It’s true that kitchens and bathrooms are today’s “show-off” rooms, the spaces where people sink their money when they’re buying, upgrading or remodeling. The rooms that people want their guests to see, to ogle and, truth be told, even to envy.
But, in the world of custom-built homes, people are not only investing their cash but, far more intriguing, they’re putting their creative juices, their time and apparently their hearts into two areas, one devoted to work and another to fun and games.
Getting special treatment are the once-lowly laundry facilities and far more luxurious, non-basic extras–the stuff that dreams are made of–such as a second family room, a children’s playroom or a recreation room.
This focus on enjoying and maximizing life at home is abundantly clear at the Gallery of Homes at Mill Creek in Geneva. Nine custom residences, ranging in size from 3,000 to some 5,300 square feet and priced, as built, from about $700,000 to at least $1 million, are opening to the public beginning today.
It’s here that viewers will see several homes with upstairs family rooms (in addition to one on the main level), a child’s playroom, laundry rooms bigger than a lot of average kitchens, a conservatory, as well as a whole level devoted to a bar, billiards, a wall-size TV screen and fitness equipment.
Constructed by nine members of the Home Builders Association of Greater Fox Valley, the homes will be available for touring through Sunday, Aug. 6. Because builders tend to work down to the final hours before a home show’s opening day, our preview tour came amid construction. Most homes were still a work in progress: Landscaping was rare and furnishings didn’t exist. Let’s hope they’ll be ready for walk-through today.
There’ll be plenty to see.
The basics: All homes have at least two levels, whether they’re two stories above ground or one story above a fully finished lower level. One has an unfinished attic. They are impressive, money-talks homes except for the Prairie Wood by Bellefleur Homes Inc., which looks like a large small home that, remarkably, has 12 rooms and 5,300 square feet (including the finished lower level) and a three-car garage.
There’s not a single minimal contemporary style or a regional design, such as southwestern, among them. Their architectural styles are described as French Eclectic, Country French, French Country (2), European/Mediterranean, Neo-Classical, Southern Traditional, Traditional and Prairie (Wright’s Way by Ed Saloga Builders, which is, surprise, sort of a Frank Lloyd Wright lookalike).
While two of the homes have eight rooms with three or four bedrooms, 3 1/2 bathrooms and a three-car garage (no snout-noses, meaning they load from the side of the home, thank goodness), the balance have 11, 12 and 13 rooms; one has six bathrooms, one has a four-car garage.
Before entering a home, take a good look at the exteriors: Note the wide use of texture as well as mixed media. Tumbled brick teams with limestone; natural stone mixes with brick or synthetic stucco; and cultured stone with cedar. One home combines stone with synthetic stucco and cedar.
Though only two homes have front porches suitable for, say, a swing or a couple of rockers, the rear of the homes are definitely worth the time it takes to walk around to the back: Note the decks, the steps, the porches, the walk-out basements.
The homes are showplaces, no doubt about it. Based on their experience in filling the needs and wants of previous clients and hoping to entice future home buyers, the builders usually come up with dream homes, fantasy spaces meant to showcase their imaginations and the quality of their work. But, they’re pragmatic: They know they have to sell the homes they invest in so heavily, so they’re not pie-in-the-sky affairs.
Occasionally and unfortunately, some builders will entrust the interior design to someone who aspires to re-do the White House or add even more glitz to New York’s Plaza Hotel. This can result in abusive excess and a bit too much schmaltz. Try to see through overdone interior decor, if it shows up, and see the bones of the houses.
Here are highlights of the Gallery homes, listed in the order of their location on North Mathewson Lane.
1. Beau Maison, by Augustine Custom Homes Inc., Geneva
Builder Todd Augustine’s first appearance in a showcase of homes packs a punch: 12 rooms (including six baths) in 4,400 square feet, plus an 1,850-square-foot unfinished basement. Must sees: The glass conservatory with stone fireplace (also open to the family room); the master bedroom with morning bar (sink, refrigerator etc.), spa-like bath, 26-by-14-foot walk-in closet; cabinet-filled laundry with granite counters; and two covered rear porches.
2. Essie Manor, by Janecek Builders, St. Charles
When Bill Janecek and Pat Geier started this home, Geier envisioned “a small southern mansion.” So, she put in the things that “all our buyers want–the grand master bedroom, the gourmet kitchen,” plus all the things she wants in a dream home. Then they named the home after her grandmother in Mississippi. Look for lots of cherry–cabinets, grand staircase and floors. There’s a large family room and a small parlor. The lower-level walkout has a putting green room, separate netted golf driving room, bar, game room, den and more.
3. Bordeaux, by Sho-Deen Inc., Geneva
Nearly 5,000 square feet with 11 rooms on two floors, the Country French home opens to an intricately designed, dominant Romeo & Juliet staircase with a landing midway, overlooking the foyer. Behind it is the heart of the home, including what at the time we toured promised to be an eye-boggling kitchen, enormous family room and ballroom-sized wood deck. The master bedroom is described as “an adult retreat” with morning bar; the master bath, according to the floor plan, will have a round, bent-glass shower. Big laundry room, too.
4. Siena, by SeBern Homes Inc., St. Charles
Designed for upscale, casual living, the 13-room home has lots of custom woodwork and hand-painted decor, natural stone and hardwood flooring and all those extra rooms and spaces such as a ground-floor in-law suite, a great room (that takes the place of a formal living room) adjacent to a gourmet dual-island kitchen that opens to a hearth room (in this case, a family room with a major fireplace) that’s next to the family’s computer room; then there’s the second-story “upper family room,” along with bedrooms and bathrooms.
5. High Point Manor, by Amore Homes Inc., St. Charles
Though it was in its infancy when we toured it, the laundry room of this traditional 12-room home looked like it would be one of the most luxurious at this show. The first-floor den appears to be bigger than either the living or dining rooms. Most space goes to the family room and kitchen, the second-floor master bedroom and bath, closets and the second-floor recreation room.
6. The Prairie Wood, by Bellefleur Homes Inc., Batavia
The fancy down staircase that dominates the foyer of this 12-room home is the tipoff that the fun’s in the basement. On the first level, there’s a den, dining room, family room, dinette, bedrooms and a sunroom, still a work in progress when we toured. The basement, though, has the great room, billiard room, spacious media room, even bigger exercise room (and sauna), study and wet bar.
7. Wright’s Way, by Ed Saloga Builders, Sugar Grove
Though the builder’s info claims that “87 windows flood the interior with light” and take advantage of views, it doesn’t say that those typically Wright-like windows are often narrow trios or lined up near the ceiling or stained glass. It’s quite Wright even to the mid-level study: It’s very angular and you have to like Wright, otherwise the flow and comfort level are too studied.
8. St. Croix, by Marren Builders Inc., Geneva
This is definitely one of those homes with lavish extras: a pantry between formal dining room and dinette/kitchen; laundry room with very serviceable big island; a wonderful screened porch; and a family room with a two-story wall of windows. (My calculator said 120 square panes. Woe to the window washer.) Then, there’s the second floor: a three-arched walkway resembling a pillared abbey or cloister walkway overlooking the family room; a library up three steps from the walkway; and an enormous, enigmatic “bonus room” that the builder describes as “extra space needed for a vast number of uses.” Bravo.
9. Miranda, by Silvestri Custom Homes, St. Charles
There’s a lot of personality in this 11-room home, starting with the name: Miranda is the young daughter of Jason and Kim Papes, who had a great deal of input into the home, designed and built for them by Silvestri. That includes formal living and dining rooms plus a study, but most of the first floor belongs to a family room and what looked to be, in its early stages, an over-the-top kitchen. The second floor has the luxury-plus laundry room, master bedroom/bath/closet, assorted bedrooms and Miranda’s playroom, complete with built-in child-size playhouse. (And, the Papes are barely in their 30s.)
———-
The gallery of homes
The Gallery of Homes, Mill Creek, Geneva
Open July 15 through Aug. 6, except Mondays
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sundays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; closed Mondays
Admission: Adults, $10; Seniors, $8; Children, ages 3 to 12, $3.
Information: Home Builders Association of Fox Valley, 630-879-8003.
Directions: Take Interstate Highway 88 to Orchard Road, exit north about 2 miles to Randall Road (stoplight); turn left (north) to Fabyan Parkway (stoplight); turn left (west) to Mill Creek entrance.
Or take Interstate Highway 90 to Randall Road, exit South (left) to Fabyan Parkway (stoplight); turn left (west) to Mill Creek entrance.
Enter Mill Creek North to Warner Lane (first left); take next left, Sheldon Lane, and follow it around to Mathewson Lane. Homes are on both sides of the curved North Mathewson Lane.
