When Lauren Feece and her husband, Chris Silva, moved back to Chicago two years ago after a four-year stint as caretakers for an old coffee plantation in the Puerto Rican jungle, they were slightly overwhelmed by the change in scenery. Fortunately, their house in Wicker Park is buffered from the city noise by an expansive front garden, filled with plants and shady trees, perfect for lounging under.

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“Being in the yard helps to get rid of the city,” Feece explains. “It’s magic-y. And it makes you so calm! At least that’s what happens to me. I spend a lot of time in the garden. I’m always joking that I have a list of things to do and I always end up in the garden.”

The couple’s time in Puerto Rico had an enormous influence on how Feece decorated their home. Before, most of her paintings were done in beige and grey; now the walls are covered in bright colors.