1509 W. Lunt Avenue

1509 W. Lunt Avenue, the Ehmann House.

This location was featured in the 1992 Annual Fall House Tour.

Circa: 1900

Original Owner: Richard A. Matthews

Present (1992) Owner: Ed Ehmann

This house can be categorized as a "Suburban Chicago house." It is supported by a stone foundation and contains two floors and a usable attic.

The hip roof, with its deep overhanging roof line has three dormers. This overhang is supported by one bracket on each end and five brackets in the center. Just below the roof line are two bay windows, one on the right and one on the left, each extending to the first floor. There is also one large French window in the middle. Another bay window, located on the east side of the house does not continue to the second floor.

The front porch roof is supported by fluted Ionic columns. The outer walls, with the exception of the southern with its original wooden shingles, are covered with a different type of shingle. A partially wrap-around porch with picket rails leads to the main entrance.

On each side of the outer door is a leaded, beveled glass window. From here, you enter the small foyer with its own beveled glass door and egg and dart trim. From this area, a wainscotted door with glass uppers takes you into the main foyer. Here you see the original fireplace with its blue tile and decorative mantle. The glass and brass grill was installed in 1982.

On either side of the main foyer are two window seats. These are just below the two beveled glass windows. An original decorative grill can be found in front of the east window seat. The flooring here, and in all other sections of the house, with the exception of the kitchen and attic, displays oak wood carpeting. The two wooden entrance doors are mahogany.

To the left of the foyer, you enter the living room through double French doors that are not original. Here the bay windows on the north and east make this area appear very spacious and full of light. This space was created by removing a wall that separated the original dining room.

The window trims in this part of the house are somewhat different from the smaller egg and dart effect you find throughout the house. Antique furniture creates additional beauty in this area. South of the living room, a double French door opens into the sun room. This part of the house was added by a previous owner in the 1940s. Here antique furniture adds a finishing touch.

The present (1992) dining room with its bay window and visible pocket doors was originally a music room. The lighting in this room, and all other rooms, was updated in the early 1980s. A touch of vintage furniture complements this room.

To the south of the dining room, you will find a modern kitchen with recessed lighting and tongue and groove oak floors. This area has undergone several changes. One such change is visible by the presence of a swinging door. The pantry and back door take you out to the back yard.

The double stairs with wainscoting south of the main foyer take you to the first floor bath, which was originally the butler's pantry. Walking up these stairs, with its continuation of wainscoting on either side of the staircase, you reach the landing, where directly in front of you is a closet. This was rebuilt in a space created from a stairway that lead to the original kitchen on the first floor. The banister is short, but it has beautiful turnings. Its length is interrupted by the chimney's structure that leads from the fireplace on the first floor.

The second floor has five rooms and a bath. The first three on the left have sustained their originality and are used as guest rooms. The master bedroom has also kept its original structure although it has been remodeled. The bay windows in this room have the same effect as the downstairs living room. Vintage furniture and a good color scheme create beauty in this room. Continuing south from the master bedroom is a paneled den with its original stucco ceiling. The rectangular structure that sits on top of the first floor bay window creates additional space in this room.

The bath, which has both its original position and fixtures, was decorated to have a modern effect. The entrance to the sun porch is also south of this room. The original shingle siding and windows are still present. The back steps to this porch were recently (1992) removed and the landing is now a small deck.

The attic has its original structure with the inlets of dormers, floorings, and windows. It was made usable and now (1992) serves as sewing, music, storage, and study rooms.

Photos

RPWRHS photo S013-0874 shows a parking lot and flag pole with the rear of a big apartment building in the background. The record says this is supposed to be a photo of the "Ehmann house." Obviously, this is incorrect. The address is supposed to be 1509 W. Lunt Avenue. It is highly unlikely that the photo was taken at that address.