Lots of value, lots of room

With the encroachment of builderss farther and farther north of Colorado Springs, the character of portions of the Black Forest has dramatically changed, introducing bright, shiny new edifices of "Old World," "Tuscan" or "contemporary Southwestern" style into the midst of the quiet, rustic trees.

But for those who still crave the ar--chetypal country cottage in the Black Forest, a family-friendly and comfortable getaway in the woods, this week's featured property is a breath of fresh air rustling through the pines.

Listed for $420,000 by Tiffany Lochnidt of The Distinctive Group - a value price among the new "Old World" villas - this six-bedroom, four-bath home offers traditional Colorado country with updated amenities.

"Finding a home in this price range in the Black Forest area that's in the quality and condition of this home is hard to beat. Everything in the house has been updated," says Lochnidt, who elaborates on the updates: new carpet, new paint, new fixtures, refinished floors, two furnaces and new appliances.

Situated on a 2.5-acre lot in desirable school district 20, the home's yellow exterior with blue shutters is a study in country charm, and the mature landscaping and towering evergreens g certainly y signify s g y country c y living.

Past the covered front porch, the 3,323-square-foot home blossoms into an open floor plan, with a formal dining room/music room with a bay window, a dedicated office with French doors and built-in shelving, and a cozy living room with a brick fireplace.

The adjacent, open kitchen is certainly a big selling point. Thanks to a recent remodel, the gourmet kitchen currently boasts a breakfast bar and a dining nook, black appliances, an island smooth-top range, double ovens, hardwood floors and new Zodiaq solid-surface countertops.

"It's a big gourmet kitchen. I think kitchens have become so important," Lochnidt notes. "This house is built for entertaining and for a large family. If you don't have two ovens, you're not going to make it."

Homeowners don't move to the Black Forest, however, for the interior space p , or at least not t p primarily y s so. You can enjoy the great outdoor setting by walking out from the main level onto the back yard's partially covered redwood deck. A rustic split-rail fence surrounds the flat yard, which offers room enough for barbecues or soccer matches, and rock-lined beds bloom with colorful perennials most of the year.

"It's definitely a house designed to have kids, especially with the land. They can run around outside and not feel that they're in a tract neighborhood with a lot of traffic," says Lochnidt.

A country home is made for hiking in the trees and watching for wildlife, but a country home is also made for snuggling, and such is the goal of the home's fully finished basement. The large family room would be excellent as a game room or a media area, and the lower-level bedroom provides ideal privacy either for overnight guests or independence-craving teenagers.

Mom and Dad are also taken care of in in this this family family y h home home: The upper upperlevel master suite includes three closets; a four-piece bath; and a quiet, relaxing view of the trees. Four other seecondary bedrooms, an ideal arrangement for young family, also are on n t the upper level.

Other highlights of the home include an attached three-car garage, an n e electric-wired storage shed and - best of all in terms of country charm - a barn with hay storage, water and electric fencing.

"This house has been meticulously cared for," Lochnidt explains. "It's a great family home, a great setting, and it's very convenient location to the rest of the city from Black Forest."

If that brand-new "Old World" design is what you're looking for, you can certainly find it in our scenic and quiet Black Forest, as well as in most of the places new homes are sprouting up like mushrooms. But if what you crave is that archetypical Black Forest property, this country cottage might just be the quaint and cozy nest in the pines you've been looking for.

You can see the home at 13840 Black Forest Road during an open house from 1 to 4 p.m. today and Sunday, hosted by Tiffany Lochnidt of The Distinctive Group. For more information, contact Lochnidt at 719-232-1564.

OPEN HOUSE
1-4 p.m. today | 13840 Black Forest Rd. Tiffany Lochnidt | The Distinctive Group 719-232-1564