2529 W. Coyle Avenue

2529 W. Coyle Avenue, the Wesley House.

Circa: 1927

Original Owner:

Present Owner: Thom Wesley

This house was included in the 2003 Annual Fall House Tour.

This house has seen substantial change over its life. The classic Chicago Bungalow floor plan remains the same -- living room occupying the entire front of the house with the back portion equally divided between the dining room and kitchen on one side, and two or three bedrooms on the other side.

Owner, Thom Wesley, has altered the layout of his house to create a more contemporary feel while still respecting the 1920-era details of his house. The most significant change can be found in the living room where a new archway to the library (formerly the master bedroom) has been constructed to mirror the existing one accessing the foyer. Another archway was added in the dining room, creating a floor plan that emphasizes openness yet still allows for intimacy in each of the rooms.

A similar change can be found in the new master suite, which combines what were formerly two bedrooms. The sleeping area occupies what had been the second bedroom while space for a master bathroom was carved out of the third bedroom. A pair of arched openings separates the two areas, with clothes and accessories stored in between.

Thom sought to preserve as many vintage details as he could while his house was undergoing renovation, including cleaning and stabilizing the leaded glass casement windows in the living room that feature a beautiful MacIntosh Rose design. In the kitchen, Thom retained the 1940s-era wall tiles, which had been covered over by a layer of paneling. What was previously the master bath has also been preserved, complete with original wall and floor tile.