A French Country Style Gardeners Cottage, Reimagined

Written by

Aimée Mazzenga
Aimée Mazzenga
Aimée Mazzenga is a interior and lifestyle photographer based in Chicago where she lives with her husband, Jonny.
updated Feb 19, 2019

A French Country Style Gardeners Cottage, Reimagined

Written by

Aimée Mazzenga
Aimée Mazzenga
Aimée Mazzenga is a interior and lifestyle photographer based in Chicago where she lives with her husband, Jonny.
updated Feb 19, 2019
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Style
Bedrooms
N/A
Square feet

3948

Sq ft

3948

Name: Julie and David Holdsworth
Location: Lake Forest, Illinois
Size: 3,948 square feet
Years lived in: 20 years, owned

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From its architectural design to pristine English gardens to the artists that have made this a home, this cottage is truly magical. An excerpt from the Preservation Society describes the beauty and history of the home quite elegantly: “Part of a twenty-six building, 17th century French provincial manor house, the l’orangerie, or potting shed, was originally designed in the late 1920s by master architect of the Lake County Place Era, David Adler.”

The original potting shed, previously attached to two greenhouses, has been completely renovated, but has retained the focus of the Adler structure as a small country place in its own right. Keeping with the character and quality design as if Adler had done it himself, it is now the Holdsworth’s beautiful home. Julie Holdsworth, who is a painter and ceramicist, fell in love with the house.

Apartment Therapy Survey:

Our Style: The style of the house is a renovated and enlarged gardener’s cottage from a David Adler Estate. Our style is French country with modern whimsical accents.

Inspiration: We are very inspired by the gardens that we have in our backyard. The house has more windows than walls, allowing the outdoors to be part of our interior design.

Favorite Element: Our greenhouse attached to our kitchen. We are in constant connection with the outdoors.

Biggest Challenge: This house is a labor of love. There is always a little job to be done.

What Friends Say: They are always surprised when they walk in the front door. The house radiates light and charm. Coming into the kitchen which opens up into the garden is a feast for the eyes.

Biggest Embarrassment: We have had a few years of flooding in our basement.

Proudest DIY: Opening up three rooms to create one grand room, for eating and entertaining for family and friends.

Biggest Indulgence: Hanging out with family and friends in our gardens.

Best Advice: Put your personality into your house, feel free to paint the walls any color you want (it’s only paint), have fun with it!

Dream Sources: Paris flea markets, Santa Fe textiles, Buenos Aires antique stores, accents of ’50s vintage linens, fabrics from Manuel Canovas.

Thanks, Julie and David!


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