Project spotlight

Tucked into the rural hills on the west side of Columbus, this white brick farmhouse combines a clean, modern, yet rustic design while sourcing from Indiana roots. From the outside in, every inch of the home was carefully crafted with a blend of innovation and legacy.

The property was once home to a family barn that stood for generations. When it came time to build, the homeowners asked us to salvage and reuse as much of the barn’s original wood as possible. Many of the hand-hewn beams were reclaimed and now feature prominently throughout the home, including as structural and decorative elements in the kitchen, sunroom, and atop the fireplace. To ensure safety in cooking zones, the kitchen beams were fireproofed and used to frame a dramatic custom range hood that anchors the space.

Out front, the home features striking 12x12 true hickory posts on the porch, custom cut by a local timber framer and stained with a bug-resistant blend. Under the posts sits broken bluestone, expertly laid by our masons to create a natural range of colors. Indiana limestone caps top off the porch columns, keeping the materials rooted in the region. Matching this material palette, the front porch gables are inset with vertically laid fire brick and topped with standing seam metal dormers for contrast.

The approach to the home includes softly stamped slate-patterned concrete, selected to minimize pooling and frost damage through harsh Indiana winters. Around the back, the design features a no-step walkout deck, stepless all the way from the sunroom across the deck to the grass yard. The deck features an infinity-style Swim Series lap pool, pitting below foot level. The spa was built directly into the structure, offering sleek, unobstructed views and easy access.

Every detail reflects craftsmanship and intention. Nothing was left to chance, from the black Pella windows to the true white brick sourced from Belden Brick Company and a custom masonry blend from Cincinnati. The garage doors were matched to the trim tone, and hickory brackets from South Central Indiana tie in with other timber features.

In the kitchen, a custom-built beverage and wine bar is tied with backlit crystal displays, under-cabinet lighting, filtered water, and an instant hot tap. The centerpiece is the Wolf gas range with an oxidized faux-metal hood cased in the reclaimed wood framing from the original property barn, designed in collaboration with our in-house artist. It sits across from the quartzite countertop island, complete with a waterfall edge. The cabinetry also includes display cases tailored for the homeowner's glassware collection.

Additional indoor features include: A Sub-Zero glass-front refrigerator system; Quartzite countertops throughout; An open-concept great room designed around the client's baby grand piano family heirloom; A three-tier coffered ceiling with crown detailing; LVP (Luxury Vinyl Plank) flooring for durability and warmth; A fireplace wrapped in stone from the home’s exterior facade, framed with those hand-hewn reclaimed beams mitered around all three sides.

Upstairs, the bonus room above the garage houses both a full home fitness area and a high-performance home theater with an integrated Epson cabinet projector system, Klipsch in-wall speakers, and a Level 5+ projection wall finish.

Downstairs, the basement includes; A fully climate-controlled wine cellar with a glass front, stone wall detailing, and display features using that reclaimed wood and old wine boxes; A vault room with a steampunk-style Smith Security Safe door, biometric touchpad entry, and safe storage for valuables and weather emergencies.

The sunroom includes a double-masonry fireplace, an Argentine-style Gaucho grill with a two-flue system, and custom concrete countertops. A reclaimed beam mantle and barnwood dining table base add rustic charm. Lighting, ventilation, and finishes were designed to blend durability with visual warmth.

Topping it off, a custom lightning rod system crowns the roofline, functional and finished in Hoosier red, grounding into copper wiring at each corner of the house. 

This farmhouse, completed by Banister Construction Inc in 2024, is a blend of old and new, a timeless design, modern features, and meaningful materials, all brought together by close collaboration with the homeowners and the land itself.