Tallmadge and Watson was a prominent Chicago architecture firm in the early 20th century. The firm’s work did not have a signature look, with significant residential, commercial and religious projects in a variety of styles.  Founding principal Vernon Watson constructed his own Oak Park house in the Prairie Style.

As constructed in 1904, the house was a modest two story rectangle with an elegant hipped roof and carefully composed exterior elevations.  As Watson’s family and practice grew, a one-story side porch was added, as seen in the rendering below.

Later, Watson added an octagonal living room bay to the home’s front facade.  Subsequent  owners enclosed the side porch, but other than that the home’s historic fabric is very much as Watson left it when he retired and moved to Michigan in 1936.

We are assisting the current owners with interior and exterior renovations to accommodate a modern lifestyle within this historic Prairie style residence.  We’ll post more updates as the design evolves.