The Purcell-Cutts House
An unseasonably warm late November Sunday found The Weaver and me at the Purcell-Cutts house, a later Prairie School house designed by William Purcell and George Elmslie. This 1913 dwelling shocked the neighbors with its angularity and uncluttered exterior:
Inside, its tasteful proportions and minimal furnishings were augmented by festive holiday decor, in the style of the era:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAo6mK2Hc_cRJYytv2hwaYwShCMkKA-QqFoo6TiC1WhUgqEfG6mTAPkXhlVOmdu0HxFEnJUPLpXOfIYpytAM4hQj8Ndg6S6ZFthXw34ftKd4w-ZQDrYIRrl3f5p2krUZS8VZc9/s640/IMGP3093.jpg)
Little cubby-holes and art glass panels are in every corner; the "window" on the right side of the image below is actually a heat grate!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7JgZoqkihVGQNnsXLaqvJnXELuc2uMRqjJFyavN7G-lAOJ_dvONiJoP23_I_cVUJ-ovVnK_L7oqev76MM69uHfgzDhM4bpgQUYnu1B7uPfVs9Y5b8rV8808kIPjDZuaEAChqt/s640/IMGP3097.jpg)
The summer screen porches were closed, but one could see that they would be inviting, especially since the dining room furniture could be quickly wheeled out:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9S4xpkuvnq-kAasKWIe55OqChuh1o7Pm6FAnW3H5dFcrpAq_zzYIWAud0BSaitwXfOCzLshARn5Kxe-vtE659OFCPDuZJw9iES1BrTCI0UtJGGCH5eJAoibS9bNId-8szcio7/s640/IMGP3122.jpg)
The dining room shared a ceiling with the great room, but was a half-story higher. Beautiful period furniture was in place:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAn4UQhvPsvkfjwigg6jY5o65hyC63Wn9FymksMP6zPry1qrxhV4ku2J2w7I_GnIS-emD8BeJNh1J2kVOY4AlFC7slXky3BFLCLOlAN7XQ-dNyAYFYQ8vHjvDPC7Gi-4Cl1DWC/s640/IMGP3128.jpg)
The kitchen was state-of-the-art for 1913:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLVfOcQT-ZLy_Jqs0o1Uce7tjt6SU27PyVkUu-Fuaxn5AjIwdcc0ssCAenNu1zg8fcewwd5QqP2K8ulC9C1Vy2_zP1ysZAcWRQa0LKA3er0RvD1SMU1Me2NtD8QHUpfFvCBFl/s640/IMGP3133.jpg)
Up stairs, there was even a little fireplace in the children’s room, along with a pair of mismatched rockers:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWUzP0IFJyy2dlkWWLxpiz_sWNKxdBaxUuPJg0hhc1Z_LGstPgZfGZ6_z7pG2BNJAxQShJy9sz0L7D95E06p0CjZh3tB9hyphenhyphen-OtUIi1Ij699HQYfwiftSF6-28CwHH7khEbkyes/s640/IMGP3143.jpg)
Tours are being run on weekends till the end of the year, information at MIA.