A Highland Park mother of two young children has created a cozy, casual atmosphere amid the magnificence and splendor of a three-level, 11,500-square-foot Spanish Colonial-style manse on Beverly Drive. Christy Abbott and her attorney husband Ben purchased the stunning estate in the summer of 2009. The manse sits a mere mile from their previous home, a one-acre property on Turtle Creek. “We have been amazed at how very kid-friendly this neighborhood is,” Christy says. “We came here for the schools, but we are thrilled at how welcoming, open and nice everyone has been.”
What initially attracted Christy to the house was the abundance of natural light. This holds true on the main floor, thanks to a dozen pairs of massive, arched French doors leading outside. “When I first walked in I was struck by how warm and peaceful it felt looking out onto the garden,” Christy says. To enhance the exterior, she converted the circular drive into a walkway so she could add more flowers and plants. “I needed more green!”
Her favorite room remains the formal living area with its unfettered views of the garden and oblong pool. She also appreciates the room’s massive stone fireplace, which boasts gold gilding and intricate carving. An oversized flax linen sofa with nailhead trim and acrylic legs lends a touch of glamour, while a pair of antique Italian chairs and an onyx-topped round table convey a sense of timeless gravitas.
In the formal living room and elsewhere, Christy gravitates to light-colored upholstery and forgiving slipcovers fashioned from unfussy cottons and linens. “The last thing I want to do is worry about fabrics,” she says.
The limestone floors throughout the main level are relatively rugged as well, withstanding the rigors of family life that includes 6-year-old Bode, 4-year-old Sadie and a black-and-white standard poodle named Dasher.
“Bode has a braided jute rug that is almost indestructible,” Christy says. Bode’s second-floor room exudes industrial chic thanks to steel-gray bunk beds and rugged sconces for reading. By contrast, Sadie’s room in the “children’s wing” is a palace of pink; various shades adorn the canopy bed while the French chaise covered in linen boasts hot pink buttons and a nearby cowhide rug in a vibrant hue. “Sadie tells me she needs more pink in there,” Christy says with a laugh, “but I wanted to keep the walls throughout the house the same warm beige.”
Christy was so enamored of the tranquil wall color that she had the cabinets (initially a mahogany stain) painted eggshell, the only major change she made to the kitchen. The spacious venue offers an ideal setting for entertaining. “In the past we’ve hired a chef to come in to cook, and we can seat up to 12 around the island, which is more like a continent.” During the week, the granite-topped island becomes a “kid zone – homework, papers and backpacks – everything lands there.”
The basement also houses a secondary kitchen, along with a full bar, home office, media room, exercise room, wine cellar and spa complete with a steam shower and sauna. Many mornings before school, Christy takes the kids down to the gym where they can jump on the trampoline while she hits the elliptical machine or does Pilates.
In the evenings, she and Ben retreat upstairs to their luminous bedroom with its dark wood floors, abundant windows and glamorous white leather headboard. Two huge quartz chandeliers and a gracious fireplace add to the ambiance. The sitting area, divided from the sleeping quarters by a high-backed white matelassé-covered sofa, beckons.
“We have a table and chairs over there, and I think about the time when we’ll be able to relax on Saturday mornings with a cup of coffee,” Christy muses. “Someday maybe. Right now, our kids never sleep that late.”
