Indiana Country House for Hosting Family Gatherings
A designer-builder helps a Chicago couple remodel a rural second home with a pool for their extended family to enjoy
Linc Thelen is the principal of his own architectural firm, a licensed builder, a fine artist and a furniture designer. So this downtown Chicago couple knew he’d be the perfect candidate to help them complete an extensive renovation on a contemporary country house they were interested in buying. As empty nesters with many grandchildren, they wanted their country home to be a place where the whole family could gather and enjoy the beautiful rural setting of Rolling Prairie, Indiana.
They forwarded him some information about the house before buying it, and Thelen signed onto the project. Then he completed a full renovation that included adding onto the space, finishing the lower level, installing a pool and transforming a detached garage into a rec room. He also painted a piece of artwork, crafted furniture pieces and even hand-cut a large amount of wood to stack next to the fireplace. The result of their collaboration is a welcoming home with strong connections to the bucolic landscape that surrounds it.
They forwarded him some information about the house before buying it, and Thelen signed onto the project. Then he completed a full renovation that included adding onto the space, finishing the lower level, installing a pool and transforming a detached garage into a rec room. He also painted a piece of artwork, crafted furniture pieces and even hand-cut a large amount of wood to stack next to the fireplace. The result of their collaboration is a welcoming home with strong connections to the bucolic landscape that surrounds it.
Before Photo
After: One of the homeowners worked closely with the architect throughout the process. “Her vision for the house and mine lined up well,” he says.
On the homeowners’ must-have list were strong connections to the natural surroundings, a more modern look, a pool, a three-season porch and room for family members to gather and sleep. Thelen added a 40-by-15-foot extension to the wing on the left. From front to back, the addition contains a dining room, a TV den and the three-season porch.
Thelen removed the existing balconies and roof overhang and replaced the windows and doors for a more modern look. The new siding is vertical board and batten. The material suits the rural surroundings, while Benjamin Moore’s Black Beauty paint lends a modern look. They chose the color carefully among the many black paints available. “It actually took a long time to find the right shade of black,” Thelen says.
On the homeowners’ must-have list were strong connections to the natural surroundings, a more modern look, a pool, a three-season porch and room for family members to gather and sleep. Thelen added a 40-by-15-foot extension to the wing on the left. From front to back, the addition contains a dining room, a TV den and the three-season porch.
Thelen removed the existing balconies and roof overhang and replaced the windows and doors for a more modern look. The new siding is vertical board and batten. The material suits the rural surroundings, while Benjamin Moore’s Black Beauty paint lends a modern look. They chose the color carefully among the many black paints available. “It actually took a long time to find the right shade of black,” Thelen says.
Before Photo
Before: The staircase, located in the entry hall, was covered in brown wall-to-wall carpeting. The door to the unfinished lower level and adjacent garage was behind a door.
After: Thelen opened up the staircase to the basement and designed a minimalist wrought iron railing. There is half-inch plexiglass on the railing for safety.
“The homeowners had a modern vision for the house and wanted to invite the outside in,” he says. “The way to achieve that was by using natural materials.” Throughout the house, including on the stairs, he installed new distressed white oak wide-plank flooring that is hand-honed, rift-sawn and quartered. “The floors have knots and a natural finish. They have a lot of character,” he says.
“The homeowners had a modern vision for the house and wanted to invite the outside in,” he says. “The way to achieve that was by using natural materials.” Throughout the house, including on the stairs, he installed new distressed white oak wide-plank flooring that is hand-honed, rift-sawn and quartered. “The floors have knots and a natural finish. They have a lot of character,” he says.
Before Photo
Before: From the entry, the house opens up to a large living room. The existing stone fireplace darkened the space.
After: Earthy colors and natural textures contrast with white walls. Thelen covered the existing gray stone fireplace surround with a cultured cut stone in warmer cream hues that resemble sandstone. “This stone is not too gray and not too yellow,” he says.
Thelen also incorporated a tall niche for firewood and cut the wood himself. The wood adds another pleasing texture to the room. The logs were piled high in the niche for the photo shoot, but normally they are stacked at a height that allows the family to safely access them and view a surprise inside. The inside of the niche reveals the original fireplace surround’s gray stone — a nice nod to the history of the house.
A high ceiling like this is an asset, but working on such a large scale can be a challenge. Thelen installed shiplap paneling to add texture overhead. The beams also add texture and help mitigate the height. He covered them in white oak to match the flooring. The fireplace surround, wood storage niche and large-scale furnishings stand up to the scale of the room.
Fireplace stone: Eldorado Stone
Browse sectional sofas in the Houzz Shop
Thelen also incorporated a tall niche for firewood and cut the wood himself. The wood adds another pleasing texture to the room. The logs were piled high in the niche for the photo shoot, but normally they are stacked at a height that allows the family to safely access them and view a surprise inside. The inside of the niche reveals the original fireplace surround’s gray stone — a nice nod to the history of the house.
A high ceiling like this is an asset, but working on such a large scale can be a challenge. Thelen installed shiplap paneling to add texture overhead. The beams also add texture and help mitigate the height. He covered them in white oak to match the flooring. The fireplace surround, wood storage niche and large-scale furnishings stand up to the scale of the room.
Fireplace stone: Eldorado Stone
Browse sectional sofas in the Houzz Shop
A set of new glass doors creates a large opening to the outdoor views and leads to a new deck off the back of the house.
“I knew this wall would be a great spot for a large piece,” Thelen says. He is trained as a fine artist, and the painting is his. He also crafted the storage console beneath it in his shop.
“I knew this wall would be a great spot for a large piece,” Thelen says. He is trained as a fine artist, and the painting is his. He also crafted the storage console beneath it in his shop.
Before Photo
Before: The kitchen used to be
where the master bedroom is now. When Thelen found out the family would be spending all of their time together in the living room, he moved the kitchen into part of that vast space. The new location is off the left side of the fireplace.
where the master bedroom is now. When Thelen found out the family would be spending all of their time together in the living room, he moved the kitchen into part of that vast space. The new location is off the left side of the fireplace.
After: Placing the kitchen within the original living room space also made the scale feel more comfortable. For example, the island is a large piece that stands up to the scale of the space and the fireplace.
The kitchen cabinetry is streamlined and minimalist. Rift-cut white oak adds more wood to the material palette. Thelen added more natural colors to the countertops, choosing Raw Concrete quartz by Caesarstone.
Faucet: Delta Faucet; sink: Franke
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The kitchen cabinetry is streamlined and minimalist. Rift-cut white oak adds more wood to the material palette. Thelen added more natural colors to the countertops, choosing Raw Concrete quartz by Caesarstone.
Faucet: Delta Faucet; sink: Franke
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Using finger pulls instead of cabinet hardware maintained the clean minimalist lines of the cabinetry. Large pendants match the scale of the space — anything smaller would have looked lost.
In addition to the natural material palette, large picture windows forge strong connections between the interior and the natural surroundings. The stovetop has a downdraft hood that allowed for a large window overhead instead of a traditional vent hood.
Shop modern counter stools
In addition to the natural material palette, large picture windows forge strong connections between the interior and the natural surroundings. The stovetop has a downdraft hood that allowed for a large window overhead instead of a traditional vent hood.
Shop modern counter stools
The new addition is located past the kitchen, which opens to this new dining space. This room in turn opens to a new den. Thelen designed the 10-foot-long live-edge white oak table, and he crafted the tabletop himself.
A large sectional sofa dominates the new den. The TV is on the wall opposite the sofa. Sliding glass doors lead to the new three-season porch.
“Screened-in porches get filthy, so we used Eze-Breeze windows,” Thelen says. When open, the bottom three window sashes open to line up with the top sash. So three-quarters of each window opening can be opened to the breezes, essentially transforming the room into a screened-in porch. The flooring has radiant heat that also helps to extend porch season.
This new main floor master bedroom used to be the kitchen. A modern settee makes the most of the existing cozy bay, and expansive windows provide leafy views. The homeowners wanted a work space in here, so Thelen designed a white oak desk and matching floating shelves.
The bedroom has a spacious en suite bathroom. The picture window over the freestanding tub provides a relaxing view. The shower is curbless.
Tile and tub: Porcelanosa
Tile and tub: Porcelanosa
The custom vanity is rift-cut white oak. Using this material throughout the house created cohesion.
Symmetry and subtle details are a part of creating a pleasing minimalist design. For example, the white soffit over the mirror and the countertop have similar proportions.
Symmetry and subtle details are a part of creating a pleasing minimalist design. For example, the white soffit over the mirror and the countertop have similar proportions.
Upstairs, what used to be the master bedroom is now a bunkroom that sleeps six kids and two adults. Thelen cozied up the bunks with shiplap surrounds and added warmth with white oak railings and ladders. Every bunk has its own reading light, niche and electrical outlet.
A sliding barn door opens to the bunkroom’s en suite bathroom. The countertop is custom concrete and the floor is a porcelain tile that looks like concrete. Thelen designed the mirrors.
Counters: Chicago Concrete
Counters: Chicago Concrete
Before Photo
Before: The backyard had a large deck but did not have a pool. The lower level had a single solid door.
After: The exterior spaces were an important part of the renovation. The pool, outdoor shower and deck are new. And the lower level has a wide new set of glass doors that open to the patio.
The new three-season porch is on the right side of this photo. The building on the far left was a detached garage that Thelen converted into a rec room complete with a bar.
The new three-season porch is on the right side of this photo. The building on the far left was a detached garage that Thelen converted into a rec room complete with a bar.
The new deck is ipe wood, and the black metal railings play off the home’s exterior. The pool coping is limestone and the pavers are concrete. The pool surround is composed of opal stone pavers by Unilock. The materials complement the stunning background.
The new dining area, den and porch addition can be seen on the floor plan at top left. The plan beneath that shows the lower level, which has a den, a laundry room, a bedroom and a bathroom. Thelen converted two existing garage stalls into the bed and bathroom area. The bunk room and second upstairs bedroom are on the top right. The space in the bottom right corner shows the detached garage-turned-rec-room space.
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House at a Glance
Who lives here: This is the second home of a couple who live in Chicago
Location: Rolling Prairie, Indiana
Size: 3,200 square feet (297 square meters); four bedrooms, a bunkroom and five bathrooms
Designer and builder: Linc Thelen of Linc Thelen Design
Before: The contemporary 1970s home is on 80 beautiful acres about a 75-minute drive from Chicago. The house sits atop a hill surrounded by trees.
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