Country comfort

By Shirley Ruedy, correspondent

Editors note: This is the second of a two-part series showcasing two homes built in Vinton more than a century apart.

VINTON Its the house that Roger and Barb Beau built in more ways than one.

It sits on the crest of a hill on 1.1 acres overlooking a bucolic panorama of the Iowa landscape: green fields mantled with waving corn, one rolling hill seguing into another.

Its a peaceful, serene scene, punctuated by the occasional sound of a mooing cow, or the call from the many species of birds fluttering about.

The house itself is modified Country French, its exterior accented by a swooping gable bordered in dark brick thats repeated in the window lintels. The house beckons invitingly to visitors through a Wisconsin stone entrance.

Inside theres almost 3,500 square feet of convivial comfort on two levels, a home that continues the Country French theme but with such 21st century features as an open floor plan and a whole house sound system.

What is most remarkable, however, is what took place behind the scenes. Roger, 65, and Barb, 64, were not the type of homeowners who selected house plans, a builder and a contractor, then waited to move in.

Whats astonishing is the amount of work they put into the house, assessed at $330,000, but that probably would enjoy a more realistic market value of $350,000. The couple spent five years just finding the right site.

The Beaus, both retired Qwest phone company employees, then methodically went about educating ourselves, says Roger, attending Parade of Homes and home shows, and exploring house plans on websites.

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Country comfort