The city of Arlington, like its neighbor Chicago, is full of architectural jewels. From historic offices and theaters downtown, to antique houses in residential neighborhoods, the city has plenty to offer for people who love a beautiful old building.
Even if you’re just eyeing a simple home improvement project – such as adding or replacing windows – you should explore Arlington Heights and brush up on the classic house styles of Chicagoland. Maybe your house is already a humble example of the city’s architectural treasures, with a façade and matching design features you should try to keep. Or, maybe it’s not – in which case you might still want to give it a dash of old Chicagoland charm.
Here are a few quintessential Chicago house styles. Which one do you have or would use as inspiration for your home?
Worker’s Cottage
Dating back to the 1830s, the worker’s cottage is considered the original style of Chicago homes. One-and-a-half stories high, they were first built of wood and feature porches and stairs leading to the street. They have gabled roofs and asymmetrical facades typical of Queen Anne style houses. Many sport turrets, making bay windows a common feature, along with double-hung ones.
Bungalow
Bungalows became the working- and middle-class residence from the 1910s to 1940s. Like their forerunners, bungalows are low buildings, with a veranda facing the street and concrete entry stairs. However, they tend to be made of brick, and have simpler, symmetrical exteriors with dormer roofs. They feature the folksy touches of the American Arts and Crafts movement.
Historically, bungalows have double-hung windows with stained wood interiors. They can also have casement windows, with vertical grills on their upper halves.
Chicago Four Square
Now, think of a cross between the worker’s cottage and bungalow. You would have something like the Chicago four square: low, boxy, dormered, and relatively unadorned – but with leeway to add bay and transom windows. This style of house emerged in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and could combine elements of both Queen Anne and Craftsman architecture.
There are many more kinds of historical houses you could find in and around the Chicago metropolitan area. These include frame two-flats, greystones, brick three-flats, and Dutch colonial homes. With the exception of greystones, which may have decorative stained glass, these buildings would also have simple double-hung, casement, or bay windows.
You could easily have a respected window replacement arlington heights il contractor install their modern versions in your home. You could probably even retrofit your house with picture windows, if the original window space allows it – but that’s a whole new conversation in the name of beautiful architecture.
Sources:
A Handy Guide to the Most Classic Types of Chicago Houses
chicago.curbed.com
Aurora, An Architectural Portrait
aurora-il.org
Home Style Library
andersenwindows.com
