Gloria Drummond's Profile

This building was originally rehabbed by me and my husband, Norman, who was a city planner and artist. The day we first saw it was a rainy, dreary day and the building had been totally vacant for over five years. To add to the gloom, there was a leaky drinking fountain sitting in a corner. The building had only housed racks of transistor bulbs---basically a huge radio between Chicago and Milwaukee. Since no one had ever been inside, it was an place of mystery and the first house walk drew people from all over the Chicago area. The house was featured in the Tribune and twice in a national magazine. Our furnishings were much more austere. Many of them came from Knoll and the rest were family antiques. The north side of the house was Norm's painting studio and office with his large paintings of abstract landscapes and nudes on all the walls. We loved to entertain and our Christmas parties were famous. Over 180 people came to the last one. Truly a wonderful place to live.