WELCOME TO 536 GUNDERSON

Exemplifying the meticulous construction standards and artful eye of its renown builder, S.T. Gunderson, this distinguished Four Square has been thoughtfully renovated in recent years with great regard for its 1911 architectural heritage. A truly beautiful, livable home that blends period features with modern appointments, this four bedroom, two and a half bath residence embodies the pride of ownership found throughout this unique historic neighborhood. A tree-lined streetscape and a location within walking distance of schools, parks, trains, dining and shopping only add to this Gunderson gem’s appeal.  

Exterior
From the curb, appreciate the home’s broad, inviting front porch. With plenty of room to sit a while and enjoy the afternoon, this entry point couldn’t be lovelier. Boxed columns, wide porch steps and a full-span, low-pitched roof reveal a distinct Prairie style influence, while bay windows and a tongue in groove ceiling hit Queen Anne notes. When Gunderson was marketing his blueprints to potential homeowners in the early 1900s, he offered 42 models with 15 different floorplans. All were designed in American Foursquare form, but buyers were given options to individualize them with Arts & Crafts, Prairie style, Colonial Revival and/or Queen Anne details. This particular model is a study in simple beauty and restrained ornamentation.

With curved landscape beds softening its square demeanor and providing year-round interest in the form of native trees, shrubs and perennials, this property is picturesque from the curb. But the backyard living space is equally inviting. A bluestone paved path widens beneath the canopy of a mature oak to offer a shady spot for gathering with friends and family. Fully fenced with edged plantings and a two-car garage out back, the yard is kid, pet and gardener friendly.

First Floor
Inside, narrow oak floors and the first of three original, beautifully hued stained-glass windows deliver immediate Gunderson charm in the foyer. Completely renovated in 2016, the home’s rejuvenated first floor is introduced by a box newel staircase that gleams beneath a second stained-glass window before turning toward the second floor.

From the foyer, guests are swept through a wide opening into the first floor living space, where the home’s extensive renovation can be fully appreciated. While expertly refinished oak woodwork, additional art glass features and a sunny window bay deliver the historical character you’d expect here, the open floorplan and abundant natural light are truly a pleasant surprise in a home of this age.

The sitting room flows smoothly through the dining area, which is rich in personality thanks to a Prairie style ceiling fixture and a stained-glass transom widow bay. A peninsula with stool seating is all that divides the dining room from a kitchen overhaul that sets a high bar for historic home renovation. In this bright and lovely space, an apron sink and quarter-sawn oak cabinets with Prairie cutouts are a nod to the home’s ancestry, while Jennaire appliances bring its culinary efficiency into the 21st century. Marble sueded Rich Paradise countertops, a stainless steel range hood and vintage style drawer pulls provide unique design details and provide a timeless bridge between the eras. 

Adjacent to the kitchen, a warm and sunny family room is also gifted with great woodwork and windows, and a sharply appointed navy-blue powder room seamlessly echos the original home’s architectural details while exceeding contemporary homebuyer expectations.

Second Floor
Upstairs, a tranquil master suite reaps the benefits of the home’s 2016 expansion in the form of a walk-in closet with built-ins and a luxurious master bath. Yesterday and today come together brilliantly in here as oak trim is paired with marble tile, a sleek, full glass walk-in shower and contemporary nickel fixtures.

Accessed from a central hallway are another artfully updated full bathroom and two additional bedrooms -- one with a spectacular, wall-to-wall oak bureau and both with restored oak floors and trim. A built-in oak linen closet lends even more character and storage.

Third Floor
In typical Gunderson style, this home does not end on the second floor. Most were designed with a bonus level and this one does not disappoint. With a layout that accommodates a fourth bedroom, an office nook and a flexible family or studio space, there is so much to love up here. Angled ceilings, oak floors, oversized windows and a set of built-in bookcases bring home the charm and top off the tour with style.  

Wonderful Neighborhood, Location
With a special place in Oak Park’s architectural history and an optimal location near just about everything, the Gunderson District is known for being a cohesive, welcoming, much-sought-after community. As this home is located just three blocks from the middle school, four blocks from the elementary and high schools, and one block from a top ranked Montessori program, this is a neighborhood where kids walk to school and play together, and the residents look out for one another. Quality of life is also high as the Gunderson Library, Longfellow Park and the Harrison Street Arts District (which is thriving with new restaurants, shops and galleries) are all easy walks. Both the Green and Blue lines are located just five blocks from here, and all that Lake Street has to offer is accessible by foot or bike. In this unique neighborhood, commuting is easy, the homes are a treasure and the living is good.