29 May 2009

Cameron Frye's house is on the market



Who's Cameron Frye? Here's a clue, he's on the left in this photo.


Remember? Cameron Frye was Ferris Bueller's best friend in 1986's still-funny Ferris Bueller's Day Off. I was 21 when I saw that movie for the first time and I can't help but watch it again every time I stumble on it when I'm channel surfing.

Anyhow, Ferris' best friend Cameron is a sad sack, a hypochondriac and constant worrier. As the movie progresses, we learn that he's a mess because he's ignored at home. To illustrate that point, toward the end of the movie, the action progresses to Cameron's house. Cameron lives with his father in a mid-century marvel. It's an ode to minimalism this house and the director wants to play on his audience's prejudices against minimalism. Conventional wisdom holds that minimalism is cold and unfeeling and so the filmmaker, John Hughes, puts Cameron in a minimalist setting to describe and explain Cameron's inner life.

I called foul then and I call a foul now every time I see this movie. I remember being positively smitten with Cameron's house when I saw the movie wa-a-a-a-y back when. I lacked the vocabulary to describe what I liked about it then, but I sure don't lack it any more. Minimalism is not cold. I repeat, minimalism is not cold. Minimalism leaves nowhere to hide and provides no distractions and I say that's the real reason it makes some people uncomfortable. Minimalist settings require that the people who live in them lead intentioned, orderly lives. "Where's the warmth?" I hear people say all the time. To which I reply, "The warmth comes from the people who live in the space."

Anyhow, the house where Cameron Frye lived is on the market for a cool 2.3 million bucks. Christies has the listing and they've put together a really great website for the house. The house is being sold as-is and it needs new bathrooms and a new kitchen. Other than that though, it's move-in ready. Here are some of the photos of the house from the listing agent.

Copyright © 2009 Sotheby's International Realty Affiliates LLC

Copyright © 2009 Sotheby's International Realty Affiliates LLC

 © 2009 Sotheby's International Realty Affiliates LLC

 © 2009 Sotheby's International Realty Affiliates LLC

© 2009 Sotheby's International Realty Affiliates LLC

The house was designed by A. James Speyer, who was a well-known mid-century architect. His achievements on the house's design were hailed far and near. He built the home for Ben and Frances Rose. Ben Rose was a well-known textile artist whose work still hangs in the Art Institute of Chicago. Ben Rose's art is difficult to find these days, but here are two of his textiles from the AIC.

Girafters, 1949

Anterlopers, 1965

He had a sense of humor, that for sure.

So if you're interested in mid-century design or minimalism, this home is a textbook study in both. If you hate mid-century design or minimalism, this home is a perfect example of those two movements at their most pure. Looking over the images on Christie's website just might be your water at the well moment. Hah!

14 comments:

  1. I so love this house, always have. I also love the the Art Institute Of Chicago. I need to get back to Chicago, I know staying at The Drake is cliche but it calls to me from the banks of Lake Michigan, oh, and there's the Pizza.

    Get well soon Ferris!

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  2. It hit me like a 2x4 on the head 23 years ago and I've never gotten over it. Give my regards to the Drake.

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  3. You know, KBIS is in Chicago next go-round...

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  4. Yes I do. Maybe a little civilized glamor is in order for 2010.

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  5. Paul are you game? Lets pool our funds together and put a bid on it. :)

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  6. In my wildest dreams Brenda. I have a feeling Jeff might be willing to go in for a third too, that would soften the blow a bit.

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  7. I might be able to persuade my son to contribute as well. It was always one of his favourite movies and oh how he loved that house.

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  8. So there's four. That means if we cough up $115K apiece we can put 20% down. Looks like I should put my tip jar in a more prominent place. Hah!

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  9. I'll talk to my Accountant in the morning. Hah!

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  10. I'm in! (I hope the L has a stop close by since I wont have the money for a car anymore)

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  11. If no L, I'm sure the CTA has a spur bus that will get you to the closest L stop. We won't have to work Jess, I have a plan. We four strangers will buy this house, move in, then open it as a B&B and finally pitch it as a reality series. We'll be rich and famous beyond our wildest imaginings.

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  12. EXCELLENT plan Paul! Hope I don't have any difficulty in obtaining a dual intent Visa. :)

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  13. Yes, I'm in too. I am calling AmEx for my Open card right now!

    Forget the car. I loved that movie for Cameron's house too!
    In the word's of Ferris: "It's so choice if you have the means, I highly suggest you pick one up."

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  14. So that makes five of us Laurie, I think we're going to have to set it up as a timeshare of some sort.

    It's pretty cool to look over that Christie's listing and see it as a real, furnished house instead of the backdrop of a movie. I would go insane putting together kitchens and baths for that place. It'd be the job of a lifetime!

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Talk to me!