This Historic Hal Yoakum Highland Park Tudor Has Been Beautifully Reimagined

Finding a historic Highland Park Tudor on a terrific lot in a great location with mature trees has become a challenge. So, when Laura Williamson got a hot tip that this home was about to hit the market, she took one look and knew she did not want to see another historic home torn down.

Designed by architect Hal Yoakum in 1937, it’s a fine piece of Highland Park residential architecture and has served its owners well. The best indication of how well a home lives is when it seldom changes hands, and this stately beauty had been in the same family for over 30 years when Williamson bought it. Of course, that also means a serious refresh was in order, and one with a nod to the home’s history.

Originally, Williamson was not planning to paint the exterior, but it had such a heavy look that she reconsidered.

“I wanted a light, bright, happy, storybook home,” she said.

Researching the older grooved brick of the house, she discovered how to paint the brick without damaging it. Then she had an artist create a French-style roundel inset for the front door using antique German glass. The final touch was landscaping.

“I wanted lots of flowers that you could smell when you walk up the path,” she said.

Williamson ended up doing a complete facelift on her 5,506-square-foot, five-bedroom, five-and-one-half bath Highland Park Tudor. She replaced windows and doors that were an assortment from different decades.

“The biggest changes were aesthetic,” Williamson said. “I wanted to try to make it more architecturally congruent. The back half of the house did not feel as if it went with the front, so I made a lot of design changes, but the look I was planning evolved as I got to know the house.”

To create that desired light and bright look, Williamson chose an array of whites for her Highland Park Tudor. When you consider that Benjamin Moore has a dedicated Off-White Collection featuring 152 distinct white and off-white variations, and Farrow & Ball has 20, this is no easy task.

One subtle touch that makes a room stand out is high-gloss paint on the ceiling. Williamson used this in the formal living room.

“I wanted it to feel a bit more modern. Farrow & Ball is the only paint that offers that kind of shine,” she said.

In the dining room, Williamson continued her personal touch with custom hand-painted silk wallpaper.

“It’s a loose interpretation of a de Gournay wallpaper I’d seen,” she explained. “I used it as a launching point.”

The most dramatic design change is the trellised family room. This technique has historically been used to bring the feeling of a garden inside, adding architectural depth and a bit of whimsy to a room. It was inspired by a Palm Beach Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse. You can peek into the library from the family room and see it’s painted in Farrow & Ball’s Wimborne White.

The completely redesigned kitchen is painted in Benjamin Moore Simply White. Williamson chose Brazilian white quartzite for the island and countertops, installed custom cabinetry, and selected professional-grade Sub-Zero, Bosch, and Wolf appliances.

“I tried to create visual height where I could with the gothic arch over the kitchen window and taking the cabinets to the ceiling,” she said.

Williamson has given us an inspiring lesson in preserving a home’s original charm while elevating its elegance.  Her vision went beyond aesthetics.

“I want the house to continue to be a happy home and to be low maintenance, so that people get to spend their time on what brings them joy,” she said.

“There is a great sense of community on this block. It’s a safe, happy, and secure location. I’m moving to England to start the next chapter, and I want someone to move into this house to enjoy their next chapter,” she said.

Dave Perry-Miller’s Valerie Dillon has this historic Highland Park Tudor at 4417 Lorraine Ave. available for $6.25 million.