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?
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)
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