DLN Members convened in Lake Forest this week to celebrate the opening of the 2023 Lake Forest Showhouse & Gardens. The design showcase, whose proceeds benefit the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago, took residence in a 1970 neo-Federal-style estate with expansive gardens and two outbuildings, which were transformed by some 40 design firms. Here’s what DLN Members dreamt up.
Bedroom by Jenny Brown
Chicago-based Jenny Brown tapped her trademark colorful, playful aesthetic to present a pattern-filled room in a cheerful palette of poppy orange and spring green. Dubbed the “Young Collector’s Bedroom,” the second-floor space was informed by Brown’s own childhood memories of her grandmother’s home, and filled with many personal mementos surrounded by fresh takes on classic florals and chintz. Traditional slipper chairs got a zippy update in colorful Kravet fabric and Samuel & Sons trim, while antiques from Hindman Auctions lent patina to the bright room.
Guest Bedroom by Joy Williams
In lieu of a traditional guest bed and nightstand combo, Joyful Designs founder Joy Williams transformed the guest room in the East Cottage to an Energy Room inspired by the cosmos. A custom ceiling wallcovering with a Visual Comfort fixture spotlights the Dog Star, whose Egyptian deity Anubius is referenced in various artwork throughout the space. Cerulean blue walls by Benjamin Moore, a rich, velvet sofa in a midnight blue, and accent pillows from Pierre Frey create a moody, inviting atmosphere.
Living Room by Vincere, Ltd.
Vincere’s Michael Stornello and Tom Konopiots looked to the Georgian proportions of the spacious living room to inform its design, which they call “a meditation on luxury and comfort.” A silk De Gournay wallcovering casts a subtle shimmer over a mix of antiques and custom furnishings to create an elegantly curated space which is still, says the duo, “spectacularly livable.”
Lawn Terrace by Vincere, Ltd.
Meanwhile, on the lawn outside the living room—accessible through elegant French doors—Stornello and Konopiots tapped Partner Brown Jordan for a stately setup of chaise longues and armchairs, extending the interior conversation areas outdoors.
Primary Suite Plaster by Simes Studio
For Soledad Zitzewitz’s calmingly neutral space, standout design elements come in the form of subtle texture. The room’s decided showstopper is a custom plaster wall treatment by Member Cindy Simes, cofounder of Simes Studio, a decorative arts studio she founded with husband Jorge. Simes presented a graphic, monochrome wall treatment through a laborious technique of layered plaster, paint, and wax relief.