Rustic Home with Open Concept

Now he walks in quiet solitude the forest and the streams
Seeking grace in every step he takes
His sight has turned inside himself to try and understand
The serenity of a clear blue mountain lake

From Rocky Mountain High, by John Denver

Have you ever just wanted to escape- find a place where you could be outside as much as inside, a place that makes you feel blended with nature and not set apart?  That must have been what John Denver felt in the Rocky Mountains, and what this house plan can deliver. This rustic home, HPP 2717, has outside space that you can mold into the peaceful retreat you claim as your own.

The front of the home belies the fact that there is slightly over 3000 square feet heated, with two stories, three bedrooms and two full baths. Tapered columns, arched windows and a stone and shake exterior all invite the viewer in, but first, let’s explore the porch.

Three steps up and you are at the front door; to your left, the eight-foot-wide porch extends the entire left side of the house, ending at the grilling porch.  Along this extensive covered area, your color palette is limited only by the plants that are native to your area.  A quick search will help you determine which plants will work best. A throw rug or two, wicker chairs meant to withstand harsh weather, and an ottoman to prop your feet up can be strategically placed for comfortable outdoor living.

The grilling porch around the corner is where family and friends will congregate for grilled steaks and hamburgers, or your favorite vegetarian meal. A cold drink and appetizer while you wait for the finished product keeps the hunger contained but not abated. An outdoor fireplace provides the warmth you’ll need on cool fall or spring evenings.

Walking inside, the open concept continues where the great room, dining and kitchen areas welcome you. This area has a vaulted ceiling and a fireplace on the far right wall. The great room implores you to add one solid (nearly immovable) piece such as a reclining sofa, and several other pieces that you can move around easily, depending on the desired view (the cook in the kitchen or the roaring fire in the great room). The dining room and kitchen offer places to eat; there is an island in the kitchen with seating, as well as space for the double sink and dishwasher. The refrigerator and microwave oven are found along the outside wall. This is also the place you might want to insert your AGA range. The walk-in pantry nearby will hold the condiments and staples you desire.

You will find a powder room and coat closet on opposite sides of the foyer. The master bedroom suite is only steps away. The door to this area has a linen closet and leads to a short hall, which gives the homeowner more privacy. A walk-in closet accommodates your seasonal clothing in addition to those dress-up clothes you cherish. The master bath has his and her sinks, more storage for linens, a walk-in shower and room for a whirlpool/jetted tub.

Upstairs in the sleeping loft, (accessed using stairs near the coat closet), there is plenty of room for a platform bed, wall mounted sconces and a low bench with pillows that you could place in front of the railing. There is an enclosed room here that could easily be converted into a closet. Perhaps you would rather turn this into office space or a game room- the possibilities are numerous.

Going downstairs to the ground level, you enter the game room, more than 300 square feet of potential delight. A vintage Pacman arcade, a smart TV with hookups for Xbox, Nintendo or PS4, a gaming chair and your gamers might end up hibernating here. An extra large screen with theater seating and a popcorn machine would make this a media room. Counterspace with a sink, room for a refrigerator and microwave make cleanup easy after a viewing party or gaming competition. Afterwards, you can throw those clothes into the washer that have spilled popcorn butter or Cheetos dust on them. The laundry room is adjacent to the linen closet.

A full bath with double sinks and a shower/tub combination also has linen storage. The second and third bedroom suites are down here, also, both with reach-in closets and access to the covered porch. This downstairs lanai complements the one directly above it for entertaining value. Having another fireplace makes recreation for large crowds easy, and yet, there is one great advantage to this area because you can extend the entertaining well into the yard. Add backyard bocce or cornhole (you can even make your own board for this) to a level lot. Lawn Dominoes and a super big Connect 4 are two more games you can enjoy in the outdoors, and bring them in when the weather is unfavorable.

The living spaces in this home are generous and spread from the outside in. The covered porch that begins in front of the foyer and extends to the back covered grilling porch promotes well being by encouraging the nature lover in your family to enjoy the solitude, like John Denver wrote about, while the openness of the floor plan inside maintains that uncrowded feeling. This rustic home may be just what you want- and need.