Friendly porch sets tone for Richardson

Double porch supports enhance the charm of the Richardson, a small, symmetrical Craftsman-style home with a central dormer. What draws your eye is the welcoming covered porch that spans the entire front.

No gaping garage door mars this home's curb appeal. Harking back to simpler times, the garage opens to the rear. If preferred, the garage could be reoriented to open on the side.

Formal rooms are on the left, everyday living areas on the right, and bedrooms upstairs. Kitchen and family room flow together.

Standing at the range, you can ladle soups and stews into waiting bowls lined up along the eating bar. And you can easily keep tabs on homework, games, crafts or other happenings in the family room.

The large pantry boasts available storage space, and a door at the back of the kitchen provides direct access to the garage. With this arrangement you need never unload groceries in darkness, rain or snow again.

A small powder room and utilities hidden behind folding doors line the pass-through that connects kitchen to dining room. Glass doors in the dining room swing open to access a small patio. Both parlor and dining room are brightened by windows on two sides.

Three bedrooms and two bathrooms are upstairs, along with access to a storage space over the garage. The Richardson's master suite is modest in size, but does have a walk-in closet and a bathroom with shower and dual vanity.

Secondary bedrooms share another bathroom. The front bedroom has a wider window, but the other bedroom is actually a little larger and has more closet space.