Taxidermy And Murals In Just-Listed Private Museum In Lake Forest

LAKE FOREST, IL — A never-before-lived-in Lake Forest house was listed last week for $3 million. Instead of serving as a full-time residence, the 18-year-old home has been used to showcase its owners' eclectic collection of art, murals and taxidermy.

The 9,700-square-foot, three-story home was built on 1.8 acres in west Lake Forest along Waukegan Road, according to its listing. It has a coach house, four-car garage and four-person elevator. The fully finished basement includes a full kitchen and an empty indoor pool, currently being used to house stuffed wildlife.

There are Italian frescos and murals throughout the house, and nearly every room features a different theme. The murals come with the property, but many of the other pieces — such as the many sculptures and taxidermy mounts featured in the home's unique interior design — are sold separately.

"The home has been used to showcase an extensive collection of artwork, statues, and natural history pieces collected by the owners who are willing to negotiate any of the pieces separately or as a consideration of the final purchase price," according to the listing.

According to property records, Alfonso and Linda Mellijor purchased the home in 2003 for $1.65 million. They listed it Jan. 28 for just under $3 million.

The list price is less than the couple's investment in the house itself, not counting its murals and artwork, Mr. Mellijor told Crain's Chicago Business, which first reported the listing. He said all the taxidermy in the house was produced using animals who died in zoos. Much of the art is being sold or donated to museums, according to Crain's.

While the house has been used more as a museum than a home, its future residents are likely to want to establish a full kitchen on the first floor and remove finishes such as a sculpture placed atop a bathtub.

Stanislaw Brzakala said he was the home's original owner and disputed the listing agent's characterization of the house never having been lived in. He said he lived in the home after receiving a certificate of occupancy when construction was completed in fall of 2002 until the home was sold to the Mellijors in the fall of 2003.

According to the Lake County Assessor's Office, the property's 2019 estimated market value for taxing purposes was $1.55 million. Its annual tax bill last year was more than $34,000.

• Address: 1130 Gavin Court, Lake Forest
• Built: 2002
• Square Feet: 9,721
• Lot Size: 1.78
• Bedrooms: 6
• Bathrooms: 8 full, 2 half
• Last Sold: $1.65 million in 2003
• First Listed: $3 million on Jan. 28

Listing information originally appeared on realtor.com. For more information and photos, click here.