2009 Idea Home: Before the Remodel

When Midwest Living first visited this home in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood, it looked like this. While still charming, its original functionality and livability had faded over the years with changes that included turning it into a two-flat apartment.Knowing we could give this home a fresh outlook that readers would find inspiring, we adopted it for our 2009 Idea Home project. With our sponsors, our makeover returns the structure to a single-family home with three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a finished basement, and plenty of family friendly living spaces. The following slides show the demolition process and the beginning of the home's transformation. To see the finished home, click on "2009 Idea Home: Chicago Remodel" in the Related Links box below.

When the white siding was removed it revealed the original cladding, probably dating back to the home's construction in 1902.

At the back of the house, this photo shows the white siding removed and the exterior stair that was used when the building was a two-flat home.

As more siding was removed, the home's original architecture comes into view.

To get the transformation rolling, we gutted the house right down to the studs. This image shows the main floor, looking toward the back of the house.

Looking toward back of house, this demolition photo shows the area that was the bathroom.

Years ago, when the home was remodeled into two separate living spaces, this stairway was enclosed and hidden.

This sunroom will become part of the new master bedroom.

With new windows, a door and drywall, the master bedroom sunroom starts to reveal its future airy attitude.

The small bay at the front of the house gets a charm boost from new windows.

It was an exciting day when the new kitchen cabinetry arrived. In this photo you can see that the main level is completely reworked and reclad in fresh drywall. The new stone fireplace is visible in the background.

A wrap of fresh insulation is one of the updates that make this home ready for its next 100 years.

The home's new personality starts to emerge with new siding, windows, front door and foundation stone.