“Cherish the fabulous, the fantastic, the beautiful, the graceful, the moments of abandon, laughter, quirkiness. Cherish the tiny incredible details, the gigantic & varied display, and the infinite depths — of life.” ― Jay Woodman
What do you cherish? Where is beautiful? Which moments give you pause for appreciation? Where do these events and feelings tend to occur? For me, in a home. The place where those I love and enjoy visit with me – that is what I cherish. For me, the best small moments that give me pause, large amounts of hope and laughter, tiny details and challenges is where ‘home’ lives.
This beautiful European-style home, The Belingrath, by Frank Snodgrass of Living Concepts offers suite/sweet living with more than 4800 square feet to live, laugh, love, and learn in. With 5 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms and a large lower-level separate living space suite, there isn’t much more to ask for, except for those you enjoy, share the space with you.
From the arched cobblestone of the front portico to the steep and tall roofline to the planter box under a second-story window, this house offers the sweet life. Charming and ready to be yours is what this house says.
Suite/Sweet Living – The Belingrath
Foyer, Study, and Dining Room
From the minute you walk into the foyer, a European feature of arches, greet you. To your left is an archway that leads to a closet and a study. To your right, and under an archway is a formal dining room. In front of you is a double arching entry to a large family room and a small powder room on the left. The study, at the front of the house, will give you a window which is just the spot for a desk. Maybe this space is light and airy and calming, as an ideal study should be, right?
The dining room, opposite the study, can be formal and fancy for weekly Sunday night meals, reason-to-celebrate dinners or more laid back, but still a perfect spot for feeding a crowd.
Suite/Sweet Living – The Belingrath
Family room, Eating area and Kitchen
The large family room, beyond the arches from the foyer, offers a wide-open space for comfortable living. A fireplace anchors this room and with a direct view to it from the kitchen, the warmth just envelopes everyone.
Sofa tables with striking glass sculpture could flank the fireplace. A large, tufted coffee table offers easy access from 2 large leather sofas on the horizontal line so the sightline from the kitchen is clean and flowing. The kitchen has a large island with a raised, arc end for bar-stool seating. There is plenty of counter and cabinet space, which happens to be on the same wall as the stairwell up to the second story. This abundant home-central will surely make many great meals and entertain great guests with laughter and conversations.
There is a door from the kitchen out to a screened porch and from there, a door out to a large deck. Set up the grill and fire pit. Install ceiling speakers on the screened porch and dine without bugs and pests.
Suite/Sweet Living – The Belingrath
Mudroom, Laundry, Garage
Back in the house, walk from the kitchen to the front of your home. A stairwell down to the lower level is here as well as a mudroom and a laundry room, that closes off with a sliding door. From the mudroom, walk out a door to your 3-car garage. The garage has 1 large door and 1 smaller door, so perhaps the ‘single’ car space is where you set up gym equipment or use the space well for plenty of cabinetry for tools.
Suite/Sweet Living – The Belingrath
Lower Level
Your lower level, while being practical and fun, has the sweet option of being a suite for aging adults or older kids that have come back for a while. At the bottom of the staircase, a door to a bedroom area or office is ideal. A bathroom with a single sink and shower and separate room for commode isn’t adjoining, yet still convenient, a few steps from the potential bedroom. From the stairway, step into a large rec room with a fireplace. This space would make a wonderful, cozy space for game nights, sports watching, or book club gatherings.
With a mini-kitchen/bar area facing the rec room, you can cook here, you can make a small apartment-like area for privacy and comfort for others. Countertops can support a coffee machine and microwave. A pantry off the minibar can hold a fridge. Install a cooktop next to the double sinks in the bar area. Behind the mini-kitchen (on the front side of the house) is plenty of space for storage and mechanical needs. You could install a second laundry room here.
Across from the storage area is a large media or safe room with closets. Your needs, your dreams, your fabulous, fantastic is here for your personalization.
A small bump-out area from the rec room can hold a nice table and plenty of chairs for dining or card playing. Your wants? You decide.
Suite/Sweet Living – The Belingrath
A door from the card playing/dining area leads to a covered veranda. This cool, weather-safe area would like a small table and chairs for morning coffee and your quick brain-game puzzle.
Suite/Sweet Living – The Belingrath
Your Second Story
You’ve probably realized that there are no bedrooms on the main level of this home. The main level is open, airy – ready for entertaining and letting good energy into your day. This second story level is for starting the day and letting it go so you can have hope for tomorrow and bravery go get the world.
You’ve come up the stairs from the kitchen and reached a landing. There is so much that goes on up here – for a family or guests. This is ‘people central’. To the left of the stairs is a door to a small entry and an arched entryway into your large master suite. A tray-ceiling here adds to the feeling of height and airiness. A lovely corner fireplace will be sure to bring comfort and warmth many nights here. A door to an upper covered balcony lets you welcome the sun and kiss the stars good night privately.
A door to a hallway-like area leads to your master bath, with an arched entryway. A large soaking tub and separate shower look to the back of the house. There are 2 long vanities with separate sinks for easy personal space and your own toiletries.
Walk under another archway to separate walk-in closets and private commode space. Summer lights and the warmth of winter sweaters, these walk-ins bring you plenty of space for all your favorite fashion indulgences.
Suite/Sweet Living – The Belingrath
Sweet Dreams
Back at the top of your stairs, there are 3 more suites. This is where you tuck in your children or grandchildren, set the relaxing atmosphere for guests or use a room for yourself for a hobby. Suite 2 has an ensuite bathroom and walk-in closet. There is a step-down “T” section from the landing that takes you to suites 3 and 4. While each has a walk-in closet, they share a jack-n-jill bathroom with a single sink.
A unique twist on this space is a door from the master suite that opens into a ‘hidden’ space and separate doorway into suite 3. This is ideal if you have young children so you can easily peek in on them at night. Or, suite 3 is where you make your exercise space.
No matter where you find the suite/sweet space in this home, call it just that…..home. In this Belingrath, cherish the beautiful, the fantastic, moments of laughing with abandon and all the memories you make with family and friends,
Make this your own. Welcome Home.