner, a perfect dog, and a cute cat.
published Oct 23, 2025
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About this tour
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Home Type

House

Location

Lakeview, Chicago, Illinois

Style

Eclectic

Vintage

Bedrooms

2

Square feet

1200

Sq ft

1200

Five years ago when Annie Lauer and her husband, Travis, purchased this 100-year-old house in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood, it was “neutral and forgettable” according to Annie, with “white walls, standard finishes, and no real character. It felt more like a rental than a home.”

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Credit: Annie Lauer
"We identify as fun, eclectic, and a little offbeat, with a love of vintage finds and pop culture," Annie writes. "Both of our personalities come through in the art and music we live with: whimsical skull prints, nods to Wes Anderson films, touches of Spirited Away, and collections of coasters, matchbooks, and records. Our vinyl spans from Rage Against the Machine and Smashing Pumpkins to Phoebe Bridgers and Selena, an eclectic mix that mirrors our style."

The couple wanted to design a home that felt “cinematic, inspired by films like Practical Magic and Beetlejuice. Our goal was to build a home where our nieces and nephews could curl up with us, where family dinners turn into memories, and where the vibe is welcoming but with just enough spooky charm to keep things interesting.”

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Credit: Annie Lauer
Annie says her favorite element in the home is the living room because it’s the heart of their home. "The oversized window seat is perfect for curling up with a book, people-watching, or building pillow forts with the kids. At night, the room glows with lamps and candles, becoming a moody, intimate space where music, laughter, and memories fill the air."

The couple have layered vintage textures, candlelight, and “curiosities with playful nods to pop culture, music and anime” into the home, as well as added Spoonflower’s wallpaper print called “My Hands Are Cold” in the dining room, “which feels both eerie and magical, setting the tone for dinner parties that are as memorable as they are cozy,” Annie writes. “Our home is moody, eclectic, and a little whimsical.”

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Credit: Annie Lauer
"Fill your home with what makes you happy," Annie advises. "I’m sure keeping skulls out year round is not everyone’s thing but we enjoy a bit of macabre year round."

Resources

  • “My Hands Are Cold” Wallpaper — Spoonflower
  • Dining Table — Crate & Barrel
  • Vintage Buffet — Thrifted
  • Arched Mirror — Thrifted
  • Record Player — Orbit
  • Custom-Built Spice Rack — Made by my best friend’s brother

This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
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