795 Howard ST

Picture Saturday morning on the swing out front, coffee in hand, with a little roof overhead so a passing shower doesn't chase you inside. From there you can see who's out walking the dog and whose porch light is still on from last night. 795 Howard St is a real front-porch house, with a stone foundation, square columns and a brick walk that runs right up to the steps. The front door opens to a beautiful living room and with three windows in the living room, you'll rarely need a lamp before dinner. In the kitchen, the white cabinets and gray tile backsplash pick up the afternoon light from the side window. By the back windows there's a natural spot for a table, and the back door is right there, so groceries come in steps from the car. Each of the three bedrooms has its own personality. Two are painted a soft yellow. The third is a cool blue and has a walk-in closet that holds more than just a winter coat. Both bathrooms have tiled tub surrounds and one with a built-in niche, so the shampoo finally has a home. The backyard is what you'll be telling someone about on the drive home. It's a wide paved lot, walled in on both sides, with a detached two-car garage at the back. There's room for the boat, the work trailer or the truck that's always halfway through a project, and you can still pull in your everyday car without moving three others first. Or string some lights across it and call it a patio.