This Luxe Lincoln Park Dream Home Was Built From the Ground Up
We all want to build our dream home without the need for compromise. Pool on the roof? Yes, please! Elevator? Why not? Building a home sans limits feels liberating and definitely luxurious—just point at what you want, and you shall receive.
While the freedom to create a dream home is one that most of us do not have, those lucky enough to do so still face plenty of challenges. That’s why, when architecture firm BGD&C and interior design firm Studio Gild were commissioned to build a four story home in Chicago from the ground up, they knew that hard work was ahead. The buyers, two empty nesters with a home base in Woodstock, IL and a vacation place in Steamboat Springs, CO were ready to depart their simple, all-American life in exchange for a bustling city, in the tree-lined neighborhood of Lincoln Park.
With help from their broker and the team at BGD&C, the couple purchased a gorgeous lot in the Northern Chicago neighborhood and prepared to build their dream home with an uncompromising wish list. Then, they purchased the lot next door.
The couple’s family background is in metal manufacturing, so they requested a contemporary rustic aesthetic that showcased raw material in an authentic and urban way. “Materiality that was personally meaningful to the homeowners was the most significant unifying factor to achieve cohesion,” says designer Melissa Benham of Studio Guild. The exterior is stately and seamless; an edifice that stands out on its block as much as it blends in with the metropolitan surroundings. The home’s classic architecture, composed of brick and limestone with copper-clad bay windows, is framed by manicured gardens and lush greenery, perfect for outdoor entertaining. Elements from the home’s exterior were translated to the interior, with exposed brick walls, industrial-style lighting, and ceiling details including oak beams and wallpaper finishes.
By working together from the beginning stages of construction, BDG&C and Studio Guild were able to establish a coherent aesthetic vocabulary early on. Benham began working as soon as the architectural planning was underway, offering suggestions and changes, which were welcomed. While the BGD&C leans more traditional, Studio Guild brought its own modernity into the mix. “We aren’t just delivering empty boxes and telling the interior designer to fill it with furniture,” says Rodger Owen of BGD&C. “Every detail is planned out to the Nth degree.” To deliver a dream home, details are of the essence.
Sun studies were conducted to determine window placement and size; a roof deck was designed with custom railings to frame the city views; storage benches and built-ins were constructed to hide HVAC ducts and grills. Every aesthetic enhancement obeyed the rules of function. Then, for the bigger details, there's a room specifically designed for playing board games and doing puzzles, an outdoor entertaining center for watching movies on the lawn, and a wine room on the lower level to house the family’s extensive collection.
Building a four-story home from scratch presented both opportunities and challenges. A separation of spaces by floor was an easy way to break up each area, though it also challenged designers to find ways to unify the whole home. “The family’s background in metal manufacturing led to a strong narrative with metal elements as the central characters,” Behram says. “Decorative copper, steel and blackened brass details were carefully incorporated throughout.” Open stairs extend through each floor, with dramatic balusters that serve as a spine, the central connection from which the rest of the spaces radiate. An elevator runs from the lowest level to the roof deck.
Once the architecture satisfied all parties, they shifted their efforts toward the interior design. The family did not have any existing furniture, so the slate was as blank as could be. Behram worked with the couple to choose playful pieces that punctuate the sleek, unadorned architecture: colorful rugs and textiles, a custom selection of artworks, and shelves accented with books and personal objects. A meticulous layering of meaningful pieces brought in color and culture, tying into the family's history. To spotlight the metallic theme of the home, hand-crafted lighting—including eclipse pendants, bowl sconces and rotating reflector wall sconces—introduced a sense of drama without overpowering the quieter backdrop. Artisanal furniture makers brought in custom pieces, and sculpture from multiple artists were woven in throughout the sprawling spaces.
The first floor, or “public zone,” took on a more industrial feel, with a bar installed front and center to help define the space as a hub for entertaining. Unconventional, yes, but why not? The second and third floors were for the bedrooms, each of which is enveloped by its own cozy individuality. Blush walls in the daughter’s bathroom and pale rose walls in her bedroom offer a silky smooth respite. Nods to the son’s love of film in his bedroom include wallpaper crafted of cinema posters. The master suite—which occupies the entire second floor—is dark and moody and begs you to kick back and relax.
Even when empty, the house is full of life. A strong connection between the family and their home exists beyond the physical and structural details—it lies within the years-long journey from foundation to final touches, and beyond. “Even though we are immensely proud of the work we do, our homes aren’t vanity projects for us,” says Taryn Lund of BGD&C. “We build with the singular goal of satisfying our clients by delivering their dream home.”
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