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Step Inside an Art-Packed Chicago Home by Robbins Architecture
Celeste Robbins teamed up with designer Andrea Goldman to create a modern sanctuary with arresting works by Alex Katz, Theaster Gates, and Jaume Plensa
![The light-filled kitchen features a harmonious mix of Taj Green quartzite and rift-sawn white oak; the pendants are by Allied Maker, and the sink fittings are by Perrin & Rowe in this renovation by Robbins Architecture](https://galeriemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/11_RD_Deere_1197_F.jpg)
The light-filled kitchen features a harmonious mix of Taj Green quartzite and rift-sawn white oak; the pendants are by Allied Maker, and the sink fittings are by Perrin & Rowe. Photo: Roger Davies
When it came time for an art-collecting couple to build their forever home, deciding where and how was no small feat. After the last of their children had flown the coop—or, their older home on a wooded parcel in the Chicago suburbs—the pair began the hunt for the perfect piece of property. The original dream, as is likely the case for many in the area, had been to build a house on the shores of Lake Michigan. To mount this task, they looked to architect Celeste Robbins, principal of Robbins Architecture, whose 30-year track record of creating spectacular residences on breathtaking lots speaks for itself.
As the design process moved forward, however, the clients changed course, realizing they weren’t quite ready to part with the forested landscape they had grown to love over the years. This prompted the team to explore a possible renovation to the existing home but, in the end, the decision was made to start from scratch. The result completely reimagines the original lot to create a peaceful oasis that allows the couple to live comfortably among their stellar collection of blue-chip art.
![A wall hanging by MQuan Studio graces the screened porch, which also includes RH lounge chairs and a wooden side table by Munder-Skiles in this renovation by Robbins Architecture](https://galeriemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/19_RD_Deere_0380_F.jpg)
A wall hanging by MQuan Studio graces the screened porch, which also includes RH lounge chairs and a wooden side table by Munder-Skiles. Photo: Roger Davies
As is outlined in Robbins’s recent book, The Meaningful Modern Home (Monacelli), modernism, when practiced well, lends itself to warm and livable spaces. “The style was actually founded on principles that are just about the opposite of what most people consider to be ‘modern,’” Robbins notes. Her firm puts this philosophy into practice by advocating for simpler plans, materiality, and detailing, creating spaces that are open and flexible, rather than overly prescribed, and allow for nature to take center stage.
On this sloping site in suburban Chicago, Robbins achieves this gentle balance between the natural and the built environment through a series of pitched- and flat-roofed volumes: the traditional pitched, shingled roofs pay respect to the context of the neighborhood while the aluminum-framed flat roofs and apertures introduce a sense of modernity. A long entry corridor spans the length of home’s street frontage, ensuring privacy while also setting up for the artful experience to come.
![A commanding canvas by American painter Alex Katz overlooks the kitchen in the renovation by Robbins Architecture](https://galeriemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/10__Robbins_DeerePark_002.jpg)
A commanding canvas by American painter Alex Katz overlooks the kitchen. Photo: Dave Burk Photography
The gallery-like entry is punctuated by a series of floor-to-ceiling windows and deftly detailed wooden thresholds. On the walls, a long, horizontal portrait by Alex Katz sits opposite a patinated metal wall hanging by Theaster Gates. The hallway culminates in the first of a few notable corner window conditions throughout the dwelling, which was designed to accommodate a large marble bust by renowned Spanish artist Jaume Plensa. Here, Robbins creates a focal point around the sculpture by framing it in the context of the natural environment just beyond.
Upon entry into the main space—a large open plan kitchen, living, and dining room—the home’s deference to the natural world crystallizes. Light floods in through a sizable window wall, revealing a lush landscaped terrace around which the entirety of the home wraps. Here a single, delicate tree acts as a counterbalance to a neighboring stone sculpture by Israeli-American artist and sculptor, Boaz Vaadia, that appears to be keeping watch over the courtyard. Opposite the ample glazing in the great room, a second portrait by Alex Katz hangs over the custom dining table, which was sourced by local interior design firm, Andrea Goldman Design.
![](https://galeriemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/18_RD_Deere_0244_F.jpg)
Dubbed the “cozy room,” this space does double-duty as an everyday lounge as well as an office. The striking red work above the desk is by Rashid Johnson, while a trio of Ansel Adams photographs hang on the adjacent wall. Photo: Roger Davies
Tasked with creating sophisticated yet quiet interiors for this project, Goldman took a layered approach to the furnishings and fixtures, so as not to distract from the art. “It was all about the edit with this project,” Goldman recalls. Steering away from bold colors and patterns, the designer opted for a neutral yet textured palette. Subtle variations throughout the soft, organic furnishings coalesce as an artful composition of textiles. “We wanted the interior to have a warmth to it—it had to feel like a space they could truly live in—nothing like a museum or a commercial artspace,” Goldman adds.
Expanses of custom rift-sawn white oak millwork on the living room mantle and throughout the kitchen further contribute to this warmth and connect through to the secondary spaces: a primary suite, a den, and an office. “As empty nesters, the clients weren’t interested in walking past any rooms they never used,” says Robbins. This desire dictated the relatively simple floor plan, which organizes all of the main programming on one level that connects directly to the landscaped terrace. The only exceptions to this thinking are a series of small guest rooms tucked into the dwelling’s pitched roof overhead, and a unique, subterranean level that allows for a more traditional art-viewing experience.
![In the office, a piece by English painter Hugh O'Donnell surmounts the desk, with a smaller work by Rashid Johnson in front of it in the renovation completed by Robbins Architecture](https://galeriemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/17_RD_Deere_0071_F.jpg)
In the office, a piece by English painter Hugh O'Donnell surmounts the desk, with a smaller work by Rashid Johnson in front of it. Photo: Roger Davies
![A blue canvas by Swiss painter Franz Gertsch hangs in the primary bedroom, which features a lounge chair and lamps by Formations, Joseph Jeup nightstands, and a bed by A. Rudin in the renovation completed by Robbins Architecture](https://galeriemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/13_RD_Deere_0112_F.jpg)
A blue canvas by Swiss painter Franz Gertsch hangs in the primary bedroom, which features a lounge chair and lamps by Formations, Joseph Jeup nightstands, and a bed by A. Rudin. Photo: Roger Davies
In true gallery fashion, the bottom level is outfitted with polished concrete floors, white walls, and track lighting. Although this space is in direct contrast with the design philosophy of the rest of the residence, it serves an important purpose: due to the ultra controlled nature of this environment, the clients are able to display their impressive collection of light-sensitive works. Previously forced to keep the blinds drawn at all times, the clients now have the autonomy to freely enjoy the entirety of their collection, which includes vintage photographs by mid-century German artist Michael Wolf, and a bold, text-based painting by Mel Bochner.
![The lower level hosts a white-wall gallery space lined with contemporary artworks, including this piece by Edward Burtynsky, in the renovation by Robbins Architecture](https://galeriemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/23_RD_Deere_1391_F.jpg)
The lower level hosts a white-wall gallery space lined with contemporary artworks, including this piece by Edward Burtynsky. Photo: Roger Davies
All in all, this meticulously crafted estate seamlessly marries Robbins’s modernist philosophy with the couple’s extensive appreciation for art. From the striking entryway to the gallery-esque basement, the thoughtful detailing of each space creates an artful living experience worthy of the art collection. In a collaborative effort, Robbins Architecture and Andrea Goldman Design have afforded the clients an entirely new experience of their long-loved land in the Chicago area. As it turns out, their forever home was never very far away.