Compared with most townhouse developments, the Baileywood models in west suburban Naperville offer some pretty interesting space arrangements.
Built four across to a building, each unit interweaves with the others in a kind of jigsaw-puzzle fashion, allowing for bi-level or ranch-style layouts in a building composed of a basement and two upper stories.
The Walden, with a base price of $173,900, is a first-floor “ranch” style townhouse featuring two bedrooms, two baths, a basement and a two-car garage in just less than 1,600 square feet.
Because the Walden runs in a straight path through the center of the four-unit building, the central hallway is its main artery, with rooms feeding off of it left and right. The dining room and living room benefit from vaulted ceilings and large windows.
The Walden’s kitchen, at 9 by 10 feet, is plenty big, but the sink and refrigerator are across the room from each other, making the space slightly awkward.
The basement in this model is a walk-out, and though it is arranged to serve as a demonstration room to show prospective buyers their cabinetry and carpet options, it looks to be a good-size space. The English style and walk-out basements in all the Baileywood models are optional for $7,500 to $11,000. The prices include a bathroom with shower and a concrete patio.
In all, $173,900-not counting the numerous options on display here in the model-is not a bad price for the Walden. But when you see the Sherwood at just $2,000 more, however, you may be tempted to skip right over the Walden.
To enter the Sherwood model you have to walk up cement stairs in the front of the building to reach its second-story front door. Once inside it’s hard to ignore the relatively amazing distance between the main living area on the top story of the unit and the basement area far below. In fact, the distance between the two is 31 steps, with four turns. But it’s worth it.
The Sherwood is the best of the four models here, even though it isn’t the most expensive. The Sherwood isn’t even available as an end unit (which usually allows for more windows), and it’s still the best of the bunch. This is because the Sherwood features one of the most interesting floor plans you’re likely to find in a townhouse, and the contiguous nature of its main rooms lends the place a sense of open space that simply isn’t offered in the other designs here.
And besides, you get an extra bedroom in the Sherwood.
Once you’ve entered the front door you still have to walk up another flight of stairs to get to the main floor, but as you enter the living room and dining room areas, you are immediately struck by the generous space devoted to these areas.
This model additionally features a loft area off of the living room, though this is an option. Normally the third bedroom would be here, and at 11 by just under 16 feet, this is indeed a spacious guest room.
Beyond the dining room is a 9- by 10-foot kitchen. A small breakfast nook is behind this, which opens to a back deck visible from the dining room. The quality of the building is evident in the fact that the door leading out to the deck is a standard door, which closes with a tight and solid seal, as opposed to a sliding glass door.
Across the hallway from the kitchen is the utility room with washer, dryer and sink, (laundry rooms in Baileywood models come with sinks) and behind it is the spacious guest bathroom, easily accessible from the dining room as well as both additional bedrooms.
At the end of the model are the master and second bedrooms. The master bedroom here features two skylights ($870 extra), and like the Walden before it, large closets and a large master bath. At just shy of 14 by 15 feet, and with its volume ceiling, the master bedroom is very impressive. It also looks out on the backyard, a much better view than afforded by the front-facing second and third bedrooms.
Now head down the 31 steps and four turns and you’re in a very impressive basement area. (On the way down you’ll find the door to the garage. One nice feature is that in any model you never have to go outside to get to your garage.) In the model unit this is a walk-out basement, and it is set up with a home office, shelving units and a small recreational area. Regardless how it is set up, and even without the walk-out, this is like finding several additional rooms’ worth of space.
Base-priced at $175,900-not counting the many options shown in this model-the Sherwood, at 1,726 square feet, feels like a lot of space for the money.
Next door to the Sherwood is the Shenandoah floor plan. Maybe it’s just the head-on view of the first floor bathroom you get through the front window as you walk up to the main entrance, but something about it feels strangely out of alignment. At 1,761 square feet, this unit is actually slightly larger than the Sherwood, but its unusual layout, which serves both the Walden and the Sherwood so well, seems like a disservice to this design.
Upstairs, above the far-forward garage on this model, is the master bedroom. At almost 13 by 17 feet, this is a good-size room, and its volume ceiling (all volume ceilings at Baileywood are standard) accentuates the space. The master bath is huge. It’s shown with an optional whirlpool bath for $1,570. The upstairs is actually more impressive than the main floor.
The basement in this model is unfinished, and though not as nicely laid out as the Sherwood’s, it also leaves one with the impression of having “discovered” additional rooms.
This unit makes use of all three levels of the building. And at $182,900, it ought to. The price increases by $4,000 if bought as an end unit.
The last of the four Baileywood models, the Redwood, also makes use of all three levels of the building, and at 1,993 square feet is by far the largest of the four models. Also like the Shenandoah, however, the unusual layout here probably distracts more than it compells, though overall it’s a far more appealing design than the Shenandoah.
Taking up more than a third of the upstairs floor, the master bed and bath area features a very expansive bathroom and two large walk-in closets. The bedroom is 13 by 17 feet and has a volume ceiling. If you had to spend a whole day up here you probably wouldn’t feel claustrophobic.
The base price of the Redwood is $191,900; add $4,000 if bought as an end unit.
As might be expected, all of the models at Baileywood are set up with many of the available upgrades and options. Air conditioning is included in each model, but the fireplaces are an option that will cost you an extra $4,050 to $4,850. Certain standard items may seem a bit surprising, such as cultured marble countertops and ceramic tiling in all bathrooms; 30-inch gas range, dishwasher and microwave in all kitchens; and lots of double-hung insulated windows.
One note about the windows if you decide on an upper floor. In some bedrooms, the windows run virtually floor to ceiling. That lets in a generous amount of light, but the size might be a problem for unattended toddlers.
If you’re interested in upscale townhouse living, and you’re lucky enough to buy one of these models with the walk-out basement (these are available only in units built into landscape rises), Baileywood offers a refreshing change of pace from ho-hum square box designs. About 90 of the 183 available units are sold, so you’d better goin’.
Baileywood, being built by Wiseman-Hughes Enterprises, is on the west side of Naper Boulevard, about five miles south of the Naperville Road interchange on Interstate Highway 88. Models are open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday and Monday. The phone number is 708-637-0664.
