Build it 'Wright': Tom and Judy Holshouser designed and built their Cape Girardeau home in the style of Frank Lloyd Wright

When Tom and Judy Holshouser chose the site for their dream home, many said there was no way they'd be able to build in that swampy area. But Tom, an architect, had a plan for a Frank Lloyd Wright-style home that he could share with his wife through their retirement years. It involved diverting a stream and jack-hammering a rocky area to make way for a screened-in porch, but he did it -- and the naysayers loved it.

"Tom said, 'I think I can, and I will,' and he did," says Judy. "He really and truly had a vision for the water and the hillsides. He felt like we could just settle back in this peaceful oasis."

The Holshousers moved into their newly built home in 2003 -- a big year for the couple, as they also welcomed their first grandchild and celebrated Judy's retirement. Sadly, Tom passed away in 2010. He was proud of the home he had created and he enjoyed it very much, says Judy, especially the dual-sided fireplace in the living room.

The Holhouser home (Laura Simon)

"We would light a fire every night of the week. It never failed, when the weather was cool enough," she says.

As for Judy, her favorite part of the house is "the whole thing!" There's nothing better than living in the house she designed and lived in with her husband of more than 40 years.

Both Tom and Judy admired the style of Frank Lloyd Wright: plenty of big windows, an open floor plan, wide eaves and overhangs, long, smooth lines and unique slants and angles. In fact, together they visited all of the homes Wright built in Illinois and Pennsylvania. Tom really had an eye for detail, says Judy, and he designed their new home to emulate Wright's style inside and out. It's an architectural tour de force, from the large windows and front and back decks to the secluded backyard garden and open living area, separated only by two walls that don't even reach the ceiling.

"I like the shape of it, and I like the layout," says Judy.

The Holshousers kept most of their contemporary-style furniture from the 1960s, and they didn't even consider buying new furniture for their new home. The furniture they had was comfortable, says Judy, and it matched the style of their home perfectly. One piece, a colorful stained-glass lamp above the kitchen table, had been stored in Tom's office for years. It's a good thing he was a pack rat, says Judy, because she was delighted when she learned he still had the lamp stashed away -- she thought they had gotten rid of it years ago.

Judy spends a great deal of time on the back deck of her house, where she enjoys hosting cookouts, entertaining houseguests, reading for her book club or simply enjoying the scenery. Built against a wooded hill, the backyard gives the feel of truly being in the woods, with no neighbors -- unless you count the deer and frogs who are frequent visitors to the backyard oasis. A small stream flows through the backyard, underneath the house and into the front yard. Tom even added a waterfall and landscaping to the stream, a lovely view for anyone sitting out on the spacious deck.

"I could not be more pleased. It's easy to take care of, and I love the screened-in porch," says Judy of the home. "It's a very comfortable home and I live here. And I like it!"