THE residence of Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Melican, 9959 S. Robey Street, is another example of the beautiful homes going up in the fast growing Forest Ridge district. It is distinctly English in design, being faithful to the country house type, only, of course, smaller. Overfired common brick of a pleasing brown is used for the exterior, with weathering slate for the roof. The lawn is terraced in the front to meet the terrace porch on the north.
The entrance faces 100th Street, and is an arched door, with handwrought iron fixtures, the lock being set in an iron case with an old fashioned turn handle. A small peep hole opens from the inside. The door gives to a north-south reception hall, with a large guest closet, which extends to a rear hall on the north side, separated by a door, and opens through arches to the living room on the west and the dining room on the east.
This part of the lower floor is finished in a dark cream tone, with a dash of yellow in it, with panels for the walls and a lighter tone for the ceiling. The living room is quite large, with a deep grate set in the south wall. There is no mantle shelf above it and marble is used for the stone work. A pair of French doors open to the west to the terrace porch.
Draw curtains instead of shades are used at the English casement windows. The light fixtures are old English in design and are done in Flemish brass. The dining room has a central chandelier of glass, which Mr. Melican imported. It is an antique, originally used for candles but has been wired. The furnishings in both these rooms are typically English.
The kitchen, on the northeast, is gained from either the dining room or the rear hall, and is unique in that the walls are covered to a height of seven feet with vitrolite, large white tile shaped glass. The walls of the bath adjacent to the master bedroom on the second floor have the same covering. There is no entry in the kitchen, as it is well supplied with built-in cabinets. The northeast corner of the lower floor is given over to a breakfast room done in green.
Upstairs there are three bedrooms, two baths and a storage room. This floor is gained by a typically English staircase, with a wrought iron balustrade. The upper hall extends east and west, with the master bedroom on the west end. This room is 16 by 16 feet, and has three exposures, twin closets with windows, and a bath adjacent. Another bedroom is found on the south, and the children’s room occupies the northeast corner, over the breakfast room. At the east end of the hall is the second bathroom. The hallway is equipped with several linen closets and a clothes chute.
Mr. and Mrs. Melican are newcomers to the Ridge. They were formerly residents of Tinley Park. Mr. Melican is a grain broker.
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