Three words are used to describe the unique, box-like homes cropping up around the city: Efficiency, detail + liveability. Three letters represent one business involved with this style: TKW, which happen to be the middle initials of the three brothers who decided to go into the house-building business together.
Since 2016, TKW Homes has been transforming neighborhoods on the near south side — here’s the 411 on the 317 homes.
The timeline
- Three brothers were born in Noblesville.
- They came to Fountain Square in 2014, where they found a whole inventory of properties that hadn’t been taken care of since the 70s — when the interstate came through and divided the area.
- First, the brothers focused on the six-block radius around “the fountain.”
- In 2016, they started new construction on the shotgun style lots, keeping what they could from the old builds.
- This grew into several more neighborhoods around the city.
“It’s been a fun journey — the neighborhood’s ever-changing,” said Nick Burrow, one of the brothers. “We were so blessed to get in at the beginning so we could learn with the neighborhood.”
The modern wedge
Inspired by West Coast-style homes — specifically Palm Springs — the houses have been coined “modern wedge.” With a wedge-style slanted roof + dramatic overhangs, the houses are meant to look like the roofs were simply picked up and placed on top. Think: doll house.
Logistically speaking, the overhang is important for keeping water out of the house, in addition to being the focal point.
“We landed on that shape because we wanted to be unique and different, but on a budget,” Nick said. “We were trying to find something to set us apart to get [homebuyers] to remember that house in their minds when they’re looking at 8-10 houses that day.”
Open-living concepts are typical with the homes — each with a living room, kitchen, dining room on the first floor plus a pantry, half-bath, and stairwell to make it up to date.
The kitchen can usually be found in the middle of the house to allow the front and back of the house to be full of windows instead of cabinets. TKW tries to fill every available wall space with natural light and views of the neighborhood. There are normally three bedrooms, with a focus on the master having a view of the city, if possible.
The homes are built by “designing up,” which means they tend to have more vertical space, due to a limited lot size. Many of the homes include rooftop terraces, which provide an oasis in the city with tree tops and strategically designed views to preserve neighbors’ privacy.
The color pallette
While their colors used to be on the wilder side, with blues, yellows, and oranges, the owners have mellowed their tones in recent years.
“To get the new homeowner down the street, we decided to start painting our houses extremely bright colors,” Nick said. “That has transitioned to the more trendy grays, whites, and black now. Today, the neighborhood is more established and trendier. You gotta meet the cool magazine look now.”
The details
- Locations: Bates-Hendricks, Fountain Square, Lockerbie Square, Kennedy King + Fall Creek Place
- Price range: $550-800,000
- Buying options: Own, rent, or Airbnb
