L.A. Style Sets The Stage For A Chicago Couple’s Dream Home

Sometimes, no matter the effort exerted, transforming a residence into a place that truly feels like home seems simply impossible. A Hinsdale couple discovered this after two renovations to their nice (but typical) suburban house still did not yield the more open, California-style abode they desired. So, when construction started just a few blocks away—looking far more interesting than most new builds in their ‘hood—they paid attention. “On our walks, we watched this house go up and had heard it was a builder’s own home,” the wife says. The dream team behind the dwelling included architect Michael Abraham, designer Megan Hickman and her husband, builder Mark Hickman. “It was unique and definitely our favorite in the neighborhood, so when we were ready, we knew who to call,” the wife adds.

The couple found an appealing lot in nearby Clarendon Hills just a five-minute walk to stores and restaurants, but it was also sloped and hemmed in by streets on both the front and back. Before the couple put in an offer, they met with Abraham to see if it was possible to build their ideal home on the site. “They started to describe an Airbnb that they’d stayed at in Austin,” Abraham says. “As they were describing it, I realized that I’d stayed in the same house just two weeks before we met.” The ironic coincidence didn’t just provide a laugh, it also allowed for an in-depth understanding of what the couple wanted. With that knowledge, the architect felt sure that they could deal with the lot’s challenges.

“Our biggest priority was to not waste any space,” the husband says of the open flow between the living, kitchen and dining areas. “We didn’t do a formal living or dining room, so the space is flexible and super efficient.” Another important point: To avoid the dreaded television over the mantel. So, Abraham tucked a den with a TV behind the fireplace and enclosed it with glass-and-steel doors that keep the home’s expansive feeling while providing a space that can be closed off when needed. This allowed the fireplace to become a bold focal point. “The homeowners wanted something edgy and nontraditional for the fireplace,” Megan explains, so Mark installed an eye-catching patinated steel surround.

The facing kitchen needed to be equally stunning. To that end, cabinets were coated in forest green paint with brass detailing. The deep color propels a dramatic backsplash and hood onto center stage. “I was initially thinking marble,” Megan says. “But when we found this porcelain slab, we knew that it was perfect.” The thin but tough material wraps around the hood without bulk and provides a near impervious surface for the island’s 10-foot, seam-free countertop. And, with the addition of the adjacent prep kitchen, the front kitchen—visible from almost the entire first floor—stays immaculate even when a multicourse meal is being served up. “Everyone comments on the kitchen,” the wife notes.

Also on the homeowners’ must-have list were his-and-hers work spaces. The husband is a writer and brand consultant with a downtown office, but like many, has mostly worked remotely over the past two years. He took the loft-like space over the garage and chose most of the decor. “I gravitate to midcentury modern, so my office echoes the look of the main house, but we joke that it’s a little more dorm room,” he laughs. “During the pandemic, it became our daughter’s actual dorm room when she couldn’t go back to school for six months.” While the dwelling has only two designated bedrooms, that idea of flexible and maximized space means that when all three of their children are home, they have areas for everyone to sleep, work and study.

One room that’s not meant to be flexible is the wife’s office. As an executive coach who has always worked from home, she wanted a dedicated space with a fresh feel. “I wanted a clean look—no file cabinets, no printer—but still slightly feminine,” she says. “We did built-ins under the windows and it was Megan’s idea to paint the woodwork and walls the same color, which gives the room a soothing, clean aesthetic.”

In the end, the abode is exactly what the couple wanted. They now have that much-desired California home—just conveniently located in Clarendon Hills.