Burns and Beyerl Architects designed this beautiful European style cottage for a family, located on a sprawling two acres in Chicago’s North Shore. This residence is home to five children who are all under the age of ten. With this in mind, the program requirements were very strict. The floorplan needed to be open and spacious, with flexible design and pre-weathered materials for durability. The renovation required a harmonious flow from one space to the next. The original footprint had rooms that were separate and closed off from each other. The architects were charged with a full-scale gut renovation on the first level. Walls were torn down to create an open, family-friendly floorplan, perfect for entertaining guests. The main living spaces were designed to incorporate reclaimed materials. These material elements included: white oak wood beams, salvage mushroom palette wood planks for the ceiling and the kitchen island, plaster walls with rounded corners and French terra cotta tile flooring.

Above: In the kitchen, reclaimed French terra-cotta bricks were sourced from Paris Ceramics. All of the hanging systems were sourced from Hafele.

Above: The countertops in the kitchen are Petit Granite limestone (source).

What We Love: This European style cottage is aesthetically charming, cozy and loaded with character… the perfect family home. We adore the use of reclaimed materials throughout, it creates an old world feel with a nice sense of warmth. The spaces feel bright and airy and seamlessly flow from one to the next. The architects did a beautiful job on renovating this property to cater to the clients lifestyle and retain the character of the original home.

Readers, what are your thoughts on this family home, do you find it charming?

Above: A warm and cozy family room features a brand new fireplace design, created from repurposed brick from the original residence.

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Above: Upstairs, three large dormer windows were integrated into an under-utilized space. The old and musty attic was completely transformed into three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a bright, inspiring homework area for the children.

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Above: The master bathroom was designed as a spa-like oasis that is just heavenly. The space mixes old with new, featuring a custom designed vanity comprised of reclaimed wood beams. Modern fixtures infuses a clean-lined aesthetic into this space.

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Photos: James Yochum Photography