The Residence is located in central Illinois and consists of a central block capped by a cupola flanked by one-story wings. A portico with Ionic limestone columns follows the precedent of a Midwestern house from 1840. This in turn was inspired by ancient monuments in Athens.

The foyer contains a freestanding spiral stair that ascends two stories and is lit by a cupola. The living room has a twenty four foot ceiling and is entered through an over-scaled portal. The room projects towards a lake on the north and has windows on three sides. The draperies are made of cotton chintz that reproduces an early nineteenth century pillar-print. The swags derive from an upholstery book also from the 1820s.