Soft Landing: Designer Diana Rizko Makes Home a Destination for Frequent Flyers

Designer Diana Rizko was given one main task for a kitchen remodel on the outskirts of Chicago. The owners travel a lot for work, and they longed for a warm and inviting space to exhale between trips. 

Rizko guided them through conversations meant to uncover how they use their space, what they love, and how they live—focusing less on specific colors or design styles, which clients often have a hard time pinpointing. 

She learned they spend the majority of their downtime outdoors, soaking in the Illinois seasons. So their extensive garden became the inspiration for the home’s interior. There was instant synergy, and the project expanded into a full first floor overhaul—from drab, builder-grade materials to a thoughtful, botanical-inspired retreat designed for slow mornings with coffee in hand. 

The dining room started with a Schumacher floral wallpaper that “just felt like her,” says Rizko. Its warm palette of greens and soft blues became the jumping‑off point for an indoor‑outdoor feeling table, ethereal blue chairs, and a neutral textured rug that keep the room feeling collected, not fussy. From the rear entry and bath into the kitchen and on to the dining room, a series of walnut built‑ins and repeating wallpapers create a gentle transition that prepare you to move from blue and green to warmer tones without ever feeling like you’ve stepped into a different house. 

Issues with the physical flow of the space were also addressed. First, a bizarrely placed kitchen peninsula was removed. A stubborn existing chimney created a deep bump‑out on the kitchen’s longest wall. Instead of fighting it, Rizko built around it—wrapping the chimney in Cambria and pulling a pair of custom cabinets forward—turning an awkward structural quirk into a tailored focal point perfect for a dedicated cooking zone. On the garden side of the kitchen, she quietly stole a few inches from a closet to widen the tight passage by the sink. Now, the homeowners can slip out the back door to the garden without bumping into any cabinets.

“I can’t believe it’s the same space. It just feels so much bigger now,” Rizko says of the final product.

Throughout, Rizko masterfully brought together color and texture, focusing on timeless silhouettes with whimsical, airy accents that make everything feel a little lighter. The styling is just as intentional, with vintage finds, art, and everyday pieces curated to create a lived-in feel. As for the hard surfaces, there was one logical choice. 

“The owners cook a lot, and they were looking for something really beautiful, unique, and durable at the same time … Cambria was going to be the best choice for us,” Rizko says. The kitchen and bathroom both feature Cambria’s Hermitage quartz design, a warm white with subtle gold-tone veining. “It feels like it’s mimicking the earth. I wanted them to feel like they’re still working outside, with everything they see and touch.” 

Read this article as it appears in the magazine.