Bluestem Building and Restoration Cooperative

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Bluestem Building and Restoration Cooperative

Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Bluestem Building and Restoration Cooperative, Carpenter, 2844 N. Leavitt Street, Chicago, IL.

02/03/2024

In the shop we are currently working on projects in pine, ash and mahogany. Have a specific wood in mind for your project? Ask us about it!

[email protected]

01/26/2024

Another one from the large gut remodel in Ravenswood: the kitchen.

The addition, shown in an earlier post, made space, but it was a still a fun challenge to fit in the needed storage for a full kitchen while keeping this small area feeling light.

Email [email protected] with your project questions!

01/23/2024

First post of many of a large gut remodel - modern update to a classic Ravenswood two-flat

The kitchen extension: We opened up the back wall of this kitchen to make space for an eating area and mud room. The back entry door was reused after restoring and retrofitting it for insulated glass. In the new space, we had fun with the built-in breakfast nook and integrated storage solutions which added function and personality.

Email [email protected] to ask about a project you’re dreaming of!

01/16/2024

12 years ago co-op members Bryan Saner and Cameron Borders constructed this shelving unit using channel lap joints in solid walnut boards. We disassembled the piece to refresh its original Danish Oil finish and move it to the client’s new home. Last week it was reinstalled and is looking happily renewed!

Contact us for all your unique built-in needs!
[email protected]

01/09/2024

If you’ve been following us for awhile you might remember this adorable lavender kitchen we finished for a client two years ago. Featuring a custom Mulberry countertop made from a tree that used to grow in the city. We added on to our original design with two more small cabinets featuring similar mulberry countertops that flank a new stove and create a small workspace with intentional storage. At the same time we redid the adjacent coat closet. We installed custom maple shelving to utilize the height of the space for storage, clad the walls with salvaged red cedar to mitigate moths, laid down a reclaimed Brazilian rosewood floor with a reclaimed heating vent that the client found.

It is always interesting renovating old spaces like that as we had to take out the original plaster and lathe as well as various layers of paint and paneling. There was someone who lived in the house that had painted the entire space pink at one point.

Thanks for looking! And as always, email us with your inqueries!
[email protected]

01/02/2024

As promised here are the finished photos of our recent coach house project. Our client was excited to create a unique and comfortable space and we were happy to help! This coach house included cabinetry and two built-in cabinets custom built in our shop. There is attention to detail all throughout the space. And they can be tough to gather all in one photo. So enjoy this large batch of photos to convey every delightful composition.

We are really pleased with how this turned out. Let us know if you have a unique space that needs some specialized attention.

Email us with your inqueries!
[email protected]

12/07/2023

This project included rebuilding the front porch and restoring the exterior doors. Both were in bad shape when we arrived on site. But they are fresh and ready for winter. It was truly nice to work outside on the last lovely fall days before daylight savings cut our days short.

Swipe to see some of the process.

Email us with your inqueries!
[email protected]

09/05/2023

Gregory Bratton’s solar powered chicken coop is complete! Providing hyper local eggs for the neighborhood. 8462 S Escanaba, Chicago.

Pictured in this post are Latoya White, Dejarae Keenan, Robert Guzman, Elijah Rodriguez, Derrick Wetherspoon, Tricia Van Eck, and Bryan Saner . Building the solar powered Chicken coop. This was a summer jobs program for Latoya, Dejarae, Robert, and Derrick. Taught/Mentored by Elijah, and Bryan. Made with recycled pallets, lumber and solar collectors.

Funding thanks to Chicago Opportunity for Peace in Action, 6018 North Gallery , Bluestem Building and Restoration, Ken Dunn’s Resource Center, and all of you who donated to the Gregory Bratton Orchard and Garden Project (GoFundMe).

The GoFundMe is still active. Please consider making a donation. We’re rebuilding a donated greenhouse next (donated by the Academy for Global Citizenship)

https://www.gofundme.com/f/gregory-bratton-orchard-project?viewupdates=1&rcid=r01-168945132288-8ba6cc30234a11ee&utm_medium=email&utm_source=customer&utm_campaign=p_email%2B1137-update-supporters-v5b

07/27/2023

And now for something sculptural!

Two of our coop owners, Bryan Saner and Erik Peterson, conceived of this bench project using tree trunks that were once alive on the Lathrop Homes campus. Commissioned by Related Midwest. The natural features of the trees were accentuated and incorporated. The design being completed in collaboration with the trees themselves. They are now happily installed in a few key spots throughout the Lathrop homes. The whole team helped this vision come to be. It’s a wonderful way to honor the past in the present.

07/17/2023

We are pleased to officially announce a new part of our team! Meet Erin Bliss:

Erin is a woodworker, designer and metalworker who has honed their craft over 10 years making furniture, functional objects and art. They have taught woodworking with reclaimed wood at The Rebuilding Exchange, and made brass and steel object mounts for The Field Museum of Natural History and the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures Museum at The University of Chicago, and worked on various commercial and residential woodworking projects throughout the city of Chicago.

Erin grew up in west Wilmette loving to draw and paint. After moving back to Chicago after college they found a deep appreciation for the city’s buildings and history. The art they make uses exclusively reclaimed wood and wood scraps that would otherwise be garbage, and they are glad any time those kinds of materials can be incorporated in projects they are working on. The inherent beauty of natural materials and their possible transformation or restoration is a huge inspiration to Erin’s career.

Erin is Bluestem Coop’s second employee and they are excited to be back working with Bryan and Cam. As well as developing relationships with Lara, Mikey and the community that Bluestem serves. They have already helped us build so many impressive projects or our clients and develop workshops and classes for the Lathrop Homes residents.

05/30/2023

Feast your eyes! This kitchen’s transformation is complete! We just got these updated photos of our kitchen renovation project from last year. The owners hung their art alongside thoughtfully chosen paint accents designed by Tom Rossiter. The house was built in 1875 and has plenty of interesting quirks. This space now has a modern feel while still referencing and reusing material from the architectural styles of the rest of the house. Thanks for choosing us for this project- always love to see how our work becomes a part of your life!

Email [email protected] with your project inquiries

05/24/2023

A deceptively simple looking project! These custom built-ins in a worker’s cottage are incorporated into a steeply-angled knee wall. We built the cabinets in separate parts in our wood shop and put it all together on site including motion sensor lights. The color and hardware bring some drama into the space. And our clients now have much more storage to use! Two of the small drawers also have incorporated locks.

Do you have a weird shaped space you need help figuring out what to do with? Email [email protected] with your project inquiries!

Address

2844 N. Leavitt Street
Chicago, IL
60618

Telephone

+17732502000

Website

https://bluestem.coop/contact-us/

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