TENNIS HUT AND TENNIS COURT AREA

Because she loves the potential an indoor/outdoor space offers, Rosemary Wormley, founder of Ash Street Interiors in Northfield, responded with an enthusiastic, “Yes!” to redesigning the tennis hut at Pembroke Lodge. Although she knew the project would be high risk due to the vagaries of Chicago weather, “the opportunity to transform not only the hut but the outdoor spaces surrounding it was too good to pass up!” says Wormley.

Taking the recreational space and transforming it into a destination zone, Wormley and her team reimagined the tennis court and hut as a timelessly stylish social outpost with areas for post-match drinks, conversation, observation, and entertaining.

Inspired by the luxurious leisure and lush grass courts of the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island, Wormley envisioned a resort-like retreat on the Pembroke grounds—a place where multiple generations could seamlessly enjoy a casual afternoon doubles match or a lively evening of round robin play.

To accomplish this, she designed the interior and exterior of the hut as well as the perimeter of the court, thinking of the hut’s interior as one unit and the outdoor spaces as three zones: one for players; another for observers; and a third for entertaining.

The hut itself, which had been relegated to serving as storage space, was one of Wormley’s biggest challenges. It was small and basically just a box with no distinguishing architectural features. “While a completely blank slate can be exciting, it also meant we had to pay extra attention to the finishing details adding just the right vintage accessories, styling pieces, and trim to give the space a classic feel,” she explains.

To get there, Wormley anchored the interior with a fun walk-up bar. Wormley teamed up with Mirth Studios to create a gorgeous, patterned floor and built out the rest of the textile selections from there.

She partnered with Schumacher and Horticulture House for fabrics and wallpapers, Visual Comfort for lighting, Laughlin Gallery for art, Benjamin Moore for paint, and Rohan Ward Designs for furnishings.

To give the outdoor space around the court a resort look, the team selected lounge furniture, umbrellas, and a tented cabana. Adding to this, “we are currently working on vintage styling details, art commissions, awnings, and fun surprises like a custom built tennis racket caddy and watering station.”

Drawing from the natural elements surrounding the tennis hut, the color scheme/palette is grass green, sky blue, and tennis white, with beautiful natural materials such as sailcloth, wicker, wood, and rattan.

Wormley and team also paid close attention to the view from the house and focused on creating an outdoor space that would draw you in from afar, making it clear that more than just tennis was happening around the hut. Outdoor sporting areas on an estate are often behind the main house, but Pembroke Lodge’s tennis court is set to the side, so it is visible when walking up to the house and from its interior. “This home was clearly designed to entertain on a grand style both indoors and out,” says Wormley, “and the tennis court is really an expression of that.”

Wormley, who works with many historical renovations in her design practice, says, “It’s always exciting to walk in the footsteps of legendary designers and architects.” While this is her first year as a designer in the Lake Forest Showhouse, she has always attended, supporting friends in the design community, and following along in their creative process. “I love the buzz and energy behind a big, transformative reveal,” she concludes. “There’s something special about being able to do what you love, surrounded by other creatives while benefitting an important cause like the Infant Welfare Society.”

For more information, visit ashstreetinteriors.com, @ashstinteriors, or email [email protected].