Like most people who live in older homes, Brock and Eva Schulte love the character of their 1880 residence but wanted modern amenities to make it livable.
The couple has invested their time, money and energy to renovating the place from top to bottom since they moved to Kansas City almost 11 years ago, when Eva was recruited from Oakland, Calif. She and Brock found KC close enough to “home” — Brock is originally from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Eva from Madison, Wis. — that KC fit their vibe.
Brock, a relentless researcher, narrowed their move to Union Hill for its walkability.
“We like to walk. That’s our thing,” says Eva, adding that they regularly hoof it to Crown Center for bagels or Alamo Drafthouse for drinks.
While being out and about is integral to their lifestyle, they also enjoy working on their property. Brock does as much of the work as he can himself and relies on a good handyman for the more complicated jobs.
“We worked with what the previous owners did, but the hard stuff wasn’t done yet,” Brock says. “One thing I’m grateful for is that the previous owner did the windows.”
They have since upgraded the HVAC, plumbing, roof and electrical. The couple says their toughest hurdles were that there were only two doors in the whole house and no closet space. But they also had to deal with old iron plumbing, gas tubing for lamps and 200-year-old wood beams that broke plenty of sawzall blades.
Now nearing the end of their remodeling to-do list, they’ve been able to delve into new arenas. Their biggest investment outside structural upgrades was the purchase of a walnut dining table. They’ve also started collecting art. It helps that some were gifts — a few of Brock’s cousin’s pieces hang around, as well as a coveted piece by neighbor Sherry Leedy. Eva, who paints for stress relief, also has a few pieces displayed.
The Schultes’ original intention was to stay in Kansas City for three to five years, but now they’re settled and don’t plan on moving unless it’s to leave the city. The right house in the right neighborhood has created their anchor.
“It was our dream house when we bought it, and it still is,” Eva says.
