Interior designers often have knowledge and resource access that most people don’t possess, and they can be an integral part of pulling together a home’s style. But for those with a strong aesthetic sense — and particular preferences — designing your own home might be the way to go.

Such was the case with the owners of these three homes, which have been featured over the past few years as a Home of the Week. Each one was designed by the people living in it, making every custom-created space much more special.

A family affair

Ashley and Philip Schaaf took the do-it-yourself approach seriously when building their house in Henry County.

“My husband and … father-in-law did a lot of the labor for the home,” Ashley told The Courier Journal.

The framing and flooring were contracted out, but the father-and-son team did everything from the plumbing and electrical to the cabinetry installation.

“It was quite a project,” Ashley said. “Fingers crossed that this is our forever home.”

Not only was Schaaf elbow grease used on the construction side of things, but Ashley has filled the abode with decor she crafted herself. In her daughter’s room, the pink canopy hanging above the bed is one of the many pieces that Ashley handmade; and upstairs in the family room, she stenciled the plaid wall that’s next to the childrens’ desk.

Also in the room is an old piano that Ashley recently gave a new look with chalk paint. On the adjacent wall, she used math equation flashcards from her childhood to create a unique, framed art piece.

“My passion is doing the decorating and styling of the home,” she said, “and just making it cozy for my family.”

Vintage vibes

Stacy Thomas and Eddie Dant’s mid-century modern ranch house is filled with an eclectic mix of vintage finds. Some pieces have personal, sentimental value; others are a part of someone else’s history and have found new life in the Hikes Point home.

“I am interested in the history of things and how they have survived and traveled through the years,” Thomas said, adding that she and Dant are the third owners of the house — and they’ve managed to keep some of the abode’s original charm. The home still has its original wood floors, doors, and trim; the basement and bathroom feature original tile; and the basement’s light green walls remain unchanged.

Dant uses the basement as a photography studio, utilizing various pieces he and Thomas have collected for props and backdrops. Some unique backdrop items include a large disco ball that once hung from the window of a jewelry store that closed on Fourth Street in the 1990s. There’s also a Sparks sign from the nightclub that used to be at 104 W. Main St., where Thomas worked while attending college.

“I refuse to part with certain things,” she said, referring to items such as her Mamaw’s dresser in the bedroom, a cast-iron sewing table in the kitchen, her departed friend’s cast-iron table in the patio, and an old-school library card catalog in the art room. “(Those) are a few sentimental objects I have and will carry with me until I pass them on when I go.”

Original and eclectic

Before Kay and Jon Wissing lived together in their two-bedroom shotgun in Clifton, the house belonged solely to Kay. She took her time working on the 1800s home, slowly converting it into a space that now fits her style and needs.

“I’m an artist,” she said. “I do woodworking and painting and (things) like that, so that came in handy.”

From hand-painted walls to one-of-a-kind sculptures, there are unique aspects to be seen in every corner of the Wissing home. Jon is especially fond of the kitchen, which was built primarily with pieces from IKEA.

“(It’s) a great size kitchen for a shotgun,” Kay said, adding that her dad built the island, which can slide apart and move around. “A lot of thought goes into (things like this) when there’s not a lot of storage. (There are also) a lot of added built-ins.”

While she also loves the kitchen, her favorite feature of their home is just outside.

“I really love the view from our bed,” she said. “I don’t have curtains, so you always wake up with the natural light, and it’s just a really cool shot, looking out the window.”

Perfect lighting and an eclectic mix of collected items and handmade art pieces fit together in a way that seems purposeful but not forced.

“My goal with my design and décor is to make everyone who visits feel immediately comfortable and at home,” Kay said.

Jon added, “It’s kind of like being in a museum. (Getting to see Kay’s) creativity is kind of like being inside of her head, which is neat.”

Know a house that would make a great Home of the Week? Email writer Lennie Omalza at [email protected] or Lifestyle Editor Kathryn Gregory at [email protected].

nuts & bolts: A Family Affair

Owners: Philip and Ashley Schaaf. Philip is a divisional sales manager for an HVAC manufacturer. Ashley is a stay-at-home mom, author of the blog The Hydrangea House, and a social media influencer. Also in the home is Nora Kate, age 7, and Silas, age 5.

Home: This is a 4-bed, 2-and-a-half bath, 3,400 square-foot, ranch-style home that was built in 2012 in Smithfield in Henry County.

Distinctive elements: Extensive, detailed trim; coffered ceilings; open floor plan; custom-built window seat in the family room; custom kitchen cabinetry; covered back patio; unique gifted and thrifted furniture pieces.

nuts & bolts: Vintage vibes

Owners: Stacy Thomas and Eddie Dant. Thomas is a visual merchandiser for State Beauty Supply and a designer for Petal Power Cut Flowers. Dant is a photographer at Eddie Dant Photography. Also in the home are cats Charlie Mingus Jr. (a.k.a. Gorilla Junior) and Birdy.

Home: This is a 3-bed, 1-and-a-half-bath, 2,255-square-foot, mid-century modern ranch home in Hikes Point that was built in 1959.

Distinctive elements: Original wood floors, doors, and trim; original bathroom tile; original basement tile and wall color; vintage accessories throughout, including large disco ball that once hung in the window of a jewelry store on Fourth Street, Sparks sign from the former nightclub, cast-iron sewing table in the kitchen, an old-school library card catalog in the art room and more.

nuts & bolts: Original and eclectic

Owners: Kay and Jon Wissing. Kay is an artist and real estate marketing manager. Jon is a marketing account director. Also in the home are their dog, Boo, and cat, Hank.

Home: This is a 2-bed, 1-bath, 1,527-square-foot, shotgun home in Clifton that was built in the 1800s.

Distinctive elements: Storage added throughout, including some custom retrofitted to blend in with the historic look of the home; mural wallpaper over bed from Anthropologie; picture rail added for easy hanging and moving of art includes a mixture of thrifted pieces, family heirlooms, and newer budget items, mixed to create an eclectic, lived-in look.