About My House
We live in the village of Glencoe, a suburb north of Chicago along Lake Michigan in an area commonly known as the North Shore. Our house was built in 1890 as a summer home, likely for a well-to-do family from the city looking to escape the sounds and smells of turn-of-the-century Chicago. An expanded kitchen, two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a deck were added on to the back sometime in the '60s, judging from the decor.
Queen Anne Features
The most striking feature of our home is the turret, which frames the main staircase off the foyer. This round shape follows through to the attic, which has created a unique, perfectly round "fort" for children to explore. The main staircase is made of tiger-striped oak, which seems to be a favorite wood choice of the period. It is curved, sweeping, and elegant, and the narrow oval windows near the top of the staircase flood the area with natural light. This is my favorite feature of the house. The first floor has generous sized rooms with the original wood floors and wide beams crossing the ceiling.
Tips and Tricks
- Do your research and make sure that the changes you make enhance the look of the home. You can make more modern looks work with the original details of the home - just be creative.
- Make sure you have a good carpenter who respects the old details, particularly working with wood. Much of your restoration efforts will be to fix or replace something that is over 100 years old. You need a craftsman, an artist, not a contractor who builds for the masses.
- If you have to replace windows, go to a good salvage store and try to get the old hand-made window glass with the subtle ripples to keep the look consistent.
