Legendary architects like Frank Lloyd Wright set the stage for the influential design movement known as mid-century modernism. But it’s the visionary builders and contractors of today who honor the legacy of this style while simultaneously bringing it in line with current day needs and desires.
One such visionary is Kevin Nordine of Nordine & Associates, a licensed general contractor who specializes in mid-century modern makeovers – and who “made over” his own home in central Clintonville (not coincidentally, it’s a neighborhood near where some of Wright’s students once designed homes). Constructed in 1955, the Nordine home is much more than just brick and mortar, though brick played a pivotal role. Claycraft Brick & Mining Company of Columbus, once a powerhouse of high-quality masonry production, used a different brick pallet to erect each of the homes along the street.
“It’s a source of pride on our street,” explains Kevin’s wife Jenna. “And it was important to us to excavate the original brick and reuse as much as we could.” Specifically, when the walls and brick veneer were modified or removed, the original brick was harvested, cleaned and reused.
Kevin adds, “It was really important to honor the history of the house as much as possible, so we looked for every opportunity to do that.”
A focus on flow
Kevin and Jenna partnered with Dustin Mondrach of Milhoan Architects LLC, and together they meticulously planned how to blend the new design with the existing streetscape. This meant flat roofs and a lower profile silhouette on the exterior, as well as interior adaptations to help the low-sloping ranch fit the family’s modern lifestyle. The flow of the interior focuses on natural light, more open spaces, and a connection to the outdoors.
The remodeled patio features a glass wall extending the length of the back of the home, putting the family in touch with nature and bringing the outdoors in. This wall faces north so the light is ideal—no glaring sun—and there’s a strategic roof overhang that shelters the patio’s firepit, lounge chairs, grill and television.
“Even in rain, it’s still really nice to sit out there,” says Jenna, while Kevin explains that he positioned his home office with direct access to the exterior patio. “I can quickly slide outside if it gets noisy inside and then if the birds get loud, head back in.”
The custom glass is one of the features of the home that is a family favorite but also presented interesting challenges. “We incorporated custom details that aren’t typically done in residential homes in our area,” explains Jenna. The commercial storefront glass, which one might see in a coffee shop but less so in residential projects, required Kevin to coordinate with multiple teams to execute the intricate installation process.
With the main living area directly adjacent to the back yard, and with the wall of glass and the 11-1/2-foot-tall ceilings, there’s a sense of sitting outside. “It feels comfortable but also spacious,” explains Kevin. “It feels like you’re out in nature and really connected to the outdoor space.”
While the original plan was to have an unobstructed view from the front of the home into the back yard, instead Mondrach placed striking black mudroom closets across a portion of the kitchen area. The space still feels open but now there’s a bit of privacy (along with extra storage). Similarly, a partial height wall defines the dining space and protects the kitchen and living areas from public street views.
Taking center stage
By its very nature and location, the elongated kitchen was designed as the hub of the house. Formerly a micro kitchen with only a few feet of counterspace, little room for pots and pans, and no pantry to speak of, the kitchen now boasts a stunning 15-foot dolomite (a type of limestone) island with endless countertop space, a sink in the middle, and waterfall edges on either end.
“This is my dream kitchen,” says Jenna, “And the island is my favorite part.”
Six bar stools line the island, allowing interaction with whomever is making dinner, since the space opens gracefully to the great room and main entertaining area. But openness is only one of the beneficial features. The wide-planked floors are a warm yet practical hue, and the gnarled hardware is pleasing to the eye and the touch but hides kids’ fingerprints. “A lot of the elements we choose are heavy duty and almost industrial in order to handle teenage boys,” explains Jenna. “They’re functional but also really beautiful.”
All of the kitchen elements are illuminated by mid-century style light fixtures in spherical shapes. The spheres soften the mid-century straight lines and angular features in the kitchen, just as the minimalistic old-world-style cabinetry handles soften the overall kitchen design.
The kitchen’s location provides convenient access to all the bedrooms and the primary suite was expanded to include a walk-in closet, walk in shower, water closet and washer and dryer area. As Kevin explains, “We envisioned living life and maybe retiring here, so we wanted a space where we could function and live as we got older.”
“It felt like we were creating living art,” Jenna says, “A home that is tailor-made for us and something we are really proud of.
RESOURCES
Architect Milhoan Architects LLC Builder Nordine & Associates LLC Interior design Jenna Nordine Landscape designer Foreground Studio Lighting Restoration Hardware and West Elm Paint Sherwin-Williams Pure White Office wall treatment Mod Deco Blooms grasscloth, ottomanbrim by Tina Vey, Spoonflower Flooring Opus European Oak in Pescara Windows and doors Richardson Glass Service Fireplace Regency City Series, San Francisco Bay 72”, Aspen Fireplace & Patio Kitchen cabinetry Custom built Amish in rift sawn white oak Countertops Dolomite Sink Kraus Bellucci granite composite Appliances Bosch dishwasher, refrigerator, oven, microwave drawer; Zephyr ice maker Bathroom cabinetry Custom built Amish Bathroom countertop Silestone Miami White quartz
Article by Lee Rhodes | Photos by Jeremy Kester
Article originally appeared in November 2024