Hearth

Autumn has definitely reached Cape Girardeau, and winter is not far behind, which means it's a good time to think about settling in, and the home at 1503 Briarcliff is the perfect place to do just that.

This classic Cape Cod style home fits perfectly in Cape Girardeau, with its sturdy brick and buttery yellow shutters and trim that present a homey welcome.

Inside, the home is just as welcoming. A foyer with wood parquet flooring leads to a formal living room with white, textured walls and plush cream carpeting. The light colors provide an easy background for any style of décor.

The dining room, located conveniently between the kitchen and living room, is decorated with a tasteful floral print with a white background and pink and blue flowers. White chair rails midway down the wall add to a colonial feel.

The kitchen has warm, oak cabinets and a soothing ivy wallpaper design. The room combines classic design with modern appliances, including a smooth top range and automatic dishwasher, and double stainless steel sinks. Located nearby is a small sitting room with a brick wood-burning fireplace. A patio door leads from the kitchen/sitting room area to the back yard, which is really the home's most dazzling surprise.

The back yard has a very nice in-ground pool. Even covered for the winter, the pool area is striking, because the entire back yard has been set up as an outdoor room, with cozy seating areas scattered around the pool and perimeter of the yard. Back inside the house, there's plenty of space with four bedrooms and three and a half baths.

A main level bedroom has a pleasant floral wallpaper border and is located in close proximity to a bathroom. Also on the main level is a laundry room.

The other three bedrooms and a bath are on the upper level of the home. One is a cozy, sunny room with dormer ceiling lines that give it real visual interest. Another bedroom has great versatility with its roomy closets and soothing mint green walls.

The third bedroom is the master bedroom, which is roomy enough to easily accommodate a king-sized bed. Again, the dormer ceiling lines create visual interest and form a cozy alcove for a desk or study area situated next to the window. A large double closet with sliding doors offers plenty of space, and the master bathroom is well-designed with the toilet and step-in shower areas being visually separated from the rest of the bathroom.

The home also has a finished basement with a game room and entertainment area. A small bathroom is also located downstairs, along with a bar area which is designed to serve either as a snack spot or as a hobby area. An unfinished area offers plenty of additional storage space. This home is currently priced at $174,900. It can be viewed through Classic GMAC Real Estate, 335-0133.

traddle@semissourian.com