This Car Collectors’ Home in Illinois Showcases Their Sports Cars

“You cannot judge a book by its cover,” so the adage goes. That truth holds for this home outside of Chicago that blends seamlessly with its suburban neighbors, as its well-maintained stone and wood facade conceals a surprising interior. 

When a couple of longtime car and motorcycle enthusiasts sought to reimagine their home in Mundelein, they knew they wanted to incorporate their shared passion. And indeed, the resulting residence, which they’ve aptly dubbed Fastlane, is not only decked out with finishes and furnishings that squarely reference the high-tech fluidity of automotive design, but it also uses actual sports cars as decor.

The 6,000-square-foot abode was recently redesigned by the Chicago-area studio Goesling Group, and the highlight is unquestionably the three sports cars that take pride of place on the main floor, including a Ford GT and a Porsche. With a collection of more than 50 vehicles, the homeowners also installed a fully operational workshop on the lower level, where an exhaust extraction system ensures there aren’t any air-quality issues and a multi-position car lift ferries prized rides from the workshop up to the main floor living space.

“Fastlane unapologetically celebrates the homeowners’ passions while keeping the space approachable and lived-in,” Sarah Goesling, the principal designer, said in a statement. “It’s a home that performs as beautifully as the motor vehicles it houses.”

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Chrome accents throughout pay shiny homage to the classic automotive material, while the epoxy floors in the workshop and the stained concrete on the main floor were selected for their ability to withstand driving on. And, in the bar area, in collaboration with their on-staff mechanic, a coffee table was crafted from one of the couple’s vintage motorcycle engines, with a glass top resting above the technical aspect.

Elsewhere, the neutral color palette leans toward soft, dusty hues—the owners are also fans of the desert landscape. Reflective metals, smoked glass, natural wood, and leather add a masculine touch to many of the gathering spaces. And just as lighting was important for showcasing the vehicles on display, the couple played with light in other areas as well: the powder room, for example, has integrated LED lights that shine through the translucent stone vanity, and the floor here is set with crushed reflective mosaic tile.

Out back, the landscaper James Martin Associates has lined the staircase leading down to the yard with lush greenery. While the interior feels almost like a showroom, the exterior appears more traditionally suburban, with a covered outdoor kitchen on the back patio and a swimming pool surrounded by lounge chairs.

Click here to see all the photos of the Illinois estate.