In an increasingly congested world, these stunning properties offer ample acreage with stunning views.
700 Crab Tree Farm Lane, Lake Bluff
$19.5 million
Located at the end of a long drive on 12 sylvan acres, this six-bedroom abode offers both privacy and fabulous views. The home’s large double doors open to a grand entry foyer with soaring ceilings and an elegant central stairway that leads to a second-story catwalk. The drama continues to unfold inside, where tall moldings and wall coverings are just a sampling of the many bespoke details. The property includes an in-ground swimming pool, a tennis court, and even a vineyard.
644 Pine Lane, Winnetka
$3.85 million
Charm permeates every square foot of this Edwin Hill Clark-designed English country house on 2.39 acres in Winnetka. The lovely wallpapered center hallway sets the tone for the interior, which boasts knotty pine paneling, arched interior doorways, and tons of other original architectural detail. On a more casual note, a stone-floored, screened-in porch overlooks the verdant lawn, and there’s also a roomy patio and a rentable two-bedroom guest house.
7 Fox Hunt Road, Barrington Hills
$14.888 million
Romantically dubbed Hidden Ponds, this magnificent 30,000-square-foot stone estate stands on more than 70 acres with a secluded lake and a waterfall. The entry foyer has a stone fireplace and Brazilian hardwood flooring that flows into the cavernous living room, which has peaked, beamed ceilings and an enormous arched wall of windows overlooking the water. In addition to the spacious eight-bedroom manse, the property includes bells and whistle such as: a swimming pool, a multi-car collector garage, a college regulation-sized gym, and three over-grown golf greens and tee boxes that are just waiting to be rejuvenated.
700 Arbor Drive, Lake Bluff
$8.995 million
Offering 400 feet of Lake Michigan shoreline on five acres, this seven-bedroom brick country estate designed by renowned architect David Adler features a black and white checkerboard gallery that leads to spacious rooms with tall arched doors and windows that frame picture-perfect water vistas. Although the house has all the modern amenities, its many original architectural details (including 19 fireplaces) have been preserved. The property also includes a brick patio with a fire pit, and there’s an attached studio with its own kitchen, family room, and two bedrooms.
1801 Green Bay Road, Glencoe
$15.9 million
The largest piece of privately held property in Cook County, this sprawling seven-bedroom manse on 12.22 acres was built for the vacuum cleaner king H. Earl Hoover and converted to a Tudor-style in the 1920s. The massive great room has cathedral ceilings and a handsome limestone fireplace. Tall windows throughout the home look out onto the wooded lot, which has a greenhouse, a coach house, and a stable house, each with four garage spots. While certainly storied, the property does not have historic designation, allowing it to be developed.
Tate Gunnerson is a Chicago-based freelance journalist with an equal appreciation for natural beauty and good design. He is a passionate supporter of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the National Kidney Foundation.
