English enchantment

The house at 2133 Yorktown is reminiscent of the English countryside, with quaint bungalows surrounded by the emerald green of lovingly tended gardens.

This brick ranch home offers the practicality of the ranch style, but none of the predictability. This home has wonderfully surprising rooflines, a gorgeous Palladian window, a versatile interior and a lush lawn brimming with roses and perennial color. The sculptured shrubs at its entrance give the house just a hint of the English formal garden, but the bricked flower beds, which come in varying shapes and sizes, give the yard a bit of whimsy. The back yard has been designed to enhance privacy, making it a space unto itself.

The entrance door is an inviting green with leaded and beveled glass inserts and sidelights. Inside, is a cool white marble floor.

The formal living room stretches before the visitor with plush cream carpeting. Fourteen-foot ceilings with white crown molding draw the eye upward, and back down to the room's two focal points. One is a classic gas log fireplace. The fireplace is painted a soft, creamy mocha, which is used throughout much of the house in wall colors. The facing on the fireplace and its mantle are both a crisp and contrasting white. Inset lighting throughout the room gives it a soft glow. The other focal point of this room is the white French sliding doors that exit to the redwood deck, which has been enclosed with a privacy wall with lattice work windows. The effect is both soothing and charming, with greenery growing amongst the lattice work.

This deck is the home of a soothing Jacuzzi hot tub, capable of seating six. With twinkling lights amongst the greenery, the effect is quite magical.

The home's kitchen has white cabinetry and bright brass pulls. The floor is the same cool marble found in the entryway, and the appliances are all white, including the Jenn-Air built-in range, built-in oven, and side-by-side refrigerator with indoor drink and ice dispenser. The double sink is white porcelain with a very useful gooseneck faucet. A cozy breakfast nook is found in the bay window area, which has custom white louvered shutters halfway down, allowing for both privacy and a profusion of sunshine. A snack bar divides the kitchen and formal dining room area.

The dining area has a glistening brass and crystal chandelier hanging from a ceiling medallion, and a large double window overlooking the lush back yard. Sliding French patio doors open to a covered patio, perfectly situated for small outdoor meals and entertainment. Near the kitchen is the main level laundry room, which also features white tile floors and cabinetry matching that in the kitchen. The laundry room exits to the home's roomy two-car garage.

This home has four bedrooms, three of them on the main level. Each has been artistically designed. One of the children's rooms features a baseball motif, and the other a charming undersea world complete with rolling blue waves. The master bedroom is large enough to accommodate even large, antique furniture and a small sitting area. The master bath shows an artistic touch with wallpaper that has been cleverly cut to look as if it were a wall of natural stone. The master bath also includes a double sink vanity with white cabinetry and bright brass pulls, and a vanity mirror that stretches its length. The tub/shower includes modern glass and brass sliding doors, and a wide-head shower for a particularly relaxing shower experience.

This home also has a finished basement with beige Berber carpeting. The entire interior of this home has been recently painted and the carpets cleaned, giving it a fresh look. The finished downstairs includes two family entertainment rooms and a bathroom with beaded paneled walls at the lower half. Though the basement is not a walk-out, large casement windows allow plenty of natural light to alleviate a basement feel.

This home includes more than 1,800 feet of main level living space, and nearly that amount in the basement.

traddle@semissourian.com