District Home Magazine May 2014 | Page 27

MINGDALE When real estate broker Suzanne Des Marais represented her first home buyer in Bloomingdale in 2001, there were a number of abandoned, empty houses and little commercial activity. She fell in love with the blocks of Victorian houses and moved to the neighborhood herself shortly after. As the daughter of an architect, she was intrigued by all of the possibility. She relates: “My father was a Mid Century Modern architect, but he was also a preservationist and a professor, so I grew up looking at and discussing historic homes and renovation.” Although Des Marais has owned her current home in Bloomingdale for nearly nine years, she is preparing to embark on an extensive renovation. When her home, which was built in 1895 started to show signs of wear and tear, there was never any question of moving. “I am committed to the Bloomingdale neighborhood as a community. My daughter was raised here. I consider the renovation of my house as an investment in the neighborhood.” Des Marais is the founder of 10 Square Team at Keller Williams Capital Properties. She and her real estate )ѕ