Her job is to draw that narrative out, which she does by sitting in a space and feeling its energy, by finding out what makes her clients happiest, and by learning what pieces they can’t part with. Then, once she has gathered that intel, she usually goes for a nice, long walk.
Romanek, who grew up on the South Side of Chicago, credits her mom and her maternal grandmother for shaping her design ethos. Her grandmother, who worked at the R.R. Donnelley printing factory, would come home at midnight, six nights a week, and throw magazines and catalogues on the kitchen table.Romanek spent hours turning the pages, getting a view into different worlds. Then there was her single mom, her role model and best friend. “My mom radiated such infectious energy and style.
“I’ve never formally studied design, but I’ve had the school of life,” says Romanek. “My upbringing taught me to appreciate beauty wherever I found it.” As a result, her design aesthetic is elegant but also exuberant. She effortlessly mixes high-end pieces with flea market finds. This duality – which she has called “Gap meets Gucci” – has become one of her trademarks. “Everything has value, as long as it has its own story.
As for Romanek’s own homes, well, they are in constant flux. “My need to experiment can make my family a bit crazy,” she says. For instance, she got a text from her husband once that read: “Hey, can you tell me where the sofa will be when I get home?” That pretty much sums up Romanek’s approach to design and to life. “Your personal space is a love letter to yourself. You can do what you want to do. You can break the rules.”The first thing you should do when you walk into a room is feel it out.