SHOWHOUSE TOUR
Lake Forest Showhouse: How Nine Designers Defined Their Spaces with Light
This year’s Lake Forest Showhouse reimagines a stunning Georgian-style estate, originally designed in 1895 by architect Henry Ives Cobb and refreshed in 1935 by the iconic architect David Adler and interior designer Frances Elkins.
Featuring a classically inspired pool and pool house, a tennis court with a warming hut and a reflecting pond surrounded by English walled gardens, the 15,000-square-foot, 30-room property has incredible bones—and the showhouse designers proudly carried that legacy forward to benefit the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago. Read on to discover how the nine showhouse designers used Visual Comfort products to light the way.
Interior design by Suzanne Sykes Interiors; Photography by Aimee Mazzenga
Interior design by Suzanne Sykes Interiors; Photography by Aimee Mazzenga
Suzanne Sykes of Suzanne Sykes Interiors on the Laundry
"I was very inspired by the age of the home and wanted to reflect that Gilded Age era in my light fixtures, so I chose this oversized Morris Lantern. I love the industrial feeling of the exposed screws. One popular detail people have been commenting on are these Dorchester 24” Art Lights—not something you’d typically see in a laundry room, but they really ground the space and draw your eye up."
Interior design by Jen Marie Interiors; Photography by Ryan McDonald
Interior design by Jen Marie Interiors; Photography by Ryan McDonald
Interior design by Jen Marie Interiors; Photography by Ryan McDonald
Jennifer Morrow of Jen Marie Interiors on the Mudroom
"A great mudroom is the backbone of a well-run home, and my goal was to make this workhorse space more memorable and inviting. We started with classical details, like the fluted wall, tumbled checkerboard floors and a timeless Ralph Lauren Cannes Pendant. To balance those traditional touches, we brought in curved millwork profiles, a moody grisaille mural, lavender upholstery and a constellation of Kelly Wearstler Esculpa Sconces that almost read as modern art."
Interior design by Sarah Jacquelyn Interiors; Photography by Dustin Forest
Interior design by Sarah Jacquelyn Interiors; Photography by Dustin Forest
Sarah Schwuchow of Sarah Jacquelyn Interiors on the Pantry
"In the back hallway leading to the pantry, we selected the Hampton Medium Chandelier by AERIN for its sculptural leaf motif, which beautifully echoes the nearby fern plant and adds an organic elegance to the space. The white finish offers a subtle contrast to the vivid wallpaper and raspberry blush ceiling, which is softly illuminated by the uplighting effect. This fixture and the pair of Hanover Sconces by Chapman & Myers tie the hallway together with warmth and sophistication."
Interior design by Mason & Brass Design Studio; Photography by Sarah Crowley
Elizabeth Smolcich of Mason & Brass on the Kitchenette
"To turn the kitchenette from the service quarters into a moody bar, we added dark quartzite and antiqued mirrors, as well as Visual Comfort lighting that drives the design home. The tasseled Xavier Pendants are a nod to the history of the house. Together with the Essence and Entra 2” architectural lighting in the cabinets and ceiling and the 24” Cabinet Maker's Picture Light, the Visual Comfort pieces bring the whole space together."
Interior design by Randy Heller Pure & Simple Interiors and Michael Del Piero Good Design; Photography by Aimee Mazzenga
Randy Heller of Pure and Simple Interiors on the Gallery
"One of the things we tried to achieve in this space was a sense of comfort and luxury. We started out with a room that had very little architectural detail and a number of cold details, like white walls and polished stone floors. We decided to flip that, painting the walls a deep, rich gray and covering the floors with sisal rugs, then placing furniture to create conversation and give a viewpoint to the house and grounds beyond. Visual Comfort is a go-to on all of our projects, and we looked for pieces like the Aegis Travertine Table Lamp that offered impactful contrast to the classical, romantic feel of the room."
Interior design by North Shore Nest; Photography by Aimee Mazzenga
Interior design by North Shore Nest; Photography by Aimee Mazzenga
Interior design by North Shore Nest; Photography by Aimee Mazzenga
Suzanne Glavin of North Shore Nest on the English Resting Room
"We picked fixtures that leaned into the English country house look, like the Dorchester Swing Arm Floor Lamp, which partners well with the Dorchester Swing Arm Wall Light. It’s so important to get low-lighting right in every space. The Terri Lamp in alabaster is one of our favorites—it has so many purposes, and the scale is just right for our petite secretary. The Clovis Chandelier helped to add another layer of the British aesthetic, and the scale and texture are just perfect for the space."
Interior design by Studio W; Photography by Ryan McDonald
Interior design by Studio W; Photography by Ryan McDonald
Diana Wagenbach of Studio W on the Primary Bedroom
"Visual Comfort is a mainstay of my work, and I was thrilled to partner with them on the primary bedroom, which I envisioned as a calm and serene retreat. I’m drawn to Belgian interiors for their natural materials, and I knew I wanted to use plaster in this space, so the Molino Large Tiered Chandelier was the key to my design. I love its soft texture and uplight effect. In thinking about the rest of the space, I looked to the David Art Lights in mixed-metal finishes to highlight art, then brought in architectural lighting to draw attention to the cove ceiling details we added.”
Interior design by Birkman Interiors; Photography by Ryan McDonald
Interior design by Birkman Interiors; Photography by Ryan McDonald
Interior design by Birkman Interiors; Photography by Ryan McDonald
Thomas Birkman of Birkman Interiors on the Library
"This room was originally designed by David Adler, who was prolific in this part of the country in the early 20th century, and our purpose was to bring the space back to its former glory. We restored the wood paneling and wanted to give it a clubby, cabinet of curiosities vibe: collected, not decorated, with a variety of textures and patterns. When it came to lighting, we went with Ralph Lauren for Visual Comfort for everything from the beautiful Ancram XL Chandelier to the leather-wrapped Garner Floor Lamps—because Ralph does the clubby thing better than anybody."
Interior design by Theresa Hansen Interiors; Photography by Katrina Wittkamp
Interior design by Theresa Hansen Interiors; Photography by Katrina Wittkamp
Interior design by Theresa Hansen Interiors; Photography by Katrina Wittkamp
Interior design by Theresa Hansen Interiors; Photography by Katrina Wittkamp
Theresa Hansen of Theresa Hansen Interiors on the Girl’s Playroom and Bath
"Our inspiration for this space came from the beautiful property surrounding the house, and we leaned into the woodland theme with baby animals, botanical prints and cozy layers. We chose the Alberto Chandelier as a focal point, then tucked a Sussex Medium Framed Double Sconce in the reading nook to add character and ambiance. In the bathroom, the Verona Mirrored Sconces were customized with the same trim details that carry throughout the rest of the room."
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