As I mentioned in my last blog post, we extended our home search to areas close to Old Irving and by happenstance we stumbled across a little neighborhood that does not get much attention - Mayfair. Located north of Montrose, west of Elston and south of Lawrence, it has easy convenience to I-90 and the Montrose blue line L stop. The neighborhood is a mix of vintage bungalows and two flats and is most known for being home to the Irish American Heritage Center, an old converted public school. This place is always hopping on St. Paddy's day weekend and a must on your Chicago "to-do" bucket list. And now an easy walk from our home after a few beers.
A new listing came on the market for a vintage Chicago bungalow and I instantly fell in love. From the online real estate photos I knew it had soooo much potential, but listed at only $285,000 I knew there had to be some catch or issues. We quickly scheduled a tour and the home was even more impressive in person.
We stepped in the front door and knew from the moment we saw the original stained glass windows and the fireplace this was the home for us. We were so excited. The home also came with a plaque from the Chicago Bungalow Association - an important educational organization that looks to preserve the history and significance of the iconic Chicago bungalow.
From a quick interior scan, the home needed some updating like a new kitchen and the floors refinished, but we knew the home was solid and had good bones. The front windows were breathtaking and the almost 9 foot ceilings were an unexpected feature and an added bonus. Though the bedrooms were small and lacked closet space and storage we knew with some creativity we could make this home amazing. The sellers accepted our offer and after a good inspection, the house was ours. We could not wait to get started adding our personal style and bring this stately home back to life. We are now very proud Chicago Bungalow owners.
Here are the interior photos from the online real estate listing. Let the journey begin.