On The Boards: Grace Street Treehouse
Perspective of the treehouse at the second floor
When a couple purchased their century-old home on Chicago’s North Side, they envisioned a renovation that would honor the building’s character while adapting it to the rhythms of family life with their two young children. Having followed 34-TEN’s work for years, they engaged us to transform the outdated residence into a warm, modern family home filled with light and personality.
The design began as a full-gut renovation that retained the existing shell, structure, and bearing walls while reimagining every interior surface. What emerged is a home affectionately nicknamed the “mullet house” — traditional in the front, fun in the back. The layout was re-envisioned to bring daylight deep into the narrow city lot, creating interior spaces that feel generous, connected, and personal.
An existing but underused light well was reimagined as the home’s defining feature. Enlarged glazing and a reconfigured plan —primarily transforming a former mechanical room into the children’s “treehouse” study — now allow daylight to cascade through all three levels in a single vertical gesture.
Kitchen perspective highlighting walnut cabinetry
On the main level, the kitchen anchors the home’s daily life. Stained walnut cabinetry, client-designed edge pulls, and a custom breakfast table create a warm, contemporary heart to the house. Large south-facing glass doors open to a rear deck and garden designed by The Outside Design Studio, blurring the boundary between indoors and out. A walnut-cased opening frames the connection between dining and kitchen areas, while a dark, dramatic powder room, complete with Gucci wallpaper, adds contrast and character.
Kids Bedroom at the treehouse
Upstairs, the children’s bedrooms are playful and personal: built-in plywood beds with trundles for sleepovers, ceiling murals depicting sunset clouds and starry skies, and desks overlooking the light well where they can see and communicate with one another. The primary suite reclaims a previously hidden bay window to create a spa-like bath experience, with morning light filtering through soft eastern exposure.
Throughout, the renovation balances historic elements with contemporary clarity. Every inch of the plan was reconsidered for efficiency and livability, resulting in four bedrooms, a new laundry area, and abundant built-in storage — all within the existing footprint. The home reflects 34-TEN’s philosophy of transforming existing structures through precision, warmth, and care into a home that feels modern but rooted, efficient but full of life.
Final photography coming in Summer 2026!