816 Miller Road Hillsborough, NC 27278

816 Miller Road: Big on Space, Short on Commute.

Just a two-mile drive outside downtown Hillsborough sits a 1960s brick home that lives like a rambling ranch with a bonus story on top. Over 3,000 square feet of living space sits back from the road in the middle of what feels like your own private 1.4 acre Ayr Mount. Mature trees throw shade, thoughtful plantings bloom, and the flat, sun-filled backyard is surrounded in deer fencing to provide a safe haven for the garden of your dreams. Or maybe yard games are more your style... Croquet? Badminton? Epic games of tag? There's space here to run, plant, AND play, no need to compromise. The owner tucked a detached screened porch and garden shed in the back corner of the yard: a private little paradise that takes advantage of the shade and the views.

This classic home has all the markings of mid-century quality: large, spacious rooms that go on for days, beautiful hardwood floors, solid construction and more than enough storage to fit All. The. Things.

There are two bedrooms and one bath on each floor, allowing for flexibility in how you choose to use them. Want to convert the downstairs bedrooms and bath into a giant main floor primary suite? Done. Want to create the same upstairs? Done and done.

The current light-filled primary bedroom is upstairs and goes on for days. There's a nook under the skylights, a separate seating area, a walk-in closet that could be its own dressing room, and walk-out attic storage that gives you access to everything from luggage to holiday decorations from the comfort of your bedroom.

The eat-in kitchen is big enough to host a party all on its own, but the massive living room and converted-carport-sunroom are big enough to triple the fun. There's a quiet nook just off the laundry/mudroom that tucks away some space for reading, writing or quiet contemplation. And speaking of mudroom... the giant laundry room is a reminder of how homes used to live, providing space to clean up after a long day working outside. Opening from the backyard, this room the size of a not-so-small storage unit is the stuff of Joanna Gaines' dreams. It not only houses the washer and dryer, but also a wash sink AND a toilet! Nobody has to track mud in the house to stop for a bathroom break or wash up. Leave the real wood paneling as-is for that mid-century kitsch, or paint it for cottage charm: big enough to split into a mudroom AND half bath or leave it as-is and take advantage of all the square footage for storage of coats, shoes, rain gear, play equipment, party supplies. You don't see rooms with this much space and possibility very often.

If you've been searching for a home with heart, character, and a little bit of whimsy, this might just be the one. Come see for yourself. There's a lot to love out here, and a whole lot waiting to bloom.