Work begins to revitalize Zook home

Mimi Collins got a good look at the century-old 4 E. Fifth St. home before closing on it in May.

Sometimes, however, it's the previously unseen that can deliver a payoff.

"Look at this chimney over here, how great that is," Collins said pointing up to the distinctive brick stack. "It was all covered in ivy."

During a tour of Collins' latest Hinsdale restoration project shortly after she took possession of it, Collins was already in the early stages of breathing new life into local legend R. Harold Zook's cottage-style design, which has graced the corner for nearly 100 years.

"I'm just trying to get all my guys in: electrician, plumber, asbestos guy, my window guy," she said.

In other words, there's certainly some rehab needed even when the goal is to preserve a vintage dwelling. The house's interior had remained largely untouched over the decades, which Collins noted is not a bad thing,

"They're just special," she remarked of the homes from an earlier era, "the workmanship, the masonry. It's art."

Removing the overgrown vines from the exterior allowed streams of natural light into the living room. The wooden beams overhead ooze the Cotswolds charm that originally drew Collins to the home,

" 'I was like, 'This is the cutest little house,' " she related. "This is a great room, pretty big for a Zook."

Some staining work is required to ensure all the beams wear a matching patina. The leaded windows will stay, as will the original hardware that hearkens back to a time when craftsmanship was prized.

"All the hardware is fantastic in this house. You just don't find this," she said. "Pristine hammered brass - every single one. That's what makes this house special."

The tight but tidy kitchen will maintain its footprint, although a garage access door will be closed off to create more storage. The rich wood-paneled dining room makes a statement, but may need to get a little brighter.

"There's not a lot of light in this house," she said. "I feel like it's sinful to paint this because it's 100 years old. But it also looks like a cabin sometimes," Collins said. "There's a fine line between what do you keep to keep it Zook-y and what do you update."

Shifting the use of space is Collins' preferred approach rather than knocking down walls to create large open spaces.

"I like keep it authentic, but is it going to look good?" she posed.

The primary en suite will be reworked by turning a former attached nursery into a walk-in closet and expanding the cramped bathroom. On the other side of the floor an attic that was enlarged to be a bedroom will be reconfigured to allow an attached full bath. A staircase once used by live-in help goes down to the kitchen.

Mike Abraham, owner of Clarendon Hills-based Michael Abraham Architecture who is assisting Collins with the project, said he's always been a fan of the home and that getting to examine its inner life has been particularly inspiring.

"I like it because you get to see the way it was," Abraham said. "It doesn't have the '80s or '90s kitchen. You get to take it apart more and see what make it tick."

He noted virtually every part of a house was built on site back in the day.

"All the timbers, all the millwork, all the cabinets," Abraham said, sharing that he often incorporates classic elements he finds in his modern builds. "It's fun to go walk around a house like that because then you want to go back to the drawing board.

Collins has spent a extra time at the drawing board on the four-season room in the rear of the home. The inviting space looks out on the yard, but its glass roof has outlived its usefulness.

"When it rains, this whole thing is leaking," she said, saying she'll run heat and air conditioning to the space. "I'll make a family room out of it because the home doesn't have a family room."

Collins also is keen on the idea of creating a new stairway from that part of the house to the basement, which currently can be accessed only through the garage.

"I don't want to go through the garage to do my laundry," she quipped. "It's always solving problems in these old houses."

And, yes, the unfinished basement will be transformed into a subterranean haven.

Back outside, signs of woodpecker damage and rot are evident on the exterior wooden cladding, but the plastic roof made to look like slate is in great shape.

"It fooled me," admitted Collins, who had assumed it was slate. "It'll last forever. It's very green because it doesn't need repairs."

A 35-year veteran of home remodeling, Collins said having reliable contractors makes the endeavor a lot easier. But she concedes it's not for everyone

"It's a lot of money and at least a year of work," she said. "You've got to pay quickly if you want (contractors) to show up."

Abraham expressed pride in being part of this preservation work, both outside and in.

"You'll still be able to walk through the house and see the original layout," he said

Collins, who recently sold her last restoration undertaking at 420 S. Park St. for $6 million, said the effort is worth it.

"Everyone has a civic obligation to keep our town special," she said. "Some can't be saved. So many are worth saving, like this one."