1364 E 49th Street, Chicago, IL

About 1364 E 49th Street

Set high above one of Kenwood's most beautiful tree-lined streets, this remarkable 100-year-old brick home looks directly into a grove of mature trees in beloved Kenwood Park. With no houses immediately opposite, it feels surprisingly private, yet the park just beyond the front steps puts playgrounds, tennis courts, schools, neighbors and the life of the community at the doorstep. It is a rare combination: a house that feels tucked away and wonderfully connected at the same time. From the street, the house is handsome and deceptively contained. Step inside and it keeps unfolding. Five bedrooms, three full and one half bath, beautifully renovated bathrooms and three generous floors are filled with unexpected spaces, hidden corners and meticulously considered details. The interiors are distinctive without being precious, inspired by the warmth, color and character of contemporary British design. Farrow & Ball colors run throughout the house in rich greens, blues and unexpected notes of color, with rooms color-drenched to create spaces that feel immersive, fresh and timeless. Beautiful tilework from Cle and Fireclay appears in different motifs throughout, creating a subtle visual thread from room to room. Original details have been treasured rather than erased, including a striking clear-glass stained-glass window along the staircase and an original chandelier, set comfortably alongside Schoolhouse lighting and contemporary details. The ground floor begins with a proper mudroom and opens into a light-filled foyer with a built-in window seat. Beyond are a generous living room with a sculptural Scandinavian chandelier and gas fireplace, a dining room, and an intimate den lined with bookshelves. The renovated kitchen combines custom Mauser cabinetry, Wolf induction cooking, a wonderful bank of windows and radiant heat, with direct access to the expansive rear deck. Upstairs, four bedrooms look out toward the park and treetops. The primary suite includes a completely redesigned bath with an elegant custom tub, while a newly renovated family bath, second-floor laundry and generous study area with private office make the floor exceptionally practical. But practicality is only half the story. This is a house designed with a sense of imagination. Beautiful custom cabinetry is tucked throughout the house, including a built-in linen cupboard. On the top floor, three window nooks create places to curl up beneath the eaves, while hidden child-sized passageways connect secret spaces within them. The fifth bedroom has a wonderful queen-sized built-in bed nook, custom drawers and built-in desk, and an antique sink adds another layer of character to the expansive playroom and family space. An expansive unfinished basement offers substantial storage and intriguing potential for future living, fitness, workshop or creative space. Outside, the house enjoys a large rear deck, while the unusual park-facing position makes street parking remarkably easy. Behind all of this personality is the less visible work of a comprehensive renovation. All bathrooms have been renovated, with updated electrical wiring and plumbing throughout, smart Lutron lighting, radiant heat in the kitchen and bathrooms, new copper drainage connected to the storm sewer with a backstop valve, a 75-gallon water heater, surge panel, dedicated cabling to the second-floor office and a newer roof. This special home was renovated as a forever home, with exceptional materials, careful craftsmanship and an unusual amount of thought given to how owners actually live. The result is both sophisticated and playful, modern and deeply rooted in the character of its century-old architecture: a house with beautiful spaces, extraordinary views into the trees, and new details to discover around every corner.

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