Lookout Point, Illinois: An All-American Home Project by Northworks

A QUINTESSENTIALLY ENGLISH ALL-AMERICAN HOME

Though it holds a lofty position on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan with distant views of the iconic Chicago city skyline, this custom-made residence is something of an architectural surprise.

Despite the all-American setting, it comes with the classic materials, playful structures, and signature detailing of a quintessentially English country house. Visitors make their approach down a long, hedge-lined driveway, which opens out to the welcoming entry of the home, fronted by a main motor court. The house is organized around a primary volume, with secondary wings at each end. Interior galleries create a procession of formal, refined spaces, many designed with hosting and gatherings in mind. One such space is the elegant living room, which is connected to an exquisitely detailed (and well-stocked) bar.

The English-inspired aesthetic begins with the distinctive exterior, which our team crafted from reclaimed brick, limestone trim, and white clapboard siding.

These details were enhanced by the addition of painted shutters and hand-split cedar shingling. Once through the door, the interiors reveal an elegant and individually minded approach, with each room of the home telling its own story. Finishes, furnishings, and artworks each play their part in the completed effect.

STANDOUT FEATURES

Softening the sophisticated style and formal approach of the design, our team created balance with due respect to the house’s spectacular natural setting. The property’s elevated positioning is celebrated with spaces such as the central foyer, which reveals sweeping water views through the kitchen, family room, and porch. Meanwhile, the study, office, and side porch extend into the verdant woodland skirting the edge of the property.

One might think this is a painstaking historic restoration rather than a newly constructed home.

ON REFLECTION

In addition to envisioning the elevated and timeless aesthetics of the residence, our team carefully considered the specific requirements of the growing family that would inhabit it. For instance, shared downtime can be enjoyed in the auxiliary living rooms within the wings of the house. Meanwhile, the extended porch creates a seamless indoor-outdoor experience, allowing family members to relax and admire the natural beauty of the lake together.

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