Country splendor

One of the difficulties of having a home in the country is sometimes the country overwhelms the home. But the house at 447 Sandy Lane in Altenburg is one that actually can compete with its magnificent scenic background.

This is a spacious 1.5 story brick-and-vinyl home, less than 2 years old, that's nestled on more than 10 acres of rolling countryside, with a majestic brick entrance gate.

This home is built from brown brick and has a two-car garage. Garage doors, shutters and an entrance door with frosted and leaded glass with sidelights are all painted in a complementary tan. A generous covered porch welcomes visitors. The landscaping surrounding the house is neat and simple for easy maintenance.

Inside, the home also reflects a combination of beauty and practicality. A Palladian window sits atop the apex of the vaulted ceiling in the foyer, with a shining modern brass-and-glass chandelier overhead. Hardwood floors shine throughout much of the house, stretching from the foyer to the living and dining areas.

To the right of the foyer is a formal living room with plush beige carpeting. Wood French doors separate the living room from the formal dining room. Double windows at the front of the room allow for volumes of natural light, and the oak trim throughout the house picks up the woodsy theme of the world outside the house.

This home has formal and informal dining areas just steps away from the kitchen and a cheery sunroom separated by stylish French doors. Doors on each side of the sunroom open to the rear patio and deck. Part of the patio is covered, making it a perfect area for outdoor dining. The interior dining area has great custom cabinets, all in shiny oak with ruby red countertops. It offers an area for a communications and media center, plus plenty of storage space.

The large kitchen also offers plenty of space for meal preparation and storage. The cabinetry includes a built-in wine rack and wine glass storage area. Four of the cabinets have glass fronts for displaying china and glassware pieces. All of the kitchen appliances are in black, including a side-by-side refrigerator with indoor drink-and-ice dispenser, built-in smooth-top range surrounded by a black ceramic-tile countertop, and a double oven with built-in microwave. The double granite-look sink is situated below a window overlooking the covered patio. A large walk-in pantry is another wonderful amenity.

A large laundry room features gleaming oak cabinetry also, as well as a large utility closet for storage of laundry and housekeeping items.

This home also has a master bedroom suite on its main floor. A walk-in closet features a customized organizational system.

This master bedroom's most striking feature is a corner gas-log fireplace with a black marble face and hearth. The room is large enough to accommodate a sitting area. The master bath is stunning with a garden whirlpool tub with six jets and beautiful brass hardware. The bath suite has a separate cosmetics vanity with rich, oak cabinetry, a huge mirror, and striking Hollywood lights. A double sink vanity has been built around a corner, giving each sink user more privacy. A step-in shower with built-in seat is another amenity of this master bath.

The home's other three bedrooms are upstairs. Each is well-equipped with organized closet space, plush beige carpeting and large windows. One of the upstairs bedrooms has its own bathroom, decorated with Italian marble flooring, a two-person garden style tub, and a visually separated toilet area.

This home also has a finished walk-out basement with a large family room and an area perfect for a wet bar or kitchenette, with the plumbing already roughed-in. Also downstairs is a large amount of unfinished space, perfect for storage. A downstairs bathroom is nearly complete.

traddle@semissourian.com