The end of the 2016 tax season on Tuesday also marked the end of tax credits for homeowners who installed energy-efficient doors and windows, because Congress didnt vote to extend them. But how many people actually took advantage of those tax breaks in recent years, and which credits were the most popular?

According to numbers from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), window replacements were the most common non-business energy property credit (Section 25C) claimed in both 2014 and 2013, surpassing insulation, furnaces and water heaters. In 2014, the most recent year for which IRS statistics are available, 726,903 filers claimed the credit for windows and skylights. In 2013, 843,265 people claimed the credit for those products.

In 2014, a total of 605,726 taxpayers claimed a credit for the installation of doors. In 2013, the number of credits claimed for doors was 678,220.

An analysis by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) shows that total claims for all energy-efficiency credits hit $5.8 billion in 2009 and climbed to $6.1 billion in 2010, then fell to $1.7 billion in 2011 and finally to $1.3 billion in 2012. Those totals include solar, wind and geothermal power upgrades, in addition to doors, windows, roofs, insulation and other products.

Changes to the rules explain why fewer people used the credits for fenestration products, according to NAHB. From 2009 through 2010, the credit for existing homes was 30 percent of the cost of retrofit doors and windows that meet or exceed Energy Star requirements up to $1,500. In recent years, Congress pared it down to 10 percent of the cost of retrofit doors and windows up to $200 for windows and $500 for doors, with a cumulative maximum for all years combined set at $500. The credit wasnt just for replacements on existing homes, either; additions to residences, such as a new sunroom, also qualified.

President Trump has vowed to overhaul the tax code, so its possible that tax credits for doors and windows could return in some form. However, it may not happen anytime soon. A report from The Hill says a push by Trump and Republican lawmakers to enact a comprehensive tax bill by August is highly aggressive to not realistic, according to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

See the original post:
Tax Credits for Doors and Windows: By The Numbers - DWM Magazine

New York Times

$1.8 Million Homes in Colorado, Pennsylvania and Minnesota New York Times There are vaulted wood-beamed ceilings, wide-plank wood flooring, decorative moldings and paneling and leaded-glass windows, in addition to six fireplaces. On the main level, a large foyer opens to a spacious formal living room and dining room, each ...

See the original post:
$1.8 Million Homes in Colorado, Pennsylvania and Minnesota - New York Times

CAMBRIDGE Count Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren as a friend of the Fearless Girl.

Warren, who has stood up to her own angry bulls on Wall Street over banking regulations and taxpayer bailouts, mocks complaints by the sculptor of the iconic Charging Bull in lower Manhattan that the addition last month of a sculpture of a defiant girl, hands on her hips and standing in his path, should be removed.

"O-o-h, o-o-h, o-o-h, that is so-o-o sad," Warren says in a mocking voice, then adds: "I think the Fearless Girl is terrific. I hope she stands there until the bull falls over."

Warren casts herself as a fearless champion of progressive causes against the charging bull that is President Trump. In This Fight Is Our Fight: The Battle to Save America's Middle Class, published Tuesday by Metropolitan Books, she argues the federal government needs to do much more to reverse decades of decline among the nation's working families, from raising the minimum wage to expanding aid to education.

She initially assumed the book would be a friendly spur to the left for a president named Hillary Clinton, viewed by some liberals as an uncertain ally on such issues as trade.

Then Donald Trump won the White House.

"Look, I started this book probably 15 years ago, because it's the big story about building a middle class and then tearing it down, and why it happened, and how it happened," Warren said in an interview with Capital Download, USA TODAY's video newsmaker series. "And, sure, for much of the time that I was working on it, I thought it would be Hillary Clinton in the White House. I thought it would be important that she be able to see that arc and that, you know, some good, strong opportunities available for the things she would be able to do, and the team she would put together would be able to do."

Now Trump's unexpected victory has given Warren's message a more apocalyptic edge. Her plan to bolster the case for progressive policies in a Democratic administration has been turned into a rallying cry against the economic and social proposals of a Republican one. "The direction that Donald Trump and his team want to drive this country is a direction that I don't think America's middle class can survive," she warns.

It also has opened a world of political possibility for the senior senator from Massachusetts, heir to the seat long held by Democratic icon Ted Kennedy. Supporters urged her to seek the party's presidential nod in 2016, and the suggestion that she just might fueled speculation and irked Clinton's team. In the end, Warren didn't run but she also didn't endorse either Clinton or Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders until the nomination effectively was settled.

In her new book, she says she resisted "a lot of pressure" to back Clinton. Her husband, Harvard law professor Bruce Mann, cautioned her that the race would be "pretty terrible" although he also assured her it would be okay with him if she decided to run. "My heart wasn't in it," she writes.

In an interview at her Cambridge home, Warren says she never felt the time was right. She had been a law professor and bankruptcy expert who became a leading advocate of consumer protections, especially in the wake of the financial meltdown in 2008. The campaign that ousted Republican senator Scott Brown in 2012 had been her first bid for public office.

"So, you know, people started asking me about this right after I got elected, and my first thought was, really? Are you kidding me? I kind of think you need more experience before you run for president of the United States," she says. "But I was also really learning the job of the Senate, and figuring out what I could do, what the tools were and how you could expand them and use them."

It the end, it wasn't a close call, she says. "Not so much."

'IT IS MY PLAN'

Warren is running for re-election to the Senate next year, a race now rated by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report as so solidly Democratic that the contest isn't expected to be competitive. Even so, her campaign already has reported raising more than $9.2 million.

Her focus is on that campaign, she says. Of course, if she wins a second Senate term she will have more of the experience she says she lacked in 2016 for a White House run.

Will she promise Bay State voters that she'll serve all six years of a second term? "So that's certainly my plan," she replies.

Not exactly a Shermanesque denial, the interviewer notes.

Warren, famed for frustrating reporters with her discipline for staying on message, declines to go any further the second time around: "It is my plan."

She putters in the kitchen of the cozy, cluttered home she and her husband have lived in for a quarter-century. She fixes herself a banana milkshake in a blender; Mann comes in the side door after running an errand. The adjacent sunroom features a white wicker swing that once hung on the porch of her grandparents' home in Wetumka, Okla, and the wicker rocking chair that she sat in to write this book and her 2014 autobiography, A Fighting Chance, on her laptop computer.

At 67, Warren has a direct manner and a no-nonsense mien. She parries a question about whether she has any regrets about not running in 2016.

"Oh, I regret that Donald Trump is president of the United States, full stop, right there," she says. "I wish that he weren't. But now he is and we've just got to go forward."

She declines to speculate on whether she could have won the Democratic nomination last year if she had run. Or if she could have defeated Trump in November if she had been nominated. Or if Sanders, an ideological ally, would have been a more formidable opponent in the general election than Clinton proved to be.

"I don't know; I don't know, and it's again, we are where we are," she says. "Donald Trump has only been here, not even 100 days yet God, it's like dog years or something, it feels like so much has gone on. We've got to get focused on what we're going to do in the next week, in the next month. This man is truly dangerous.

She says Clinton lost because beleaguered middle-class and working-class voters didn't believe that she was the candidate most committed to fighting for their families. "Where it mattered in the vote tally, where America had been hit extra hard by lost jobs and declining opportunities, our side hadn't closed the deal," Warren writes. "Shame on us."

Who's "us?"

"All of us. The Democrats. We didn't make the case," she says in the interview. Including Clinton? "Sure. I mean, it's all of us. We have to bear responsibility for that. ... We didn't get out there and fight hard enough."

She has been heartened by the massive Women's March in Washington, Boston and elsewhere the day after Trump's inauguration, and by the enthusiasm of Democratic voters in special House elections last week in Kansas and Tuesday in Georgia. But she says the risk for Democrats is not staying focused.

"On the one hand, you've got to be in the fight, but ... you can't shoot at everything that moves," she says. "Did you see the movie Up? Donald Trump is the guy [actually, it was a dog] who yells 'Squirrel!' and everybody runs off in another direction. We cannot engage Donald Trump on every crazy 3 AM tweet. We cannot engage every time he says some goofball thing or calls some foreign leader. You've got to kind of pick your shots even though he's everywhere, all the time and really fight back on the things that matter."

LET'S MAKE A DEAL?

For Warren, "the things that matter" would include fighting White House efforts to undermine the Affordable Care Act, even if Republicans are unable to pass legislation to repeal and replace President Obama's signature health care initiative. Trump has suggested he might halt government subsidies to insurance companies that help control costs for low-income consumers.

"He's trying to give it a shove into a death spiral, and that is where I think we draw the line right now and have that fight with him," she says. Some Democrats have proposed tying a commitment to continue the subsidies to the spending bill that must pass by the end of next week to avoid a government shutdown.

And for all her differences with Trump, Warren challenges him to join him in a proposal both have endorsed: Restoring a version of the Glass-Steagall Act, which separated retail banking from investment banking and trading. The measure, passed during the New Deal and repealed in 1999, is designed to prevent banks from taking risks with federally insured deposits.

"Donald Trump said during the campaign that he would break up the big banks, that he believed in Glass-Steagall. He put it into the Republican platform," Warren says in a voice that can only be described as taunting. "Come on, Donald Trump! Let's do it!"

Link:
Elizabeth Warren: 'Fearless' foe against a charging Donald Trump ... - Boston Herald

Adam Lucente

WEST HYANNISPORT This home on Halls Creek has spectacular views and Cape Cod charm.

This two-story home has a finished basement and comes with access to a private beach.

The living room is spacious, with wide windows that allow plenty of sunshine. Behind the living room is a sunroom, with views of both the water and the backyard.

The first floor includes a dining room and a modern kitchen that exits to a small side yard and the driveway.

There are two bedrooms downstairs, and a full bathroom.

Upstairs, there are two more bedrooms, a bathroom, and some of the best views from the house.

The basement is split into a large, finished portion and an adjacent storage area.

The proximity to the water is perhaps this propertys most coveted feature. In addition to being a stones throw away from the creek, you can see Squaw Island and the Hyannisport Club's golf course from this home. At low tide, you can walk across the creek to the island. And just a short walk down a pebbled side street is a private beach and picnic area, accessible only to members of the neighborhoods association.

Follow Adam Lucente on Twitter: @adamlcct.

Read more from the original source:
Cape House Hunt: Halls Creek property offers spectacular views - Cape Cod Times (subscription)

Julie Alin is a design consultant for Altering Spaces and Visual Display, based out of Scheels Home & Hardware in Fargo. Her 22 years spent studying home decor trends have given her a keen eye regarding the market and the products flooding it.

Here are four trends Alin predicts will dominate the home decor market this spring.

Beach retreat

Think casual and relaxed. This trend is achieved through splashes of bright colors, preferably those of the tropical nature, like aqua, azure, kiwi and tangerine.

Alin says the goal is to create a feeling of a getaway retreat with a cool, calm vibe.

Consider incorporating this trend in bathrooms, where water is a natural element, or a sunroom, where natural elements can play a role. Alin says she's also seen this trend worked into teenagers' bedrooms or an office space to invite tranquility.

Neoclassic

For this trend, traditional meets modern in an urban glam setting.

Alin points out the use of rich and unexpected textures in creating this atmosphere as well as metallics and mercury glass necessary to imbue an interesting, light-catching accent.

This trend focuses on creating an artistic statement by allowing unexpected components to offer a high-end look in main living spaces as well as bedrooms. Nailheads in furniture (like upholstered headboards or sofas) are an important design element of this trend, but Alin warns against going overboard with this detail.

"Don't overdo it you need to leave something without nailheads," she says.

This trend can be amplified by using small pops of soft colors like blush pink, robin's egg blue or pale mint green.

Rustic chic

If you're a fan of organic yet eclectic, refined yet modern home decor, this trend is for you. Think mixing metallics like gold and copper as well as global pieces that spark conversation naturally.

This trend also embraces a lot of texture, similar to neoclassic style. It's also a trend that works well for pieces of furniture with live, unpredictable edges like dining room and end tables.

"Thanks to the 'rustic' component, this trend emphasizes warm and cool neutrals as well as rich, earthy tones like topaz and copper," Alin says.

Vintage flea market

This trend capitalizes on the en vogue market of reclaimed or repurposed items. Anything that looks a bit aged or weathered fits here.

In addition to the decor that looks like it has been collected over time, Alin says you should incorporate items like birds and romantic blooms like hydrangeas, lilacs, roses and daisies. Other greenery appropriate for this trend include terns, topiaries and herbs while burlap, linen, twine and rope also play a part.

"Think natural: flowers and greens you'd find in your garden and non-synthetic fabrics," Alin says.

Alin and her business partner Steve Johnson have also been seeing a move toward florals as a general trend.

"But these are bold, stylized florals that are fun and free-flowing," Johnson says.

The nice thing about all of these trends is that homeowners don't need to choose just one to incorporate into a space they each play off another nicely so two trends can be melded, Alin says.

Another comforting factor for homeowners is that no trend just ceases. In the 1950s, the life of a trend was about 15 years, Alin says. Now, it's more like 1.5 to 3 years, but the trend lingers for a while before it completely fades out.

"These days, trends don't just end with a chop; they continue with a 'dot dot dot,'" she says. "And if you really love a trend, find a way to add newness to it."

Read more:
4 spring decor trends to freshen up your home - Duluth News Tribune

HARRISON On quiet Cape Monday Cove near the middle of 11-mile Long Lake, one of Maines finest and most desirable inland waters, here is a great home for all four seasons a house that has just been thoroughly renovated, and offers more than 2,800 square feet of living space on two levels.

A deep wraparound porch overlooks the one-acre, white-birch-dotted propertys splendid setting 167 grassy feet of sandy-bottom waterfront, with a pair of docks. A two-minute walk away in this neighborhood of very few homes is the association frontage (600 feet) and yet another dock. The boating options include Sebago Lake and Brandy Pond, and extend more than 50 miles. (Note that the annual association fee is a nominal $100.)

And the home? There is great family compound potential here. There are at present four bedrooms (but septic is for five); and in addition, a good-sized, vintage outbuilding that is prime for conversion into a guest cottage.

The updates/finishes are fine on both levels. The upper story, behind its year-round, water-facing sunroom, has a wonderful open-concept area with a fieldstone, wood-burning fireplace, and a sparkling kitchen with granite island and counters, custom cabinetry, and high-end GE stainless appliances including a five-burner gas range.

The floors are hickory, here and in the second and third bedrooms just behind (theres a full bath to serve them) and in the adjacent master suite, with its own new bath.

The one-bedroom downstairs also provides every living need, from a second laundry to a kitchen with exactly the same features as the main floors, except that the granite is of a different pattern.

The home at 36 Pine Point Road, Harrison, is listed for sale at $699,900 by Rachel Lorraine of Maines Real Estate Connection. Taxes are $5,212.

An Open House will be held from 1-4 pm. on Sunday, April 23. For more information or to arrange a viewing, please contact Rachel at 653-9645 or at [emailprotected]

The Home of the Week is produced by the Marketing Department of the Maine Sunday Telegram. Photos by Jason Frazier, Elegance of Maine. Please send feature home suggestions to [emailprotected].

Read more:
36 Pine Point Road, Harrison - Press Herald

This is a Grandview Sunroom four season sunroom. Have this room added to your home with a heating/cooling system and you will be able to enjoys the outdoors year round.

Modern Farmhouse - Home Decor and Design - Susquehanna Style

4 Season Sunrooms Cost | Four Seasons Sunroom (13)

ideas for sunroom additions | This Piedmont Triad sunroom provides year-round beauty and comfort.

This layout is very much like the vision I have in my head for our backyard if we ever get around to fixing up the sunroom.

This is how I want the addition to be! Left will be extended last bedroom with closet(cough cough) straight out overlooking dining room and kitchen gets flipped around and to the right a great big living room, with lots of windows and French doors, to the covered patio

sun rooms | Peak Builders, Inc. - Additions & Sunrooms

Sunroom Addition (Shed Roof) Plans

Sunroom Addition Design Ideas, Pictures, Remodel, and Decor - page 5

Hagen Glass can keep the sun shining in all year round with our custom sunroom designs. http://www.hagenfirst.com/residential/sunrooms

40642ad12255fc72d11bb5325d6c2b28

The rest is here:
17 best ideas about Sunroom Addition on Pinterest | Home ...

By Mark J. Donovan

Glass Sunroom addition and solariums also provide an excellent return on investment. Todays prospective homebuyers look for homes that are bright and cheery, and have that outdoors feeling without the side effects of insects and extreme temperatures.

When planning a glass sunroom addition or solarium make sure you carefully consider the location and position of it. In many cases people prefer to add a sunroom addition or solarium off of a kitchen or family room area for maximum utilization.

In many cases, homeowners actually use sunroom additions or solariums as their kitchen dining area, family room, and home gym space.

Ideally a sunroom addition should be facing a south / southwest exposure to maximize sunlight exposure in the afternoon and evenings, particularly if it is to be located off of a family room. If your sunroom addition is to be located off of your kitchen then you may want to have it facing south / southeast to take advantage of the morning light.

Sunroom Addition Construction

When building a sunroom addition or solarium it is important that its design blend well into the existing home. The addition should meld into the existing homes structure as if it was designed and built during the homes original construction. You may want to enlist the services of a home addition architect to help with this process.

Besides the use of glass doors and windows, as well as skylights, sunroom additions and solariums frequently include ceramic tile floors to help absorb the suns rays.

The roof pitch and its position towards the suns track are also important considerations. For example, if you live in a northern climate the roof pitch needs to be steep enough so that snow can quickly melt off of it. Likewise, there is no point of having a sunroom addition or solarium if the roof surface is facing the north.

Once you have a set of sunroom addition plans, you can then begin the process of finding a contractor to build it. Selecting a qualified and professional sunroom addition contractor can be challenging. It is important to find the right one for your sunroom addition project to ensure that it is built correctly and to your budget and timeline.

One great way to locate a qualified sunroom addition contractor is to use a national home building contractor referral company. They have pre-screened and qualified home addition contractors all around the country and maintain their names and contact information in a database.

In addition, their services are free to the homeowner. The homeowner simply fills out a free online form for their specific home addition requirements and they will forward the information on to 3 or 4 sunroom addition contractors in your area. The contractors will then contact you to set up a time to meet with you and review your sunroom addition or solarium plans.

Obtaining Solarium or Sunroom Addition Contractor Price Quotes

When obtaining sunroom addition price quotes from contractors it is important to make sure that they provide you with a complete sunroom addition cost breakdown list of every phase of the project. The more detail in the sunroom addition cost breakdown list, or bid sheet, the more likely of an accurate sunroom addition cost proposal.

When interviewing potential sunroom addition contractors make sure you check their references. Usually a good litmus test for evaluating a home building contractor is to see how long the reference list is.

The longer this list is, the higher the likelihood that he has a solid reputation. A long reference list also helps to get a feel for how long the contractor has been in business and his level of pride in his work. Regardless of the length of the reference list, it is still important to contact at least 3 or 4 of the references.

Contact a couple of more recent projects completed by the contractor and a couple 2-5 years out in the past. This way you can see how he has been trending with his work, as well as to see how his work holds the test of time.

Finally, it is also important to note that glass sunroom addition construction costs are typically higher than building a new home. The reason for this is that a room addition requires additional effort to tie it into the home. In addition, a new home construction project offers economies of scale. With a sunroom addition, you may be adding only a few hundred square feet of area, whereas with a new home construction project you may be building 2,000 to 4,000 square feet of living area. In addition, windows are expensive and will represent a significant cost in the construction of your sunroom addition.

A glass sunroom addition or solarium is a great addition to any home and is well worth the investment. Just make sure you plan accordingly before breaking ground. By doing so you will increase your chances of a successful sunroom addition. Good luck with your sunroom addition project!

For more help on building a sunroom addition, see HomeAdditionPlus.coms Home Addition Bid Sheets. OurHome Addition Bid Sheets provide you with the knowledge and information on how to plan a home building project, and what to look for when hiring contractors. They also include detailed cost breakdown tables and spreadsheets for estimating your own new home construction building costs.

Fill out our 3-5 minute quick and easy form, and receive a free price quote on a house addition from one of our prescreened and licensed home addition contractors. This process is free and there is no obligation to continue once you receive your home addition price estimate.

See the article here:
Sunroom Additions | Solariums - Home Addition Planning

By Pam George, contributing writer Published 1:21 p.m. ET April 14, 2017 | Updated 1:22 p.m. ET April 14, 2017

An exemplarily contemporary(Photo: Victoria Dickinson & Associates, Patterson-Schwartz Real Estate)

It was love at first sight. As soon as the current owners saw the wooded 5-acre lot on Twaddell Mill Road, just off Route 52 in Centreville, they had to have it. Initially, they planned to take their time before building. But they were so enchanted that the custom contemporary took shape nearly right away. Their labor of love is a remarkable 5,000-square-foot that offers stunning views of protected land in every direction.

An exemplarily contemporary(Photo: Victoria Dickinson & Associates, Patterson-Schwartz Real Estate)

Nestled in a valley, this impressive residence has the open, innovative floor plan that has long characterized a contemporary. Its only recently that architects have borrowed this element for Colonial designs.

The foyer includes a floating staircase that gives guests a full view of the living room beyond. Because the living room has a bank of picture windows and a vaulted ceiling, you can also glimpse the stunning scenery outdoors. This room also boasts a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace that soars to the apex. The beamed ceiling and wood-trimmed balcony above lend a chic, rustic element that suits the landscape.

Both the entrance hall and the living room flow into the dining room, which seamlessly adjoins the sunroom and renovated kitchen for a continuous light-filled space. Owners cleverly put a formal two-door closet with shelves in the dining room for serving dishes, good china and other items needed for entertaining.

Storage is also a hallmark of the updated kitchen, which has granite countertops, a five-burner cooktop and wraparound counters that provide double duty. For instance, one holds a wet bar with sink and icemaker, which is accessible from the family room. This warm space, which has sliders to the wraparound deck, features the second stone fireplace.

The kitchen adjoins a laundry room that is so large it can easily hold a home office in addition to a built-in desk in the kitchen. Because the laundry room has a door to the two-car garage, it can serve as a mudroom.

An exemplarily contemporary(Photo: Victoria Dickinson & Associates, Patterson-Schwartz Real Estate)

All these features are impressive, but it is the step-down sunroom addition that will give most visitors pause. This welcoming space is easily visible from the kitchen, thanks to a breakfast bar (which has shelves on the sunroom side) and the open dining room.

The sunroom holds a spacious seating area and a dining area, both of which have stellar views two ponds stocked with trout, bass and koi and the private slope of protected land.

In another nod toward the future, this contemporary has a first-floor owners suite with a dressing area complete with his-and-her closets and a makeup table a sleeping area and an en suite bathroom with a soaking tub, linen closet and shower. It even has its own balcony.

Upstairs, there are three secondary bedrooms with a full hall bathroom and access to two attics for a generous amount of storage space.

The finished area of the lower level has a fireplace, space for billiards and additional space for a playroom or recreation room. Theres even a full-size stove, sink and fridge. Double doors in the unfinished section open wide, so a canoe, an inflatable dingy or a riding mower can come through. This section also has a workroom, which is perfect for woodworking, gardening or another hobby.

An exemplarily contemporary(Photo: Victoria Dickinson & Associates, Patterson-Schwartz Real Estate)

The covered lower deck on this level will entice visitors to pull up an Adirondack chair for a meditative moment. The well-landscaped beds, glistening ponds and gently swaying trees are instantly calming. Stress will melt off your shoulders.

To be sure, the phrase idyllic retreat will come to mind when you tour this home. But keep in mind that it is five minutes from the heart of Centreville. Greenville and Chadds Ford are a quick drive from home.

Located in one of Delawares most desirable zip codes, this property is a rare find for the nature-lover who prizes convenience and the modern lifestyle.

An exemplarily contemporary(Photo: Victoria Dickinson & Associates, Patterson-Schwartz Real Estate)

The Home

LOCATION: 66 Twaddell Mill Road, Centreville STYLE: Contemporary, 4 BR, 2.2b; car garage PRICE: $1,185,000 SCHOOL DISTRICT: Red Clay Consolidated NEARBY SHOPPING LOCATIONS: Centreville, Greenville, Chadds Ford, Route 202 DIRECTIONS: Kennett Pike (Route 52) to Twaddell Mill Road.

For more information, call Victoria Dickinson at (302) 463-4720, Victoria Dickinson & Associates, Patterson-Schwartz Real Estate. Or, visit dickinsonassociates.com.

Read or Share this story: http://delonline.us/2pBeQy2

More here:
Centreville Home space & style in tranquil setting - The News Journal

By Eleanor Boschert, Correspondent

Lantern Lane - the name itself conjures up the idea of classic New England tradition and charm. As a quiet cul de sac in Needham, it is home to a stately Garrison colonial at 48 Lantern Lane that well represents the timeless appeal of its namesake.

Tucked away on more than an acre of land, this four-bedroom, three-full and one half-bath home with 3,380 square feet of living space over two levels, as well as an additional 832 square feet of space on the lower level, is on the market for $1,299,000. Maureen McCann of Louise Condon Realty is the listing broker.

This cocoa brown-colored home with maroon shutters enjoys a prime location close to Needham Center, mere steps to the Commuter Rail, Chestnut Street and is easily accessible to I-95. Greenery abounds with a canopy of mature trees, bountiful rhododendrons and a host of shrubbery enveloping its private, professionally landscaped grounds.

Follow a side driveway to arrive at the pebble walkway across the home leading to both a covered side, as well as the front, entrance. Granite steps connect to the white front door flanked by sidelights and two elegant diamond-pane windows.

Once inside, sleek, refinished hardwoods, recessed lighting and freshly painted rooms accentuate the overall warmth of the home. A wide, marble foyer connects to the carpeted family room on the left. Rustic in style, it features a beamed ceiling, floor-to-ceiling brick panel surrounding the wood-burning fireplace, and a large bay window.

Beyond the family room, the back of the home stretches lengthwise and encompasses an oversized mudroom, eat-in kitchen, formal dining room and a sunroom.

The mudroom is a centralized access point connecting the two-car garage, the side entrance, backdoor to the patio, and half-bath to the kitchen.

Elegant cherry cabinets serve as the defining element in the kitchen. They add simple elegance to this hub of the home that is ready for the personal touches and updates of a new owner. The bright eat-in area opens to large covered deck/porch. This is the perfect place for enjoying a cup of coffee while looking out over the backyard and lush woodland.

On the other side of the kitchen, the dining room serves as the heart of formal entertaining with its classic crown molding, chair rail and large window overlooking the backyard.

As a stunning addition to the home, the nearby heated sunroom showcases French doors, three walls of oversized windows, corner built-ins and a gas fireplace.

In the elegant living room at the front of the home, sunshine splashes through a bay window and another diamond-pane accent window to create an inviting space for gatherings.

Returning to the foyer, the front staircase winds up to the second floor fit with crown molding over the landing. Two carpeted bedrooms with closets occupy the front and back corners while a third bedroom overlooks the sprawling front landscape.

The family bath features a double vanity and a tub/shower combination. It sits off the landing and next to the laundry room with sink.

At the other end of the home, the carpeted master suite provides a quiet place to retreat from the world. It features a walk-in closet plus his-and-hers closets that line dressing room/sitting area. The beautiful master bath is built-out to feature high ceilings, tiled walk-in shower, and two separate vanities connected by a Hollywood-glamour-style make up table.

As one of the homes most desirable features, the bright, yet private, bathing area opens behind a French door entry to feature a deep free-standing soaking tub set underneath a peaked ceiling.

The partially finished lower level includes a wet bar, playroom, full bath and storage. There is also unfinished storage and utility space. Systems include gas heat, central a/c and vac.

Please contact Maureen McCann of Louise Condon Realty at 617-909-8716 or maureenm@condonrealty.com for information or to schedule a showing.

Read more here:
Needham Homefront: Location, style define Lantern Lane colonial - Wicked Local Needham