A restoration and renovation company teams up with an architectural historian to save a 1948 Herbert Burns residence from being stripped of all its character.

By Kristin Dowding

THIS GLASS FEATURE WALL WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES THOMBOY PROPERTIES FACED DURING THE RESTORATION. WHEN THEY FOUND IT, THE HORIZONTAL SLATS HAD BEEN REMOVED ALONG WITH ALL THE GLASS. THERE ARE 66 PANES IN TOTAL, AND ONLY 25 PANES HAD THE SAME DIMENSIONS. TO GET THE GLASS INSERTS CORRECT, THEY HAD TO INDIVIDUALLY MEASURE EACH SQUARE, SINCE MOST OF THEM VARIED SLIGHTLY IN SIZE. “THE JUXTAPOSITION OF HORIZONTAL PLANES AND VERTICAL DETAILS MAKES HIS ARCHITECTURE INTERESTING,” SAYS ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN AND HERBERT BURNS EXPERT STEVEN KEYLON.

Photography by Lance Gerber

 

THE FRONT OF THE HOME IS TRULY A PICTURESQUE SCENE FROM THE MID CENTURY. EXISTING PALM TREES GUARD THE FRONT-LOADED POOL, AND FINE DECOMPOSED GRANITE PEBBLES SURROUND THE NATURAL CINDERBLOCK WALL. THE ENTIRE HOUSE HAS STUCCO SIDING WITH SANDSTONE STRUCTURAL SUPPORTS. “BURNS GENERALLY DESIGNED FLAT-ROOFED HOUSES,” SAYS STEVEN. HIS DESIGNS WERE OFTEN ORGANIZED AROUND BOLD ARIZONA SANDSTONE PYLONS AND PIERS, STEVEN NOTES. THE SANDSTONE WAS ALSO CARRIED OVER INTO AN EXTERIOR PLANTER IN THIS HOME.

We recognize as a hero someone who demonstrates courage and saves the day. You could say that partners Jackie Thomas and DeeAnn McCoy, owners of Thomboy Properties, became heroes when they saved a 1948 Herbert Burns residence from demolition. After the house was nearly stripped of every signature architectural feature, Jackie and DeeAnn purchased the property and planned not only to renovate it, but also to restore the home to its past beauty.