Economical Elkins provides room to grow

The Elkins is a compact, four-bedroom plan, well-suited to the needs of a young family. Empty nesters wishing to downsize will also appreciate its ease of maintenance, along with having extra bedrooms and a bonus room available for hobbies, or ready to host visiting family and friends.

Graceful wooden posts support the roof extension that covers the front porch. Inside, a convenient coat closet is immediately behind the front door, which opens into the living room. A gas fireplace creates a focal point on the outer wall, and nearby, a stairway winds up the far wall.

The C-shaped kitchen at the rear is entirely open to the dining area. Sliding glass doors open to provide patio access, ideal for outdoor dining when the weather is inviting. The patio could be roofed and screened, if desired.

Utilities and a step-in pantry are mere steps away, in a passthrough room that links the house to the garage. This feature will be most fully appreciated when it's storming outside and you have a car full of groceries to unload.

In the Elkins' master suite, folding doors conceal a wide, walk-in closet. The sleeping area offers direct access to a bathroom, complete with combined tub and shower.

Three more bedrooms and a bonus room are upstairs, along with a second bathroom. Bedroom three has a walk-in closet. Two more closets are in the hallway, one for linen, and the other for general storage.

The bonus room over the garage is fairly large - 20 feet deep - with sloping ceilings along the sides. Access is from the Elkins' second floor hallway. It could be used for storage, a home office, hobby room, music studio, or whatever suits.