The Lake Forest Showhouse and Gardens is an annual favorite among architecture and design enthusiasts in Lake Forest and neighboring communities. Hosted by the 2025 Infant Welfare Society, the elegant Lake Forest estate—Pembroke Lodge—has undergone extensive renovations in preparing for the upcoming spring.
Originally built in 1895, the estate spans a beautiful 3.5 acres and features 30 newly designed and decorated rooms. The home includes two thoughtfully redesigned floors, a pool with its gated pool house, and an adjacent tennis court complete with its own warming hut.
The majestic mansion was designed by architect Henry Ives Cobb for real estate and zinc mining entrepreneur David Benton Jones. Remarkably, the estate remained in the Jones family for 67 years before being sold in 1962. Pembroke Lodge is one of the oldest estates developed along Lake Forest’s historic Green Bay Road.
For this year’s Lake Forest Showhouse, over 35 interior designers, along with leading landscape designers, collaborated to transform the estate’s design.
Luckily, we were fortunate to visit this masterfully designed home. Needless to say, the transformation of the estate is truly remarkable. While every room reflects exceptional craftsmanship and taste, here are a few that stood out as truly unforgettable.
The Garden Room
The Garden room, designed by Amy Kartheiser Design, was one of the first spaces we toured at Pembroke Lodge—and it made a lasting impression.Right out of the gate, the playful, whimsical color palette was eye-catching, making the room hard to forget. The array of plants and large windows created an inviting atmosphere. They helped bring the outside feeling into the home with their enhancements of greenery. The thoughtful details from the textured walls to the playful hanging chairs stood out from the rest. The high levels of charm and taste from the design were memorable. This room exudes fun and warmth, which makes it one of our favorites of this year’s Showhouse.
The Gallery Room
The Gallery room, thoughtfully designed by Michael Del Piero Good Design and Randy Heller Design, left us speechless the moment we walked in. The massive windows flooded the space with light—we couldn’t imagine any need for overhead lighting. The greenery draped from the ceiling, creating a unique atmosphere unlike anything we’d experienced before. The double-sided couch added a layer of comfort and made the room feel both elegant and inviting. Custom features—from throw pillows and rugs to pedestals, and more—made this room truly unforgettable. This room instantly made our top pick for the 2025 Showhouse.
Pool House Cabana
Saving the best for last, the estate’s stunning Pool House Cabana —tastefully designed by Meghan Jay Designs—was a true standout. From the moment we stepped inside, we were immediately taken back into the glamor of the 1920s with a modern, yet preppy twist. Romantic bunting was draped effortlessly from the ceiling in such a fresh and natural way that made us want to stay in this room forever. The playful pillows added a wheel of color and offered a place we could see ourselves lounging after a long day at the pool. The varied lighting added to the 20s vibe, highlighting the amusing image while also bringing it back to the modern pool house aesthetic. Overall, the flirty colors, moody lighting, and overhead decorating made this room to die for, and a staple of the 2025 Showhouse.
Honorable Mention: Formal Front Garden
With 3.5 acres of land, how could we possibly forget about the Formal Front Garden? Designed by JMR Landscaping, the garden felt like an escape from reality. What made the garden so memorable was the iconic masquerade masks floating amongst the greenery. We felt transported back in time to a masquerade ball. With each mask showcasing a different story, it was hard not to be completely mesmerised by each brushstroke and gem added to the individual mask. Aside from the chic detailing, the soft blue accents brought a subtle pop of color, seamlessly blending with the outdoor green, creating a fresh and effortless look from the outside. And it wouldn’t be a garden without a gazebo. The light blue swing brought in the perfect amount of comfort, where you can admire and oversee the hard work put into the garden. All in all, we couldn’t forget this piece of fresh air.
The Lake Forest Showhouse is an iconic stop for spring design lovers around the North Shore Area. Tickets are available through May 25th, and we highly encourage that you pay a stop to the gorgeous estate!
