A couple who likes to travel needs a house that won't take up too much of their free time. For Lucinda and Ed Smith, their three-story cluster home on the edge of Decatur is the base of operations from which they can take off to their home in Florida — or other parts of the globe.

The tan brick home is part of a small enclave of homes off Church Street in Decatur. Built eight years ago, the compact designs have little yard to worry about, but plenty of elbow room inside.

Allen Sullivan / Staff (ENLARGE)

'Deceptively large' is how Ed Smith describes the tan brick home he shares with wife Lucinda in Decatur.

Allen Sullivan / Staff (ENLARGE)

The lower level of the house has a spacious finished informal living space.

Allen Sullivan / Staff (ENLARGE)

The Smiths like the low maintenance and almost non-existent yard, which allows them to take off and travel whenever they need or want.

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"It's like having a townhouse, but it's not attached," said Ed Smith. "And the maintenance is extremely low."

Just inside the front door, a two-story foyer is topped by a white "artichoke" chandelier, with layers of fabric circling a bright globe. A frosted-glass foyer table stands below a bright abstract painting with splashes of red and yellow. Throughout the house, the pale walls are dotted with paintings and pictures the couple has bought on trips and at home.

"We buy things we like and don't necessarily focus on special artists," said Ed Smith.

The hardwood-floored hall curves to the left, passing the entrance to the two-car garage, the steps to the finished basement and the marble-floored powder room. Through a set of French doors to the right is the couple's home office, where a vintage wall map shows off the continents above a light wood desk. To the left is the dining room, anchored by a glass-topped table and lit by a sleek wood chandelier.

At the end of the hall is the two-story family room, with windows high above the black marble fireplace. Two one-armed sofas provide the seating. A low, sleek entertainment center holds the flat screen television. There's also a door to a deck and a small stretch of woods behind the house. A loft area from the second floor overlooks the room.

"We liked this design because of the loft," said Ed Smith. "It feels like we have a real loft, even though we're in a traditional house."

Adjacent to the living room is the kitchen, where gray Corian counters surround a white sink, five-burner stove and stainless steel appliances. A long breakfast bar has metal stools with suede seats that match the dining chairs around the glass-topped circular table in the eating area.

"We wanted to do something more contemporary in this area," explained Lucinda Smith. "And so far, we're not tired of it."

Upstairs, the loft area is furnished with overstuffed club chairs and ottomans, opposite a wall of bookcases brimming with travel and pleasure books. The antique cedar chest that belonged to Lucinda Smith's grandmother sits below the window.

In the master, the couple turned a closet from the adjacent bedroom into one that opens into their room for additional storage. A square lamp with silk edges hangs from the double tray ceiling, over the platform bed. Two colorful abstracts of boxer shorts and shoes by a local artist came from a Decatur gallery. The high-ceiling bath has a spa tub, separate shower and large walk-in closet with customized shelving.

In the guest room, the Smiths had their builder add two closets on either side of the triple window, creating a nook of light. The room is lit by a hanging lamp in the shape of a turned-up umbrella. "We really had a lot of fun picking the light fixtures!" said Lucinda Smith.

The entrance to the finished basement is lined with family photos, including several old shots in antique frames. In the spacious room beyond, there's a tray ceiling above a bar with five black stools, a sitting area with a television and doors to a deck. A separate room with a full bath houses the workout equipment.

One of the best things about the house, said Lucinda Smith, is that its design works well with both their traditional and contemporary furniture pieces.

"And it's got quite a bit of room — about 3,200 square feet, which you wouldn't guess from the outside," added Ed Smith. "It's deceptively large."

Have a cottage, condo, loft or mansion you want to brag about? Call MetroHome at 678-574-6461 or e-mail hm_cauley@yahoo.com.