Update of Country Farmhouse Look

The Hilyard's multipaned windows, nostalgic wooden handrails, and stone veneer chimney put the viewer in mind of a welcoming country farmhouse.

This rambling, two-story plan is great for family gatherings. It has four large, interconnected gathering spaces: parlor, dining room, kitchen/nook, and family room. The roomy owners' suite and a large utility/mud room are also on the main floor. A convenient powder room is just inside the entry.

A ramp leads up to the covered porch, offering easy access for wheelchairs. Inside the two-story entry, natural light washes in through sidelights and a bank of windows on the second level. Double doors on the right open into a parlor with a masonry fireplace and built-in wood box.

An arched opening in the parlor leads into the dining room, which links with the kitchen via a pocket door. The kitchen can also be reached by walking straight through the entry, past the stairs, and into the generously glassed, vaulted family room. A long, flush, conversation bar marks the boundary.

From the kitchen sink, you can keep tabs on activities in the family room, or turn slightly to take in the nook and deck. A central work island expands counter and storage capacity. Skylights and a wide window bay let in plenty of natural light. Families and plants flourish in this bright space.

A relaxed sitting area expands the Hilyard's owners' suite, which boasts a roomy walk-in closet, large screened porch, and dual vanity, plus a separately enclosed shower and toilet. Upstairs, a balcony overlooks the family room. One large bedroom and bath are on one side; two more rooms and another bath are on the other.