A Conversation with Interior Designer and Shopkeeper Larry Vodak of Scout

We talk with Larry about The Ainslie, living in Andersonville, and what designer tips he would give to today’s renters.

With  The Ainslie project  coming to completion, we had an opportunity to catch up with Larry Vodak, owner and shopkeeper of Scout, a unique urban antique store and thriving interior design business located at 5221 N. Clark St. in the Andersonville neighborhood of Chicago. 

Larry put his roots down in Andersonville when he founded Scout 18 years ago. When the founder of Honore Properties, Mike Shenouda, reached out to Andersonville’s Chamber to partner with local businesses on The Ainslie development, Scout was one of the first businesses mentioned. It’s been a fantastic partnership ever since. 

With Larry’s history in Andersonville and savvy design expertise, we asked him a variety of questions about Andersonville, The Ainslie project, and what inside designer tips he would give to renters today. 

HP.  What have been some of the more memorable changes you’ve seen in Andersonville over the years?

LV.  Living in Andersonville as long as I have, I’ve seen the good, bad, and ugly. One thing that consistently stands out is the vibe and experience you get from the moment you walk out of your home in the morning. Andersonville is a very congenial space.

We all look out for each other. During our recent riots, many people reached out. People just checking up. You don't get that from other places. That level of intimacy, that connectedness is really gratifying. 

HP.  Having lived in Andersonville for nearly 20 years, what would you say to anyone considering moving to Andersonville?

LV.  What makes Andersonville so special is that when people come to live in Andersonville, they come to stay. And they are good people.

They know they’re going to be here for a long time. When people stay for a long time in a neighborhood, they tend to invest in the neighborhood. This translates into investing in the community and investing in businesses and it keeps perpetuating itself. 

Andersonville, for the most part, has remained largely a local retail destination thanks to our Chamber and the support of our community. Our Chamber does everything top-notch from events to the Farmer’s Market. I believe they are the best in the country. 

Other chambers seek them out because of their innovative thinking. Retailers wanting to come into Andersonville compete for good space. The Chamber also partners with our Alderman in a way you don't see anywhere else. 

From a retail standpoint, Andersonville has some very innovative retailers and a lot of destination businesses. Pre-virus, our shops were busier than Michigan Avenue. We still have that potentiality. 

Local retailers interact with the customers and can get their perception of what is trending more so than larger retailers. Shops like Cowboys and Astronauts , Lost Larson , Anteprima , and Hopleaf , among others, have gained a large following from people within and outside of Andersonville because of this. 

These shops provide things that other retailers don’t, such as uniqueness, service, and responsiveness. This is a distinctive part that makes Andersonville great. I don’t think twice about lending a customer my shop van if they can’t move a piece of furniture. I highly doubt a manager at a large retail chain would offer this type of service. 

For these reasons, I believe Andersonville is well poised for retail to come back, but repositioning a bit. For example, making shopping more experiential; creating an environment that online can't. That interaction we can create with customers is really special. 

HP.  What were your thoughts when you first heard about The Ainslie being built in Andersonville?

LV.  I thought it was about time. It’s not a high-rise. I had heard of Honore Properties and was familiar with Mike’s work. I knew he was going to bring care and concern to the project. Not a lot of developers care about doing things right. With projects like these, it can’t be all about cutting costs.

The Ainslie in Andersonville Chicago - Exterior from Clark and Ainslie

HP.  How did you first become involved with the project?

LV.  Before starting on The Ainslie, Mike went to the Andersonville Chamber. He wanted to use local talent and support the community. The Chamber recommended Scout. We exchanged a few phone calls, met in person, and the partnership took off from there. 

Mike’s interest in bringing on Scout was radically different. Other developers will bring people in to do one portion of the project, such as the lobby. They have another adjunct process for everything else. From the start, Mike wanted to ensure that The Ainslie had a cohesive environment where what we did in interior units have some connective tissue with the hallways, lobby, and rooftop. It’s nice when you get to work with someone who has that kind of care and interest in things. I’m proud to be a part of that dynamic. 

HP.  How would you compare/contrast The Ainslie project with your other interior design projects?

LV.  If we can design a house, we can do different units. But when you design a house or commercial space, you are given certain things—a shell that you can't mess with. For example, the molding is painted and you work around that. The Ainslie, we had a concrete shell. It was up to Scout to stage so that there was consistency throughout.

The Ainslie has 18 different configurations. That was a great opportunity and challenge when you start from scratch. We had to develop a color palette that would serve well over time so we chose softer tones like taupes and beiges. We chose high-end fixtures with longevity in mind and made sure that the amenities were comparable to that of a luxury apartment building.

HP. What was your favorite part of the project?

LV.  Working with Mike and the team for sure. They are a class act. Good people all around. Home Carpet One was also a great partner. The woman we worked with Shelly was wonderful. 

HP.  Do you have a favorite area or part of the project?

LV.  I   don't, because we stressed so much about everything fitting together.

The kitchens were fun but also the most challenging. Originally, the contractors took average kitchen packages and applied those costs to this project. But we realized that the kitchen was critical to bringing the entire tenant experience together. Shelly must have researched a dozen different cabinet options. We not only needed to get the look right but ensure the materials were there when we needed them. 

The vista on the rooftop is just phenomenal. I love that area. For people to have such a nice open space that is accessible and private, it is really nice.

The real specialness is in the finishes. The level of detail and thought we put into the finishes like the metal tone on the shower door and how that aligns with the fixtures and bath towel. A lot of people stumble around with that. We really sweated the details and it shows. 

HP.  Now that The Ainslie is finished, how would you compare it to other nearby developments?

LV.  The Ainslie definitely has bigger studios compared to other neighborhood properties that I've looked at. From a look standpoint, The Ainslie has a quality and patina that is unique in this market. I like that it is not a high-rise. 

I also like the color palette we chose. It's easy to have fun with that space. Floors and colors are neutral. The kitchen blends in nicely with the rest of the area. We gave tenants a nice, clean, restful, and monochromatic canvas to work with it.

HP.  I’m sure you get a lot of questions about decorating rental spaces. Is there a question you get asked frequently and what advice do you give?

LV.  There are a few truisms regardless of whether it's a home or apartment but greater relevance to rentals. Renters tend to not have a lot of stuff. My first piece of advice is, don't bring anything into the home that you don't love. It's really that easy. 

What we've just gone through has reminded us that our homes are a critical influence in our life. It reflects our hopes, dreams, wishes, and desires. Your space shouldn't be a repository for a lot of stuff. 

My second piece of advice is to mix old with new. New upholstery, new lighting, but always bring a bit of life into the home; something personal. You must create from an assortment of styles that reflect you and how your space feels to you. Are you inspired by the space? Does it provide comfort and safety?

Lastly, it’s all about proportion and placement. Instead of six small pieces, put three large pieces. People put too much in places. And don't put couches up against walls. It takes a little ingenuity and thinking but it's doable. 

It’s critical to stress height. You should have something in the room that goes all the way up to the ceiling. If you have a cabinet, put boxes or baskets on top.

Go into the stores where you have an affinity and just browse.