600 E Chicago Street
Elgin, IL 60120

This is a very prominent landmark house in Elgin, rich in detail, inside and out. It has been a favorite on the Elgin Historic House Tour three times over the years. As a gorgeous, spacious, Queen Anne Victorian home, this proud painted lady was the winner of the Chicagoland Painted Ladies award in 2018. The exterior has elaborate detail in the siding, with a handsome stone base, and sits tall on the corner of Chicago and Liberty. The exterior boasts a 3-story turret and 2 balconies as well as a covered wrap-around porch. An intimate, fenced backyard has a brick patio, a sheltered pergola for quiet evenings outside, and even a small Koi pond with a fountain. Unlike many Victorian homes, this one does not suffer from small rooms nor 'compartmentalism' common to homes of this era. Instead, this home was built for a sense of spaciousness and for entertaining. When one enters the very grand foyer, there is a wonderfully detailed staircase to the left, with an incredible ten-foot stained glass window and an open balustrade on the second-floor landing with a ceiling rise of nearly 20 ft. All throughout the house is the original woodwork, Corazon red oak hardwood floors, and more stained and leaded glass windows. Even the original lighting fixtures have been carefully restored for use. The ceiling height is 9.5 feet. The prominent turret is three stories tall, creating a unique space in the front parlor, the master bedroom, and the attic. The third floor of the turret is a sitting room currently being used as an artist's work room because of the wonderful natural light pouring in from the 270 degrees of windows at the top of the house. The second floor boasts a very large master bedroom with an attached sitting room/office and 'his' and 'hers' closets (one of which is walk-in!). Also on the second floor is a second very large bedroom with a walk-in closet (with built-in cabinetry) and a 'sitting' room area in an open alcove, as well as a third large bedroom. The total square footage of this large house is approximately 3920, (the assessor's square footage of 3020 doesn't include the finished attic/third floor of approximately 900 sq.ft.) nor the finished living areas of the basement, with a full bath. The half-bath on the first floor has a unique, original water closet. The kitchen on the main floor of the house has a large dining area as well as a wonderfully efficient working area where everything you need is within 3 steps! The working area of the kitchen boasts 11ft butcher block counters with a lovely view of the walled garden at the back of the house and tons of storage space! With modern appliances and room for 3 people to be working at once, this kitchen still retains a sense of rustic charm. And like many old Victorians, this has a back staircase The walk-up finished third-floor attic has two bedrooms and a family room. The plumbing goes to the third floor to accommodate a future bathroom. A large basement has a bath, two finished bonus rooms (currently used as a workout room and yoga/movie room respectively), a cold room, a workshop, a workroom, and storage. A two-car garage has a second level, with loads of storage space, that is accessible from a service door at the rear. Newer features include - a new gas service line in 2022; new cement work on porch and walkways in 2022, a water heater and kitchen counter in 2021; an exterior award-winning paint and wood restoration in 2018; new double-hung storm windows and screens in 2018, a new roof in 2016; a new 3-car driveway in 2015; new electric panel and wiring (200 amp in basement, 100 amp on 3rd floor). Also recent are plumbing improvements and a rebuilt, lined chimney. The sewer line has been routinely rodded for proper maintenance and the home appliances and systems have been continuously maintained by a Sears Master Protection plan for the past 30 years. As the cornerstone of Elgin's historic district, this house is easy walking distance to trains and cafes.