Shaker Grove in Antioch, Illinois, was inspired by the vision of a faith community's gentle spirit of harmony teamed with practicality. See what we mean in this special section of ideas and products.

Shaker Grove Idea Home

(Originally Published: September/October 2002)

Inspired by the Shaker tradition that embraced basic shapes, natural materials, repetitive forms and down-to-earth function, Shaker Grove celebrates the simple life. Tour our interpretation, where you'll find modern, yet classic, ideas for bringing simple pleasures into your own home.

Shaker Grove, the Midwest Living® Idea Home 2002, illustrates how busy families can find calm and serenity in a design that fuses form and function. Inspired by the Shakers, a religious order founded in the mid-1700s and devoted to simplicity and hard work, the home embodies one of their precepts: a place for everything, and everything in its place. Our home stays true to its clean, utilitarian roots, but also plays to the comforts and amenities that today's families demand. Yes, you can have the best of both, and it's a beautiful blend.

Architects Stuart Cohen and Julie Hacker of Evanston, Illinois, based the plan on rustic farm buildings and old Shaker meeting houses. Sitting on a steep site at the Landmark Pointe development in Antioch, Illinois (halfway between Chicago and Milwaukee), the home shows two stories in front, four in back. The result is a grand panorama of Lake Antioch, a private manmade lake some 200 yards down the slope. Builder Michael Doran of Landmark Homes in Gurnee, Illinois, excavated and built Shaker Grove with a rear window wall and outdoor areas that accentuate the views. We selected low-maintenance exterior materials that withstand extremes of temperature and humidity.

Choosing easy-care exterior products helps simplify life by cutting down on maintenance and upkeep. But homes still need to be attractive. So although the siding used here looks like cedar, it's actually cement-fiber Hardiplank from James Hardie Building Products. The preprimed, insect- and fire-resistant material won't split, warp, or mold and has a 50-year warranty.

Another selection that adds more than good looks is the garage doors from the Clopay Reserve Collection. Their layered construction, with a linear design that fits the style of the house, helps insulate during Midwest temperature extremes.

For windows, we paired warm wood tones inside with low maintenance outside. The handsome wood interiors of Integrity windows from Marvin Windows and Doors blend with other stained hardwoods such as oak and maple. Outside, fiberglass and polyester-resin cladding eliminate yearly painting.

Step inside Shaker Grove's 6,000 square feet, and you'll find four distinct levels of living space: a main floor, an upstairs, a mezzanine and a lower-level walk-out area. The main level includes gathering spaces in the great room, kitchen and breakfast area, as well as an intimate and luxurious master suite.

Much like Shaker homes, where wall cabinetry eliminated the need for extra furnishings, maple cabinetry from Schrock used in innovative ways helps organize. In the hallway, for instance, drawers and cupboards stash mail and briefcases. A shelf skirts the mirror, where you can drop keys or take a last look before leaving the house.

Built-ins also keep clutter at bay in the home office, which doubles as a guest suite, with an adjacent bath. Custom wood blinds from Lafayette Interior Fashions blend with the maple trim. Indiana weaver Marcia Chambers fashioned the area rug, incorporating colors such as burnt orange, copper and indigo from the room's upholstery fabrics. You get to the dining room through French doors off the great room. The milky glazed table, chairs and buffet from Ethan Allen suggest formality in this room that's ripe for entertaining.

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