Quintessential Historic Fairmount Façade Masks Eye-Popping Interior Updates

Oh, boy. I can already hear Fairmount purists wailing about a contemporary renovation of a 104-year-old historic property. A drive-by reveals nothing of note to distinguish 1643 S. Henderson from many other Fairmount bungalows. On the exterior, a simple gabled roof, a columned porch, and a red front door are all pretty standard repertoire in Fairmount.

Reworking a Historic Home

Enter and prepare to be surprised. However you come down on the preservation issue of this rework, it certainly isn’t random and thoughtless. An uninterrupted sightline from the front door to the kitchen at back creates an open, almost loft-like experience with lots of natural light illuminating the interior. The living room, dining room, and kitchen — en enfilade — maintain separate identities with framed cased openings.

The beautiful hardwood floor, I presume a replacement, is laid vertically to emphasize the axis of this suite of rooms.

In the dining area, four modern pendants descend from the intersections of ceiling beams. At the center is a cool LED corona chandelier. Built ins add functionality and windows are smartly cased. Chair rails create a raised dado alluding to the interiors of the period.

The kitchen is a dream.

New cabinets, appliances, surfaces — the lot. Notice how simple white subway tile gains import by being laid dramatically above the 18-inch standard and used as a wall surface. The workspace is made extra agreeable with large windows over the gas range and floor-to-ceiling doors accessing a back deck. The whole of the public rooms has been configured to facilitate effortless entertaining.

There are four bedrooms and three baths in this nearly 2,000-square-foot cottage. One bedroom has a vintage reclaimed beadboard accent wall. Another has a door to the backyard.

Preservationists will be pleased by one of the baths with a hex tile floor with the original look of black and white subway tile. The rounded pink tub is another delightful artifact. Another bath has a thoroughly modern glassed-in shower stall with contemporary fixtures.

By Fairmount standards, the yard is rather large. At back is a two-car garage with a rather smart apartment with a kitchenette adding income potential to this listing.

Sara Keleher of Compass Real Estate has 1643 South Henderson under active option contract at $559,000.