Tour Stop 4: 266 East 3rd Ave.
Owners: Kirk Whetstone and Phil Smith

In 2014, Kirk and Phil decided to move from Seattle to Columbus, as Kirk previously lived in the Short North and wanted to be a part of the growth and development in Italian Village. They partnered with Juliet Bullock Architects to create this new build, which was completed in 2016, with Will Lehnert Outdoor Space Design managing the landscape design.

The house is 2,700 sq. ft. and includes a finished, separate basement that serves as an Airbnb and can be opened to the rest of the house. The owners were heavily involved with the construction process, taking control of the indoor and outdoor finishes. The majority of the furniture you’ll find on the first floor, including the bar cart, headboards, dining room table, shelving and console table, were designed by the owners and built by custom wood and metal workers in Amish Country (Walnut Creek Furniture in Holmes County).

As you walk outside, you’ll find a wrap-around porch designed to feature the corner-lot position of the home. The backyard, completed in 2018, features a gas firepit, vegetable garden and a tiered bluestone patio.

The couple says they love living in the Italian Village because people have pride in this neighborhood and they share close relationship with neighbors, which they say is something you rarely get in the city.