By Judy Carmack Bross
Kate Rother, Marybeth O’Shea, Shawn Gore, Shannon Shader
Jennie Buettner and Melissa Filkin
Megan McCampbell, Leslie Lardino, Marie Woods and Maura Dailey
“Bare Bones”—the official kickoff of the 2025 Lake Forest Showhouse hosted by the Lake Forest Chapter of the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago—welcomed over 250 guests recently for an exclusive look at a Lake Forest estate soon to be transformed into one of the finest Showhouses in the country. The Lake Forest Showhouse & Gardens will be open for visits April 26 -May 25, 2025.
Alicia Phillips, Claire Concannon, Meredith Mitchell, Lauren Peters, Whitley Bouma Herbert, Cassie Mancuso Carver
Event chairs Michelle Taubensee and Marie Woods
Jen Durburg, Cathy Crowley, Shannon Shader, Susan Rolander, Barrett Erker, Dawn Talma
This year’s location is a majestic 30-room limestone Georgian-style Lake Forest home, designed in 1895 by architect Henry Ives Cobb and redesigned in 1935 by the dream team of David Adler and Frances Elkins.
Charlotte Muzik and Alexa Karkazis
Jennifer Hoogasian and Sara Pickus
Volunteer Bartenders Lukas Szot and Tim Walsh
Onsite work has begun for the 38 interior and six landscape design firms invited to design rooms or outdoor spaces at this year’s Lake Forest Showhouse & Gardens.
Betsey Hough, Brooke Kuehnle, Heidi Lancaster
The Lake Forest Showhouse & Gardens will be open to visitors Tuesday through Sunday, April 26, through May 25, 2025. On Monday, April 28, Los Angeles-based star designer and this year’s Honorary Chair Mary McDonald will serve as the keynote speaker at a lecture and luncheon to benefit The Infant Welfare Society of Chicago. Dana Caponigro, editor of the design magazine FREDERIC and Chief Creative Officer of F. Schumacher & Co., a major sponsor of this year’s showhouse, will serve as moderator.
Martha Zeeman
Samantha Trace, Nicole Curcio, Dina Lamberson and Alicia Phillips
Susan Pasquella, Stacy Sanderson and Jennifer Durburg
The 2025 Showhouse marks the board’s 20thproduction. Through a commitment to creativity, quality, and professionalism, the volunteer-run Lake Forest Showhouse & Gardens has become widely recognized as one of the top showhouses in the country.
Cathy Crowley, Shannon Shader, Dawn Talma
Francesca Connell, Cassie Mancuso Carver and Dustin O’Regan
Megan Terlato, Megan Crowe, Gabby Sobinsky
Photo credit: Widia Viti Photography
For up-to-date event information and to purchase tickets visit www.lakeforestshowhouse.com.
Nicole Cooper, Brooke Tagliaferro, Jessica White and Kim Egan
Perry Minter, Nicole Cooper, Kim Egan, Kasey Wood, Lucy Pelletier
Rebecca Asfour, Wendy Franzen and Chrissy Davis
