Hidden Gem

Lakefront property in the northeast suburbs of Chicago is hard to come by, so when we were hired by this young family with exactly that, we were immediately inspired by not just the unusually large footprint of this 1950’s Tudor style home but also the lovely views of the manmade lake it was sited on. The large 5-bedroom home was solidly stuck in the 1980’s, but we saw tons of potential. We started out by updating the existing staircase with a fresh coat of paint and adding new herringbone slate to the entry hall. 

 

 

The powder room off the entryway also got a refresh – – new flooring, new cabinets and fixtures. We ran the new slate right through into this space for some consistency. A fun wallpaper and shiplap trim add a welcoming feel and set the tone for the home.

 

 

Next, we tackled the kitchen. Located away from the rest of the first floor, the kitchen felt a little isolated, so we immediately began planning to better connect it to the rest of the first floor.

 

 

We landed on removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room and designed a modified galley style space with separate cooking and clean up zones. The cooking zone consists of the refrigerator, prep sink and cooktop, along with a nice long run of prep space at the island. The cleanup side of the kitchen consists of the main sink and dishwasher. Both areas are oriented so the user can view the lake during prep work and cleanup!

 

 

The homeowners’ first words to us were “it’s time to ditch the brown,” so we did!  We chose a lovely blue pallet that reflects the home’s lake front location is vibrant, yet easy on the eye. Countertops are white quartz, and the natural oak floor jibes with the other honey accents. 

 

 

One of the home’s main puzzles was how to incorporate the mudroom and area in front of the patio doors at the back of the house. We already had a breakfast table area, so the space by the patio doors was a bit of a no man’s land. We decided to separate the kitchen proper from what became the new mudroom with a large set of barn doors. That way you can quickly hide any mudroom messes but have easy access to the light coming in through the patio doors as well as the outdoor grilling station. We also love the impact the barn doors add to the overall space.

The breakfast table was given a refresh with new chairs, chandelier and window treatments that frame the gorgeous views of the lake.

 

 

Here’s a closeup of the mudroom where Murph has claimed his spot. We coordinated the slate mudroom flooring with that used in the home’s main entrance. The storage area consists of open and closed storage to allow for clutter control.

 

 

Next on our “to do” list was revamping the dated brown bar area in the neighboring dining room. We eliminated the clutter by adding some closed cabinets and did some easy updates to help the space feel more current. One snag we ran into here was the discovery of a beam above the existing open shelving that had to be modified with a smaller structural beam to allow for our new design to work. This was an unexpected surprise, but in the end we think it was well worth it!

 

 

We kept the colors here more muted to blend with the existing furnishings. Open shelving and polished nickel hardware add some simple detail to the new entertainment zone which also looks out onto the lake!

 

 

Next we tackled the upstairs starting with the son’s bath. The bath originally had both a tub shower and a separate shower, so we decided to swap out the redundant shower for a new laundry area. This freed up some space downstairs in what used to be the mudroom/laundry room and is more convenient for daily laundry needs.

 

 

We continued the blue palette here with navy cabinetry and the navy tile in the shower. Porcelain floor tile and chrome fixtures keep maintenance to a minimum while matte black mirrors and lighting add some depth to the design. A low maintenance runner adds some warmth underfoot and ties the whole space together.

 

  

 

We added a pocket door to the bathroom to minimize interference with the door swings. The left door of the laundry closet is on a 180 degree hinge to allow for full access to the machines.

 

 

Next we tackled the master bath which is an en suite arrangement. The original layout was standard 1980’s with the carpeted vanity area outside of the bathroom, and situated near the master closet. The brown theme continued here with multiple shades.

 

 

Our first move was to segment off the bath and the closet from the master bedroom. We created a short hall from the bedroom to the bathroom with his and hers walk-in closets on the left and right as well as a separate toilet closet outside of the main bathroom for privacy and flexibility.

 

 

The original bathroom had a giant soaking tub with steps (dangerous!) as well as a small shower that did not work well for our homeowner who is 6’3”. With other bathtubs in the home, they decided to eliminate the tub and create an oversized shower which takes up the space of the old tub.

 

 

The white oak double vanity is on the opposite wall, and a bench is located under the window for morning conversations and a place to set towels.

 

  

The pallet in here is light and airy with a mix of creamy porcelain and marble tile, and brass accents. A simple roman shade adds some texture and it’s top-down mechanism allows for light and privacy.

 

This large whole house remodel gave our homeowners not only the ability to maximize the potential of their home but also created a lovely new frame from which to view their fabulous lake views.