Architect Elizabeth

Miller says when

you renovate

landmark status

homes in Chicago,

you have to work

through the City

Landmark

Division.

Miller’s firm,

Studio 31a,

spearheaded the

renovations (both

internal and

external) for this

beautiful Victorian

home built around

1906 to 1910

located in the

historic Chicago

Kenwood district.

The most challenging aspect about working with old historic homes is

“unforeseen conditions” according to Ms. Miller. “You don’t know

what’s going on, beyond the obvious.”

“You also never know what you’ll find

until you take it off”, notes Miller

regarding the 1950’s asphalt siding

removed by the Fortune Restoration

team. “We could have encountered

rotten wood underneath.

We were fortunate with this project. It was not rotted. We added insulation, put new boards on and had to match the new to the old size.”

Ms. Miller says

it was the

architecture and

history of old

homes that first

got her hooked

on them.

“I love old homes

and believe in

making them last

for another

hundred years!”

She recommends

painting all wood

siding homes

every 7 years.

“Homeowners

often don’t paint

before 20 years

—paint is better

today, but it

doesn’t last that

long.”

PAINT CHART

Benjamin Moore

project colors

SIDING

Black Iron

#2120-20

TRIM

Deep Mulberry

#2069-10

Smoke Grey

#2120-40

ACCENT

Dark Burgundy

#2075-10

Connect with Architect,

Elizabeth Miller, at

847.471.2448.

Request an estimate

Fortune Restoration

847.647.2500