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This home was built in 1907 for the Bedessem family. The architect, Joseph Miller, created an architectural gem in the late Georgian style. The builder, Paul Streef, constructed the unusual brick home for $6,000. The cast bricks and tight mortar joints contribute to the impression of a solid stone building.
As you walk up to the home, you can note the raised site and iron fence, which is original. The most significant element of the formal design of the home is the front porch and the façade. The porch was originally all wood with a balcony above. Along the top, note the dentils, a classical detail. Brick pilasters frame the porch on the building façade. The first floor windows are accented with keystone lintels. On the second floor, a double window, framed by a segmented arch, is a familiar Georgian design element. Above this window is a small circular window divided into five sections. Along the eaves are massive brackets which contribute to the strong sculptural effect of this beautiful building.
The interior of the home has a history of alterations. The oak wainscotting of the vestibule is original. On the left is the original parlor, now a library. Note the oak woodwork, crown mouldings and picture railing, varnished to look like mahogany. This is the most original room on the first floor. In the hall you can see two original ceiling light fixtures, which came from the second floor. The oak staircase to the second floor is in the back of the hallway.
On the landing of the staircase to the second floor is a display of antique tools from Japan which are used for processing silk. At the top of the staircase is a central hall with four bedrooms. One rear bedroom has been converted into a laundry and a weaving room. The loom is a 48 inch, 8 harness jack loom. The master bedroom in the front features an early 19th century Clayville four-poster bed in the Georgian style.
The room to the right of the front hall was once three small rooms connected by doorways. It was altered because of a serious fire that destroyed two walls and the beautiful oak flooring. The first room was a library, the second the dining room and the last a conservatory. The original fireplace was destroyed, but the current owner found a beautiful replacement dating from the 1880s which compliments the dining area. The window moldings and crowns are also replacements.
The kitchen has been enlarged by the elimination of the pantry wall and a redesign of the workspace. One window in the kitchen was reduced in size to accommodate previous remodeling. As you exit via the rear door and open porch, you will enjoy a large and beautiful yard.
The rear of the home shows the great attention paid to all sides of the building. Unlike most Chicago architecture, with a street orientation, this building is finished on all four sides with face brick. On both west and east elevations, a Palladian window appears at the attic level. This home is listed as a potential landmark by the Landmark Commission of the City of Chicago.