“It would have been a lot cheaper to tear it down,” Rob admits. But as the proud new owner of a historic Prairie School home, dreams of a fabulous renovation danced in his head. Yes, the place had fallen on hard times. Yes, many of its historical elements had been covered up. “It had been 1980s-ized,” Rob says. “But I think if you live in Chicago, you should live in a home that honors this area’s architectural roots.” Its intriguing interiors echoed the Vienna Secession, a period that saw frilly Victorian meld into the dawn of modernism, specifically Art Nouveau. “Someone had to save this great old house,” Rob says. So he, his equally architecture-minded wife, and a team of pros, including architect John Eifler, interior designer Donna Mondi, and builder Joe Byczek, stepped up to the task. On the exterior, the clean-lined Prairie style feels current, thanks to refreshed stucco, new facework on decorative panels, and cedar shingles in place of asphalt. Hits of energy come from rich Bordeaux hues on upholstery and contemporary art, including a fish painting in the living room chosen by Rob and Amanda’s teenage son. “They love boating and living an adventurous life, so this art spoke to them,” Mondi says. “Plus, it’s such a surprise in the room—and I like surprises.” A new fireplace in the living room mimics the surround of an original in the dining room. Clad in tile from Artistic Tile, it adds subtle color and a chic blend of matte and shimmer. Original wood flooring from the house’s upper level covers the kitchen’s new beamed ceiling. Bar stools are from Hickory Chair; island pendants are by Early Electrics. A focal-point La Cornue range provided the starting point as the design team updated the Millers’ kitchen. “It’s like a piece of art,” designer Mondi says. The geometric backsplash tile is from Ann Sacks. Marble countertops were a must for the Millers. “They wanted an authentic material that will tell the story of their life,” Mondi says. Prairie School art glass and Art Nouveau style merge in the new fireplace in the expanded breakfast room. The hide rug by Kravet lends a tile-like feel. The vintage-look chandelier is by Currey & Company. A groin vault, added during the redo, crowns the entrance to the butler’s pantry, layering more interest into the architecturally rich house and Midwest interior design. Wallpaper from Bradley in the dining room looks traditional from a distance. Up close, you see that the pattern is actually animal skulls. Its pale teal blue background speaks to another of Mondi’s twists on history, this time with color. A soaring groin-style vault plus a wall of windows make the bedroom airy, bright, and beautiful. Mondi had the sleek, low-slung bed custom-made to snuggle comfortably under a row of Prairie-style windows. “It was complex, expensive, one of those projects that not everyone would be willing to tackle,” Rob says of the two-year renovation. “But every day I pull into my driveway, I think, What a cool house. Sharing it with people and passing on an appreciation of history is so amazing to me. We’re stewards of this house, preserving it for the next generation. There could be no bigger reward.”
