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By Contributor
PRODUCED BY:
KEMMIE RYAN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY:
IAN MCLEOD, MAGGIE RIFE PONCE, AND KATRINA WITTKAMP
STYLING BY:
THERESA DEMARIA
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DORIA DEBARTOLLO, MEG KOMLENAC AND LEANNA ERNEST
Tara Kelleher is a boutique luxury real estate advisor serving Barrington and the greater Chicago area with the Tara Kelleher Team at @properties Christie’s International Real Estate. Known for strategic pricing, refined presentation, and elevated negotiation, Kelleher approaches each listing with a disciplined, high-touch strategy designed to protect value and maximize results. Her business is built on discretion, preparation, and clear communication, ensuring every client receives focused attention and thoughtful guidance from the first consultation through closing. To me, “exceptional” means an extraordinary, remarkable, and noteworthy offering of high quality. In real estate, for example, it’s the one property that causes engagement and a desire to know more. It combines uncommon quality, thoughtful design, and superior location with features that elevate everyday living.
What trends are shaping the high-end real estate landscape right now?
In the greater Chicago luxury market, buyers are prioritizing homes that offer lifestyle-driven design over square footage. The most important trends include an appreciation of rooms with purpose. For example, a renewed desire for homes that feel both timeless and intentional—the return of the scullery kitchen, seamlessly integrated smart-home technology, spa-inspired wellness spaces, beautifully landscaped gardens offering privacy and views, and architecture that reflects historic influence and enduring craftsmanship.
How does representing exceptional homes differ from traditional residential sales?
Representing exceptional homes requires a confident vision combined with a highly skilled approach: blending data-driven marketing strategies with design expertise. It is not simply about listing a property—it is about crafting a narrative that positions the home in its best possible light. The focus shifts to a boutique, high-touch approach where strategic pricing protects a seller’s equity while thoughtful presentation elevates the home’s perceived value. Every detail matters—from the personalized and elevated styling of the interiors to the way the property is captured and introduced online. Exceptional homes deserve exceptional representation. That means integrating design, presentation, and marketing into a seamless strategy that ensures the home is not just seen, but remembered.
The Tara Kelleher Team is with @properties Christie’s International Real Estate’s Barrington office, 508 S. Northwest Highway, 847-826-2178, [email protected], tarakelleher.com, @tarakelleherteam (Instagram).
