April showers have a way of breathing life back into the landscape, turning winter’s muted tones into a lush, vibrant green overnight. Inspired by this transformation, we embraced the most restorative hue—crisp, bracing April green—as the heart of our design for a breathtaking French Chateau-style home nestled on three myrtle-dotted acres just outside Chicago.

This month, we look to the ever-iconic C.Z. Guest as our muse. A paragon of timeless style, her life at Templeton—her storied estate—embodied effortless elegance, equestrian tradition, and an enduring passion for the garden. Like C.Z., this home carries an air of refined ease, where classic design meets the fresh spirit of the outdoors.

A custom parakeet-green de Gournay wallcovering now envelops the foyer, setting the tone with a crisp, botanical vibrancy reminiscent of Templeton’s gardens. The dining room’s minty Brunschwig & Fils treillage playfully nods to classic design with a wink to Mark Hampton’s signature style, while the primary bedroom’s flame-painted desk serves as a striking focal point. Even the basement—often an afterthought—received a sophisticated makeover, with ebonized woods, inky-stained wicker, and a dramatic 19th-century oil painting of waterfowl introducing layers of mood and refinement.

As with any great garden, design requires time and care to flourish. While we honored the home’s traditional roots, we infused it with contrast—balancing old with new, dark with light, classical with the unexpected. A glass coffee table, sprightly upholstery, and painted chairs inject energy into the space, preventing it from feeling too formal or staid. The result? A home that reflects the effortless grace of C.Z. Guest herself—fresh, elegant, and deeply tied to the beauty of the land.

We are excited to share this special project with you, along with eleven other homes featured in Forever Beautiful. To explore the full collection, be sure to pick up a copy here!

Make it Beautiful,