Rustic decor complements wooded pondside setting

SHARON - Inside this tree-shrouded contemporary, perched next to a private pond, beats the heart of a country cabin. Any worries about a modern, antiseptic interior vanish once inside, where the walls and cathedral ceiling of the first floor are blanketed with rustic knotty pine planks. This is three-story living within the Borderland State Park area of Sharon where the calming cabin-like interior design continues throughout the home. The main floor contains the living room, with a working fireplace surrounded by a dark brick decorative sheathing, and sliding-glass doors leading to a deck with expansive views of Briggs Pond, complete with private dock. Below outside is the inground pool and large outdoor hot tub. The spacious kitchen, comfortable but a little dated, completes the floor.

Up the wide stairs is first an office space with its own deck and then three rooms comprising the bathroom suite: one with a two-sink washroom, another with a toilet, and the third with a shower and clawfoot bathtub, with a small window with a view of the pond. The master bedroom, with ceiling fan, has its own deck, two walk-in closets, and an entire wall given to built-in book shelves.

The house may be more suitable for a family with tweens than toddlers, as the remaining bedrooms are two floors below the master suite. Each bedroom is spacious with good closet space and ceiling fans, opening out to a family room. The parquet flooring in the main basement is a nice feature, but it does buckle from humidity from time to time. A full bath is also down there, as well as gas fireplace with blower. A door leads out to the pool and hot tub. The house has central air conditioning. The exterior and landscaping, however, need freshening. Heat is from propane and water is from a well. The pond homeowner's association costs $500 a year and the home comes with its own small dock. Listing broker is Ellen Liao of Coldwell Banker of Sharon.

JOHN R. ELLEMENT