3117 Weston Drive, Ames, IA 50010

Built in 2013 in Northridge Heights, this north Ames ranch pairs 3,585 finished square feet with a kitchen made for real cooking and an oversized 3-car garage. Five bedrooms and three baths (one full, two 3/4) sit on a 0.29-acre lot in the Gilbert Community School District.

The main level offers 2,052 finished square feet with hardwood floors, tray ceilings and a fireplace in the living room. The kitchen is the center of it all: a large island, a long run of cabinets with glass-front uppers, deep storage and wide stretches of countertop, so prep space and storage never compete.

It opens to the dining area and living room, keeping cooking and conversation in the same space. The primary suite, two more bedrooms, a mudroom with built-in lockers and main-floor laundry round out the level. The finished lower level adds 1,533 square feet: a rec room, a wet bar with a full wall of cabinets, a family room with a stone fireplace, two bedrooms and a bath.

The pool table, foosball table and shuffleboard stay with the home, as do all appliances. Out back, a deck overlooks a wide, open yard. The oversized 3-car garage leaves room for vehicles plus a workbench, storage or outdoor gear. Northridge Heights HOA is $195 per year. About 5 minutes to Ada Hayden Heritage Park, 10 minutes to Iowa State University and 10 minutes to I-35.