Last Monday, I wrote to tell you that this Monday – today, that is – the restored Iron Block Building at Water and Wisconsin would be unveiled.

You can find details of the restoration and the building's history in last week's blog, but I wanted to check back in to let you know how the finished product looks.

After years of seeing the building clothed in stark white paint – and most recently – hidden behind scaffolding – it's nice to see a subtler tone and a copper brown on the storefront and mezzanine levels.

It's also great that restorers didn't attempt to "hide" the cream city brick addition to the south. Instead of painting it to match – as in the past – that structure, best seen from Water Street has been cleaned down to its original brick.

The addition shares the Iron Block's cornice, but at street level, the facade is plainly different, which leads the up to the upper floors where it's equally obvious that the building is executed in an entirely different style.

Also back are many ornamental details that required refabrication and restoration. I love the iron rectangles of squiggly lines – which I remember from my days working in the building – but was surprised to see the lion's heads dangling grapevines from their mouths. If these were on the building before, I admit I'd never noticed them.

Take a walk Downtown soon and check out the restored building, which is a Milwaukee jewel. Plan to spend a little time checking out the details of the ornate facade. Bring binoculars.