What is a Greystone?

Greystone buildings are a unique and important feature in Chicago’s architectural landscape. Similar to New York City’s Brownstone buildings, the Chicago Greystone has an iconic front façade constructed of hand hewn Indiana Limestone. The grey color of the stone gives these historic buildings their name.  Greystones were built in the city of Chicago from the 1890s until the late 1920s, in a wide variety of sizes and configurations. Some single family mansions still exist, but more frequently Greystones were constructed as flat style apartment buildings. There are an estimated 30,000 left in Chicago with their original limestone façades.

View from my apartment window when I first moved to Chicago. Photo by Me.

When I first moved to Chicago in 2005, I fell in love with the Greystone across the street from my apartment. Our neighborhood had a smattering of these statuesque beauties, one or two per block on most residential streets. Gradually, we picked out our favorites and visited them on our weekend walks, filing them away on our dream homes list. 

My absolute FAVORITE. It reminds me of a castle in a fairy tale.  Photo by Me.

Here is a close up of the amazing front gate. I guess I must have at least some good taste because a couple of years after stumbling upon this beauty, a Chicago designer purchased it and fully renovated it. The renovated house was featured in Traditional Home magazine so if you would like to see inside, check out the link in the caption below.

Image via Traditional Home Magazine Article Here

In 2008 we decided to buy a home in Chicago. We looked for months at move-in-ready flats and duplexes but never could find something that we both really liked and thought was a good value. At that point, we decided to change direction and started looking for a home to rehab. We hoped that with the real estate bubble breaking, we could find a fixer upper for a low price and use our connections in the plumbing, lighting, and design industries to save money on the renovation.  When we found a Greystone fixer upper in our favorite neighborhood we jumped at the chance. You'll get to meet her in the next post.

Here are some other fantastic Greystones from around Chicago. I tried to show the wide variety of architectural styles of these buildings. Amazingly, all of these wonderful old homes are within three quarters of a mile of ours.

All of these photos were taken by me, if you would like to use them on another website, or repost them in any other medium feel free, but please include a credit and link back to this blog. Thanks!

Photo by Me.

This is a great shot because it shows the side of the building which you can see is brick. Photo by Me.

Photo by Me.

Photo by Me.

This beautiful old mansion has been re-purposed into office space. Photo by Me.

Photo by Me.

Photo by Me.

This Greystone is quite unique. Since it sits on a corner lot, two of the sides are original limestone. I was fortunate enough to meet the owner of this building while walking the neighborhood one day and was amazed to find out that he also owns the Redstone building next door and they have opened the walls between the two buildings to make one large home. Maybe someday I will be lucky enough to get a peek inside. Photo by Me.

Here is a great detail shot of the roofline of the previous house. Isn't that ornamental stone carving and the copper egg and dart style trim gorgeous? Photo by Me.

Photo by Me.

Photo by Me.

Photo by Me.

Photo by Me.

Photo by Me.

Photo be Me.

 Hope you enjoyed them!