LIMERICK – Most homes are simply built. A special few are created. Here is one of the latter.

The sterling lakefront contemporary “dates” from 1990, but has not dated at all. Over the past 20 years, the second-owner sellers carried out extensive updates and improvements (kitchen and both full baths, for example) that keep the home feeling as fresh as today.

In recent years, the partially wooded 1.5 acre-lot has been selectively opened up, and beautifully landscaped and hardscaped. All around the gently sloping lawns, sun and shade gardens filled with perennials are proclaiming the arrival of spring, everywhere you look.

That is, if you can take your eyes off the setting’s other magical element: 365 feet of frontage on the east shore of Lake Arrowhead, in a secluded location that, having very few houses and seeing little boat traffic, may well be the lake’s most desirable.

On the frontage are a small, rudimentary dock that’s perfect for putting in a kayak; and, off a pretty peninsula, a larger dock that will please boaters, swimmers, and fishermen. The lake is renowned for its largemouth bass; weekly summer bass tournaments have just begun.

The home was sited and designed to take maximum advantage not only of the sweet water views, but also of the enveloping gardens and woodland. A huge, wraparound deck provides this pleasure much of the year. Inside, a wealth of windows does the same throughout the seasons, especially in the towering living room. The home’s natural brightness is enhanced by 13 skylights.

The living room features a floor-to-ceiling fieldstone wood-burning fireplace whose birch mantel is changed for each season. The adjacent kitchen’s appliances are white, its cabinetry oak, its counters and island a gorgeous honed granite. Down the hall, opposite a renovated full bath, an expansion wing with lots of pleasantly rustic tongue-and-groove pine paneling houses two bedrooms and a large sitting area, and brings the home’s total to 2,700 square feet.

Upstairs, the open-concept master suite comes with an office, and a Jacuzzi in the bathroom, and a large loft perfect for crafting or other studio use. A fourth level of living – the partially daylight, walkout basement – has a versatile recreation room with woodstove; laundry; garage access; and a fine workshop with two double closets.

Note that the adjacent lot – a half-acre with 100+ feet of shorefront – is also available (at $79,000) with the buyer of the home having first right of refusal. Adding a second dwelling would establish a wonderful family compound.

The home at 99 Leisure Lane, Limerick, is listed for sale at $379,000 by Diane Gray of Bean Group (Waterboro office). Please contact Diane at 632-1943 or at graysofmaine@hotmail.com.

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