CASCADE TOWNSHIP, MI – Built along a gentle bend on the Thornapple River, this elegant French country manor blends old world style and elegance with modern conveniences and proximity to Grand Rapids.

Located on a 132-feet of riverfront between the Ada and Cascade dams, Realtor John Postma has listed the 9-year-old home at 7428 Biscayne Way SE for $1.495 million. .

“That lot today would sell for close to $400,000 and you could never build that house for $1 million today,” said Postma, who has sold three houses along the Thornapple River in the past year.

“It’s an exceptional value and there are no more waterfront lots left (between the dams).”

Owners John and Connie Geier, who are relocating, had the four-bedroom, 6,759-square-foot house built by Distinctive Homes in 2005.

The French country theme begins with the timber-beamed front porch and front door, made of Western Douglas Fir. Once inside, the columned foyer has a brick barrel ceiling and a terra cotta tile floor.

A library next to the foyer is finished in alder paneling, with a fireplace – one of four in the house – and pocket doors to hide a home office space. The vaulted pyramid ceiling is framed by Western Douglas Fir beams.

At the far end of the foyer are French doors that open up to a wide deck whose curved railing offers a sweeping view of the gentle river. The deck includes a large red brick fireplace for summer cookouts and parties.

Back inside, the living room and formal dining room also feature a high vaulted ceiling with fir beams and wide plank oak flooring. An ornate wrought iron stair railing and a limestone hearth with a wrought iron screen continues the French country theme.

The living room leads to an informal dining room that looks out over the river and connects to the large kitchen and a sunny sitting area, where a large stone hearth keeps things cozy. The cathedral ceiling is finished in warm knotty pine paneling.

The gourmet kitchen features two islands with polished granite counter tops — one with a farmhouse sink near the stove, the other with a wet bar and sink near the sitting area. The door to the pantry is decorated with a stained glass transom window.

Next to the kitchen, the tiled mud room leads to the laundry room, a half bathroom and doorways to the home’s two attached garages — one that’s heated with two parking bays and the other, a single stall unit that’s ideal for storing small watercraft or other toys.

At the other end of the ground floor, the master bedroom features cathedral-ceiling whose double-height windows fill the room with light and overlook the river.

The bathroom features twin vanities and a large whirlpool tub and a walk-in shower lined in terra cotta tile. A 10-foot by 12-foot walk-in closet adjoins the bathroom.

On the lower level, there’s a full bar that connects a family room with fireplace on one end and a game room with a billiard table and a home theater with comfortable seating for seven and a 12-foot wide-screen projection television and surround-sound systems.

Down the hall from the family room, there’s a mirrored exercise room behind glass French doorways.

Also on the lower level, past the homework stations, there are two bedroom suites, each with their own full bathroom and walk-in closets.

Above the garage, there’s an 18-foot by 25-foot “bonus room” with a full bathroom and walk-in closet that could easily serve as a fourth bedroom or private nanny suite.

Jim Harger covers business for MLive/Grand Rapids Press. Email him at jharger@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter or Facebook or Google+.