Two for one

~ Whitewater home offers two kitchens, two laundry rooms and lots of living space

Rolling fields of countryside create privacy for this week's showcase home, yet the open layout of the ranch house allows for a versatile lifestyle.

Centered on more than one acre of land, a wooden fence encloses an orchard-like cluster of trees in the front yard. A gravel driveway leads up to the attached two-car garage that opens on the side of the L-shaped brick home with a walk-out basement.

A flower garden situated in the recess between the garage and front door could also be landscaped to include a fountain or patio seating. The front porch is also recessed and is partially enclosed with a brick archway.

Additional landscaping includes two garden archways that lead to a large wooden deck that extends half the length of the back of the house and a patio beneath the deck.

The carved-panel front door opens into a great room that incorporates a living and dining space. To the left of the great room is a corridor kitchen and mudroom, and to the right are stairs to the basement and a full bathroom that separates the master bedroom and a bedroom.

A brick fireplace on the entire left wall is the focal point of the living room, while a four-paned picture window overlooks the flower garden. The fireplace is equipped with a blower and a log storage shaft that feeds from the garage. Two bullet lights on the ceiling provide lighting, while a chandelier across from the front door lights the dining room, where a second four-paned picture window overlooks the backyard and a large maple tree.

To the left of the dining room, the two-toned tan plush carpet of the great room gives way to a patch of white ceramic tile in front of a kitchen peninsula, creating a breakfast area, complete with a sliding glass door that leads onto the deck. The kitchen peninsula, which is connected to the fireplace wall, has a second ledge beneath the counter, adding additional seating. A second door at the end of the peninsula opens to a small recess in the house, where a large grill can be placed.

The corridor kitchen positions along the outer wall a sink beneath a window and a dishwasher. Along the inner wall is a smooth-top stove, an above-range microwave and a refrigerator, which comes with the house. The cabinets are of stained birch with a branded design and antique brass handles.

Connected to the end of the kitchen is the mudroom with laundry hookups, a counter with cabinets and a double BI-fold storage closet. Two doors on either end open to the garage and the back deck.

The master bedroom at the back of the house features sconce lights, a mirrored sliding-door closet and a full master bath, which includes a stand-alone shower and heat lights. Green tiles cover floors, while white and yellow tile cover halfway up the walls. Two globe lights hang from the ceiling over the oval vanity with a sand-colored Formica top.

The second full bath also features two hanging globe lights, along with blue tiles on the walls and berber carpet. The front bedroom that overlooks the front yard includes a walk-in closet and a room-length BI-fold closet with built-in shelves.

The downstairs nearly mirrors the upstairs floor plan. A family room in the center includes a sliding-glass door onto the back patio. Beneath the fireplace is a utility room with hookups for a wood stove. A second corridor kitchen includes a stove, sink and refrigerator. A secondary laundry room is also equipped with half-bath plumbing.

Beneath the upstairs bedrooms are two more bedrooms separated by a bathroom with plumbing but no appliances. The back bedroom features a walk-in closet and a room-length counter, which can be used as desk space for a study or a child's room. The front bedroom also has a walk-in closet.

Brown berber carpet covers the family room and bedrooms, while tile covers the kitchen and laundry room. White paint covers the majority of the basement. The great room has dark blue walls, while wallpaper covers the kitchen and guest bathroom.

jmetelski@semissourian.com