Built-in luxury

~ Cape Girardeau home has plenty of living space and built-in features

Spacious living areas in this week's showcase home provide plenty of room for a growing family and social gatherings.

The two-story house includes a large dining room, a family room with a built-in entertainment center and a large master bedroom -- in addition to three more bedrooms, a bonus room and 2.5 bathrooms. Soft blue vinyl siding and white shutters compliment the neutral earth tones on most of the other homes in the Northfield subdivision, located in the Alma Schrader school district. Rows of tall windows extend across both floors, masking a side entry two-car garage, while a large driveway allows for extra parking space.

Landscaping shrubs and trees hug the front of the house and the end of the driveway and backyard. Three mature trees dot the manicured front lawn and the gently sloped backyard, where a wooden deck connects to the breakfast room through a glass double-door.

Facing the east, the white front door opens into the centrally located foyer with stairs. A circular path of doorways also connects every main-level room. Hardwood floors cover three rooms, while wood doors continue throughout the house. Each bedroom wall and seating room is painted, while the walls in the bathrooms, kitchen and dining room are covered in varieties of floral wallpaper.

To the left, glass-panelled double doors open into the family room, where the entire south wall is occupied with built-in features. A wooden entertainment center with six doors hides the television and other electronic equipment. A brick fireplace next to it stretches from the ceiling to the floor, while a double-wide bookcase finishes out the wall space. Two tall windows extend to the floor on the east wall. On the west wall, a brief hallway to the breakfast room includes a half-bath and a laundry room connecting to the garage.

The breakfast area and kitchen combine into one large space featuring medium oak cabinets with cream Formica counters. The L-shaped layout with an oblong island places the refrigerator space, dishwasher and double sink along the outer wall and positions the smooth-top stove and above range microwave against the other wall. At the end of the L is an entryway into the dining room.

Along the inner wall from the dining room is the basement stairs, the foyer doorway, a pantry, a microwave counter, the hall entryway and a built-in secretary's hutch with a pantry of pull-out shelves. Also on the outer wall is the deck doors. A botanical-inspired chandelier with etched leaves and six light cups hangs over the breakfast table.

The dining room can fit a 10-seat dining table beneath a brass chandelier. A large picture window faces the sunset and is set back in a recess deep enough for conversation chairs. An entryway flows into the livingroom, which features a chair rail, two tall windows and deep sage green walls.

The second floor includes a central landing that places two bedrooms on each wall and a hall closet and bathroom at the top of the stairs. The master bedroom occupies the southeast corner, while the other three rooms sit on the other corners.

The hall bathroom features stone-like ceramic tile, a cream vanity with an oval sink, a shower-tub surround and a linen closet. Above the vanity is a full mirror and a soffit with three recessed lights.

All three of the bedrooms have windows, while two have walk-in closets and the third and largest has a shallow closet. The walls are painted with solid pastels, while the master bedroom has wine red walls.

The master bedroom comfortably fits a king-size bed, a full couch and a large dresser. The long master bathroom, which is the size of three standard bathrooms, features a double vanity with one oval sink and a built-in makeup counter. Several small vanity lights are mounted above a mirror that extends the full vanity. The tub features a tiled recess extra storage, while beneath it is a laundry chute that opens into the laundry room ceiling. A second door creates a private toilet and shower.

A recess in the master bedroom connects to a large walk-in closet and the bonus room above the garage, which can be used as a computer room or nursery.

jmetelski@semissourian.com