For their Hinsdale home, Mark and Megan Hickman wanted a smartly designed space flooded with light and filled 
with details that celebrate the art of building. The goal was to create a city-like place—complete with roof deck—that brings elements of the downtown lifestyle close to the couple’s work in the suburbs.
Mark Hickman Homes constructs dream houses for many happy families. Helping others work through what they want from each room let the duo determine their own must-haves and stay focused on executing the vision.
With a plan in place, the modern farmhouse came together very quickly. “We broke ground in September and moved in during April,” Megan says.
Mike Abraham of Culligan Abraham Architecture designed the home, and while Megan was initially skeptical about the contrasting white and grey exterior, the Hickmans love how it turned out and even carried the colors into the interiors. The gunmetal grey wraps the kitchen and everything else is pure white.
The paint, in conjunction with the expansive windows and gleaming dark wood floors, provides the ideal backdrop for handcrafted treasures and pops of color on each of the three stories.
Hand to Table
Mark made the walnut dining table, and it’s a beauty. The sun streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows amplifies the natural warmth of the wood. It feels absolutely right in its proximity to an exposed steel beam nearby. Megan carried the tactile contrasts throughout the room with sleek leather sofas and curly lamb pillows. “We have integrated modern with raw. The steel beam in the kitchen and dining room with the rust and numbers still on it, or the raw walnut table we built, or the 1950s industrial steel credenza provide elements that most homes do not have,” says Megan.
Serene Space
Megan’s grandfather, John R. Johnson, made the bed and nightstands in the master—complete with trundle drawers for storage or a napping spot for Jacques the cat.
The bathroom cabinetry and other furniture in the room was then custom-made to complement these one-of-a-kind pieces. The whole effect is that of a tranquil aerie in which to begin and end each day.
Sweet Spot
The third floor loft space was originally going to be a bedroom, but two extra sleeping rooms seemed more than the couple needs right now. Instead, the built-ins were created using mattress material, so extra guests can bunk down if necessary, but it’s also a great spot to curl up with a book.
Outside is the star of the home, a roof deck that manages to be cool and cozy, chic and inviting. “Definitely the roof deck,” Mark says when asked about his favorite feature of the home. Megan simply calls it, “The core of the home.” It brings that city feeling the couple craved to a spot that’s walking distance to downtown Hinsdale, offering the perfect spot to unwind and decide if they’d like to stroll into town for dinner or just enjoy some drinks and appetizers as they gaze upon the world below.
SOURCEBOOK
Paint colors from Benjamin Moore Decorators White (including all cabinets—kitchen high-gloss) and Benjamin Moore Gunmetal Grey
All custom cabinets created by Roeckers Inc., 6523 N. Galena Road, Peoria, roeckercabinets.com
All light fixtures from Lightology, 215 W. Chicago Avenue, Chicago, lightology.com
Stainless steel countertop custom made by Avenue Metal Co., 1640 W. Ogden Avenue, Chicago, avenuemetal.com
All plumbing fixtures (including sinks) from Kohler Store, Merchandise Mart, 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, Chicago, kohlerstore.com
Dining room table made by Mark Hickman, 218 W. Hinsdale Avenue, markhickmanhomes.com
Wood from Owl Hardwood Lumber Company, 926 S. Graceland Avenue, Des Plaines, owlhardwood.com
Bedroom furniture custom made by John R. Johnson and Roeckers Inc.
Sofas from Walter E. Smithe, smithe.com
White chairs from Carson Pirie Scott, carsons.com/shop/home/furniture/
Roof deck furniture from Macy’s, macys.com
Red chairs on third floor from CB2, cb2.com
Vapor stools at kitchen countertop from CB2
Breakfast table and chairs from Room & Board, roomandboard.com
Chairs for dining room from Inmod, inmod.com
Mirrors in first and second floor bathrooms by Blomus, allmodern.com
Mirror in third floor bath by CB2
Furry pillows by West Elm, westelm.com
All appliances from Wolf and Sub-Zero from Ferguson, 1410 Butterfield Road, Downers Grove, ferguson.com
– Michelle Crowe // Photography by Cynthia Lynn and Joel Lerner
