A recently repaved asphalt drive wends its way up to the residence of Julie Schmidt.

The house — a 1950 midcentury modern design by architect Chalfant Head built in 1951 — rests at the top of the languidly curving drive, bounded by scrub-laden mountains on one side and a manicured stretch of low hedgerow on the other.

Once at the drive's crest, a circular tinted-concrete roundabout with red brick inlay reaches around the house, providing a brick pathway that follows the residential perimeter.

Converging at the back patio in a tinted-charcoal and red brick swath of color, masonry mixes with lawn to cover the generous outdoor gathering (and recreation) area.

"We have hosted many types of gatherings at this house," says Julie, surveying the expansive Santa Clara Valley view from the shade of low-slung eaves in the multi-directional patio, a seeming extension of the living room.

"Neil was very civic-minded and involved in many youth organizations," she added.

Dr. Neil Schmidt, Julie's husband of nearly 40 years, grew up in the Salinas County region of Northern California.

A graduate of UCLA's doctorate program in education, he eventually became the Fillmore Superintendent of Schools.

As a family, Neil and Julie had moved back and forth from Northern to Southern California with their two young daughters Sarah and Carrie, when fortuitous circumstances brought them back to Fillmore — and the house they had always considered home.

"The house came back on the market," Julie recalled. "There have only been three owners: the original owners, the Padelfords; the Browns; and us," she said.

"We were so happy to be able to move back into it," she added.

Strange and wonderful turns of events sometimes lead to stranger or tragic turns, such as Neil's sudden death in December 2004. "I got a call from my daughter, Sarah, telling me I had better come home," Julie says, recalling the news of her husband's fatal bee sting. "(Sarah) said, something's happened to Dad," she continued, as the high sparkle of her aquamarine eyes grappled with latent tears.

Julie, who has had dual careers in both real estate and education, was working as a teacher at San Cayetano elementary school when "I got the call at school telling me about Neil." After three years, she recounts the news of her husband's death with a strength that is possible only from the sloping side of grieving.

"These years have been a journey for me," she said, "And I couldn't have done it without the tremendous support of my friends."

Leaving a home that is both "nurtured" as well as an architectural showpiece, says Julie, "isn't easy."

"I just hope the next buyer has the same appreciation for (the house) as Neil and I do," she said.

Though the house retains much of the original hard architecture — board and batten timber siding, walls of aluminum-framed windows, floor plan — the high altitude of the home (an RA-1-classified or "residential agriculture" structure) says Realtor and Schmidt's representative, Kay Wilson-Bolton, is "unusual for the city."

Butted up near the rear master bedroom is a scenic backdrop of mountains "that actually border the Los Padres National Forest," Wilson-Bolton said.

Natural materials also figure into the interior of the home, namely in the built-in corner fireplace where bulging, convex angles project from green-hued Sespe River rock. Complementing the organic, open floor plan of the home, inside dividing walls, bleached mahogany built-ins and soft, multi-hued speckled carpet all combine to fashion and adorn this example of fine, ranch-style design.

"This is a house for living," Julie says. And though the home has undergone renovations — the addition of an RV garage, a flagstone-paved, private front entrance patio, the replacement of the original linoleum flooring with tile and a retiling of the in-situ barbecue in the front patio — the essential hallmark aspects of the vintage modern architecture remain.

Windows ("This house always has light," Julie says) seem to embrace the ambient light and infuse it into the horizontally laid-out interior space. A sizable hall bathroom sits between two boxy bedrooms, replete with deep, built-ins, and allows for deep soaks in the pristine white porcelain tub while gazing outside from two vast, west-facing squares of glass.

Meanwhile, the master bedroom at the end of the hall boasts north, west- and east-facing windows and views. A material synchronous with 50s-era design, stainless steel finishes the trim in both the master en-suite and hall bathrooms, where original ceramic tile in harmonizing colors of teal, lavender, yellow and grey still covers countertops and shower stalls with a smooth luster.

Stainless steel works cleverly in the square kitchen, where it configures into an all-stainless counter-sink unit allowing for convenient whisks. Head incorporated thoughtful design motifs throughout the home — recessed overhead lighting and retractable rolling or sliding doors and cabinets are employed in virtually every room of the interior.

"There are five pocket doors in this house," remarks Julie.

The front of the home, in the private patio, defines privacy of the cottage-garden variety, where a timber pergola asserts a space for morning coffee or afternoon tea, under delicate vines and flowers.

Privacy is a by-product of the home; one that Julie and Neil engaged in with regular evenings together watching the sunsets. "Neil used to love sitting out by the pool with a glass of wine, watching the sun go down," Julie said, wistfully.

The Schmidts' two girls were members of school swim teams so, with that in mind, they incorporated an extra-long and deep (45-feet and 8-feet, respectively) pool into the patio masonry. "The pool is good for making flip turns," Julie said.

From the brick terrace beyond the pool to the 3-plus-acre avocado orchard below ("Neil was a gentleman farmer," Julie said) and back is the route Julie takes for quiet recreation.

Though she is considering optioning the purchase of the orchard, a triangle-shaped patch of trees that sits on a plateau midway up the drive, as separate from the residence, as today, "I'm not sure that selling the house with the orchard is absolute," she said. "But, we'll see."

The asking price for the 2,693-square-feet, three-bedroom, two-bath home, inclusive of the orchard, is $1,495,000.

Whether the residential and agricultural parcels result in separate sales, the site will continue to be remembered fondly by the citizens of Fillmore as "the favorite place" of one of its "Citizens of the Year," Dr. Neil Schmidt.

For a virtual tour, visit http://media.homestore.com/HVBJ223T.htm or call Wilson-Bolton at 525-7118 to set up an appointment to tour the 961 Mountain View Street residence.

Photos by Marie Zapien / Special to The Star

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A site for meditation or socializing, the brick terrace with fire pit sits surrounded by a trio of hedges, above. Meanwhile, just beyond the low, brick-trimmed safety wall begins a staircase Neil Schmidt fashioned out of railroad ties that descends to the avocado orchard. Left, light pours into the living room from a wall of windows, affording expansive views of the patio and beyond.

FOR SALE

Fillmore

$1,495,000

Kay Wilson-Bolton

Century 21 Buena Vista

525-7118 or 340-5025

Virtual tour at http://media.homestore.com/HVBJ223T.htm

1951 mid-century modern ranch house by architect Chalfant Head. It offers about 2,693 square-feet; 4-plus acre lot; 3-plus acre separate avocado orchard; three bedrooms' two bathrooms; pool room with bath; 45-foot pool; AC/heat; electric and gas appliances; two-car garage; RV garage; views and a private drive.