Residence 854 at dusk, stone front facade with turret entry glowing from within

Project 01 · Lake Forest, Illinois

Drawn by hand. Built in stone.

Residence 854, the signature commission of L'Atelier Elena.

Scroll to begin Chapter 01 – 04

LocationLake Forest, IL

ScopeDesign & Build

Year2024

StatusPrivate commission

The story

Most houses are assembled. This one was authored. Every arch, every dormer, every turn of the stair existed first as a line of ink, drawn by one hand, then carried unchanged into stone, oak and light.

Chapter 01 · The Sketch

It began with ink and paper.

First floor plan of the residence — First floor plan

Before the foundation, a drawing board. Every wall, every opening, every dimension resolved on paper first. An octagonal entrance tower anchors the composition, and the wings unfold around a front courtyard, exactly as first imagined.

Front elevation of the residence — Front elevation

Blueprint floor plan of the residence, matching the aerial below

Aerial photograph directly above the finished house, matching the blueprint

From paper to plot.

The drawing · on paperThe house · as built

Chapter 02 · The Build

Stone follows the pencil.

Gated front facade in daylight, brick and limestone with a cedar-shake roof — South facade · midday

Aerial view of the house and its grounds

Brick and limestone, laid by hand. A cedar-shake roof folding over dormers. It reads as a village of intimate volumes gathered around the turret, just as the elevation drawings promised.

MasonryBrick & limestone
RoofCedar shake
EntryOctagonal turret
SiteGated · tree-lined

The house at dusk, windows glowing amber

Stay for golden hour.

MiddayDusk

Gated entrance at dusk, stone pillars marked 854 with lanterns lit

The address

At dusk the house performs. Every window turns to amber, and the stone pillars that carry its name, 854, glow like lanterns at the gate.

Chapter 03 · The Light

Built around the light.

Drag through the interiors · white oak underfoot, light-colored walls, brass at every turn.

Arched carved-walnut door with leaded glass, framing the foyer and living room — I. The arrival

Curved oak staircase rising from the foyer, iron balusters and a gilded mirror — *II.* First sightline

Bright living room with a lit fireplace, gilded mirror and curved seating — *III.* The hearth, lit

Sitting room with a stone fireplace, soft armchair and framed art — *IV.* By the fire

Wet bar with grey cabinetry, floating oak shelves and a mosaic backsplash — V. The bar

Kitchen with a long island, brass bar stools and glass pendant lights — *VI.* Brass & light

Kitchen island in soft grey, opening through to the living room beyond — *VII.* The island

Dining room set beneath a chandelier with tall windows — *VIII.* Under the chandelier

Principal bath with a freestanding tub, book-matched marble and a grey vanity — *IX.* The principal suite

Marble master bath with a freestanding tub, brass fittings and a chandelier — X. The marble bath

Laundry room with grey cabinetry, a deep sink and a sunny window — *XI.* The laundry

Laundry room fitted with paired machines and full-height cabinetry — *XII.* Fitted for use

Bright white living room with large windows and curved sofas — *XIII.* A study in white

Chapter 04 · The Details

The detail is the design.

The oak staircase seen from above, coiling like a nautilus — The stair, seen from above

Seen from above, the staircase coils like a nautilus: white oak treads wrapping a curved well, hand-set iron balusters marking time in pairs. It is the kind of moment a plan can only hint at, and a builder must keep.

By the numbers

6,121 ft²finished, all levels
5 + 1bedrooms, all en‑suite
7.5bathrooms
3‑cargarage, EV‑ready

Range with brass hardware beneath a plaster hood and marble backsplash — The range

Principal bath vanity in marble with brass fittings, paired sconces and mirror — The principal bath

Marble guest bath with a glass shower and a deep blue vanity — A note of blue

Guest bath with book-matched marble, a glass shower and twin vanities — Marble & brass

Narrow bath in soft grey with black fixtures and a marble shower — A quieter palette

Open-plan great room with a dining table beneath a chandelier, opening to the kitchen — The great room

Wide aerial view of the residence within its tree-lined grounds

Seen from above, the house keeps the promise of the plan.

Rear elevation at dusk, lanterns lit across the garden facade

Epilogue

Every line tells a story.

Residence 854 was a private commission by L'Atelier Elena, based in Lake Forest, Illinois, and working remotely. To begin a home of your own, write to the studio.

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