The suburbs were never part of Lauren and Dan Nguyen’s plan. Inspired by the row houses in Chicago, the couple envisioned a forever home that would maximize urban living on a city lot without sacrificing space for their young family.
Dan’s love of mid-century modern design and Lauren’s desire for craftsman style influenced the result: a sleek, multi-level home that met their needs on a smaller footprint. And because they were building in historic Union Hill, they were committed to ensuring that their new home complemented the neighborhood’s charm.
“We wanted it to feel like it had been here for years,” Lauren says, and Edward Franklin Building Company helped shape that vision to build their dream house. “This home has always been our North Star.”
Outdoor Oasis
The Nguyens’ top priority was that their home felt natural to Union Hill. “If you drive around Union Hill, there are lots of pops of colors,” Lauren says. True to that spirit, the home’s exterior is painted a soft yellow with sections of the roof in evergreen and the gable trim in deep mustard. Beneath the covered patio, light blue slats add another subtle splash of color.
Craftsman-style railings around the porches enhance the charm of the home while another Union Hill home staple—rooftop decks—played a key role in the design. The Nguyens didn’t add just one; they built two, one facing north and the other south. In total the home has four outdoor living areas, perfect for soaking in the city’s energy and skyline views.
A Step Above
There’s no denying that this home’s defining feature is its height. Inspired by traditional Chicago row homes, the goal was to “build up.” More than just a way to move between floors, the stunning switchback staircase serves as the home’s true focal point. Lined with windows that reach the top, the space is flooded with natural light.
“Something I didn’t expect is how [the light] changes in this space throughout the day,” Lauren says. “It’s so beautiful.”
Personal Touches
“Lauren loves to read, so incorporating a window nook on the second floor overlooking the street was a really nice touch,” says Grant Baumgartner, managing partner at Edward Franklin. “Our architect worked to infuse nooks and small spaces for the family to live their day-to-day life and create memories.”
And with the home’s impressive four-story height, stunning views can be seen from nearly every window.
Stars Aligned
Speaking of the staircase, Baumgartner and his team installed an exquisite light fixture that cascades from the top of the house all the way to the bottom. Made of chains and orbed lights, each element was meticulously placed to match the staircase’s full height. “They have this kind of creative astronomy, planetarium-like feel,” Dan says.
That celestial theme continues up the staircase, culminating in ethereal light fixtures affixed to the ceiling. “Think the alchemy tower in Harry Potter,” Lauren says. “It’s kind of witchy, maybe a little moody, and [Edward Franklin] really leaned into that with all of their fixtures.”
Force of Nature
The couple admits that, at first, they hadn’t given much thought to the kitchen countertops. But as soon as they saw this one, they knew it was perfect for them. “You can feel all the intricacies,” Dan says. “It has such a natural, organic feel to it.”
As the rest of the space came together, that organic look became even more apparent. “Once everything was in place, the space took on this very earthy feel,” Lauren says. “I think it was all the natural light, the green in the counter slab, the earthy tones of the curtains and the wood. It felt very natural, which wasn’t something any of us intentionally planned, but it just came together that way.”
Late to the Party
Although it seamlessly blends into the space, the coffee nook off the kitchen was a last-minute addition—just like the arched ceiling in front of the staircase, which was designed to accommodate unexpected ductwork.
“When you build a vertical home, it requires a lot of steel,” Baumgartner says. “That also creates other challenges, especially when you have an HVAC duct running from the front to the back of the house.” While most builders would do a bump-out around the duct and call it a day, the Edward Franklin team incorporated an arch into the design. “It created this perfect little architectural moment that frames out the staircase and the multilevel chandelier.”
