This transformation of an 1897 Arts and Crafts home in Chicago’s Bucktown neighborhood reimagines a former three-flat as a single-family residence for a couple who love to entertain, balancing historic character with a contemporary sensibility. In collaboration with architect Christopher Eastman, Tom Lee reorganizes the 3,600-square-foot home to include four bedrooms, a private office, and a basement, all carefully composed within the constraints of a typical Chicago lot. Through strategic planning and sectional clarity, the design opens up the interior to create a sense of volume and continuity that belies the home’s compact footprint.
A strong emphasis on indoor–outdoor continuity informs the design. Each level is paired with its own exterior space: the ground floor extends into the backyard through folding glass doors; a garage roof deck aligns with the second floor; and a roof terrace adjoining the office offers a more private retreat with views over the city. These layered outdoor moments expand the living environment while reinforcing vertical connectivity.
The project establishes a dialogue between preservation and intervention. The existing red brick façade and Chicago common brick side walls are retained, while the rear elevation introduces pre-patinated zinc panels for a distinctly contemporary counterpoint. Original textured, white-glazed brick detailing is preserved, and restored bay windows frame views to a newly landscaped garden.
Inside, a restrained material palette defines a series of light-filled, open spaces. Custom walnut millwork—most notably a feature wall in the dining room—grounds the interiors, while chalk-gray lacquered cabinetry in the kitchen transitions into a luminous quartzite backsplash and island surface. White oak flooring softens the composition, and a custom black powder-coated steel guardrail unifies interior and exterior elements, extending from the stair to the front yard fence and garage roof deck. Skylights, expansive glazing, and carefully positioned openings introduce abundant natural light and visual permeability throughout.
Through this layered approach, the house is recast as a contemporary urban dwelling—one that honors its past while enabling a fluid, connected, and light-filled mode of living.
