Established in 1997, the firms focus is on residential and commercial projects. Prior to starting her own firm, Hilary worked for some of Chicago's most prestigious Interior Architectural firms with a concentration on commercial design. Hilary is a graduate of the Harrington College of Design in Chicago, and a licensed Interior Designer in the state of Illinois.

Taking a European approach to design, Hilary tends to focus on contemporary design yet with a mix of old and new, incorporating art and objects to balance the space. Working closely with clients to create spaces that are simple, elegant and sophisticated with an edge that brings out her clients individuality, experience, passion and history.

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Millwork

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Designing custom millwork that incorporates your specific storage requirements, lighting and finishes greatly adds to the custom look of a space. Hilary Bailes Design (HBD) works closely with the client to help define the requirements and then creates design options to the scale of the space to review with the client.

Bathroom

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While designing the rest of the home the bathrooms and kitchens are often updated or completely renovated. Updating or enhancing the space can include all or any of the following; new fixtures, colors and materials that work with the rest of the home, new lighting and hardware.

Dining Rooms

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A breakfast nook for everyday meals, or a more formal dining room to accommodate large family gatherings, your functional and aesthetic needs are met. Every family is different, but one thing in common is the desire to sit around a table and share food, thoughts, and memories together. The following images are examples of the many ways in which this can work.

Kitchen

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Whether it's a complete remodeling or the updating of existing finishes, the kitchen is one of the main investments in a home and often a space where the most time is spent. The right design decisions are paramount to insuring its success and the owner's enjoyment.

Living

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These rooms offer a reflection of the owner's lifestyle, interests and personal style. Hilary works closely with her clients to help define their interior design personality, and create an environment that is comfortable, inspiring, flexible, and uniquely theirs.

Brenda Barnum

Jul 31, 2019

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Brilliant concepts & intuitive sensitivity to owners lifestyles

Nancy H.

Jun 14, 2016

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I have worked with Hilary Bailes on three separate occasions. The first, with her colleague, John Bauman, was my company's 14,000 sf office design and build-out; the second, a complete overview and design of my own personal residence; and now, 15 years later, a renovation of that same condo. I told a friend, when I was just starting to think about doing a renovation, that if I couldn't have Hilary to shepherd this through I would just move.

I realized we hadn't really talked in years and I was super worried that she wouldn't be available to help me again. I am so lucky that she not only was available but said, yes. She has a vision and eclectic style that matches my own and such a calm and professional demeanor that she can walk me through decisions that I know I wouldn't have been open to if she hadn't shown me the way.

I am very decisive on what I like and what works for my lifestyle but I realize as I look around my beautiful living space that every part of it has her stamp on it. I think, simply, that she's the best!

Amy Z.

Aug 19, 2014

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I recently hired Hilary to design renovation of my kitchen and front room in keeping with Victorian style which relates to my 120 year old home. From the beginning through completion she was professional and responsive even in light of difficult contractors. Her knowledge and experience were invaluable in creating a beautiful space that integrates my existing collections with the original concept. I highly recommend her.

Jack W.

Jan 28, 2014

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In 2013, I had the pleasure to work with Hilary Bailes of Hilary Bailes Design Ltd. Aside from being classy, Hilary is certainly a design professional. This means that she is experienced and credentialed; she has gone though years of training and large design firm experience. (She's not an amateur, of which there are many.) I'm what you call a difficult client in the sense that I'm reluctant to completely surrender the design process and that I'm fickle. Nonetheless, Hilary was patient and a cooperative sounding board for my ideas. She did a superb job working with my space, selecting colors and fixtures. At the end of the engagement, she cheerfully refunded my unused retainer. Thus, I recommend her.

Neha D.

Nov 12, 2012

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I cannot say enough great things about Hilary Bailes! She is such a pleasure to work with- very knowledgeable and also personable. My husband and I just moved to a new home and we were clueless about how to use our space. We also wanted to get things done in a tight time frame, and she was able to pull together paint colors for our entire house, lighting, furnture, and layout all under a month- that includes delivery time! Hilary completely understood our budget restrictions, lifestyle, and needs.

She was able to work within our parameters and was always professional but so easy to get along with! I have to say I learned a lot just from being around her very skilled eye for design. As you can imagine, I would HIGHLY recommend using Hilary to make your home a more beautiful space!