Indianapolis Real Estate Blog

Gated Retreat on Indy’s Northside

 

Incredible Location in Gated Oakmont

The coveted, gated community of Oakmont provides convenience of Indy with the feel of a private getaway in Washington Twp. Built by Aaron Cohen, the home has been tastefully renovated throughout. Entering, you’re greeted with an abundance of natural light, vaulted ceilings, built-ins, & quality craftsmanship. The chef’s kitchen, boasting Sub-Zero & Thermador appliances, opens to the family room, perfect for entertaining. Dual main-level offices offer great working space. A true master retreat beckons with a private balcony and his & her closets. The lower level, perfect for kids & grandkids, walks out to the Gunite pool. Cedar shake roof, 3 car heated garage, 2 additional bedrooms, workout room, generator, abundant storage & lush landscaping.

 

Experience this home at www.8506Oakmont.com 

One of Indy’s Hidden Treasures Hits the Market

Truly a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Crossing over the bridge, you are greeted with one of Indy’s greatest hidden treasures. Breathtaking scenery overlooks more than 4.5 acres in the heart of Meridian Hills. The home has undergone a complete renovation and addition to the original 1936 home by builder W.G. Tait, seamlessly blending past and present. The new additions take full advantage of the setting, creating a feeling of privacy in all directions. The kitchen, designed by Klein, could be taken from the pages AD, and opens into a one of a kind great room. Each room in the home has been thoughtfully designed, offering warmth and purpose. The original hunting lodge, built a few years prior to the main home, is the perfect escape into years past for family and friends. 

Learn more at www.7808NPenn.com 
7808 N. Pennsylvania Street

2021 Trends in Home Remodeling

From the Associated Press, April 8, 2021

5 Home remodeling trends to watch for in 2021

After a year of spending more time at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many homeowners are looking for ways to make their homes fit their new realities. Open floor plans are out; dedicated spaces for remote work and learning are in. Yards are being transformed into entertainment spaces and walls are being repainted. At the same time, increased demand and safety concerns can make the remodeling process much longer than before.

Here are five trends to watch for this 2021 home-remodeling season.

1. A FOCUS ON DEDICATED SPACES

At the start of 2020, “the most requested design concept was open space,” says Jimmy Dollman, principal of Dollman Construction in Roanoke, Virginia. “But now, we face a different set of design implications because everyone’s living conditions have changed.”

Dollman notes that remote workers and learners need privacy and quiet. “A year ago, it was rare for one family member to work from home,” he says. “Now, (parents) and kids find it difficult to get work done because of the noise in the open design.”

This year, expect to see homeowners spending less time knocking down walls to open up shared areas, and more time transforming spare rooms or nooks into dedicated spaces. That might mean adding a home office or home theater, for instance, or transforming a nook into a space for distance-learning.

2. MAKING ROOM FOR HOME OFFICES

To add home offices to residences, “homeowners aren’t adding square footage,” says Doug King, owner of King Contracting, a design-build firm in St. Petersburg, Florida, and president of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. “Rather, they’re taking out rarely used closets, like in the hallway, and moving interior walls to make space.”

The home office trend isn’t going away anytime soon, he notes.

“Even when the pandemic is over,” King says, “there’ll be a lot of people still working from home.” He notes that because of this trend, use of home technology is also increasing as households install items such as ethernet cables for computer networks and Bluetooth speakers.

3. MORE OUTDOOR LIVING

One cure for that cooped-up feeling is outdoor living areas.

“People want their backyards to be their oasis,” King says. In his area, he says pools are the No. 1 thing being added to backyards. Outdoor kitchens and fire pits are the next most popular.

Homeowners spending more time at home may also start to seek out remodeling projects that bring beautiful outdoor views inside — for instance, by installing larger windows or glass doors that let in more natural light.

4. LONGER WAIT TIMES

Besides shifts in design trends, homeowners can expect a continued slow-down in the industry. In some cases, safety concerns have changed how contractors and workers approach projects. For example, Dollman has suspended all work in occupied residences to avoid exposure to COVID-19 “to protect the homeowners and our crews,” he says.

Getting permits can also take much longer than usual as demand increases and those who approve the permits adapt to new working conditions — for instance, working at home rather than in the office, or working with a limited staff.

5. BOLD COLORS

For homebound do-it-yourselfers looking for affordable ways to make rooms more welcoming this year, adding a colorful fresh coat of paint will likely be high on their list.

A sign that bold colors and color combinations could be gaining favor: They featured prominently among Color of the Year winners for 2021 announced by brands including Sherwin Williams, Pantone and Benjamin Moore. Sherwin Williams selected Urbane Bronze (a dark brownish-gray), for instance; Benjamin Moore selected an Aegean Teal (a blue-green color); Pantone selected a color duo: Ultimate Gray and Illuminating (a gray tone alongside a bright yellow color).

For homeowners, striking paint colors like these could be an appealing low-cost way to add depth, excitement and personality to a room without overwhelming it.

From Architectural Digest, December 2020 (https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/renovation-trends-2021)   “This year saw an incredible shift in the day-to-day operations of the world. Offices shuttered, daily commutes ended, and we tried to do it all—from schooling to working out to therapy to… Read More

The Painted Kitchen

Just this week, we were again discussing with a seller the options for and interest in painting kitchen cabinets. As we shared some before and after photos from past Hawkins Agency clients, we directed them to one of our favorite publications – Architectural Digest. It is always amazing to see what paint can do – and how it can either brighten a space or ground it in a moody dark hue. 

Check out what AD has to say about ideas on painted kitchens: click here.

New to the Market – Stunning Sycamore Springs Estate Home

4123 Wythe Lane | $1,850,000

Luxury living at its finest in coveted Sycamore Springs’ gated section. A Gary Nance design, home is outfitted w/ the finest finishes & boasts many updates. A true chef’s kitchen, renovated by Indiana Kitchen Company, showcases suede granite, Cambria marble, dual islands and high-end appliances. Relax in main level master with newly remodeled master bath retreat completed by Indiana Kitchen Company. Work from home in stunning main level office with built-in cabinetry – also top-level finishes and design by Indiana Kitchen Company. Enjoy the outdoors on tiered deck & patio, professionally landscaped with inground pool & fully-fenced yard. Other amenities include oversized, heated 3-car garage with unfinished area above, basement complete with workshop, wet bar, exercise area & wine cellar. Close to great shopping, restaurants and award-winning schools.

Quality Renovations Abound

7798 North Pennsylvania Street
Meridian Hills | $1,825,000

 

Imagine a home where the renovations are likely the most structurally sound in the area, the quality is far beyond what you just see on the surface and the details were not overlooked…and it sits in one of the most sought-after neighborhoods in Indianapolis listed for sale.

Following multiple thorough and whole-house assessments from various engineers and engineering consultants (American Structurepoint, RTM Consultants, Structural Engineering Consultants), the owners of 7798 North Pennsylvania Street initiated both house and deck inspections by City of Indianapolis Department of Code Enforcement. Proper permitting, which had been lacking for previous owner’s interior additions and remodel, as well as for the deck, were obtained.

Inspections resulted in deconstruction of basement (drywall and ceiling) and master suite (ceiling and partial drywall) to further inspect and correct numerous structural, electrical and plumbing items including but not limited to beam supports, floor systems (joists and cantilevers), plumbing (replacement of significant amount of old pvc piping with new pex) and addition of proper ventilation in basement for combustion air. Specifically, basement and master suite were deconstructed.

Structural support was added above master suite, structural support was added throughout the basement ceiling, and 7 existing/warped wooden support beams in basement were removed and replaced with 7 new 4” steel adjustable basement support posts following complete exposure and prep. During reveal, all electrical and plumbing inspected by City and corrections were made to meet or exceed code. Cosmetic covering built with drywall frames was added around 5 columns. All areas reconstructed and refinished.

Entire three level deck was deconstructed, and new support posts, beams, joists, etc., were installed as well as the regrading of landscaping underneath deck to draw water from house. The existing wooden railing was replaced with Azek Reserve railing/balusters/post sleeves, steps were reconstructed and a steel gate across steps down to basement was added. Backyard was re-sodded and re-landscaped following deck removal and replacement. Installed Iron Fencing (Glidden Fence) to enclose backyard.

Extensive insulation additions throughout attics (full and knee-wall), walls (both levels) and ceilings including but not limited to removing existing insulation, foam spraying, installing higher R-value fiberglass batting, blowing energy control cellulose, tented waterlines in attic spaces, cut out floored areas to blow cellulose to stop air infiltration beneath floors, sprayed urethane foam over existing fiberglass batting to seal walls, wrapped recess lights and fireplace fluepipe, drilled and dry-blew exterior wall SW corner.

Bone Dry Roofing thoroughly inspected roof and performed preventative maintenance – cleaned (moss), cut trim boards and added flashing, re-nailed ridge vents, sealed nail pops, reworked few shingles, etc.

Additionally, many systems were added or upgraded:
• Redesigned/added to gutters, trenched, extended downspouts and buried, regraded slope of yard, especially under deck, re-sealed behind deck, added boulders to push water from house.
• Added complete alarm system (Digitech Custom Audio & Video) including new controller, backup battery, wireless transmitter, transformer, siren speakers and driver, keypads, door transmitters, smoke detectors, and wireless glass break detectors
• Added (Digitech) Control4 Multi Room/Multi Zone Audio Visual System with home theatre (surround audio/video), exercise room (audio & video), lower level bar (audio), Hearth Room (audio/visual), Kitchen (audio), Library (audio), Living Room (audio), Master bedroom (audio), Master bedroom (audio/video), deck (audio). WiFi Router and access points.
• Installed new sewage pump/lift station
• Added PremierOne Epoxy Floor to garage
• Added new garage high lift opener allowing for lift and 4th car
• Added gas garage heater
• Installed new 75-gallon Powervent water heater with new venting for water heater and furnace
• Installed new hot water recirculating pump
• Installed Kinetico Water Softener
• Installed whole-house carbon water filter
• Installed humidifier
• Installed Wet Switch Flood Detector with electronic overflow control
• Upgraded HVAC systems, both upstairs and down, with Pure Air system and Germicidal UV lights; replaced blower motor, brought electrical to code
• Added additional built-ins to master bedroom and added built-in to bedroom above master
• Added Hunter Douglas motorized shades in master bath and guest bed/bath #1, nonmotorized blinds guest bath #2
• Added handicapped grab bars to guest bath
• Added wooden rollout shelves to kitchen (right and left of stove, right island cabinet)
• Replaced wine cooling unit in kitchen
• Added backyard water spigot
• Added new backyard hardscape area, seat-wall and grill patio
• Added additional landscape bed across from grill patio

At the Center of Convenience, Your Dream Home Awaits

Located on East 82nd Street, two lots are available – a rare opportunity to build your dream home. 

At the center of convenience, these properties are close to award-winning schools, the city’s best shopping and dining and also offer an easy commute to major thoroughfares. We’ve worked with Gradison Design Build to offer a home plan perfect for a lot – but you can bring your builder as well. Call Sam to walk the lots, learn more about the available plans or bring your builder to review the property.

More photos available here.
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2019 – The Best Year Yet

As we reflect on 2019, there is a consistent theme to our year: relationships. Actually, this is easily the consistent theme for the past decade. The driver of our business and the success of our business hinges on the depth of our relationships. Clients come first – plain and simple. We strive to meet the full-circle real estate needs of our clients. We work with them through renovations, through investment property decisions, on 2nd homes, on 1st homes and everything in between. Our business is not focused on transactions, but on the life-long buying and selling experiences of our clients. 

We are proud to be featured in the February 2020 Indianapolis Monthly as a top realtor. We can’t wait to share that with you soon.

Enjoy this video highlighting 2019 and our 20th year in business. Thank You for an incredible year.