My New Home: Historic home with original charm

Lindsey L. Stewart and Daniel J. Smith are both assistant professors at the University of Memphis, in the same department — philosophy. They decided it was time to move into their own home, versus renting and began making their proverbial wish list. For all the time they had lived together, they were always dealing with old air conditioning window units. They had also suffered from narrow galley kitchens that made it hard for both of them to be in there at the same time. So now that it was time to find their own home, they made having good central air and a spacious kitchen their top priorities.

“Having a spacious, modern kitchen was right at the top of our list,” said Lindsey. ”Also we wanted enough room for us both to be able to work from home. And we wanted to be in a good location, one that was within walking distance of lively areas with bars, restaurants, etc.”

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Daniel added, “We also wanted a light-filled house with lots of windows and one that had been recently renovated or newly built so we wouldn’t have to deal with remodeling issues that often come with older houses.”

A friend at work connected the couple to Leigh Martin, an agent with Hobson Realtors.

“Leigh Martin was amazing,” said Lindsey. “She understood very quickly what we were looking for, not only in terms of location but also what we liked in the houses we looked at. She was also a ferocious negotiator, who got us a good deal on the house itself, significantly reduced rates on our mortgage. Leigh is definitely someone you want to have on your side.”

“We love our new home,” continued Lindsay. “Leigh showed us approximately 10 properties and we found what we were looking for in a home in the historic district of Lea’s Woods. We paid $385,000 for 2,163 square feet of living space. And, despite the fact that the house was 80 years old, it didn’t show its age.”

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Daniel explained, “The home had been completely renovated in 2020 with new plumbing, new electrical, and a new HVAC system. Additionally, there was a new roof and new flooring. In essence, it was move-in ready without a requisite project in sight. However, for all its newness, the house had retained aspects of its original Midtown charm, like the deep, recessed front porch. And we loved all the mature trees around the house, especially the magnolia out the front.”

Other offerings that prompted the couple to select this home were the large primary suite, tucked away from the rest of the home, and the open concept floor plan that allowed an easy flow between the kitchen, living room, and dining room. And, the house featured three bedrooms and three bathrooms, which gave them enough space to have a home office.

“Also, we liked the large lot and the fact that a new fence had been erected only two years ago,” said Daniel. “However, when we moved in we noticed that there was a branch hanging right over the house. In remembering the terrible ice storm last year that downed so many branches, we had that branch cut down. And we liked the back patio, which included a covered portion for easy entertaining.”

With the purchase of their new home, the couple got the larger kitchen they wanted. It still had a typical galley layout, but was completely open to the other living spaces. A large island, with a built-in cooktop, defined the kitchen space and offered a place for casual dining at the bar. Black and white granite countertops, along with stainless steel appliances, added a nice contemporary touch.

“Special features we liked about our home included the ‘great room’ — a huge area at the front of the house that included the kitchen, dining area, and living room,” said Lindsey. “And, there were gorgeous hardwood floors throughout the home, except for the tile floors in the bathrooms. We also loved the bay window in the bedroom which we now use as an office. And we liked the size of the master bedroom. It was also a plus that the master bathroom had a large, walk-in shower with a bench and a furniture-style double vanity. And everywhere you looked there were storage options.”

As for the location of their neighborhood, Daniel said, “We’re right next to Overton Park, and we’re within walking distance to both Overton Square and the up-and-coming Broad Avenue area. It’s also an easy commute to work at the university, and just a short drive to downtown.”

Emily Adams Keplinger is a freelance reporter who produced this feature for the Advertising Department.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis homes: A Historic home with original charm