6236A

This home has had many lives since the issuance of the construction permit on January 6, 1906. The original owner was James Anderson and the contractor was E.P. Nelson. The architect was A.E. Norman. The style is a classic Chicago Greystone two-flat. One of the owners had done research on the previous owners and found that by 1930 there were as many as eight roomers in one of the apartments. Subsequent owners returned the space to two families and then, after a rehab, Brian and Carl bought the building to live in and rented out the first floor. During those years, the apartments had two or three bedrooms, since the second of the original parlors had been closed in as a bedroom on one floor. When the first floor tenant decided to move, the possibility of a rehab of the space and the transformation of the two units into a single family dwelling became a possibility.

The design of the façade of the building shows a front porch with classical wooden columns. Notice the iron newel posts, old handrail and the wide front steps. Instead of just two porch columns, there are three, which is somewhat unusual. Other classical details are shown on the porch. The front door is original, with Corinthian pilaster in wood on each side of the door. The front hall tile floor is also original but the hall has been reconfigured for just one door to the home.

The reception area includes a hall closet to the right and, as you stand there, you can see the new staircase that connects the interior floors of the home. When you step into the large living room, it is evident that the first and family parlors are no longer divided and the front area has separate seating from the cozy grouping in front of the fireplace. The walls of what was originally a hallway have been removed to create the open space. All the flooring and all the moldings are new oak. The doors are three panel oak.

Because of the reconfiguration of the staircase, a small room beneath the stairs has become a storeroom. There is a little hallway to the full bath, which was there in the original apartment.

Moving to the back of the first floor, you will see the original dining room with built-in china cabinet and buffet in its original oak. Care has been taken to match the color of the oak in all the new woodwork. There are three windows in the dining room facing south.

The kitchen was a major part of the renewed space. The cabinets are cherry and the counter is marble. The backsplash is done in glass tiles that pick up the light green in the granite. The flooring is a light neutral stone which allows for reflected light in a north facing room. The back door goes out to a typical back porch. Just off the kitchen is a small office, perhaps originally a maid’s room.

The new staircase is elegant and gracious, as you will note as you climb to the second floor. At the top of the stairs is an open area and, towards the front of the house, is a library which was once a part of the front parlor. The adjacent office was a bedroom. You will also see a bedroom which is directly above the dining room on the first floor. Across the hall from it is a bathroom with tub, shower and glass brick wall dividing the space. It is very light and bright. At the back of this floor is a bedroom in the space that was once the second floor kitchen and, next to it, is a walk-in closet.

This two flat now has a new life as a single family home. The project took two years and was completed in 2004. The contractor was Ruben Stef of Stef Construction. The staircase was built by Cooper Stairs and the architect was Allan Grant of Allan J. Grant and Associates. The owners will be happy to pass on information about these businesses.