From House To Home

“We wanted a country home that could accommodate my collection of antiques,“ explains Linda Schmidt, who is married to Greg.

Linda began her passion of collecting antiques at 12 years old when her mother scraped enough money together to buy her an antique dollhouse at an auction.

Her impressive collection can be found throughout the house—from the early 19th-century watercolors and smoking stand in the master bath to the antique light fixtures, which include the Italian candelabra in the living room and the railroad lamps in the kitchen.

Perhaps the pride of her incredible collection is the many Staffordshire pieces sprinkled throughout the house.

Lit cabinets on either side of the sink in the kitchen are filled with Staffordshire pieces.

“When I put them in there, I just wanted to squeal,“ says Linda. “Now I can have them out in the kitchen where I am every day. I can see them and enjoy them all the time.“

Hers are not the only passions addressed. The Schmidts’ 18-year-old son, Austin, is an avid golfer who is ranked number one on the Bishop Kelley team. The home is a short drive from two courses, so he can easily fit in a round.

This newly built custom home was planned to fit the Schmidts’ cozy lifestyle.

Greg’s dream of having a study was also met. The large room across from the master suite holds a sitting area, desk, and a door to a small patio to enjoy the outdoors. Built off to the side, out of the way of foot traffic, is an exercise room for Greg’s exercise equipment. Even Linda’s mother, Georgiana Seay, used her newfound passion of sewing and designing to help by creating the wonderful pillows and dust ruffle on the master bed and even on the seats in the kitchen.

This newly built custom home was planned to fit the Schmidts’ cozy lifestyle. It’s a simple layout featuring a family room, kitchen, and breakfast area in the main section of the house. The dining room has been converted into Linda’s office. One end of the house features the master bedroom and Greg’s study, while the other side is home to Austin’s bedroom, a laundry room, and a powder room.

“Greg and Linda were great at letting us know their desires and expectations,“ says Laura Grunewald, vice president of sales and marketing with Murphy Resources, the company that built the home. “In the design phase, Greg and Linda expressed their desire to build a home that had the appearance of an established or older home. To do that, the architect created the look, and we used a mixture of materials on the exterior and interior to create the look extending from the front walkway to the kitchen.“

The one-story layout also helps the furry members of the family, collies Sam and Shanny. Sam, an older dog with health problems, could no longer manage the steps to go upstairs with the family in their previous house.

“He would just lay downstairs and bark for us,“ Linda says. “Now he feels more part of our family. They’re both herding dogs, and on one floor they can keep an eye on everybody.“