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My Houzz: English Cottage Style Graces a Home Bathed in Light
Starting with a bare lot, a downsizing Illinois couple builds a fitting home that welcomes the sun everywhere you turn
Houzz home tour contributor; Cynthia Lynn has been photographing places, spaces and all that's in them for as long as she can remember. Shooting hotels and travel for stock and personal clients for over the past four years. Cynthia has a keen eye for composition and a great feel for design. Bringing to life the lines that make up interiors and exteriors.
Houzz home tour contributor; Cynthia Lynn has been photographing places,... More »
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Tim and Dona Lawler were ready to downsize from their beloved 19th-century Illinois home. With three daughters approaching college age, they wanted to eliminate unused space and simplify their lifestyle.
Their former house was designed by renowned Midwest architect Howard Van Doren Shaw, and the couple wanted their new home to capture its essence and historic feel. They purchased a lot in Hinsdale, Illinois, and worked closely with architect Michael Abraham, contractor Mark Hickman and Dona's sister, interior designer Diane Kahn, to design a cozy English-cottage-style home.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Tim and Dona Lawler
Location: Hinsdale, Illinois (a suburb of Chicago)
Size: 3,500 square feet; 5 bedrooms, 4 1/2 bathrooms, coach house
Their former house was designed by renowned Midwest architect Howard Van Doren Shaw, and the couple wanted their new home to capture its essence and historic feel. They purchased a lot in Hinsdale, Illinois, and worked closely with architect Michael Abraham, contractor Mark Hickman and Dona's sister, interior designer Diane Kahn, to design a cozy English-cottage-style home.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Tim and Dona Lawler
Location: Hinsdale, Illinois (a suburb of Chicago)
Size: 3,500 square feet; 5 bedrooms, 4 1/2 bathrooms, coach house
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The couple loved the screened front porch on their old home, so Abraham redesigned and scaled the porch for their new, smaller house. Screened windows with glass transoms wrap around the porch and the home's two entries.
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Wicker furniture adds to the charm of the sunlit porch, while custom painted transoms enhance the rustic feel. Hickman applied Benjamin Moore's MoorWood Black 2131-10 with a coat of Garden Oasis 699 on top.
Lamp, bench: antique; furniture, pillows, rug: Pottery Barn
Lamp, bench: antique; furniture, pillows, rug: Pottery Barn
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The home's foyer doubles as the dining room, equipped with a custom table that opens up to seat 14. A classic British rounded top and circular window were added to the front door, and box-beam and tongue and groove wood adorn the ceiling. Additional windows along the wall introduce more light from the front porch.
Table, sideboard: Bausman & Co.; chairs: Hickory; light fixture: Scudo Saraceno; mirror: La Barge
Table, sideboard: Bausman & Co.; chairs: Hickory; light fixture: Scudo Saraceno; mirror: La Barge
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| The efficient floor plan has fewer but larger rooms that flow into one another. The foyer opens up into the living room, which overlooks the kitchen — one of Dona's favorite features. "In our previous home, I missed out on all of the discussion, because I was always closed off in the kitchen," she says. Now she can easily talk to guests while prepping. Floor lamps: Pottery Barn |
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| The living room overlooks a pergola-covered patio. Wide windows wrap the entire back portion of the home, visually connecting the breakfast area, living room and home office. Custom cabinetry by Hickman surrounds the fireplace. Sofa, chairs: Thomas Pheasant Collection, Baker Furniture; rug: antique; coffee table: Murray's Iron Works; ottomans: Henredon; pillows, sofa, chair: Robert Allen; shades: Conrad Original Sunshades |
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The home office, adjacent to the living room, has an oversize picture window looking out onto the coach house.
Desk: Williams-Sonoma Home; desk chair: Ethan Allen (fabric discontinued); upholostered wing chair: Lillian August
Desk: Williams-Sonoma Home; desk chair: Ethan Allen (fabric discontinued); upholostered wing chair: Lillian August
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A wrought iron spiral staircase leads up to the coach house, home to Tim's law office.
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Ivy and low-maintenance shrubbery adorn the patio. A door to the kitchen makes outdoor entertaining a breeze.
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| The kitchen maximizes the open space but minimizes the view of storage areas; a hidden hood lined with deep cabinets stores cookbooks and other items. Hickman custom built the island, topping it with irregularly sized chunks of wood put together. |
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Deep cabinets house pots and pans and other large pieces. The backsplash combines end-grain slices of wood, lightly stained in different colors and mortared in place.
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| An oversize farmhouse table surrounded by large picture windows sits just off the kitchen. Dining table, chairs: Fremarc Design; chandelier: 2nd Ave. Lighting; windows: installed by Weather Shield Windows & Doors; shades: Conrad |
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| The Lawlers' new bedroom is smaller, but they enjoy the simple space. |
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A large picture window overlooking the tub and a skylight in the hall illuminate the master bathroom. His-and-hers closets line the walkway.
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Floor-to-ceiling windows in the main hallway bring in additional natural light while maintaining privacy.
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Hand-distressed hickory floors grace the area at the bottom of the staircase. Hickman designed the paneling for the custom cabinets around the fireplace (one is seen to the right) to blend in with the stone.
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The laundry room sits opposite the staircase; it has an oversize ceramic utility sink and vintage cabinetry that contribute to the English cottage feel. Family photos line the shelves.
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| Careful detailing gave the exterior an aged appearance. Hickman tinted the stucco a soft putty color, and painters used a three-step process on the wood trim to simulate a worn patina. After living in this home for eight years, Dona wouldn't change a thing. "I still love the feel when I get home each and every day," she says. Landscape architect: Jane Dilworth & Associates Houzz call: Share your creative family home with us! |
Ideabook published on Oct. 25, 2012.
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If Justin Biber (at age of 18) was looking for multi-million house to purchase he, perhaps, could downsize in feature too.