Local designers shine at Lake Forest Showhouse

There’s nothing like a kitchen with warmth and personality. And that’s what you’ll find in the one Leggy Bird Designs of Libertyville created for the Lake Forest Showhouse & Gardens.

Thorndale Manor’s 25 rooms plus a coach house are open through May 22 to benefit Infant Welfare Society of Chicago. Scores of designers’ crews worked on the estate that owes its “bones” to those North Shore icons, architect Howard Van Doren Shaw and landscape architect Jens Jensen. And the mansion itself is for sale for more than $4 million.

Even in all this glory the kitchen really is a showstopper.

For one thing, the cozy sitting area features a stone fireplace with statues holding up the mantel and indoor window boxes bursting with flowers that enhance the gold and pink floral pattern on the silk drapes from Designers Guild.

In the working part of the room the lighting — several sconces and one of the room’s two chandeliers — add to the charm. The countertops are a stone called quartzite that looks like creamy marble with taupe gray and a bit of pink. It curves up the wall by the sink and range. The quartzite on the island is dark greens with blues and browns. Victoria Lidstrom, a Leggy Bird partner, compares it to what you see if you look at the earth from outer space.

All the cabinets are knotty alder or cherry with a walnut stain. There are no upper cabinets, but shelves display accessories.

No one could miss the shiny white hood trimmed in brass over the stainless steel range. This was made by Lidstrom’s brother, Derek, whose company is Chimney King in Gurnee.

“We blended antique with new, but it doesn’t seem old and dark,” she said. “You walk in and almost feel the history of people who live there, almost like being in Europe.”

Lidstrom and Carol Carani also designed the master bath. They used the same dark green quartzite for the counters, and the floor is huge slabs of dark travertine with chipped edges. The arches in the room are Bavarian and Moroccan, say the designers, and the white old-fashioned slipper style tub adds to the romance.

Leggy Bird Designs has a shop and studio at 406 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville.

Another hit from Libertyville is the butler’s pantry in the coach house by Midnight Sun Swedish Antiques and Design.

Annika Christensen sold some of her imports for the movie set of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” but she found more for this room, including Gustavian treasures from the late 1700s and early 1800s, on a buying trip to Sweden.

Fans will love the sofa, chairs and Mora clock.

Painter Paul Rufus of Green Oaks helped Christensen complete the feel of the room.

Note the cabinets over the settee — they are faux, painted by Rufus on a soffit. Many of his touches are very subtle like the moths around the ceiling light, inspired by the updated Charlottenhof moth and flower design on the Axet chairs from the late 1700s. He also restored the oil cloth countertop around the sink.

The white-on-white semi-sheer linen roll-up blinds with a tulip design were hand printed in Sweden. The plate rack shows centuries-old pewter platters and plates, while 19th century white ironstone fill cupboards.

Midnight Sun Swedish Antiques and Design is at 10 W. Lake St., Libertyville.

Here are other delights that caught our eye.

Foyer

It’s all about the wallpaper in the entry.

Colorful antique wallpaper panels named “Monuments of Paris” but featuring a scene of trees from this 1815 creation greet visitors as they enter. And a contemporary custom paper with trees and a pale pastel design reminiscent of bubbles hand painted and embroidered on a brown background covers the wall that climbs the incredible curving staircase.

Library

Frank Ponterio of Lake Forest and Chicago realized the importance of the built-in book cases with the delicate woodwork around the arched tops, so he had them restored.

The room’s many materials — mohair, silk, linen, leathers and cashmere — add to the restful elegance. And they cover a variety of sofas, chairs and a love seat with distinctive lines from square and contemporary to rounded and high sided.

Sunroom

Gerri Wiley Design Group of Wilmette chose a large 19th century Syrian wedding chest as a focal point for this room without a fireplace.

Bronze beaded trim enhances the white linen drapes.

Living room

Gail Plechaty of Real Simple in Old Mill Creek used gray, silver and white to create a monochromatic grand salon. Visitors will notice original architectural details like the marble fireplace and the paneled, concave corners.

Dining room

Two armless fuchsia sofas with large floral patterns stand out, as does the huge Luna Grande chandelier of handblown Venetian glass from Donghia—just the right size for this room.

Young woman’s bedroom

If you can get past the art moderne makeup table and chairs with faceted backs, you might notice the cabinet that includes a desk for more serious work. Architect Lajos Kozma designed it in Hungary in the 1920s with veneers of Macassar and walnut.

Study

An amazing attention to detail mark this third-floor gentleman’s retreat by Lawrence Interiors, Inc. of Lake Bluff.

One theme is the wood furniture by Mike Jarvi of Crab Tree Farm. And the other is dogs, especially the photographs by Tim Flach of London.

If you go

What: 2011 Lake Forest Showhouse & Gardens

When: Now through May 22

Time: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

Parking: House reachable only with shuttle bus from municipal parking lot, 1150 N. Western Ave., at Laurel Avenue, Lake Forest

Tickets: $33 online, $25 each for groups of four; $35 at door

Etc.: Home is not accessible to wheelchairs. Children under 8 not invited. Several special events are planned.

Online: lakeforestshowhouse.com