by Darcie Duranceau | photos by Sarah Shields Photography
Away from the congestion of downtown Chicago, a couple moved to Indiana dreaming of a home that would provide uninterrupted views of nature, a worthwhile kitchen garden, and spaces to live their passions. The quiet rhythm of The Village neighborhood in Zionsville was about more than a change of address—it was about a desperate need to see the trees every day.
Yet there were dichotomies at play, which provided a unique challenge for Loren Wood Builders’ design principal, Ernesto Castañeda. Not only did he design something to suit a modern lifestyle in a historic neighborhood; he also had to meld the differing desires of husband and wife.
“We basically have two houses in one,” says the homeowner. “The front of the house is mine, and the back of the house is my husband’s.” Despite that, a walk through the home does not feel disjointed. There is a continuity from room to room, and from inside to outdoors, achieved through very intelligent architectural choices.
Every inch of the 3,000-square-foot, two-winged home is evidence of devotion to a craft. From the intricately laid brick driveway and pristinely tiled walk-in shower to the custom library shelving and elegant mahogany front door, every decision was made with the purpose of being appreciated today and serving as a piece of the neighborhood legacy for many tomorrows.
The front of the home was designed for a self-described “library girl” who believes she probably should have been a librarian. While the library was originally envisioned to span three walls, the couple chose to preserve the massive, light-filled windows, opting instead for a single, full wall of books served by a custom rolling ladder. It is a place of comfort, says the homeowner, where she can curl up with a good book on a built-in bench seat that offers a view stretching all the way to downtown Main Street.
The “back” of the home belongs to her husband, and particularly to his culinary passions. While her prep kitchen would fit within most classic residential spaces, his is a high-functioning space fit for a five-star restaurant. It incorporates a commercial grade fridge and freezer, Hestan cooktop, oversized rolling island, and a wall of glass that opens to lead seamlessly to the “outdoor” cooking and entertaining zone, where a massive fireplace houses an Argentinian grill with a barbecue spit. Though the space is “outdoors,” it is enclosed and heated. This allows the couple to leave the doors open and host dinner parties year-round. Serving all three cooking arenas is the kitchen garden, served by a custom outfitted greenhouse equipped with sink, grow lights, fans, and self-adjusting ventilation.
Every piece of the property was honored in this build. Although the home and surrounding landscape are defined by mature trees, one original maple did not survive the stresses of construction. On an arborist’s recommendation, Loren Wood Builders had the tree cut down. However, the removal was not the end of the tree’s story; instead, it became a new family heirloom. From its trunk, the team took slices—“cookies”—of material that were carefully kiln-dried. One of these history-laden pieces was transformed into a thick-slab, live-edge coffee table and gifted to the owners, marrying a modern room with the history of the property on which it sits.
While touching on trends, this home is about so much more for this design team. It’s about connecting to the history, and being true to the neighborhood, while meeting the needs of the homeowner. Castañeda and team made special efforts to keep the home consistent with the rest of the neighborhood in regards to size, placement, and roofline.
“We want it to be appreciated now, by the neighborhood and the historical committee, but also in the future,” says Wood. This home had to feel as though it belonged within the historic neighborhood, just as the separate spaces within the home needed to flow with uninterrupted consistency.
Wood went further: “You can’t put something in a neighborhood that has a lot of historical context that looks like it landed from Mars,” he says.
“A historic neighborhood carries memory in it—in the trees, the lot lines, the rhythm of the streetscape. We weren’t just building a house; we were adding a layer to that story. Everything from the massing to the brick detailing was designed to honor what was already here while giving this family a home that’s genuinely theirs,” says Castañeda.
In an era of fast construction, the “Modern Forms, Traditional Proportions” project stands as a reminder that architectural excellence often lives in the ability to provide balance. By reconciling the dichotomy of modern desire and historic preservation—and weaving together two distinct personal styles—the Loren Wood Builders team proved that contrast does not have to mean conflict. Whether it is the mature maple enduring within a contemporary room or the high-tech greenhouse nestled in a century-old neighborhood, this home honors every tension it holds. It doesn’t just occupy a lot; it serves as a lasting testament that when architecture is rooted in both respect for history and devotion to the client, even the most diverse perspectives can come together.
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825 Massachusetts Avenue, Suite C
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
900 S Walnut Street
Bloomington, Indiana 47401
