Architecturally Significant Home In Historic Lakeshore District, Evanston, Il

Our home was built in 1895 and designed by Franklin Burnham, who designed many homes in Kenilworth as well as the Metra train stop in Kenilworth. It is s gabled home of Victorian influence with dramatic columns and detail that is quite beautiful and unique. It includes three floors of living space in the interior with secret cabinets built into the stairwell framing, as well as light wells, and 4 sets of pocket doors. Light wells were designed to draw natural light into closets via a skylight. An amazing wonder of architecture for a home built prior to electricity. All wood on the main floor is quarter sawn oak, floor, 5 paneled doors, and the dining room paneling as well. There are built-in cabinets in both the dining room and living room, with pocket doors dividing them. The ceiling in dining room is coved while living room has oak framing. The stair case is a wonder of the world, hand crafted by European craftsmen who integrated a rhythmic design that had three different spindles set in stairwell. It has never been painted, and is stunning. The first floor entry foyer ceiling is also framed with period lighting interspersed in the framing, and the height is 12 feet. The kitchen includes a period Butler Pantry with new granite countertops and marble backsplash to match kitchen. Kitchen was completely gutted 3 years ago, opening up two adjacent ante-chambers and creating a fresh new spin with classic features surrounding, like the original filigreed radiators, and original paneled pine door. Original brass, and nickel hardware for doors on the first and second floors with brass on bronze on the third floor. The basement is 90 % finished with powder room, Teen Rec Room, Wood Shop, Exercise Room, and storage. First floor has Foyer/ Grand Hall, Living a Room, Library, Dining room, Powder room and Kitchen with Butler Pantry, and Mud room at rear. There is a beautiful grand front porch with new beadboard ceiling and period lighting; the span is almost 50 feet long. The lot size of the property is 100' x 215' deep, and has an original wrought iron fence with lots of ornate detail at the front and sides are cedar wood fence. At rear of lot, there is a cedar fence with a cantilevered electric gate for privacy and security. The roof is cedar shingle with all detail and gutters and downspouts in copper. The 2nd floor is oak floors and oak five panel doors like first floor. The ceiling height is 10' and the lighting of home is amazing as it was designed to naturally benefit from a southern exposure drawing light from the adjacent yard to house. There are windows on all sides, including arched and oval windows which are original design. Period reproduction lighting with rooms painted color with white accent for moldings and baseboards. It is traditional with a flare in interior design. Much of the house was featured in One Small Hitch, a movie available on Netflix and Cable. There is a front formal staircase along with a rear "servants stair" as originally designed. There are 4 bedrooms including a Master Suite with fireplace, two bathrooms and a large hotel-like linen closet on 2nd floor. 3rd floor enters only from rear stair and includes 3 bedrooms, two full bathrooms as well as a laundry room, eat in kitchen and living room. The flooring on 3rd floor is pine as is the back stairwell. It is spacious and sunny and equally charming, and has a full attic above it for storage, as well as generous closets and in one bedroom there is a built in wall cabinet in addition to the built in bureau in pine wood as in all the bedroom closets. The flooring in one bedroom is pin-oak with a walnut and mahogany border! Lovely gardens surround the home as well as a host of mature trees. At the back of the house is parking for 7 cars as well as a two car garage with a Coach house apartment that is fully renovated above. The tack and headboard walls in garage are reminders of the Coach house days when the Coach master lived above the stables and carriage that took their own to Chicago to work. The house was built before cars and electricity! It hosts all the upgrades today but still holds the magic and wonder of days gone by.