HomeOpen House: Meet the Durkes
06. May, 2009 
9 Comments
Home means something different to everybody, of course, but there’s something distinct about that particular word vs. others that describe our dwelling: house, condo, apartment, cottage, pad, etc. Today’s Open House is about the Durkes’ and their gorgeous Evanston two-story house, but it’s also about the Durkes’ and their lovely, happy home, which is something different altogether, something that transcends the material world, the physical structure and that’s sure to exist long after it belongs to another family.
First, the house; The rambling two-story was built in 1900, a time when the predominant housing style was transitioning from Victorian to Arts and Crafts, and the house has elements of both. But Diana, an interior design aficionado who writes the fine furniture reclamation blog Fine Diving in Chicago, didn’t take the house in either direction, instead she wisely following her gut and decorated the home in her signature style – eclectic, comfortable and stylishly homey, an aesthetic that reflects, no . . . projects their home into the space.
Don and Diana Durkes always wanted a big family, and they couldn’t wait to get started having babies. In fact, their oldest daughter Kate attended their wedding. Kate’s got a knack for being the first; she was the first child (of five), the first to move out, the first to start her own business (a candle making company), the first to have a child, Felix, and the first to move back home again after everybody else left for college, a decision that made Don and Diana very very very happy. Parents seem to fall into one of two camps; they’re either overjoyed when they finally have the house to themselves* or they’re devastated. The Durkes fall into the latter camp - they developed a serious case of Empty Nest syndrome. In a strange way, they were homesick, although they were the only two still living in the family house.
Continued . . .
When I mention Felix, Diana goes into grandma mode and the words spill out and tumble over each other as she struggles to describe him. Felix, Diana tells me, is gifted, musical and wonderful; he has an excellent vocabulary, and he’ll one day play the piano. She’s right; he’s a beautiful little boy with big eyes, a shy-ish smile and a gentle old soul. If I were guaranteed a Felix, I’d promptly throw my “no kids” rule out the window. But I’ve heard about myself as a baby, and I know how karma works (they say it’s a bitch) and I, ladies and gentlemen, will not be hoodwinked so easily. But I should have guessed Felix would be special; he’s a Durke, after all, and they’re all pretty great, at least the ones I met.
Friendly and open with no hint of artifice, the Durkes are their home, and it would be easy to imagine slotting in quite comfortably. They’re not like some families with a strict hierarchy and a no outsiders allowed rule; the music didn’t stop suddenly when I arrived, an there’s no “You must be this tall to ride this coaster,” feeling. I feel comfortable with them, sort of like I’m home already. When I’m finished taking photos, Kate and Felix and I sit on the floor and chat about politics and business and life overall; we talk about her candle business and she explains which scents go together and which do not, about which scents are common and which are rare. Kate has boxes and boxes of bottles, each containing different scents. Felix plays quietly, but every once in awhile he picks up one of the little bottles and hands it to me carefully.
“Thank you,” he says, still unsure about when to use the word. No Felix. Thank you. And thanks to the Durkes for inviting me to spend some time in their house . . . and their home.
Click here to read past Open House tours.
Perfect shot for this fine dumpster diver
Diana's dumpster dive chairs
What a nice family!!! Love the home
Her home has lots of character. I enjoy her blog sooo much. The day I discovered it was a happy day. Her home and her blog inspire me to clean my house and start some projects !
What an amaxingly comfortable house! I’d love to know what percentage of pieces are from dumpster dives and alley finds.
Well worth the wait! A lovely home inside and out. Felix is a charmer and lives in a great kid-welcoming environment. Good work, Tate.
I LOVE this house. I would move back, too if I could.
I’m honored to be the subject of an open house, Tate. And my fingers are right now speechless at the keyboard on how complimentary your words are about my family.
Paula K: my favorite things in the house are the found items and artwork from the kids.
Janis: I hope we get to meet soon.
I looooooooove that bird back chair. Love. Really, really love.
Also, Tate, the composition of that cat & dog shot is perfect.