Interiors by Jen Davidson shaped this Lake Forest, Illinois home around the family’s wish for more light and openness during this meaningful season of their lives. With photography by Erin Konrath Collective, the project reflects a home designed for the present—pairing clean lines and warm materials with meaningful personal elements to create spaces that feel thoughtful, connected, and grounded in the way this family moves through each day.
From Interiors by Jen Davidson… The Lake Forest project started with a home that had great bones but a layout that worked against the way this family actually lives. It was dark, choppy, and disconnected from the beautiful backyard they love so much. From the beginning, they told me they wanted natural light, openness, and a feeling that the outside was part of their daily rhythm. This isn’t their forever home, but it’s an important chapter while their daughter finishes middle school and high school, so every decision needed to support the way they live right now.
I always start by listening, and this family made it easy. They love music, quiet moments, and time together without the noise of screens. They also love modern art and had a meaningful piece they bought in France that they didn’t want tucked away. So we built a sitting room around that piece , a space meant for board games, great records, and slow afternoons without distractions. No TV. No cell phones. Just a room that reminds them to pause and be together.
The kitchen might be the biggest transformation. What used to be a sunroom became the new center of the home, designed for Saturday breakfasts, easy entertaining, and the kind of storage that keeps life moving without the clutter. We pulled in as much natural light as possible and used warm materials and simple lines to keep the space functional but calm.
“From start to finish, the design was shaped by their story and the season they’re in, the memories they want to make, and the comfort they want to feel every time they walk through the door.”
– Jen Davidson
Tour the Lake Forest Home
Discover the talent behind the story… Interior Design: Interiors by Jen Davidson · Photography: Erin Konrath Collective · Styling: Natalie Marotta · Builder: New Concept 180
