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This elegant home was built in 1895 for John Lewis Cochran. It shares a building permit with the home at 5822 N. Winthrop. The design is believed to be one by George Washington Maher but the permit only lists Cochran. This home was featured in Better Homes and Gardens for its restoration project. It also received the Chicago Painted Ladies Award.

The design of the façade includes a full front porch with Doric columns and straight spindle handrail. A three sectioned bay window is set forward from the wall of the entrance door. This door is original. Next to it is a small stained glass window in a geometric design. The second floor is dominated by twin dormers that have triangular insets with shingles in a diamond design. These designs were uncovered when the current owners set about the task of restoring the house. The house has a side gambrel roof so that what is seen from the front is the roof. Originally, the roofing would have been cedar shake.

Entry to the home is through a vestibule and into a foyer that is delineated by two large squared oak columns, oak beam and the beginning of the handrail for the staircase. Note the proportion of the crown molding to the size of the horizontal beam. The original top nailed floors define the entrance space with an inlaid design around the edges. From the foyer, you can see a second hallway at the base of the stairs. This area has a separate floor design.

The foyer connects to the living room that was once the front parlor. Next to it was the second or family parlor. A previous owner had taken out the division between these two rooms. The current owners decided to establish this separation by repeating the design of oak beams that was found in the foyer. This makes a beautiful framing of the entrance to the dining room. The floors in both rooms are top nailed with inlaid design around the edges.

The family parlor is now the dining room. On the interior wall is a beautiful oak mantel. The tiles on the floor are original. This room also has a bay window. Five panel pocket doors open into the new kitchen which is in the space once called the dining room.

The kitchen is completely new with cherry cabinets. A new inlaid floor has been installed with designs like the original floors. Attention has been paid to the framing around the doors, which is painted white. The white painted wood is carried into the den and family eating area, which is partially paneled in white bead board. Although this room is totally new, it is in the space of the original kitchen and is only slightly larger. There is a small entrance area at the back door.

Off the kitchen is a back hallway with a back staircase to the second floor. This hallway connects to the front hall near the staircase. In this area you will find a small alcove, which is framed by an arch. On the floor is the inlaid design like the rest of the area. We speculate that there may have been another hallway here with an entrance to the family parlor. It has been closed off and replacement baseboard molding installed.

The staircase to the second floor is bathed in light from the large original lavender and gold stained glass window. It was designed with an arch above in a fan shape and two panels below. The intricate design is geometric and seems almost modern. The beautiful oak handrail has turned wood spindles in oak.

At the top of the stairs, take a better look at the stained glass window. On the second floor, you will see the front bedroom, which is built into the dormer. It is quite small. The pine floors have been refinished. At the rear of the house is the master bedroom suite. This was built above the original kitchen. Another small bedroom has been changed into a large closet as part of this suite. This lovely home has been brought into the 21st century by careful attention to the details and character of the original design.