أغر؟´«أ½

Located at the end of a private cul-de-sac, the pristine white Georgian Colonial home of Phil and Beth Berra presents an exceptionally impressive front faأ§ade.

Further adding to the curbside appeal is the manner the home is positioned in relation to the lane. Because the portion of the 1-plus acre lot facing the street is narrow but deep, the footprint of the residence required the rear-entry, three-car garage be built at a 90-degree angle to the home. With three dormers on the unfinished third floor of the residence, and three matching dormers on the second floor of the garage, the home embraces a wide, circular courtyard in front, which enhances an already welcoming entrance.

Custom-built for the Berras in 1994, all the rooms in the home are large and feature an abundance of windows. Combined with imposing 12-foot ceilings, the 6,200 square-foot, five-bedroom, five-bathroom home exhibits an extraordinary sensation of openness and natural light.

The crisp white interior is amplified by an absence of draperies, replaced instead by remote-controlled window shades.

While the dأ©cor in most homes includes artwork, in the Berra residence wall space is devoted to family photos and framed family mementos. “My home is not about a decorator; it’s about family,â€‌ Beth explains.

Mementos in the living room are particularly poignant, and keep the memory of a son, Air Force Maj. Lee Berra, foremost in the minds of the Berras and guests. Lee died in a tragic plane crash in 2017 in California, and his Air Force flight helmet and boots are displayed on a shelf. Close by an American flag in a glass case is displayed with the 15 medals he was awarded during his 12 years in the Air Force. “He wanted to be a pilot since he was a child,â€‌ Beth says.

Elsewhere throughout the home, cherished family furniture inherited from generations of great and great-great-grandparents is in most rooms.

An upstairs hallway features the infant clothes of grandparents, preserved in glass cases, with photos of them being worn over 100 years earlier.

Also, upstairs a bedroom with two bunk beds and a queen bed can accommodate all five grandchildren for family sleepovers.

The large kitchen is centered around a 12-foot white marble top counter island, with seating for five along one side. A clue that there are grandchildren in the family is at the end of the island, where a low children’s table sits 3 feet beneath the island countertop.

Inside, the window trim has been painted black, adding a stark contrast against the lighter walls, making the windows stand out and creating an elegant and visually appealing focal point.

Two of the ceilings in the residence are particularly interesting. The kitchen ceiling is extensively coffered, a type of architectural finish with a repetitive series of recessed panels in the shape of squares forming a grid-like pattern. Adding to the interest are several layers of molding and trim framing each coffer, adding shadow lines that emphasize the architecture.

In the first-floor primary bedroom a tray ceiling features an elevated center section that creates a tiered dimension that adds interest to the room, while making it feel larger and more luxurious.

Several changes were made to the residence in 2016. In the kitchen, cherry cabinets were replaced with white cabinets with gold handles. What has not changed is that every appliance has its own built-in space, hidden either behind cabinet doors or under the marble island countertop.

At the same time the kitchen was being remodeled, a screened porch just off the kitchen was enclosed, and carpeting on the first floor was replaced with wood flooring.

The lower level was remodeled in 2022. A home theater was installed, as was a golf room for Phil with a golf simulator that involves hitting a real golf ball at a screen designed to withstand the impact of the golf balls and which displays virtual re-creations of famous real-world courses around the world.

The rest of the lower level is devoted to game tables and toys for the grandchildren.

“The home was built by Jerry and Justin Wise of WiseWorks, Inc., and they have also done all the updates,â€‌ Beth says, adding that she would never use anyone else.

Behind the home, and centered precisely on the living room, steps lead down to a heated pool and pool house. With a kitchen and changing room, and covered veranda, it offers a perfect place for summer family gatherings and entertaining.

At the bottom of the pool, a ring of black mosaic tiles forms a truck tire size circle “It is symbolic of Community Wholesale Tire, our family business,â€‌ Beth says with a laugh.