Historic charm, modern flair: Step inside the 2025 Lake Forest Showhouse

The 2025 Lake Forest Showhouse & Gardens, celebrating its 20th anniversary, is open for tours from now through May 25. This biennial event, hosted by the Lake Forest Chapter of the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago, transforms historic estates into showcases of interior and landscape design, with proceeds benefiting IWS Family Health.

A Historic Setting: Pembroke Lodge

Forty-seven designers transformed this year's Showhouse, set in Pembroke Lodge. This 30-room Georgian-style limestone estate was built in 1895 by architect Henry Ives Cobb for David B. Jones. The property was later redesigned in the 1930s by David Adler and Frances Elkins. Situated on 3.5 acres along Lake Forest’s Green Bay Road, the estate features English walled gardens, a pool house, tennis court, and a reflecting pond.

Design Transformation

Nearly 50 interior and landscape designers have reimagined the 15,000-square-foot mansion and its grounds. The interiors blend historical elements with modern design, incorporating vivid color palettes, botanical motifs, and biophilic design principles. Notable spaces include a magenta-doored salon, a Parisian garden-themed hallway, and a neutral-toned primary suite. 

Outside, landscape designers have created garden rooms, terraces, and a tennis court garden. The pool pavilion by Mandarine Home and tennis hut by Ash Street Interiors add to the estate's charm.

Visiting Information

• Dates: Now through – May 25, 2025

• Hours: Tuesday through Sunday

• Tickets: $50, available in advance for specific dates and times; no tickets sold at the door

• Parking: Available at the City of Lake Forest East Train Station – North Lot; shuttle service provided

• Accessibility: No wheelchair access; children under 8 not permitted (2025 LF Showhouse)

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the official website: (2025 LF Showhouse).

Sources:

• (2025 LF Showhouse)

• (The Glam Pad)

• (Architectural Digest)