5550

This home, built in 1937, captures the beauty of the modern age and the craftsmanship of the old. Surprisingly, this home has had only two owners since its construction and is essentially unaltered despite being over 50 years old. As you look at the home from the front, you notice immediately the beautiful faceted bay window with French windows and blue iron railings. On the corners are brick quoins and the tile roof is original. The home was built at a cost of $15,000. The architect was Martin Simpson and the builder was Backer. The entrance design places it in the colonial revival context with broken pediment over arched doorway with fluted pilasters.

The entrance features the arched design in the doorways and natural Wisconsin birch woodwork and a marble floor. The arch theme is carried throughout the home. In the hallway, notice the beautiful turned wood spindles of the staircase and the special oval stained glass window. The design depicts a vase and is decidedly modern.

The grand living room is light and airy with windows on two sides. The French windows with muntins and the fixed windows above flood the room with light. The ceiling is coved with a decorative molding like many homes of the 19th century. The focal point of the room is the beautiful wood burning fireplace with black marble surround. The wood mantel is classical in design.

The entrance to the dining room is through a beautiful natural birch archway featuring decorative keystone on either side of the doorway. On either side are inset arched bookcases. In the dining room are two corner china cabinets that were added in the 1940s. The dining room opens into a cozy den/TV room.

The kitchen features the original cabinets with sliding glass doors, the epitome of modern in 1937. On one wall, there is a beautiful birch built-in cabinet reminiscent of the 1890s. The kitchen is accented with wallpaper above the cabinets. A hallway to the front of the house has built in storage and a unique doorway to the basement. Peek into the powder room with its original tile and ceiling fixture.

A visit to the lower floor shows a little more about the special attention to detail by the original owners. The room below the living room is an entertainment and recreation room. The area is paneled in knotty pine and has a wood burning fireplace. The quarry tile floor is a more recent addition and it contributes to the warmth of the room.

On the second floor, you will see the original main bath room with green glazed tiles. The hallway ceiling fixture is also original. The master bedroom above the living room features twin closets and twin arched bookshelves. It had a connecting door to the children’s adjacent room. There is one other bedroom on the second floor.