4400 Paulina Street, Uptown, Chicago, Illinois 60640

Description

Welcome to the Chicago Lifestyle, a Ravenswood story. Some buildings hold history quietly. The Barrymore does not. Built in 1905 by Samuel N. Crowen - the architect behind the legendary Biograph Theater and the Willoughby Tower - this Egyptophile Art Nouveau courtyard building is one of Ravenswood's most architecturally significant residences. Step through the wrought iron gate, past the trellised entrance where symmetrical green trellises flank the courtyard on either side, and you understand immediately that this is not an ordinary address. Stucco cornices layer over brick prairie school patterns while decorative transoms and coved bulkheads frame every window - a composition you will study for years and never tire of. Unit 3A occupies the top floor corner of this intimate fifteen-unit building and is the only three-bedroom floor plan in the entire structure. With over 1,800 square feet, no shared walls, and three exposures of natural light, this home lives less like a condo and more like a single-family residence above the treetops. Southern light pours into every bedroom with nothing across the way to interrupt it. To the east, windows frame historic Paulina Street, its towering canopy, and direct skyline views stretching to the Hancock. To the north, you look into the courtyard itself - an architectural canvas that shifts beautifully with the seasons. A gracious private foyer, rare for a Chicago condo, sets the tone before you enter the living space. From there the home opens into a room generous enough to hold two full living areas and a separate dining room, all anchored by an original wood-burning fireplace that still fills the room with warmth on a winter night. The flexibility here is remarkable - sitting areas, dining, and a play space all fit within the same footprint, and every configuration feels intentional. Crown molding and timeless finishes carry the eye from room to room. The kitchen deserves its own moment. This is not the galley layout so common in Chicago courtyard buildings but a full suburban-sized kitchen with wrap-around granite countertops, dark wood cabinetry, dual lazy susans, built-in trash and recycling drawers, eat-in bar seating, a walk-in pantry, and a secondary pantry. A double sink sits beneath three windows looking onto the building's ornamental facade, turning an everyday task into something you genuinely enjoy. Set in its own room off the hallway, it offers the best of both worlds - open enough to entertain, closed enough to tuck away the mess. The primary suite sits at the back of the home bathed in southern light. Its ensuite features marble tiling, a double vanity, a walk-in shower and soaking tub, and an oversized linen closet. The second bath is equally generous with a large window and double-wide linen closet. Every closet throughout has been fitted with custom organizational systems. Side-by-side in-unit laundry, HVAC from 2017, and a brand new water heater mean the mechanicals are set for years. An exterior storage landing off the primary suite and a full walk-in basement room give you space most city homes cannot offer. The building features a wrought iron fenced courtyard, a basement gym rivaling most high-rise fitness centers, and a garage space included. Fifteen units - boutique, owner-proud, meticulously cared for. And then there is Ravenswood. Founded in 1868 as one of Chicago's original commuter suburbs, The Barrymore sits within its historic district surrounded by preserved homes and tree-lined streets. Ravenswood Elementary is directly across the street and Dollop Coffee steps from the front door. The Montrose Brown Line is two blocks away, the Lawrence Metra four. Spacca Napoli, Farm Bar, BienMeSabe, Koval Distillery, Lillstreet Art Center, and the Davis Theater are all within easy reach. This is a home for someone who appreciates architecture not as decoration, but as a way of living. This is the Chicago Lifestyle.

Property Specifics

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Property History