The best part of the day might happen on the covered patio. Coffee in hand, ceiling fan turning overhead, you look out over a fenced half-acre lot with apple and pear trees, raspberry canes, and a shady spot under three birch trees. Two sheds hold the tools, and a sprinkler system keeps it all green.

Inside, life on the main level stays simple. The great room gathers around a stone fireplace that burns gas or wood, framed by tall windows on both sides. The kitchen's eating area opens straight to the patio through a wide slider, so summer dinners drift outside. A formal dining room sits just off the entry for holidays and Sunday suppers.

Then there's the daylight lower level. The 39' x 18' family room fits a sectional, a TV wall and a game table all at once, and the wet bar handles drinks and snacks. A 28' x 13' fourth bedroom with its own full bath gives guests a private retreat.

De Soto holds onto its small-town pace while new shops and restaurants continue to open. Picture a Saturday that starts with a latte at Cause Coffee and a stop at the De Soto Library, then lunch at Burnt End BBQ and ice cream on the way home. Riverfest Park and the De Soto Aquatic Center are close by, and K-10 puts Lenexa, Olathe and Lawrence a short drive away. The home is served by De Soto USD 232, which Niche ranks the #2 school district in Kansas.