Project Snapshot: Circa 1910 Victorian --Kenwood Historic District Architect: Elizabeth Miller, Studio 31a Contractor: Fortune Restoration

2. Architect Elizabeth
Miller says when
you renovate
landmark status
homes in Chicago,
you have to work
through the City
Landmark
Division.
Miller’s firm,
Studio 31a,
spearheaded the
renovations (both
internal and
external) for this
beautiful Victorian
home built around
1906 to 1910
located in the
historic Chicago
Kenwood district.
The most challenging aspect about working with old historic homes is
“unforeseen conditions” according to Ms. Miller. “You don’t know
what’s going on, beyond the obvious.”

3. “You also never know what you’ll find
until you take it off”, notes Miller
regarding the 1950’s asphalt siding
removed by the Fortune Restoration
team. “We could have encountered
rotten wood underneath.
We were fortunate with this project. It
was not rotted. We added insulation, put
new boards on and had to match the
new to the old size.”

4. Ms. Miller says
it was the
architecture and
history of old
homes that first
got her hooked
on them.
“I love old homes
and believe in
making them last
for another
hundred years!”
She recommends
painting all wood
siding homes
every 7 years.
“Homeowners
often don’t paint
before 20 years
—paint is better
today, but it
doesn’t last that
long.”
PAINT CHART
Benjamin Moore
project colors
SIDING
Black Iron
#2120-20
TRIM
Deep Mulberry
#2069-10
Smoke Grey
#2120-40
ACCENT
Dark Burgundy
#2075-10
Connect with Architect,
Elizabeth Miller, at
847.471.2448.
Request an estimate
Fortune Restoration
847.647.2500