We stayed at this property for Thanksgiving weekend 2019.
Without a crumb of exaggeration, the house, the hosts and the location were not just exceptional, they were all world class.
The home is spectacular in every way. It’s warm and full of the family’s touches throughout - the opposite of the generic vanilla rentals that leave you feeling hollow. It’s clear that no expense was spared from top to bottom. But most importantly, the owners found the perfect intersection between beautiful design and amazing comfort.
The house is built for spending time together with the group in wonderfully warm, yet large, community spaces - both inside the house and in the expansive outdoor areas.
The bedrooms deserve praise too because everything is high-end from the mattresses, sheets, comforters and duvets to the sound-proof windows. Yep - you’re going to sleep very well.
They have a “sports court” which doubles as private parking for 2-3 cars. So easy.
We also really loved that this is a free-standing home. No shared walls or ceilings. The whole building is yours.
The hosts, Beth and Jim, were the best I’ve ever met. They were legitimately grateful to have us as guests and their kindness, responsiveness and thoroughness proved it. They were never bothered by our questions (even on Thanksgiving) and they made it feel like we’d been friends for years. They were truly exceptional.
If you’re unfamiliar with Chicago, the location of this home is where most people dream of living: In the heart of Lincoln Park. It’s super safe and super charming and close to everything good.
Some additional highlights about the house:
The kitchen, breakfast room and one of the TV areas serve as a wonderful great room for everyone to hang out together. There’s a separate living room/“music room” where everyone can relax on a super comfortable sofa and play the piano and guitar to their hearts content (we sure did). The dining room is beautiful and like the rest of the house, has wonderful touches of home throughout. The lower level includes a beautiful bedroom/private bath and a super comfortable cinema/TV room with chalkboard walls that include art designed by the family. And there’s also a ping pong table, peleton bike and other work out gear.
There’s also a wonderful community area on the 2nd floor between the bedrooms with a Mah Jong sofa (I think) which is perfect for both big and little kids to hang out on. And the Master bed/bath is perfect in every way.
For those visiting in warm-weather months, the outdoor space is amazing. There’s a large outdoor deck on the ground floor with tables/chairs, a sofa and a fire pit and there’s a large rooftop terrace where the entire group can hang in the sunshine.
This home, the hosts and the location are all big-time winners.