Grinning gargoyles greet guests to a family castle

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Westwood neighbors call the house at 14291 Castlebar Trail “The Gargoyle House” for the unusual outdoor light fixtures featuring dragons and other imaginary creatures. The friendly beasts welcome visitors to the four-bedroom, 3,700-square-foot family home, priced at $499,900.
Tall pines flank the two-story gray stone and brick home and continue around the house to mark the backyard perimeter. A basketball hoop, complete with court markings, lies opposite the three-car garage. The rear deck lets parents watch their children playing in the yard, with space for a swing set or trampoline.
A generous antique brass chandelier hangs in the two-story foyer, with a curving staircase, taupe walls and wide-plank hickory floors that run throughout the first floor.
Draperies at the three large windows in the formal living room pick up the same shade of taupe, against walls of heavy cream. A loveseat, chair with ottoman, piano and three occasional tables fit comfortably in the room. White crown molding continues into the adjacent dining room.
Another smaller antique brass chandelier and large window light up the dining room, with space to seat eight to 10 people. Painted gray-green wainscoting, accented by white picture molding, makes up the lower third of the wall.
The kitchen is located in the rear, between the dining room and family room. The Newsy Neighbor pronounced it “perfect,” delighting in the cheery red walls, granite countertops, stainless-steel appliances and four separate cabinet areas, including an island with seating for three. A high kitchen table with barstool seating for six fits in the eating area. A wall of glass begins in the kitchen and continues into the adjacent family room, with a door in each room leading out to the deck.
A pillared archway divides the kitchen and family room, allowing the cook to converse with guests. Molded and formed stone make up the wood-burning fireplace, echoing the exterior gray stone. The owners have put a flat screen television above the fireplace and installed surround sound. Berber carpet, a couch, easy chair and chaise make the room comfortable.
Conveniently located on the first floor, the home office lies opposite the foyer from the living room and is painted the same heavy cream. The desk, bookcase and chair make it an excellent work or reading environment.
A half-bath and storage closet with movable shelves under the stairs round out the first floor.
The master suite, three bedrooms and a bonus room occupy the second floor. Berber carpeting and 9-foot ceilings are the rule upstairs. With the smallest bedroom measuring 13-by-13 square feet, the rooms are spacious enough for a double bed or for two children to share. The current owners have turned the smallest bedroom into a video game room, while the bonus room is currently a teen bedroom. Two bedrooms are decorated for older girls, one in stripes of green, pink, white and blue and the other in complementary shades of pink on two walls, with black and white stripes on the other. The spare bedrooms share a bath with a ceramic tile floor, large tub and shower and separate vanity area.
Were the Newsy Neighbor to have a second-floor laundry, she would choose this one, with its sink, storage cabinets, folding counter and second linen closet right outside.
The massive master suite accommodates a king-sized bed, two dressers, desk and two nightstands. The attached master bath includes a whirlpool tub, walk-in shower, walk-in closet and single-sink vanity with a make-up counter.
The Newsy Neighbor could not imagine why someone would need a finished basement in a 12-room house, but the 9-foot ceilings and box for a fireplace make finishing the lower level a possibility.
For information about the house at 14291 Castlebar Trail, call Nancy Sobol of RE/MAX Traditions at 815-338-4455. For more pictures of the home, visit www.thewoodstockindependent.com.

This editorial was published in the April 16, 2008 edition of The Woodstock Independent.