Set adjacent to an oak grove on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan in Winnetka, Illinois, this 8,600-square-foot home recalls the English country houses of Sir Edwin Lutyens. It is the primary residence for a couple and their two children and includes two guest suites for visiting friends and relatives.

The architectural style on the exterior and the interior is in the tradition of English Edwardian architecture. The exterior expresses the location of formal and informal rooms inside. The front elevation, approached by a long drive to an entry court, is formal and symmetrical. The rear elevation is a rambling informal composition.

The interior décor showcases late 19th and early 20th century furniture and the family’s interest in American painting, some by members of their extended family. The house includes a gym, a wine cellar, a music room, and a painting studio with a terrace overlooking the lake. A series of landscaped terraces on the east side of the property offers views of Lake Michigan and include an herb garden, cooking facilities, an outdoor fireplace, and a sunken hot tub.

Photography: Mark F. Heffron