REAL ESTATE- ON THE BLOCK- Almost palatial: Nothing to 'wine' about in this house

Address: 1652 Harris Creek Road (aka 1777 Harris Creek Way)

Neighborhood: First Colony Winery

Asking: $649,000

Assessment: $462,700

Year Built: 1997

Size: 4,100 fin sq. ft., 1,850 unfin.

Land: 5.81 acres

Agent: Roger Voisinet and Loretta Larned, RE/MAX Realty Specialists, 434-974-1500

Curb Appeal: 9 out of 10

Plenty of shoppers will blanch at the price of this Southern Living model home. Oftentimes, people look for houses out in the county–- especially in this time of foreclosures and short sales– hoping for a bargain. They won't find that here. What they will find is a luxury home with attractive views, upscale features, and space to spare inside and out.

The house belonged to the original owners of what is now the First Colony Winery. (We listed First Colony as the neighborhood because there's no named subdivision.) A long gravel drive takes visitors past rows of grapevines. Views are an important feature, and the design on both floors of the house takes advantage of the setting. 

Room colors range from buttery yellows to sage, rose, lilac, and jade. While they help give newer construction a more defined character, color is a personal thing; and buyers who considering making an offer might factor the cost of repainting into their budget. With so much space to cover, that won't be an insignificant calculation. 

Big houses usually mean big kitchens. This one has expanses of pale gray granite and wood cabinets in a rich cherry finish— lots of them. A new owner might actually lose track of what's behind all those doors. 

An island with an extra sink provides more prep space with a backsplash of beveled crackle subway tile, a small detail, but one that provides more texture than standard tiling. Off the kitchen is the breakfast room, which a new buyer will likely use for all casual dining because it's so big. 

Admittedly, utility rooms aren't usually the determining factor in a sale, but there is a lot to like here. A pull-down ironing board is a feature we're used to seeing only in older homes. An extra closet, cabinets, and an additional fridge make the place more versatile than just a place for the frontloading LG washer and dryer. Sky blue paint, a window, and wainscoting probably make the tedious housekeeping chores less onerous.

Upstairs, a tray ceiling gives the master bedroom depth, but the en suite bath is the real attraction. To start, a vaulted ceiling and skylights amplify the already ample space. His and hers sinks flank French doors; one side has built-in cabinets and a vanity (probably hers). An enormous walk-in shower and a Jacuzzi tub just a few steps above the rest of the room, and a walk-in closet off the bath instead of the bedroom make the place seem almost palatial. The closet is big enough to be a separate bedroom or office. Who has that many clothes?

Three additional bedrooms are upstairs, and buyers could finagle a fourth if one is needed from extra (now useless) space off one of the bedrooms. Two of the bedrooms share a Jack and Jill bath with double sinks. A sort of strange space between the two bedrooms could transform into a closet. 

The final space in this configuration is a room with ceilings angled into a steeple. A rose colored bedroom off the main hall makes an excellent guest space. Like the master, it's large enough for a queen or full bed and has an en suite bath and closet. 

Between the two-car garage and basement, the house holds a wealth of unfinished space. Although it's probably possible to finish the basement, it's unclear why buyers would even want to with so much storage in the rest of the house.

This is a house for buyers looking for a country setting who want the amenities of new, upscale construction and space plus plenty of room (and rooms) with views.  

PHOTOS BY SARAH JACOBSON

Each week, a brave local seller invites the Hook to provide an impartial, warts-and-all look at their real estate listing. E-mail yours today!

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Note: The printed version of this story inadvertently substituted the photo of another house instead of the facade of this one. The errant photo does not appear in this online version.