You Only Need $3.1 Million To Buy This Famous 1920's Chicago Mansion

Chicago Magazine – A Lake Forest mansion with ties to some of Chicago’s most prominent businessmen is for sale for the first time in decades. Built in the heart of the roaring twenties, the home resembles the dwellings of English nobility — and that’s no coincidence.

Formally named Whitehall, the home was built in the early to mid-’20s at a reported cost of $600,000 (nearly $9 million today) with ties to prominent Chicago architect Daniel Burnham and legendary merchant Marshall Field. Today, the estate spans six acres. And while updates to the wiring, heating, and kitchen have been made, much of the original home has been preserved. The owner says it’s time to pass Whitehall onto somebody new. And though it’s an understatement to call the place grand, she says its floor plan and spaces are perfectly suited to today’s families.

Normally $3.1 million is out of my price range not because it’s too much but because it’s not enough. $3.1M is more like no man’s land for big hitters. You have enough to be a millionaire but not enough where everyone wants to blow you to completion.

I’m not jealous at all. I have no need for 6 sprawling acres in the heart of one of Chicago’s most storied suburbs or any of the prestige that comes with it. That’s just me. Just a blogger in sweatpants aspiring for more Chicago championships.

But I’m not everybody and certainly not a millionaire. Someone, somewhere will want to tap into this mansion’s sentimental value as it was inspired by legendary architect Daniel Burnham. If his name sounds familiar, he was the big swinging dick in Devil In The White City, and he basically designed everything about Chicago at the turn of the 20th century.

With that history in mind, let’s get to the mansion. The potential to throw rager parties here is unmatched.

Our tour starts off in my helicopter. I hope you’re not afraid of heights. The sight angles are worth it.

First glance the roof is going to need some work. Just a hunch but I get the sense those shingles are authentic to the roaring 20’s as well. The half circle drive is a modern convenience for the Uber drivers bringing all of your friends over to enjoy big fucking meals. And of course, the ivy-covered brick is right in my wheelhouse.

As we soar into the backyard, pay close attention to the pageantry and beauty of the Walking Gardens.

I’m not from Lake Forest but I know guys who are. They say Walking Gardens are still a thing, which is nice if you’re into cardigans and shit. Personally I’m starring down the barrel of a bocce ball court to the left and one of those adjustable Gorilla rims on the right.

Take a sip of beer if you used to fuck around on these things at Dick’s with your buddies.

Anyways, the chopper is starting to get up there pretty high as we get a good look at the heavily wooded and equally majestic surrounding area. If you look really hard you can even see the lake. That’s why they call it Lake Forest and yes I take tips.

From this vantage we can also appreciate the symmetry and balance of the gigantic in-ground pool. Your girlfriend loves that shit. And even better, you and the bros have a place to relive Greek Reunion 2015 for at least another couple summers. Soak it in fellas because this is why you took the LSAT for a 3rd time. You don’t settle. You command excellence.

Let’s get this bird on the ground.

I stuck the landing on the pool cover because I know what I’m doing. Follow me inside.

Here, you’ll immediately notice the largest Persian rug this side of the Atlantic flanked by the kind of meticulous woodworking you’d only see from 14th-century Franciscan Monks. Again, just some knee jerk observations. Everything here looks nice as fuck.

From the lobby we can enter directly into a sitting room that also appears to be nice as fuck.

Generally that should make me uncomfortable but really this is no different than any nice fraternity house you’ve ever stepped in. Maybe a little bit nicer. But the mindset is the same – don’t burn the place down and generally don’t lay down on any couches for health reasons. Here you’d get a stiff back. At Betas you might get dick warts.

Anyways, the big pitch here is that all the finishes are from England or something when people used to have really nice shit. People are making a big deal about the fireplace.

First glance I don’t see an on/off switch which naturally means more work for me. No fucking thanks guys. If I’m spending millions, I’m not chopping wood. I’m relaxing with my feet up and some responsible Miller Lites. Maybe the living room is a safer bet.

Wood everywhere. You want to be rich get some nice old wood. That’s a major sign you can buy and sell people. Only problem is the amount of wasted space right in front of me. That must be where everyone stands and socializes at all the dinner parties I’m about to throw. Personally I like air hockey because it compliments the pool table in my new sun room quite well

Now we’re talking. Even the pockets on the pool table are fancy as fuck. Natural light everywhere. Wood everywhere. Fancy ass design on the floor, fancy ass design on the ceiling. This is how you get laid after college people. You get really nice shit and then show it to everyone on the internet.

Let’s double back to the kitchen.

From here we get our first real taste of disappointment in the form of a white plastic dishwasher. If you’ve “stumbled” onto HGTV at some point or another you know that’s a biggggggg mistake. Matching microwaves only make things worse. That said, give me an island in the middle of any kitchen anywhere and I’ll show you a good time. There’s drinking games and tremendous conversation waiting to be had in the middle of this room even if the room itself sucks.

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And while you’re chewing on that disappointment, get a load of these bedrooms

Or this laundry room

Or this… whatever the hell it’s called

The highs and lows of this mansion tour have my brain in a pretzel. I can’t handle all this renovation work but at the end of the day what do I really need? I need a place to hang out and get loose. Insert the 3rd floor

This space was designed with pregaming in mind. Beer pong / flip cup already set up. Limited natural light. Outlets for your phone charger and a small fridge. Plenty of space for a few couches and the kind of acoustics that get the most out of the free bluetooth player you got from that one internship one time.

Folks what are we waiting for. Yes, Lake Forest is far. Yes $3.1 million is $3.1 million more than I have to give. But this is opportunity to have a big time party house strategically located between Chicago and your dad’s lake house. This could be an epic checkpoint in Chicago Summer 2019. Only question is who wants to get a piece of this action.