Listing Agents:

The Proximity3 Partners at Griffith, Grant & Lackie Realtors
Marina Carney Vernon, Andy Mrowiec & Julie Morse

847.283.0792 - Office
Email: mvernon@gglrealty.com

Email: amrowiec@gglrealty.com

Email: jmorse@gglrealty.com

For more information on this listing, click on the main photo to the right or visit www.GGLRealty.com.

Griffith, Grant & Lackie Home

A PRIVATE AND PRISTINE HAVEN OF AWE-INSPIRING ARCHITECTURE AND BOTANICAL BEAUTY IN EAST LAKE FOREST…

It will take your breath away…truly. This is not like any Lake Forest house you have seen before, or are likely to ever see again.

Custom-designed by internationally-renowned architect Jim Olson of Seattle’s Olson Sundberg Architects, this spectacular home was built in 1991 on grounds that were formerly part of the historic Searle estate. The design of the approximately 10,000 square foot home was inspired by a Palladian villa, then rendered in a powerful modern style all its own. The owners’ affinity for nature and art are two important principles that guided the creation of this architecturally significant and truly unforgettable house. The result is a timeless classic – a very sophisticated, but also extremely welcoming haven of stunning beauty and inescapable tranquility, inside and out.

Entering the wooded and gated grounds from historic Green Bay Road, one is drawn down a long, illuminated drive toward the imposing figure of the modern villa. A large formal courtyard fronts the home, with symmetrical designs inset in the pavement. Symmetry is a powerful design force on both the exterior and interior of the home, with strong curves and sharp lines integrated with artistic genius. Looming large on a natural rise, the clean-lined contemporary-styled home has a simple, yet majestic bearing. Its figure juxtaposes with the lush natural beauty of the arboretum-like grounds created by noted landscape architect Doug Hills, with more recent botanical enhancements by Mariani Landscaping of Lake Forest.

Approaching the home’s 11-foot high aluminum-clad front door with full-height sidelites, one passes under a grand portico of natural-colored architectural aluminum trim and accents, adorned with mature leafy vines. Inside, one is immediately captivated by the sense of immense scale and beauty that characterizes the home. Twelve foot or higher ceilings, grandly proportioned rooms and floor-to-ceiling walls of windows all contribute to the sense of awe and wonder within.

An exceptionally wide and deep foyer sets the stage for the delights to come. Its exquisite, all-natural freshwater Travertine stone floor is a constant source of comment and admiration. Quarried in inland Italy and imported by the owners to be used on the entire first floor of the house , as well as the exterior patios, the stone creates a welcoming sense of warmth in the home, both literally and figuratively. All the interior Travertine floors are warmed by radiant heat. And the stone’s subtle blend of natural earth colors and veined patterns add a warm and inviting influence to the crisp and clean interior lines, where huge expanses of walls house fabulous art pieces from around the world…..The home is art - and also a home for art.

Off the right of the foyer is an elegant powder room, with inlaid granite sink, luxury appointments and a custom mirror sculpture which soars upward in striking fashion. Left of the foyer are two huge coat closets, suitable for the even grandest gatherings at this entertaining-friendly residence.

Straight ahead is the “piece de resistance” – the living and entertaining areas of the home, where several thousand square feet of mesmerizing beauty, comfort and ambience pay special tribute to Olson’s architectural genius. At the center is the sunken living room, with its striking 18-foot domed and illuminated ceiling, Italian granite surround fireplace, and a wall of windows and glass doors providing grand views and easy access to the incredible outdoor terraces and gardens beyond.

To the north is the dining room…simply breathtaking. First, there are the views, with great expanses of glass once again bringing the home’s stunning outdoor vistas inside. Glass doors open to to the stone-floored and walled terrace for ease in outdoor entertaining and enjoyment. The gleaming custom-crafted table and chairs, in imported African ebony, are worthy of the most royal of gatherings. They were created for the family by the late artist Karl Springer of New York, and are included with the home. Still, the most incredible element of the room is the south wall created of copper and moving water - an absolutely amazing, serene and one-of-a-kind waterfall mural by artist Eric Orr. Special lighting enhances every nuance of the moving water design. The wall is also functional, as the mural is flanked by copper-clad doors which open to reveal expansive custom-built storage cabinets for china, glassware and serving trays.

To the south is the family room, a wide open room of great comfort and visual delights. Again, a wall of windows captures the outdoor vistas every season of the year. The interior wall is dedicated to a state-of-the-art audiovisual center, with custom cabinetry by Amish craftsman Shawn Yoder of Indiana. Certain components, including the immense television, are included with the house. Adjacent to this audiovisual center is a very large and comfortable seating and bar area. Highlights include extra thick imported Paradisio marble, set atop a long center island , with ample seating for a crowd. The bar is fully appointed with refrigerator, wine cooler and other special amenities for everyday convenience and enjoyment, as well as ease in entertaining.

Due east of the family room, one finds a richly hued oak-paneled library, further enhanced by an intricate inlaid Versailles-patterned floor in walnut, designed by the noted Burgher Jewell of Chicago. Installation of the floor was itself a labor of love, requiring several weeks of painstaking work on the inlays. The room features wall-to-ceiling bookcases on two walls, and a wide of expanse of windows overlooking the lush front gardenscapes. Power-operated draperies are included.

The north wing of the house, nearest the dining room, gives way to an extraordinary kitchen. The cabinetry once again reflects the artistry of Amish craftsman Shawn Yoder, who, in 2003, used luscious honey-hued oak, trimmed in granite, to create the masterpiece kitchen. Extra-thick granite countertops in natural browns and tans add further warmth and beauty to the dramatic high-ceilinged room, with stellar picture windowed views of the back terraces and gardens. High-end Wolf and Subzero appliances add to the gourmet’s delight. An expansive windowed breakfast area is adjacent the main kitchen area, with ample space for a large table, plus floor-to-ceiling cabinetry and custom his and hers desk workspaces. Down the hall is a well-appointed laundry room, with ample cabinetry, counterspace and natural lighting. A second powder room is nearby.

Further down the hall is the backstair entry to the housekeeper’s quarters or guest suite, conveniently located over the garage with side door entry for family privacy. The apartment features an expansive tray-ceilinged great room, a large bedroom and full bath, a fully-appointed kitchen and a storage room.

Just beyond the backstairs is the entrance to the 4.5 car heated garage, featuring picture window bays designed with the car collector in mind. Garage stairs lead to basement storage as well.

The south wing is home to a beautiful and grandly-proportioned master suite, featuring Edward Field carpeting, and silk-covered walls and window treatments of exceptional caliber. The high-ceilinged bedroom is the picture of peace and tranquility, with automatic blinds opening each morning to gorgeous South-facing gardenscapes. There are immense his and hers walk-in closets with fabulous custom cabinetry - wonderful and spacious rooms unto themselves. The his and hers master bathrooms are also extraordinary, each with state-of-the-art fixtures and luxury appointments. His is enhanced by rich Paradisio granite with bookmatched grain. Hers is rendered in bookmatched Brescia, and also includes an art glass panel wall that pictures a romantic etching of the Orchid goddess by a noted glass artisan. Blinds open automatically to view the lush outdoor vistas beyond.

The high-ceilinged garden level of the home is at ground level, thus affording walk-out outside access to private patios and gardens off each of the two family bedrooms. Each of these bedrooms is expansive and beautifully appointed, with private baths ensuite. Closets provide ample storage space. And, in one, there is a custom dresser which houses not only storage for clothes, but also a TV… Press a button and a flat panel television rises out of the dresser – yet another example of the home’s built-in ingenuity! Adjacent to the bedrooms is a large, light and bright exercise room with built-ins, audiovisual amenities and a closet – a possible additional bedroom as well. This level is accessed by a beautiful open stairway from a gallery area. Even the stairway itself is artful – featuring a stainless steel banister.

There is extensive recreation and storage space in the rest of the lower level, which is carpeted with wide open areas for play and additional closets for storage. The mechanical systems are housed here as well : 4 of the 6 HVAC zones ; Lutron lighting; 800amp electrical service with back-up generator; custom-designed security system; radiant heat floor system for all interior travertine limestone floors); two central vacuums; and 3 high-capacity water heaters. The house is fully wired for phone, computer, audiovisual and security needs for today’s lifestyles, and all the blinds in the house are automated as well. There is also an outdoor sprinkler system. The property is full fenced in wrought iron, with an automatic gate at the driveway entrance.

The home’s fabulous story of art, architecture and ambience continues into the great outdoors. Incredibly private, but so close and covenient to town, the 1.5 acre estate is densely wooded along its perimeters and its backyard privacy is further enhanced by wooded conservancies on all sides – the “gift” of the five and thirty acre estates that surround the property. The other estate homes can barely be glimpsed in the distance; thus the home’s grounds live exceptionally large and private.

Grand terraces circle the back of the home, where huge expanses of the freshwater Travertine stone offset the lush greens and colors of the seasonal landscaping. The grounds feature an alle of deciduous trees, a stunning rose and cutting flower garden, vast perennial borders and garden areas, and a wide variety of mature specimen trees and evergreens. The south corner of the grounds showcases a 20 x 40 heated in-ground pool with electric cover, surrounded by a beautiful patio hardscapes and gardens. A poolhouse features all the necessary comforts – changing room, bath and entertainment bar, with rear access to the pool mechanicals and equipment storage room. The pool and patio furniture is included with the home, as are the irrigated planter statuary pots.

Never before has such a home been available in Lake Forest. It is a rare find indeed - a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a piece of fabulous art that doubles as one of the most beautiful, comfortable and inviting homes on Chicago’s North Shore.