2015 Exterior Rehabilitation Award winner
The Exterior Rehabilitation Award is presented for the most impressive exterior restoration project in Old town Noblesville.
Early in 2015, Randy and Kathy Tomes decided to move their 3 children from one of Noblesville’s ubiquitous subdivisions to historic Old Town. They were ready for compelling architecture and a walkable community for their children.
What they found was 1440 Logan Street. The home had been empty for 5 years, had no working plumbing or operating heating and cooling system, and had a half-finished second floor renovation. It was utterly uninhabitable and looked uninspiring to many buyers—not a renovation project for the faint of heart. But Randy, with his irrepressible enthusiasm and Kathy, with a keen artist’s eye, both saw beyond the surface and imagined how beautiful the home could be and how happy their family could be there. So they said goodbye to Oakmont, with it’s vinyl siding, winding streets, and neighborhood pool and decided to go all-in on brick-lined Logan Street.
1440 Logan’s original structure was likely built circa-1870, with barn-sized sill plates and timber frame construction. The style of that original home is unknown. In the early twentieth century, it was renovated as a bungalow with a long, sloping roof and a broad porch whose foundation sits, literally, right up against the sidewalk. The Tomes took cues from the bungalow design, adding architecturally-appropriate dormers facing both north and south and new textured siding on the gable ends. They rebuilt the upstairs into multiple bedrooms, laundry room, and a full bath—outfitting all with appropriate woodwork and salvaged 1920s doors. This winter, the final brick touches on the front porch foundation were finished. What had been an eyesore a year earlier was turning heads and had the neighborhood applauding.
Randy and Kathy are a special breed of old house owner, the kind who have been reviving Old Town neighborhoods and reclaiming its neglected architecture. Kudos to the Tomes family for their vision and hard work.
