SUNKEN LIVING ROOM, two and a half baths, an interior A balcony, a huge amount of storage space and even a built-in bomb shelter would seem to be features of a home in the $40,000 class, yet architect Egil Hermanovski has designed The Cardinal with just such features and for under $20,000, including the property.
Brick is used for the exterior on the lower level, while horizontal wooden siding adds a feeling of width to the upper level. The flat shed roof can be either five-ply built-up or asphalt shingled; extra-wide eaves keep unwanted heat and sunglare out yet permit proper illumination.
The sheltered, flagstone-stepped front entrance leads to the central hallway; this hallway gives convenient access to every part of the home. Right of the front entrance is a sliding door guest closet with more than the usual guest-closet space.
A few steps left of the front doorway is the large archway leading to the large sunken living room. Two things immediately catch the living-room visitor's attention: the front window wall flanked by side flood-to-ceiling windows, and the built-in post dividing wall between living room and dining room. Other features of this area are the sloped, beamed ceiling (which is pleasing to the eye, but more important is its functional purpose as support for the clearstory windows which light the balcony and hallway), and the generous amount of wall space that can lend itself to varied decor.
The dining room has two side windows, a kitchen pass-thru bar and a door leading to the kitchen-dinette. The kitchen work area is designed in a convenient U-shape; the sink overlooks the rear terrace, and a dividing shelf-wall separates kitchen and dinette. A dinette door leads to the terrace, and another leads to both the hallway and the semi-finished full basement.
In the basement are found the utility and storage room, the garage, a lavatory, a well-windowed den complete with stonefront fireplace, and the reinforced concrete bomb shelter.
The den is a convenient hideaway, and can be used as a virtually noise-proof study, TV room or game room. With its built-in fireplace, we'd place an odds on bet it'd fast become the home's most popular room.
The sleeping section is on the upper level, well insulated from the usual normal living noises. A wrought-iron railed balcony sets it off from the rest of the home in a highly individual way; the balcony saves cost of wall construction, yet sacrifices nothing in the way of beauty. On the other hand, it adds a distinctive handsome touch to the interior of the home, and would be a convenient place to locate the telephone and a small writing desk.
The master bedroom, almost 14 feet square, houses two sliding door wardrobe closets and its own full ceramic-tiled bath with square tub; five windows afford cross ventilation.
Immediately outside the master bedroom hall door is a large linen closet.
Walls throughout are of plaster and wood paneling. The kitchen features knotty-pine storage cabinets and a Kentile floor; all other flooring is of hardwood.
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