The floors complement the home’s palette of cool hues, which was put together by Richar, of Richar Interiors. “They wanted icy colors, and I felt that these tones would be very serene and bring the exterior inside,” Richar explains. The designer designed the kitchen and bathrooms, built-in walnut cabinetry and most of the furnishings throughout. “Everything was built for comfort, and that’s the key,” Heuberger says. One of Rich and Elaine’s favorite features is the central walnut staircase that Audrain designed to connect the house’s three levels. “It’s a sculptural statement that also helps to separate the spaces while maintaining an open feeling,” Audrain explains. At the top of the stairs, there is an open loft area with a leather sectional sofa where the couple often spend time. “My wife calls it her tree house,” Rich says. Although there were setbacks and personal losses during the construction, including the death of their friend and designer, Freiwald, the Heubergers are happy that they pushed on and proud that despite the many zoning issues they encountered, their new abode has been recognized for architectural excellence by the city of Evanston. “It took us five years to build our home with one issue after another, so the fact that they recognized it for architectural excellence was a wonderful moment,” Elaine says.
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