HISTORIC MEETS MODERN: BERNICE RESTORATION

Location: North Center, Chicago

For this historic Victorian on a rare double lot in Chicago’s North Center neighborhood, Widler Architecture led a complete renovation and carefully considered addition, balancing preservation with modern family living.

Our clients—a professional couple with young children—envisioned a home that would support their lifestyle today while honoring the original character of the house and its surrounding neighborhood. Our design approach prioritized flow, light, and function: opening the kitchen and dining spaces to create large, connected gathering areas and drawing natural light deep into the home.

The expanded layout now celebrates the property’s unique double lot, with indoor-outdoor connections to a sport court and landscaped yard designed for entertaining. A new rooftop deck off the primary suite provides a private retreat with views across the tree-lined neighborhood. On the second level, we designed dual office suites to support the couple’s work-from-home needs—bringing intention to every space.

Throughout the project, we worked to ensure the new architecture complements the home’s historic fabric while creating a distinctly livable, modern environment.

Collaborators:

Architect: Widler Architecture

Designer: Third Coast Interiors

Construction: Fingal Construction

Landscape Design: Rooftopia Chicago