It was this curb appeal of this circa 1922 bungalow-style home that enticed Bexley resident Jon Arenstein—who lived just four blocks away to knock on its door and ask the home’s current owners to notify him if they ever decided to sell. Just about one year later, he got the call.
“Never thinking we would move from our home at the time, we went to take a look,” says Jon’s wife, Dianne.
But as soon as the couple stepped inside, they fell in love. “I saw the potential immediately,” says Dianne.
When they purchased the home in 2017, which is located in historic Bullitt Park, it had three bedrooms and a bath on the second floor. The couple quickly got busy with a owners’ suite addition. Thanks to the efforts of contractor Rick Wieland, the transition to the new wing, with its clay tile roof and red brick façade, is almost seamless. Wieland worked with Kevin Sidonis, of The Slate and Tile Roofing Company, who found and installed the tile—that was made in 1946—in the Carolinas. “The brick took some doing as well,” Dianne says. Wieland ended up finding the brick in the Columbus area.
Inside, tour goers will be invited to stroll through the entire first floor, including a kitchen, dining room, living room and sunroom, along with the upstairs bedrooms. Dianne thinks a few things worth pointing out include:
Amish-made kitchen cabinets. These were built using no electricity by Harley Bontrager from H&S Custom Cabinets.
New owners’ suite. This recent addition includes a bedroom, bath, closets and laundry room. Framing was handled by the Amish company, Gary Mast Construction.
Wavy glass windows. Dianne says, “They are not energy efficient, but they add a certain charm and I just can’t part with them.”
Blue stone patio and pergola. This will be freshly installed for the tour. Clinton Calhoun, landscape architect with Oakland Nursery, designed a plan that includes a half wall for extra seating, accented with magnolia and service berry trees.
Bexley residents since 1988, the Arensteins have three grown children including a daughter who lives two streets away with her husband and three young daughters. Dianne says. “It’s the perfect situation.”
The Arensteins are happy to support The Bexley Women’s Club in providing scholarships to area students by opening their home for this year’s tour. And it will be a treat to be able to step inside.
“We get so many nice comments from people walking down the street,” Dianne says, “It’s such a unique home.”
