A home that a famous architect designed and a master gardener renovated offers serious style—both inside and out.

The celebrated architect R. Harold Zook designed the house on St. Charles Road in Glen Ellyn, IL, on a 1-acre lot.

“The architect is well known in the Chicagoland area,” says the listing agent, Nanette Bauer. “It was built in 1937 and after all these years, the family who have owned it for 22 years have really respected the integrity of the original architecture of the home.”

It’s now on the market for the very particular price of $848,581.

“I like to set my listings apart from the other sellers, so I spend a bit of time on the digits,” Bauer explains.

The last three numbers are derived from the home’s street address.

Zook is best known for his creations around the Chicago area. Most of his homes were in the Cotswold style, which often used elements of Tudor architecture, like timber framing, exposed beans, and intricate stonework. People who know his work say it’s easy to spot one of his homes.

Many of his designs incorporated a spiderweb element, often in stained glass or stonework.

“The current owner sees it in the stone face of the exterior,” Bauer says, with its round center window and the spiderweb motif radiating out from it.

Exterior

Four structures are on the property: a main house, a garage with an apartment above it, a summer house three-season space, and a barn.

The main house has four bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms, on 3,171 square feet of living space.

“The seller has put on a two-story addition in the back. They were very careful to integrate some of the typical features of the property,” Bauer explains. “It increased the size of the master bedroom, added a guest bedroom to the lowest level, and added another bathroom. They incorporated a lot of the original details that Zook used in his properties.”

Inside, the house has touches of whimsy, thanks to a few distinctive finishes.

“When they were doing all the renovations, the current owners were careful about picking unique tilework that honored the architect, but also reflected a very artistic aspect,” Bauer explains.

For a buyer looking for a home beyond the traditional tract, this Zook design is an ideal fit.

“I think the person who would appreciate it most would be very creative, and they would be artistic,” says Bauer.

The rustic barn is original to the property and offers loft storage. The summer house is equipped with a flagstone bread oven.

Outside, the verdant gardens are a true highlight—dotted by fountains, ponds, trails, and waterfalls.

The owner, who was certified as a Master Gardener at the University of Illinois, did the work with her husband.

“They essentially designed all the landscape, and really maintained it themselves,” Bauer says, adding that the koi pond is several feet deep, so the fish can survive the Chicago winters.

The Churchill Woods Forest Preserve surrounds the property on all sides, so Bauer says the house is private, even though it is close to the city and transportation to Chicago.

“I live in a similar situation, with a large piece of property backing up to a forest preserve and all that, so I understand the benefits of the setting,” Bauer says. “I live in the area and I also have a Zook-influenced home, so this property speaks to me.”

 

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