Sometimes houses offer more than what you see at first glance. And that is particularly true of the house at 2013 Cambridge in Cape Girardeau's Northfield subdivision.

An open house will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. today to allow prospective buyers the chance to view the house and be pleasantly surprised.

This gray vinyl two-story house has a classic little cottage air to it. It has black shutters, awnings over the front windows and even coach style lights to illuminate the front porch. But inside the house, you find that it has plenty of room to it, despite its quaint, cottage feel.

The entrance door features leaded, beveled glass with a stained glass effect. The foyer greets visitors with parquet wood floors and a delicate rose patterned wallpaper.

To the right of the foyer is a formal living room that adjoins the dining room. A small chandelier gives the dining room a feeling of formality. Large windows at the rear of the dining room feature custom draperies that add to the room's elegance.

The home's kitchen also has parquet flooring, walnut-stained cabinetry and modern appliances including a Jenn-Air range with grill and an above-range stainless steel and black microwave. The kitchen also includes a water filter, side-by-side refrigerator, a double stainless steel sink area and a custom-made pantry.

Borrowing from an open-floor plan, the home's family room adjoins the kitchen, eliminating the feeling of being closed off from the rest of the family during meal preparation time. The focal point of the family room is a white brick fireplace that offers a unique choice of electric or wood-burning heat.

A door from the family room leads to one of the home's most inviting features, a covered patio. White lattice work and a painted patio floor give it a rare outdoor room look, which is sure to make outdoor dining and entertaining very enjoyable for the homeowners. The back yard of the property is lined with evergreen trees that provide a natural privacy screen. Also on the main level of this home is a bathroom with mint green cabinetry. Mint green louvered doors cleverly hide the home's laundry area. The toilet area has been visually separated from the remainder of the bath and the shower/tub area features lacy shower curtains, giving it a charming, old-fashioned feel.

The main level bedroom area features a lavender floral pattern on one wall.

Upstairs are two more bedrooms, both of a generous size. A large closet in the hallway, with sliding doors, offers additional space for the upstairs bedrooms. The upstairs bath features a shell-shaped sink, large mirrored toiletries cabinet and attractive tulip lights providing ample light for the vanity area. This home also features a finished basement with unique burl wood paneled walls.

traddle@semissourian.com