Wisconsin Breast Cancer Showhouse

Wisconsin Breast Cancer
Showhouse

The 2010 Showhouse is now closed. We invite you to return in spring 2011 for information about the next Showhouse!

For more information, call (414) 297-9152.

News about the 2010 Showhouse

The 1910 Ferry and Clas designed home for cigar baron Louis Kindling set the stage for the 2010 Wisconsin Breast Cancer Showhouse. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel recently published a story about the Showhouse. View the JSOnline 2010 Showhouse Photo Gallery.

History

2433 N. Wahl Avenue
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

A handsome century-old English Tudor revival home, located in Milwaukee’s prestigious North Point neighborhood, has been chosen for the 2010 Wisconsin Breast Cancer Showhouse. Built in 1910 for the daughter of cigar baron Louis Kindling, the 6,621 square foot house was among many prominent homes and public buildings designed by architects Ferry and Clas, including the Milwaukee Central Library, the Pabst Mansion, the Woman’s Club of Wisconsin, and the Cudahy Tower.

Ideally situated high on a bluff with a commanding view of Lake Michigan, the 2 ½ story brown brick home features asymmetrical composition and an impressive and well-proportioned limestone Tudor archway with matching side columns and decorative stonework. Carved figures occupy the front and sides of the house. Four playful gnomes are placed between the two-story bays, representing the leisure-time activities of golf, tennis, bowling, and card playing. The German word for these figures is “Heinzelmaennchen,” and they often reflect the special interests of the home owner. On the facade of the chimneys are four hand-carved stone faces that recall the designs of medieval English architecture.

Old world craftsmanship is also evidenced throughout the interior of the house. Carved plaster crown molding hugs the ceiling of the living room. Decorative oak woodwork, a “soft barrel vaulted” ceiling, and walls lined with brown oak paneling are featured in the dining room. The home has five fireplaces in the main living quarters, each with its own individually unique ornamentation and style.

The home had a sophisticated inner communication system of call buttons and speaker tubes. Built-in bookcases and interior arches are evident throughout--typical of Tudor houses. Other original elements include a butler’s pantry with a German silver sink, marble back splash, and a sophisticated refrigeration system; a second-floor bathroom with a Carrera marble tub and shower and a mosaic tile floor; Romanesque windows facing the rear of the house, significant to the Arts and Crafts style of architecture; and a footed metal tub with a porcelain finish located on the third level. Major alterations to the interior of the home are limited to a renovated kitchen and second floor bathroom.

Louis Kindling shared this home with his daughter, Bertha, and her family. It was sold in 1942 to securities broker Otis Adams and his wife, Opal, a well-known operatic contralto. From 1972 to 2009, lumber executive William Roddis and his wife occupied the home. The current owner, Dr. Vladimir Ivanovic, purchased the home in 2009 and graciously made it available as the 2010 Wisconsin Breast Cancer Showhouse.

The interior and exterior design team, led by Patty Virnig, has carefully incorporated a 2010 nouveau style into the home’s old-world elements. Enjoy their creative talents as you tour this spectacular Showhouse!

Showhouse Boutique
Sponsored by M&I Bank
Visit our boutique before or after your tour for unique treasures from favorite past vendors and exciting new ones. Check out our yard art, handblown glass art, vintage handbags and pins, and a great selection of handmade jewelry to satisfy every taste. Shop for holidays, birthdays, and other celebrations. Open to the public without a ticket during Showhouse hours.