Lake Forest Family Residence
Lake Forest Family Residence
Accommodating an abundance of space in a residence can be both a blessing and a curse. When you own a massive home with more than 10,000 square feet, how do you build in seamless function for your family while also creating intentional transformation of the structure? For a family of 5 who bought a sprawling residence on Chicago’s North Shore, the answer was developing their home into the modern tropical resort of their dreams.
Read more
Read more
Addressing a patchwork of remodels over the decades, the Inspired Interiors team thrust this home into the modern era by utilizing contemporary retreat-inspired design to breathe life into the vast, empty spaces. A key element to this transformation was defining areas where the family could create memories together and giving each space a new purpose while serving unique functions.
The first floor of the home presented several distinct challenges. First, the design had to incorporate the existing limestone flooring and imposing structural columns. Second, the enormous size of the home meant that our team needed to find meaningful ways to make the space feel properly utilized every day.
With an overarching goal to make the client’s home feel like a luxurious resort, the kitchen needed to be organically tied into the space while maintaining a relaxing feel. The previous passé kitchen design included an awkward two-tiered island that impeded the flow of the room, as if previous plans had run out of steam while considering what to do with so much space.
The revitalized kitchen design now combines warm wood elements with refreshing white cabinetry and marble countertops, enhanced by elegant gold accents. Together with the client, the Inspired Interiors team envisioned an inviting space that functions as an eat-in kitchen combining a well-thought-out island and dining area that overlooks the lush backyard and pool environs.
The great room media wall was perhaps the most antiquated feature of the home. The light-colored tiered paneling was a can’t-look-away eyesore in the open living space. Our team transformed it into a gorgeous rootwood teak-clad feature wall by Noblewood that is itself a large-scale piece of art. The media wall leads you in the airy lounge area, complete with a refurbished bar, utilizing every inch of the large home to create areas for entertaining friends and family.
In order for the home to feel cohesive and ensure that the abundance of space was properly utilized, the dining room evolved from unused, furniture graveyards to a warm and inviting space primed to host convivial dinner parties. The room now invites guests to gather around a 14-person table with lush velvet seating that is illuminated by two twin chandeliers that echo the pendant lighting installation in the kitchen. A detailed wooden room divider helps to fill the space while adding an intimate element to the design.
The bathrooms were also upgraded to close out the first-floor transformation. Clean lines and simplicity were incorporated to not compete with the overall architectural design of the home, but rather create classic spaces that elevate their essential functionality.
