In Chicago’s landmarked Ukrainian Village, rows of brick town houses still stand from the late 19th century, when waves of Ukrainian immigrants settled in the district. The densely populated neighborhood was largely spurred by the 1895 construction of an elevated train line, and today many of the homes are finding new life through historic preservation.

Having restored several homes in Chicago, local firm dSPACE Studio Architecture was excited to take on a project in Ukrainian Village, where they had yet to work. “The neighborhood is just 15 minutes from our studio,” says the firm’s founder Kevin Toukoumidis, who worked with Jordan Snittjer on the design. “The project was a negotiation between historic preservation and a contemporary architectural intervention—the past and present converging.”

The homeowners, Murat Ahmed and Katherine Mackenzie, are patrons of the arts and avid collectors—and they were game to treat the home like a livable objet d’art.

Before: Exterior

When Murat and Katherine bought the property in 2020, they were excited to move out of their downtown apartment and into a historic home where they could literally touch grass. “We were drawn to this neighborhood as one that would retain its design and history over time,” recalls Katherine. “Over the years, the house had been split into three small rental units and had seen a variety of renovations, so we knew we wanted to turn it back into a single-family home.”

The street-facing facade had been covered over with a concrete faux stone material called Permastone in the 1970s, but Murat and Katherine were hopeful they could remove it and bring the home’s original character back to life. “After finding a photo of the house before the Permastone went up, we knew we wanted to restore the original brick facade,” says Katherine.

After: Exterior

Working closely with local brick fabricators and stonemasons, the architects faithfully recreated the home’s original facade, salvaging some of the decorative pieces to make molds for new medallions. For the parts that were unsalvageable, dSPACE worked with an artist to recreate the original designs by working from historic photos.

“The standard in this neighborhood is that you have to restore anything visible to the street to its original historic condition,” says Snittjer. “They let you do that to your ability, and it doesn’t necessarily have to be perfect; however, these clients really wanted it to be as dead accurate as it could be.”

Before: Backyard

At the back of the house, a midcentury addition enclosed the rear porch and created more usable interior space for the three levels. As part of the renovation, the architects designed a new steel-and-glass rear facade, which would increase the square footage on the top floor, and draw more daylight into the back of the home. “Chicago is the city of the original skyscrapers, and we were inspired by that steel-and-glass language,” says Toukoumidis. “Now, there’s an architectural moment on both sides of the house.”

After: Backyard

Now, the home opens at grade to the backyard, allowing for a stronger connection to the outdoors. “In the back, it was really about maximizing the amount of grass and having that true indoor/outdoor lifestyle,” explains Toukoumidis. “We used the same travertine from inside to outside on the patio—it can handle the rain, the snow, and the wind.”

Before: Interior

Inside, the firm launched a total gut renovation to bring the property back to life as a single-family home. Along the way, a geotechnical report revealed unstable soil conditions, so the team drove 47 helical piers below grade to create a new layer of structural support.

After: Entry

As the architects sketched plans for the new interior, they sought to balance old and new. “We kept the front of the house in more of a historic character, and slowly transitioned to a more minimal and modern feel as you get to the back,” Snittjer says about the approach, which also struck a balance between Murat and Katherine’s differing tastes. “She wanted more historic charm, and he wanted more minimalism, but they knew they wanted to blend them both in a way that felt natural.”

Through it all, the couple knew they wanted to create a place that would function for their growing family. “We wanted a home that felt cozy and intimate, rooms that could be used by both children and adults, and comfortable space for family and friends to visit,” says Katherine. “Our son took his first independent steps shortly after moving into the house,” adds Murat.

After: Kitchen and Living Room

Now, crown moldings and layered baseboards at the front of the house give way to clean lines and more contemporary finishes at the back. Arched doorways throughout the ground level nod to the residence’s original character. “I think you actually appreciate each style more when they are juxtaposed against each other,” says Toukoumidis. “It also conveys the truth about the architecture: The modern parts were clearly added in the late 2020s, while the front of the house still has the historic nod to its origins in the late 1800s.”

After: Bedrooms

The project also had to make space for the couple’s growing contemporary art collection. “We didn’t want the home to compete visually with the art, and yet we aspired for the house to generate a presence of its own,” says Murat. On the garden level, a multipurpose space functions as a gallery and a guest space for visiting friends and family.

After: Gallery

In the end, the project artfully suits the needs of the homeowners—and their collection. “Everyone in this family has at least one cozy corner,” says Murat. “I often just stop and look around, not just at the art, but at the way the home frames so many lovely images of its own.”

More Before & After stories:

To Inspire Their Midcentury Renovation, They Toured the Builder’s Own Home

Their Singapore Apartment Is a Love Letter to Midcentury Design

They Overhauled Their Funky ’70s Beach House While Preserving Its Quirks

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: dSPACE Studio Architecture / @dspace_studio

Builder: Fraser Construction

Structural Engineers: Goodfriend Magruder Structure PLLC, Louis Shell Structures, American Structurepoint

MEP Engineering: Diligent Design Group

Landscape Design: Kemora Landscapes

Lighting Design: Cosine

Cabinetry and Closets: Armazem Design

Millwork: Holland Woodcrafters

Brick Mason: Total Masonry