The Blue House on Superior

It is impossible to drive down Superior, and past South Shore Park, without noticing the big blue farmhouse amidst all the charming cottages and bungalows. The home is eye candy, inside and out. 

Throughout the years, people have been very curious about it...so here is the story.

In 2004, an imaginative couple purchased it as a "fixer-upper" that was marketed as "Wonderfully unique & large Bay View home in need of new motivated owners.” A perfect representation of what the home, built in 1891, had to offer.

There were three key features to this home that made it an amazing opportunity. First, the home is situated on a double lot (and the garage is beneath the home, so it doesn't take up yard space). Second, the location—just a stone’s throw from the lake, South Shore Park and on Superior Street—this is a premier Bay View location. Finally, it was huge...nearly two times the size of most homes in Bay View.

The couple decided they would buy it and fix up this old home and restore it to its glory. With every layer they peeled back on the home, they discovered a new repair/fix that was necessary. Eventually they decided to tear the home down to the foundation and start all over.  

It was a labor of love. They hired some of the best in the business. The Garret Studio architect, Paul Giesen, helped design this dream home, and Bob Nash of Sawfish General Contracting oversaw the construction in 2009.  

The goal was to build a home that satisfied the needs of today, while keeping the overall aesthetics in line with late 19^th-century Milwaukee architecture.  

For those who have been curious about the home, here are some of the highlights of "The Blue House on Superior".  

• The front porch: In the summer, it is perfect for watching the UPAF Ride for the Arts every June, when hundreds of cyclists ride by. It is tradition that the family in the "Blue House" greet riders and hand out lemonade during the event, welcoming them to the Bay View neighborhood.  

• The First Floor: Upon entry, you are welcomed in to the generous 14 x 8 foyer with views into the living room, dining room, butler's pantry and kitchen. The floor plan feels very open, without every room being exposed.  

• The Kitchen: Sunlight floods the kitchen, which overlooks the spacious backyard, where colorful perennials bloom in the summer, and an Autumn Blaze maple tree turns to brilliant red in the fall. The entire kitchen was updated this year. The owners installed new white cabinets, quartz countertops and all new stainless steel appliances. A large, barnwood island pulls together the farmhouse style.

• The Master Suite: Thoughtfully designed, the master suite offers a large walk-in closet, linen storage, and master bath with dual vanities, large walk-in shower and deep overflow soaking tub. The floors in the master bedroom are one of the only things salvaged from the prior home, they are reclaimed Douglas fir pine.  

The only other item salvaged from the original home is the professionally reglazed clawfoot tub in the other full bathroom on the upper level.  

Every aspect of this home was thought out and the craftsmanship executed with precision. The "Blue House on Superior" is a forever dream home for the Bay View lover.