• About

Chicago Treasure Houses

~ An admiration of historic, noteworthy and simply beautiful homes in the Chicago area

Chicago Treasure Houses

Tag Archives: Frances Elkins

David Adler’s Armour Mansion: A Pictorial Timeline

13 Wednesday Apr 2016

Posted by M.K.E. in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

1940, A Wedding, Carol Burnett, david adler, ellen glendinning frazier, Frances Elkins, grace kelly, john b. kelly, Leola Armour, Lester Armour, national register of historic places, Richard Marx, Robert Altman

David Adler’s legendary Armour mansion, complete with its own recording studio, can be yours for a mere $13.9 million. The Lake Bluff, Illinois home, constructed in 1931 for Lester and Leola Armour of the meat-packing family, has been owned since 1997 by singer-songwriter Richard Marx and his former wife.  Marx initially listed the home and the five acres on which its sits on the shores of Lake Michigan for $18 million in 2014, but there were no takers.  At the time of this writing, the home is the second most expensive single family residence for sale in the Chicago area.  Although the home’s current iteration is that of the showplace of a successful musician, complete with rather stage-y Franco-Italianate interior design, the home has its own colorful history.

Marx Exterior 1

The Lester Armour residence, Arbor Drive, Lake Bluff, Illinois

David Adler, whose magnificent homes stud the shores of Chicago’s northern suburbs like priceless jewels, was a personal friend of Leola Armour. Such was the Armours’ respect for the architect, that when Adler presented them his designs for the Colonial-Federal style residence, they gave an unconditional go-ahead to Adler’s vision.  Adler’s sister, designer Frances Elkins, was responsible for the home’s interiors.

The home was photographed in 1940 by noted photographer Ellen Glendinning Frazier when the Armours hosted luminaries in town for the Democratic National Convention.  As noted in the excellent New York Social Diary, the Armours’s guests included one John B. Kelly, whose daughter, Grace, would later become the Academy Award-winning actress and Her Serene Highness of Monaco.

Armour Home, ca. 1940

The allee of trees leading to the Armour home, July 1940

Leola Armour, Jack Kelly

Leola Armour and Jack Kelly converse in the home’s sunroom, July 1940

Leola Armour lived in the home until the late 1940s, when she and Lester divorced.  Lester continued to reside there upon his subsequent marriage to Russian princess Alexandra Galitzine, who resided there until 1977. The home was rightfully added to the National Register of Historic Places.

The mansion became a celebrity in its own right when it was selected to be one of the locations for Robert Altman’s raucous 1978 film, A Wedding.  There are some good shots of the exterior and interior in the original trailer.

a wedding

“Wedding” stars Paul Dooley, Nina van Pallandt, Geraldine Chaplin and Carol Burnett are visible in this photo of the ivied entrance.

Continue reading →

Advertisement

David Adler Treasure for Sale

31 Monday Oct 2011

Posted by M.K.E. in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Charles Pike, david adler, Frances Elkins, historic home, lake forest

Perhaps it is the difficult economic climate that affords us the rare opportunity to view interiors of some of the storied houses of David Adler. The Chicago-based architect designed many homes in the city’s North Shore and Gold Coast areas.  Adler had an unerring eye for proportion, and a limitless vocabulary of styles. His sister, Frances Elkins, was a celebrated interior designer, and assisted him with many of his projects.

This Adler-designed lakefront treasure is for sale for $6.2 million.  Adler designed the 21-room home in 1916 for Charles and Frances Pike. Mr. Pike was the son of Zebulon Pike, for whom Pike’s Peak is named.  When you approach the house, from the street, it arises like something out of a dream.  I’d always wanted to see what it looked like inside.  Although a friend of mine lived down the street, he did not know the current owner, and one does not go anonymously knocking on the doors in this ‘hood.  Hence, I am delighted to present to you these views.

The front elevation, with its commanding entrance:

 Adler designed the villa to take advantage of the property’s proximity to Lake Michigan.

Let’s catch a breeze along the classically proportioned loggia.

The courtyard, circa 1970

The courtyard features a signature Adler design, paved with stones he selected from the home’s beach, all those years ago.

                                               The ultimate beach stone craft project

Now, taking a break from the home’s exterior grandeur, we’ll wander down to the beach.

We’ll wipe the sand off our feet, walk back up to the home’s entrance, and step into the magnificent foyer.  Note Adler’s masterful treatment of the pediments, and how they direct your eyes toward the coffered ceiling.

Next, we’ll poke our noses in the paneled living room.
Entertains quite a few, wouldn’t you say?

The dining room accommodates an ample number of guests.

The gallery is another Adler signature item.  If only if the excessive window treatments and furnishings didn’t detract from the “lovely bones.”

Another room is faithful to the home’s Mediterranean roots.

Here we see a large bedroom.  Wonder if it overlooks the lake.

Not to be unkind to the current owners, who have no doubt poured millions into maintaining this residence, but clearing some of the furniture inventory and window treatments would make the home truly shine.

Our tour is complete.  I hope the new owners bestow the same amount of care the the present owners have lavished on this landmark.

See the listing.

Subscribe

  • Entries (RSS)
  • Comments (RSS)

Archives

  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • September 2016
  • July 2016
  • April 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2013
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011

Categories

  • Uncategorized

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in

Website Powered by WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • Chicago Treasure Houses
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Chicago Treasure Houses
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...
 

You must be logged in to post a comment.