Maximalism With a Touch of Lightness: How This Chicago Couple Styled Their Rental
Meet Curtis and Danielle of Pompeo Home and their 700 square-foot apartment
The Spruce / Photo Illustration by Amy Sheehan / Curtis Taylor, Jr.
Renting Outside the Lines is a series that spotlights gorgeous rentals and how people make their rentals feel more like a forever home, even if it's a temporary space. You don't need to own a house to have a home, you can easily make your rental feel like your dream space with just a bit of imagination and renter-friendly updates.
In the bustling city of Chicago, amidst the vibrant streets of Hyde Park, lies a one-bedroom apartment that serves as the canvas for a love story intertwined with creativity, sustainability, and a shared passion for design.
Meet Curtis Taylor Jr., a writer and director hailing from St. Louis, and Danielle Taylor, a marketing executive with a penchant for sustainability from Plainfield, Illinois. Their journey together began nine years ago on a college campus, and today, they are the dynamic duo behind Pompeo Home, a platform born out of their desire to transform rented spaces into cherished havens.
Their story is not just about decorating an apartment; it's about crafting a narrative, layering their personalities, and infusing every corner with warmth and character. As they invite us into their home, Curtis and Danielle reflect on their journey and share insights into their approach to creating a space that feels uniquely theirs.
Rapid Fire Questions
Favorite part of your apartment? It honestly changes every season, especially living in the Midwest. But right now, it’s gotta be our living room.
What’s something that you had to get rid of to make space for your new things? Dining room chairs. Our taste has evolved so much, and the dining room chairs were the first to go.
What's a design trend that you hate? Matchy-match things. Layering various textures, colors, and structures within a home is much fun. We love a dimensional space that lets the eye wander.
Biggest challenge when decorating? Hahaha. When our taste is bigger than the budget.
Biggest splurge when decorating? If we had a go-to splurge, it would always be a new vessel.
Embracing the Journey
"When we first moved into our Chicago apartment, we, like many, saw it as temporary and simply a stop in our journey," Curtis Taylor Jr. reflects. However, in 2020, they embarked on a mission to turn their rented space into a forever home. Thus began their exploration of interior design from a renter's perspective, a journey that eventually led to the birth of Pompeo Home.
Curtis Taylor, Jr.
Crafting Their Sanctuary
Their apartment, spanning 700 square feet, has been their sanctuary for the past four years. "Designing our apartment has been quite an adventure," Danielle Taylor shares. "It took about 2.5 years to finally get it right."
Their style is best described as maximalist, yet with a touch of lightness. "We wanted art and color to be anchors that encouraged conversation and reflected how we see the world," Curtis Taylor Jr. explains. Every element in their home tells a story, from eclectic smalls to sourced accessories from their travels.
Curtis Taylor, Jr.
Kelly Wearstler, Bridgett Romanek, Swiss Beats, Alicia Keys, and the vibrant cultures of Mexico City are just a few of their design inspirations. "We are so inspired by other creators in the home space who bring to life such magical spaces," Danielle Taylor emphasizes.
The Art of DIY
Their apartment is adorned with unique finds and DIY projects. From peel-and-stick glass tiles to transforming a hallway closet into a pantry, Curtis Taylor Jr. and Danielle Taylor have infused their space with creativity and functionality.
“We wanted that merchandised supermarket feel when cooking dinner or returning home from a great shopping haul, so we built it,” they said about their pantry.
They did it by converting part of their halfway closet into their designated pantry space using some shelving and containers. The wood for the shelves was about $80, the paint and supplies were $50, and the organization materials were $300.
“To this day, it's still one of our proudest moments,” they said.
Curtis Taylor, Jr.
Overcoming Challenges
Designing for a small space posed its challenges, but Curtis Taylor Jr. and Danielle Taylor approached it with creativity and innovation. "We found organizing vital in optimizing our space," Curtis Taylor Jr. notes. "It made us consider our space and the flow we live in."
Projects like converting their hallway closet into their pantry have helped them to maximize their space and functionality.
Making a Temporary Space Feel Like Home
Despite the transient nature of apartment living, Curtis Taylor Jr. and Danielle Taylor were determined to make their space feel personal and welcoming. "Making our current apartment feel like a forever home was all we had," Danielle Taylor explains.
Their best-kept secret? "Don't let the idea of a temporary apartment stop you from experiencing the full joy of home," Curtis Taylor Jr. advises.
Curtis Taylor, Jr.
A Legacy in Hyde Park
Nestled in Hyde Park, a historically Black neighborhood in Chicago, their apartment holds a special place in their hearts. "Building a home in Hyde Park has felt like adding to this community's beautiful legacy," Curtis Taylor Jr. shares.
As a historically Black neighborhood, Hyde Park has been a center of culture, activism, and intellectualism for generations. From the iconic University of Chicago to the vibrant cultural institutions like the DuSable Museum of African American History, Hyde Park is a living testament to the resilience and richness of Black heritage.
For Curtis Taylor Jr. and Danielle Taylor, being part of this community adds depth and meaning to their journey of building a home, connecting them to a legacy of creativity, diversity, and community spirit.
Curtis Taylor, Jr.
As Curtis Taylor Jr. and Danielle Taylor continue their journey, they invite others to embrace the transformative power of design and the beauty of creating a home, no matter how temporary it may seem. Through Pompeo Home, they inspire renters everywhere to turn their spaces into cherished sanctuaries, filled with love, creativity, and endless possibilities.
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Read the original article on The Spruce.
