more

A mixture of stone and stucco gives this fantastic villa-style home an old-world look. A courtyard and a two-story loggia bring vistas to your bedroom door. Entertain guests by the courtyard fireplace, then draw them in, via French doors, to the family room, where another fireplace awaits you beneath a high ceiling. The formal dining room is mere steps away, through an elegant gallery. Imagine sunny mornings in the bright breakfast room with coffee and croissants. Two islands in the large, luxurious kitchen guarantee ample space to prepare any meal. Retreat to the fabulous master suite, an isolated space with a grand view. Its lush bath boasts a barrel-vaulted ceiling over a garden tub. Invite friends or family to stay the night. The fine guest room features its own bath. An exterior door allows your visitors the freedom to come and go during their stay with you. Wander upstairs and find three more spacious bedrooms and two full baths. The bright corner loft is an ideal spot for a computer desk or a library. more

Old-world charm permeates the quiet rooms of this country villa. Its intimate spaces provide a sense of privacy, yet operate as a unified, open space. Set just off the foyer is a library that could serve as music room. Deep, built-in bookshelves can be backlighted to display favorite works of art. Light from windows in the library and the keeping room enters the family room through arched entrances. Columns flank the fireplace and introduce the formal dining room. Functionality is the rule in the spacious kitchen, which hosts a classy sideboard and a convenient butler?s pantry. Another work zone lies to the rear of the home, where a long gallery grants access to a compact home office and the large, accommodating laundry room. A nearby study includes built-in shelves and accesses a pretty terrace. Set apart in a wing of its own, the master suite is its own quiet world. Twin walk-in closets frame the entrance to a luxurious bath with a garden tub and two vanities. Three more bedrooms?one with a private bath?are tucked away upstairs. more

Our Contemporary Cabin, designed by William O. Moore, of Asheville, North Carolina, offers simple good looks and a flexible floor plan. The plan consists of close to 1,900 square feet if the low- er level is left unfinished, and almost 2,300 square feet with the lower level completed. Materials consist of naturally finished wood on the exterior, and cedar and native stone inside. The plan comprises three levels linked by a circular staircase. Plan variations can provide 2, 3, or 4 bedrooms and either 2 or 3 baths. The large space off the kitchen can be partitioned into a living room and separate dining room. The lower floor can be an unfinished basement, efficiency apartment, or a study/shop area. The house is designed for hillside lots but can be adapted to flat sites. more