I’m thrilled to be participating in the Lake Forest Show House 2017, along side Relativity Textiles! We are co-designing the back stairway, hall and small bath off the hall. The Lake Forest Show House is always a stunner, and benefits The Infant Welfare Society of Chicago. SAVE THE DATES, April 29 – May 21st when the house will be open to the public to tour! Below is more about our design inspiration and details about the historic property and Honorary Chair Mark D. Sikes.

Here are some of our design concepts for this 40 foot hallway, and modest bathroom. We will be using a custom wallpaper created by Relativity, blue sisal carpeting layered with Turkish rugs, a gorgeous shade of peachy/coral on the ceiling, and we’ll build out a seating nook where there is currently a closet.

We will use lush velvets in a warm jewel tone palette to upholster the seating nook, and of course we’ve got to add tassels to the pillows! The bath has existing white subway tile. We are opting for something simple and classy, as not to compete with all the pattern in the hallway. Navy grass cloth and lux brass and lucite accents will refresh the currently beige and chrome bathroom.

More About the Property & Show House:

The Lake Forest Chapter of the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago announces the location of its 17th biennial Lake Forest Showhouse & Gardens: an east Lake Forest estate designed by architect Howard Van Doren Shaw. As one of the most respected turn of the century architects, Shaw received a nod in the “The Great Gatsby” as the architect of character Daisy Buchanan’s Lake Forest home. The Historic Preservation Award-winning English country estate is set on more than two acres featuring exquisite gardens with bluestone patios, fountains and a large fire pit. The house is a five bedroom and five-and-a-half bath masterpiece with a five-room coach house with kitchen. The house was built in 1922 as a summer residence for a prominent lawyer named J. O. Hinkley. The present owners purchased the house in 2007 and meticulously researched and replaced original materials including mercury glass windows sourced from England.

Also a top designer of his time, Mark D. Sikes, internationally-known interior designer and author of the new book “Beautiful: All-American Decorating and Timeless Style,” will serve as the honorary chair of the 2017 Lake Forest Showhouse & Gardens.  

Hope to see you there!

XO – CLAIRE (& ERIN)