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A beautiful home on the shores of Smith Mountain Lake is the ideal retreat for four generations of a lake-loving family.
Linda Strup has a long history at the lake. Her family first visited in the 1970s after they relocated to Virginia from Michigan. A search for the perfect spot for waterfront camping led them to Smith Mountain Lake. More than 30 years later, Linda and her husband, Tom, continue sharing their love of the lake with new generations of friends and family.
“This is where I learned to sail,” says Strup. “Our kids grew up here. They gave up playing summer sports so they could spend more time at the lake. We taught our friends and family how to water-ski here. One of our sons proposed to his now wife at the lake.”
In 2009, when both of their sons were engaged, the Strups began looking for a larger home to accommodate their growing family, which now includes three grandchildren and a fourth on the way. Though they initially did not want to build, they turned to builder and designer—and now friend—John Brock to help them create a comfortable, casual, family-friendly home at the lake.
“Our priorities were for the home to be comfortable and casual,” says Strup. “We wanted a lake house, not a showpiece. This is a house for living. We chose fabrics you can sit on with wet bathing suits.”
Natural materials and colors of the lake—blues, greens and taupes—enhance the casual, comfortable feel the couple was after. The main floor, built around a show-stopping stone fireplace, is open and flows from the living room to the dining room and into the kitchen. And no matter where you’re standing, you have a spectacular view of the lake thanks to tall windows and French doors along the rear of the house, allowing tons of natural light into the space.
The more than 5,000-square-foot home includes five bedrooms, four full bathrooms and two half bathrooms, giving them plenty of space for their entire family, all four generations. Keeping in mind the needs of their various family members, the Strups put great thought and attention into the different rooms in the house, specifically the bedrooms. The main-floor guest bedroom and bath are handicap-accessible for Linda’s parents with extra-wide doorframes, four-foot wide hallways and a walk-in shower.
Another room in which no detail was left unattended is the kitchen. “It is my dream kitchen,” says Strup, who spent a lot of time browsing design blogs, magazines and websites like Houzz and Pinterest gathering ideas. “I knew I wanted white cabinets and a black island.”
For the countertops, they selected a stunning Cambria quartz with touches of white, black and blue, which complements the cabinets, island and blue-tile backsplash. “I saw the countertop at Ferguson and fell in love with it,” she says.
One unique aspect of the Strups’ home is their use of repurposed furnishings. “I have always liked things that have history,” says Strup. “I am thrifty by nature and appreciate an eclectic look.”
Strup rendered many items she found on Craigslist, at Goodwill and at thrift stores brand new with chalk paint. “I read about chalk paint in some design blogs and love that it allows me to be creative. There is no one defined technique, so everyone’s chalk-painted furniture turns out unique.”
She also recycled her children’s furniture, such as the bunk beds and a dresser that are used for the grandchildren. “It’s all part of our legacy,” she says. “Just as we pass along our love for the lake, fishing and boating, we pass along favorite toys, games and even furniture. They are simple pleasures and simple things, but they have special meaning.”
As much as they love the interior of their home, it is the blue water and tree-lined coves they enjoy the most. From paddle boarding to water-skiing, the Strups take full advantage of living at the lake. Their dock was designed to accommodate the whole family, and then some, with a comfortable seating area, dining space and a pair of Adirondack chairs where the couple likes to sit back and relax.
At the water’s edge, there is a strip of sandy beach that is perfect for their grandchildren, as well as their dog, Holly, who seems to enjoy the water just as much as the kiddos.
“Even as a senior dog, Holly still swims every day, enjoys boat rides and loves to sit in the sun and watch the activity on the water,” says Strup. “When she was younger, she would dive off the dock 100 times a day, ride the jet ski and float on a raft. She is our second lake-loving lab but probably not our last.”
So much has changed since Linda Strup first visited the lake more than 30 years ago. “We don’t water-ski twice a day anymore,” she says. “But some things haven’t changed. The lake is still beautiful. It draws all generations. You still see small houses and large houses. I’m still in the pinch-me stage. We feel so lucky to be living at the lake.”