Pining for home

~ Whitewater subdivision home offers custom features

Sloped woodlands surround three sides of this week's showcase home located in the sprawling Timbercreek subdivision of Whitewater.

The subdivision consists of eight houses that each sit on plots of more than five acres of tall oaks and rolling hills. A family-owned independent developer, who designed and built the ranch home with a walk-out basement, mingled earthy elements with a modern design.

The shingle-covered roof includes a gable over the garage and a main one with a shadow gable over the center of the front. Beneath the shadow gable is a rustic wall of creek bed stones, while the rest of the home dons a modern polish of taupe vinyle siding with white accents.

Three young oaks dot the sodded front yard, while the side and back yards slope into the dense treeline. With the house facing the north, the sunrise pours into the living room and kitchen.

A finished driveway on the west side leads up to a two-car garage with independent doors, while the front door and covered porch occupies the east side. Perpendicular to the driveway is a parking space that extends into the front yard, while a walkway of large creek bed stones connects the parking space to the covered front porch with white railing.

The front door opens into the livingroom, where the eastern wall is entirely finished in narrow panels of natural knotty pine. Three square windows on the same wall filter light onto two-toned taupe berber carpet, which is complimented by cream and taupe painted walls, divided by a pine chair rail. A white vaulted ceiling creates height, and a lighted ceiling fan and recessed fixtures add light. On the southern wall is an electric fireplace, hand-made by the developers, that was also finished in knotty pine and features a two-tiered hearth, a crown-molding mantlepiece and decorative carvings.

On the western wall a wide pass-through reveals the galley kitchen, and two entryways are on either side -- the left one leads to the the dining room then master bedroom and the right one leads to a breezeway.

The kitchen places the double sink and dishwasher beneath the pass-through and sets the stove, above-range microwave and refridgerator space along the inner wall. Laminate wood tile flooring covers the kitchen, dining room and half of the breezeway.

The three rooms with a southern view are the dining room, the masterbedroom and the basement family room.

A wide entryway separates the independent dining room from the kitchen. A room-width bay window overlooks the top of the southern treeline, and an eastern exterior door opens onto a long wooden deck wide enough for lounge seating and a large grill.

The master bedroom, which sits on the southwestern corner, has virtually uninterupted wallspace on all four walls, because the doors to the masterbath, walk-in closet and hallway are grouped in one corner. Diamond-patterned neutral berber carpet and white walls are ready for any color combination.

The master bathroom features a white porceline, one-piece, vanity with an oval sink that is nearly the length of one wall. The shower-tub surround has a smooth tile imprint rather than grout and tiles. Stone-like ceramic tile covers the floor.

The two northern bedrooms along the right side of the breezeway are identical, with bi-fold closets and lighted ceiling fans. A pantry separates the rooms. Across the breezeway from the bedrooms is a full standard bathroom, stairs to the downstairs and a laundry room.

The laminate wood floor in the breezeway turns into white ceramic tile, which creates a mudroom large enough for lockers or additional cabinets. Two doors open up the the garage and the laundry room.

The partial-finished basement features two main sections -- a family room with a kitchenette and storage rooms with crawl spaces. The family room features steel double-doors that lead to the backyard, a bay window exactly beneath the dining room bay window, a gray painted concrete floor and a full-bathroom. While the kitchenette features a counter and double sink, the square area is large enough to be developed into a full kitchen.

Between the kitchenette and stairs is a hallway leading to the storage rooms, which feature lighted crawl-spaces for extra storage or a wine cellar.

In the backyard, a hidden feature on the home is an attached utility shed under the living room and is accessed by a small garage door beneath the main-level deck.

jmetelski@semissourian.com