Note to readers: This report focuses on Kenilworth because the source materials provided to our newsroom pertain solely to that community.
A historic, six-bedroom mansion on Lake Michigan in Kenilworth sold Wednesday for $14.5 million, setting a new record for the village and marking the Chicago area’s second-highest residential sale so far this year, according to the Chicago Tribune.
A record-breaking purchase
The three-story lakefront property changed hands Oct. 29. The buyer’s identity is not yet disclosed in public records, the Chicago Tribune reported. The listing was first offered in an agents-only network in July at $15 million, then went public in mid-August before a deal was reached in early September, according to the Chicago Tribune. Kenilworth’s previous high was an $11.75 million Sheridan Road sale in 2020, the Chicago Tribune noted.
Listing agent Jena Radnay of @properties Christie’s International Real Estate represented both sides in the Kenilworth deal, as she did in the $31.25 million sale of a Winnetka lakefront mansion in late August — the region’s highest-priced transaction this year — the Chicago Tribune reported.
What the renovation added
Owner Yoanna Kulas, founder of the design firm Caladrius Studio, purchased the mansion for $4.5 million in 2020 and embarked on a top-to-bottom renovation with architect Michael Abraham and designer Mick De Giulio, according to the Chicago Tribune. Kulas described the house as a “treasure from a bygone era” and said her goal was to honor its historic architecture while modernizing it as a high-tech, smart home, the Chicago Tribune reported.
Updates included restored facade work; a minimalist kitchen with concealed appliances; six full baths and two half baths; two fireplaces; original moldings and new oak sawn floors; custom wrought-iron railings and millwork; new mechanicals, roof and windows; a full smart-home system with custom LED lighting; and zoned climate control, according to the Chicago Tribune. The primary suite features a spa-like bath with an oversize tub and a custom wardrobe room. On the lower level, the owners added a wine cellar, a surround-sound theater, a catering kitchen and a wellness zone with a sauna, steam room, exercise area and massage room, the Chicago Tribune reported.
Outside, the half-acre grounds include 115 feet of sandy beach, a fire pit area, a glass-enclosed patio, a boathouse and multiple terraces, according to the Chicago Tribune. Those amenities track with broader luxury design trends — from integrated smart systems to wellness spaces and a biophilic emphasis on light and nature — that are increasingly standard in top-tier renovations, according to AB Edward.
Pedigree and place
Built in 1906 by noted builder Paul Starrett — celebrated for his role in constructing the Empire State Building and the Lincoln Memorial — the mansion carries a provenance that resonates with collectors of historic architecture, the Chicago Tribune reported. Starrett’s early-20th-century work on landmark projects helped define an era of American building, a pedigree that can enhance valuation when paired with sensitive, modern updates, according to Wikipedia: William A. Starrett.
That blend of history and turnkey functionality is a niche that commands a premium, especially on rare lakefront parcels. Analysts say the result signals continued appetite for North Shore trophy properties even as the ultra-luxury tier remains a small slice of the market, according to Property Focus.
Where this leaves Kenilworth
The $14.5 million closing sits far above the village’s typical pricing, underscoring its outlier status in the ultra-luxury segment. Data from Data USA shows Kenilworth’s median property value at about $1.41 million in 2023, with a homeownership rate of 96.1%. Over the past year, the village saw a median sale price around $1.86 million, according to Data USA. At the same time, the broader for-sale market has trended up: the median listing price in August 2025 reached roughly $3.3 million in Kenilworth, up 22.1% year over year, with nearby Winnetka and Glencoe posting median listing prices near $2.5 million and $2.2 million, respectively, according to Realtor.
Low inventory and strong demand continue to shape outcomes in Kenilworth, where high-end properties can draw swift interest and competitive offers, according to Property Focus. In this environment, a single headline-grabbing sale can influence perceptions of value at the top of the market more than it changes conditions for typical listings, analysts say, according to Property Focus and Data USA.
Historic estates also raise questions about stewardship and community character. Preservation-minded updates can lift neighborhood appeal and values, but they come with significant costs and ongoing maintenance needs, according to Wikipedia: Root-Badger House. As Kenilworth weighs the visibility of record lakefront sales, local discussions may also touch on shoreline management, public access and clear communication about how marquee transactions affect assessments — issues that often surface in low-inventory, high-demand markets, according to Property Focus.
Even as the buyer remains unnamed in public records, the result is unmistakable: a meticulously restored 1906 Starrett house, outfitted for 2025 living, just set a new bar on Kenilworth’s shoreline. It is at once an outlier and a signal — proof that when historic pedigree, modern amenities and scarce lakefront converge, the North Shore’s top end can still command record territory, according to the Chicago Tribune, Realtor and Property Focus.
