URBAN HAVEN

A former ink factory hides a masterpiece of modern living

Written by Neil Charles / Photographed by Adam Gibson

Kevin Kinder of Studio 342 and Indy Craft Painting is perhaps best known as a meticulous decorator and, more recently, as the maker of highly innovative printed wall coverings, featured in these pages in the September/October 2017 edition. A 30-year veteran of the building industry, Kinder also enjoys a career as a project manager on high-end builds and renovation. One of his latest endeavors is this modern home east of downtown Indianapolis, where the gifted artisan has devoted much of the past 18 months to oversee the conversion of what had once been a serviceable abode into a now luxurious modern residence.

Project manager Kevin Kinder of Studio 342 and Indy Craft Painting

The home’s owner, Emily Young, a longtime resident of downtown, recalls how she first encountered the building when it went up for sale. “It had been an ink factory in the early 1900s. At first, I didn’t realize it was a home,” she explains. “The architect who converted it had done renovations a decade ago to make the space livable, but I felt it still needed work to make it my own.” She and her husband placed an offer, but negotiations quickly stalled. Having more or less forgotten about the property, Emily was surprised by a phone call several months later. The sellers were ready to talk; a deal was struck, and the work began.

Formerly an accessway for cars, this space has been redesigned as an elegant courtyard. Three custom storm drain covers created by artist Ryan Feeney feature a fleur de lis welded on top, in a nod to the homeowners' New Orleans ties; the artist left the steel untreated so that a rust patina could develop over time.

Hiring New Orleans-based Chad Graci of Graci Interiors to oversee the design, Emily was referred to Kinder initially as Indy Craft Painting, a role which, given his abundance of experience and industry contacts, quickly morphed into project manager. Initially, the timeline for the renovation was of little concern, as the couple still owned a condo off Park Avenue, but when that sold a couple of months into the renovation, they needed to move into the new place, even though work had only just begun. “We got the master suite finished first, so at least they could move in,” says Kinder. “It took almost a year to finish the interior.”

Once again, contemporary art is used to great effect, this time juxtaposing pattern and color in the living area.

Being a century-old building, even ordinarily minor projects brought their own set of challenges. What is now the driveway used to be part of the building; the previous conversion had removed the roof, turning the space into an auto court. This had exposed the concrete floor, and the decision was made to tear out the stained and cracked surface and replace it with pavers, heated walks, and cantilevered limestone steps. The open concept floor plan and block walls created a challenge to keeping wiring and plumbing concealed.

The master bedroom and bath area features custom-designed sliding doors.

Locating specialty materials and high-end appliances also turned out to be challenging at times for the contractor; not only had the pandemic brought about a surge in the property market, as people looked to move into larger homes, but now with plenty of time on their hands, it seemed as if everyone was getting involved with home improvements. That, in turn, put a lot of pressure on high-quality trades. “Anyone who is good is busy,” Kinder explains. “And anyone you trust to do the work is going to be hard to pin down. After the virus hit, everybody was still busy, or busier.” Delivery times climbed from a couple of weeks to a few months, while certain essential materials became tricky to find. “Trying to find clear acrylic is almost impossible, as it is being repurposed for sneeze guards,” he adds. “Unwilling to sacrifice quality, we were repeatedly reworking schedules to accommodate the client.”

A guest bath offers a sophisticated spin on earth tones.

Outdoor artwork echoes the surface of the pool.

In the main living areas and kitchen, the color palette is defined by the gray of the original concrete floor, complete with faded ink stains. A vast wall in the hallway provides the perfect neutral backdrop for a stunning piece of custom artwork. Setting the tone for the dining area is a purpose-built table by Ryan Feeney of Indy Art Forge (the sculptor of the famous Peyton Manning statue). Fashioned from rough-cut barn wood covered with half-inch-thick glass, the tabletop is surrounded by steel trim that supports the glass and ties in with the base. Feeney also created sliding metal and glass doors between the master bedroom and bath, with a removable grid for easy cleaning. In the bedrooms and bathrooms, color and texture come more into play: espresso for a guest bath, while white marble provides contrast with the concrete block in the master, and wood floors and area rugs add warmth. Emily’s office, with a bourbon and horse trophy theme, pays testament to her passion for equestrian sports. Throughout the home, contemporary art from her collection provides bursts of color and texture, breaking up the stretch of the formerly industrial walls, and becoming an integral feature of the overall design.

A cozy study reflects the homeowner's love for equestrianism.

With its clean lines, sharp edges, and bright, airy interiors bathed in light from expansive, south-facing windows, the main house is an exemplar of contemporary décor. Beyond the living room, a swimming pool and patio beckon, with an outdoor kitchen for added convenience. Across the driveway, with its retro cobblestone finish, another building houses a gym, a garage, and a guest house. The latter, again, has a thoroughly modern feel, featuring Kinder’s unique wall coverings in the bedroom and geometric tile in the bathroom, conjuring up a stylish urban loft, complete with an enviably well-equipped kitchen. Approaching the home from the street, the exterior with its whitewashed walls, block windows and black iron gates doesn’t exactly beckon. In fact, it is still next to impossible to tell that beyond those stark walls lies not a suite of offices or even an ink factory, but a masterpiece of contemporary urban living. It is the ideal haven: right at the center of things, in plain sight, but perfectly hidden from view.