By Tasha Downing | Photography by Werner Straube
When the homeowners of a shingle-style cottage on Geneva Lake wanted more space to entertain family and friends, they hired Lowell Custom Homes and architect John Hagenah to create a new design that would fit on their existing property. Hagenah turned to historic home templates for inspiration, landing on a design from an abode built in 1887 in Rhode Island. Hagenah’s design called for a larger footprint than the original home with a smaller second floor.
Inspired by the historic character of the area — and in keeping with the classic lakefront homes nearby — elegant stonework inside and out was also a must.
“Many of the homes feature rough, multicolored granite fitted upon entry gates and columns, in addition to wall facings and chimneys,” says Hagenah. “We used this style of stonework in the home to add warmth and character.”
The home has no shortage of character, with its gorgeous arched entryways and a unique historic Dutch door with a custom screen — a charming solution to allow lake breezes in, but keep animals out. Interior designer Elizabeth Drake of Elizabeth Drake Interiors brought the home’s bold coral palette to life.
“A yellow-based color like coral brings its own sunshine into a room,” she explains. “Committing to a beautiful, strong color anchors the palette and then I can layer in low-contrast colors.”
Drake used Benjamin Moore’s Claret paint shade throughout the home, accented with Palace Blue, a lovely light blue hue. Instead of plain painted walls, the designer employed color-drenched, molded panels in a few of the rooms to add depth, rhythm and movement to spaces.
When it came to sourcing furniture, the homeowners wanted timeless, not overly frilly, items, which Drake found hunting for a mix of low- and high-end pieces at various locations. The designer’s favorite place for luxury pieces is Chicago’s Merchandise Mart. She ended up sourcing furniture from CAI Designs’ showroom by furniture designer MacKenzie-Dow, and another showroom that features traditional English designers like Lee Jofa and Holland MacRae.
To find affordable pieces, the designer says she didn’t have to look far.
“We went through the original cottage slated for demo and saved dressers, and unique wooden chairs and desks, and gave them new life with spray-painted color,” she says. “We refreshed the clients’ wicker furniture with reupholstered cushions and even found a vintage totem pole for their son’s bedroom!”
Drake says that the seamless collaboration between herself, the homeowners, Hagenah and Lowell Custom Homes blended interior design and architecture with gorgeous results.
Natural elements can soften traditional design, like the hand-carved wooden swans from Redefined Decor in Winnetka, Ill., and the rustic painted wood coffee table. 
A Carol Canner silver birch mirror lends the powder room some pop. 
Elizabeth Drake of Elizabeth Drake Interiors found most of the lighting at Visual Comfort in Chicago. A few Urban Electric pieces in the home, like the coral chandelier in the screened porch, were given a custom touch. “I gave Urban Electric a color chip and they matched it,” she explains. “My trick for making sure my clients actually use a space like this screened porch is to approach the design as if it were the main room.” 
The kitchen’s Moroccan-style backsplash tiles are by Ann Sacks. The cabinets are not basic white: “They are actually a very pale gray/lavender — Benjamin Moore’s Barren Plain paint color,” explains Drake. The delicate hue reads as soft white, an intentional choice to soften the impact of the strong coral accents and double-sided stone fireplace. 
A winged chair in the bedroom was reimagined in a botanical coral, rust and blue patterned fabric. 
The dining room’s oversized mirror with architectural detailing bounces light around the room and gives the illusion of a window 
A cocktail bar surrounded by gorgeous stonework is tucked into a kitchen alcove, ready to mix up the perfect drink. 
A jaunty striped bedspread brightens up one of the bedrooms. 
The tranquil pool area is surrounded by lush, prairie- style landscaping and gardening, done by the homeowner. 
Vintage-style area rugs complement traditional design details like the stone fireplace in the dining room and the Dutch door in the front entryway. Sourced from Rouzati Rugs in Wilmette, Ill., each rug was placed based on design plans prior to the home being built. The shop’s owner assisted in deciding placement. 
