It`s the wood on this two-story colonial that`s intriguing: a weather-beaten, rough-hewn, beige-stained cedar siding. The shutters are painted slate blue to match the front door, which sports a brass knocker.
The house looks big, old and historical, as though it belongs in a seaside New England town surrounded by 200-year-old trees.
But the rolling terrain and the stripling trees reveal that we`re really in Deer Park-at 23770 Hearthside Drive-and that the house is only 3 years old. Re/Max of Barrington has it listed at $369,900, a reduction of $10,000 since it was put on the market in December.
The home sits on an acre lot amid many similar stately colonials in the Chapel Hill subdivision, developed by Landmark Builders.
Whether it was built in 1989 or 1889, ”a colonial is a style that never goes out of style,” said listing agent Sharon Ramon at the open house last Sunday.
The home contains many features of the traditional New England colonial, such as the oak floors on most of the first floor.
There`s also detailed woodwork, including chair rails, picture molding and fluted doorway molding decorated with rosettes. All lend a formal air to the white-painted 17-by-14 living room and 15-by-12 dining room, which lie on opposite sides of the entryway.
Unlike colonials of old, however, this modern version has wide doorways, a wide central hallway to the kitchen and family area, and thermal windows that protect against winter drafts.
Most of the home is decorated in white, off-white and beige. In the dining room, however, there`s floral wallpaper above the chair rail.
A swinging door leads from the dining room into the 15-by-12 kitchen, which has off-white red and blue floral wallpaper and a matching border that resembles stenciling. The cabinetry is oak and the countertops are off-white. There`s also a center island, a five-shelf pantry and a stairway down to an unfinished basement.
Just to the right of the kitchen is a 12-by-6 laundryroom, with white vinyl flooring, oak cabinets above the washer and dryer, and two windows that brighten the room. A coat closet abuts the door that leads into an attached three-car garage.
Open view
The other side of the kitchen is completely open to a 14-by-11 eating area with a bay window. In the center of the bay is a sliding glass door, which opens to the expansive back yard. (The yard melds into neighboring yards because there are no fences in the subdivision. ”They want to keep that nice open, green space look,” Ramon said.)
An oak railing separates the eating area from the 21-by-15 family room, fitted with a red brick fireplace at the far end. A long three-pane window offers views of the rolling yard.
One feature separates this home from pure, modern colonial architecture:
a peaked cathedral ceiling in the 20-by-12 master bedroom at the head of the stairs. A ceiling fan whirs away high above the beige carpet that covers the entire second floor.
The master bathroom is just as refreshing, with its white ceramic tile floor and powder-blue bathtub (fitted with whirlpool jets) tucked into a bay window. Other features include a shower stall, a walk-in closet and two scalloped sinks.
Another pair of these sinks is in the floor`s main bathroom, where a door leads to the toilet and tub area. This bathroom serves the three surrounding bedrooms, including the 12-by-12 bedroom that`s designated for baby with flowered wallpaper and a duck-and-bunny border. Across the hall are a 13-by-12 and a 15-by-13 bedroom. All three have double-folding-door closets.
This house is about five miles from downtown Barrington and its Metra train station. Children in the neighborhood either attend private schools or take buses to public schools in nearby Lake Zurich.
