When AD PRO Directory designer Heidi Woodman met the owners of this Indianapolis property, they told her how much they loved the charisma of the home they were leaving behind. “They really fell for its character, since it was a historic home from the 1920s,” she says. “They wanted this one to emulate that same feeling.”
The only issue was that their future address in the Meridian Kessler neighborhood was an entirely blank slate. Woodman would be tasked with creating character out of spaces built from the ground up alongside contractor Mark Adams and architectural designer Gary Nance. There would be nothing of the past to preserve, no charm to enhance and hold on to. If Woodman was going to succeed at cultivating a sense of earned comfort, then she would have to find a way to intertwine a classic feel from a modern perspective.
“I made sure to bring in lots of variation in materiality with warm woods, live metals, plaster, stone, and soft textiles like mohair,” she says. “I also incorporated tons of vintage furnishings.”
Given that the owners—one of whom is a long-time syndicated radio host—have six children, and two still live with them, they knew the home had to be large enough to gather everyone together. “The common spaces are conducive to entertaining, while the second floor is more private,” Woodman says of the home, which is about 6,000 square feet in total.
The couple settled on a stately Tudor-inspired exterior to denote a backdrop of tradition but opted for casual Mediterranean features to keep the interiors bright. The walls are all covered in white plaster, with arches, curves, and rounded shelving softening corresponding angles and high ceilings (if there was one hiccup during construction, it was figuring out where to place the swerved staircase). The primary suite and main living area have stone fireplaces, and one of the kid’s bedrooms has pink limewashed walls. And while there’s a formal dining area with an oval-shaped wood table and a media room that can be used for reading, there’s also a shower that can be opened to blue skies and a bunk room for sleepovers.
“They wanted a calm, neutral palate for most of the home, with plenty of charm in those secondary spaces,” Woodman continues. “With the style of architecture, the main rooms really needed to be a clean white.”
By blurring the lines between architectural elements and contrasting elegance with ease, Woodman accomplished the overall goal of this project: This home feels lived in, with a welcoming character all its own. After nearly four years of construction, the family moved in last spring.
“Every room feels intimate, even though the footprint is quite large,” Woodman says. “It has such great energy, just like the owners.”
