St. Charles home inspired by historic governor's mansion

Imagine living in a replica of one of America's great houses - the White House, Monticello, Mount Vernon, or, perhaps, one of the 50 state's governors' mansions.

Since 1995, Ted and Ellen Roberts of St. Charles have done just that.

Both are architecture buffs and Ellen is a devotee of American history, so they built a near-exact replica of Virginia's governor's mansion in the Burr Hill subdivision along the Royal Hawk Golf Course.

But now that their four children are grown and gone, they are ready to downsize and have listed the home for $1,775,000.

It was actually a fluke that the Roberts decided on a visit years ago to replicated the mansion, which still houses the Commonwealth's governor in Richmond, Va., according to Ellen. "Ted and I were working on plans for our new house while we were on a trip to Virginia," she said.

While walking one day, they saw a house design they liked and copied down the architecture, not even realizing that it was the state's renowned governor's mansion. Later that day they sketched out an interior plan for their home on a cocktail napkin.

A few days later the Roberts learned they could tour the home they so admired because it belonged to the governor and is a National Historic Landmark. So they took the guided tour and discovered the interior plans they sketched were almost identical to the mansion occupied by Virginia's chief executives since 1813.

Enthralled by the home and its history, they decided to make the design as authentic as possible throughout the entire interior, on a scaled down basis, when they built the house in 1995. It was so complex that the architectural work and construction took 18 months. Mike Dixon of Dixon and Associates in St. Charles was the architect.

The white brick two-story home features a pillared portico, dual chimneys, circular driveway, three-tiered fountain, three-car garage, concrete terrace, built-in fire pit and a full-size, illuminated flagpole, all set on 11/4 acres.

One enters the home through an elevated foyer and then steps down into the first floor "great hall," which is used as a ballroom in the governor's mansion. This two-story room, which acts as a living room for the Roberts family, also serves as the center of the home with the staircase to the second floor rising from one side and opening onto a second-floor balcony. Bedrooms upstairs open onto this balcony as it extends all the way around the central, rectangular room.

Opening off the great hall on the main floor are an authentic dark paneled library with built-in bookcases; a ladies sitting room with a white marble fireplace and an Italian tile floor in white, black and salmon; an expansive dining room that can seat 18; two powder rooms; a traditionally styled, but modernly equipped kitchen and breakfast area; a butler's pantry/bar; and a media room with built-in television.

The rooms featured in this home are not what make it unique. It is the historic accoutrements, authentic color scheme and the overall flow of the house that makes it memorable.

Everywhere you look you see historically influenced woodwork, ceiling medallions, columns, cornices, crown molding, wainscoting, stair brackets, recessed display cabinets and pocket doors painted a bright white with mahogany-stained banisters as an accent.

The great hall also features a domed stained glass and wrought iron skylight in the center of the ceiling. At night the stained glass can be lit.

This is a Federal-style home, Ellen said, which is why many of her accents involve eagles, the symbol of the Federal style.

"You will never see a pineapple in my house. Those are used in Colonial-style homes like the ones you see in Williamsburg, (Va.)," she explained.

Colors used on the walls are also authentic to the period, from "Federal blue" in the great hall and foyer to mint green in the dining room. And the traffic flow of the first floor is also authentic. Every room has at least two entryways, which Ted Roberts, president of HR Management Group Inc., said was common in homes of that period because they wanted butlers and other servants to be able to move freely and unobtrusively.

The circular flow of the first floor lends itself as an ideal backdrop for social gatherings like holiday dinners and formal events. It was even a venue for a symphony orchestra recording and their son's wedding.

"We have had 100 people in here without batting an eye," Ellen said.

"The historic details of this house truly bring people back to the Federal time period," said Ellen. "But modern luxuries like the elevator and the big-screen television make it comfortable for a family to live in today."

All of the five bedrooms are roomy, include private baths and one even features a small loft area. The second floor also features a sitting area overlooking the great hall.

The walkout basement is much more casual and modern, Ellen admitted. It features radiant heated floors, a partial kitchen, full bath, golf-cart garage and a large entertainment area. It opens onto a small lower terrace.

For information about the house, call Barbara Daly, (630) 405-4755, or Steven Senter at (630) 421-0321, both with Keller Williams Realty, or visit www.38W447Lakeview.com.