1648 W. Touhy Avenue

From HistoryWiki

1648 W. Touhy Avenue was owned by Loren and Christine Karnick.

This house was featured in the 1988 Annual Fall House Tour and the 1993 Annual Fall House Tour.

The Karnick House, 1648 W. Touhy Avenue is a three-story, red-brick building constructed in 1906 and now (1988) owned by Loren and Christine Karnick, who moved in in spring 1987. It is a variation on the Dutch Colonial Revival style with its side-gabled, moderately pitched roof and the chimney placed on the left side. One of the distinctive features of the exterior is its fine wood detailing which was being restored in 1988.

Welcoming you front and center are two stately columns which support an arched entry way and lead to a porch and glass-paneled front door. Inside, to the left of the foyer is the large living room where a tank of exotic fish demands immediate inspection. The living room is highlighted by a stone fireplace and three large windows facing West.

To the south of the living room is a sun room where a wide variety of plants are flourishing. To the North, is a carriage house which was used once upon a time to park horse and buggy.

To the right of the foyer is the dining room which is complimented by a chandelier of Bohemian glass, a large beveled mirror, and ornate plaster moldings on the ceiling.

The kitchen also has the original black and white tiled walls, a fireplace, and sports a 1930s stove. Outside the kitchen, under the shade of a cottonwood tree, is a sun deck.

A wide staircase leads to the second floor where there are three bedrooms (the master bedroom, a baby's room, and a guest bedroom), a library/office and a bathroom. An extra feature is a summer porch.

The third floor features gabled dormers with decorative glass panels. A maid's bedroom, and additional bathroom, and storage space are found on this floor.

Rogers Park Directory, 1919, page 11.

1648 W. Touhy Avenue was 1648 W. Kenilworth Avenue, John J. Boylson, 1919.

Chicago Landmarks Historic Resources Survey

Architect:

Historic Name:

Community: Rogers Park (01)

Address: 1648 W. Touhy Avenue

Constructed: Started in 07/01/1908

Classification: Building

Style: Dutch Colonial Revival

Type: Single-Family Residence

Color Code: Orange

Landmark? N

National Register? N

Major Tenant:

Building Details: Dutch Colonial Revival

Pin: 1131203002

Photos

RPWRHS Photo S013-2301, Karnick House, 1988 House Tour, 1648 W. Touhy Avenue.