About / Patina & Arch
Who We Are
Patina & Arch is a Chicago-based residential development and design company dedicated to creating homes with enduring character.
What we believe
Collected rather than manufactured.
We believe the most compelling spaces balance the richness of the past with the needs of modern living. Through thoughtful renovation, architectural preservation, and carefully considered materials, we create homes that feel collected rather than manufactured.
Our approach is guided by a respect for craftsmanship, an appreciation for history, and the belief that beautiful design should make everyday life better.
See it at Marion
Founder
Carmen Savolainen
Patina & Arch was founded by Carmen Savolainen, whose fascination with architecture and design began at an early age.
That interest has always extended beyond how a space looks to understanding why it works. Why a building was designed a certain way. Why one material was chosen over another. How natural light changes the perception of color, proportion, and atmosphere. How the same room can feel entirely different throughout the day.
Rather than following trends or pursuing originality for its own sake, Carmen is drawn to thoughtful, sometimes unconventional solutions that have a reason for existing. Spaces where beauty and function are not competing priorities, but essential parts of the same idea.
Through Patina & Arch, she brings that perspective to homes with architectural character and the potential for something more—respecting what came before while considering how each space might better serve the people who will live within them.
03 / Begin a conversation
Homes
with a past.
Made for living.
Interested in working together? Tell us a little about the place you have in mind. We’ll be in touch shortly.
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