We headed to Chicago to catch up with Dee Thompson, founder of Urbane Home — a design studio known for its warm, elevated interiors that blend sophistication with livability. With a love of traditional architecture and a sharp eye for spatial flow, Dee has carved out a niche in the Midwest for creating homes that feel both refined and deeply personal.
We spoke with Dee about her design process, her favorite room transformations, and how thoughtful details — from cabinet pulls to color palettes — can completely shift the mood of a space.
Summarize Urbane Home’s approach to interior style in just three words.
Elegant. Beautiful. Timeless.
You’re proud to be a women owned and operated studio. Does this impact the type of clients you attract?
We believe that our attention to detail, as a women owned firm, attracts a client that has a discerning level of quality. Most women that see our work instantly say “I can tell a woman designed this space!”.
What are some commitments you make to your clients when they employ your services?
Over-communication to manage expectations. The highest level of quality and support at every turn, as we consider it a direct reflection on us. It is always our goal that clients love, not like, their spaces.
To what extent does being based in Chicago influence your design choices?
Being based in Old Town is a perfect alignment to our aesthetic of timeless design. However, we pride ourselves on adopting design influence as a result of many of our travels as well, Europe and Mexico, primarily.
Can you walk us through a recent project where hardware played a key role in shaping the overall feel of the space?
1823 N. Lincoln Park West was a historic rehab home that we recently completed. The details of this home were super important and the hardware on our doors, cabinetry and built-ins added beautiful touches that are noticed by our clients.
Your spaces have a real sense of personality. How do you help your clients to interpret their character into an interior design scheme, whilst keeping it elevated?
Honestly speaking, we are not for everyone. We really focus on a more timeline, traditional or transitional design. While we can do modern and contemporary, it’s not our forte — so we mostly only attract clients that align to our design aesthetic!
What’s one underrated design detail that you think makes a big impact but often gets overlooked — and how do you incorporate it?
Floor tiles in registers and drains! It is a labor of love on tiled and shower floors, but is a huge reflection of our level of quality and design perfection. It’s always a beautiful detail that our clients absolutely love.
The other standard offering with Urbane Home is outlets under every vanity cabinet, for all of today’s plug-in devices, including USB outlets.
What are some interior design trends that you’d like to see back off?
Brassy gold (not my thing) and colored plumbing fixtures (I’m a traditionalist so don’t feel it has staying power).
Who are some other designers, or resources, that you look to for inspiration?
Last one. What are your 3 top picks from our collection right now?
From layering neutrals with intention to crafting spaces that encourage connection, Dee’s approach to interior design is all about creating harmony—visually and emotionally. It’s no wonder Urbane Home has become a go-to name in the Chicago design scene.
Whether she’s reimagining a kitchen layout or selecting hardware that adds just the right amount of edge, Dee reminds us that great design is all in the details.
Follow Dee’s latest projects over at @urbanehome and keep an eye on our blog for more designer conversations coming soon.
