Francis J. Dewes House

The mansion is three story Baroque style with two caryatids supporting the balcony over the main entrance. There are many figures and ornamental groups carved in the Bedford stone exterior of the building. Ornamental iron, hand-wrought, forms the balconies, window trim, porches, and railings; all in lavish detail of the Baroque style. There is a mansard roof with hand wrought copper fence surround. The exterior of the building is considered to be Louis XV style that later spread to all the capitals of Europe. The large stained glass window which extends from the main stairway landing of the building up to the second floor is the work of a famous Belgian artist with figures and flowers in a springtime motif. The artist was engaged to design a window to fit the opening and came to Chicago especially to work out the details and return to Belgium to personally supervise the firing of the glass and making of the window. On the first floor of the elegant interior of this building one immediately notices upon entering the foyer the huge fireplace on the East wall with marble columns facing the magnificent staircase leading to the second floor; immediately ahead upon entering is the wishing well equipped with running water and statue. The floors are Italian Mosaic and marble arranged in panels with overlay of gilded ornamental plaster molding gracing the walls.[4]

Ornamental iron, hand wrought, is used as a decor on the stairway, as lighting fixtures and ornamentation. This work was executed in Germany and exhibited at the Columbian Exposition in 1893 prior to being installed in the building. It received the grand prize of merit both for design and craftsmanship. The library of Gothic architecture, was brought from Europe where it was designed and erected - then dismantled and shipped to Chicago to be erected again. This room is on the right as you enter the foyer. The wood paneling, ornamental beams, molding, and siding consist of East Indian mahogany with a French hand polished finish.

The fireplace was removed from an old European castle and the wood work designed and built around same. The walls above are finished with exquisite gold and silk tapestry woven especially for this room. The Drawing Room on the left as you enter is French Renaissance with ornamental hand sculptured gypsum figures^ heavy relief moldings and cornices done in Baroque style. The Italian marble fireplace with a huge mirror covers East wall. The ceiling is painted with landscape scenes and figures. The wall panels are French Brocade especially woven in Europe for the family.

The Music Room East Indian Mahogany woodwork and French Silk tapestry walls and a Brazilian onyx polished marble fireplace is located between the Drawing Room and the Dining Room. The Dining Room is of Flemish design - with quarter sawn Flemish Oak built and assembled in one of Chicago's own woodworking shops. The wood was imported and cured for a number of years then painstakingly designed, cut, and finished into wood beams, paneling and frames. The figures were designed in clay in Germany and shipped to Chicago, where they were carved into wood by a process that is now almost unheard of. There is not the slightest crack or flaw that has developed in any of these pieces even after years of exposure. The glass panels used in this room were imported from Venice and are of exquisite design.