Its easy to judge this book by its cover. You know what youre getting just by scanning the exterior of this pleasant country cottage. Board-and-batten and shingle siding are accompanied by an over-the-garage pergola. Its whole framework exudes a sense of welcome and unassuming comfort. 
Everyday happenings will converge in the main-level living areas of the kitchen, dining room, and great room, where traffic flows easily between the open rooms. An island with a snack bar defines the work and social spaces of the kitchen. The dining room is tucked between windows and a set of patio doors that lead to the backyard. The wide-open social great room is juxtaposed by the privacy of an adjacent den. Uniting the two is a see-through fireplace, flanked by media built-ins for the great-room and double doors for the den.

Interesting ceilings throughout provide visual interplay. The great room has a vaulted ceiling, which sets it apart from the nearby kitchen and dining room to which it opens. The master suite also features a vaulted ceiling, courtesy of a front-facing gable roof. In addition, all of the upper-level bedrooms have sloped ceilings, which underscore the sense of coziness that permeates the home.

Practical aspects of the home include a tandem three-car garage, under-the-staircase storage, a kitchen planning desk, and a pantry. Little luxuries include a loft overlooking the foyer and great-room, a casual second living space on the upper-level (games room), and a spa tub in the master suite.