Historic look graces large modern home

The Wilshire's stately fieldstone exterior and historic European styling are reminiscent of a castle or manor house. An oriel, or tower shaped projection, adds to the nostalgic charm.

The past fades once you step into the Wilshire's 4,000 plus square feet of contemporary living space. Only the parlor and formal dining room hark back to earlier times, and even these rooms have modern features. The parlor has an old fashioned 12 foot ceiling but no one can say that the room is dimly lit. A high arched window fills most of one wall, and windows in another wall add to the brightness. The spacious dining room has windows on two sides and a vaulted ceiling. A food warmer is tucked into one end of a built in buffet.

Day to day family living centers around a generously proportioned family room/kitchen with vaulted ceiling and central fireplace. Amenities in the kitchen include a built in desk, sunny eating bay, walk in pantry, and a large work island with a cooktop and a vegetable sink. The commodious utility room is but a few steps away.

Two sets of double doors in the family room open onto a lawn sized deck, and a large closet provides storage space.

In the elegant master suite, a waist high wall, crowned by columns and arches, marks the boundary between the sunken sleeping/sitting area and the upper level. Two steps up you'll find a walk in closet and a compartmentalized bathroom with spa tub, shower and dual vanity.

Three large bedrooms are upstairs, along with a loft/library that overlooks the vaulted foyer and the family room. The oriel could be outfitted with a window seat at the mid flight landing, allowing readers nestled in its cozy curves to imagine themselves in whatever time period they choose.