Wowing West Walnut

Tom and Nancy Dornan of Historic Walnut Street Development held an open house May 9 for their latest renovation project at 817 W. Walnut St. The project included rebuilding the front porch, adding a back porch and creating a new main staircase to the second floor. The stairway is modeled on the one in the Dornans’ own home.

Joe Pulliam of Pulliam Restorations handled the front porch remodeling. Joel Butts of J & S Painting wasn’t the official foreman on the job, but he did the work of one, Tom Dornan said.

The spacious, turn-of-the-century bungalow is 2,800 square feet comprising four bedrooms – including a large master bed-and-bath suite – an office, a large dining/living area with stone fireplace, a kitchen and several roomy closets. The upstairs bedrooms feature cathedral ceilings and the home’s many windows fill the rooms with natural light.

The Dornans are offering the home for lease at $975 a month.

Tom Dornan said wife Nancy feels a special connection to West Walnut. Having had family who lived there when she was a child, she still remembers the names of the neighbors that lived along the street where she once played.

The Dornans have just acquired their seventh property on West Walnut at 807 W. Walnut. Most recently used for apartments, the high-ceilinged Victorian retains its original woodwork and features a large unfinished attic that Tom Dornan envisions as a spectacular living space.