A HOUSE that appears small, but one in which space is so efficiently utilized as to provide a surprising amount of room is the attractive English type home of Mr. and Mrs. G. S. Bannister, at 1620 W. 102nd Street. The design is original and was worked out by the owner, who is an architect.
The house is built at the left side of a lot of about 160 foot frontage and 200 foot depth, on the left side of which is a sunken garden and pool. Numerous trees and a careful use of shrubbery add to the attractiveness of the grounds.
Entrance is through a small alcove into a hallway, on the left side of which are open arches to the living room. A wrought iron lantern adds an attractive note to the hall, in which the floor is of brick, as is that of the large sun room in the center rear of the house. The sun room is set within the walls rather than extended out as a separate unit in the usual fashion. The entire rear wall is made up of narrow paned windows, which extend from floor to ceiling. Wide doors of small pane leaded glass lead from the sun room into living room and dining room.
The dining room has beamed ceiling and a large, built-in china closet in one end. There are three large windows in the rear wall. Both these windows and those of the sun room look out on the extensive rear yard, which resembles a miniature forest preserve, having nearly forty trees of different varieties.
The kitchen, which occupies the right front corner of the house, is separated from the dining room by a small side hall, in which also is the stair door to the basement. The kitchen is thoroughly modern. The refrigerator is set in a small side entrance hall. A rear, or rather, because of the unusual placing of the kitchen, front stair leads up to the maid’s room and bath.
The living room ceiling is beamed and arched. Six casement windows set in the front wall provide light and air in abundance. A large brick fireplace, which reaches to the ceiling, occupies most of one end. A built-in bookcase is at one side and the stairs leading to the second floor on the other. An open arch in the corner of the living room leads to a small side hall, off which are two bedrooms and bath. Three more bedrooms and baths, besides those of the maid, occupy the second floor.
The first story is constructed of rough weatherboards and stucco, the second shingles.
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