The 10-year plan

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Mature trees surround the Fultons' home on 3 1/2 acres along Alexandria Pike in Anderson. Emma Bowen Meyer
Two kitchen renovations have resulted in a beautiful space to both cook and eat. Emma Bowen Meyer

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March 2, 2013

The 10-year plan

Mark and Kathy Fulton rehabilitated home ‘a little bit each year’

By Emma Bowen Meyer For The Herald Bulletin The Herald Bulletin Sat Mar 02, 2013, 07:07 PM EST

ANDERSON, Ind. — Winding down 3½ acres of heavily wooded land is a little gravel road that leads to a lovely home. Near Indiana 9 and Scatterfield Road, the oasis is tucked away in an unexpected spot.

“We love this place,” said Mark Fulton, D.D.S., who purchased the neglected house with his wife, Kathy, in 1989. “We liked the fact that it was in the College Corner school district, close to work and close to church.”

Moving into a home that needed a great deal of attention while Kathy was eight months pregnant with a 2-year-old underfoot, the couple decided to take their time and tackle the project on a 10-year plan.

“We did a little bit each year, hiring out some work and doing some ourselves,” said Kathy, speech language pathologist at Highland Middle School. “One of the first things we did was to pull a big lamp post from the middle of the goldish-yellow kitchen island. I covered the hole with a plant. We decided early on that plain is better than ugly.”

Looks like recent remodel

Fifteen years ago, the kitchen finally became the center of attention. New cabinets created a beautiful fresh look and the old cabinets were installed in a clinic in Haiti. Five years ago, the cabinets received another new facing. With the addition of granite countertops and a stylish tile backsplash, a trendy look has been achieved again.

“We try to make the permanent fixtures have a neutral tone and change the paint to add the color we like,” said Kathy.

The result is rooms that feature new color schemes but have not been substantially changed in quite a few years.

For example, the Fultons totally revamped the master bathroom about 13 years ago, but it appears to be a recent remodel. Since the jetted tub, tile and double-sink vanity are white, updating the whole room only required installing brushed nickel fixtures and a new color for the walls.

While they are not ones for constant change simply for the sake of change, they did notice that upgrading one room tended to leave adjacent spaces looking dull by comparison. Luckily, Mark and Kathy’s tastes are similar and choosing new finishes was void of sharp disagreements.

“He’s got good taste,” said Kathy. “I’m lucky that way. It was a cooperative effort.”

Now that they are finally finished with their project, they have found their children are grown and their church has moved (Madison Park Church of God). Time Mark used to spend mowing is now needed for traveling to visit their scattered children. They have placed the home on the market and are bracing themselves for leaving their treasure to a new caretaker.

“Our blood, sweat and tears are in this house,” said Kathy. “We have put so much of ourselves into it that it will be hard to move. But there are only two of us now. We are planning to move to a condo in Anderson. This has been a wonderful house and I will especially miss the deer, foxes and ducks.”

Each week, Emma Bowen Meyer features a Madison County home. If you know of a home that should be showcased, send an email to emmagoldiemeyer@yahoo.com.

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