Our Customer Spotlight is Barry Weinstein and the beautiful remodel and restoration of a historic Highland Park, IL house. We feature photos of the house on our website and it’s a perfect Spotlight choice.
Barry Weinstein, now retired, is a distinguished architect in Chicago, IL. His design-build firm, B Weinstein Associates, has a rich history of specializing in historic remodels. He’s remodeled and restored many projects in Highland Park, a suburb of Chicago.
This 8,000 sqft Victorian mansion was built in 1892 by W. W. Boyington, the architect of Chicago’s Water Tower. Today, it faces a beautifully manicured 13-acre park that fronts Lake Michigan.
In 2008, Mr. Weinstein chose our premium-quality, clear finger joint western red cedar siding in a bevel pattern for the home’s exterior cladding. The clear finger joint cedar, incorporating the latest finger joinery technology, was pre-primed at the mill for time and cost efficiency, and to ensure the cedar was back-sealed for durability and longevity.
We talked with Mr. Weinstein about the project.
Overview Of the Remodel
We restored the original entrance on Sheridan Road, removed the existing swimming pool from the front yard, and added a grand driveway in front of the house. On the Moraine Road side, we removed a couple of entryways and a small balcony and added a third-car garage. All outside walls were stripped of stone and received bevel siding which was original to the house.
Behind the garage, facing the backyard, is the new porch and the mudroom with the secondary stair to the second floor. The basement was dug out for a 9-foot ceiling. The first, second, and third floors were completely remodeled. Walls were relocated to create better bedrooms, each with a private bath. We installed a new stair and an elevator going from the basement level to the third floor.
Mr. Weinstein moved the home forward on the lot, putting all additions to the back of the house, to preserve its original look.
What was the catalyst for this remodel?
In this case, a developer wanted to enhance the existing floor plan and preserve the exterior appearance for resale. With historic homes, owners often want to remodel for improvements while preserving the look.
What is the process for getting approval to remodel a historic home?
Most cities today have historic preservation committees that set up special criteria for remodeling, renovating, or building within a historic district.
To get a building permit here, you have to go before boards to present the plans to get a Certificate of Appropriateness. You submit a package with photos of the building’s original appearance, architectural working drawings, and design plans. The city boards are composed of city planners and members of the community. A city committee member does the presentation to the board.
B Weinstein Associates Won the 2010 Historic Preservation Award for this project.
What were the criteria for the award?
I submitted pictures and plans of the outside of the home to the review committee. They picked specific elements to reward. The criteria for the award were specific to the outside of the house. The committee was not judging the interior renovations.
We made additions sensitive to the original exterior design and “rehabilitated” the outside of the house, effectively saving the house. We even restored some of the old wood siding, using a blow torch to remove the old paint. It was very compatible with the new siding. We also replaced all the old windows with new ones that preserved the home’s appearance.
Mr. Weinstein made significant changes that might not have been technically “historic,” but because they represented the original design and saved the house, the committee was happy with the results.
It’s also important to note that in 2019, the City of Highland Park celebrated its 150th birthday, highlighting its many historic buildings during the year-long event. Seven of Mr. Weinstein’s Highland Park projects were selected to participate, including our Spotlight home.
This finished home is an excellent example of design creativity, exceptional workmanship, and attention to detail.
Additional photos are available on Buffalo-Lumber’s Houzz Showcase.