SHOWHOUSE SHOWCASE : Sensationally soothing

Lake Forest Showhouse
Lake Forest, Illinois

Given the right weather, most people love spending time outdoors. But when designer Liz McEnaney took charge of a room overlooking a showhouse property's gardens, she used such soft colors and lovely furnishings that it might lure people inside even on a perfect day. "I'm a much better gardener than a decorator," Liz admits. "This was an opportunity to combine my love of design and my love of gardening."

On ivory stone walls, arched windows that would have been compromised with window treatments are left bare to grant easy views to the gardens. A seating arrangement features a clean-lined sofa topped with blue-and-white pillows, a pair of milky green armchairs edged in gold, and a brass coffee table.

Photographs by Edmund Barr
Text by Krissa Rossbund
Produced by Hilary Rose