From House To Home

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When bicycle magnate Ignaz Schwinn originally built this bungalow for his daughter during the Roaring Twenties, he relied on a uniquely American architecture. Today, almost 80 years later, thanks to the renovations of architect Daniel Repholz, builder Glen Hayes, and designer Pamela Mueller, it has become truer to its original Craftsman style than it ever really was to begin with.

Situated lakeside, the 5,400-square-foot home has been taken apart and put back together from the landscaping to the fireplace to the upstairs master. The result is a stunning combination of craftsmanship and quality. It is like stepping back in time while remaining focused on contemporary styling and functionality.

The owners were captivated by its location. The builder, who is also a neighbor and personal friend, suggested that the waterside of the home would benefit from a much beefier footprint. Repholz, in turn, envisioned a larger master to be supported by tapered columns on stone pedestals. The new dormer creates a covered porch below, which they finished with glass panels and doors to allow entry to the home as well as views of the lake. Stone steps and fencing lead from the newly added space down to the water’s edge.

Inside, the structural changes were also fairly extensive. Before the renovation, the circulation was inefficient. Today, the home is large, but comfortable, and every inch of space is carefully integrated into the whole. Repholz carved three bedrooms, including the newly built master, from the spaces on the second level. Useless storage rooms became walk-in closets and bathrooms. On the main level, the bedrooms were no longer necessary. One became a combination mudroom and laundry room. One became a music room, and one became a brand new kitchen. Even a tiny room above the garage was reinvented and became a playroom for the youngsters. Rather than having to access it by going out the front door and into a side door, a staircase was built to allow entry from inside the home.

Mueller, who, along with her husband, George, owns Mueller Interiors, Inc., in Crystal Lake, accepted the challenge of developing the bungalow motif. Under her guidance, the old, outdated elements were replaced, and architectural details became a careful blend of Craftsman style in a colorful, contemporary voice. With Mueller helping guide the renovation, the owners knew they were in good hands. “It [bungalow design] is not something that my wife or I understand very well. And we didn’t want to make extensive changes, and then do it wrong.”

Fortunately for them, Craftsman architecture and design is a personal favorite of the designer. She worked directly with Repholz and Hayes to incorporate architectural and decorative finishes that would be true to the period without being dated. From the exterior colors to a new copper chimney on the reclaimed brick fireplace, the project was as much a meeting of the minds as anything else.

Mueller explains that after the structural changes were made, she went to work on the interiors introducing brighter colors while still relying primarily on earth tones. Mueller is an expert at draperies and window treatments, but she didn’t want to eliminate lake views, so she transferred her passion for texture and color to the custom upholstery, pillows, and area rugs throughout the home.

In addition, the luster of wood is an integral component. From the fully restored original hardwood floors to the variety of finishes in the new kitchen, hardwoods are also a critical building block of the renovated home. In the large living room, Hayes’ coffered ceiling replaced an ordinary dropped ceiling to become the icing on the cake of a beautiful space. Lighting completes the palette, and the electric hues of amber, butterscotch, ivory, and chocolate illuminate the rooms.

Restoring an old home is not without its challenges, but getting it right is its own reward. Here in the Village of Lakewood, this old bungalow built on the water’s edge 80 years ago has been brought back to life. The love affair with clean lines, pure color, and quality American craftsmanship was never in question.