chicago - Highgate Builders

chicago
$ 9.95
a sandow publication
volume 11, issue 3
display until 10/14/13
family plan
a north shore couple seeking togetherness makes it happen
in a michigan weekend retreat that answers all of their needs.
w r i t t e n b y lisa skolnik
p h o t o g r a p h y b y eric hausman
architecture Jim Fraerman, AIA, Fraerman Associates Architecture
interior design James Dolenc and Thomas Riker, jamesthomas LLC
home builder Jon Kogan, Highgate Builders, Inc.
landscape architecture Ryan Kettelkamp, ASLA, and Claire Kettelkamp, ASLA, Kettelkamp & Kettelkamp Landscape Architecture
bedrooms 6
bathrooms 8
square feet 7,000
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Architectural and decorative flourishes coalesce
in the foyer, where the staircase is detailed
with classically tailored balusters, banisters
and wainscoting. Niermann Weeks’ Armillary
chandelier holds court with a pair of Oly Studio
Gigi chairs from Jayson Home.
F
amily togetherness can often be more a dream than a reality
for some couples with both kids and busy careers. Yet one
North Shore couple with three young children came up with a
plan to beat their challenging schedules and increase face time
with family and friends. “We decided to build a second home that would be
a draw for our friends and our kids’ friends,” explains the husband. “That
way, everyone could hang out together.” With this goal in mind, they chose
Michigan’s Harbor Country for its proximity and mood. “It’s the closest place
to feel far enough away from Chicago,” he adds. “Plus it’s low-key and casual.”
Finding the perfect piece of land to execute their goals took a three-year
Designers James Dolenc and Thomas Riker relied
on comfortable and durable furnishings in the living
room. Alexi armchairs by R. Jones & Associates in
Dallas are accented with a jaunty Schumacher print,
and Hickory Chair’s Camden sofas are covered in
an Andrew Martin cotton-and-linen blend. An
Aidan Gray coffee table is from Layla Grayce.
search, but they scored a lakeside lot a mere hour’s drive from their main
home. It also had a heavily wooded roadside, which was key for privacy.
“You can’t see the house from the road, or vice versa,” points out architect
Jim Fraerman, who designed the home to the couple’s exact requirements.
“They asked for a Shingle style with a time-honored East Coast sensibility,
but a contemporary interior. It had to be open, airy and flooded with light.”
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c o n t i n u e d f r o m p a g e 177
Views that played to the lake, picturesque bay windows, intimate gathering
areas and an infinity pool were also on the owners’ checklist, which required
savoir faire to execute. Fraerman devised a floor plan that gave every space,
In the kitchen, detailed millwork designed
by architect Jim Fraerman and fabricated by
Wentworth gets a hit of modern styling from
gleaming steel Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances.
Sleek Pietra Bedonia limestone is from
Stone Source; pendants are from Troy Lighting.
save two—a family game room and a guest room—stunning sightlines
of the water, thoughtful, exquisitely wrought design features and astutely
chosen materials to bring architectural significance to every area.
Monumental back-to-back fireplaces edged with floor-to-ceiling windows
anchor adjacent living areas, one inside and the other overlooking the
pool and lake outside, while flourishes that range from a coffered ceiling
to twin bay windows define these two spaces. In other rooms, extensive
treatments accomplish the same task and include rounded bays, cathedral
ceilings sheathed with tongue-and-groove planks, and strategically deployed
crown moldings that skim and define windows, walls and doors.
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A rough-hewn wood trestle table
from Charles Pollock Showroom
is softened with a curvy custom
banquette and a pair of Hickory
Chair seats swathed in Hodsoll
McKenzie back fabric. Lighting by
Michael Berman Limited, through
C.A.I. Designs, lends the space
decorative dazzle befitting the
glorious lakeside setting.
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“Craftsmanship and engineering expertise were key” to realizing the
intricately detailed plans, notes builder Jon Kogan. “We had to bring in
most of the trades and finish contractors from the North Shore because
Crown molding and Cowtan & Tout’s Kerris
Check fabric covers almost the entire wall
behind twin beds, adding stylish élan to one
of the guest rooms. Pottery Barn benches
and Zentique’s Audrey chest are functional
yet character-rich additions to the space.
experience was critical, especially for the geothermal HVAC systems and
the infinity pool.” The soil was so sandy that the latter required helical
piers for structural support, he explains.
To tie the soaring structure to the site and maximize the backdrop, “we
kept the hardscape crisp and clean, and plastered the inside of the pool
the same hue as the lake,” says landscape architect Ryan Kettelkamp, who
worked alongside wife and fellow landscape architect Claire Kettelkamp.
Given its primary function as a media and game
room, the lofty second-story living area is outfitted
with extra-durable furniture. A multifunctional table
designed by jamesthomas LLC gets a tufted top using
Holly Hunt’s Great Outdoors velvet. Crate & Barrel’s
Portico sofa and a Henredon chair provide a mix of
comfortable seating options.
Of course, no house can be a family-friendly home without warm and
welcoming furnishings, so the couple hired designers James Dolenc
and Thomas Riker to give the technically perfect structure a blend of
traditional charm and modern utility. The couple told the team they
wanted everything to be kid-proof and also relate to the exterior and
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Twin bay windows flank the home’s outside
hearth to create an outdoor living space. The
upholstered pieces are from Janus et Cie,
and the drum tables are from Horchow. A
dining area, placed right outside the kitchen,
is furnished with Janus et Cie chairs and a
Restoration Hardware table.
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the lake. “This is an architecturally sophisticated structure that needed
a program commensurate with its beauty and rigor, but be casual and
cottagey at the same time,” Dolenc explains.
With a sculptural BainUltra tub and
sumptuous Nordic Gray marble flooring
from Stone Source, the master bathroom
indulges both body and soul. A custom
tufted stool and sheer draperies soften
the room’s hard, sleek surfaces.
“We showed them whitewashed reclaimed oak floors, which are loaded
with character and depth,” says Riker. “They became the inspiration for
the whole palette.” Using the flooring to lay the groundwork, “we kept the
envelope very light and punched it up with texture, restrained patterns,
sumptuous trims and, most importantly, bold, character-rich lighting,”
says Dolenc. And yes, every single fabric, surface and piece of furniture is
cleanable, comfortable and durable to fulfill the couple’s kid-proof caveat.
Today, the couple couldn’t be more pleased with the results. The whole family
goes to Michigan every weekend and stays for the entire summer, and the
house is constantly filled with family and friends. “They got it spot-on,” says
the husband. “Everything about the place exceeded my expectations.” L
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Fonthill’s vibrant calico cotton, purchased through
Stark, is used in coordinating prints to clad
the Hickory Chair bed and fabricate the window
treatments, adding an exotic touch to another guest
room. Benjamin Moore’s Silver Mink #1586 paint
provides an airy backdrop that plays to the lake.
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Highgate Builders has been a premier custom home builder for more than 12 years and continues to create amazing
homes from the North Shore of Chicago to Southern Michigan. Our custom homes are tailored to your budget and
lifestyle and will bring you joy for years to come. At Highgate Builders, we pride ourselves on being your all-inclusive
team that provides service and expertise in any area of custom home building. Our service begins with the conception
of the home and carries all the way through to the completion and after.
Highgate’s services extend well beyond new construction, as we also have a Remodeling division that works on projects
of any size. Our systems and processes remain the same as we provide design feedback, detailed budget and schedule
analysis and many years of construction management experience. Our Warranty department ensures that your home is
well kept for many years after the project is complete, while our Land Acquisition team is ready to start the process of
finding the next incredible property that everyone wants.
As a company that continues to stay ahead of our competitors in all aspects of construction and technology, we also
pride ourselves on being apprised of current trends. We’ve made a commitment to green design and building practices
while still utilizing the simple techniques that remain tried and true over the years. At Highgate we don’t just build
homes; we build lasting relationships.
Jon and Alix Kogan
HIGHGATE BUILDERS, INC.
378 Park Avenue Unit 3B
Glencoe, Illinois 60022
847.835.7133 - Phone
847.835.7135 - Fax
highgatebuilders.net
jon@highgatebuilders.net
alix@highgatebuilders.net
378 Park, Unit 3B
Glencoe, IL, 60022
phone 847.835.7133
reprinted from
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Content for this brochure has been reprinted and/or repurposed from Luxe Interiors + Design™ magazine with the express permission of its publisher. © 2013 Sandow Media Corporation. All rights reserved.