Houzz Tours
House Tours
Houzz Tour: A Characterful New-build With a Fresh, Scandi Mood
See how a couple worked with their builder to mix traditional and modern elements for a comfortable and chic home
Having lived in Chicago, Elise and Bill Fox didn’t think a move to the suburbs was on the cards for them. “We wanted a home that felt unique. It was a struggle I had. Moving into the suburbs felt like there would be a lot of sameness,” Elise says. It wasn’t until her sister had a new house built that they shifted their view.
After meeting with her sister’s builder, Oakley Home Builders, the Foxes found a lot in the western suburb of Downers Grove, Illinois, and fell in love with the brick-paved street in a neighbourhood of homes of various styles and ages. “There are many older homes that are loved and well-maintained,” Elise says. “Probably 70 percent of our neighbourhood is older homes, with a mix of Victorian and old farmhouses on grand lots. It’s a beautiful neighbourhood.”
After meeting with her sister’s builder, Oakley Home Builders, the Foxes found a lot in the western suburb of Downers Grove, Illinois, and fell in love with the brick-paved street in a neighbourhood of homes of various styles and ages. “There are many older homes that are loved and well-maintained,” Elise says. “Probably 70 percent of our neighbourhood is older homes, with a mix of Victorian and old farmhouses on grand lots. It’s a beautiful neighbourhood.”
Elise has worked in fashion and operations and is currently a stay-at-home mum. “We’re both pretty creative people who have lots of hobbies. The house is something we dived into head-first,” she says. Bill works in finance and is “insanely creative”, she adds.
Their last home, in Chicago’s Irving Park neighbourhood, was a spec house that was brand-new when they moved in. Since it was already “done,” they weren’t able to give it much of a personal touch. “We didn’t pick out a single thing, such as the lighting, the front door, etc. It felt wasteful to swap anything,” Elise says.
Find a home builder near you.
Their last home, in Chicago’s Irving Park neighbourhood, was a spec house that was brand-new when they moved in. Since it was already “done,” they weren’t able to give it much of a personal touch. “We didn’t pick out a single thing, such as the lighting, the front door, etc. It felt wasteful to swap anything,” Elise says.
Find a home builder near you.
The ebony-stained kitchen cabinets are a classic contrast to the white quartz worktops. When it came to the home’s interior design and colour scheme, Elise says, she thought about it one room at a time, keeping in mind the overall look she wanted to achieve.
“Early on, I pictured what I wanted each room to look like. I had a vision for what I wanted, so when the time came to pick a [tap], for example, I had a general idea, going with mostly brass. When picking fixtures and lighting, I wanted it to feel somewhat traditional with clean lines, so that narrowed down the field.”
Kitchen cabinets, Brakur Custom Cabinetry.
“Early on, I pictured what I wanted each room to look like. I had a vision for what I wanted, so when the time came to pick a [tap], for example, I had a general idea, going with mostly brass. When picking fixtures and lighting, I wanted it to feel somewhat traditional with clean lines, so that narrowed down the field.”
Kitchen cabinets, Brakur Custom Cabinetry.
The kitchen’s multi-functional island has a butler sink. A kilim rug adds texture and colour.
Elise used paint, plants, lighting and Scandinavian-style furnishings to create a comfortable and cosy feeling throughout the home. The couple hired E&L Painting to handle all the interior paint work.
In the living room, a lack of window treatments means plenty of natural light comes in. The white oak floors throughout the house have a custom stain mixed with white and a matt finish to dial back the yellow tone.
Lyrique 12-light chandelier, Savoy House.
In the living room, a lack of window treatments means plenty of natural light comes in. The white oak floors throughout the house have a custom stain mixed with white and a matt finish to dial back the yellow tone.
Lyrique 12-light chandelier, Savoy House.
The rustic leather sofa and neutral-coloured cushions add warmth and texture. The wallhanging of medical illustrations was a garage sale find. “It’s a full-on 1960s classroom science chart, so we can turn the pages and switch them out. Some of them are hilariously outdated,” Elise says.
Walls painted in Decorator’s White, Benjamin Moore.
Walls painted in Decorator’s White, Benjamin Moore.
Bill created the shelving next to the fireplace from the wood of the felled oak tree. The shelves hold a mix of family photos, vintage keepsakes and modern art.
Grey slip-covered loveseat, Sixpenny.
Grey slip-covered loveseat, Sixpenny.
The gas fireplace is across from the sofa, and a TV is to the right of it on the built-in shelving unit. The brick surrounding the fireplace is painted black to contrast with the white walls and blonde wood.
The oak mantel holds vintage items from antiques stores and charity shops, and is refreshed often. “I switch things out constantly,” Elise says.
Ian K Fowler Bistro double wall sconces, Visual Comfort. Chimney breast painted in Tricorn Black, Sherwin-Williams.
The oak mantel holds vintage items from antiques stores and charity shops, and is refreshed often. “I switch things out constantly,” Elise says.
Ian K Fowler Bistro double wall sconces, Visual Comfort. Chimney breast painted in Tricorn Black, Sherwin-Williams.
The dining area is tidy yet not uptight. “I wanted it to be formal enough to have a nice Thanksgiving meal, but not so formal that kids couldn’t eat breakfast and get maple syrup all over,” Elise says.
Bill made the picture ledge from the same oak that provided wood for the beams and mantel. He also made the dining table using a butcher’s block top atop vintage cast-iron legs.
Butcher’s block top (for table), John Boos & Co.
Bill made the picture ledge from the same oak that provided wood for the beams and mantel. He also made the dining table using a butcher’s block top atop vintage cast-iron legs.
Butcher’s block top (for table), John Boos & Co.
Seating at the dining table is a mix of moulded plastic chairs and a pew from a Chicago church. “At this messy age, plastic chairs are perfect for us,” Elise says.
The bench wasn’t easy to get out of the church and it had to be cut to fit the current space. The couple appropriately preserved the sign that says it’s reserved for families with children.
The bench wasn’t easy to get out of the church and it had to be cut to fit the current space. The couple appropriately preserved the sign that says it’s reserved for families with children.
This photo shows the dining area in relation to the adjacent boot room.
The boot room features custom-made wood cabinets with holes in them to make them look like lockers. The board-and-batten walls and lockers are painted a soft grey to contrast with the dark grey porcelain hexagonal floor tiles, which have a slate chalkboard look.
The door leads to a tiny deck on the back of the house that steps down and leads to a detached garage.
Cabinets, Brakur Custom Cabinetry. Walls and cabinets painted in Repose Gray, Sherwin-Williams.
The door leads to a tiny deck on the back of the house that steps down and leads to a detached garage.
Cabinets, Brakur Custom Cabinetry. Walls and cabinets painted in Repose Gray, Sherwin-Williams.
A home office next to the kitchen is largely Elise’s domain. It’s where she keeps a lot of her vintage vases and cake trays, along with a multitude of plants.
“The room gets very good sun, so the plants are thriving, and the desk is for keeping me organised,” she says.
“The room gets very good sun, so the plants are thriving, and the desk is for keeping me organised,” she says.
This is a peek into the library, which can be accessed through French doors near the home’s front door or via a pocket door near the kitchen. The black walls, ceiling and woodwork signal a transition from light and bright to dark and quiet.
Colour-coded books on the shelves provide a vibrant place for the eye to rest. A Sputnik chandelier is visible just past the doors.
Zodiac 12-light chandelier, Crystorama Lighting. Walls, ceiling and woodwork painted in Tricorn Black, Sherwin-Williams.
Colour-coded books on the shelves provide a vibrant place for the eye to rest. A Sputnik chandelier is visible just past the doors.
Zodiac 12-light chandelier, Crystorama Lighting. Walls, ceiling and woodwork painted in Tricorn Black, Sherwin-Williams.
The view from this comfortable corner in the library is to the front of the house and street. “My kids use this room, especially when the older one wants space from his brother,” Elise says. “I spend afternoons in here. Everyone likes to use the chairs and look out of the window, including the dog.”
This is one of the homeowner’s favourite spaces in the house. “It’s kind of my hideout at the end of the day,” she says. “It helps that it’s west-facing and gets sun in the late afternoon. The black on black is very moody, but incredibly cosy.”
This is one of the homeowner’s favourite spaces in the house. “It’s kind of my hideout at the end of the day,” she says. “It helps that it’s west-facing and gets sun in the late afternoon. The black on black is very moody, but incredibly cosy.”
Here’s another view out the library doors. The cabinet is a vintage record player console that the couple plan to fix, Elise says. Bill made the line drawings as a present to her. “I wanted a pair, so commissioned him to draw them,” she says. They’re hanging from trouser hangers. The black metal-and-glass dome on the console is a terrarium being used as a sculpture.
A butler’s pantry next to the kitchen contains a beverage and wine refrigerator under a quartz worktop. Elise used a felt-tip pen to draw lines in a wavy geometric pattern on the white-painted wall. The special oil-based paint pen works on a variety of surfaces and resists water damage and fading.
The cloakroom gets visual interest from a deep green, scallop-patterned wallpaper and white metro tiles. The custom-made walnut vanity unit has a quartz top that looks like soapstone.
Palma wallpaper, Hygge & West.
Palma wallpaper, Hygge & West.
The numerous windows leading upstairs provide ample natural light, accentuating the ebony-stained handrail, balusters and stair treads. “We wanted a lot of windows, so that stairwell is a stair tower. It’s very cosy on a cold afternoon, because it’s west-facing,” Elise says.
This is the guest bathroom, located on the second floor, which Elise says may end up being the kids’ bathroom someday. The black-and-white palette is designed to be timeless. “I wanted it to be a pretty space, not too mature, but still fun and pretty. I really liked that black tile,” Elise says.
Vanity unit, Brakur Custom Cabinetry. English Pub one-light vanity light, ELK Lighting. Walls painted in Decorator’s White, Benjamin Moore.
Vanity unit, Brakur Custom Cabinetry. English Pub one-light vanity light, ELK Lighting. Walls painted in Decorator’s White, Benjamin Moore.
The guest bedroom has a light and bright boho-chic style, with white walls and neutral tones in the bed linen and rug. An open geometric pendant light adds to the airy feel. The art over the bed is a topographic map line drawing of Yosemite National Park from Erik Linton of LintonArt.
Walls painted in Decorator’s White, Benjamin Moore.
Walls painted in Decorator’s White, Benjamin Moore.
Son Jack’s room evokes the feeling of a summer camp, with its forest green walls, tepee and vintage wall art. In fact, the inspiration was a 1950s-era summer camp-turned-glamping resort called Camp Wandawega, in southern Wisconsin, Elise says.
Walls painted in Backwoods, Benjamin Moore.
Walls painted in Backwoods, Benjamin Moore.
Elise’s mother made the quilt on Jack’s Jenny Lind-style bed. Most of the art on Jack’s walls is from his grandparents’ basements, Elise says. “We went through all their old art, scavenged horse art from my parents. There’s a photo on the wall of my grandfather on a trip to Hawaii years ago; it’s collected stuff we had. Every time we find a random piece from [a charity shop], it ends up in Jack’s room.”
There’s more outdoorsy art on the wall above a vintage chest of drawers.
The boys’ bathroom contains classic elements, such as a Kohler wall-mounted trough sink and industrial-style light. Dark blue hexagonal tiles line the floor and shower.
Standard baby colours were avoided in 2-year-old Leo’s room in favour of a sophisticated palette of deep blues, greys and neutrals. The walls are painted a moody dark blue-grey. Bill used an oil-based white felt-tip pen to draw the cloud patterns on the wall behind the cot. “He spent a weekend with a laser level making a lot of lines,” Elise says.
Washington five-light pendant: Hudson Valley Lighting; Caravan crib: Kalon Studios. Walls painted in Cyberspace, Sherwin-Williams.
Washington five-light pendant: Hudson Valley Lighting; Caravan crib: Kalon Studios. Walls painted in Cyberspace, Sherwin-Williams.
Here’s a closer look at the art Bill created on Leo’s wall.
A nappy-changing box sits atop a chest of drawers.
The laundry room is conveniently located between Leo’s room and the boys’ bathroom.
The airy and bright master bedroom has a high ceiling, wood beams and other comfortable elements that carry over from the rest of the house. “We wanted a lot of windows,” Elise says. “We had the bed already and knew we wanted a pitched ceiling in here. The beams from downstairs are carried through into here. It’s not a huge room; it looks bigger than it is. There’s a ton of light in here.”
Elise’s mother, who owns two horses, had a lot of horse-inspired art that she passed on to the couple. “I have an affinity for horse stuff,” Elise says.
Walls painted in Night Owl, Sherwin-Williams. 10-light triangular chandelier, Dainolite.
Elise’s mother, who owns two horses, had a lot of horse-inspired art that she passed on to the couple. “I have an affinity for horse stuff,” Elise says.
Walls painted in Night Owl, Sherwin-Williams. 10-light triangular chandelier, Dainolite.
This cosy corner of the master bedroom has a vintage chest of drawers from Broyhill Furniture.
The master bathroom has serene and classic elements that relate to the rest of the home. The green chevron cement floor tiles keep the space from feeling too stark. The Mirabelle freestanding soaking bath is filled by a floor-mounted brass tap.
Diamond chevron floor tiles in Lawn, Popham Design.
Diamond chevron floor tiles in Lawn, Popham Design.
In addition to the soaking bath, there’s an abundantly roomy shower. “It is gigantic,” Elise says.
Even though the Fox family’s home was built in 2019, it has architectural elements of a Tudor, a popular style in the 1920s that usually featured steep, front-facing gables, arched entries and tall and narrow grouped windows. The Foxes’ modernised Tudor has a mix of white-painted brick and Hardie board siding, with black accents that include the striking, two-storey-window tower.
“We lived in a Tudor in Colorado for a few years and loved it so much,” Elise says. “It was an inspiration for us, but we wanted a style more modern, and brought examples of modern Tudors to our architect, who did a melding of them,” she says.
Tell us…
What’s your favourite element of this family home? Let us know in the Comments section and don’t forget you can bookmark this article or save photos from it to your own ideabooks.
“We lived in a Tudor in Colorado for a few years and loved it so much,” Elise says. “It was an inspiration for us, but we wanted a style more modern, and brought examples of modern Tudors to our architect, who did a melding of them,” she says.
Tell us…
What’s your favourite element of this family home? Let us know in the Comments section and don’t forget you can bookmark this article or save photos from it to your own ideabooks.
Who lives here? Bill and Elise Fox; their sons, Jack, 5, and Leo, 2; and their shih-tzu-Yorkshire terrier mix dog, Bobby
Location Downers Grove, Illinois
Size Four bedrooms and three bathrooms; 3,000 sq ft (279 sq m)
Architect-builder Oakley Home Builders
Photos by Rachel Loewen
The couple worked with Oakley architect Jennifer Hense to get the modernised Tudor style they wanted, and in April 2019, with construction completed, they moved in.
Elise did most of the interior design herself and also collaborated with Oakley designer Heather VanHoven, who acted as a project manager to iron out details such as location of lighting sources. “She’s very talented,” Elise says.
The resulting design is bright and airy, with pale wood floors, a mix of stark white and dark walls, and other chic, modern touches. They turned to Houzz for inspiration. “A lot of times I’d think, ‘How would a modern bathroom look?’ and narrow down my choices,” Elise says.
The home’s black-and-white palette is softened by blonde wood ceiling beams and stools in the kitchen, as well as a butcher-block dining table. Some of the wood came from a 150-year-old oak tree that had to be cut down on the property.
The kitchen’s large, ebony-stained island seats six. “It becomes another dining table when friends or family come over, and it has plenty of storage,” Elise says. “There’s even more storage hidden by the chairs.”
Aerin Agnes matt black pendant lights, Visual Comfort.