French Regency-style home off River Road undergoes top-to-bottom modern renovation
When David Grantz began looking for a new home, he knew exactly which part of town interested him most.
“In my opinion, the prettiest drive in all of Louisville is River Road,” he said. “(My fiancée and I) always knew that we wanted to live in Glenview, closer to the river. I got on Zillow … typed in ‘40222’ and the amount of money I wanted to spend … and this house popped up.”
Grantz couldn’t believe the listing price was so low; he knew he had to make sure the French Regency-style house had no structural problems or other major issues. Turns out, the bones of the home were just fine — everything else, however, was severely outdated.
Loving the locale
Though he knew he’d have to make some major changes to the house to accommodate his needs and style, Grantz was convinced it was the house for him; its proximity to both the Ohio River and his downtown advertising agency made it the perfect pick.
“We (also) love that our home is tucked away on a private road,” he said. “It’s very quiet back here. We don’t get a lot of drive-through traffic. Oftentimes, it feels like we are hundreds of miles away from the hustle and bustle of downtown; however, in reality, we’re only minutes away from the heart of the city. It’s hard to beat this location.”
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The modern French Regency-style home, Grantz added, was designed by architect Van. R. Catlett, Jr. and built in 1961 by Thomas and Nancy Smith.
“We are fortunate enough to still have the original blueprints,” he said. “From what we hear, Nancy Smith was a very talented artist and interior designer. Our neighbors told us (she) loved to entertain in this beautiful house for over 50 years.”
Ready to renovate
Nancy’s interior design touches were discernable when Grantz purchased the property, and he changed virtually everything — both inside and out — to give the place a modern, updated feel. He finished the basement, added a dormer on the second floor, and finished roughly 600 square feet that was previously just attic space. The small bedroom at the front of the house was converted into a walk-in closet with a washer and dryer, and the primary bathroom was completely gutted and redone.
The biggest change of all was in the heart of the home, which was once a galley kitchen.
“When we first bought this place, … it was small and cramped compared to kitchens today,” Grantz said. “One of our first major projects was to take out the wall between the old kitchen and our family room. Once the kitchen was totally gutted, we could finally play around with the design and bring everything up to speed," he said.
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And the work was worth it.
"The transformation was unbelievable. We love our new French-inspired cabinets, massive sink, granite countertops, six-foot-long kitchen island, and our top-of-the-line appliances.”
Devoted to Kentucky Derby
In addition to the newly remodeled kitchen, Grantz says, his favorite spot in the house is the space he calls the “Blue Room.” Formerly a screened-in porch, the room received its moniker from the Benjamin Moore paint on its walls: Newburyport Blue.
“When we first bought this house, we knew that we wanted to entertain in this space, off the kitchen, all year round,” Grantz said. “In the spring and summer, it’s nice to be able to roll out the windows and open up the French doors to let the fresh air in. We also like this room because of how close it is to our new patio and outdoor kitchen.”
In addition to featuring a wet bar that boasts a plethora of bourbon options, the Blue Room also showcases Grantz’s love for the Kentucky Derby.
“My first job out of college was in marketing at Churchill Downs,” he said, “so that’s been a big influence in my life.”
He has collected every Kentucky Derby glass from 1948 to 2021, and they are all on display in the Blue Room’s cabinets. The walls are adorned with Grantz’s 1997 autographed LeRoy Neiman Derby print, as well as a rare Justify saddlecloth that was autographed by Hall of Fame Jockey Mike Smith. It is an exact replica of the saddle cloth that the Triple Crown thoroughbred wore in 2018.
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“As far as the culture of (Derby) and bourbon,” Grantz said, “I just eat it up. I love that that’s our hometown.”
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.
nuts & bolts
Owner: David Grantz. He is the president/owner of BUZZ Advertising. Also in the home is his fiancée, Erica McDowell; daughter, Chloe, 5, and Brewster the beagle.
Home: This is a 3-bed, 2 and 2-half bath, 3,918-square-foot, modern French Regency-style home in Glenview that was built in 1961.
Distinctive elements: Completely renovated; located on a private street; large, first-floor primary suite with white Carrera marble bathroom and walk-in closet with built-in laundry; second floor with three bedrooms, a full bath, and second laundry; two fireplaces; downstairs half-bath with a mirrored wall; entertainment room that leads to an outdoor kitchen, expanded patio, and top-of-the-line Jacuzzi hot tub; home theatre, bar, wine cellar, and half bath in basement.
Applause! Applause! Leslie Whitehouse of Cherry House Furniture Galleries; Jim and Donna Mudd from Sam Kinnaird's Flooring; Anabel Perconti of Anabel's Oriental Rugs; Rick Miller of Miller's Fancy Bath & Kitchen; Ron Wolz of Bittners; Amy Streeter of Susan's Florist; Troy Corrigan from Corrigan Electric; Nick Kramer from Prudential Heating and Air Conditioning; Eric and Jon Bowling of Bowling Roofing; Jeff Speedy from Closets by Design; and David Wilson of Charlie Wilson’s Appliances, TVs and Mattresses.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Glenview, KY French Regency-style home undergoes total renovation
