the good house: Norwood Park MCM (Patreon)

Today's good house comes to us from Norwood Park, Chicago, though it would look at home in California or perhaps on a lake: 

It's been a while since we've had a real mid-century modern on the Patreon, and this deck house, built in 1970, will satisfy that itch. However, it'll cost you the pretty penny of $1.2 million. What I love about this house is the not-urban nature of it. It looks like it should be perched on a bluff overlooking a mountain and yet, here it sits, like the bow of a tasteful ship, perched on a simple Chicago lawn. 

Much of the house, though not all of it, is original. The entryway is a classic MCM split-level configuration complete with original door and railing. 

The wall of windows opens out onto the front lawn and a green street. The floors are original, though most other elements in this room have been upgraded. I think the owners knew they had to keep the charm of the original house and mostly just changed it to suit their specific tastes. There are much worse renovations, however. 

As you can see here, the original credenza has been updated with a granite top and the lighting fixtures are very 2010s, as is the metallic painted accent wall.

The kitchen also has seen some new features such as a metallic backsplash, which I kind of like because it gives it a Bruce Goff kind of vibe. Also I'm sure the white walls are not original either, though, again, there are worse choices. 

Of course, not everything can be perfect. Though it is, I think, within the spirit of the 70s to have a weird jacuzzi tub in your master bedroom. 

In reality, most the house is just simply lived in, which is reflected in the leftover design changes. I kind of find this charming because a house shouldn't really be expected to be like a museum. Still, I'd have picked different colors. 

One delightful element is the basement bar, complete with neon sign and wood paneling. 

Finally, the rear exterior is kind of strange but in a charming way. I don't know that I would have chosen bay windows (they look rather like a pair of bug eyes here) but hey, the 70s were the 70s. 

Link to listing.