What a difference a year makes.
Each June, the Northern Illinois Home Builders Association presents its annual Cavalcade of Homes, a ticketed affair that touts itself as the most elaborate display of custom home building in the Chicago area. In 1996, as in every other year, the houses were all decked out, fancy, the pride of their builders and their eventual buyers.
Trouble was, they kind of all looked alike–not a crowd-pleasing feature, especially when you’re charging people to walk through the kinds of homes that other builders may be opening for free. As a home show, paying customers tend to expect some show.
This year is somewhat different, refreshingly so. The 1997 Cavalcade of Homes will run Saturday through July 6 at the Burnham Point subdivision, near 95th Street and Book Road, Naperville.
If last year’s Cavalcade homes, as Dorothy Parker might have said, ran the gamut from A to B, this year’s have inched their way toward N, maybe R. The houses are large, ranging in size from 3,000 to 4,500 square feet, but in “feeling,” the 14 entrants in this home parade range from cottage-like to suburban-predictable to mini-Versailles, all on one block.
Some general observations:
– Trade journals, noted designers and a lot of builders themselves have been saying that opulent bathrooms may have seen their heyday for a number of reasons, particularly cost and a preference to allocate the space elsewhere. But the message hasn’t penetrated here: Home buyers who dream of lounging in pond-sized whirlpool tubs, surrounded by an acre of marble, granite and tile, won’t be disappointed.
– The same observers who have written off Taj Mahal bathrooms also say that kitchens are growing. But in the Cavalcade houses, interestingly, the space allocated for actual food preparation–excluding breakfast areas and spillover into adjoining family rooms–looks a bit small. Although three of the houses had what anyone would concede are huge kitchens, the remaining 11 average 180 square feet of cooking area, and this number includes cabinet space and some space-eating center islands.
– The 14 Cavalcade builders have paid a lot of attention to woodwork, including elaborately milled stair rails, inlaid floors and built-in cabinets and bookcases.
– There’s not a single ranch plan in the bunch.
– These must be good days for drywall installers, as ornate “trayed” and other fanciful ceilings continue to abound. Several houses’ walls also have gently rounded corners instead of 90-degree angles.
– Copper is the material of the moment. Big swaths of it have been draped along the rooflines of several of the houses as a kind of flashy flashing.
Some highlights from each of the houses, in the order in which they are shown at the Cavalcade:
The Carrera, by Steve Carr Builders.
This is one of two houses in the parade whose in-home offices have interior windows, which, in this case, look into the foyer and dining room, effectively brightening and enlarging the office space. The house’s great room lives up to its name, with a ceiling that looks even higher than its stated two stories.
The Cotswold Manor, by Ronald Charles Builders.
Calling it “Cotswold” is a stretch, but its facade gets a certain rusticity from formidable stonework. Inside are several memorable features, including a movable kitchen island that can be scooted out of the way as the occasion demands and built-in cabinetry, particularly in the dining room, that looks like fine furniture. Its sun room revives a simple, attractive material that has been overlooked in recent years: floor-to-ceiling wainscoting.
The Classic II, by Classic Custom Homes.
The main floor is dominated by a family room/sun room combination, though they are strikingly separated by a see-through fireplace; this gives the sun room a surprising degree of privacy and coziness. Upstairs, a home office benefits from an interior window.
The Amanda Marie, by James Scott Custom Builders.
Life is lived on several levels in this house, from the sunken family room to the main floor to the den that’s anchored midway between first and second floors (and has its own exterior deck). The finished basement is one of the most eye-catching spaces in the parade, with an exercise room done in Chicago Bulls motif, complete with basketball hoop high up one wall. Also in the basement are a wine cellar and a handsome bar.
The Carlisle, by Precision Crafted Homes.
This is the only house in the parade that has a first-floor master bedroom, a departure in Chicago-area home shows in recent years. The direct-vent fireplace in the family room is surrounded by windows, brilliantly opening up the room.
The Carol, by Allen Realty & Builders.
You’ll seldom find as dramatic a fireplace as the one on the main floor; it’s easier to see than to describe. It grows like a tree trunk from the basement and shoots through the two-story great room. Upstairs, the master suite has a small interior balcony overlooking the great room.
The Centennial, by De Paulo Builders.
Master carpenters were kept incredibly busy in this house, a neo-Victorian “Painted Lady” that abounds in interior woodwork, some of which looks as if it could have come right out of a 19th Century house. Upstairs, the master suite is set on three levels and includes a tucked-away space for preparing morning coffee. The finished walkout basement is done in a ’50s theme and is filled with arcade games.
The Cottage Rose, by Tom Bart Construction.
The house has a truly cottage-y feel, particularly in comparison to the enormous Victorian next door. The floor plan makes good use of its space, though in some unexpected ways, such as a surprisingly roomy laundry room that is filled with storage. Upstairs, the master suite is visually stretched in two directions with an L-shaped nook on one end and a long master bath on the other.
The Nantucket, by Len-Mark Builders.
This house has a classic front “stoop” that isn’t seen in homebuilding as much as it should be: Sturdy, wide stairs lead to the entry of this Cape Cod. It is one of several houses in the parade whose laundry rooms double as craft rooms. Upstairs, the master bath has an oversized shower stall with double shower heads.
The Alexus, by West Side Builders.
In marked contrast to the “cottage” across the street, this is a classically formal affair, highlighted by a central great room with an enormous wall of windows that overlooks a patio rimmed with classically styled railings. The first-floor office has a private entrance.
Sumner Place, by Lakewest Builders.
The stately columns and rounded windows stand out in this traditional exterior. On the first floor, the kitchen has a walk-in pantry and the laundry room, which is bigger than some bedrooms, has a crafts/work area.
The Georgetown by Andreacchi Construction.
If you have a corner lot (and this house does) make the most of the side view. Here, the fireplace chimney stretches high and wide over the streetscape. Indoors, the family room/kitchen combination stretches almost the length of the house, increasing the spacious feel.
The Millennium, by Kozlowski Homes.
The front is filled with elaborate, tall windows, an effect that most builders reserve for the back of the house. Its two-story foyer makes a distinct first impression, as it is topped with an intricate crystal chandelier warmed by indirect lighting. Upstairs, the master suite has the obligatory sumptuousness; notable is the elaborate tray ceiling in a secondary bedroom.
The Mona Lisa, by Executive Builders.
There’s not a right angle in this place, which is dominated by curves and passages that branch off like Y’s. Upstairs, there is a distinct “wing” feel, one for the teen residents and the other for adults. Downstairs, somehow the architect has managed to take two two-car garages and conceal them–at least more than you’d expect.
SHOW RUNS THROUGH JULY 6
The Cavalcade of Homes runs June 14 through July 6 at the Burnham Point subdivision, which is on 95th Street, just west of Book Road, Naperville.
Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. (last tickets sold at 8 p.m.) every day except July 6, when hours will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tickets are $7 for adults and children over 12; younger children admitted free. Senior citizen admission is $6.
All houses are fully furnished and landscaped and are priced from $320,000 to $450,000.
Two Decorators Days are planned, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 18 and 24, when the homes’ interior designers will be on hand to answer questions.
For information, contact the Cavalcade sponsor, the Northern Illinois Home Builders Association, 630-393-4490.
