Yep, there was more to discover. Look at the door to the very left in the picture below. That is a very odd proportion for an entry into such a grand living room, now that we know about the archway (see also 06/13/2009 post).

The corridor leading to that door also didn’t make any sense at all. What’s the point of stepping through the front door into a small vestibule, and then into a dark, 12 foot long corridor with a small door to the side at the end?

I had difficulty to believe that an architect a hundred years ago would have included a space in a house that basically served no function.

It turns out that the oddly proportioned door was not original but added sometime later. And here’s the kicker. Look carefully at the living room wall below, and you may detect an interesting outline.

Behind that outline, we found a glorious double door entry way that once led from the corridor into the living space. Much better proportioned, wouldn’t you agree?

The functionality conundrum of the corridor is resolved too! In the corridor, to the left of the double door entry way, was once and walk-in closet for coats etc. Or – if you look at the picture below, the closet would have been at the very end of the corridor.

That closet had been removed once the new, oddly proportioned door was added. And why would someone remove that closet, add an odd door, close up the double door entry way and wall off the grand archway (see also 06/13/2009 post)? Well, to split the very large living room into two spaces, adding a front bedroom to the unit. Apparently not that uncommon in Chicago’s graystone and brownstone buildings.

It’s a real thrill and treat to discover the original architecture and layout and dream up plans about bringing it all back.