Residential ArchitectureFeatured Houses

Church Conversion

Architects & Firms

Linc Thelen Design and Scrafano Architects

Chicago, Illinois

Project size: 5,500 sq. ft.

Program: For a family of five, the designer and architect sought to gut and renovate a building that had been partially converted from a 5,500-square-foot church to a residential space, preserving historic elements of the existing structure while updating the home with modern conveniences.

Solution: In dividing the cavernous building into a 7-bedroom, 6-bathroom, single-family residence located on top of a separate ground-floor unit, the design and architecture team began by relocating the kitchen to the central nave of the former church. The new, open-plan kitchen, dining, and living area sits beneath 25-foot-high vaulted ceilings and a large, original stained-glass window. A see-through fireplace connects the multipurpose great room to an additional family room. The architect extended the lofted bedroom area, adding an exposed catwalk and cantilevered staircase. At the building's highest point, the designer converted an 11-by-11-foot bell tower room, which formerly housed the HVAC unit, into a compact entertaining space with custom countertops, a wine fridge, and clear plastic furnishings.

Construction and materials: A wood-framed upper addition, clad in sheet metal with a composition shingle-roof, sits atop the original exposed brick. The bell tower was renovated with a glass floor and new windows, offering views of the city. Hickory wood cabinets, white quartz countertops, and 4-inch, white-washed, white oak flooring complete the kitchen, which flows into the living room where the fireplace is clad in white quartz. Other custom elements throughout the home include cabinetry, the kitchen light fixture, stools, an industrial steel door, the dining table, bathroom vanities, and wall coverings.

Designer:
Linc Thelen Design
357 W. Chicago, Ste 301
Chicago, IL 60654
linc@ltdesignltd.com
(312) 593-5463

Architect:
Scrafano Architects
357 West Chicago Ave, Ste 301
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 850-9335

People

Designer:
Linc Thelen Design
357 W. Chicago, Ste 301
Chicago, IL 60654
linc@ltdesignltd.com
(312) 593-5463

Architect:
Scrafano Architects
357 West Chicago Ave, Ste 301
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 850-9335

Photographer(s):
Jim Tschetter

Products

Structural system
Exterior is brick and interior is plaster
Wood frame interior walls

Manufacturer of any structural components unique to this project:
Existing scissor trusses and turnbuckles

Windows
Metal frame: metal clad, fire rated

Glazing
Skylights: Added

Doors
Entrances: 8’ tall and 9’ wide cut into stained glass window (back)- metal clad

Special doors:
Custom separate entry from kitchen, custom steel doors, 8’ tall with a transom to bring light into the space. Fabricated by Stan’s Welding

Hardware
Locksets: Baldwin

Interior finishes and furnishings

Kitchen
-Kitchen designed by Linc Thelen, custom cabinetry made by Home Things.
Home Things is located in Chicago. Hickory wood was used for the cabinets with a custom stain.
-Kitchen countertops are white quartz
-Island light fixture was designed and fabricated by Linc Thelen
-Island stools from Design Within Reach, LEM Piston Stool by Shin and Tomoko Azumi
-Wood flooring, 4-inch white oak with a custom white wash stain

Dining Room
-Dining room table custom designed by Linc Thelen. Fabricated steel base with center turnbuckle and white oak top. Base done by Stans Welding, top by Home Things.
-Dining room light fixture- Company One Forty Three located in Canada
-Dining room chairs from Kartell, Masters Chair by Philippe Starck
-Dining room art by Linc Thelen

Living Room
-Living room fireplace- See through fireplace cladded in quartz from Transceramica
-Living room hanging pendants from Arteriors
-Living room sconces from Arteriors
-Living room furniture- Hyde rug, coffee table and sofa from DWR
-Steel industrial door custom designed and fabricated by Stans Welding
-Main room wall cabinets, high gloss white lacquered

Powder Room
-Floor tiles from Cement tile.com
-Vanity designed and built by Linc Thelen
-Kohler Purist wall mount faucet
-Sink base black honed granite custom made by Jesse Stone
-Wallcovering handmade installed by Anne Wolfsman

Master Bath
-Floor and wall finish- Onyx slabs by Transceramica
-Vanity custom designed made by Home Things
-Vanity top white quartz
-Water Works faucets
-Wall sconces from Circa Lighting
Master Bedroom
-Bed from Restoration hardware
-Floating nightstands by Linc Thelen

Boys Bed Room
-Rock climbing wall
-Wallpaper from Spoon Flower
-Barn doors designed and fabricated by Linc Thelen, Track hardware by Rustica Hardware
-Platform beds designed and built by Linc Thelen
-Flor carpet squares
-Rope lighting from CB2

Boys Room Bath
-Steel custom vanity base fabricated by Stans Welding
-Vanity base shelf was made with old timbers from the church
-Floor tile from Ann Sacks and wall tile from Porcelanosa,
-Kohler Purist vanity faucet and shower faucet
-Wall sconces and pendant from Restoration Hardware
-White quartz vanity
-Wall cabinet designed and built by Linc Thelen

Girls Room
-Wallpaper from Serena and Lily
-Bed designed and built by Linc Thelen
-Hanging swing chair from Ikea
-High gloss white lacquered closet doors
-Ceiling light fixtures from CB2

Jack & Jill Bath
-Kohler trough sink with Kohler faucets
-Light fixture from Hinkley Lighting
-Tile floors from Cement tile.com
-Wall tile from Transceramica
-Tub faucet, NewPort Brass

Nursery
-Custom wall unit designed and built by Linc Thelen, the wall unit houses a Murphy bed

Bell Tower
-Once housed the furnace with only louver paneled windows, now transformed with a glass floor and new windows with views of downtown Chicago

Media room
-Sofa from Interior Define
-Steel white bench from Room & Board
-Wall finish 1x6 v groove shiplap
-White lacquered media cabinet designed and built by Linc Thelen with Marble top
-Chair from Tom Dixon

KEYWORDS: Chicago