1968 Best Homes | Plan B-7496 | Architect Lester Cohen

Behind the ever-popular traditional facade is a floor plan completely different in its concept, providing a practical, organized, yet dramatic living area. A sloping beamed ceiling sweeps around the rear of this home connecting the kitchen with the family room, including space for a dinette. The enormous bay thus created extends into the rear garden and can also be seen from the main entrance. Immediately on entering the house through the flagstone center hall the focus of attention is on the family social area. The core of this area is a brick fireplace—a veritable hub around which all household activity turns. On one side is the kitchen and on the other the family room. Between are a dinette, with a barbeque fireplace for cook-ins, and an extension of the family room which allows it to flow outdoors to the terrace and garden. This expansive indoor-outdoor living area, with floor-to-ceiling glass on all outside walls, is completely informal and contains all the necessities of day-to-day family routine. 

The formal living room remains set apart from the daytime activity area, a special place for special gatherings. Its focal point is a bow window overlooking the covered flagstone porch with its grill-work columns. There is no need ever to cross the formal living room to reach any part of the house. The dining room also has an unusual amount of privacy plus two sliding glass doors. One leads to the side porch, which can be screened, and the other leads to the terrace as do the two in the family area. Every one of the three bedrooms has plenty of closet space and a nice arrangement of windows. Bedroom 2 has a comfortable window seat and the master bedroom has a separate bath and dressing area which is most convenient. The family bath has been designed to double as a powder room. The basement is complete with recreation room, laundry, bar, lavatory, game storage closet and walk-in cedar closet. Wood siding and stone have been used for the traditional exterior of this very different home.