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SPECIAL SPACES
New home premiums meet special needs, wants
So, you’re in the market for a new house, you’ve got a
little money to spend and you want all of the whistles and
bells – even those you may not know exist.
The south suburbs are home to several luxury subdivisions
that can offer amenities like a two-sided fireplace that
lets you sit in front of a blaze indoors and out, a
freestanding dry bar with a fridge and sink, and
kitchen-height vanities in the master bath.
“That’s what builders of custom homes are all about,” said
Nancy Mirabelli, a sales representative for Flaherty
Builders Inc. of Mokena, which is currently building
high-end single family homes in the Misty Falls subdivision
and luxury townhouses in the Townhomes of Abbey Woods, both
in Frankfort.
“The only thing I can say is (the builders) love, love,
changes….If we can do it, we’ll do it.”
In Misty Falls, located at Laraway Road and 116th Street,
there are nine styles of single-family homes – one ranch,
one non-traditional split-level and seven two-story models.
The smallest at 2,750 square feet, is the split-level, which
has a foyer that leads into a family/kitchen area with a
dinette, a second level dining room, and bedrooms on the
third, Mirabelli said.
From there, you can choose from 3,000 to 4,000 square feet
depending on your preference and budget. Price-wise, Misty
Falls homes start at $414,900 and go up to $499,900.
The options are myriad. Want a mudroom with a place for the
kids’ coats and shoes that’s separate from the laundry room,
no problem, Mirabelli said. How about a 42-inch
free-standing range or a double-deck dishwasher that lets
you do smaller loads when desired?
“You know, we really get new demands every day,” she said.
“There’s really no such thing as a standard house.”
Of course, there actually are some “standards” that every
homeowner gets – granite countertops, 9-foot ceilings, two
furnaces and two air-conditioners, taller than average
kitchen cabinets. Walking paths and ponds link what will
eventually be 50 home sites.
Beyond the basic starting point, though, you can customize
your house any way you like, Mirabelli said. One homeowner
requested a “through” sink, which was a new request for
Flaherty and an interesting one. The sink was both deeper
and wider than an average fixture and had no division in the
middle. In many ways, it’s far more practical than a more
traditional sink, she said.
Another interesting new trend is the inclusion of a
“pot-filler” feature with the stove. Essentially, this is a
movable spigot that sits fairly high above the appliance and
is flush with the wall until it’s needed to fill a pot with
water, Mirabelli said.
Also growing in popularity is the second-floor laundry room,
which eliminates the need to go up and down stairs to wash
clothes, she said.
People are seeking more elaborate back yard configurations,
too, she said. The indoor/outdoor fireplace is a relatively
new feature, and locating an elaborate dry bar – with a wine
glass rack, fridge and/or wine cooler and even a sink – near
the patio exit is an option.
“We’re getting so creative with the backyards,” Mirabelli
said. “That’s really the work of (owner Brian Flaherty).
He’s the father of two, married, lives in Frankfort. He’s
constantly thinking of new ways to do things.”
If a single family house is not what you’re in the market
for, consider The Townhomes of Abbey Woods, located about a
half-mile east of LaGrange Road, not far from Lincoln-Way
East High School and in close proximity to the
million-dollar homes of Abbey Woods, Mirabelli said.
Prospective homeowners can choose between two ranch and two
duplex models built in two-and three-unit clusters. “There
are really luxury town houses,” said Mirabelli, noting that
the 2,400-to 2,800-square-foot homes cost between $449,900
and $489,900.
In order to keep the subdivision exclusive, they are
building only 32 units, she said. The buildings will have
brick facades, upgraded roofs and will be located off
winding roads. Also, if a buyer signs a contract by the end
of October, Flaherty will put in a 9-foot basement for the
price of a standard basement (which all of the homes
normally come with), she said.
Many people have the developer finish the basement before
they move in, sometimes creating game rooms or fancy spa
areas, Mirabelli said.
“What we’re seeing a lot of are customized bathrooms,” she
said.
The could mean a steam shower, a shower with multiple water
streams and a “rain” shower head or a “family” shower that
can be used by several people at once and includes seating,
she said. And don’t forget the heated ceramic floor.
In these units, you can choose to have a kitchen-height
vanity in the master bathroom – no more stooping over a sink
while doing your daily ablutions, she said.
“I get so excited when I see these things,” Mirabelli said.
“The builder loves it…We have to cater to our people, and we
do.”
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