A decades-long resident of German Village, Alisa Argust knew well the cachet of the homes surrounding Schiller Park.
With its picturesque gardens, sculptures and pond, the sweeping greenspace is a centerpiece of the historic neighborhood, framed on four sides by some of its most coveted homes.
So when 123 E. Deshler Ave. hit the market in 2020, Argust, who had always lived on the neighborhood's north side, was thrilled at the chance to make one of those homes her own.
Now, she hopes that thrill will find another, having recently listed the red-brick estate for just under $2.7 million. Built in 1900, the 4,600-square-foot home has four bedrooms, three bathrooms and a front porch its owner says is a rarity for the Schiller Park area.
"The setting
is just spectacular. You're making me regret moving already," she said with a laugh.
The porch isn't the home's only unusual feature. Behind the estate, a column-lined pergola leads to a three-foot-deep feature fountain, or soaking pool. A formal garden unfolds around it, with neatly trimmed boxwood shrubs and what Argust called a "hornbeam allée," or a walkway flanked by parallel rows of hornbeam trees.
Some of the house's other distinct features include its six functional fireplaces, abundance of windows and soaring, 14-foot primary bedroom ceilings.
The home's interior pairs historic character with bold, contemporary touches. Original hardwood floors, paneled doors and transom windows share space with Gucci tiger-face wallpaper, a sleek black kitchen and marble finishes throughout.
For Argust, the key was indulging her "eclectic" personal taste without losing sight of the neighborhood's roots.
"You've got to honor the tradition of German Village, so there's a lot of traditional elements in the house," she said. "An armoire, which feels more vintage, I've paired with a modern sofa or glass coffee tables, things like that. It's really just a mix of styles in reality."
Argust's art collection adds another dimension to the home's mix of old and new. Its unusually spacious rooms make an ideal backdrop for various pieces, she said, whether that be a neon-pink bunny light in the dining room or an installation of 300 colorful glass spheres near the stairwell.
"When this house is lit up, I hope people can look in the windows as they are walking by in the park and see some of the art that is in the home," she said. "We've enjoyed that too, just because it lights up spectacularly."
Argust described the home as "move-in ready," referencing remodeling work she's done over her six years living there. She expanded the garage to add a third parking space, created a second-floor laundry room, redid the primary bathroom and more in pursuit of making the home more comfortable for modern living.
As she plans to move out of German Village, Argust said it will be strange to leave the neighborhood she's called home for more than 30 years. But having recently celebrated her 60th birthday, she said she's ready for her next home project.
"We've been very fortunate to have enjoyed that home," she said. "All the homes in German Village are beautiful, but that park is quite unique to be on."
Reporter Emma Wozniak can be reached at ewozniak@dispatch.com or @emma_wozniak_ on X.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Rare Schiller Park-area estate hits German Village market for $2.7M
