“I call it urban lite– it’s like living in Lincoln Park on steroids,” says Emily Janson, referring to the size of her North Shore home compared to a typical city dwelling. “It’s not really suburban because we don’t have a lot of land here, but we don’t have to drive everywhere because the walk to town is three minutes.”
Emily, who sells magazine advertising, and her husband, Skip, an investment manager, bought the 1920s, four-bedroom Colonial 5 years ago. “Nothing had ever been done to the house, so it was basically an open palette. We came in and changed absolutely everything,” says Emily, who also does interior design for friends and family.
Before doing any construction, the Jansons wanted to live in the house to see how they used the space. “We waited three years, and our final plans were completely different from our original plans,” Emily says.
It was important that they be able to enjoy the outdoor space. Limited by an approximately 90-foot-by-30-foot back yard, the Jansons devised a plan to maximize that area. “I have a design philosophy that you have to think big when it comes to small spaces,” Emily says.
Since entertaining was a priority, a 31-foot-by-30-foot patio was built across the back of the house. “The yard ends up feeling bigger and more expansive based on putting the big patio in, versus if we had put in a small patio to leave more grass,” explains Emily.
French doors open from the home’s kitchen/family room to corresponding exterior living and eating areas.
The Jansons bought the furniture first, “to make sure the design worked for the furniture and not the other way around,” Emily says.
In the seating area, a large hearth anchors a couch, two matching armchairs, an ottoman/cocktail table and a side table. Nearby, a round mosaic dining table is shaded by an umbrella.
The overall plan for the yard meant an old jungle gym had to go. Reid Janson, then 4, said the only thing that would make him feel better about losing the jungle gym would be fish. Using rocks left over from construction, Emily and Skip built a koi pond in the back corner of the yard. “We built it high and shallow so the kids wouldn’t fall in,” says Emily.
The fish survived the winter, and the following spring the family visited the koi ponds at the Conservatory at Lincoln Park Zoo. They learned that true koi ponds are built into the ground, and they redid the whole area, installing a second pond.
Having lived in London, Emily yearned for the abundance of flowers of a true English garden. She and Skip planted lilies, irises, petunias, hostas, hydrangeas of all colors and climbing roses.
Since Emily, 6-year-old Reid and 9-year-old Lily are all artistic, the remaining space was devoted to an art studio. Emily and Skip remodeled a shed they previously transformed into a playhouse, adding French doors, electricity, checkerboard floors and easels.
With the help of a fire and heat lamps, the Jansons use their yard from April through November. “We eat dinner outside every night we can and entertain here most every weekend,” says Emily. “It makes it very easy, because you can have people come over and the adults can hang out on the patio and the kids can play in the yard.
“We can say on the fly, ‘Come on over’ and I don’t have to worry.”
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Outdoor suite
Boy at pond: Arbors, landscaping, ponds and waterfalls–designed and built by homeowners; bridge–Craftwood Lumber Co., Highland Park.
Table outside art studio: Tablecloth–Cost Plus World Market; chairs–flea market; blue glass balls hanging on clear wire–Target.
Upstairs patio: Chenille-covered wicker chaises–Williams Ski Haus, Highland Park; chandelier–Ikea; chandelier glass beaded roping–Smith & Hawken, Highland Park; chandelier vintage crystal–flea market; tablecloth–owner’s personal collection; sailcloth curtains–Pottery Barn; arbor–designed and built by homeowners; tiebacks–Tuesday Morning, Northbrook; rug–Horchow Collection catalogue.
Yard with bridge and lower pond with house in background: Landscaping, arbors, ponds and waterfall–designed and planted by homeowners; bridge–Craftwood Lumber Co., Highland Park; art studio–redesigned Menards shed.
Outdoor living room: Fireplace and patio construction–JB Brickworks, Mundelein; furniture and umbrellas–Williams Ski Haus, Highland Park; blue urns–Smith & Hawken, Highland Park; urns on brick pedestals–Pasquesi Home and Garden, Lake Bluff; rug–Grandin Road catalogue; side tables–columns found at flea market.
(Resources, Page 49.)
