<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Conversation, decor and background music piped in via the Savant Smart Home System keep gratitude, faith and family at the forefront in the Sheila Sanders home in Kingspoint, a Lake Charles subdivision.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Eric and Sheila Sanders, their two girls and their two toy schnauzers were living near the Lake Charles Country Club Golf Course but not on it, when a lot situated near the course’s number one hole became available.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Eric and Sheila decided to make the move to the Kingspoint subdivision.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Avid golfers, the couple not only enjoy the view of the course. They also appreciate the antics of, and conversation with, other players, while enjoying the comfort of their new home..</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">One of the family’s favorite things to do is use the WAITR app to order food and stay in and enjoy each other and the view, according to Eric. The girls often ask for s’mores heated over the glass- and stone-surfaced fire pit for dessert. They love their new home so much, in fact, they’d rather not leave it.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“We just got back from a trip to California,” Sheila said, “and we couldn’t wait to get home. Living in this home is like being on vacation. It’s better than being on vacation.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The floor plan is open. The kitchen/family room is huge and it features an island, digital commercial range, stove and refrigerator/freezer, wine cooler, icemaker, farm sink, sitting area, large breakfast nook with banquette seating and large walk-in pantry with sliding ladders that help Eric and Sheila reach to the upmost shelf.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Ceilings in the house are 12 feet in the pantry and two-storied in the entrance, stairwell and living room. This large, welcoming kitchen/family room is just one of the many vantage points for enjoying the abundance of natural lighting and great view.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The Sanders’ had high praise for the craftsman who helped design and build their home. Jason Garcia, Siti Construction, was contractor. Eric went online to get a general idea for the type of house plan that would best fit the lot size and shape. Michael Murphy, a Lafayette architect customized the design.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Aaron Shackleford, ASAP Landscaping, did the lawn design. Porche Advanced Systems installed the Savant Smart Home System, which includes a sophisticated security monitoring system. Joseph Electric was lighting designer. Sabine Pools was pool designer, installer and outdoor furniture vendor. Appliances are from Coburns’ Buddy Kohnke and C&amp;C. Customized ironwork is from Josh Guillory.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Surfaces Gallery helped the family select the window coverings, flooring, tile and countertop materials.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">One of the flooring selections was the old-fashioned solid wood flooring. The narrow profile oak with its golden finish exudes a warm, traditional strength from which Sheila pulled wall color for the living room.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The travertine used around the pool area, as well as inside the house, adds texture. The walk-in shower is an incredible, seamless curving design featuring three different types of tile.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“That shower is one of my favorites,” Eric said. “I show it to everybody.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Showing off the shower reminds Eric how pleased he is that he let his contractor talk him into installing a special water filtration system that allows the family to drink great-tasting filtered water from any tap in the house. The filtration also means no calcium deposits around drains, on the small shaving mirror in the walk-in shower or in or around the pool.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Construction began on the 7,400-square-foot home in January 2014. The family moved in August 2015.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“We’re still not completely finished decorating,” Sheila Sanders apologized.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The couple maintains a full schedule with their pediatric dental business, daughters’ events, church activities and community involvement.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">On the day of the <em>American Press</em> interview, the schedule was more hectic than usual. Sheila, as chairperson for the Junior League of Lake Charles Leaguers and Links Golf Tournament to be held in a couple of days, was still attending to details.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“This year, there is more participation than ever before,” Eric said, beaming, obviously proud of his wife’s commitment to helping make the event a success.</span>

<span class="R~sep~AHeadsubhead"><strong>Space for fun and family</strong></span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The Sanders home includes a guest suite/man cave with four TVs, which means that every person playing cards can also check out their favorite team.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The outside kitchen features a double sliding glass door, which opens to the pool with waterfall, separate whirlpool and fire pit.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">He has an office. She has an art room. The couple has a workout room, in which they often find the children’s play things, even though the children have their own roomy entertainment area with four bunks.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“That’s where the playthings are supposed to be,” Sheila said, chuckling, “but I keep finding things in here.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“We’ve had 27 children over for a sleepover,” Eric said.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The children’s entertainment room has storage for toys, a large screen TV, comfortable lounge furniture, a table for games and four built-in bunks.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">As with any building project of this scope, things took longer than the Sanders thought they would.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“You have to wait for the materials to arrive,” Eric said. “The delay of one subcontractor may hold up the work of the next subcontractor….”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Now that the Sanders family is in their home, they’ve forgotten all about the frustration that can come with less than perfect timelines and uncooperative weather.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“We love living here,” Eric said.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“We wanted a place that we didn’t have to tell the kids not to touch something,” Sheila said. “This place was designed and built to be lived in, not a museum.</span><p>The Sanders family home is located in Kingspoint near the No. 1 hole at the Lake Charles Country Club’s golf course. (Rita LeBleu / American Press)</p>