Hot Property: 111-Year-Old Winnetka Heights Prairie Perfect for Entertaining

Most people know about Kessler Park, but not as many know Winnetka Heights, says realtor Laura Wiswall. Established in 1890 and renovated 18 years later, the registered historic district is rich with tree-lined streets, arts and crafts, prairie homes and charm.

It’s just a 10-minute walk from the Bishop Arts District. “It’s a really beautiful place to live,” Wiswall says. The neighbors are also friendly. You simply don’t meet a stranger here, as people love to sit on their large porches and chat with passersby.

Nowhere is that more true than at 207 S. Willomet Ave. Wiswall says the current owners enjoy relaxing on the porch of their 111-year-old Prairie and their host friends. Or invite them over for a party on the back deck. Or sit down to a meal in the atmospheric dining room. Or even make a cocktail in the laundry/bar. “It just feels so cozy and welcoming to everyone who comes in,” she says of the home.

And for a house built in 1913, it has been carefully preserved and restored over the last century. “It has been beautifully restored,” says Wiswall. “It makes it look like a modern property with lots of historic charm and character.”

Since the current owners moved in 13 years ago, they have completely renovated the kitchen, installing custom cabinets, commercial-grade appliances and Carrara marble countertops. They also converted the entire bathroom into a butler’s pantry right off the kitchen. Although the front-facing single-pane windows are original, storm windows were installed on the sides and top of the house, “which helps tremendously with insulation,” Winswall says.

In 2019, the foundations were realigned and the gas fireplace was rebuilt from logs and is now operational again. This year, the owners also modernized the entire water and sewage system and replaced the attic insulation. They replaced the entire electrical system and installed a new panel and wiring. Additionally, there is a new roof, air conditioning and a furnace. And they redid the landscaping.

The interior and facade were aesthetically repainted, and the original wooden floors were renovated. The owners also took care to transfer design motifs to various spaces. “When you walk around it, the house feels incredibly cohesive,” Wiswall says. Carrara marble is used throughout the house, from the kitchen to the bathrooms to the laundry counter, which the owners use as a bar for parties. All the equipment throughout the house is made of solid brass, which the owners imported from England. They also installed new crown moldings in places to match the existing ones.

You don’t see this type of craftsmanship everywhere, Wiswall says, and that’s reflected in this house. “It just has great energy.”

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