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introduction

Travis Hoewischer, Editor-in-Chief

On the Cover Design: D'Aversa Interiors Photo: Allison Grimes/ columbuspics.com

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here we live and how we decorate and design our space is perhaps as integral to our personalities as any other aspect of day-to-day life.

That's why we're introducing, for the first time, (614) Home, an annual guide to the best and brightest home designs in central Ohio. It's wall-to-wall content— clever touches big and small, drafted and crafted by the experts—and best of all...it's FREE. The only downside? We have more experts and stunning homes than we have pages for. That's why, in this issue, you'll find a curated cross-section of living spaces—filled with tips to consider for your next home project.

It's like one of those fancy HGTV shows—ex-

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cept real, and perhaps right down the street from you.

And these aren't just general articles from staff writers—no, we're giving you valuable and thoughtful information, delivered straight from the field, in the voices and experiences of the those who know best. Our approach mirrors that of an owner and a designer/builder—we decided what we wanted to establish for each project, and then let the pros handle the heavy lifting.

Experts like Derrick and Deana of Davis Rogers Interiors served as our helping hand with this first issue— along with many others.

So, sit down in your favorite chair, in your favorite room, and use this guide to think about how you're gonna turn that whole room inside-out.

co n t e n t s

home Publisher Wayne T. Lewis Editor-in-Chief Travis Hoewischer Associate Editor Jeni Ruisch Contributing Editor Danny Hamen Contributing Writers J.R. McMillan Contributing Photographers Collins Laatsch Brian Kaiser Al Laus J.E. Evans Dale Clark Nickey Winkelman Katy Lombardi Matthew Carbone Allison Grimes Megan Leigh Barnard Matt Goodman Editorial Interns Chase Ray Zoe Spilker Mitch Hooper Brand Ambassador Laura Hadley Advertising Director Meggin Weimerskirch SENIOR Account Executives Derek Landers Liza Worthington Account Executive Becky Hart

K ITCHEN

B ATH

CONDO

HID D E N G EMS....................... . . 24

P I L L AR S O F C R E AT I O N. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

COAST TO COAST. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Lead Designer Dustin Goebel graphic Designers Hugo Albornoz Anastasia Markova Phoebe Davis VP of Sales & Marketing Lindsay Press (614) Magazine 458 E Main St., Columbus, OH 43215 Office: (614) 488-4400 Fax: (614) 488-4402

DECOR

B ASEMENT

MOBILE

ACU TE ACC EN TS................ . . . . . . 34

F U N DOW N B E LOW. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

MO DE RN T INY LIVING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 8

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Email submissions to: editor@614columbus.com www.614columbus.com

Living Space Design: Urban Order Architecture Photos: Al Laus Cost Estimate: $200/sq. ft (additions); $125/sq. ft. (remodels)

Great Ro Ho

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oom: Coffin ouse

Go With the Flow The benefits of designing a “see-through” living space

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ou’ve heard the phrase “On a clear day you can see forever?”

Well, the owners of Urban Order Architecture’s German Village project—on any given day can see from their kitchen sink through their garage.

A once poorly maintained house that had been split into two units, this home now has a whole new skin hanging on its sturdy bones. Urban Order knocked off a two-story addition on the rear of the house and replaced it with this stunning, flowing space, where each room seamlessly transitions to the other—including the covered outdoor patio— all while still maintaining a specific personality for each room.

“One of our objectives was to be able to see through the house and connect the rooms visually.

At the same time there is a distinct difference from the original, more formal rooms at the front of the house,” said Principal Steve A. Hurtt. “It was still important to define the original portion and the addition, so we created a very large cased opening in the original rear wall of the house to distinguish the two. That opening is again repeated at the new folding glass door to connect the family room to the new porch , and in turn, the back yard. The result is that the kitchen, family room, porch, and backyard are all physically and visually connected but feel like independent spaces.”

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Challenges:

The biggest challenge was removing all of the ‘improvements’ that were made to the structure over the years when it was converted to rental units. Another was to make sure the new space was an appropriate addition and did not overwhelm the original house. Our original clients were renovating this project to sell once it was complete.

The current owner went into contract to purchase the property just after the drywall was finished. We then started working with him to make some slight alterations that were specific to how he wanted to live in the house. We were also able to work with Todd Schmidt of Renovations Unlimited on some of the alterations to the original plan. This included a new two-story rear porch, the French doors off the master bedroom and the folding glass doors on the first floor. We also expanded some entry ways to make the house feel more open, and modified the master closet and bathroom to expand the master bathroom.

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Modern + Rustic:

This goes back to starting with the original brick house and maintaining the existing interior details like the fireplaces and mantels. It was also important that the original character be maintained in the new woodwork, doors, and hardwood floors. Once the core of the space was established, the rest of the finishes can be more modern and still work well together.

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Natural

Design: Reliance Design Build Photos: Dale Clark/Arc Photography Cost Estimate: $130,000 – $140,000

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Root and Branch A woodland oasis on Walhalla Drive

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hile many modern designs have run screaming from the hills, so to speak, Reliance Design’s Behrooz Motamedi has put his love of lumber on full display.

What was once an ’80s bachelor pad is now a family home that takes full advantage of the beautiful natural surroundings, incorporating those traces of wood throughout the home—wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling.

Motamedi opened the doors, virtually, to his personal project.

“All we had to do was to make sure our design paid homage to nature without trying to compete with what it had to offer,” he said. “We wanted to keep things simple and unadorned inside the house so that the natural surroundings would become part of the decoration and beauty of the interior spaces.”

Respect the Original:

The sunroom was planned by the previous owners and is one of the features that we did not change and kept as is. It is important in designing a space to know what to keep and cherish, what to change and improve and the extent of improvements necessary.

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Artful Entry:

Most wood doors can be customized to include stained glass. However, stained glass can be a strong statement in any space, so homeowners should consider the overall style and design they are trying to achieve before incorporating stained glass into their living space.

Nature, Nurtured:

The abundance of windows, skylights, and doors in the house allowed nature to make its way into the home, so we took advantage of this fact and provided a material palette that agreed with what the outside had to offer. The natural wood and stone finishes allowed the inside and outside to work together seamlessly while the clean white color pallet highlighted these natural finishes. Those birch trimmed windows and doors became framed pictures of wild greens, trees and the ravine on Walhalla. The knotty hickory flooring exhibits the natural patterns and colors of wood beautifully and that’s why it was the perfect candidate for flooring in this case. We decided to avoid overwhelming the senses with wood by going with white cabinets that are simply wrapped in a wood layer. Paired with the blue stone backsplash tiles, the kitchen is both modern and comfortable, and keeps with the overall aesthetics of the design.

Challenges:

We wanted to open up the wall between the first and second floor to reveal a loft space, but the structural requirements of the existing wall did not allow us to do that. In the end however, it turned out to be a good thing because the tall continuous wall emphasized the openness of the living room area and the closed off space on the second floor became the perfect office/study.

It’s important to be flexible and open to new ideas when doing a renovation of this size because not everything will turn out exactly as originally planned.

That doesn’t necessarily make for a negative result, but a more creative one.

Where to shop:

Light fixtures are from Restoration Hardware; artwork from Ikea and Bed, Bath & Beyond; all kitchen cabinetry and custom wood work from Reliance Design Build; furniture from West Elm, Grandview Mercantile, and Eurolife; decoration elements from various Clintonville antique stores, including Branch Décor, where we found the typewriter.

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Shelf Life Where to put all your extra stuff is far from an afterthought

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rban Order Architecture has an extensive resume when it comes to modernizing old homes. Often the reimagining and transformation of old or eccentric designs creates fun and unintended yields for new homeowners. Principal Steve A. Hurtt helps (614) Home navigate the obstacles designers run into when the functionality of a house changes wholesale over time.

In this Italian Village home, originally built as a duplex, it meant covering up old, awkwardly placed doorways with modern shelving units, tearing down walls that separated the units, and installing new ceilings in certain sections to differentiate space from one room to the next. One benefit of updating an old home is that it gives designers the flexibility to keep antiquated styles, while seamlessly blending in fresh and innovative aesthetics.

Built-Ins

Design: Urban Order Architecture Photos: Al Laus

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Cupboard Luminosity:

The lighting inside the kitchen cabinets is a low voltage LED tape that is a relatively new application. It is very low profile so it can be installed almost anywhere. Our client loved the idea of being able to showcase her glass collection and also to use the lighting as accent lighting in the kitchen.

Lofty Living:

The loft area is part of the original structure and we decided to keep it. We felt it added to the cottage idea and makes the relatively small bedroom feel much bigger. We added the painted board ceilings and added more structure to the existing roof to allow us to remove the ceiling joists and also install more insulation.

Juxtaposed Ceiling:

The original house was built as a two-family residence and we removed the walls between the two units. We also removed a poorly constructed addition that was the original kitchens and bathrooms.

The original house had exposed floor joists that we cleaned and painted; we decided to create a flat ceiling over the kitchen to differentiate that space a little more from the open living room and dining room. The painted wood ceiling ties the two together and creates more of a cottage feel.

Hidden On Purpose:

Storage was very intentional. This is a very old house in Italian Village and does not have a basement. We included a vaulted second floor so there isn’t much of an attic. We looked at every available space to include additional storage. We converted a small laundry room on the first floor to a combination pantry and home office; we used spaces under the new stairs and created a lot of built in storage and added shelves above the stairs in the new laundry room. We also added a metal trap door in the garage floor to access storage in part of the original crawl space.

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Kitchen

Design: Kitchen Kraft Photos: J.E. Evans Cost Estimate: $60-$65,000 (without appliances)

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Hidden Treasures

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designer and builder who has been perfecting houses since he started his own business as an OSU student, Jim Deen has seen all the bells and whistles on the market, and the vast spectrum of personal tastes that clients exhibit within the walls of their homes. We asked Deen to walk us through the design of his Powell residence and (arguably) the most important room inside it. This is what happens when a builder who has seen the best of the best gets to turn the drawing table on his own home and hearth.

Professional to personal:

It’s always harder when you’re doing it for yourself.

You want to make sure everything is perfect because not only are you doing it for yourself, it’s kind of an extension of the showroom, it’s an extension of your portfolio, it’s something you want to be proud of. You want to make sure it’s perfect because it’s a showcase basically. We have taken clients over to the house and used it as a showroom. Since we did the entire house, there is a lot to show.

White Lines:

[The] color pallet was taken throughout the entire house. Gray and white, cool colors, cool tone.

That’s the new trend. Everybody wants it. Gray is now considered the new natural. You can actually mix grays with tans, you can mix grays with blues, greens. It goes with everything. I mean just a few short years ago, even six years ago, nobody thought gray was neutral. They just thought it was gray and black or gray and white. But you can put it with anything.

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Chasin’ Waterfalls:

One thing in the kitchen that is unusual, if you look at the island countertop, that’s doubled up. There are two layers. So instead of an inch and a half counter, we put two layers in there, so it’s a three-inch thick counter. And they both have a different edge on them, so it kind of looks like a waterfall. So [it’s] three inches thick, which is not normal. That island is about 1500 pounds.

I knew I was going to do a big island, so when I was doing the structural part of the house, I actually tripled the floor joints under the kitchen, knowing I was going to put that much weight in there. I was thinking ahead of time. So the fridge and freezer, those are 300-400 pounds each, the island with the cabinets is probably 2000 pounds, so I mean, there are thousands and thousands of pounds in that kitchen. I didn’t double; I tripled all the floor joints. That way there wouldn’t be any bounce or sag in the floor over time, it would be structurally sound.

High-Tech and Hidden:

Under counter beverage drawers. There are two of them.

Of course you can control the temperature to whatever you want—depending on if you are putting in alcohol, bottled water or pop cans. That whole cabinet was custom designed by me to fit the two appliances in there. One of the appliances actually sits on the floor, and the other one is built into the cabinet, yet the cabinet sits on the floor. That cabinet is nothing you’d see in a book or catalog—I created to make it one piece and then by paneling the beverage drawers you kind of make it disappear so you think it’s an ordinary cabinet not an appliance. When you’re trying to do a high-end project you’re always trying to make the appliances disappear. Because you don’t want the kitchen cabinets to look like cabinets, you want the kitchen cabinets to look like furniture. So the less metal you see, the more furniture you get, so it looks higher-end.

On an island in the sun:

That’s something that’s fairly new in the market. It’s only been around a year. That’s a flush, installed, microwave drawer. You just tap the button and it comes out by itself.

And then you grab whatever is in there and you literally just hit it with your hip and it will automatically close by itself and you can walk away.

Hidden Gems:

There are a ton of accessories. [Much more than] you can see from the photos. [A built-in, dedicated coffee and tea station.]

The television above the double ovens, it’s fully integrated so you only see the screen, not the frame. So, it’s a built-in TV. The farm sink is pretty unique, in the fact that it’s a 40-inch wide farm sink, which is unheard of. It’s like almost 300 pounds. That was all made by hand out of fire clay. And that came from Italy.

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Pillars of Creation

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master bathroom is a place for serenity and solitude— that sanctuary in your home where you can count on not being bothered by the pains of the outside world. As the decades turn, so does the concept of what a modern bathroom should look like. Designer and contractor Leo Winkelman, of Winkelman Design Home Remodeling, positions himself at the spearhead of style. Gone away are the days of garish old tubs, for the freestanding showers now reign supreme.

“Large, stand-alone showers are the way people are going for master bathrooms these days,” said Winkelman, pointing out that for this project he had to rip out the existing tub in order to conform to modern bathroom trends. The end result was stunningly elegant—a modern take on the master bathroom. Just don’t drop the remote to the television in the toilet.

Bath

Design: Winkelman Design Home Remodeling Photos: Nickey Winkelman Cost Estimate: $60-$75,000

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planning:

We based our design after photographs that they had of a bathroom that they liked. They liked the large, open concept with a stand-alone shower. Of course, we had to modify the design a bit to adapt to their space. A lot of our designs are organic and they come together as we go; it is a really nice and freeing way to design something.

Tile on Tile:

We used all tile—they are much larger than they used to be. They look like planks of wood even though they are ceramic, making it look quite authentic. This is a natural design; we ran it in the shower and on the wall giving it a nice uniform feel. The back wall is the back of the shower, so it only made sense that we used the same tile. Using too many colors makes the design look too busy.

corkscrew lighting:

They actually came together later and were chosen by the decorator, Jim Smith, who found them on houzz.com. It is a great resource; you can look at tens of thousands of photographs of modeling concepts.

You can even put in your zip code and they will send you contractors in your area.

fashioning the pillars:

We toyed with a lot of different ideas and tried a lot of interesting things. We were able to find the shower setups—the elongated head, and all the fixtures— but we were concerned because we never used them before. We actually set it up in my driveway.

There was a temporary pole that we hooked up to my garden hose to it to see how it functioned. We were concerned that the towers were too narrow to stand on their own, so that’s why we decided to connect them to the ceiling. The end result looked very sleek and charming.

vanity Project:

The vanity setup was original—what we did was change the vanity doors to give it the look it has now.

Those are actually doors on the cabinets, but they look like drawers now. We didn’t have to change the cabinets, just the doors, making it look brand new.

We changed the mirrors and the TV, but the vanity is all original.

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Condo

Design: D'Aversa Interiors Photos: Allison Grimes/Columbus pics Cost Estimate: $24,000 – $28,000

Condo Living:

New Brew

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xposed beams, from the original brewery. Exposed brick, beautiful in its organic state of wear over the years.

Well, you’re not doing anything to change those—which is why designing for a large condo space like this one is all about the careful details.

Joe D’Aversa and his crew helped update this unit from its previous ’90s incarnation of rich wood and earth tones, replacing it with a Tribeca loft spin; a modern, wide-open space that fills with light from every angle.

“I look at it as one big canvas to create in, like when a painter does a painting,” D’Aversa said.

Priority: The cabinets stayed the same because of budget,

and because we agreed that we would incorporate as many existing pieces as possible and add where necessary. New bathrooms were more important.

Centerpiece:

The sofa was one of those pieces we needed to work around. We saw right away that it needed to become a focal point and not a distraction. It’s always a challenge, and rewarding when you can make it work.

after

before

Light:

The unit is situated perfectly so that no matter where you stand, there are windows. Every room has its shadows and light.

Where to shop:

One of my big secrets is Grandview Mercantile on High Street. I feel right at home there.

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Condo

Design: Compton Construction Photos: Matthew Carbone

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Living: Coast to Coast

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hat’s the best recipe for making a world traveler feel at home in his Columbus condo?

A little bit of East Coast, a little bit of West— from a far-out fridge to a splash of NYC subway vibes, what you get is a pan-American pad right here in the capital city. Challenging, in this case, was the notion that Blake Compton and his Compton Construction team were carrying out the orders of their client while he maintained his residence in Santa Cruz, California. Achieving the final vision required some efforts beyond your typical project—including some less-thanefficient trips down the highway to IKEA. In the end, though, a modern and sleek-yet-simple design proves that condo living doesn’t have to sacrifice style for spaciousness.

Challenges:

Working with an out-of-town owner who travels across the world made it difficult to follow a set schedule, as we would have meetings once or twice a month at best. There were moments where we would have to stop work and await approval before continuing progress. We kept our morale up by focusing on the finish details every step of the way and making sure we were proud with the small stuff. The most difficult part was trying to source the curtains. The owner wanted a specific fabric from Ikea and at the time, Cincinnati was the only Ikea we could go to… for some reason they didn’t have an exact system on how much fabric they had at any given time so we would have to drive to Cincinnati and buy whatever they had and wait until they got a new shipment in. It took a few months to finish everything because of that. Thankfully, readers won’t have to deal with that now that Columbus has its own Ikea!

Trending Tile:

People are trying to declutter and simplify their lives nowadays and one way to do that is to reduce the amount of different materials used throughout your home. White subway tile is a product that has definitely been used a lot throughout the last decade. It will continue to be a highly utilized product for its ability to complement the finishes around it, which is why it can work in both the bathroom and the kitchen.

First Impressions: The focus was space that had throughout and their aesthetic overall layout.

to make an inviting the amenities visible intentionally aligned to complement the

Cool Center:

The marquee piece of the dining room and kitchen is the orange fridge, it glares at you and is definitely a polarizing piece. It was always intended to be the focal point of color in those two rooms; we developed a natural palette otherwise and wanted the fridge to be the star.

Seamless Theme:

By focusing on construction finishes that are neutral, simple, and complementary to one another, you can allow your fixtures and furniture to bring the pop and crackle that define your space.

From the couch, rug, and coffee table to the fridge, dishes, and dishcloths, these items exclaim what space they are a part of and provide pleasing visual distractions, while not feeling cluttered.

Shopping:

The fridge is from Big Chill; you can find them online to buy all sorts of colorful kitchen appliances. The White oak is from Crow Works, a company out of Killbuck, Ohio. They can provide you raw material or pre-designed chairs, stools, and furniture—one of the top places for material used in our projects around Columbus. The kitchen cabinetry and countertop was actually from Ikea!

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Acute Accent Why piece-by-piece can be a better decor approach than wall-to-wall

Artwork

Design: Mulberry Design + Build Photos: Dale Clark/Arc Photography

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hen you’re working with updating a centuryold brick Italianate—one of the last of its kind in the city—there’s plenty on the docket. An oversized two-car carriage house garage was built, the floors raised, several layers of drop ceilings removed, the kitchen opened up to the great room, not to mention new electric and plumbing systems put in place.

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Mulberry Design + Build and Shane Spencer Design, was tied together with the simplest of touches: artful additions to each room’s walls. The end result was a fusion of contemporary, European and historic preservation with a modern and useable floorplan.

Mulberry Principal Chad Seiber gives (614) Home the low-down on how to give the inner sanctum of your home an out-of-this world feel:

Personality on Canvas:

The artwork in any home says a lot about the owner: is it challenging or simple? Offensive or Inviting? The personality of the owner becomes part of the home.

Future Flexibility:

Usually we stick with pretty simple whites painted on standard drywall. I like to use art and photographs to define the space. It is cleaner and can be changed up seasonally or from time to time. In some cases we use wallpaper when we are trying to add color, definition, or just trying to make a statement.

What to know:

I try to keep things simple, eclectic and timeless.

I love to blend styles without overcomplicating things. Wallpaper and other treatments can be great if they are simple and/or geometric … it’s easy to screw the room up if you try and do too much. Also: use a stud finder and a heavy duty art hanging kit (Container Store has great ones).

Where to shop:

Glass Legacy:

The history of how that piece [top] ended in the home is interesting. A similar piece was actually donated to the Equitas biannual Art for Life auction by Dawson Kellogg (1965-2014), former head of the CCAD glass studio. Someone else actually outbid me for the piece, and Dawson, who happened to be at the auction, gracefully agreed to make me another one.

I have acquired a lot of the artwork through charity auctions such as the Equitas Art for Life Auction and the HRC Gala. They are great opportunities to pick up unique pieces and support local and national charities. We also work with a few local artists like Ryan Orewiler and Dion Johnson (now in Los Angeles), who will create a custom piece if you can’t find anything you like. I would say the best way to pick up great art is to walk around the various galleries in the Short North and attend the exhibitions at the Pizzuti Collection and at the Joseph. Mr. Pizzuti brings in great art from all over the world and it’s a great place to start if you are a beginner or novice at collecting. The chalkboard was easy— we just bought some chalkboard paint at Lowe’s and then hired local artist Bryan Grey to do the drawing. Several of the light fixtures are from Crate and Barrel and there are a few small pieces and accessories from Kelly Wearstler.

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Color

Design: KDL Interiors Photos: Katy Lombardi

Green Acres Top-down, inside-out—a little color goes a long way

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ou’ll know it when you walk into a Katy Lombardidesigned home.

Even more so when you walk into the home of the interior designer herself. Lombardi’s residence (adorably dubbed “Milly”) might as well be a model home for its cross-section of all the combined influences of her 15year career.

When she and her husband moved back to the area a few years ago, she found Milly—with her beautiful, rare wood windows and trim, and colonial style—and was immediately inspired. Blue and natural wood were out, replaced by a stark black and white palette, emboldened with splashes of green that coupled with other natureinspired elements to give the home an outside-in comfort.

Laying a Foundation:

The walls I kept a nice white—BM Oxford White.

It's amazing how difficult it can be to pick a white! I like this one because it has a touch of warmth to it, making the home feel cozy. The black is SW Caviar.

The trim and white walls really laid the foundation for the space. I think the green is a perfect accent.

The neutral background allowed for the pop of color to be bold. Each room has some pop to it. The whole concept was to create a backdrop and allow for special moments to anchor each space.

Going Green:

This home is as close as I could get to my personal style. It's a nice foundation layered with elements of surprise and accent. It's like wearing a crisp white shirt with the best jewelry, shoes, and handbag to make it special. I think every room should have some green. It’s my favorite color, but it brings so much life into a space. It is almost a neutral as it goes with so much, yet you can make it super bold as well.

outdoors, indoors:

I love nature elements in a design. It can be unexpected and unique. The idea of putting antlers in a room with more modern elements makes the space interesting. It's a study on how you can combine elements of different textures to create a truly unique space. I always say anyone can go to a store and buy a set of furniture that matches, but a designed space brings together elements that coordinate, but don't necessarily match.

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Designing Your Own:

Designing for yourself is by far the hardest.

One, because of the expectation you put on yourself. Perfection is the nasty trait of most designers. Knowing what needs to be done to make something perfect and then balancing that with what you can afford to do is difficult. Plus, as a designer you are able to see so many styles that you really do like, so it's narrowing that down to the one that really defines you.

What to know:

Don't be afraid to take risks. I take more risks in my own home, but if you love something, you can make it work with the right pieces.

Collect things that mean something to you. My best clients will have art or pieces that are sentimental to them and it makes me so happy.

These are the homes that really come together.

It's the personal touches mixed with the new that complete a design.

Proportions are everything. I think this is the most difficult thing for a designer and homeowner. If the art is too small or the sofa is too big, the room will never look right. You have to create balance in the space—down to the size of rug, light fixtures, and throw pillows.

Where to shop:

Dining room: Urbia imports (table); Ballard Designs (chairs); IKEA (China cabinets); One Kings Lane (rug); West Elm (light fixture).

Sitting room: Home Decorators (chairs); Lee Industries (sofa); One Kings Lane (rug); Z Gallerie (art).

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Basement/Gym Design: Valerie Esiso Photos: Braddley Addams/LUXUDIO Cost Estimate: $30,000 – $50,000

Fun Down Below 40

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he whole point of having multiple levels to your home would be to have some way of banishing your kids to a lower level—an isolation chamber for just a few moments of each day.

Right? Wrong.

In the case of this unique underground lair from designer Valerie Esiso of Restyled by Valerie), it’s all about big and little playing together.

“It was pure joy once we were done, for all parties involved,” she said, “because they got a much more comfortable and thoughtfully laid out basement that really addressed all their needs as a young, active family.”

The individual elements of this basement project alone would be enough to marvel at (a home gym! A graffiti wall! A stage!) but (614) Home wanted to give you the down-low (get, it? A basement joke!) on the entire space. Valerie turned its exposed brick and acid-washed concrete into a mixed-used space that would make most local businesses blush. She’ll tell you about how they made the project work, what hiccups they encountered along the way, and what you need to know when considering an underground project of your own:

balancing space:

Because the kids were so young, it was important to maintain an open floor plan so they could have enough open space to run around, and so the parents could easily keep an eye on them. The challenge however, was in making sure the layout of all these multiple functional areas flowed and made sense, so it felt cohesive. In this case, we needed the adult and kids’ spaces to operate as parts of the same larger space.

hang-ups & Hiccups:

We did encounter a hiccup that caused us to change some of our design plans in the early stages of the project—it was in the workout room. Our plan was to section that part off without compromising on the clean-lined, open-concept look we were going for; and I had planned on doing this with tempered glass panels on a sliding track that could be opened and closed as needed. As planning progressed, we encountered problems with trying to find someone locally that was comfortable enough to tackle the install of the proprietary sliding tracks the glass company recommended, and because they didn’t have a regional distributor, we were being hit with a substantial freight charge that made the option less viable. As a result, I had to come up with a plan B, which was the frosted acrylic panels we ended up using. These worked out great because they not only have a higher pressure rating—which translated to more kid-proof in this case—but they also cost a fraction of what the previous material did. And my carpenter was able to install them without any issue.

fun + function :

They are usually these large, untapped spaces that so much function can be squeezed into, if done properly.

And people are usually more willing to take design risks in their basements as compared to the main living areas of their houses, which is always fun for me as a designer. For instance, the graffiti wall in this project—which is a huge part of the overall design aesthetic—was not a difficult sell to the clients, and I imagine that is because it was going in the basement.

I am not sure I would have been as successful talking them into installing that if it were going in their living room [laughs].

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What to know:

If you are thinking of doing your basement, the first thing you should do is list all the things you want to be able to get done in the space once completed. This is what I refer to as your functions lists, and it should be comprehensive, but also realistic. So if need be, narrow it down to what’s essential and see if you can piggyback others.

The next thing to consider is the layout. You should always let your functional needs guide the layout of your space. You do this by determining the most efficient placement for each function, keeping in mind the limitations of the space (ductwork, low ceiling height, location of support pillars, etc); the pre-existing design elements (built-in-shelves, fireplace, the upstairs sofa you are using, etc); the space requirement for each function (the clearance needed for your workout barre or basketball arcade); and the overall flow of the space. You want to make sure that the placement of each function is not only aesthetically appealing, but that it makes sense, too.

the pros/cons of being "open":

[They] can be a bit intimidating, but I find that with a clearly defined list of functions outlining the main uses for the space and a vision of how you would like it to look—the “feeling”—designing an open concept space is no different than an enclosed space.

unexpected inspiration:

It’s funny, when I first met with the clients and started discussing inspiration for the project, we kept referring to Chipotle (the restaurant) because they used to have the same exposed brick walls and that urban vibe in their stores. So, I guess I was somewhat inspired by my idea of what a downtown New York Chipotle restaurant would look like! [laughs] Some projects do require active outside research for inspiration and ideas, but not this one. This one was all me. Once I saw the exposed brick walls and listened to their preference for a modern space, the design idea came to me.

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The final point to consider is the overall look you would like to see in the space. To tackle this point, I suggest you focus on trying to convey a feeling in the space so that each design element you incorporate (paint color, style of furniture, accessories) contributes towards the overall feeling you are trying to convey in the space. Be careful not to be too literal with the elements you incorporate though, hence my suggestion to focus on conveying a feeling, as opposed to conveying a specific style or aesthetic. For this project, I was going for a modern urban feeling because it worked well with the open concept plan and the pre-existing exposed brick walls and concrete floors.

Where to shop:

The materials we used here were sourced from a variety of places, including online retailers like Overstock (dining chairs), Etsy (art prints), and local suppliers like Frame Warehouse (large framed pieces).

The Re n ovat ion Wil l Not Be Te le vis e d Busting the myths behind your favorite home improvement shows to the paint itself, can take multiple days to finish because each product needs to dry fully before the next can be applied. These shows don’t show every detail, since this would not retain the viewers’ attention. Rarely do the shows include the design phase (or if it does, the design is not in a matter of minutes), the architectural and engineering process, the financing process, or the permitting process. This all can take days, if not weeks or even months, to complete prior to starting the demolition. Timetables are a frequent struggle between homeowner and contractor, and required municipal inspections at various points of the project can also cause delays. hen it comes to building, designing, and even buying and selling, Neal Hauschild has done it all. The former Air Force engineer-turned lawyer/broker/real estate agent has been operating his multifaceted NTH Degree since 2003, helping clients with just about every home need imaginable. Just like those folks on TV! Which is why we asked him to tear down the wall between fact and fiction when it comes to what’s broadcast into your home, about your home. hile having the viewing experience of the multitude of home-buying/selling/renovation reality TV shows might seem helpful, it can be misleading if you are actually looking to remodel or buy a home. After an hour or so of binge-watching, it’s hard not to consider yourself an expert, right? Next thing you know, you’re “doing it yourself,” only to find out halfway through that it’s not as easy as it looks. The primary hook of each show is cost, which is grossly underestimated—especially considering how many materials are free, chalked up to promotional consideration.

Luckily, we have an expert ready with advice on how to distinguish real from reality (TV):

Toying with time

Can you imagine watching paint dry on a wall? Painting, for example, might involve having to apply a primer or sealer in addition 44

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Stuff happens

Home renovation projects include unexpected—and often expensive—setbacks.

Renovations are not quite as precisely scripted as the shows portray. Granted, a termite-infested wall, or a water leak that has caused mold to grow over the years makes for a dramatic moment on the TV shows, but miraculously these situations are resolved in a couple minutes. In reality, some of these unforeseen conditions can cost thousands of dollars and add several weeks to the renovation schedule. Ironically, the TV project may have fewer surprises, since the real plans were done before the production of the show; the producers wouldn’t want to risk extra camera and crew time because a foundation issue was identified that was going to lengthen the filming by a couple months. Setting aside a contingency fund, which TV homeowners never seem to do, is a smart move.

Staging = theatre

Adding the right furniture and accessories can make your home look like a magazine cover story. The big reveal generally includes perfectly positioned furniture and accessories, but once the filming is done, the furnishings, décor, and accessories are removed (unless the owner decides to purchase separately). The furnishings are missing from the budget and those accessories don’t come with a renovation job. We stage homes to maximize the impact once the home is put on the market, and stage model homes for builders to draw in buyers.

Flipping can easily flop

Long gone are the days of real estate price run-ups, when investors flocked to foreclosed houses to snatch up properties. In fact, fewer investors are flipping houses. In today’s housing market, every dollar counts that’s put into the property, but there are also a number of factors to consider before pursuing a house flip, starting with location and thorough knowledge of the property. There is an art to determining between investing too much in a property and not doing enough. Would-be investors need to calculate carrying costs including financing, insurance, taxes, and maintenance, since these costs can grow and could potentially wipe out profits.

Everything’s a mess

A renovation project is a process, and patience is truly a virtue. An example of this is landscaping—the nurseries will sometime force bloom plants to make them more eye catching and dramatic—pair that with some fresh mulch and a colorful and perfectly manicured bed and you have an idyllic garden. Flash forward two months, when undesired growths are in the mulch beds and the plants have lost their blooms and the mulch has become a weathered wood color with perhaps some fungus growing on it—no longer is the “made-for-TV” look that was presented. Likewise, a home renovation project usually ends with everything in the home covered in a fine dust.

Neal doesn’t want you to turn off your TV. He just encourages people to collect pictures, watch shows, and find ideas that inspire them to determine what they would want their dream space to be. The home and garden shows are great for inspiration and getting you excited about making a transformation in your own home, but the plan is to use the shows as inspiration and motivation, making sure to mix that with planning and preparation before you try to emulate your on-screen dreams. For more, visit nthliving.com.

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Sky’s the Limit Transforming a garage into an at-home resort

Man Cave

Design: Davis Rogers Interiors Photos: Megan Leigh Barnard

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rust + creative freedom + a nearly unlimited budget.

That’s the recipe for design utopia, as evidenced in one of central Ohio’s most impressive projects—the epic garage space that Brad Jennings calls home ( just outside of his home).

The space, which sprawls over three lots and has been six years in the making, is the result of the imagination of the client, combined with creative execution by Derrick Davis and Deana Rogers-Davis of Davis Rogers Interiors.

How can you not have fun when the plan calls for “must-haves” like a fish tank, cigar lounge, and bowling alley—and eventually leads to finding space for a monkey cage? (Yes, you read that right).

“I don’t think Derrick and I ever doubt that something can be done,” Deanna said. “This client says, ‘make it happen’ and we find a way. They allow us to dream big and come up with unique ideas.”

In the end, Jennings now has an estate with a country-club feel that is open to his friends and guests whenever they desire—and, as an added plus, designed in a way that is minimally intrusive to his neighbors.

Deana takes us on a virtual tour of a man cave too amazing to be hidden from view.

Initial inspiration:

We wanted to give the client and neighbors something special to view so there is a great amount of detail in the additional structures as well as the landscaping. It feels more like a resort, which is perfect for the amount of entertaining this client does.

Evolution:

Initially the “man cave” was supposed to be more garage space for vehicles along with a bar/lounge and office loft.

The cold Ohio winters brought on the idea of a breezeway to attach the main house to the new office space. The bowling alley and lower level wrestling room came later as an addition to the bar/lounge area. The owner wanted to accommodate more games and activities for their guests. This is a client that travels often and brings back ideas from resorts and cities around the world. When they see something they like, the owners come to us and ask, “How can we make something like this work on my property?" It’s always evolving. We are always challenged with finding a place for more art, memorabilia, new games, new vehicles, ummm… and recently a monkey cage. Yes, I said a monkey cage!

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Challenges:

Timeframe. A lot of work is coordinated to be performed while the client is away for work or vacation … kind of a “while you were out” aspect. It keeps us on our toes and moving fast.

What to Know:

Choose things you LOVE. Don’t be afraid to use different styles and finishes together. Think “timeless” when making choices so things are still in style years from now.

Mixed Media:

We wanted a dark, rich, masculine feel throughout. It adds more interest when you mix metals, so we’re not afraid to do that. Texture and layering is the key to any good design. As long as the colors all work together, mixing and adding texture creates more depth to the overall picture.

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Where to shop:

Locally, we’ve used lots of vendors on this project. We worked with Romanelli & Hughes on the structure.

We used Jae Company for the cabinets; tile is from Hamilton Parker, and lights from Capital Lighting.

Most of the furniture is from Restoration Hardware with accents from Trove, Elm & Iron, and Ruth Wilson.

The art is mostly memorabilia and company related items framed at the Framing Center. Mirrors were custom-made, and unique graphics were done by Images & Words.

Budget:

While it may seem a little unusual, there really were no real budget constraints. Our only constraint has been space and permitting. But we have found a way to give them everything they asked for. Regardless, we always keep a budget in mind when choosing items.

Just because a client can afford it, doesn’t mean we choose the most expensive things.

Hidden Gems:

Inside the bowling alley is also an elevator that takes you down to a state-of-the-art OSU wrestling gym complete with sauna. The landscaping, we worked with Ciminello’s, and it’s really one of the most beautiful things about the home. There is a new additional breezeway that connects the main house to the pool house, complete with a glass floor so the water feature running through the back yard is not obstructed. We had the hot tub built into rocks so it gives the feel of a hot spring. We’ve added a pizza oven, bocce court, putting green, and of course there is a sand covered island with a cabana and space for volleyball. The outdoor space is truly an oasis!

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Industrial Revolution How to turn storage into stunning

mixed use

Design: Compton Construction/Bri DeRolph Photos by Cory Klein

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he relationship between client and builder can take on many different shapes, but in the case of Bri DeRolph and Compton Construction, theirs was a collaboration fused by function and creativity.

Creativity isn’t something the owner was lacking. DeRolph had already designed a spiral staircase, as well as her own bathroom tub and countertops fashioned from reclaimed belts.

As for filling out the entire space—an old electrician’s storage warehouse that would become a new two-story home/office—Blake Compton and his team took it the rest of the way, turning blueprint into bona fide reality.

Up on the roof:

[DeRolph] was going out on her own after a storied career in retail and commercial environment design and needed a place to sleep and work.

She wanted a simple, open bedroom connected to her work studio and the ability to go out on the roof to take breaks as she needed.

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Adding on:

Its prior use was a one-story, garage-like building. It wasn’t set up to live in at all, and had to have all its utilities upgraded to service the live/work space that it was adapted to. The second floor was added and was the most difficult part of the project.

Creative spiral:

Local craftsmen Shawn Walburn helped design and build the metal details and Bri helped bring in the wood treads. It was the focal point of the design.

Modern + Industrial:

That was very intentional. [DeRolph] wanted us to provide her with a basic finish throughout the space initially. The convergence of modern and industrial speaks to her design aesthetic that she brings forward for her clients and her other passion projects in her life.

In essence, what you see in her space is her.

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Where to Shop:

South High Flea Market, old buildings, Craigslist, travels.

Simple and Open:

That is important. It also can create challenges when you are trying to find storage. Luckily, half the building remained a warehouse/workshop, which allowed the space to stay focused from room to room.

Challenges:

Structural steel for the second floor addition was so large that we had logistical issues with getting the freight truck down the street and making the turn onto the property. We spent weeks working with residents to clear the street and get the right angle to install the beam. That was a major delay in the project and unfortunately one of the first scopes of work that needed to be complete.

Found Inspiration:

Found items can be their own inspiration. Many of the pulleys and track molds you see in the space came from Land-Grant Brewing Co.’s building during that project’s demo phase. When we were working on the demolition, I thought of Bri and called her to come check out all the scrap material. It was like inviting a kid to a candy store! She utilized many pieces in her space, including her headboard—which is made of molds used by a printing company years ago.

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Vintage Solar

By J. R . Mc Mi lla n

Striking the balance between modern technology and historical integrity

S

olar power still has its skeptics. Like the fabled flying car, it always seems to be an idea hovering just over the horizon. Building a house that runs off the sun may sound like a modern amenity, but historic homes aren’t inherently excluded from increasingly affordable technology that lets you push power back to the grid.

“If you continue waiting for the best TV, it’s never going to come out. You never quite get there because there’s always something a little better down the road,” explained Matt Goodman. He and his wife Christy installed a two-part solar array cleverly concealed on the rear roof and garage of their Westgate home, built 56

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in 1940—not that you’d notice.

“Most of our neighbors did not even know we had them installed,” Christy noted. “Until we mentioned we had them, someone from the street couldn’t really see them at all.”

Solar installations, regardless of the size or cost, all share one obvious requirement—the sun.

But the direction and angle are crucial. Ideally, they should face due south and still catch enough daylight during the winter months when the sun hangs lower in the sky.

“That was one of Christy’s main concerns, how it was going to look. I didn’t mind; I thought it was kind of cool looking,” Matt said. “My brother’s

a designer, my dad’s an architect, and we talked about how the perfect roof is one that you retrofit and it just blends in—or the house is built with the idea that the roof will have solar panels to begin with. But we didn’t have that option with an older house.”

“When we think of historic homes, we generally consider those houses that are 50 years or older,” explained Susan Keeny, director of the Home Preservation Program at Columbus Landmarks Foundation. “Berwick has a lot of mid-century ranches, which are very popular right now. The south side also has many homes that are essentially untouched and have retained their charm.

There are lots of little neighborhoods

waiting to be discovered. These homes often have original wood floors, trim, and windows—which we always encourage people to preserve, if possible.”

In addition to their 40-year mission of education and advocacy, Columbus Landmarks Foundation’s recent Home Preservation Program provides insight and access to lowinterest loans to help improve the energy efficiency of older houses, while mindfully maintaining their architectural integrity.

“The greenest building is one that already exists,” noted Keeny, “Updating a historic home with modern technology is always a challenge. But maintaining the street façade retains the value of the home and the character of the neighborhood.”

The Goodman’s quaint Cape Cod had already seen its share of energy improvements in the two decades since they moved to Westgate from Chillicothe. Updated appliances were easy enough, removing the aluminum siding and the original wood beneath was a bit more involved. However, the happy accident of wrapping the entire home in Tyvek as part of that previous project set the stage for solar.

“Ecohouse Solar will tell you not to do this if your home isn’t wellinsulated or has other, more pressing problems,” Matt noted. The company that installed the panels, wiring, and the basement inverter was impressed by how “tight” the house was already regarding efficiency. ‘“Matt had been researching solar installations for a couple of years, but then the price finally went down,” Christy said. The project was eligible for ECO-Link financing. The Energy Conservation for Ohioans program buys down interest rates on home-equity loans aimed at improving efficiency through qualifying upgrades.

“I expected this to be a $40k project, and it wasn’t anywhere near that,” he noted. “Our interest rate through ECO-Link was only .89 percent.”

Even with that enviable rate, paying off the investment economically and environmentally is more difficult to calculate.

“It’s hard to predict because

you have to guestimate how much electricity you’re going to use and the costs ten years from now. We’ve already made the house more efficient, and had two kids leave our home, so our energy costs have gone down anyway,” she revealed. “I don’t have any regrets. Our average electric bill is about 20 bucks—which means we have months we don’t pay anything, and winter months, or months when maybe it’s very cloudy, where the highest bill is $50.”

“I stopped paying attention to that long-term payoff date. Once it’s on the roof, the monthly costs remain lower, and it adds to the value of the home,” Matt added. In fact, the only concern is whether they might generate too much electricity. “We had to sign a contract with AEP that we wouldn’t become a net energy producer.”

Doing so could inadvertently classify the couple as a small-scale power plant of sorts. So far, that hasn’t been an issue, though Christy said they were just fine running an extension cord to their neighbors to keep that from happening.

The Goodman’s home was already part of the Green Energy Ohio tour shortly after the installation. But those interested in how the couple carefully combined overall energy improvements with the restoration of their historic home will have their chance as well. The house will featured on the Westgate Home & Garden Tour on June 10th, along with several homes in the early to midcentury neighborhood.

“We never really thought of ourselves as being overly green.

But the improvements we’ve made over time clearly suggest we’re concerned about keeping energy consumption and costs low,’ Matt confessed. “In 20 years, this either will look very antiquated—like any other appliance—or it will look very ordinary.”

For more on Columbus Landmarks Foundation’s Home Preservation Program, visit columbuslandmarks.

org. Information on the ECO-Link partnership is available at tos.ohio. gov/ECOLINK. Details on this year’s Westgate Home & Garden Tour are online at westgateneighbors.org.

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Mobile

Design: Modern Tiny Living Cost Estimate: $20,000 – $60,000

Little House on the...

The local company ahead of the off-the-grid game

By Travis Hoewischer

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or those seeking to create their own personalized, private residence (one roughly the size of most people’s bathroom) Columbus’s Modern Tiny Living isn’t just your best option—it’s your only option in the entire state.

For prices ranging from 20K-60K—some just purchase “shells” of tiny homes and build out the rest on their own—Modern Tiny Living is appealing to the new class of Americans that spend their time daydreaming of living little and lithe. Co-founders Daniel and Cindy Hamilton, along with their nowpartners Trent Haery and Robbie Hendricks have all bonded over the freedom of paring down life to its essentials—family, nature, travel and friends.

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The Mohican

MTL’s first unit holds a soft spot in their hearts, a combination of many of the touchstones of the company’s mission: light interior, open spaces, loaded with windows and a modern edge.

“We wanted a rustic modern looking home in a tiny package, with the finishes of a high-end home at a fantastic price,” Hendricks said. “Time really does fly by when you’re relaxing in the Mohican in the woods or by a lake. We do believe it is the perfect combination of comfort, luxury, design and price point.”

For more, visit moderntinyliving.com.

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“People are finally realizing there is such a thing as “too modern living twist—an AirBnB! much,” and that the true nature of life is connection—to That potential should be seen once urban communities one another, the outdoors, and to ourselves,” Hendricks like Franklin County catch up on zoning needs like other said. “There are many ways to accomplish that connection of areas out where for tiny living has taken off. For now, MTL’s course, and tiny living is one of them.” local customers reside 20-30 minutes outside of city limits.

Such a personal connection to that ethos is what But, they feel change is coming. bonds MTL and their customers.

If we’re anything like Ojai or Fresno, Customization is always key in any CA, it’s right around the corner!” Haery “People are finally home, but when that living space is said. “Those cities allow permanent living realizing there 250-square-feet? Getting it just right in a tiny house on wheels as long as it’s is such a thing for you is everything. parked on the lot of a larger home which as “too much,” “We want people to really does meet zoning restrictions.” and that the true consider how the home is going to “There are groups in Franklin County nature of life is be used, what are must-haves, and that are working around the clock as connection—to how frequently it will be travelled advocates for tiny living, and MTL is proud one another, the with (if at all)—all of those things to be a part of the movement,” Hendricks outdoors, and to will dictate the length, width and added. “We will get there soon.” ourselves.” features the home will eventually Even if Columbus proper isn’t quite have,” Hendricks said. ready for these satellite sanctuaries, locals And the uses extend past just someone wanting a classier can still work with MTL for their mobile needs—and follow version of the RV parked out back. While most of MTL’s an area company putting new ideas into home design. After projects have been places of solace or “launch points” all, even in a narrow space, you can innovate on a wide for outdoor adventures, they see potential uses for their spectrum. structures far beyond just home or travel. At their price We once designed a house with a large, four-cubic-foot points, an MTL structure could be a more practical option turtle terrarium,” Haery said. “Like we said, if someone has a for a spare guest/bedroom or home office—or, in another “must-have,” well…we can make it happen.”

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DIY: Contain Yourself One college kid is thinking inside the box for the next generation of homeowners

By M i tch Ho o p e r • Photos by Bri an Kai ser & Colli ns Laats c h

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magine waking up every day in a kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom—a bizarro minimalist combo package inside a 20foot by 8-foot box most often used for non-human cargo. For Tobias Katz, this oddity will soon become a reality as he puts the finishing touches on his senior project of designing a completely customizable tiny home.

The trend of tiny homes across the country has been gaining more and more traction with millennials as they can offer a cheaper alternative to home-buying. While most tiny homes resemble the traditional house structure we see in most neighborhoods, Katz’s senior thesis puts an entirely new spin on structural and interior design with his fully livable steel shipping container.

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Katz said he originally came up with the idea for creating a tiny home kit after his cousin had bought one four years ago. As the story goes, the kit that Katz’s cousin had purchased didn’t have all of the required components to live in the tiny home. With that in mind, Katz decided he was not only going to change how kits were designed for tiny homes, but also change the structural look entirely.

“Tiny houses are all set space,” Katz explained. “You build this timber frame with an arched roof, or pointed roof structure, and you can’t do anything to add to its size. And then people get stuck in them and end up having to buy a second one or move into a bigger one or a longer one. I decided to create the system and the processings for creating this adaptable tiny house.”

When Katz set out in hopes of completing his goal of designing a fully customizable tiny house that allows for additions and personal customization by the homeowner.

Five weeks and 300 hours of labor later—for all of you mathematicians, that’s roughly eight and a half hours a day—Katz completed a Katz Box. When Katz, a graduating senior in industrial design and interior design at Columbus College of Art & Design, originally pitched his senior thesis project of building a tiny home as a sophomore, he was told to try something else. He took this advice and checked out other options, but couldn’t get the idea of building a tiny home out of his head.

His junior year, he was met with the same questions of how viable this project was, but this time it didn’t stop Katz. As a senior, Katz decided to design what is now known as a “Katz Box,” a steel shipping container fully furnished with electricity, air conditioning, heat, and plumbing.

“People really challenged him throughout the process as it was happening,” said Gail Shamon, his longtime girlfriend and creative director of the project. “I think they were really apprehensive about his moxie and his positive attitude towards it. I think that is what they were ultimately trying to do—make sure he stayed on the ground and didn’t get too lost in the clouds.

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But in a lot of other ways, it really motivated him to believe and take that extra step and see this through to the very end.”

Katz unveiled his first-ever Katz Box in a parking lot next to CCAD’s Canzani Center in May 2017, as his peers and media outlets gathered for interviews and pictures. In that moment, it seemed the hard work and determination had paid off.

As for the catchy name, Katz said he had to give credit to Shamon.

“It was a really drawn out and boring name,” said Katz. “My girlfriend actually said, ‘Why don’t you name it Katz Box since your last name is Katz, and cats love boxes and you’re building a box house?’ And it instantly stuck.”

Though Katz and Shamon both say a Katz Box was designed for anyone and everyone of all demographics, the two kept millennials and college students in mind when creating a price for the tiny home.

“I don’t know a lot of millennials willing to spend the amount for a house on something that is exact; I mean the average house in Columbus costs $200,000 to $300,000 which is way more than most millennials can afford,” Katz explained. “By having an option that is right around $60,000, and can change, it lets you have this new idea that maybe your house is a little small, but you could alter it as much as you wanted to.”

The estimated $60,000 price tag would provide the new homeowner with a fully furnished and ready-togo Katz Box that would only require them to simply plug it in and begin living in it. Shave off about $20,000 and you can get a DIY Katz Box Kit so you can design your new home however you so choose.

In addition to being more economically friendly to millennials and college students struggling with debt, Katz recognized the potential for saving space in densely populated cities like Columbus, which is edging towards the likes of New York and Los Angeles.

Now that the project is over, Katz said he has some plans in the works for finding a place to store the tiny home, but it isn’t a done deal yet.

“If you know anyone that has a cool lot, let me know,” Katz laughed.

For more information about Katz Box, visit thekatzbox.com

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Under the Big Top

Sells Circus House gets a new owner, look

By Tr avis Hoewisc h er

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ou know what’s remarkable?

That the most whimsical home in Columbus was once party to an epic divorce and was a gathering place for alcoholics.

Of course, it also was a daycare and a Fraternal Order of Police lodge, making the history of the Sells Circus House as colorful as the big-top tents its first owner used to prop up all over the country.

Now, the house has a new ringleader— insurance man Wes Wolfe who, as only the home’s seventh (private) owner, is setting his sights on restoring the home to its “original grandeur and purpose.”

You said that purchasing this house was about fellowship. Not everyone is like that—many just want to have their home and not have it be a big deal. What draws you to want a place that you somewhat share with the community? The home is such a magnetic draw and has so much intrigue in the community with the history and myths … it has just naturally happened. The home was built by the Sells Family largely to entertain and welcome people in.

As I get more and more involved in the local community, it has naturally started to become that. A place to bring great people into my house— all locally engaged, passionate, and hustling in their own careers and in life.

photos by bria n Ka i ser

You said you were energized by the purchase, whereas it would be easy to be immediately overwhelmed. What makes you different in scenarios like this?

Why is this your jam? I thrive and am motivated in situations that to most seem to be impossible things to take on and balance. I had a vision for my business, Wolfe Insurance Group when I purchased it from my father, and a similar thing happened when the opportunity to purchase the Circus House came about. The stars aligned perfectly … when I first walked in the house—the energy and vibes—I knew instantly where I was supposed to be. It was a huge thing to take on, but I thrive on risks and my entrepreneurial spirit!

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What were the places you lived in before this one? This is quite the upgrade… I had a small cape cod house in Gahanna that I bought when I was 20 and lived in for 16 years; great home, and the old Gahanna area was really cool. When I moved my company downtown in 2016, I had a great opportunity to buy a house in German Village across from Hausfrau Haven.. I loved the house! I bought it for around $600,000; with same philosophy of being involved in community, I was on the Home and Garden Tour in 2016 and from that got an offer for over $1 million for my house ... it wasn’t even on the market. That was too good to turn down. The same luck and turn of events took me to the Circus House—and here I am.

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What was your house like growing up, in both feel and look? Did your parents entertain a lot? What was the decor like? We grew up in Gahanna. My dad owned the insurance business and my mom was a school teacher for 35 years. The décor was modern and current to the period; they entertained, but not to the level I [do]. Having a family with active kids made it difficult, whereas my situation is completely opposite.

Did you ever think you’d be living in a million-dollar house? (Just like on those TV shows!

Never in a million years! [laughs] I actually saw pictures of the Circus house in the paper 10 years ago or so and had no interest at all. But since then, my life experiences and growth brought me to the place with a different perspective. It was understanding the importance of the home in the community, the incredible story, the architecture, ambiance, and energy.

How much of the old decor from the previous owners have you kept?

I have pretty much redone the entire home in three months… repainting the entire home, gutting and redoing four bathrooms, all floors, painted the entire house and have redone 7,400-square-foot of hardwood.

And [I'm] putting in a pool in this summer...

The home is such a magnetic draw and has so much intrigue in the community with the history and myths … it has just naturally happened.

What are your favorite parts of the house? And with so much to explore, are you still finding new highlights since you moved in?

I love the entire house—literally every room. I gravitate most to the Tent Room in the front, just because of the cool décor and the awesome view of the park.. I also love the kitchen area which is very open and easy to move around. But with so many guests so intrigued by the entire place, I always go to where they want to spend time the most.

Parking may not be simple, but no one will ever struggle with directions to your house ever again.

What are some other pros of being the owner of the Circus House?

Well I do have a six-car garage and two driveways. The home is so welcoming and intimate despite the size—it really is a masterpiece! I wake up every day and can’t believe I am lucky enough to call it my home.

I want to continue to pay respect to the history and intended purpose: sharing it, using it as a way to meet great people, network, collaborate, and keep paying it forward for the amazing city of Columbus, Ohio.

Cons? The cons would just be the upkeep. I say, like previous owners, that I am merely a caretaker— and that is a huge undertaking with keeping everything up and preserved.

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Se eing Green Hig h - d ol l ar de velo pm ent b ri ngs ci t y to co u nt ry w i t h a l l- i nclu s ive, invent ive approach

By J en i R u i s c h • I l lu str ati o n by A l L a rte r

C

hoosing where to live (for those who can) used to be about making decisions and concessions.

Country? City? The once-vast expanse between?

Want to walk to see live music and go to dinner?

You’ll need to live near a city center and deal with traffic and crime. Want to have woods outside your back door and go fishing after work? You’ll have to forego the lively nightlife and conveniences of living in a metropolitan area.

But what if there were a place where you really could have it all?

Developer Dan Griffin believes you can, and he’s crafting it into existence.

When Griffin talks about Evans Farm, a smile sneaks into his voice, and he takes on a buoyancy that betrays his excitement. He and business partner Tony Eyerman are building their own future, and that of thousands of their neighbors.

And it’s shaping up to be an urban utopian oasis in the middle of a rural expanse.

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The name of the game at Evans Farm is “new urbanism,” a the train goes by, they’ll be eye-to-eye with the conductor. We’re social concept and design movement that centers itself around a building lakes that have solar powered fish feeders on them. You’ll traditional village prototype. One where services, commerce, and be able to kayak on a few of them.” gathering places are all within walking distance of the home.

It seems that the developers have left no stone unturned, Griffin’s mental collage of a friendly past and a progressive figurative or literal. future blooms into the best of both worlds, and he wants it all “We’re doing paths through the woods where we mark and right outside his resident’s doorsteps. label every tree and plant so the school can teach the kids the “We have restaurants, we have salons, we have the YMCA, agricultural side of life, and teach them what’s out there in the we’ve got a brewery, we’ve got a recreational facility that is world—de-emphasize the computer,” Griffin said. “We’re building structured from a historic barn. Out the back will be a carved an elementary school and a preschool that sit right in the middle in amphitheater where, on Friday nights, residents will be able of our development so kids can walk to school safely.” to walk right down the street and sit on This hyper-engineered community the lawn and have Friday night movies. has been planned to the finest “[This is] a place where There will be a bridge out over the detail: from their six- to eight-footmain road where people will be able to wide sidewalks built specifically houses are pulled up walk over to the beach and marina at for baby carriages, cyclists and closer to the street, Alum Creek. It de-emphasizes travel by runners alike to be able to share where people can walk. vehicle. That’s what the new generation the lane without anyone stepping It’s Granville, it’s Old wants right now. They want to walk to off to the side, to “functional” Worthington. When work or ride their bike. After work, they front porches (required to be at can walk to a restaurant, or walk to the least eight feet deep) that must be people would first grocery store, or take a golf cart there. built 24-36 inches off the ground, settle an area, they’d [This is] a place where houses are pulled so that passers by are at eye level settle real close. It was up closer to the street, where people can with their seated neighbors. all walkable. Business walk for services. It’s Granville, it’s Old The purposeful design of this Worthington. When people would first village has specific goals in mind: and personal life were settle an area, they’d settle real close. It connection, safety, prestige. Other all in one place.... was all walkable. Business and personal urban centers have walkability, but life were all in one place. We see it on TV Evans Farm has had the luxury of We see it on TV when you when you look at Mayberry.” removal from an established core. look at Mayberry.”

Griffin consistently name-checks the Older urban models have been TV town that has come to embody the cobbled together through decades, idealized American community of old. the good piled next to the less savory So enmeshed is this ideal that some of Griffin’s team are literally bits of city life. And in the rural areas of central Ohio, we have the building their lives around it: pendulum swinging decidedly the other way, providing unique “There are a bunch of us [Evans Farm designers, builders] challenges—lack of nightlife, long commutes to everywhere from moving in here. You’re going to have a bunch of different people work to the grocery store. These extremes pose the trade-offs that with a bunch of different needs. I’m a hunter and fisherman. I’m home buyers must navigate. In recent years, buyers have chosen an outdoors person; my wife’s the city girl. And she can’t wait the middle ground of suburban sprawl, but this has seemed to lack to live here because we’re going to have the best of both worlds. a solution to the city vs. country decision model. Griffin wants to If I want to take a hike, we can do it from here because we’re give people options in everything from housing to hobbies. connecting to the park. You’ll be able to walk or take a horse all “People want a community, so you have to have multiple the way to Cheshire. So it fulfills every country [aspect] as well as housing opportunities. We’re starting with a clear slate. I think nice restaurants. We’ve been contacted by four of the city’s best we have an opportunity that [places like] Clintonville didn’t restaurants to [establish themselves] here.” have, which is [being] recreated in an environment that adds Griffin and his team seem to be like veritable kids in a candy some little special things. [In Clintonville] how close are you to store when it comes to designing the town of their dreams. grabbing a fishing rod and heading to the lake? How close are “We’re building a restaurant with a little platform out the back you to walking to a state park without crossing a main road? next to the railroad station so when people go out there and sit and There’s a little of that detail that we’re able to capture because

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we don’t have anything but that clear slate of land.”

All this meticulous planning comes at a price. At Evans Farm, hitting the million-dollar mark on your home would not be a tall task. The residences start at the high $300,000s for multi-family units, and climb from there into six figures. These price-points obviously will put Evans Farm out of reach for some, but the developers aims to pop the gated communitytype bubble that could result from the highly insulated and all-contained lifestyle development.

“We have fun cause we meet with neighbors all the time. We meet with the local people, whether they’re moving here or not. We’re putting classrooms in our Ag Center, [which] is going to be used by a lot of the local groups like 4-H. It will have gardens and classrooms that we’ll share with the school system.

We’re connecting the Orange Township bike trail all the way through our development so people don’t stop in the middle of Lewis Center and turn around. For People that live on Old State [Road] all the way through this Lewis Center area, this will be their gathering spot. We’re connecting trails to local communities so people don’t have to move there but can be part of Evans Farm. Even the general public understands what an incredible opportunity we have to build something they don’t have. We’ve got over 27 businesses now that are going to open up and start construction this fall. So that quaint little Lewis Center village that people knew at one time is going to be recreated architecturally and with local businesses by the end of 2019.”

And people are buying in: 120 of the 142 lots in Phase 1 are already spoken for, and they haven’t even put the streets in yet. 2,000 lots on 1,300 acres will house an estimated 6-7,000 people when all’s said and done. The infrastructure has been placed, and foundations are being laid. Residents will begin moving in next summer.

Griffin gazes further into the future as he pulls influence from the past.

“It’s how our grandparents grew up. They stayed in one place and had Thanksgiving dinner in one house. But society has changed, and we have started spreading out quicker. We can build a place here that takes the best of all the places we’ve ever dealt with and puts them in one package for generations.

Way after I’m gone, people will drive through, and it’ll become a destination place. This is great fun for me, as you can tell.”

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On-Trend T

here’s plenty of inspiration in this issue—but here’s a few more to add to the list when it comes to making your space comfortable, creative, and current, from the folks at Davis Rogers Interiors:

Reclaimed Wood Accents To the windowwwwww to the wall! Reclaimed wood is abundant and especially eco-friendly. It can go from old, unused barns and other dilapidated structures to your home interior. With just a bit of sanding and staining, you can get a custom rustic look in any part of your home. Use a few pieces as an accent around your bathroom mirror, panel walls, finish floors … the possibilities are endless, and the style is natural and timeless.

Troughs

Install a recessed channel with a drain, fill it with ice and your choice of beverages, and bam—booze trough! Build into an indoor or outdoor kitchen island, bar or dining area, and you can quickly chill and serve your favorite beverages. Perfect for parties. Drink service is classier when your friends don’t have to reach past your lunch meat for their favorite potable.

DIY Wall Coverings

Ask anyone who used to own Hot Wheels—decals are the way to go. A modern way to display art, or change the color of a wall without the commitment and mess. Easily peel and apply to a feature wall or back splash for a quick and cost-effective change.

You can use a similar type of decal to change a regular window into a stained glass-like work of sunlit art.

Ceiling Tiles

p h oto by M egan Lei gh B arnard

Backyard Sheds

The tiny, barely used building sitting idle in your backyard can be a great opportunity to get a world apart from your day-to-day.

With a few practical changes, and as much (or as little) flair as you want, you can transform the shovel shack out back into a cabana, a hip lounge, a library, or a little hobby workshop. Create a personal get-away, whatever your interest.

Ceilings

Look up! Detail in the ceiling finishes off a room. It changes the entire vibe and draws more visual interest. Changing the texture and dimension of a ceiling can make a small space seem bigger, or make a big space more cozy. Use wallpaper, wood, or a complementary color to make a space feel finished and polished.

Layering

Combine multiple patterns in a similar color palette to create interest and depth. Have fun with patterns! Prints on walls can complement prints on furniture, and lead the eye to interesting accents. It doesn’t have to match to make a statement. In fact: it’s better if it doesn’t.

Create a coffered look in any room using drop ceiling tiles. These aren’t your fluorescent light-housing, pock marked office tiles of old. These are stylized, and beveled or stamped for a unique effect that can be a subtle or dramatic change to any size room. This is one trend that needs to be seen to be believed. Armstrong carries numerous styles to choose from.

Tiling

Trim Detail

Hidden Gems

It ain’t just for the corners anymore. Add a simple trim design to basic drywall and paint it all the same color using your favorite sheen. You can create a geometric effect to add dimension to an otherwise plain space, or define a section of an open floor plan.

This makes any bland wall more interesting and unique.

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Using a fun tile to create a unique floor in a bathroom or small space can be a cost-effective way to make a big update and show off your personal style. Subway tile is coming back in a big way, and can be worked into myriad color palettes for years to come.

Turn an ordinary utility closet into a wine cellar or a place to house memorabilia or collectables. An enclosed space where there used to be junk can be transformed over a weekend into a multi-dimensional, usable space that will be unique to your interests and add value to your home.

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