Floor plan stands the test of time

Kimball Hill Homes has offered the popular Ultima floor plan for more than 15 years.

While builders regularly redesign floor plans to appeal to the changing preferences of home buyers, Rolling Meadows-based Kimball Hill Homes has created one plan that has stood the test of time. After 15 years, the Ultima remains the builder's most popular plan.

"The Ultima struck a chord with buyers immediately after we introduced the plan in 1992," said Jack Wexelberg, regional president for Kimball Hill Homes.

The Ultima, which ranges in size from 3,100 to 3,446 square feet and in price from $309,990 to $522,990, has four bedrooms, 2½ baths and a three-car garage. The plan also includes a kitchen that opens to a breakfast area, as well as a two-story family room.

For those partial to traditional nuances, the Ultima includes formal living and dining areas, as well as a first-floor den, which functions well as a home office or library.

Kimball Hill Homes is able to limit production costs of the Ultima thanks to the home's "stacked" design.

"With the second floor built directly over the first, there's no need for added roof construction. There's also no need for additional plumbing since all the plumbing lines on both floors line up with one another throughout the home," Wexelberg said.

The Ultima also offers ample storage space, including a basement crawl space for larger items, a first-floor storage closet, linen closets in all three bathrooms, dual walk-in closets in the master suite and walk-in closets in the other bedrooms.

One popular upgrade over the years has been the addition of the split staircase. Recently, many buyers have elected to add a game room upstairs in place of the two-story family room.

Another of the Ultima's attractive options is the main-level guest suite, in lieu of a den. Buyers can further individualize the Ultima by selecting from a number of elevations, which include a second-level balcony, a partial brick or stone front, or an arched entryway.

Currently, the Ultima is available at five of Kimball Hill Homes' communities throughout the Chicago area. For more information on each of these communities, visit www.kimballhillhomes.com.