When starting a new project, I always look to the past for inspiration and ideas. One home that I always seem to reference is Victor Skrebneski’s Chicago residence, designed by Bruce Gregga. This home is located in Chicago and features a strikingly minimalistic space that is decorated with the most impressive collection of furnishings and art. This home is inspiring for myself because it does not rely on a given architectural pedigree; instead it allows the furnishings and art to do all of the work. This is important as often times a new project lacks in architectural integrity, but allows for the furnishings and art to play a larger role. Originally a coach house, this space was transformed into a modern oasis filled with the most pedigreed furnishings and art.

The image above shows a vignette of the main living room of the home. This corner of the living room is packed with significant art and furnishings. In the foreground of the image is a stone pedestal with an antique bust on top. The stone of the pedestal mirrors the stone flooring, creating a seamless movement for the eyes. Also of note is the gilt wood console table with a contemporary work of art by Louis Marcoussis gracing its stone top. We also see a traditional French chair with a contemporary leather upholstery. In the corner of the picture we get a glimpse of a large scale tapestry. I would argue that this tapestry is the star of the room; it is large, fabulous and creates a focal point in a room filled with so many exquisite objects.

Living Room inside Victor Skrebneski’s Chicago Residence. Design by Bruce Gregga, Photography by Victor Skrebneski. Photo retrieved from Architectural Digest, March 2000 Issue.

The picture above is an image of the whole living room. This image allows us to recognize the true magnitude of the design of this space. The first object that stands out to me is the gilt wood chandelier that is hung in the center of the room. The contrast between this traditional chandelier and the contemporary room that surrounds it. What makes this chandelier works is the warm undertones that play off the stone flooring. If this chandelier would have been a cool tone, it may not have been as successful in its immersion into the space. Another element of this space that I find to be immensely successful is its use of antique furniture in a contemporary setting. I believe this to have succeeded because of the amount of antiques that were used in contrast to how contemporary the space is. If the walls had intricate moldings and wood paneling, I don’t believe that this room would be as much of a statement. Would it still be gorgeous? Absolutely, but it would not have the same chic, fashionable aesthetic as it does now.

Foyer/Entry inside Victor Skrebneski’s Chicago Residence. Design by Bruce Gregga, Photography by Victor Skrebneski. Photo retrieved from Architectural Digest, March 2000 Issue.

The next space I want to discuss is the entry/stairway. This space features a dramatic yet minimalistic staircase that is made of concrete and features no railings. Obviously this was created before building codes were enforced because this would not fly today, BUT I think this is stunning and wish it was achievable today. This space features a classical statue that sits atop a black granite base. This statue appears to be hold together by internal supports. This is one of my favorite ways of displaying an antique sculpture; letting the sculpture speak for itself without an ornamented base. In this case, the black marble allows for the sculpture to stand out and be the focal point. If the base had been the same material as the flooring, the chances of the sculpture standing out would be smaller. Overall I would say this space is by far the most iconic image of this particular home and for very good reason; it is fabulous.

The next photograph that we get of this home is of the kitchen (pictured above). From an initial glance, you probably wouldn’t even know it is a kitchen. The only indication from the image that this may possibly be a kitchen is the row of cabinets on the left hand side of the image. We do not get much information on this space in the original AD article, except that the kitchen is lined with built-in book shelves and has painted zig-zag floors. The floors immediately reminded me of a Mary McDonald interior. While I do not care for a painted floor, I think that this room definitely benefited from having it. Another take away from this room are the built-in bookcases. If you are short on space for your book collection, why not make the kitchen into a library!

Primary Bedroom Sitting Room inside Victor Skrebneski’s Chicago Residence. Design by Bruce Gregga, Photography by Victor Skrebneski. Photo retrieved from Architectural Digest, March 2000 Issue.

The final room that we get photographs of in the original AD article is the sitting room in the primary bedroom. This sitting room features an extensive amount of antique furnishings and beautiful oak herringbone flooring. One feature of this room that caught my eye immediately was the mirrored wall in the background. This feature expands the space and gives it a contemporary feel. I am a huge fan and supporter of mirrored walls! I think that they are due for a comeback and I would fully support it! There are two antique mirrors hung on top of the mirror wall above an antique commode. I always think this that is an effective way of layering; it mixes the antique with the contemporary. Another element of this space that I appreciate is the mixing of patterns on the furnishings. This gives the space a layered, collected look.

Above is the final image we are given of the sitting room in the primary bedroom. This image gives us insight into both the layout of the room as well as some design elements that were not visible in the previous image. The first thing that jumped out to me was the high-gloss ceiling. The folding screen in this room makes the ceiling height seem lower than it probably is. I wonder what the wallcovering is behind the console table? Could it be closed draperies? I wish we had more images of this home to dissect! This home probably has some really interesting rooms that did not make it into this AD article, but I would say that they big hits of this home were showcased. I would love to see the formal dining room (if there is one) and maybe a bathroom or two.

Overall, I think this home is probably one of my more re-visited in terms of inspiration for many reasons. It has a fearless vibe to it, which I think is so important when it comes to interior design. A couple of years ago when I was in graduate school mapping out my future business, I would always go back to the word fearless. This interior is fearless for many reasons; from the very unsafe no railing staircase (lol) to the daring black and white chevron kitchen flooring. This home shows that you can live artfully in a home. You can make the whole home out of concrete and stone and have it still feel like a “home”. I also think of the possible alternatives; what if this home had no concrete and tons of woodwork? Would it still be as impactful today as it was back when it was completed? I think the answer is no. While it would still be beautiful, it would not be as impactful. That leads us to the question of when is beauty not enough and we start looking for impact? I think there is a need for both; every home should be beautiful and impactful. If there is not beauty and impact, what does the home offer in terms of aesthetic value? -Michael

As a Chicago North Shore native, David Adler is one of my icons when it comes to architecture and design. Of all of Adler’s projects, the Clow residence in Lake Forest is by far my favorite. This home takes influence from the iconic, Mies van der Rohe and the Viennese designer, Josef Hoffmann. These influences are prevalent throughout the home (both inside and out) but particularly on the interior with its striking use of line and form. Another element of this home that makes it my favorite Adler commission is the clients’ impressive collection of modern furniture that was acquired from several countries.

Entrance Hall, Clow Residence by David Adler (1927)
Photograph by Samuel Herman (1875-1971), Retrieved from *The Country Houses of David Adler* by Stephen M. Salny (2001)

Upon entry to the home, visitors are greeted with a dazzling room lined with geometric silver leaf wallcovering. In addition, there is a simple, yet timeless fireplace with two sconces above it. There is also a decorative column with a sculpture atop it. Perhaps one of the most identifiable qualities of this space is the center floor medallion featuring dramatic contrasting marble. One element of this room that particularly stands out to me is the fireplace; this adds warmth to the space that allows visitors to be greeted comfortably before venturing upstairs to the common areas. The wallcovering in this entrance hall is also quite unexpected; in todays design climate, silver leaf wallcoverings such as the one in this space are often reserved for ceilings. Perhaps this is another example of this home being an example of the last call of grandeur prior to the great depression.

Dining Room, Clow Residence by David Adler (1927)
Photograph by Samuel Herman (1875-1971), Retrieved from *The Country Houses of David Adler* by Stephen M. Salny (2001)

One of my favorite rooms in this home is the dining room. This space is stylistically pure art deco. This can be seen through a few key elements such as the ceiling which features gradual levels. There are also rounded niches in the walls which allow for larger pieces of decoration and sculpture to be placed. While hard to see, the marble on the fireplace also features a similar stepped motif to the ceiling. This attention to detail creates a harmonious environment that is focused on highlighting the art deco aesthetic of the home.

Another detail in the dining room that catches the eye immediately is the wallcovering. The material is split straw marquetry, created by Adolphe Chanaux (1887-1965). Chanaux was a frequent collaborator of Jean-Michel Frank. The checkerboard pattern is reminiscent of contemporary designs. Unfortunately the wallcovering does not survive as it had been removed at some point. Also- please let me know if you would like me to show some current-ish photos of this home and compare to these original photos!

And lastly, I wanted to point out the dining table, which had it own storied history before even making it to the home! This table was a European commission and was clad in pewter. The table was such a success that it was first displayed in a Stockholm museum prior to being shipped to the states. The Swedish government even requested that the table stay in the museum, but eventually the table made its way to Lake Forest! Can you imagine eating off a dining table with that much pedigree?

Living Room, Clow Residence by David Adler (1927)
Photograph by Samuel Herman (1875-1971), Retrieved from *The Country Houses of David Adler* by Stephen M. Salny (2001)

Perhaps the most extravagant room at the Clow residence, the living room. This room is certainly the stunner of the home; it features soaring ceilings and gray silk wallcovering as a way to highlight the homeowners collection of modern furniture and art (all European of course). One of the highlights of this room are the white lacquered panel doors. These doors tower over the room and stand out against the grey silk wallcovering. The herringbone flooring is in a black finish, creating an elegant mood in the space. And lastly, the chandeliers in the space were made of crystal and amethyst (yes really) and would be reflecting light throughout the day as sunlight poured into the space. I would love to know where these pieces of furniture are today. Do any still exist?

Above is another view of the living room at the Clow residence. This view shows the two large sofas in front of the fireplace. From this photograph it is hard to tell exactly the style of the fireplace, but from the look of it, it appears to be less art deco inspired than the fireplace in the dining room. Also notice the zebra hide rug on the floor. I particularly love the art deco wing back chairs that are in this space. They are tufted on the inside and feature a decorative wood detail on the outside. Would love to see these today (I wonder if Mr.Clow took them with him when he moved).

Guest Bedroom, Clow Residence by David Adler (1927)
Photograph by Samuel Herman (1875-1971), Retrieved from *The Country Houses of David Adler* by Stephen M. Salny (2001)

I saved the one of the best rooms for last: the guest bedroom. This is a new image to me as I have never seen this space before (Side note: there is nothing better than finding an image of a historic home that you have never seen before). This guest bedroom features two beds that appear to be suspended by chains from the ceiling. This appears to just be a trick on the eyes as the beds are most likely sitting on hidden platforms. The chains are a design feature that would even be daring for todays design climate, so to see them in a home from 1927 is jarring in the best way possible. I appreciate the use of geometric rugs as a way of adding a bit of a contemporary flair to the space. This allows the room to feel contemporary and up to date with the times. The height of the windows is also not to be overlooked; the windows are practically floor to ceiling. That is impressive yet again as today there is a large focus on preserving energy blah blah blah. Big windows will always be chic and glamourous. Overall this is a gorgeous room with daring design decisions.

Exterior View of Twin Greek Pavillions, Clow Residence by David Adler (1927)
Photograph by Samuel Herman (1875-1971), Retrieved from *The Country Houses of David Adler* by Stephen M. Salny (2001)

And lastly, a look at the gorgeous garden on the property. This garden features twin Greek pavilions and two massive trees which are most likely original to the property. It was such a blast diving into a few of my favorite rooms in this home. I think that there should be more attention given to this home given its uniqueness. It is truly unlike any other David Adler home, given its modern style and art deco influence. Since the home was built, it has been sold a few times over the years, the last time being in 2014. Since then, the new owner has restored the homes white washed facade, which is great. I may dive deeper into the last real estate listing photos that are available for this home from 2014 in a later blog post. I think it would be fascinating to see what original elements are still in tact and see what changes have been made. Please let me know in the comments below if you would be interested in seeing some newer images of this home! -Michael

MJD INSPO: Victor Skrebneski's Chicago Residence

MJD INSPO: David Adler, Clow Residence

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