The ”Street of Dreams” in Lake County`s horse country lives up to its theme: ”A Parade of Thoroughbreds.” The show`s eight custom residences are sleek, well groomed and expensive.
Breaking from the starting gate Saturday, the show will run through Aug. 23 at a site north of Libertyville in the upscale Nickels and Dimes Farm subdivision. Be assured, though, that the homes aren`t going for small change; the range is $500,000 to $850,000. And four of them already have been sold.
Even though the mansions are financially out of reach for most of those who will attend, home show aficionados should love the ”Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” ambiance at the ”Street of Dreams.” These are not enlarged, gussied-up tract homes, but rather custom designs from the foundation up.
Set on wooded, acre-plus lots, the homes range from 4,000 to 5,500 square feet of living area. All are fully landscaped and decorated in attention-getting style.
Though offering architectural diversity, they hew to a traditional exterior look with cedar-shake roofs. It should be noted that all the garages are discreetly tucked away so that no garage doors face the front.
Inside, the residences showcase all the glitz and glamor that home show viewers come to see. Plus, there are some innovative design surprises, as well as energy-saving technology.
Co-sponsored by the Home Builders Association of Greater Chicago and the Lake County Home Builders Association, the show will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and free for children under 12.
The show is the second segment of the Parade of Homes, which this year was broken up into three parts. The first was held in Algonquin in May and June; the third will be in Chicago starting Sept. 5.
To visit the ”Street of Dreams,” get off Interstate Highway 94 (Tri-State Tollway) at Illinois Highway 137, go west two miles, then north on River Road 1 1/2 miles to Nickels and Dimes Farm.
The horse country character of the 95-acre housing development is genuine.
”Up until two years ago, this was a thoroughbred horse breeding farm,”
said Ron Fleckman, director of development for Cyrus Development Group, the developer of the project. On the 64 lots, 19 homes already have been built, including the eight in the show, he said.
Because of the area`s picturesque setting and the upper-end cost of the homes, Fleckman concluded, ”This is the only home show of this caliber this summer.”
Here`s a look at the field, several of which have been named to carry out the horsey theme.
– The Percheron, named for a breed of draft horses from France, is a 4,200-square-foot home in French country manor style. Built by Traditional Homes of Long Grove, it is the least traditional house in the show, starting with its yellow exterior and wide, flared steps leading up to the front door. It features an open floor plan. ”We didn`t want a lot of (interior)
walls,” said builder Ray Truelsen.
Off the two-story foyer is the sunken family room, with a two-story ceiling and a fireplace flanked by windows. It is next to the solarium and open to the breakfast nook and kitchen.
Truelsen said the $660,000 Percheron has been sold.
– The Greenbriar, a 4,800-square-foot home by Henderson Homes of Libertyville, is priced at $829,000.
Builder Tom Henderson said the prices of homes in the show are in line with those in the area. ”Prices in this subdivision range from $600,000 to $800,000. Buyers will include corporate executives and owners of businesses,” he said.
With four bedrooms and a large bonus room over the garage, the home would be ideal for a large family, Henderson said.
In traditional Georgian style, the exterior is distinctive because of the balustrades atop the columned front entry and above the conservatory.
”A conservatory is just a fancy name for a sun room,” said Henderson. The light-filled room has windows on three sides that extend almost from floor to ceiling.
A unique feature is the decorative painting on walls instead of wallpaper.
”Painting offers more versatility, a way to really customize,” he said. Even a wall of the laundry room is enlivened by the painting of wash hanging out to dry, the work of Deerfield artist Susan Simmel. She also painted the columns between the family room and kitchen to look like marble.
The master bedroom has 12 1/2-foot ceilings and a wall of windows overlooking the wooded property. A private 16-foot-square deck is off the master bath.
– The Lancaster and the Legend were both built by Chic Martin Signature Homes of Mundelein.
The 4,500-square-foot Lancaster has been sold. Lili Martin, wife of builder Chic Martin, said it would be priced at $745,000 if it were built elsewhere. ”Because of product discounts and other benefits for a show home, we are able to pass on savings to the buyers,” she said.
The buyers of the Lancaster asked for certain modifications, including a walk-in wet bar between the living room and patio for easy access during informal and formal entertaining.
Priced at $845,000, the 5,580-square-foot Legend is unique because of the porte cochere, a gateway between the main part of the house and one of the two separate garages. A bedroom is located above the porte cochere.
Because of the many angles of the home, 121 turns were required in the foundation, Martin said.
Other interesting features include a chandelier in the foyer that can be viewed from outside through a Palladian window over the front door, an art gallery wall with special lighting for the paintings and a large, second-floor playroom with a computer nook.
The master bedroom, by the way, is on the first floor. Despite the Legend`s size, it is energy efficient with four different heating and cooling zones.
– The Triple Crown, as its name implies, is a winner. The 5,500-square-foot residence in French Normandy style has a castlelike look because of the two-story turret on one side of the front entry.
Despite its unique appearance, the turret serves a mundane function, housing a powder room on the first floor and a bathroom on the second.
Built by Orren Pickell Builders of Vernon Hills, the $850,000 home has been sold.
”It was designed for the views,” said Wendy Cohen, sales and marketing coordinator for the builder. One long view is from the foyer to the family room, a distance of about 60 feet. Amenities of the family room include a see- through wet bar, a stone fireplace and an entertainment center.
The sunken, two-story living room with a marble fireplace has an alcove specifically designed for a grand piano.
The home is a blend of angles and curves, including a circular staircase and curved walls in two second-floor rooms. Not only does the master bedroom suite include his and her walk-in closets, but also his and her sweater closets, plus cedar-lined storage in a window seat.
– The Ascot, a 5,000-square-foot model built by Interlacken Construction of Libertyville, looks almost like a single-story residence when viewed from the front. In fact, the bulk of the living area is on the first floor, including the master suite, which has a separate sitting room. But upstairs there are three more bedrooms.
Priced at $849,000, the Ascot is an English country design, said Mark Loeb, the developer. The half-octagon breakfast area has views of an outdoor deck with a built-in bench and a cutout for an existing tree. Loeb estimated the property has 30 mature oak trees. The equestrian center can be viewed across the street in the distance.
– Strike the Gold, named after a racehorse, was built by Libertyville-based Richter Builders. Priced at $759,000, it, like the Legend, has a porte cochere and a courtyard between two separate garages. The first-floor master suite has access to a large rear deck.
– The Churchill, a 3,800-square-foot design by New Tradition Homes, was priced at $500,000 and is sold.
Its most unusual features are the family room, with a latice cathedral ceiling and decorated in Australian Outback style; and the second-floor media room. Measuring 32 by 22 feet, it has a wall mural of a theater audience and a built-in 52-inch projection TV set. The sound system provides all-around sound.
