Lawrence Home & Garden Lawrence Journal-World l Sunday, March 24, 2024
Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World Photo
Breathing new life into older homes
THIS HOME AT 1106 RHODE ISLAND ST. is an example of how a homeowner can take an old property and make it comfortable for living, while still respecting its historic integrity, Lawrence architect Stan Hernly said.
Local architect shares passion, tips for vintage houses By Chad Lawhorn lll
clawhorn@ljworld.com Stan Hernly knows the possibilities of old homes. After all, he started his Lawrence architecture practice in an old home along Tennessee Street. It was more than 35 years ago that he founded his architecture practice, Hernly Associates, in that 1907 house, and since then the firm has grown and done all types of projects — ranging from 200 square feet to 200,000 square feet, with price tags between $1,000 and $10 million. But projects that involve old homes — even if they are not on his See what drawing board at a variety of the moment — are area businever very far from nesses have Hernly’s mind. His to say about offices now are in how best to the historic Delacare for your hunty Complex home, lawn on Rhode Island and garden. Street in east Law2C-3C rence. The property, at the corner of 11th and Rhode Island streets, was the site of one of the city’s first hauling companies — an operation that used horses and wagons to move freight before later switching over to trucks. Offices for his firm’s architects are in a rehabilitated and revamped truck shed that was built in the early 1900s, and the complex also includes a home that was built in 1871. Hernly designed an addition and rehabilitation project for that old home, and now leases it out for short-term rentals. For this year’s edition of the JournalWorld’s homes section, we caught up with Hernly to ask him about thoughts to keep in mind regarding old homes, but we also delved into topics about new home trends and what can be done to make housing more affordable.
Inside
Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World Photo
LAWRENCE ARCHITECT STAN HERNLY IS SHOWN INSIDE an 1871 home at 11th and Rhode Island streets that his firm rehabilitated. The following interview was slight- and bigger windows so you get better light in them. Older houses tend ly edited for length and clarity. to be in walkable neighborhoods, so you are living in a place where you can Q: How do you describe what is so appealing about old homes that you just walk down the street and in a few blocks be downtown. have made them such a large part of your career? Hernly: They have a lot of unique If someone is trying to decide features to them, a lot of unique char- whether living in an older house is acter. When we were walking through for them, what should they think the house (next door) I don’t know if about? What are some trade-offs you got the feel for the natural light they should consider? It depends on what kind of condithat comes into the space. Most older houses tend to have more windows tion the house is in. Whether it is an
old house or a relatively new house, they both could have a lot of maintenance issues. Moving in a brand new house, you’re pretty good on maintenance things for 20 years. Moving into an old house that has been completely rehabbed, you should be in relatively good shape for 20 years. But if you are buying an old house asis, there is going to be maintenance things.
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