Spectacular and secluded

There is a surprising number of places in Cape Girardeau County that are quiet, little tucked away pieces of land and houses not found on the beaten path.

The house at 414 Quail Ridge near Fruitland is one of those places. It's just a few miles off Highway 177, which makes it close to the city. Yet, with a 5.77 acre lot, it has a secluded feeling about it that makes it a secret paradise.

The property is surrounded by trees and overlooks a lake. The house itself is a gray frame and brick that mixes modern and traditional architectural features. A three-car attached garage has sky-blue colored doors that match the entry door.

Inside, this home matches the majesty of its setting with its interior design. It is designed with an open concept, allowing the foyer, living room, dining room and kitchen areas to flow easily from one to another.

The foyer area features a wooden parquet floor, roomy coat closet and a powder room with a white pedestal sink and soft, gentle colors.

The foyer stretches into the home's centerpiece: the living room. A 30-foot cathedral ceiling with beautiful wooden beams adds to the airy feeling. A wall of windows at the rear of the living room and dining area make the most of the exquisite view of the rear deck and lake.

Though the view outdoors is magnificent, almost as eye-catching is the stone fireplace that reaches to the apex of the ceiling. A wood design above the fireplace opening repeats the rich, woodsy feel of the house. Another feature of this fireplace is that it also opens on the opposite side to the master bedroom suite, doubling its utility and beauty.

The master bedroom suite features rich, green plush carpeting with a touch of teal. The color transitions easily from the more muted slate blue carpeting in the living room. On the bedroom side, the fireplace is gray brick. Large casement windows and a patio door again let you take advantage of the lake view and the availability of a rear deck.

A 20-foot ceiling in the suite continues the openness found in the rest of the house. The master bedroom suite also includes a large walk-in closet that segues into the master bath.

The kitchen features tile-look white linoleum flooring and oak cabinetry. This kitchen has plenty of cooking and meal-preparation space, with ample countertops and a built-in electric range in the island. Other appliances include a built-in oven and microwave in modern black, a side-by-side refrigerator with indoor drink and ice dispenser, and a double sink. The oak cabinetry is warm and handsome, with one of the door fronts featuring stained glass in a floral design.

Outside the kitchen, the greenhouse is a gardener's paradise, with plenty of space for transplanting, watering and getting seedlings started. Also just off the kitchen is an exit to the home's covered deck, which provides the perfect spot for warm weather dining and entertaining. Also near the kitchen is an exit to the garage and a large laundry room.

Upstairs, the home has another beautiful bedroom. A tall casement window on the landing of the steps allows for plenty of natural light to come spilling into the upstairs. A loft area at the top of the stairs looks out over the living and dining rooms, and gives another view of the lake through the two-story windows.

The upstairs bedroom has two tall casement windows, and soft, neutral colors for easy decorating. An upstairs bathroom also has warm, oak cabinets, a step-in shower and its own makeup vanity.

This home lists as three bedrooms, but also includes a finished basement now being used as a family room, which could be converted to bedroom space if needed, and a bathroom.

traddle@semissourian.com