Built by local architect Frank Ruggles in 1911, Kara O’Brien’s Kirkwood home is an artful blend of old and new that retains the integrity of its original Craftsman and Victorian architectural styles. But it was the neighborhood that sold her on the house. “I fell in love with Kirkwood's turn-of-the-century architecture, gorgeous, mature trees and the sense of small-town community closeness,” said O’Brien. “ Kirkwoodians really have the desire to improve the neighborhood and so there is a sense of activism as well. That was really appealing.”
Owner: Interior designer Kara O'Brien, who shares the home with 7-year-old daughter Walker Rose O'Brien.
Location: Kirkwood
Year built: 1911
Year purchased: 2007
Size: 3,200 square feet; five bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths
Architectural style: Craftsman bungalow with Victorian detailing
Renovations: Converted into a triplex in the '70s, the house was returned to a single-family dwelling in a soup-to-nuts renovation project that a year and a half to complete. Renovations included a complete redo of the kitchen and bathrooms, a new back porch and a 1,700-square-foot addition. Much of the termite-addled house was reframed, including the entire roof, and soy foam insulation was installed. Many of the materials were reclaimed from other structures. The kitchen cabinets were milled from reclaimed oak floor joists; the tin ceiling came from a hardware store in Muncie, In.; and all the doors, door hardware, mantels, lighting and fireplace tiles were salvaged pieces.
Interior design: The home is filled with many one-of-a-kind pieces. "A lot of the furniture has been collected one piece at a time from estate sales and antique shop along the Eastern seaboard," said Kara.
