House 9 - 1144 Austin Avenue

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Homeowner: Cheryl Manley

When Cheryl Manley first stepped through the front door of this house in July 1983, she immediately knew she had found her home, albeit under many, many coats of paint and dirt. Seventeen years later, the house is still a work in progress.

This 1910 Craftsman-style house was built as a wedding present for William and Marie Kriegshaber. The Kriegshaber family owned a building supply company, which provided the materials for many area homes at the turn of the century.

When Cheryl purchased the house, she took on a massive restoration project; both the exterior and interior were in bad repair. She quips there were "minor details" that needed attention, such as the conspicuous absence of a floor in both the master bedroom and the laundry room. When the paint that covered the interior woodwork was painstakingly removed, the fine heart pine detailing throughout the house was revealed.

The wealth of traditional Craftsman elements in the spacious front room includes generous windows, built-in cabinets, and a window seat next to the original brick fireplace. The stained-glass transom over the living room door is a new addition, by Grant Park artisans, Gebus Glassworks. There is a pinch of Victorian style in the elegant columns at the entrance to the dining room and hallway. The strength of the architectural design is balanced by Cheryl's use of delicate color and stenciled details. Notice her collection of opalescent glass displayed in the dining room.

Upstairs, a former apartment has been lovingly restored and newly opened as The Blue Angel Inn, a Bed & Breakfast with two bedrooms, two full baths, and a sitting room.

Old house living is not for the faint-hearted, says Cheryl, but once smitten, you can't live anywhere else!

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