HAUS GUEST | Audrey
Meet Audrey of Audg Art whose work finds beauty in the familiar. After years along the East Coast, she & her husband Jon have made their way back to Chicago, calling Andersonville home for now as they prepare to close on their next home in Oak Park. Between unpacking & packing again, she’s reflecting on what home really means: the comfort of good architecture & the moments that make a space yours.
ON THE MOVE
“Jon and I had been bouncing around the East Coast for a number of years — North Carolina, New York, New Jersey, and finally Virginia. Chicago has always been home for us. Early this year we sat down and talked about the future — comfort, enjoyment, family, friends…and Chicago kept coming up.
For me, moving back to the north side was natural. I’m originally from North Center, and we wanted to enjoy all the things that make this city feel alive: the food, the local shops, and the lake. So yes, I say all this and then acknowledge we’re moving to Oak Park. I’ve been enamored with Frank Lloyd Wright architecture since I was a kid — style & function are both important to us. Walking through our new neighborhood just felt right. We’re thrilled to plant roots for the first time since 2020 and join a community that reflects what we value most: comfort, enjoyment, family, and friends.”
WHAT “HOME” MEANS
“Home is where my husband is. We’ve lived in seven homes (soon to be eight). Home is where we can be ourselves — to relax, to rest, to feel welcome.”
P.S. Audrey & Jon’s Andersonville apartment is available for rent.
Inquiries: connect here
NEIGHBORHOOD FAVORITES
Dollop Diner: comfort breakfast on Clark
Foursided Card + Gift: cards, candles, and friendly faces
Cheetah Gym, Tala House, Hopleaf, and Lady Gregory: Andersonville staples
Andersonville Galleria + Winifred Grace: perfect for gifts
M. Henry and Edgewater Tacos: weekend go-tos
Farm Bar Ravenswood, Hazel, Wolcott Tap, and Spacca Napoli: because comfort sometimes comes with pizza & a pint
WHAT WE BROUGHT / WHAT WE LEFT
“We’ve left behind so many wonderful people. Our friends are scattered across the globe from all our moves, and we’re grateful for that. Each place taught us something about what we want next.
Everywhere we go, we buy a Christmas ornament — our tree tells the story of our travels. One of my favorites is an antique-inspired glass Upper West Side street sign from our time in NYC.”
HAUS FINDS
Potato Chip Can: My grandmother’s flour tin — it’s been in every kitchen since I learned to bake in hers.
Metal Dog: The first thing we bought together; it’s guarded our mantel through every move.
Sketch of 425 W Vermont Ave: A pen drawing of our first home, framed in leftover scraps from our projects there.
UNEXPECTED LESSONS
“This might be oddly specific — but mattress bags & moisture packs! We’ve moved seven times and have a system: we air-seal our mattress before movers arrive and tuck moisture packs into the couch cushions. We’ve even made a timeline for when to clean out the freezer and stop buying liquids. We like to think of ourselves as pros.”
SONGS THAT FEEL LIKE HOME
a few that play while unpacking boxes & setting up the studio:
Alaska – Maggie Rogers · I Know Alone – HAIM · Springsteen – Eric Church · In a Sentimental Mood – Ellington & Coltrane · Freddie Freeloader – Miles Davis · I Need a Forest Fire – James Blake & Bon Iver · Barcelona – George Ezra · Free – Zac Brown Band · Attila – Mono:Massive · Gone – JR JR · Lovers – Anna of the North
