Powder Room

When it came time for Stephanie Blatchley and her husband, Tyler, to buy their first house, the young couple knew exactly what they wanted. Having grown up in western Howard County, she was most comfortable in a country setting. Both of them wanted to be near family and friends. And the idea of easy access to major thoroughfares was appealing. They also knew what they did not want: a formal dining room. "We lived in an apartment for two years, and although we enjoyed that lifestyle, we wanted to buy a house of our own," Blatchley explained.

When it came time for Stephanie Blatchley and her husband, Tyler, to buy their first house, the young couple knew exactly what they wanted. Having grown up in western Howard County, she was most comfortable in a country setting. Both of them wanted to be near family and friends. And the idea of easy access to major thoroughfares was appealing. They also knew what they did not want: a formal dining room. "We lived in an apartment for two years, and although we enjoyed that lifestyle, we wanted to buy a house of our own," Blatchley explained.

Q: I'm searching for an interesting-looking sink as part of a planned make-over of a small powder room. A pedestal sink was my initial preference, but most of the ones I've seen are too contemporary for my taste. It's also occurred to me that a pedestal would be a problem because of its lack of storage space. I'd also like your advice in regard to wall and floor treatments. A traditional look is what I'm after -- but no wallpaper, please!A: Although I don't know how elaborate a redesign you're contemplating, the sink and surround shown in the photo might suit your specifications.

The buyers of a home nestled on more than 7 acres in Cockeysville's Nicholsons Manor are getting a property with all the perks. This traditional mansion, which sold for $1,550,000, is at the end of a cul-de-sac and boasts a large blue stone patio in a hardscape backyard. A hot tub is tucked into a gazebo and an outdoor room, complete with a beamed ceiling, wet bar, fireplace and powder room. The stone and insulated stucco exterior features a four-bay connected garage and is defined by a balcony, bump-outs, floodlights and screened porch with slate flooring.

Sturbridge Homes has opened four models at Seabreeze of Annapolis, a townhouse and single-story flat-styled community in Annapolis.Public water and sewer, gas heat and hot water and electric cooking are standard features in this Anne Arundel County community.The Poplar and the Tilghman both start at $126,900 for 1,470 square feet of finished space.The Poplar has a 19-by-14-foot great room, an 11-by-14-foot dining room, a 10-by-10-foot den and a kitchen with a morning room. A 14-by-14-foot master bedroom with a walk-in closet and master bath, a 13-by-9-foot bedroom with a walk-in closet and another bath complete this flat.

Ryland Homes has opened two new models at New Haven Woods, a townhouse community in Essex. Public water and sewer are standard features in this Baltimore County community. The Jefferson and the Braxton start at $99,900 for 1,150 square feet of finished space. Both models have an optional finished basement with a powder room and a 19-by-16-foot family room. A foyer, optional powder room, 16-by-15-foot living room and a 20-by-11-foot country kitchen make up the first floor of the Jefferson.

Ellwood Building Corp. is down to its final six lots at Upman Court in the Catonsville area of Baltimore County, where the company is building 26 Colonial and split-foyer homes with gas heat and hot water.The split-foyer is a 1,600-square-foot house with a base price of $126,900.On the main level are a 13-by-14-foot living room, 9-by-13-foot kitchen, a coat closet, full hall bath, two bedrooms and a master suite with a full bath, 13-by-11-foot bedroom and his-and-her closets.A 21-by-19-foot recreation room, closet and unfinished utility/laundry room occupy the lower level.

Homeland Development LLC has opened the final 32-home section at the Villages of Homeland East, where the firm is building three-level garage townhouses with brick-fronts, wainscot and color-coordinated stucco exteriors in North Baltimore.The Alcott is a 1,600-square-foot home starting at $127,990. The entry level has a one-car garage with automatic opener, coat closet, laundry area and mechanical room. A powder room and 19-by-15-foot family room are optional.A 16-by-10-foot front kitchen, powder room, 16-by-9-foot dining room and 19-by-12-foot living room are on the first floor.

An "Old Fashioned Ice Cream Sunday" will be part of the grand opening Altieri Homes is holding from noon to 4 p.m. June 28 at River Village at Russett in Laurel.River Village is the final phase of development in the 613-acre planned community, which has 12 miles of hike/bike trails, nine tot lots, basketball and beach volleyball courts, five parks, three swimming pools and a six-court tennis complex with stadium seating.A three-level garage townhouse with 1,900 square feet, the Amanda Kristine model has a base price of $149,990.

Model openAshleigh KnollsWinchester Homes Inc. has opened a model of the Chelsea II, one of 10 floor plans the company is building at Ashleigh Knolls in southern Howard County, where home sites in the final 30-lot section are now available.Two-zone gas heat, 9-foot first-floor ceilings, a wood-burning fireplace in the family room, brick fronts, chair rails and crown molding are some of the standard features at Ashleigh Knolls.The Chelsea II has a base price of $374,990 for 3,200 square feet on the first and second floors with an unfinished basement.

For artist Susan Yonkers, a Maryland Institute College of Art graduate and gardening enthusiast, and her craftsman husband, Bill, a large outdoor canvas was a prerequisite. So the couple found a single-family, ranch-style home on 2 acres in a relatively secluded spot off Mays Chapel Road in Baltimore County. "It's an oasis; a home for all seasons," said Susan Yonkers, 64, seated at her sunroom table and gazing out through wide windows into her backyard as birds gathered at one of her feeders and hopped on the granite stones of the landscaping.

What are some quick tips to adopt an autumnal theme into your home? First, think pumpkins and gourds: Use them as decor, but consider other colors than traditional jack o'lantern. Shades of white, cool soft greens and oranges will say autumn in a more subtle way. Also consider shopping the grocery store: Pears, squash and nuts make a great fall cornucopia. Use a textured basket or tray and pile them high for an instant centerpiece. Don't overlook your own backyard as a source: Bring in colorful branches and mix them with seasonal blooms.

Off historic Glyndon's main street, a dirt and gravel drive lined by old trees winds its way to the home of Todd and Karen Morrill. The rambling one-story house, constructed of redwood and Butler stone, sits above multiple graduated terraces with flagstone patios and decks. From the front, the home appears low to the ground and features three sets of 11-foot double doors. Warm lights from within reveal dark wood paneling, stone fireplaces, red bows wrapped around fir branches affixed to door frames and sprigs of holly on built-in shelving.

Tax season is upon us, and if you're like me, you still haven't crunched the numbers but are hoping for a nice refund. Good news, the odds are in your favor. According to stats posted on the IRS website, 76 percent of Americans filing individual income tax returns get refunds, and the average refund is around $3,000. One way to put that cash to good use is to reinvest in your home. After all, a big chunk of the refund may be coming from your mortgage interest deduction. But just how far will that $3,000 get you?

When she was a little girl, if a bad dream would wake her up in the middle of the night, Julie Murn would pad down the hall of the silent house to her big sister's room. She'd crawl into Kathy's bed, grab hold of her nightgown and hold tight. "Just," she says, "to make sure she was there. " And she always was. The sisters have been together, one way or another, for as long as either one can remember. Born 18 months apart, they fill page after page of their family's worn albums with impish grins and exuberant poses — familiar pages they revisited recently, sitting knee to knee on Julie's living room sofa, giggling and groaning as steam curled from their coffee mugs.

A street lined with villa homes in the Harford County community of Bulle Rock appears unremarkable, with exteriors that at a glance appear pretty much alike. It is only upon closer look that Bulle Rock residents' personalities shine through gardens, flags and lawn adornments. At Valerie Matricciani's villa home, the front yard is a botanical feast for the senses and, visitors soon realize, a mere taste of what's to come beyond the door. The walk leading to her home is lined with dwarf bushes, impatiens, large coleus plants and a gracefully blooming crepe myrtle.

Masonry Homes has just opened its Hallie Hill Farm community of single-family homes. In Manchester, the community has 71 quarter- and half-acre lots, of which 14 have been released for sale. The community has public water and sewer systems and offers natural gas. Standard features include full basements, 10-year homeowners warranties, landscaped and seeded home sites as well as maintenance-free exteriors. The 10 floor plans range in size from 1,700 to 2,606 square feet. Base prices range from $210,700 to $256,600.

Models openRussett1. Hallmark Builders, NV Homes, Patriot Homes, Richmond American Homes and Ryan Homes have opened furnished single-family homes in the new model-home park at Russett in northwestern Anne Arundel County. The community is being developed by Russett Center Limited Partnership.The Russett information center and model homes are open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. The 613-acre planned community is at Route 198 and the Baltimore-Washington Parkway.HallmarkHallmark is building eight homes at Russett, ranging in price from $259,900 to $333,900.

Mike and Anita Mandis were in the process of working with a designer on plans for a French country home to be built on 3 3/4 acres in Sparks when Mike Mandis took a month off from work and motorcycled out West. As a result of the trip, he scrapped all plans for French country, opting instead for a more rustic, lodge-like design. "We didn't want a cold formal home, but one with storybook charm," he said. Inspired by Sarah Susanka's book "The Not So Big House," he proceeded with a variation on one of her designs called "The Maple Forest Cottage."

After a whirlwind house tour four years ago aimed at getting her more space in Canton, a disappointed Chantel Ornstein found nothing that grabbed her. But then the lawyer saw an end-unit rowhouse in the midst of being rebuilt and enlarged, and liked the additional light the side windows would bring. She climbed the stairs to what would become two decks atop the third floor and bought the house on the spot. "As soon as I saw the view from the roof, I said, 'I'll take it,' " she said. The view is of Baltimore and the harbor.