Starting fresh in a Haddonfield foursquare

When Scott and Kendall Schmidt saw the circa-1903 American foursquare house in Haddonfield in 2022, they were intrigued.

They wanted a larger home where they could each have a dedicated office. The house needed a lot of work, and they saw that as a positive.

“We took advantage of the opportunity to redo the kitchen and not have to stick with the same footprint,” said Kendall, a beta scientist.

The 2,400-square-foot, three-story house includes five bedrooms and two full plus one half bathroom. The 12-foot ceilings at the home’s entrance were a big draw, and the couple loved the architecture of the foursquare layout.

“It’s functional, a great use of the space, and keeps everything cozy and accessible,” said Scott, a program manager in the defense industry.

The outside was in need of repairs, including a new roof, siding, and windows. Water damage in the kitchen meant gutting most of the first floor, so the Schmidts created a new, more functional, light-filled layout.

Jazmyn Miller-Gibbs of Abode Above Interiors in Middletown, Del., helped with the new design. The first step was removing a wall to expand the kitchen and allow natural light to flood the room.

“I set out to take their cramped, dimly lit kitchen and turn it into a bright, welcoming space that actually works for a busy family,” said Miller-Gibbs. “I designed an eat-in kitchen with plenty of storage, a mudroom to keep the chaos in check, and a laundry area that doesn’t feel like a dungeon.”

A bold botanical backsplash stands out from the classic navy and white Fabuwood cabinets, giving the kitchen warmth, personality, and a little unexpected fun, she said.

The couple enjoy cooking and appreciate their ample counter space for prepping and serving buffet-style dinners when they host friends and family. They have a dedicated corner where their 1-year-old daughter, Sawyer, can play while they cook.

One element of the first floor the Schmidts did want to keep was the butler’s pantry, which was original to the house. When they replaced the hardware, they matched its original style.

“It’s a fun feature of our house, keeping some of the original character,” Kendall said.

Two original window seats also remain, including one in the dining room where the family eats their meals. The room is cozy with plantation shutters and built-in cabinets displaying mementos from their travels.

Many of their trips were to hiking destinations in Maine, New Hampshire, and Washington state. In Washington, they hiked in Olympic National Park and the Cascades, and their favorite destination, Mount Sawyer, was the inspiration for their daughter’s name.

“The weather had been rainy, and every hike we went on we got really wet,” recalled Kendall. But the day they hiked Mount Sawyer “had perfect blue skies and awesome foliage up the mountain. There were magnificent views, and it was a memorable hike.”

After dinner, the family lounges in the living room on the comfy custom brown leather couch — the first piece of furniture the couple bought together.

The living room fireplace is original to the house, as are some of the moldings and doors on the second floor. These features add charm to the home, but a house more than 100 years old also presents challenges.

“They didn’t have HVAC in 1903,” said Kendall. The house now has HVAC, but it isn’t very efficient.

The couple isn’t doing much hiking with a 1-year-old, but they do try to maximize their time outdoors. Out back, their hound-mix Wesley, 12, runs around in the grass while the family sits on the stone patio under the gazebo. Outdoor heaters keep the area comfortable in the spring and fall. A second patio, with a table shaded by an umbrella, sits closer to the house.

Beyond their own yard, the Schmidts enjoy Haddonfield’s history and charm, and they appreciate their walkable proximity to schools, downtown shops, and restaurants.

“The streets are lined with 100-year-old full, mature trees,” said Scott. “We like traveling and going to visit the grandparents, but we are always happy to come back home. It puts a smile on our faces every time we walk in the door.”

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