Our home is a great pleasure for us and, we hope, for you. It was originally built as a three-unit apartment but we have slowly renovated it into a bright, spacious single-family home of approximately 3700 square feet. There are four floors of wonderful spaces ranging from large rooms for communal living and entertaining to small nooks for reading and separate rooms where kids can spread out and be kids.

The first floor has a lovely living room with inset fireplace and art, a large gourmet kitchen with an island that seats four and a dining room that looks over the garden through French doors while seating ten. There is a sound system with iPod dock that can play music anywhere on the first floor.

The second floor features the family room (one of our very favorite spaces) which has 18 foot cathedral ceilings and a home theater built around a 50 inch plasma television. There are also two large bedrooms that can each easily sleep two, a shared full bathroom with twin sinks and a computer (PC) desk/workspace.

The third floor contains the master suite. There is a loft office with a computer (Mac) and fax/scanner. The master bedroom has French doors opening to a balcony that overlooks the garden and a large television/DVD player with built-in speakers. The master bath features a large Jacuzzi tub and a glass-walled shower.

The ground floor is prime kid space. It includes a sunny recreation room with television, DVD player, two (!) video game systems and comfortable furniture. The sofa converts into a surprisingly comfortable double bed. Also on the ground floor is a secondary kitchen (refrigerator, freezer, sinks) and a work room the girls use for abundant craft projects.

Every room features abundant natural light and comfortable furniture. The finishes are primarily natural woods and stones. We are not terribly formal but we keep our home neat and orderly. Guests often comment that the house is beautiful but also warm and welcoming.

We enjoy technology but think it should work for us, not vice versa. Accordingly, although there is a high speed wifi network, three televisions, two computers and a wonderful first floor sound system all of them are set-back and incorporated into the surroundings with touches like built-in speakers. The house is equipped with dual-zone central air conditioning and a monitored security system. Closer to our hearts are the many, many games and books that you are welcome to share.

Chicago, of course, is one of the world's great cities. It features a glorious downtown skyline, extraordinary museums, wonderful restaurants, cutting-edge theater, terrific shopping (for everything and every budget), charming neighborhoods and a little-known set of great beaches. Regardless of your interests - whether you want culture, athletics, cuisine or consumerism - Chicago has all you could want.

Our neighborhood, Lincoln Park, is one of Chicago's best. We live in a friendly, tree-lined residential area full of beautiful single-family homes and small multi-unit buildings. While the immediate surroundings are quiet, we are only a few blocks from vibrant streets that feature very good restaurants and night-life. A short walk will take you to a wide range of ethnic food, ice cream parlors, Blues clubs, coffee houses, movie theaters, libraries, book stores, bars and a grocery store. We are also only a few blocks from DePaul University and the cultural activities of the campus.

Ranging a little further, we are a twelve-minute walk from the El, the public train system that connects the city. Via the El, you can get almost anywhere you'd like to go. We are also a pleasant bike ride or a short car trip to the lake-front where you can enjoy the glories of Lincoln Park itself. The Park stretches for miles along the Lake and features great swimming beaches, bike trails, a lovely public zoo and acre upon acre of green space.

If there is anything in particular you are interested in, please don't hesitate to ask. Chances are, whatever you want is minutes away.

We have done three previous home exchanges, and greatly enjoyed them all. We love to travel and we will treat your home as if it were our own. We have a great fondness for Chicago and would take great pleasure in sharing it, and our home, with new people.

We are committed through the Fall of 2012 but might be interested in some place warm around the 2012 Christmas holidays. Our house is available for a non-simultaneous exchange from July 5-18, 2013. If you'd like to come to Chicago during that timespan and have a property to offer later, please don't hesitate to contact us.

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Sondra is a lawyer who went to law school with Barack Obama and now works at a downtown firm. Keith was a lawyer until recently when, at Sondra's suggestion, he decided to pursue his love of history by teaching high school, a job he loves almost too much. Isabel (15) loves books, running, primates, roller derby, anime and eclectic fashion. Kate (12) is a budding engineer who loves science, comic books, her cello and figuring things out. The two girls are very close and hope that whoever sleeps in their rooms will love them as much as they do and treat them kindly.

We have two beloved dogs and a guinea pig but we will arrange for them to be out of the house during your visit.

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