Future Perfect

A Thoughtful Renovation of Mid-Century Modern Masterpiece

Written by Bridget Williams / Exterior photography by Matt Peel / Interior photography by Kristin Tatem

Richard Isenhour's mid-century midlife crisis was Lexington's gain. After pivoting from an unsatisfying career in chemical engineering to architecture, Isenhour designed more than 100 homes that brought his idea of modernist design to his hometown.

Isenhour's designs received a number based on a selfdevised organizational system. His style became bolder over time, evolving from the familiar mid-century style of post-andbeam construction with exposed wooden beams and Kentucky limestone to more minimalist structures erected in the 1970s.

This home falls into the portfolio of the architect's later years. It sits directly across Lake Hickman from Isenhour's personal home, constructed in 1972 and featured in Sophisticated Living Lexington's Sept/Oct 2017 issue. While building the home featured in this issue, Isenhour swam across the reservoir and staked out a lot in the yet-to-be-finished subdivision. As fate would have it, both homes are owned by close friends who share a keen interest in preserving the architect's legacy. "This is one of the most special projects I've been able to work on," said Austin Heller of Heller Built, who, along with the architects at Gibson Taylor Thompson and Dovetail Design, breathed new life into the aging beauty in a fashion that respects Isenhour's intent while ensuring the home will endure for generations to come.

Erected in the early 1970s, the home's first renovation, which included a kitchen addition, was designed by Isenhour's son Richard. In the mid-2000s, another renovation added a wing in the back to house a lap pool. After experiencing problems with the exterior cladding and leaking windows, the homeowners met with Heller Built to develop a game plan to create an energy-efficient and "healthy" home. They opted for a significant renovation rather than just making repairs on an as-needed basis, which Austin remarked would have had them "chasing leaks forever."

At one point, the homeowners weighed the pros and cons of demolition versus renovation. Austin said that they visited their friend's home across the water to see the details and nuances of Isenhour's own home. This visit reinforced their belief that the property's history was worth keeping. "By no means does this house have the history of an 1850s build, but it's still special because Isenhour was truly one-of-a-kind," Austin commented.

The homeowners moved out for the twenty-month project that took the home down to the studs. "If you had walked into the house after the demolition and during reframing, you would have thought you were in a new build," said Austin. He added that using ZIP System insulated R-sheathing creates a "Yeti cooler-effect" for a truly energy-efficient home.

The structure surrounding the lap pool was taken down to the foundation, leaving the lap pool in place and building a new structure around it that included a Metaverde Eurotec rooftop covered deck made with exotic Ipe wood. The new siding boasts a prefinished gray semi-transparent tint that provides UV protection and a subtle patina that disguises its newness.

One of Austin's favorite moments related to the project occurred when the stonemason arrived and said his dad was the mason when the home was built in the 1970s. He recognized his father's work and was excited to add to the legacy. "There may have also been a little bit of wanting to prove that his work is better than his dad's," Austin said with a laugh.

Marking the entryway is a substantial wood and frosted glass pivot door. The door opens directly to the living room, where a two-sided fireplace and a grain-matched walnut built-ins are dual focal points. A wall of floor-to-ceiling windows at the rear of the space overlooks the lake. Near the bookcase is an open-tread split staircase with a unique glass panel in lieu of a traditional railing.

The living room is open to the previously renovated kitchen. A home office station is cleverly disguised behind folding wood panel doors between the kitchen and the powder room. It's the perfect place to squirrel away necessities like the security system panel and smart switches, thereby uncompromising the clean aesthetic.

Outside of circular mirrors in guest baths and the bar and the gentle curves of a freestanding tub in the primary bathroom, straight lines are predominant throughout the interior, adding a solid feeling of orderliness. By working in organic elements of wood and stone on each level of the home, cozy and modern can congenially cohabitate.

Austin's enduring enthusiasm about Heller Built's involvement in making this mid-century modern icon truly modern in terms of functionality is readily discernable. "It really was a dream project," he commented. "I think if Isenhour could see it today, he would shake our hands and say thank you." sl