photo by: Mike Yoder

Homeowner Richard Renner has a collection of toys and games in a first-floor bathroom he calls the “Game Room” at 408 Indiana St., pictured in this photo from Jan. 16, 2020.

Richard Renner thinks he and his home at 408 Indiana St. are an ideal match for each other — and for Lawrence’s Pinckney neighborhood.

Renner owns the Vodvill Entertainment Company, a talent agency for variety acts, and organizes the quirky Busker Fest in downtown Lawrence every year. His livelihood may be unusual, but Renner has found a lot of kindred spirits living nearby.

“I juggle, ride a unicycle – the kinds of things you see at the Busker Fest,” he said. “There are a lot of artists and musicians living in the neighborhood. The house has a beautiful wraparound front porch. It’s been the site of many beer and wine parties for my artist and musician friends.”

photo by: Mike Yoder

The south side of 408 Indiana St., including the two porches, is seen in this photo from Jan. 16, 2020.

Renner said the house dates from 1863, the year of William Quantrill’s infamous raid on Lawrence.

“It’s a two-story colonial,” he said. “It’s one of the row of old houses in the neighborhood. It’s a very mixed neighborhood. There are three abandoned houses down the street from me and then marvelous reconstructed mansions down the next block.”

The original modest house underwent an extensive renovation and an expansion in the 1990s, when a stand-alone garage was also added, Renner said. In addition to updating all the electrical wiring and plumbing and installing a security system, the homeowners at the time added an extension to the rear of the now 10-room house, which doubled its size to about 2,200 square feet.

photo by: Mike Yoder

The large open living, dining and family room of Richard Renner’s home at 408 Indiana St. creates an expansive view of the home’s first floor and the many pieces of artwork and collections on display. The home is pictured Jan. 16, 2020.

The added space allowed for a large second-floor master bedroom, one of two bedrooms on the upper floor.

“There are three bedrooms, but one is too small to use so it’s the technology room,” he said.

Like many 19th century houses, the house’s original floor plan divided the first floor into smaller rooms, Renner said. The 1990s renovation opened up the ground floor by removing most of the walls and installing large archways in the load-bearing walls that remained. Renner modified that a bit by closing off one area to create a study/library with more privacy. He also decided to more clearly demarcate the ground-floor open space.

“One thing I did to give different spaces better definition was paint walls different colors and mix and match wallpaper,” he said.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Colorful and whimsical wallpaper and artwork in rooms and hallways lead to long views throughout 408 Indiana St., pictured in this photo from Jan. 16, 2020.

Renner said the area to the right of the front entrance felt like a natural location for the living room. To the left of the door, he installed an electric fireplace.

Breaking up the open space is a staircase that was reconstructed with a landing during the renovations to take up less room.

Unfortunately, the couple who poured all their savings into the upgrades were able to enjoy the newly renovated home only briefly, Renner said. One owner died, and the other was unable to afford the house alone.

“It’s sad, but it’s part of the history of the house,” Renner said.

photo by: Mike Yoder

A second-floor master bedroom with windows on two sides and a corner gas fireplace are pictured at 408 Indiana St., in this photo from Jan. 16, 2020.

The house passed through several owners before Renner bought it in 2002. It was perhaps the easiest sell the real estate agent ever made.

“I was getting married at the time, and my then-fiancée lived in the neighborhood,” he said. “I was leaving her place at 7 a.m. and saw a Realtor pounding a ‘for sale’ sign in the yard. I got a quick tour while the owners were sleeping in a bedroom and said ‘OK, I’ll take it.'”

One of the things that appealed to Renner about the house was its location near the Kansas River. Although trees obscure Renner’s view of the river, he regularly walks to the river and Burcham Park with his dog.

The home’s curbside eye-catchers include graffiti on the garage door reading “inspire” and a homemade sculpture in the front yard, Renner said.

“The sculpture is rebar and wine bottles,” he said. “It took about 20 minutes to make. That doesn’t include emptying the bottles.”

photo by: Mike Yoder

Rebar poles and blue wine bottles decorate a corner of the house at 408 Indiana St., in this photo from Jan. 16, 2020.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Decorative pigs and garage-door graffiti with a message to “Inspire” are pictured at 408 Indiana St., in this photo from Jan. 16, 2020.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Embedded marbles, lettering and plastic toys decorate the driveway at 408 Indiana St., in this photo from Jan. 16, 2020.

photo by: Mike Yoder

The entrance to 408 Indiana St. features a Van Go bench and a collection of wall hangings, in this photo from Jan. 16, 2020.

photo by: Mike Yoder

House dogs Foster, top left, and Winston, foreground center, hang out in the dining, living and family room area of 408 Indiana St., pictured in this photo from Jan. 16, 2020.

photo by: Mike Yoder

A hand-painted wall mimics wallpaper in a sunroom at 408 Indiana St., pictured in this photo from Jan. 16, 2020.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Homeowner Richard Renner, at home with dog Winston, is pictured at 408 Indiana St., in this photo from Jan. 16, 2020.

photo by: Mike Yoder

A collection of colorful furnishings and artwork in a living room area of 408 Indiana St. are pictured in this photo from Jan. 16, 2020.

photo by: Mike Yoder

A Buddhist mantra is painted on the stairwell wall to the second floor of Richard Renner’s home at 408 Indiana St., in this photo from Jan. 16, 2020.