In a village full of architecturally significant homes, certain houses in certain locations are universally admired. As you drive up the 400 block of North Kenilworth Avenue on your way to Holmes School or walk the block on a tour of the Frank Lloyd Wright Historic District, two side-by-side Queen Anne-style homes, designed by E.E. Roberts, always catch the eye.
Built for the Dunlop brothers in the 1890s, the two homes with their sweeping green yards encapsulate the historic feeling that infuses Oak Park. The home to the south, 407 N. Kenilworth, also known as the Joseph K. Dunlop House, is hitting the market at $2.25 million, and that price will get you quite a bit of real estate.
Village founders’ grandson
Joseph Kettlestrings Dunlop was the grandson of the first white settlers in Oak Park, Joseph and Betty Kettlestrings. He inherited the lot from his mother, Hannah, and built the home immediately to the south with the architectural firm Ellis and Fiddelke. In 1896, he sold that home to L.T. Woodcock, superintendent of Marshall Field, for $11,000 and hired E.E. Roberts to design 407 N. Kenilworth at an approximate cost of $12,000.
Oak Park-based architect Eben Ezra Roberts is credited with designing more than 200 homes in the village. Like his contemporary, Frank Lloyd Wright, Roberts’ career spanned a variety of architectural styles from early Victorian influences to the Prairie style in later years. Realtor Greer Haseman, who is listing the home through Gagliardo Realty, points out that the Dunlop House straddles two distinct design styles.
“This house shows E.E. Roberts in his transitional phase,” Haseman said. “It was built in 1897 and is a simpler version of a Queen Anne on the outside, but many of the interior elements are more representative of the Prairie style.”
The grand house was originally painted white, and the current owners restored the home to its original exterior color scheme. A deep porch encircles the front of the home, and original brick pillars support the porch roof. At the entry, the airlock double entry harkens back to when the home was built. A double set of original doors lead to a tiled vestibule and another set of double doors, built to conserve heat in the winter and cool air in the summer.
Set on a 3/4-acre lot, the home’s backyard features many old-growth trees. The park-like setting includes a fenced-in pool, a two-car garage and a three-car garage topped by a coach house apartment. The coach house includes its own kitchen, living room, bathroom and bedroom. Below, there are changing rooms for the pool as well as a half bath.
Indoor comfort
The grand entry space features a sweeping staircase, original woodwork and art glass windows that welcome all who enter the 2,100-square-foot first floor. In the entry and throughout the home, period-appropriate light fixtures recall the era when the home was built. The original front parlor has been turned into a dedicated library space, with walls lined with bookshelves constructed of pearly birch to match the original bookcases built into the adjacent living room space.
The living room spans the entire width of the house and is flooded with light from windows on both the north and south sides. A large fireplace anchors the center seating area of the room, and the size of the room allows for multiple seating areas as well as a grand piano. The dining room continues to evoke an earlier era with its original wood wainscot, diamond-paned leaded-glass windows and a built-in window seat. Original pocket doors slide smoothly to separate the living and dining areas.
A classic butler’s pantry leads into a kitchen that manages to look period-appropriate while offering all the modern amenities a serious chef could ask for. Built to allow multiple chefs to cook at the same time, the sizeable room includes a fireplace and eat-in area that overlooks the backyard.
“The scale of the room is really large,” notes Haseman, “but the reclaimed southern pine cabinets really warm it up. The space stays true to the house’s architectural pedigree while offering every modern convenience.” Marble countertops, a wooden chopping block and professional appliances round out the kitchen.
A mudroom addition offers plenty of space for storage of shoes, backpacks and sports gear. Also part of the addition, a conservatory room offers a protected space to enjoy the outdoors. Built with windows on three walls and the ceiling, the space opens up the home to a view of the backyard. The heated and cooled room is usable year-round and is one of Haseman’s favorite rooms in the house. “It really is a magical room. At night, you can stargaze out here.”
Typical of the era, a second staircase at the rear of the home leads up to the bedrooms on the second floor. A large master suite at the rear of the home commands sweeping views of the backyard. A balcony provides outdoor access, his and hers closets allow for plenty of storage space, and the private bathroom features a soaking tub and separate shower.
The second floor includes a guest suite at the front of the home comprising two rooms and a private bath. Two other bedrooms share a third bathroom. On the third floor, what was originally a ballroom has become a 30 by 35-foot entertaining space, complete with room for both a pool table and ping pong table. With hardwood floors, exposed wooden beams and diamond-patterned windows, the room offers an escape. Two more bedrooms and another full bath complete the third floor.
In addition to the above-ground living space, the basement features an exercise room, an additional bedroom and high ceilings, making this home suitable for both family and guests.