The well-known Queen Anne Victorian on Forsyth Park is restored to its former glory.
Written by MARY FITZGERALD
Photography by ANDREW FRAZIER
KNOWN LOCALLY AS THE WISTERIA HOUSE, the historic Joseph B. Chesnutt residence is coveted for its architectural details — its turreted facade, twin copper roofs, gracious front porch and side verandas, and, of course, its climbing wisteria vines. Situated adjacent to Forsyth Park, the landmark home was built in 1897 for Chesnutt, a merchant who lived there with his family for three decades. The home is a crown jewel in Savannah’s Historic District. The current owners are flattered when passersby stop to admire the home and note that “people are constantly taking pictures.”
Midwesterners Charlie and Kelli Kunkel purchased the property in 2021 and spent more than a year renovating and restoring the 5,600-square-foot home. They are quick to mention that the house had been lovingly cared for by the previous owners for 45 years. “They did a great job of keeping up the bones of the house,” says Kelli, “but it was just ready for a facelift.”
Tackling a historic home of this size might seem daunting, but the Kunkels are seasoned pros. They have lived in seven houses and renovated six investment properties, most recently restoring a 100-year-old historic home in Indianapolis and flipping a house in Savannah’s Starland district. “I love old homes,” confesses Kelli. “I think every house has potential, no matter what size.”
The timing was right for the Kunkels to take on this monumental project. The couple’s two grown sons were “launching,” and Charlie and Kelli were ready to move away from harsh Midwest winters. Savannah had been on their radar. “I wanted a small-town feel with all the amenities of a city,” says Kelli. Charlie adds that they wanted to be downtown in a walkable neighborhood. The stars aligned when they stepped into this Victorian gem. “We walked in here, and I was giddy,” Kelli says of seeing the inside of the house for the first time.
The home met all of their wants and needs. The Kunkels were attracted to the historic integrity of the structure’s interior — the high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, original woodwork, pocket doors and the intricate stained glass. They needed five bedrooms to accommodate family and friends, and, although a pool hadn’t been on the wish list, Kelli admits it was a nice bonus. The icing on the cake, Charlie points out, was the fact that “Forsyth Park is our front lawn.”
Together, Charlie and Kelli make a formidable team. They met while in college at Indiana University and raised their family in San Diego and then Indianapolis. She worked in advertising and radio before transitioning to renovating and flipping homes. He is the CFO of a private equity firm. “She’s the creative one,” says Charlie. “I’m not creative at all. I like the end product, but I can’t envision it.” Thankfully, he has complete trust in his wife’s instincts. “He lets me do whatever I want,” jokes Kelli.
They enlisted top-notch professionals to bring the house back to its former glory, calling in design manager and historic preservationist Matthew Hallett to tweak the layout of the laundry, bathrooms and kitchen, and architect Stephen White to execute the plans for the third-floor renovation. Contractor Mike Gonzalez of Alchemy Restoration had worked with the previous owners and knew the residence well.
“He had such a passion for this house,” says Kelli. Every inch of the home was touched during the renovation. All of the intricate woodwork was meticulously stripped and stained by Alchemy Restoration; crown and applied moldings were added; and the hardwood floors were refinished. “I was almost sad when it was done,” Kelli says — a testament to the success of the collaborative process.
Victorian decor is known to be a bit fussy, and the couple’s aesthetic is more current. “I wanted to make sure that it was not too formal,” says Kelli. “I was striving for comfortable yet elegant.” She succeeded by mixing antique, vintage and collected finds with more contemporary lighting, fresh paint and wallpaper, and added in all the amenities of a modern home.
During the renovation, Kelli traveled from Indiana to Savannah every two and a half weeks to check on the home’s progress. To break up the tedious 12-hour drive, she would stop and shop along the way, visiting antiques stores in Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia. Conducting her own “Antiques Roadshow,” Kelli packed as much as she could into her SUV but eventually had to rent a storage unit outside of Nashville to temporarily warehouse her many treasures.
One of her favorite discoveries was Winchester’s Antique Mall in Franklin, Tennessee — a shop that was “filled with things that were just perfect for a Victorian.” Kelli also purchased furnishings from local Savannah shops, including Jones & Bull, Seventh Heaven, Tapley’s Mercantile and Antiques, and Picker Joe’s Antique Mall & Vintage Market. They moved some favorites, too; Charlie loaded and drove a packed 20-foot U-Haul cross country to their new home.
With the restoration and unpacking behind them, the couple was ready to relax and enjoy their home. The front parlor — Charlie’s favorite room — offers a fabulous view of the park. An intimate seating area was created with green velvet Sherrill sofas from Surroundings out of Indianapolis, flanking the fireplace (one of six original fireplaces in the home). Walls covered in a floral Thibaut wallpaper balance the room’s stately woodwork.
Kelli is partial to the adjoining library. This room had been used as a dining room by the previous owners, but Kelli repurposed the space into a cozy library, adding built-in bookcases painted in Sherwin-Williams’ Iron Ore. Visual Comfort lighting and Wesley Hall leather chairs from Surroundings make this Kelli’s go-to spot for reading.
Vintage, handprinted silk wallpaper by Scalamandré was left intact in the dining room, dictating the room’s subtle color palette. A newly installed coffered ceiling elevates the space, while a pair of carved oak chairs from Jones & Bull anchors the room.
A must-have for Kelli was a large kitchen. “I wanted a big kitchen, because when we have parties, that’s where everyone ends up,” she says. Cabinetry by Custom Cabinets in Sherwin-Williams’ Secret Garden is accented with brass Richelieu hardware. Forsyth Metal Works fabricated the custom-designed range hood, and slate flooring was laid in a herringbone pattern sourced from Garden State Tile. A pair of 1800s Marie Therese chandeliers from Surroundings add a bit of sparkle over the quartz-topped island from AGM Imports and fabricated by Creative Stone. The back hall butler’s pantry was fashioned from the home’s original 1897 kitchen cabinetry, paying homage to the home’s first occupants.
Upstairs, the bedrooms are outfitted in an eclectic mix of newer furnishings and antique pieces. The primary bedroom is dressed in shades of blue and white, leading to an updated ensuite bathroom. A guest room is wallpapered in Thibaut’s Indienne Hazel in soothing shades of green. The second-floor guest bathroom retains its original marble and claw foot tub, but the plumbing was retrofitted to add a modern rain shower.
The previously unfinished third floor now includes another bedroom, bathroom and a billiards/game room. Kelli says that the pool table and many large furniture pieces had to be brought in with a crane. Not surprisingly, their sons enjoy hanging out here when they come to town.
The spectacular grounds and exterior hardscape areas were designed by Paul Daniels and beautifully executed and maintained by Victory Gardens. Planters and statuary from the couple’s first San Diego home were incorporated into the front garden and courtyard. Making the long-distance trip to Savannah, Charlie jokes that these heavy pieces — including two 400-pound stone turtles bought in Tijuana, Mexico — have moved from house to house with them. “They made it here, but I told Kelli this is their final resting place.”
There are no plans in the works for a future move. “This is our forever home,” says Kelli. But for anyone considering renovating a historic home, she offers this advice: “Don’t be afraid; old houses were built to last. It’s worth it.”
Details
- Homeowners: Charlie and Kelli Kunkel
- Neighborhood: Downtown Historic District
- Year built: 1897 for Joseph B. Chesnutt
- Year purchased: 2021
- Timeline of renovation: December 2021-February 2023
- Number of bedrooms: 5
- Number of bathrooms: 3 full and 1 half
- Square footage: Approximately 5,600
- Architect (third floor): Stephen White
- Design manager/historic preservation: Matthew Hallett
- Interior designer: Kelli Kunkel
- Builder/contractor/woodwork: Alchemy Restoration
- Landscape and exterior hardscape: Victory Gardens and landscape designer Paul Daniels
- Custom cabinetry: Custom Cabinets by Williamson Millworks
- Furniture: New furniture/decor and antiques from Surroundings in Indianapolis. Antiques purchased from stores en route from Indianapolis to Savannah. Many antiques purchased from Winchester Antique Mall in Franklin, Tennessee; Midland Arts and Antiques in Indianapolis; plus other stops at stores in Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, South Carolina and Georgia
- Paint: Sherwin-Williams
- Tile/flooring: Savannah Surfaces and Garden State Tile; hardwood floors restored and added to the third floor by Steve Lavely
- Lighting: Visual Comfort, Surroundings, antique stores in Indiana and Architectural Accents in Atlanta
- Accessories: Surroundings, Jones & Bull, Seventh Heaven and Tapley’s Mercantile and Antiques
- Windows/doors: Alchemy Restoration
- Art: Surroundings, Seventh Heaven Antiques and Jones & Bull
