Luxury Living

bed and leave ample room elsewhere. It is served by a sizeable bath, with a large shower and bench seat, a twin-sink counter, and a walk-in closet.

on the second floor, a large, L-shaped guest suite has a short “wing” that has a desk and comfortable seating. Brenda, an accountant, says it will be her office when she retires. It and the second bedroom are served by a Jack and Jill bath. An arched opening along the hallway from the stairs affords an eye-catching view of the great room below.

With all else pretty much done, they had the entire lower level to finish as they wanted.

They chose to have all the walls and ceilings finished in drywall, including a storage room that could be used as a bedroom in a pinch. That’s unlikely, though, as it is filled with neatly stored and marked boxes containing any number of things, including gear the couple use for their various outdoor activities, such as canoeing, kayaking, hiking, camping and skiing.

They have installed some recreational items, including a pool table, a television screen and seating area, and a 1975 jukebox that takes quarters to play the 50 45-rpm records it holds. Don keeps a stash of quarters handy for the benefit of the couple’s grandchildren. There’s a service bar with a sink and under-counter refrigerator, plus a full bath nearby. A patio outside is accessible from the porch. Still to come: a large model train display Don plans to start building this winter to continue the hobby he started 40 years ago. It will sit atop cabinets and be surrounded by a custom wood wall he will ask Webb to build.

Don has “many dozens” of vintage train sets, dating from 1920 to 1960 (“I’ll have to count them sometime,” he says). he will rotate them between their neatly packed boxes and the display that may take a year to complete, including a custom wood skirt between the table and floor.

In their home for just a year, the Schmoegers have found they live in an area with friendly, helpful, social neighbors. And though they’re outdoor enthusiasts, Don, a consultant who travels some and works from home, says he doesn’t miss year-round yard work one bit. v