Residents at home at Cumberland
Cumberland Highlands in Des Plaines features homes with brick exteriors, hardwood floors and primarily ranch styles indicative of an older, established community.
The neighborhood has a well-established and friendly school system as well as a civic association that promotes local activities, giving the area a homey appeal.
"The homes were built in the mid-1950s by Herzog," said Jan McNulty of RE/MAX Suburban in Mount Prospect. "They are brick step-up ranch style for the most part with interesting detailing on the exterior, such as quoin corners or stone and beautiful wood trim at the windows, baseboards and doors."
Homes range from about 1,300 square feet for a basic three-bedroom ranch with one bathroom to about 2,700 square feet for a two-story house that has been converted from one of the basic ranch styles.
Prices range from a low of just over $300,000 for a basic ranch with one bathroom to about $600,000 for a converted two-story home with four or five bedrooms, den and up to three full baths.
"Overall, we have been very happy with the quality of the construction here," said Sue Steinmann, who has lived with her husband, Ken, in Cumberland Highlands for the past 12 years.
"This neighborhood has wide streets and full sidewalks, which is another attraction."
Because the neighborhood is 50 years old, most of the homes have been remodeled to some extent. Upgrades have included features such as garden and bow windows, maple and oak cabinetry, family rooms with fireplaces, formal dining rooms and detached two-car garages.
Original designs featured a large living room with corner window, along with an eat-in kitchen with dining nook.
"The original owners took great pride in the basements with tongue-and-groove knotty pine paneling, which was a sign of quality and workmanship back in the late '50s," McNulty said. "Very few have kept the basement unfinished at this point."
Among the basement upgrades are laundry rooms, additional bedrooms, recreational areas for pool or table tennis tables, and wet bars.
The basic brick-box design provides lots of opportunity for variations.
"I think this timeless design offers so much for young couples just starting out, and the houses are old enough to have expensive repairs already done, such as roofs, newer furnaces, central air and thermal pane windows," McNulty said.
Another advantage is residents often can walk to shopping.
"For eight to nine months out of the year, I walk to nearby stores," Steinmann said.
Cumberland Commons at Northwest Highway and Mount Prospect Road offers a variety of stores and businesses, while Mount Prospect Plaza and Randhurst Shopping Center are minutes away by car.
The area also has Chippewa Public Park with an Olympic-sized swimming pool.
The Cumberland Metra train station is a five- to seven-block walk. The Mount Prospect train station also is equally accessible from the subdivision.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Price range: $300,000 to $600,000
Age of homes: 50 years old
Schools: Cumberland Elementary and Chippewa Junior High schools in Des Plaines Elementary District 62 and Maine West High School in Maine Township High School District 207
Parks: Des Plaines Park District