Custom-built contemporary home boasts 5-beds, nine acres and stunning views. Take a peek
When Shelby Wilkes and Chris Landeros began thinking about getting a bigger place, they knew it meant a brand-new build in their future.
“We are not handy, so I (knew we were) not going to buy a house that we’d have to renovate,” Wilkes told The Courier Journal. “I know we (wouldn’t) get around to it, and we’d be grumpy because it (wouldn’t be) what we wanted.”
At the top of their wish list was more elbow room. Fortunately, the couple found a nine-acre property in Finchville’s Equestrian Lakes subdivision. The large piece of land meant they could build a spacious abode, with lots of square footage to accommodate their children and pets.
Wilkes and Landeros enlisted the help of Eldridge Company, which helped them create a custom design dubbed The Morgan: a contemporary, five-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath abode.
“Chris Eldridge and Scott Huff listened to our list of ideas and brought them together to create a one-of-a-kind home suited for our family,” Wilkes said.
Letting in the light
“If (Landeros) had his way, we’d live in a dungeon and all the shades would be drawn, (with) no lights turned on,” Wilkes said with a laugh, adding that her love of natural light is reflected throughout most of the home.
Floor-to-ceiling windows on the first level provide sweeping views of the neighborhood, with daily glimpses of both sunrise and sunset. These sights are especially stunning through the windows in the living room.
“It was a non-negotiable for me (to do) double-height ceilings (in the living room),” Wilkes said, adding that certain concessions were made to allow for the 20-foot vertical space.
“(We) lost a third bedroom upstairs because we would have had to do a walkway across (the top), and it would have been over our bedroom,” she explained, adding that they didn’t want to have anything above the primary suite. “This is my favorite (space).”
A separate suite
Though Landeros and Wilkes sacrificed an extra bedroom to craft the stunning living room space, the second floor features everything they need. With the kids’ bedrooms and a playroom, it’s essentially a separate suite for the little ones.
“I don’t venture up here too much,” Wilkes said, adding that keeping their boys’ toys and other belongings on one level helps keep the main living area — and downstairs as a whole — free from clutter. The custom-made stair railing with gates also aids in keeping things organized, restricting pets to one area at a time.
Though Wilkes and Landeros’ three little boys primarily spend their time upstairs, there’s an ode to another boy along the wall, just inside the front door. It’s a framed ultrasound image flanked by dried flowers, with the words, “Morgan, our favorite what if” printed below.
“The Edridge’s name their properties,” Wilkes explained, (and) they’ll name it whatever you choose. We lost a boy between our middle and last one, and his name was Morgan.”
Custom creations
In addition to the floor-to-ceiling windows, high ceilings, and a carefully crafted space for the kids, there were a few other specific items on Wilkes and Landeros’ list that Eldridge Company was happy to accommodate.
One was the layout of the home, which features a garage that’s tucked away.
“I hate when you have (a) beautiful home with a huge garage on the front,” Wilkes explained. “They put ours on the back so we don’t (have to) look at it.”
In the kitchen, there’s a breakfast nook for the boys to eat, color, watch TV, and more; and just opposite that area is a beverage center for mom and dad. The space includes room for a wine cooler and drink fridge and features a built-in, fully automatic coffee machine.
Downstairs, a soundproof movie room provides a secluded space for catching a flick or simply relaxing in a comfy chair or beanbag.
“I’m so physically active day in and day out,” Landeros said, “when I’m done (or) on my days off I try to (get in there) and rest as much as possible.”
The lower level also features a one-of-a-kind wooden bar table, which is one of three custom creations that the family had crafted by Woods of Wisdom, a family-owned-and-operated woodshop in Rineyville.
“The pieces in stores weren’t quite what we wanted,” Wilkes said. “They listened to what we were looking for and created beautiful pieces that fit perfectly in our home.”
The original wooden pieces bring a bit of the outside — which boasts a 12-mile riding trail around the neighborhood — into the otherwise mostly contemporary home.
“This is kind of like a modern farm,” Landeros exclaimed. “(Modern) was the style we wanted, but we (also) love the farm and animals. We get the best of both worlds.”
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
Home: This is a 5-bed, 3-and-a-half bath, 5,210-square-foot, contemporary home in Finchville’s Equestrian Lakes subdivision. It was built in 2023.
Owners: Chris and Shelby Landeros. Chris is a horse racing jockey and Shelby works at an equine hospital. Also in the home are children Beckham, 6, Rory, 5, and Shiloh, 2.
Distinctive elements: Open concept; neutral hues; quartz countertops with streaks of gold; large dining area; floor-to-ceiling windows; double-height ceiling in the living room; fireplace with iron ore paint; custom-made stair railing with gates; vaulted ceiling and floor-to-ceiling windows in the primary suite; soundproof movie room.
Applause! Applause! Eldridge Company team, including Chris Eldridge, Scott Huff, and Katy Eldrige, and Bob Eldridge; project managers Nick Owens and Michael Paquin; Woods Of Wisdom for the breakfast nook table, coffee bar bench, and basement bar table.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Eldridge Company builds custom 5-bed home in Finchville subdivision