5400

This charming house has an address on Wayne, but is actually situated on the side street, Balmoral. The architect is Herman Gaul and the first owner, Otto Koleman, had the home built for himself in 1912. This 1½ story Arts and Crafts Bungalow was custom built and has many unusual design features. The interesting roofline is marked by two symmetrical dormers with open brackets that are recessed into the silhouette of the house. The ends of the house have clipped gables which add another angle to the roof line. The roof is an energy efficient recycled material that looks like slate. At the east end of the house is a one story enclosed porch, and there is an open porch attached to the west end of the house. The façade includes one row of vertical bricks that extends completely on all four sides around the house. There is also a horizontal strip of limestone at the base of the home, and limestone pilasters were designed to show the definition of the east porch. Also note the wide overlapping eave and the symmetrical bay windows that are inset into the building. The chimney tapers in, typical of an Arts and Craft house.

This home is recognized by the Historic Bungalow Association as an historic Chicago Bungalow. This means that it meets specific design guidelines and is given access to specific benefits from the Chicago Bungalow Initiative.

The entryway door has beautiful stained glass with side lights in an Arts and Crafts design. Just inside the door is an original tile floor, with a flower pattern in the center and fret pattern around the edge. The entry walls are covered in marble. The second door way matches the first in glass design and it opens into a reception hall which opens into the living room.

The large living room includes wood panels below and grass cloth wall paper above. The narrow wooden floor boards are original. In many places in this home there are wood radiator covers that were designed for the house. At the east end of the living room are casement windows with a fixed window above. The red brick fireplace includes tiles depicting a village in Luxembourg that had significance for Mr. Koleman. The mantel is limestone, and there is a built-in book case to one side.

The wide opening to the dining room (now the music room) shows that the home was designed for entertaining. It features a wood beamed ceiling, and the walls have plaster wainscoting with oak moldings There are two windows that have been mirrored over, as the view looks directly into the windows of the house next door.

The passageway from the dining room leads to what was the original kitchen in the house. Currently it is used as a butler’s pantry and food preparation/bar room. There is a plate rail on two of the walls. The sink is stainless steel and is original, as are the cabinets on the west wall. The back door leads to a back passageway that is little used since the renovation. Note the beautiful stained glass that has been added on the window facing north.

The hallway leads to a cloak room where original hooks hang on one wall. From this room you can see the bathroom that still has the original tub, toilet, hexagonal tiles on the floor, and subway tiles on the wall.

From the cloak room you enter the new kitchen, which has been completely redone by Greene and Proppe Design. The doorway was once the end of the house and has a transom above the door. In the kitchen the changes were made by enclosing a kind of service porch and connecting it to two rooms on the south side of the building. The north wall features glass blocks, which allow in a generous amount of light. All countertops on the west wall and peninsula are granite. The wood flooring contains both a renovated portion and the original flooring, which was carefully matched. The cabinets are custom made in the Arts and Crafts style. By removing a wall on the south end of the room a former a bedroom was incorporated into the kitchen as an eating area. This opens into a family room which had also been part of another bedroom.

The porch off the kitchen leads to the back yard, where the owner maintains a butterfly garden and a shade garden. The porch was enhanced by Greene and Proppe Design with compatible details. The garage is made from the same brick as the house, and includes several windows and a five panel door. It has the original slate roof. You may exit through the gate.