Painting in Kenilworth.
Kenilworth was founded in 1914 as Asheville's pioneer suburb and stayed its own town until annexation in 1929. The developer was Jake Chiles, and the story locals still tell is that he said build the roads where the horse hoofs are. The streets really do follow the path his horse picked, which is why Kenilworth feels nothing like a grid.
The Kenilworth Inn at the top of the neighborhood was built in 1902, rebuilt in 1918, and has cycled through resort, military hospital, psychiatric hospital, and finally apartments. Kenilworth Lake sits at the lower end with ducks and a small park. Big oaks and pines shade the whole place. Leah Chiles, who became North Carolina's first female mayor here in 1928, ran the town from the same hillside.
What we see on Kenilworth homes.
Common home styles
1920s craftsman, English cottage, Tudor revival, and brick foursquare — most built when Kenilworth was still its own town.
Popular projects
1920s stucco-and-wood exterior repaint, interior plaster repaint, porch and front-door refinish, and color consultation for English cottage and Tudor revival palettes.
Climate & prep considerations
Kenilworth's hillside layout means one face of the house can see full sun while another stays in shade all afternoon. We schedule prep around the exposure, not the calendar. Mountain humidity and slow drying on the shaded sides mean mildew-resistant primers on every exterior.