Step Inside My Chicago Dream Home

It’s fun to be on the other side of things. My job on the Redfin communications team is to write about the housing market and to provide Chicago journalists with the information they need for their stories. But now I’ve been asked to jump in the spotlight myself and write about my dream home. Turnabout is fair play, I suppose! Let’s get started.

I confess that I actually love where I live right now, but that’s no fun. So, let’s get into the Hot Tub Time Machine and imagine zipping ahead several years: Instead of sharing a spacious 1,300-square-foot, two-bed, two-bath condo with just my wife, I now have two kids.

My light-filled home has become cramped and noisy, and the dinky second bedroom simply doesn’t function as a space where I can have an office – and where my two young children can sleep. My home life has turned into a Sartrean No Exit nightmare!

Lucky me, instead of yelling constantly, playing passive-aggressive games and turning into a problem parent, I have a better option: Find my Chicago dream home!

Here are my criteria: In the city, near public transit, in a neighborhood with a vibrant restaurant scene. At least three bedrooms, with another space where one can read Dorothy Sayers in peace. And, while we’re at it, why not have a backyard? I’ve always wanted a raspberry bush – let’s make that into a (dream) reality!

Much to my surprise, it’s actually very hard to find a home in Chicago that meets my criteria that’s not in Lincoln Park or the Near North (neighborhoods I dislike) and that isn’t some cheesy new construction. But, I found two viable options, one of which I ended up choosing.

The first, which I almost settled on, was this one. I choose to ignore the kitchen update not to my taste, the narrow staircase and the current owner’s choices in home decoration. Instead, I focus on the curb appeal, gorgeous bay windows, the light-filled office space (slide 12), a basement to stash teenagers and the fact that this home is on Logan Boulevard, right by Logan Square. Heart be still.

In a dream scenario, I could plop down an extra $200k to make the interior shine … that’s fine. But I can’t dream away no central A/C, nor the extraordinary inefficiency of radiator heat. Also, no yard to speak of and a pond in front? Just not quite right.

Instead, I’m excited to go with this place. You can walk to Uptown, Ravenswood and Lincoln Square restaurants and nightlife (I’ll start going to the Green Mill even more!) and the Ravenswood Metra stop and Brown Line are right there, while the Red line is a reasonable walk away. Graceland Cemetery is nearby (I’m a taphophile) and Ashland Avenue, especially if the BRT is implemented, is a great conduit for going to the cool neighborhoods to the south.

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Oh, and then the home! Who wouldn’t want to sit on that front porch? You also have a back porch, which is just perfect. I can imagine myself reading and sipping lemonade on either. There’s also a proper (if small) backyard.

In the interior, I love the classic Chicago wood trim and the wood floors. The master bedroom gets plenty of natural light, as does the living room. I cook daily, so the huge kitchen is also a major plus. The current décor can be dealt with easily enough and, with six (!!) bedrooms, one of them could be made into an office, no problem.

Also, with six bedrooms, we might need to start taking renters or popping out a few more kids. Good heavens!

If you’re ready to find your dream home in Chicago or elsewhere, get in touch with a Redfin real estate agent today!

About Alex Starace
Alex Starace is Redfin’s communications specialist for Chicago. He enjoys nice weather, literary fiction and cooking. Prior to joining Redfin, he was a freelance writer, and wrote extensively on the ins and outs of condo purchasing, as well as on luxury goods. He lives in Chicago proper and is lucky enough to be able to walk to work.