128 Doveridge DriveColumbus, NC 28722Price: $1,299,000

Some homes are built. Wisteria Cottage was crafted. Reclaimed brick, hand-laid fieldstone and a true slate roof give this Old World retreat a timeless presence. A jasmine draped arbor leads you to an arched blue door, and the story begins. Inside, the character is everywhere you look. Hand-scraped wide plank floors run beneath hewn timber beams. Hand-crafted arched wood doors and a stacked stone fireplace sit between custom built-in bookshelves. Light pours in through tall windows and French doors. The kitchen is the heart of it all, with rich wood cabinetry, quartz counters, a gas range, a striking floating hood over the island cooktop, and a breakfast bar that keeps the cook in the conversation. Quality finishes carry through every space, along with practical comforts like a central vacuum and instant hot water system. Every bedroom has its own bath. The main-level primary suite is a true retreat, with a tray ceiling, a spa-like bath and two closets, including one so generous it holds an island and its own laundry. Just down the hall, an ensuite guest room makes single-level living easy, while upstairs a third suite catches the treetop views. Above the garage, a private apartment with its own bath and separate entrance welcomes guests in comfort. Outdoors is where this home truly lives. A timber pergola terrace with ceiling fans holds a full outdoor kitchen, dining for a crowd and deep lounge seating, all looking out over fall color. Gravel garden paths wind past boxwoods and Japanese maples to a fire pit courtyard made for long evenings. Life on 2.03 acres in gated Derbyshire means spring-fed Lake Sandy Plains, walking trails, and a community barn and arena, with Tryon, Landrum and TIEC just minutes away. Interstate access, shopping and hospitals are all a short drive, so the quiet never comes at the cost of convenience.