A Classic Chicago-Area Home Recalls An Iconic Holiday Movie

To passersby, this century-old Georgian residence’s stately exterior looks both grand and perhaps pleasingly familiar: The traditional brick façade, common in the North Shore, recalls a beloved holiday film. “The iconic Americana style of the house definitely gives Home Alone vibes—it’s undeniable,” says interior designer Amanda Clemente Eby of the dwelling, which sits in the tree-lined village of Glencoe. “The actual home seen in the movie is just one town over.”

The new owners were drawn to the place for something any Hollywood director would find appealing: wide open spaces. “We love the older homes here and wanted to stay in Glencoe,” the client says. “This house offered us something we didn’t have—a large family room that would allow all six of us to gather together.” While the dwelling was beautifully maintained, some spaces, like the kitchen, needed to be updated for their large clan. So, they hired Clemente Eby and designer Marli Jones, their long-time collaborators, to revamp it. “They understand us and our needs,” the owner notes. “The designers knew we wanted to maintain the integrity here but also make it feel more fun.”

Working with general contractor Dane Stevenson, Jones and Clemente Eby set about reimagining the home. Of prime importance was the large open space at the rear of the structure where the family room, a generous dining area and the kitchen live. This was a later addition to the residence, but elements like a long row of multipaned windows and doors topped by dramatic fanlights are in keeping with the original architecture. “Here, with just a few small adjustments, such as changing the hardware and color palette, we made the traditional features feel updated and a touch more modern,” Clemente Eby says.

The pre-remodel kitchen was cramped and moody—not functional for the busy family, who prefer lighter, brighter finishes and use the space as much for hanging out as they do for cooking (“With four kids, this is the spot that’s always busy,” the owner notes). The competing needs of food prep and entertaining inspired a unique layout devised in consultation with architect Goran Simic of Deconstruct Architecture: The designers borrowed square footage from a large dining room to create a scullery connected to the main kitchen via above-counter glass-and-metal doors. “By breaking up the space, we gave them a work zone where they can prepare meals or snacks and then slide the glass doors aside to pass food through to the main kitchen, which now has light-colored cabinets and marble surfaces,” says Jones, noting that the separation keeps the tumult of cooking hidden while allowing the main kitchen to exist elegantly as part of the primary living space.

The designers located their clients’ former dining room table between the kitchen and the family room, making it the place where daily meals happen. “We loved the idea of reusing their table in this way,” Jones says. “The new dining room called for a round table, but they weren’t ready to let this longer piece go. It’s nice to think of all the family meals that have happened around it.”

Upstairs, the shape-shifting continued, making way for a well-appointed primary suite. Before work began, the bedroom featured a small seating area and a modestly sized bathroom. Knowing the owners preferred a spa-like bath, the designers absorbed the seating area into the space. “Now, the bathroom spans the front of the house, and we were able to give them a large shower and water closet,” Jones says. Luxurious finishes not only add to the sumptuous look and feel, but they also set the tone for the new color scheme. “We used honest, natural materials, such as a marble with pink and caramel colors, that harken back to the time when the home was built,” Clemente Eby notes. Those hues inspired the soothing tones throughout the suite.

That calming atmosphere is just one of the reasons the owner says that being at home feels “like being on vacation.” In a house this thoughtfully remade, the only thing missing now is the urge to ever leave.

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