Project Profile:
Location: Meridian-Kessler Neighborhood, Indianapolis, IN
Home Style: 1935 Historic Cape Cod
Project Scope: Full Interior Renovation, Open-Concept Kitchen, Powder Room Addition, Master Suite Optimization, Custom Built-in Storage, Total Texture Removal.
Transforming a Segmented 1930s Footprint
Like most historic homes built in the 1930s, this Meridian-Kessler Cape Cod originally featured a floor plan cut into multiple small, dark, segmented rooms. The new homeowners approached our design-build team with a clear goal: open up the entire first floor into a bright, cohesive, and welcoming environment without losing the historic character of the property.
To achieve this full interior renovation, our structural engineers added hidden support beams, allowing us to safely remove the restrictive walls separating the kitchen, formal dining room, and breakfast area.
Modern Kitchen Design & Detailed Texture Removal
Once the walls were cleared, the kitchen layout was completely reimagined. We rotated the stovetop orientation 90 degrees to anchor a striking, tranquil blue center island that maximizes traffic flow for hosting and prep work. To balance the loss of a traditional pantry, our designers built a custom wall of floor-to-ceiling cabinetry framing the new double oven.
Renovating an estate from this era also required extensive cosmetic remediation. To complement the updated architecture, we completed a total texture removal across the ceilings and walls on the main level. Removing these heavy, dated textures completely modernized the rooms, allowing natural light from the historic windows to bounce freely throughout the open concept. The homeowners coordinated every material finish directly with our designers at the local Worthington Meridian-Kessler showroom.
Adding Guest Bathrooms and Bedroom Built-Ins
Before this comprehensive house makeover, guests were forced to use the private master bathroom. Our team solved this layout challenge by creatively reclaiming a long, narrow slip of space behind the kitchen stove wall to construct a practical, highly stylish powder room.
On the opposite side of the main floor, we redistributed square footage from the formal living area to introduce two spacious closets into the primary bedroom. By reconfiguring the footprint and relocating the entry door, we created a private master bathroom oasis. To maximize storage within the bedroom’s tight 170-square-foot limits, we constructed custom geometric built-ins. A matching wall of custom built-in shelving was also integrated into the living room, accentuating the home’s historic coziness while offering beautiful display storage.
Frequently Asked Questions About This Historic Remodel
Can you open up the floor plan of a historic Meridian-Kessler Cape Cod home?
Yes. By installing engineered structural support beams, walls separating older, segmented kitchens, dining rooms, and breakfast nooks can be safely removed to form a seamless, open-concept living space.
Why is ceiling and wall texture removal necessary during an older home renovation?
Heavy, dated textures age a historic interior and trap shadows. Smooth texture removal modernizes the architecture, creates a clean aesthetic, and improves how natural light reflects through open-concept layouts.
How do you add a guest bathroom to a compact 1930s home layout?
Experienced design-build firms can maximize narrow or underutilized footprints—such as space behind an optimized kitchen cooking wall—to smoothly integrate a functional powder room without expanding the exterior foundation.
Whether you want to breathe new life into a historic property or expand your layout for modern living, explore our primary service page to learn more about our comprehensive whole house remodel process and view our complete Central Indiana project portfolio.
