Planned Community

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April 2019 View more

Bowman kept some of the larger furniture pieces in the home neutral, so pops of color could be incorporated into artwork and accent pieces.

The fireplace surround features 12-by-24-inch tile, which is a nod to the modern aesthetic, flanked by texture created with white-on-white millwork and geometric artwork.

Most furnishings in the home are new, says Bowman, as the couple didn’t bring a lot from their starter home in the city. She helped them choose comfortable, but refined, pieces that weren’t too fussy, including this John-Richard console table, a Bernhardt sectional, and Caracole accent chairs.

Tongue-in-groove wainscoting is a feature found in multiple areas of the home, creating design consistency. “The millwork has a modern touch,” says Bowman, “and the living room is the hub of the home since they entertain a lot.”

When a couple works with a developer to build their dream home, it’s typical for Leslie Bowman, owner and designer with the Design Bar, to help a couple make flooring, fixture, and furniture selections. But she recently worked with a Chicago couple who had a unique option when building their home—they also were able to choose who would live next to them in the suburbs.

In total, four sets of friends worked with Burr Ridge–based McNaughton Brothers to navigate the rezoning process to turn a five-acre parcel into a five-home cul-de-sac. “I knew two of the couples growing up in the Burr Ridge-Hinsdale area,” says Bill McNaughton. The fifth home was purchased later in the process, and McNaughton says the five families are now all friends. “It really couldn’t have worked out any better.”—MD

Photos courtesy the Design Bar

A close look in the kitchen reveals a two-tone treatment that “creates some visual interest in the space,” says Bowman. The hue of the refrigerator and hood provides contrast to the white cabinets, as do the door style and hardware in the refrigerator column. Another design solution that Bowman used was a pie-shaped island to help circulation in the space. “It’s larger, so it can be used for entertaining, but if it was a square or rectangle, it would cut into the area where you would walk,” says Bowman.
A basement entertainment space includes a bar, golf simulator, and a TV lounge area. “A lot of the knickknacks are homeowner pieces,” says Bowman, “including a childhood train collection.” Other details include hidden shelf lighting and leather-wrapped stools with an industrial vibe—another nod to the modern aesthetic.