---

MANSFIELD -- Open, yet warm and inviting. That's what Cinthya cq and Ronald Murphy say they like best about the contemporary Colonial home they helped design 11 years ago at 118 York Road in Forest Park.

``We wanted an open flow to the home so that people could move about freely, but still be all in one area when we entertained, and that's just how it has been,'' said Ron, a managing director with Piper Jaffrey.

The openness comes mostly from the main living portion of the home, a large area where a foyer, sitting room, family room and kitchen blend spaciously into one another.

The warmth comes from the decor the Murphys have created, complete with both aesthetic displays and sitting areas that invite visitors to stay a while.

``We've tried to decorate our home in a tasteful manner without sacrificing comfort and warmth,'' said Cindy, a stay-athome mom. The comfortable decor offers an attractive blend of Roman, Victorian and contemporary motifs, which are immediately evident upon entering the home.

The two-story foyer features an impressive Palladian window above the front door, opposite a large contemporary glass chandelier, trimmed with brass.

Below, a white ceramic tiled floor leads to a turn staircase, with a white spindle railing, set between oak treads and oak banisters, against light taupe walls.

The staircase also offers a balcony, where cherry bookcases and tract lighting make for a cozy library area. The balcony overlooks both the foyer and its adjacent sitting room.

To the left of the bookcases, a display of large, framed portraits of the Murphys' three children, Brendan, 9, Alanna, 12, and Isabella, 4, provide a homey touch, while a display of family photographs adorns a lower wall against the staircase as well.

In front of the staircase, a glass-topped wrought iron table, with a green patina finish, adorned with antique style Roman candle holers, a Victorian style lamp and an Italian style vase filled with dried hydrangeas from the Murphys' Cape home, is just one of the other attractive displays in the foyer.

Almost completely open to the foyer on the right, the Murphys have created a sitting room, which is both cozy and bright.

The sitting room is a step down from the foyer and features an oak floor, another large Palladian window and white French doors to a 24- by 20-foot family room.

The decor of the foyer is continued here, with warm, earthtone furnishings and accessories set against light taupe walls.

A cathedral ceiling above the area where the Palladian window faces the front of the property offers another dimension to the room. To add yet another dimension, Cindy has given the win dow an even larger appearance by hanging the draperies, in various shades of brown, on each side of the window, rather than over it.

The spacious family room, offers special design features as well, with several sitting areas.

To the far right of the room, another cathedral ceiling forms a special area, which features a very attractive fireplace, decoratively flanked by narrow Palladian windows.

The fireplace has a black marble hearth and facing, set within a white mantel, topped with dentil crown molding.

Continuing the stylish decor of the home, two large prints above the fireplace are framed in earthenware type frames, complementary accessories adorn the mantel, and antique bronze sconces to the right of each Palladian window offer a display of greenery.

Continuing the function and comfort of this area, there is a large desk, complete with a bookshelf and glass-door front, to the far left of the fireplace, nicely situated between the narrow Palladian window and a double window that overlooks the wooded back yard.

To the far right, a square game table, complete with comfortable chairs and nearby floor lamp, is situated just as nicely between the other Palladian window and a double window facing the front yard.

Linen white walls and Berber carpeting in a blend of light beige and butter cream extend from this area through the remainder of the room, where a large sectional sofa in upholstered shades of brown and green forms a center sitting area.

Impressive Alexander Julian furniture pieces, like that of the corner desk, all in a matching shade of champagne, add a special touch to the room as do several wrought iron and stoneware accessories.

In keeping with the open flow pattern of this area, the family room is almost completely open to the kitchen, with only a lower wall of off-white beadboard partially dividing the two rooms.

To the left of this lower wall, the family room steps up to the kitchen, where the attractive beadboard continues on the opposite side of the lower wall and also forms the facing of an angular-shaped center island. The beadboard also covers the walls of the adjacent mud area and the lower walls of its nicely decorated half bath.

The kitchen features an Italian ceramic tiled floor, in a light shade of terra cotta, and ample oak cabinets, including two lighted display cabinets, with glass panes framed in oak.

Set against wallpaper in shades of beige, green and cranberry and several Roman accent pieces, the kitchen also offers a fully-shelved pantry and a dining area with sliding glass doors to a two-level backyard deck.

Completing the first-floor gathering area, the dining room, off the kitchen, offers walls, chair rail and dentil crown molding, all in a pleasing shade of light taupe, above cherry furniture and an oak floor.

The home also offers a spacious master suite, three additional bedrooms and a main bath on the second floor, a laundry room off the first-floor mud area, a partially finished lower level with playroom, and a twocar garage.

The property is listed for $609,900 by Betty Rosenberger at Conway Country in Norton at 508 285-5506. The property can be seen during an open house from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25.

LOVE YOUR HOME? Is your house special -- either in design, decor or historical significance? If so, we'd like to feature it on our weekly Great Homes pages. Contact Janette Sears by phone or fax at 508-222-2442, or via email at jsears(at)(at)thesunchronicle.com