House designed around a historic great room is a must see in Illinois. Take a look
Sitting near the edge of Lake Michigan is a piece of architectural excellence. But as visually stunning as the exterior of this estate on the Lake Forest, Illinois, real estate market is — the inside is even more so.
If that’s humanly possible.
The six-bedroom, 6.5-plus-bathroom residence, which is listed for $12.5 million, actually has a hidden secret within its walls: it was built around an historic great room — a large space on the ground floor, near the center of the home.
The 9,097-square-foot property was designed around a great room by Alfred Granger, a well-known architect and author, in 1928, the listing on Realtor.com says.
“After eight years of fastidious design and construction, the carved limestone, brick and timber home was completed in 2001,” the listing says. “Much of the woodwork & lighting was designed and fabricated in England.”
There are also more surprises in store when it comes to the property, like a 2,500-square-foot boathouse beyond some beautiful terraces and stone paths that took five years to complete.
Other features include:
“DeGiulio kitchen”
Library
Second floor office
Home theater
Gym
Wet bar
“Mesmerizing lake views”
Lake Forest is about 35 miles north of Chicago.
This story was originally published July 28, 2022 at 9:49 AM with the headline "House designed around a historic great room is a must see in Illinois. Take a look."