Compact Copperfield feels large inside

Families looking for a compact home with a feeling of spaciousness will find much to appreciate in the Copperfield. This small ranch-style home is as economical to build as it is to maintain, and could easily be adapted for wheelchair accessibility. As such, it's equally well suited to young families buying their first home, or empty nesters eager to reduce their maintenance work.

From the street, it's pleasantly symmetrical. Multipaned windows, set under the low-profile right gable, echo the wider gable on the left and its gridded garage door. The recessed entry porch opens into a vaulted entry, brightened by a sidelight.

Inside, bedrooms are to the right and shared living spaces are to the left. A convenient coat closet sits at the juncture of the entry and the sleeping wing.

The entry's vaulted ceiling rises higher as you proceed forward, reaching its apex at the far edge of the vaulted kitchen, then sloping down toward the living/dining room's richly glassed rear wall. Sliding doors in the dining room open out onto a patio, which could be screened if bugs interfere with outdoor meals.

An eating bar fronts the peninsular counter that bounds the kitchen. While tending pots on the built-in range, the cook can serve up snacks at the eating bar, supervise homework, and keep tabs on activities inside and out. The laundry appliances are also conveniently close, hidden behind folding doors, and a pantry adds to the already generous cupboard space.

In the owners' suite, a pocket door links the sleeping area to the bathroom and walk-in closet. Secondary bedrooms share the Copperfield's main bathroom, and each has a wide rectangular window bay that could be outfitted with a window seat.