Vive la France! Live Solidarité in This French-Inspired Home on Drexel

Our hearts are still broken over the violence in Paris, a city that the whole world has fallen in love with. And as we look for ways to honor the resilience and solidarité shown by the French in the wake of the terror attacks, the city’s characteristic architecture comes to mind.

Grand stone facades, slate roofs, glass doors, and manicured gardens remind us of the beauty and elegance for which Paris is known. You’ll find this all inside this understated French-inspired home on one of Highland Park’s most sought-after streets.

From the curb, this house is an unmistakably modern take on French chateau style, but inside it is sleek, with flashes of gilt that feels elegant without being overdone.

Cut crystal and brass chandeliers provide just enough glamour to this stately home at 3110 Drexel Drive. This home was built in 1998 and recently updated to flow exceptionally well. The details are fantastic, including wide trim, hardwood floors, stone fireplaces, and designer lighting. It’s listed with Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty agent Geno McNeil for $1.775 million.

There’s plenty of sunlight streaming in through the French doors and windows throughout this 4,816-square-foot, four-bedroom, three-full-and-one-half-bath home. That natural light makes the formal spaces at the front of the home really shine, and provides an extra bit of warmth to the family room and adjacent kitchen. There’s also a study on the first floor, complete with built-ins and a coffered ceiling that adds some depth and drama to the space.

The family areas enjoy an open-concept floor plan that easily integrates the kitchen to the living area and breakfast room, which is perfect for holiday entertaining. You’ll notice fresh paint, new built-in Jenn-Air appliances, and luxurious marble counters in the kitchen, too. The layout is great for those who want to maximize counter space for preparation and serving, and it’s scaled so well for everyday life.

 

Head up the curved staircase with custom wrought iron banister and handrail to the master suite, which is such a lovely and relaxing space.

That chandelier just really ups the glamour. It’s not too shiny or too big — like the kitchen and formal rooms, it’s all perfectly scaled to the space. The coved ceiling and crown molding add even more grandeur, and the bank of windows really lights up the space. It’s sizable, but not excessive. It’s classy, not brassy.

The master bath is so absolutely well done, with just enough marble to make things interesting, but not too much to make it overbearing. It’s subtle, letting the ceiling arch and Victoria & Albert bathtub do the talking. The vanity is a great size, but the mirror feels a little bit too big. Perhaps adding some kind of frame around it would make it a little more in line with the rest of the space.

There’s also an oversized walk-in closet right next door, and we can’t forget the large frameless glass shower, now can we?

The other three bedrooms are also upstairs, along with two additional bathrooms. Two bedrooms in the front share a Jack-and-Jill bath, while the guest bedroom has an en suite bath. You’ll also appreciate the home theater, which, unlike the rest of the home, goes full throttle into French Baroque design, complete with rich red and gold on the walls and trim, plush curtains and a velvet rope, and true theater seating. You can have a red carpet experience without leaving home.

The backyard is tidy and well-appointed, with a pool and small garden as well as a covered patio. It’s a great spot to host that wine tasting you’ve been planning, and kids will enjoy the grassy spots and a cool dip with friends. Truly, this home has everything you need for la belle vie, right here in Highland Park.

Vive la France!