It''s surprisingly quiet at Doug Browe''s blue-painted two-story home in upper Seaside. With little through traffic and a park at the end of the street, Browe can leave his screened front door open and let the summer breezes come through. Visitors pass under a blooming trellis into the fenced front flower garden, then walk inside the front door decorated with a cheery twisted branch wreath.

Realtor Dean Provene calls the home''s style "country flair with an ocean view." It''s a fitting description given the country accents in the home, like vaulted red cedar ceilings, and the fact that the back side of the house faces the Bay.

When he bought the house in ''77, Browe put a fence around the property and turned an all-dirt yard into a garden. Ten years ago, Browe and his contractor uncle turned the former one-story, two bedroom, one bath home into the two-story, three bedroom, two bath home it is now. Provence explains that they decided to go up instead of out because Browe''s two kids wanted to keep a maximum of yard space.

Now, what was once a bedroom is turned into a hall with a staircase and bathroom. The upstairs master suite has a large bedroom that leads onto a huge sun deck with nothing but views of the Bay. Lounge chairs promise privacy, sunshine, and complete relaxation.

"We stay upstairs most of the time because of the views," Browe says. "We go up on the deck for coffee in the morning and read the paper."

Storage areas are available on the roof eaves off the deck and in the series of large closets in the master suite. An ironing board folds out of the bedroom wall. Wood accents on the doors match the red cedar ceiling. A bathroom with a vanity area and a separate tub and shower complete the upstairs.

On the main floor, there''s a large country kitchen with an eat-in bar, a comfortable living room with a wood stove, and two bedrooms, one with Bay views. In the rear yard, a seating area next to a fountain offers a place to check out the coastline, and a basketball hoop provides the recreation.

Provence refers to the neighborhood as being in the desirable "horseshoe" part of Seaside: Realtor-speak for the area that skirts the busy commercial district and apartments.

"It''s where you can get a million dollar view for under a million," he says.

But Browe''s answering machine message says it all. He tells callers that he''s probably outside working in the garden or barbecuing on the patio. Or maybe chatting with his neighbors.

"I''ve been here since 1977," Browe says. "I know everybody on both sides of the street up and down--it''s a real close knit neighborhood."

Price: $525,000. 1731 Highland St., Seaside. Contact Dean Provence of Greg Shankle Real Estate at 646-1401.