On the hill: Renovated home with modern kitchen featured on New Albany Historic Home Tour

Amy Culwell and her wife Rachel moved into their Knob Avenue home in March 2021. They began renovating the historic New Albany home in 2020, later purchasing the property from Amy’s mother’s estate after her passing.

"My whole family has lived up here on the hill," Amy told the Courier Journal, adding that she used to own another house nearby, next door to her grandparents’ place. "My great-great grandparents moved up here before 1900."

Ready for a redo

The Cullwell’s kitchen was completely gutted and redone. The upgraded space boasts a porcelain backsplash, marble countertops, and a large island ideal for entertaining. And with an open concept that flows into the great room and onto the new deck, it can easily accommodate big groups.

"You can pile 40 (to) 50 people in here," Amy said. "The last time we had a get-together, … we had (a band) out (on the porch) playing, and it was great."

The ceiling throughout the house was also redone, with new lighting added to freshen everything up. Amy also renovated the primary bedroom, added a new bathroom and numerous windows, and removed the pre-existing carpet to expose the original wood flooring beneath.

Pieces of the past

In the new bathroom, a framed sign reads, "All guests must register and pay in advance. Rooms must be vacated by noon."

As Amy explained, it is more than a unique decoration — it’s an important piece of her family’s history.

"My grandpa owned the first hotel in New Albany, and (the sign) was from his hotel," she said, adding that several of the hotel guests were people who couldn’t afford to pay, but needed a place to stay. "It was really more like a shelter. An artist painted it for him in exchange for staying for a week."

In the dining room, Amy stores a collection of dishes from her great-great-grandmother.

"I have a place setting for 32," she exclaimed. "I eat off of them (all the time). (We use them) every time we have a big get-together. If something gets broken, I have 31 more place settings."

The round, oak table in the center of the room also belonged to Amy’s great-great grandmother — but the space itself is an ode to Amy’s mother.

"My mom loved purple," she explained. "I’m not a big purple person, but for her … I did wallpaper that had a little bit of purple in it and kept some of her dishes." Those dishes sit as permanent displays on shelves above the windows.

The dining room leads into the living room, which holds chairs from the Seelbach Hotel before its 1940s renovation, as well as Amy’s grandmother’s Howard piano. Her grandmother — who was part of one of the first graduating classes at Presentation Academy — went on to acquire a music degree and teach piano lessons.

“I don’t play well enough,” Amy said, “so I had the piano refurbished and had a player system put in it. It’s really nice when there are parties.”

Beloved mementos

Amy’s mother was fond of antiques and made sure to pass along what is now one of Amy’s most prized possessions: an old wooden filing cabinet that now serves as a sort of credenza in the great room. Amy says the 24-drawer piece likely came from an attorney’s office.

"Ever (since) I was pretty young, (my mom) had an envelope glued to the back of it (with) my name on it," she said. "If the house caught fire, I’d probably grab a couple of little things out of the safe, then I’d be pushing that out (the door)."

Amy adds that while she thoroughly enjoys her home and the spaces they’ve created within it, she especially adores the neighborhood.

"I just love living up here," she said. "The lady (down the street) used to babysit me, (and) I can walk to my mom’s old house. It’s a great place to live."

Know a house that would make a great Home of the Week? Email writer Lennie Omalza at aloha@lennieomalza.com or Lifestyle Editor Kathryn Gregory at kgregory@gannett.com.

16th Annual New Albany Historic Home Tour

WHAT: Presented by Develop New Albany, this tour features some of New Albany's finest properties in its numerous historic neighborhoods. Explore historic residences, gardens, and commercial structures and see New Albany as you never have before.

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 9, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

WHERE: Tour booklet pickup is at the New Albany Farmers Market, 202 E. Market St., New Albany, Indiana

TICKETS: $20 in advance, $25 the day of, and $5 for students in grades K-12. Purchase tickets online with a credit card at developnewalbany.org or in person with cash or check at various locations.

nuts & bolts

Owners: Amy and Rachel Culwell. Amy is an anesthetist at the University of Louisville Trauma, and Rachel is an advanced nurse practitioner in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care at UofL Jewish. Also in the home are their three Great Danes Auggie, Gio, and Oliver.

Home: This is a 4-bed, 2-and-a-half-bath, 4,100-square-foot, Cape Cod-style home in the Silver Hills neighborhood of New Albany. It was built in 1923.

Distinctive elements: Original hardwood floors and trim work that were all preserved and refinished in the remodel; large kitchen with 12-foot, marble-topped island; multiple French doors that open to large deck from the great room, kitchen, and primary bedroom; numerous antique pieces belonging to Amy’s mother and grandparents, who were avid antique collectors.

Applause! Applause! The Culwells would like to thank Greg Longest Construction for a beautiful job creating the addition and renovations, which seamlessly blend with the original home and architectural elements.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Renovated home featured on 2023 New Albany Historic Home Tour