Old time charm

This four-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath home in Scott City brings back good memories.

By Tammy Raddle ~ Southeast Missourian

There's never quite a house like grandma's house.

It was built 50 to 100 years ago, has a large and welcoming front porch, and on the inside, it has original hardwood floors that have maintained their beauty despite all the nights of walking babies to sleep, worrying about husbands and sons that had been sent off to war, and the daily stress of living.

This describes the house at 103 Jefferson Ave. in Scott City. It has the charm and warmth of "grandma's house," complete with thick wood moldings and trim, wood-beamed ceilings, built-in hutches with leaded glass, pocket doors, and a lot of hand-painted touches. But it also has a kitchen with modern conveniences, like a smooth-top range, electric dishwasher, water purifying system, above-range microwave, and double oven.

The yard is easily maintained with a good mixture of perennials for spring and summer color, and the exterior of this one-and-a-half story house is a classic white brick and aluminum siding with terra cotta trim. A wooden privacy fence and a brick two-car detached garage are found at the rear of the home.

In addition to the beautiful wood, the living room has a red brick, wood-burning fireplace with a cherry mantle and a unique cherry-framed mirror above it. Large, cottage-style windows allow for plenty of natural light.

In the living room and dining rooms, a rich barberry color gives the rooms a nice energy. The dining room features a large three-section window with a built-in window seat below it.

Another highlight of the dining room is a craftsman-style, built-in lighted china hutch. A built-in buffet below it adds additional storage space, with a decorative touch of hand-painted sunflowers along the inset.

The kitchen is sunny with white cabinets and old-fashioned black metal pulls. Two large windows over the sink allow for a sunny view, and the kitchen uses its space wonderfully with custom-built cabinets and shelves found on each of the walls.

A back porch office is located down a couple of steps from the kitchen. The upper half of the walls and ceiling are painted with a sky-and-clouds scene. A full-view back door painted in sunny yellow leads to a redwood porch, and windows around the room allow for volumes of natural light.

The main level bathroom has white cabinetry, with a countertop faux painted to look as if it were tile. An old-fashioned medicine chest and vanity mirror is flanked with stained glass.

The home's hallway has built-in shelves in yellow and white, creating a quaint corner for display of collectibles.

The home's master bedroom also features hardwood floors, and a soft after-dinner mint wall color. The master bath has a step-in shower, walnut vanity, a large vanity mirror and a walk-in closet with louvered wooden doors. Also nearby is the laundry, with adequate cabinets for laundry supplies.

Another bedroom is currently being used as a television room. It also features a deep closet and a unique hanging double tulip light fixture.

Upstairs is a large attic bedroom with soft yellow painted floors, seven windows for great natural light, and wonderful dormer ceiling lines. A walk-in closet and half bath and white pedestal sink make this a special bedroom suite. Also upstairs is a large storage area.