When Melissa and Drew Basil bought their Upper Arlington ranch home, they had their work cut out for them.
Built in 1964, the 4,100-square-foot house sported many relics of the past. The bathrooms donned charmingly retro shades of purple and pink, and the kitchen counters were a very spirited teal green. What stood out most to the Basils, though, was the number of closets.
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“There were like 30 closets in this house,” Drew says.
“It was insane. We were like, we need a lot of closets, but that’s too many,” adds Melissa.
The closet doors were repurposed throughout the house, and the rest have been saved for future basement renovations, the couple says.
The Basils bought the home in 2021. Drew, a real estate agent (now with The Brokerage House), saw the home had been listed for sale. When the asking price dropped by $50,000, the couple decided to see it “as a joke.” At the time, they were living in a starter ranch home in Upper Arlington’s River Ridge neighborhood. After the birth of their first child, Rennie (4), they were quickly running out of room.
When they saw the home, though, they made an offer immediately. They won a bidding war against another couple by only $100.
Renovations took roughly eight months, during which time the family lived in a Grandview Heights apartment, where their second child, Axx (2), was born.
The renovations—which included new wood floors, painting, a new kitchen, reconfiguring rooms, expanding the garage, and turning the backyard into a covered patio with a new pool—were done in close conversation with the city of Upper Arlington. Melissa says they had to secure approval for a total of five zoning variances; the most the city has ever approved.
Melissa and Drew describe themselves as “old souls in young bodies,” and they aim to replicate that in their home. That manifests as an emphasis on timeless, trend-proof design. Throughout the home, the walls are a warm, creamy shade of white, and the floors are a mix of white oak with specks of red oak. Gold light fixtures and windows that take full advantage of the home’s corner lot placement combine for a result that’s energetic and modern, yet equally domestic and inviting.
To the left of the home’s foyer is a spacious living room with built-in bookshelves, fireplace and ample seating. To the right is the dining room, which features a large, L-shaped leather sectional. The sectional, as with much of the Basils’ furniture, is from Restoration Hardware. Melissa says the company has been accommodating when it comes to repairing wear and damage, as is expected with small children. Trove Warehouse near Kenny Road and Lane Avenue is another source for the family’s furniture and decor.
“I can pick colors, but it’s the little details with table settings [that give me trouble]. I would just go to Trove and show them a picture, and say, ‘This is what I’m decorating. Can you help me?’ And they’d put it together,” says Melissa.
The dining room shelves hold memorabilia representing the couple and their children. Melissa and Drew were athletes during their time at Ohio State University, where they met. Melissa, now an agent at, and owner of, Basil Insurance Group, was a catcher on the women’s softball team, and Drew was a kicker on the football team. The shelves showcase a football, helmet, family photos and other mementos.
The roomy kitchen sports a large island and Wolf brand dual fuel range stove. The white stone in the kitchen is quartz, bought in an 11 foot long slab. With enough left over after covering the island and counters, Konkus Marble & Granite in west Columbus cut the rest to add to the walls. Mark Metal Works on the South Side installed the gold-trimmed range hood and the glass door leading into the laundry room and children’s toy room.
At the back of the house is the informal, second living room. The walls and ceiling are a flat, deep gray, while wood and gold details tie it in with the rest of the home. There’s a small wet bar, and glass doors lead to the covered patio and pool.
There are a total of four bedrooms and four-and-a-half bathrooms in the home, with each bedroom having an ensuite. The ensuites in each of the children’s bedrooms have a drawer under the sink that serves as a built-in stepstool.
Rennie’s bedroom is adorned with horse paraphernalia, including several ribbons and awards she’s won for horse riding—a love she and her mom share, as evidenced by horse sculptures and art pieces found throughout the home.
The primary suite is grand, carrying through the same color palette in shades of white, black and gold for a luxurious feel. The wall opposite the bed has a fireplace and television as well as walk-in closets on either side. The attached bathroom has a freestanding tub and spacious shower, with porcelain tiling throughout.
For the Basils, the best part of the home is how accommodating it is for entertaining, with the back patio and pool, large kitchen and ample seating. Along with routine events like birthday parties or holidays, they also host catered dinners to raise funds for Buckeye Cruise for Cancer.
“I’m big on functionality, but I saw this as the place where everyone would come together,” says Drew.
This story appeared in the May 2026 issue of Columbus Monthly. Subscribe here.
This article originally appeared on Columbus Monthly: Upper Arlington Dream Ranch Is an Entertainer’s Delight
Reporting by Lucy Clark, Columbus Monthly / Columbus Monthly
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