A reserved and modern interpretation of the English cottage

Luxury French Eclectic custom home in Lake Forest Illinois by A Perry Homes

Lake Forest English Cottage

Lake Forest, IL

“A. Perry Homes understood exactly what we were after—something timeless and rooted in its setting, but built for the way we actually live. They sweated every material and every sightline, and the result is a home that feels calm, warm, and completely ours.”

The Homeowners
Set on a thoughtfully sited lot in Lake Forest, IL, this home reinterprets the English cottage for modern living—authentic stone, stained cedar, and stone gables paired with floor-to-ceiling glass, beam ceilings, and an easy, open flow.
the brief
Custom Architecture
Design Build
Architect:
A. Perry Homes
Builder:
A. Perry Homes
Location:
Lake Forest, IL
Influences:
English Cottage
Details:
  • 4,326 Square Feet (plus a 428 sq ft porch and a 1,746 sq ft basement)
  • 5 Bedrooms, 5 Full & 2 Half Baths
  • Billiards room with a hidden speakeasy, chef's pantry, raised first-floor primary suite, beam ceilings, 12-foot ceilings, and a rear sunset porch with outdoor dining
Front entry of an English cottage style home, custom designed and built by A. Perry Homes.
Spacious and sun-filled, this open-concept living room in the main body of the home features a marble fireplace centered in the room, an exposed wooden beam ceiling, floor-to-ceiling windows, and French doors that reveal the beautifully landscaped backyard.
Open-concept kitchen overlooking the beautifully landscaped backyard, with side doors providing direct access to the three-season/sunset porch and outdoor dining area. The kitchen features a grand 10-foot marble island, custom-designed cabinetry, concealed fridge and freezer cabinet doors, and a top-of-the-line La Cornue stove. Transom windows in front of the sink fill the kitchen with natural light and offer views of the landscaped backyard.

“The home blends the classical European vernacular with modern features in order to meet our client's needs. The siting of the house was carefully studied to help preserve the natural characteristics of the property.”

A. Perry Homes Architects
A sun-filled, open-concept living room and kitchen area in the main body of the home, featuring expansive transom and tall casement windows, exposed wooden beam ceilings, and wide-plank hardwood flooring.
An impressive billiards room leading out to a hidden speakeasy filled with custom-designed built-in cabinetry and a bench seating area.
A hidden speakeasy off the billiards room, featuring gorgeous transom windows, a built-in seating area, and intricate trim and molding details.
Custom-designed cabinetry within a speakeasy adjacent to the billiards room, featuring a marble countertop and backsplash, a beverage fridge and freezer, a full-sized dishwasher, and a sink—the perfect entertainment setting.
An inspiring and creative powder room filled with an exquisite color palette, gold fixtures, and a moody, textured wallpaper.

Authentic materials define this reserved, modern take on the English cottage: natural stone veneer, vertical stained cedar siding, cedar wood trim, and a cedar shake roof with standing-seam metal accents. The symmetrical main volume—anchored by stone gables and floor-to-ceiling glass flanking the entry—reads as a single story from the street, while the asymmetrical wings open to the landscape beyond. Inside, beam ceilings, large expanses of glass, and an open plan connect the living room, chef's kitchen, and dining area, with standout retreats including a billiards room with a hidden speakeasy, a raised first-floor primary suite, and a rear sunset porch with an outdoor fireplace and dining.

The three-season room/sunset porch, featuring an outdoor wood-burning fireplace and an outdoor seating and dining area. An exterior courtyard strongly connects the three-season room to the billiards room on the opposite wing of the home.
The back facade of a custom-designed and built home, revealing an English cottage architectural style.
Outdoor dining area adjacent to the three-season room, with direct access to the home's kitchen. A path from the outdoor dining area connects to the billiards room. The home is surrounded by lush landscaping.

Lake Forest, IL

One of Chicago's most storied North Shore communities, Lake Forest pairs wooded, estate-scaled lots with the quiet grandeur of Lake Michigan's shoreline. Roughly thirty miles north of the city, it has long drawn families who value privacy, architecture, and a deep sense of place.

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The town's character is defined by its landscape—ravines, mature trees, and open space woven through winding, deliberately unhurried streets. At its center, historic Market Square stands as one of the country's first planned shopping districts, still anchoring a walkable downtown of shops and cafes.

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Lake Forest is also known for its institutions: nationally ranked schools, Lake Forest College, and a calendar of cultural and civic life that belies the town's small scale. Beaches, forest preserves, and golf clubs are minutes away, as are Metra service and an easy reach to O'Hare and downtown Chicago.

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For homeowners, it remains a rare place where architectural ambition and natural beauty meet—where a home can feel both refined and genuinely at home in its setting.

It is the ideal backdrop for a residence like this one: quietly confident, rooted in its landscape, and built to last for generations.

North Shore Custom Homes

Let’s build the home of your dreams.

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