Zen Beach House Retreat

A Beachfront Residence

Wauconda, Illinois

We were hired to create a forever home for a new couple that wanted both of their personalities reflected in the space: his - an organized, no non-sense, CEO that prefers a sleek, contemporary, timeless aesthetic and hers - a crafty, mountain and ski lover that prefers a nostalgic outdoorsy aesthetic.

We thought this riddle had not answer but lo' and behold we were able to bring these personalities together in a cohesive and beautiful interior.

The couple preferred a bright light aesthetic with an affinity for finer finishes that would be resilient to the troops of grandkids visiting on holidays. We incorporated natural materials with inherent durability such as custom-stained solid oak hardwood floors, custom wool and silk rugs and natural stone countertops and tiling.

Given the lake-front location, the views are stunning all year round. In order to not upstage the views, we used light colors and natural tones that complemented the view with the occasional pop of color. We leaned into indigo tones an teal hues for the accent walls that coordinated with the accent colors found in the rug fibers.

The bathrooms feature floating vanities with lighting below and a beautiful vessel sinks, natural stone mosaic and three dimensional stone walls.

We demolished the old fireplace which was awkwardly placed in the space and blocked the views from the kitchen to the lake. We created a two-way free-standing fireplace that serves both the living room and the dining room and acts as a spatial divider in an otherwise open-concept floor plan. The new location allows for unobstructed views to the living room and the lake, so the host can prep food, entertain and enjoy the views all at once.