Rural regalness

Remember when you were a kid with a set of Lincoln Logs and you built your dream house? Was it a fancy version of the Ponderosa?

If you drive out past Gordonville, Mo., to Route OO, you'll find that Lincoln Log dream house at 5487 Route OO.

My grandfather built a log cabin by himself years ago. Timber was plentiful and free for the taking, and he had a family to house and not a lot of money to do it. A log cabin is as American as you can get in terms of housing ... it's part of our heritage. And nothing is quite as magical as a log home peeking through the woods. It just looks as if it belongs there.

The modern log home at 5487 Route OO also looks as if it belongs there, perched on a hill overlooking the highway with a background of woods completing the picture. As a matter of fact, this home comes with your choice of either three acres, or almost 10 complete with a horse barn and pond.

This home is charming and warm in its rustic ambiance, yet located only about nine miles from both Cape Girardeau and Jackson, Mo. You follow a little brick path past a small goldfish pond to the front door. A large country-style front porch sits along the front of the house, offering breezy shade on a warm day and a friendly porch swing to relax with a glass of lemonade. The path may not be a yellow brick road, but a fairy tale surely awaits inside.

The interior is light and sunny, unlike the old-time log cabins. Smooth, rich wood graces the walls, floors and ceilings. The home has about 2,800 square feet of finished space and a two-car garage, three bedrooms and three bathrooms.

The striking thing about the interior of this home is its openness. A loft stretches along the upper level of the house, offering a unique view of all the rooms below and added living space.

On the main level is the living room, warm and comfortable with the added charm of an old-fashioned Ben Franklin wood burning stove. The home is all electric. The wood stove on the main floor, and one in the basement, increase the heating efficiency of this home in winter.

The kitchen is a special pleasure, with a tile-look inlaid flooring, warm oak cabinets, light-colored countertops and a wealthy of storage space. A pantry cabinet space even features room for a microwave, a desk, and shelves for the display of cookbooks, and perhaps some antique kitchen utensils. Off the kitchen is a well-organized laundry area, with space for both hanging clothes and storing laundry products neatly.

Also on this main floor is a large bathroom, with brass bathroom fixtures. The master bedroom is rustic splendor, with large beams running along the ceiling, reminding of the sturdiness of a home that was built for a lifetime. Again, contrasting with the rustic background is a modern oval Jacuzzi tub in the master bathroom.

The other bedrooms in the house are also very nice and well-lit with natural light pouring through the windows. Upstairs in the loft area is a walkway that stretches the length of the house. At one end is a large sitting room or office area, also receiving a wealth of natural light through two skylights. Ample storage is also available in the attic area of the home.

The upstairs bedroom is especially magical, with its roof-line ceiling, skylights, and large walk-in closet. It reminds me of having a room in a treehouse. Also upstairs is a bathroom with a shower and more rich oak cabinetry.

The basement of the home is currently unfinished, but in itself offers a wealth of home design possibilities. A basement bathroom is already roughed-in.

The land on which the home sits is also rich with possibilities for landscaping and use. About half the acreage is in pasture, and the other half in woods.

This home is listed at two prices: $239,900 for the house and nine acres, or $195,000 for the house and three acres. It is available for viewing through Century 21 Ashland Realty, 334-0125.