Interior designer Joanne Siciliano of Riha Design Group in Chicago chose chocolate brown and cream as the color palette to create a modern look with clean lines. Making the entry hallway and the dining area look airy was particularly tricky.

"In the hallway we created an entire wall of interesting contemporary mirrors ... to really open up that corridor," says Riha. "In the dining room, instead of using chairs around the dining table, we did benches. Without the [chair] back, your eye kind of sees right through and makes it feel more spacious."

Project: XO Condominiums, Chicago
Builder: Kargil Development, Chicago
Architect: Lucien LaGrange Architects, Chicago
Interior Design: Riha Design Group, Chicago
Price of units: $250,000 to $1 million
Square footage of unit: 1,200
Merchandising cost per square foot: $115.94
Photography: Amber Frederiksen Photography, Bonita Springs, Fla.