About 1318 N Astor Street
There are streets in Chicago, and then there is Astor Street. This newly renovated, fully furnished greystone doesn't just occupy one of the city's most storied addresses - it elevates it. Behind a wrought-iron fence and a canopy of mature trees, a stately Romanesque facade in the tradition of architect Charles M. Palmer announces exactly what's inside: nearly 7,500 square feet of uncompromising design, five bedrooms, and seven baths (five full, two half), where a century of architectural pedigree meets a present-day collector's eye. Step through the grand entry - marble underfoot, crown molding overhead, ceilings that soar - and the home reveals itself in layers. The first level is built for quiet pursuits: a wood-paneled library and office anchored by a fireplace, a billiards room with its own hearth, a mudroom with laundry, and a heated two-car garage tucked behind it all. The main level is where this house performs. A formal living room with fireplace gives way to a double-height dining room built for consequence, and a commercial-grade chef's kitchen - 48" glass-front Sub-Zero, a 10-burner range with pot filler - that could run a restaurant and looks like art doing it. The butler's pantry opens to a breakfast room framed by Reform's sculptural metal cabinetry and a monumental abstract canvas by Tom Lieber, while the adjoining family room, warmed by its own fireplace, spills out onto the first of two private terraces - heated, pergola-covered, and professionally landscaped for al fresco living nearly year-round. Upstairs, a full-floor primary suite redefines the term: a fireplace, three walk-in closets, a skylit dressing room that doubles as an office, a spa bath with dual vanities, steam shower, heated floors, a soaking tub, and its own private terrace. Two secondary bedrooms round out the level with equal polish. The lower level adds rare flexibility - a guest, nanny, or in-law suite that converts effortlessly into a media room - plus laundry, storage, and a private entrance. Throughout, an elevator, dual sculptural staircases, statement lighting by Ingo Maurer, and an automated irrigation system covering the front yard and both terraces speak to a level of thoughtfulness most homes never attempt.
