Bringing Three Centuries Together: Renovating an 1888 Farmhouse in West Hendricks County
BGW Construction LLC – Plainfield, Indiana
Some projects hit a little deeper than lumber and nails. This one did. When a couple moved back “home” to West Hendricks County after years on the West Coast, they brought us a story worth rebuilding around. Her Great-Great-Great Uncle built this farmhouse in 1888, and the family kept it for more than a century. She’d spent her childhood summers here—farm chores, grandparents, and wide Indiana sunsets.
Now it was her turn to carry the place forward. Our job was simple:
Respect the past. Build for the future. Keep it honest. Keep it strong.
A Home with History—And Room to Grow
The original farmhouse was small, added onto multiple times over the decades. The family wanted more room—enough to host holiday crowds, grandkids, and anyone who wandered in hungry. But they didn’t want to bury the original bones of the house under modern clutter.
So we added on with purpose:
- More space to gather
- Strong, durable construction
- Clean transitions between the old and the new
- No plastic, no shortcuts, no gimmicks
And we kept every bit of character we could save.
The Kitchen: Three Centuries Under One Roof
When we opened up the framing, we found something that doesn’t happen often—the center of the kitchen held construction from the 1800s, the mid-1900s, and our 2021 addition.
Three centuries meeting in the busiest room of the house. It doesn’t get more honest than that.
We built a kitchen meant for crowds and conversation, not just cooking:
- Reclaimed barnwood shelving and hood vent, harvested right off the family’s 1,200-acre farm
- Plenty of storage, but with open spaces that keep guests circulating
- An exposed original chimney—scarred, imperfect, and full of stories
- A layout built for Sunday afternoons, holidays, and those moments when everyone ends up in the kitchen whether you want them to or not
This kitchen isn’t a showpiece. It’s a workhorse—with history proudly on display.
A Master Bathroom Built for the Long Haul
“Aging in place” doesn’t mean giving up comfort. It means thinking ahead and building smart.
We designed the master bath to work for the homeowners today and decades from now:
- Zero-threshold walk-in shower—clean, accessible, and rock-solid
- Large soaking tub that doesn’t feel cramped
- Plenty of counter space and storage—because nobody ever said, “I wish I had less room in my bathroom”
No frills. Just practical layouts, real materials, and a bathroom that feels good to use.
A Guest Bathroom with Vintage Backbone
This was one of the most fun rooms in the project—small space, big personality.
We leaned into the early-1900s inspiration:
- Singer sewing machine vanity base—authentic steel and wood, not a cheap reproduction
- Small art-deco-style floor tile to hit the right era without feeling outdated
- Classic white subway tile—timeless, durable, and impossible to get wrong
It looks vintage, but it’s built with the durability modern bathrooms actually need.
A Doggie Shower Fit for Breezie
Every farm has a dog, and Breezie’s the loyal kind—muddy paws, sloppy joy, the works.
So we built a small dog shower, sized right and easy to hose down after a day in the fields.
This wasn’t a luxury feature. It was common sense.
The Result: A Farmhouse With Its Heart Intact
This renovation wasn’t about shiny finishes or trendy design. It was about honoring a 130-year lineage while building a home that can handle the next hundred.
At BGW Construction, that’s the kind of work we take personally. If you’ve got a historic home—or just a home with a story—our team knows how to respect the past while building something that lasts.
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Ready to Talk About Your Renovation or Addition?
We’re right here in Plainfield, serving Hendricks County and the west side the way builders should—straightforward, skilled, and committed to doing the job right.
Call BGW Construction LLC at 172 Williams Trace, Plainfield, IN 46168
Let’s build something solid.
