Popular Amenities for Fantasy and Function
3/1/2013
From fantasy to function
Popular amenities cover a spectrum of wants and needs
You may have seen them featured in magazines or on TV shows — homes with amazing and sometimes outrageous amenities such as 12,000-square-foot garages with separate parking for the golf cart, or full-size indoor basketball courts.
While they are fun to gawk at and talk about, it is often these cutting edge, luxury homes that spark trends or test technology that eventually trickle down the market.
Caitlyn Terrell, a director of marketing for Koenig & Strey, says some new estates are often ahead of their time utilizing state-of-the-art technology that may someday be more commonplace. One estate under construction in South Barrington will have LED lighting throughout the home with a product that hasn’t even hit the market yet, she says.
In addition to being tested in the luxury market, Cheryl Molfese, sales manager for Toll Brothers, says the trends often come from buyers. As requests become more common they begin to work them into their floor plans.
“We get to hear from the buyers first,” she says. “We open the door up to whatever they are looking for and how we can make that happen.”
Cooks in the kitchen
According to the judges for the Best in American Living Awards 2013 sponsored by the National Home Builder’s Association, “Kitchens remain at the top of the home buyers priority list.” Marble tops and mega islands for food prep are increasing in popularity, according to the awards report.
Molfese says they are getting a lot of requests for white kitchens — with white being the primary color of cabinets and tops.
In addition, Toll Brothers has floor plans with the kitchen opening up to the family room.
“People want to maintain the luxury look, but want function. It’s key,” Molfese says.
The Hamptons of Hinsdale, with luxury condominiums and three-story townhomes available, answers the call of buyer requests with high-end kitchens with commercial grade appliances that flow with the great room creating “the heart of the home,” Terrell says.
A place for everything
While not front and center in most homes, storage space is its own amenity, Terrell says.
According to the National Building Museum’s Intelligent Cities studies, the amount of storage space used is the equivalent of 7 square feet for every man, woman and child. So it’s no surprise that people are looking to find places to put their stuff.
Each bedroom at any Hamptons of Hinsdale home includes a walk-in or custom organized closet, one of the highlights today’s buyer is seeking, Terrell says.
“Some (closets) are the size of a small studio in these master bedroom suites,” she says.
Don Stevens, president and owner of Donven Homes, says closet and storage space is very important to homebuyers who are seeking pantries and walk-in closets as part of some of Donven’s duplex townhomes at Woodglen and Ashbury Woods in Lemont.
Unique offerings
Homes with shades that rise at the touch of a button or automatically at sunrise, and televisions that descend from the ceiling were once only seen in movies but these technologies, conveniences and luxuries are becoming more commonplace with tablets and smart phones turning on and off lights, entertainment and security systems.
In Toll Brothers communities like the Woods of South Barrington, automated homes are increasingly popular with lighting, sound and alarm systems that can be controlled from a tablet, smart phone or computer.
“The simpler the technology becomes the more desirable it becomes,” Molfese says.
Terrell says builders are really focusing on custom touches. While the floor plans may be set, builders are willing to work with buyers to make the home match their vision.
The Hamptons of Hinsdale offers an optional elevator in its three-story townhomes making the homes more accessible and convenient.
Terrell says they also can install things like whole home sound systems.
Specialty rooms such as outdoor cooking spaces, wine rooms and pet-friendly designs built into the home are finding their way into more traditional floor plans, according to the results of the 2013 Best in American Living Awards.
Some builders, like Toll Brothers, encourage a buyer’s unique ideas for spaces that work for them.
“We personalize everything from our cell phone covers to the smallest details,” Molfese says. “We translate that to houses too. People don’t want to say ‘we have the same floor plan.’ They want to say ‘we started with that floor plan, but look what we’ve done.’ Uniqueness is important to buyers.”
Changing trends
While a new subdivision once meant a clubhouse with a fitness center and swimming pool, times have changed these amenities in some newer communities.
Molfese says families have busy schedules and activities and residents in many single-family home communities are utilizing the neighborhood parks and amenities in their towns.
The exception is 50+ communities where active adults continue to seek a neighborhood that is walkable with convenient access to a clubhouse and even organized activities for the neighborhood, Molfese says.
Stevens says in his Lemont communities walking paths are a popular feature for residents.
Another trend is the return of family rooms. Grand, two-story family rooms — where the family room space included cathedral ceilings up to the second floor and large windows — was once the sign of a luxury home. Molfese says they are reverting back to a more traditional single-story family room and have begun reintroducing them into floor plans.
“People want as much useable footage within their footprint,” she says.
Taking that one step further, Terrell says the three-story townhomes at The Hamptons of Hinsdale are tailored to the needs of families offering multiple family rooms including a formal living room upon entry and options such as a lower level media room.
On their way up
There are trends that are continuing to emerge and are making their way into the floor plans offered by builders and developers.
A first floor guest suite is becoming one of the biggest requests, Molfese says. Most are using that space as an in-law arrangement or for a parent that only spends a part of the year living here, she says.
Amenities don’t end at the front and back door. Even with the Chicago climate builders and architects are getting more and more creative with outdoor space. People are extending their entertainment space to their yards with extensive landscaping, lighting and outdoor living rooms and kitchens.
Stevens says sunrooms and outdoor entertaining are growing popular with large wood decks an appealing accommodation.
3/1/2013
From fantasy to function
Popular amenities cover a spectrum of wants and needs
You may have seen them featured in magazines or on TV shows — homes with amazing and sometimes outrageous amenities such as 12,000-square-foot garages with separate parking for the golf cart, or full-size indoor basketball courts.
While they are fun to gawk at and talk about, it is often these cutting edge, luxury homes that spark trends or test technology that eventually trickle down the market.
Caitlyn Terrell, a director of marketing for Koenig & Strey, says some new estates are often ahead of their time utilizing state-of-the-art technology that may someday be more commonplace. One estate under construction in South Barrington will have LED lighting throughout the home with a product that hasn’t even hit the market yet, she says.
In addition to being tested in the luxury market, Cheryl Molfese, sales manager for Toll Brothers, says the trends often come from buyers. As requests become more common they begin to work them into their floor plans.
“We get to hear from the buyers first,” she says. “We open the door up to whatever they are looking for and how we can make that happen.”
Cooks in the kitchen
According to the judges for the Best in American Living Awards 2013 sponsored by the National Home Builder’s Association, “Kitchens remain at the top of the home buyers priority list.” Marble tops and mega islands for food prep are increasing in popularity, according to the awards report.
Molfese says they are getting a lot of requests for white kitchens — with white being the primary color of cabinets and tops.
In addition, Toll Brothers has floor plans with the kitchen opening up to the family room.
“People want to maintain the luxury look, but want function. It’s key,” Molfese says.
The Hamptons of Hinsdale, with luxury condominiums and three-story townhomes available, answers the call of buyer requests with high-end kitchens with commercial grade appliances that flow with the great room creating “the heart of the home,” Terrell says.
A place for everything
While not front and center in most homes, storage space is its own amenity, Terrell says.
According to the National Building Museum’s Intelligent Cities studies, the amount of storage space used is the equivalent of 7 square feet for every man, woman and child. So it’s no surprise that people are looking to find places to put their stuff.
Each bedroom at any Hamptons of Hinsdale home includes a walk-in or custom organized closet, one of the highlights today’s buyer is seeking, Terrell says.
“Some (closets) are the size of a small studio in these master bedroom suites,” she says.
Don Stevens, president and owner of Donven Homes, says closet and storage space is very important to homebuyers who are seeking pantries and walk-in closets as part of some of Donven’s duplex townhomes at Woodglen and Ashbury Woods in Lemont.
Unique offerings
Homes with shades that rise at the touch of a button or automatically at sunrise, and televisions that descend from the ceiling were once only seen in movies but these technologies, conveniences and luxuries are becoming more commonplace with tablets and smart phones turning on and off lights, entertainment and security systems.
In Toll Brothers communities like the Woods of South Barrington, automated homes are increasingly popular with lighting, sound and alarm systems that can be controlled from a tablet, smart phone or computer.
“The simpler the technology becomes the more desirable it becomes,” Molfese says.
Terrell says builders are really focusing on custom touches. While the floor plans may be set, builders are willing to work with buyers to make the home match their vision.
The Hamptons of Hinsdale offers an optional elevator in its three-story townhomes making the homes more accessible and convenient.
Terrell says they also can install things like whole home sound systems.
Specialty rooms such as outdoor cooking spaces, wine rooms and pet-friendly designs built into the home are finding their way into more traditional floor plans, according to the results of the 2013 Best in American Living Awards.
Some builders, like Toll Brothers, encourage a buyer’s unique ideas for spaces that work for them.
“We personalize everything from our cell phone covers to the smallest details,” Molfese says. “We translate that to houses too. People don’t want to say ‘we have the same floor plan.’ They want to say ‘we started with that floor plan, but look what we’ve done.’ Uniqueness is important to buyers.”
Changing trends
While a new subdivision once meant a clubhouse with a fitness center and swimming pool, times have changed these amenities in some newer communities.
Molfese says families have busy schedules and activities and residents in many single-family home communities are utilizing the neighborhood parks and amenities in their towns.
The exception is 50+ communities where active adults continue to seek a neighborhood that is walkable with convenient access to a clubhouse and even organized activities for the neighborhood, Molfese says.
Stevens says in his Lemont communities walking paths are a popular feature for residents.
Another trend is the return of family rooms. Grand, two-story family rooms — where the family room space included cathedral ceilings up to the second floor and large windows — was once the sign of a luxury home. Molfese says they are reverting back to a more traditional single-story family room and have begun reintroducing them into floor plans.
“People want as much useable footage within their footprint,” she says.
Taking that one step further, Terrell says the three-story townhomes at The Hamptons of Hinsdale are tailored to the needs of families offering multiple family rooms including a formal living room upon entry and options such as a lower level media room.
On their way up
There are trends that are continuing to emerge and are making their way into the floor plans offered by builders and developers.
A first floor guest suite is becoming one of the biggest requests, Molfese says. Most are using that space as an in-law arrangement or for a parent that only spends a part of the year living here, she says.
Amenities don’t end at the front and back door. Even with the Chicago climate builders and architects are getting more and more creative with outdoor space. People are extending their entertainment space to their yards with extensive landscaping, lighting and outdoor living rooms and kitchens.
Stevens says sunrooms and outdoor entertaining are growing popular with large wood decks an appealing accommodation.
