Family values

With five bedrooms and three bathrooms, the home at 3525 Mallard in Clarkton Place Subdivision has plenty of room for a growing family, and it has the amenities to make those harried family days enjoyable.

This brick-and-vinyl-siding home features many of the standards one would expect in a nice home, like a two-car garage, but it also has many unexpected touches.

The very entrance is an indicator of that fact. A roomy front porch with Victorian country-look wooden railings offers a pleasant space for just enjoying this family-oriented neighborhood on the warm spring and summer days now nearing.

Inside, a leaded and frosted glass entrance door and sidelights allows a pleasant splash of light onto the shining hardwood floors of the foyer. A winding staircase draws the eye upward, and then back down to its elegant curve at the base. A modern brass-and-glass light fixture hangs like a jewel from the 20-foot ceiling.

A formal dining room features cream-colored plush carpeting and large, floor-to-ceiling windows to provide ample light. Crisp white ceiling moldings and French doors that open to the family room are elegant additions not found in most homes.

The family room is another pleasant surprise, hosting a 12-foot bay window and a fireplace with a wooden mantle for display of family treasures.

The family room merges effortlessly into the informal dining and kitchen area. The kitchen is large and open and features handsome oak cabinets. Warm hardwood floors create a homey atmosphere. The informal dining area features an Old World-style antique light fixture. An exit from this room leads to a roomy deck that overlooks a back yard.

A formal dining room with crème-colored plush carpeting and artistic and restful sand-colored walls offers opportunities for both elegant and less formal dining. A large floor-to-ceiling window offers luxurious natural light.

Upstairs are the home's primary bedrooms. The master bedroom suite features a large, Palladium window above a floor-to-ceiling double window. A vaulted ceiling allows the light to bounce attractively from surface to surface. The master bath features a unique cherry wood, double-sink vanity with a mirror that runs its length. The suite also features a step-in shower and whirlpool bath.

The other two bedrooms, currently used as children's bedrooms, both feature plenty of light and closet space. The one includes a charming window seat set in a bay window area.

The home also has a finished basement, currently being used largely as an exercise area, though it could also be used as an entertainment area, game room or hobby area.