The basic advantage that this lovely 1964 split-level home from Sterling Forest, New York offers is economy. The house is basically small - only 24x44 feet. Yet there is a big family living here, with four good-sized bedrooms. The first level is divided between a 12x20 1/2-foot master bedroom suite and a spacious kitchen, living room and dining room. The raised deck extends the main living area outside to the lower level of this 2.152-square-foot plan where there are three children's bedrooms, bath, utility area and a 15x16-foot family room. Over-all dimensions of this house are about 60 feet wide and 75 feet deep including the carport and the deck.
In the living room, the ceiling high fireplace is the focal point of a flexible furniture arrangement that can be grouped any number of ways. The raised platform extends in the front of the window - a good spot for some house platns - and a folding screen easily controls light from therwindow. The ceilings on this level follow the slope of the roof - and seem to make all the rooms bigger. The hadwood floor, flowing from living room to dining area, visually enlarges both areas.
Even though it's on the lower level, this family room has plenty of daylight. And because of the sloping lot, there is even a sliding glass door to the outside. Full-heoight ceilings are another factor that makes all rooms on this level better than a basement. This is the room that carries the biggest share of the wear and tear from children in the family. And it is located next to the utility room so that sewing and ironing activities can expand in this direction. The parquet floor is oak, laid over the concrete slab. The wood paneling can eb cleaned in a hurry, whether it's a crayon mark, a tiny hand print or dust.
Even a large dinner is easy to serve in this dining area. The kitchen os only one step away and the table can be easily extended into the living room. The large glass area joins the inside space with the big deck outside and provides a year-round view of the back yard. The old chest was bleached to match the cahirs - it stores linen and silver and doubles as a serving area for family-only buffet dinners. The drapery on the big window and the sliding-glass door next to it matches fabric in the living room.
Breakfast space in the kitchen is a simple shelf, topped with plastic laminate. The wide window looks out on the back yard. A wall of perforated hardboard lets you easily decorate the whole room - and store often-use pots and pans.
A master bedroom like this is reason enough to insist on a good floor plan when you shop for a split-entry house. The room will accommodate a king-size bed, with space left over for a seating area at the other end of the room. The alcove - it's a projection beyond the foundation line - serves as an excellent home office or study.
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