"Empty nesters" often means homeowners looking to downsize. However, this contemporary Arts and Crafts style, 6700 square foot residence located on Chicago's North Shore was built against that trend. These "empty nesters" requested a large home that would adapt to their ever changing environment, family, storage, and privacy needs. Several of the rooms were created with flexibility in mind. For example, with minimal adaptation, the dining room becomes a family room, the playroom becomes another bedroom, and the den becomes a sitting room for the master bedroom.

Limestone, cedar clapboard, and steep cedar shake roofs are materials characteristic of Arts and Crafts specifications. Design elements typical of the style include a clerestory above the entry, broad tapered chimneys and dormer windows. The curve of the entry canopy repeats throughout the house, in the great room firelace, full height window bays, light fixtures, and even drawer pulls.

The master bedroom, great room, and dining room are arranged as a suite along the rear garden. Though nestled in a wooded setting, the house is bright due to broad expanses of glass lining the back of the house. Light also pours into the great room and master bedroom, volume spaces with high windows.

In a bucolic setting, the owners have sophistication, luxury, privacy, space, flexibility, and comfort.