It’s easy to see that the two brothers who built the large old brick building on the Northwest Side held fond memories of their homeland.
The brothers, from southern Germany, designed the brick and mortar structure back in 1929 to resemble facets of their Bavarian past, according to Alex Costache, veteran resident manager. Appropriately nicknamed “The Castle,” it dominates clusters of single-family residences.
With typical medieval wood trimmings, this building surrounds a long, landscaped courtyard, complete with faces of gargoyles and (alas) a non-working fountain. All this is crowned by twin turrets large enough to support a couple of small cannons or a damsel or two in distress.
Over all, this building looks formidable. But splashes of color pour out of flower boxes on the window sills of some of the residences, and ivy creeps up a portion of the south side of the walls lining the courtyard, lending a peaceful reminder that at least this parcel of Chicago is far removed from the tumultuous battles of the Bavarian Middle Ages.
`Prosit’
The entryway to each section of the complex is reminiscent of the lobby of a German-style restaurant or pub. With heavy wooden doors adorned with large brass extended hinge decorations and floors decorated in brightly colored stone and ceramic designs, these rooms make a visitor cry out for a slab of brown bread and a drink of dark German beer. Dark, yellow-paned windows give the room an almost cellar-like feeling.
Address: 4205-15 N. Kedvale Ave., Chicago.
Size: One bedroom, one bath; 700 square feet.
Rent: $575 a month.
Security deposit: One month’s rent.
Utilities: Heat, hot water, cooking gas provided; tenant pays electricity.
Parking: No off-street parking.
Pets: No dogs.
The building: A Bavarian castle structure, four stories with twin turrets, built in 1929. Contains 38 one-bedroom units.
Extra amenities: Two blocks to Irving Park Metra and CTA stops; laundry in building; telephone-operated security system at front gate.
Through another door and up three flights of wide, wool-carpeted stairs is the landing for this unit, graced by another thick, oval-topped wooden door. A domed skylight filters in light along much of the staircase, and the railings are solid and generous along the trek.
The door opens into a small but wide hallway, with a 5-foot-deep walk-in closet directly opposite this front entrance. With two shelves, some hooks and a light, it is an ideal location for quickly discarding outerwear without tracking mud or snow into the the main apartment.
A built-in telephone stand in the hallway lends evidence to the history of this building. Situated near the entrance to the living room in a wide section of the hallway, the space could be used for a message center, a reminder board, or even, well, a telephone.
A quick right turn leads to the living area, featuring three large windows that offer a pretty view of the courtyard below. This 12-by-15-foot space also offers a window seat. With two or three cushions, it could be a wonderful post for dreaming away a cold or rainy day.
Walls here, as in most rooms of this unit, are painted classic white, with the standard white trimming.
Cove ceilings
Just across from the living room is the entryway to the bedroom, which at 10 by 14 feet is just roomy enough to fit a full-size bed and some accompanying furniture. The cove ceilings featured in the other rooms seem more pronounced here, nicely setting off the rose-designed white ceiling light fixture. Two windows on the east side of the room bring in enough morning sun to stir even those most resistant to the alarm clock’s calling.
The bedroom closet is a bit cramped, although there is a fairly deep shelf and a couple of hooks on either side of the door to make efficient use of the space for a typical wardrobe.
Around the bedroom’s entry corner, and just inside the short hall, is the entrance to the bathroom, a surprise in color with its blue ceramic-tiled walls, bathtub trim and blue with brown flooring. A pale pink accent nicely sets off the other colors.
This room, though average in size, makes great use of space, with a hook on the inside of the door, two towel bars and an interesting flower pattern outlining the mirrored medicine cabinet. A marbleized sink adds a different, though flattering touch to the room.
The hallway ends in the dining area, a 10-by-13-foot room with plenty of space for a leafed dining table and china cabinet with buffet. Three windows along the east wall offer a view of the neighborhood for several blocks, and there’s a good-size storage closet here with six shelves of space for kitchen and dining needs or extra linen.
The dining area flows easily to the kitchen, a striking room full of cabinets and an old ironing board cupboard perfect for use as a spice rack.
Cabinets seem to have overgrown this room, with a drawer or storage unit available at nearly every turn. Several are fitted with six glass panes. Smaller doors provide storage space near the ceiling, but you’ll need a small stepladder to reach it.
Appliances in this room seem a bit old and scattered about, but the gas range is large with well-seperated burners, and the refrigerator and sink are within easy reach.
There’s a back entrance here, with enough space for a chair or two on the landing and the stairs are wide enough to lug a basket of laundry without twisting and turning along the journey.
For further information, contact Hunter Properties Inc., property managers, at 312-477-7070.
