Two large and expensive homes built by the same developer in two affluent northwestern suburbs offer prospective buyers — or dreamers — some very interesting “homework.”
One model, the Claridge Colonial, is in the Preserve at Long Grove, has 4,300 square feet and is base-priced at $699,975 The other, the Cortland Heritage, is in the Estates at Lake Barrington, has about 4,500 square feet and is base-priced at $644,975. Hmmm. More space, less money. They’re both impressive, decorated to the nines. Going through them then checking their floor plans, side by side, for space in relation to price and personal priorities is an engrossing exercise.
And, granted, individuals or families who know exactly where they want to live can drive to many a development and check out two or even five models and do their comparing and contrasting. But, there’s a little more fun, fantasy and challenge involved when the houses are in that lofty category that marketers define as “luxury” and “upscale.”
The builder of these models is Toll Brothers, one of the country’s largest developers of such homes, which are not custom-built but offer so many variations of plans and upgrades that the decision-making process probably feels as custom as many people want to get.
These are some of the basic similarities and differences: Both have two-story foyers with dominant staircases; separate living and dining rooms; family rooms with fireplaces; kitchens with islands, breakfast areas and enclosed pantries; master suites with dens and killer bathrooms; and three-car garages.
Among the differences is one that many buyers consider first: the number of bedrooms and bathrooms. The Claridge (Long Grove) has four bedrooms and 3 1/2 baths, while the Cortland (Lake Barrington) has four of each, plus the half bathroom as well. One bath for every bedroom is my ideal, but in the Claridge’s favor is the Jack-and-Jill (or Jack-and-Joe, Jill-and-Jane) bathroom that sits between two bedrooms. These J and J baths — enclosed tub/shower/toilet with double-sink vanity open to each bedroom — are very popular with young families in varied price ranges.
So far, so very good. But this is where I do my studying and measuring to figure out what I’d buy if I were in that market (and had about $700,000 to play with).
Both homes have those knock ’em dead, soaring foyers, flanked by formal separate living and dining rooms.
The Claridge staircase is in the center with passageways on either side leading to the family room. One side has a closet, the other a powder room, both nicely placed. Entries to living and dining rooms from right and left sides of the foyer are very similar.
The living room (left of foyer/staircase) is directly in front of a large study. The model has double doors connecting these two same-width rooms — a great option in offering both privacy (closed) and extended space (open) for entertaining.
The family room, behind the foyer/stairs and adjacent to the study, is a two-story affair that’s 19 by 19 feet, making this an awesome space. Nice, too, is the half-wall that separates family room from a big, bright breakfast area at angles off slightly to the kitchen. Doorways from the breakfast area and the kitchen (via a butler’s pantry) offer access to the dining room at the front of the house. Everything flows. It’s easy to get from the family room//breakfast/kitchen area to the front of the house. Efficient.
Back to the Cortland: This model’s stairway is at the right of the foyer, with the bottom four steps and lower banisters cutting across the opening to the living room . The effect: The stairs’ right-side placement and dominance seem to dim the prestige of the living room, and puts the first-impression emphasis on the dining room at the left, especially with its pillared opening from that wide foyer. The foyer narrows at the far end to a hallway (with small closets on either side) that leads to the family room.
That single-story sunken family room (a step down from the front of the house) is centered between a closed-off study (at the right), closet and powder room, while off to the left is a half wall opening to a combined breakfast area and huge kitchen. What appears to me to be useless space is the open, pillared hallway (one step above the family room). I’d either sink that family room a step or two more to make it distinctively separate and give that hallway the prominence of, say, a stage, or I’d keep everything level and utilize the space.
On the second floor, the Claridge has lots of bright open space because of that two-story family room, but the major differences are in the master suites.
The Cortland: The bedroom is in the center of the house, opens off a hallway and at 19 by 18 feet is just plain too big because there’s an adjacent master den (sitting room) that’s 16 by 12 feet. Big chunks of space in these rooms are used as a walkway to get to the bathroom or the single shared walk-in closet.
The Claridge: The suite takes up one long side of the second floor. The pluses: The master den is efficiently separated from the combined sleeping/sitting area, meaning the den could become a fifth bedroom. Flowing from the bedroom is a heavenly hallway with a walk-in closet on each side, an octagonal dressing area with three-way mirrors, again a walk-in closet on each side and, drumroll please, the entry to the bath. There’s no zigzagging through the den to get to the bathroom or that single walk-in.
Space? Cost? Like beauty, they’re in the eye — and the wallet — of the beholder. This beholder picks the Claridge.
