Gorgeous natural seclusion

For nature lovers and anyone desiring a secluded weekend or year-round retreat, this lovely brick home resembling an English manor house, nestled in the midst of 23.9 acres of hardwoods and wetlands is a must-see.  Whether tastes run to wildlife and bird-watching or cross country skiing or simply retreating from the outside world, this southwest Michigan home fits the bill and is a sensual feast year round.

House:  Floor plan by Scholz Design with revisions
    6800 sq. ft., brick exterior w/deck and patio
    Bedrooms: 6
    Study: 1
    Bathrooms: 6 full
    Laundry: 2--main floor in butler s pantry (no appliance there at present) and
        upstairs  w/new Whirlpool Duet w/d
    Butler s pantry
    Fireplaces:
        Gas:  2  master bedroom (open to both bedroom and tub) and study
        Tulikivi: 1  family room  see:
              http://sackettbrick.com/default2.asp?active_page_id=157
        Wood heater:  1  lower level
        Conventional: 1  living room
    Formal living room: 1
    Formal dining room: 1
    Family room: 1
    Playroom with reading loft
    Lower level Recreation room w/walk-out: 1
    Kitchen:  Design by DeGuillio s of Chicago, custom cabinetry by Ayr s Cabinets
                  of Napanee, IN, two new Bosch dishwashers 9/08
    Stunning master bedroom with tray ceiling, recessed lighting and gas fireplace
    Master bath tub with jets, cedar closet--shares fireplace with master bedroom
    Bonus space/craft room over garage
    3 car garage
    36 x50 pole barn with 3 stalls
    Fenced riding arena adjacent to pole barn
    Dwarf fruit trees, raspberries, square foot garden
Property:
Majority is hardwood forest but there is a small area of open meadow; contains 2-3 wildlife ponds.  A profusion of wildflowers welcome in spring, the most stunning of which is the "groundcover" of trillium which blankets the forest floor surrounding the house in late April-early May.  A diverse bird population enjoys the feeders and woods including cardinals, jays, red-bellied, hairy & downy woodpeckers, with an occasional red-headed and piliated, nuthatches, chickadees, goldfinches, rose-breasted grosbeaks and orioles, sparrows, juncos, mourning doves, barred owls, red tailed hawks, wood ducks, great blue heron, wild turkeys and Canada geese.  Deer, raccoons, squirrels, chipmunks, red fox, coyote, muskrats, badgers, etc. have been seen.
Facts:
Chicago Loop 90 miles
South Bend airport 25 miles
Lake Michigan beaches 15 miles
Scenic St. Joseph 14 miles
Supermarkets, service stations, medical offices, library, fast food, hardware--3-5 minutes
Freeway access 3-5 min.
Fine Arts:
Mendel Center home to the Southwest Michigan Symphony and the Lake     Michigan  Youth Orchestra 15 miles
Howard Performing Arts Center home to the Andrews University Symphony     Orchestra 3-5 miles
Twin City Players--12 miles
Economic Club of Southwest Michigan
Education:
Berrien Springs School System--local
Andrews University, Andrews Academy, Ruth Murdoch Elementary School, Village SDA Elementary School--local
Lake Michigan College--14 miles
Southwest Michigan College--25+ miles
University of Notre Dame  25 miles