A Pilot’s Paradise—Smooth Landing in Southwest Naperville
By Naperville Magazine
October 2015 View more Home
Photography by: Greg Shapps
Quick Tour
Year House renovated: 2007 and 2008
Architect: Tim Wehrli of Wehrli & Associates
Interior Designer: Randal Netley Designs, Omaha, Neb., and Jillian Richey Design, Chicago
Total Home Square Footage: Approximately 6,000
Lot Size: About one acre
General Location: Southwest Naperville, Aero Estates subdivision
Kitchen Amenities
- Open floor plan combining four distinct spaces: kitchen, dining room, great room, and hearth room. Kitchen features a 16′ long island modeled after an antique piece of furniture, with a rich chocolate finish and doors with diamond shaped motifs. The island is topped with Brown Antique granite, with one end raised and finished with a 2″ solid Iroko end grain butcher block, complete with custom knife slots. For convenience, the island has a vegetable prep sink and a surface-mounted pot filler.
- The kitchen’s dark apothecary armoire is finished in a custom black and antique gold crackle and hides two full-sized Sub-Zeros. The brass handles are vintage, sourced from Jan’s Antiques in Evanston, IL.
- The kitchen’s 12′ x 6′ window overlooks the home’s backyard and Springbrook Prairie Preserve.
- Besides the pair of Sub-Zeros, the kitchen appliances include a Viking rangetop, a Zephyr Cheng Collection Trapeze island hood, Miele double wall ovens and dishwasher, a Wolf in-counter steamer, and a Miele speed oven.
- Paint colors from Farrow & Ball.
Dining Room Amenities
- At the center of the dining room is a 12′ mahogany table made from six wide planks, three inches thick. The table was sourced from Architectural Artifacts in Chicago and was originally an outdoor dining table at a factory in Argentina. It weighs approximately 900 lbs. and was refinished and sealed by hand with tung oil. Three brass pendant lights from Tom Dixon’s Beat line provide illumination.
- At one end of the dining room is a wall of cherry paneling which houses the glassware, plates, and silverware. These is also a hidden full-sized Libherr refrigerator/freezer.
- The dining room sink area was designed to hold a custom teak cover to allow this entire counter top to act as a service buffet. For this purpose, the counter was finished at a 40″ height. To serve the needs of the dining area, two Fisher Paykel dishwashers flank the sink.
- In the far corner of the dining room near the garage entry door, is a walk-in pantry with white subway tiled walls, Metro shelving, slab maple countertops and slab maple cantilevered shelving. The pantry holds a full bar and is decorated with prints of Cap’n Crunch cereal advertisements, from the homeowner’s collection.
- Custom wool herringbone carpet edged with canvas grounds the table.
Hearth Room Amenities
- Underneath the television, a water stained oak cabinet features Sub-Zero wine storage.
- Flanking the fireplace, Roman shades on the transom windows are from The Shade Store in Chicago.
- The sofa, club chair, and wing chair are vintage from the homeowner’s family.
- During the renovation, beams were added to the 8′ ceiling. The ceiling is wallpapered in a vintage-looking design from Rose Tarlow.
Great Room Amenities
- Showcasing a bank of French doors on one wall and floor to ceiling windows on the adjacent wall, the great room is a study in light. With 10′ ceilings, there is ample room to accommodate the transom windows and floor-to-ceiling sheer drapery, designed by the homeowner. The drapery, the house music system and lighting are tied into a Control 4 home automation system, which can be operated on the owners’ mobile phones.
- At the center of the great room is a custom Baker sofa covered in a Donghia yellow velvet outdoor fabric. In front of the sofa is a 1930s era leather exercise table, pulling double duty for jumping jacks and as a coffee table.
- A nearby 18th century, Louis XIII, cherry cupboard from France houses board games and books.
- The hooded chair is from Restoration Hardware, and its back was recovered in Oscar d la Renta’s Abyssinia fabric from Kravet.
- The floors throughout are hand-scraped black walnut from Anderson.
- Paint colors from Farrow & Ball.
Attic Amenities
- Custom built work desk running under the eaves. Herman Miller sit-to-stand white desk.
- Card playing table is a vintage Saarinen.
- Fabric for the three window seats feature and drapery are from Clarence House.
- TV stand is from IKEA.
- Paint colors from Farrow & Ball.
- Hallway artwork is from the kids.
Meet your neighbors
Number of years in Naperville: 1998
Number of years in house: 2007 & 2008
Favorite room in this house: Favorite room in the house is the kitchen/great room area. It is where we hang out as a family. The lighting and the view are great. Another favorite room is the garage, because it is so spacious. There is lots of room for activity.
Favorite thing about Naperville: We love the open space and having the Springbrook Prairie Preserve nearby. And it is a blast to live on an airport when you love to fly!
A family tradition you’d like to share: We started a new tradition this year, we spend evenings gathered around the outdoor fire pit to wrap-up the weekend.