New developments offer room to grow
Three area homebuilders - Lexington Homes, J. Lawrence Homes, and Smykal Homes - are flexing a little muscle to carve out extra flex space in their floor plans at new-construction townhouse and single-family-home communities throughout the suburbs.
"Having a bonus area is a great way to maximize value in your home because the space can adapt as your family's needs change," said Jeff Benach, co-principal of Lexington Homes, the builder for the Willow Place townhouse community in Wheeling. "Especially today with so many families being affected by the economy, extra bonus space offers a great deal of flexibility for people experiencing transitions in their lifestyle."
For example, Lexington Homes offers the 2,157-square-foot Hickory floor plan at Willow Place. The Hickory is an end unit featuring a loft in addition to a main level master suite, two additional guest bedrooms upstairs on the upper level, and 21/2 baths.
"For buyers starting up a home-based business, the bright and airy loft creates an inviting office away from the main living areas," said Benach. "For families who have kids living at home after college or between jobs, the loft expands the everyday living space upstairs to provide more room for the whole family."
Willow Place offers two floor plans ranging from 1,858 to 2,157 square feet. Base-priced from $329,990 to $369,990, the three-story homes come standard with three bedrooms, 21/2 baths and attached two-car garages.
Single-family homebuyers can also enjoy extra multipurpose space with a second-floor family room in the 2,117-square-foot Pinehurst floor plan at Midlane Club, a single-family home golf course community in Wadsworth by J. Lawrence Homes.
According to John Wozniak, president of Naperville-based J. Lawrence Homes, the second-floor family room transitions throughout the years as a family grows into their home.
"For families with babies and toddlers, the Pinehurst's second-floor family room can be used as a playroom that can be monitored while a parent is doing laundry next door," said Wozniak. "Then, as children get older the room can be converted into a multimedia space with a computer station, home theater, or video games. It's an ideal room for keeping an overflow of toys, books and games off of the first floor."
In addition, Wozniak said the Pinehurst's second-floor family room exceeds the architectural interest of a typical bonus room with a bay window overlooking the front of the home. He noted that the bay window is the perfect spot for a reading corner or built-in window seat.
Midlane Club offers eight floor plans including both ranch and two-story designs. Homes range from 2,019 to 3,354 square feet and have up to four bedrooms, two to three baths, attached two- or three-car garages and basements. They are priced from the $280,000s to the $370,000s.
Families looking for even more extra space may want to consider the extra-large bonus rooms at Ravine Woods, a single-family home community in Channahon by Smykal Homes.
"Each of the six floor plans at Ravine Woods has a huge bonus room at the top of the stairs to serve the entire family. These bonus rooms are large enough to accommodate multiple seating vignettes or activity centers for families to hang out together all at once," said Peggy Taheri, vice president of sales and marketing for Wheaton-based Smykal Homes.
For example, Taheri said the 3,686-square-foot Valley View floor plan has a bonus room measuring about 20 feet by 24 feet, which is larger than most first-floor family rooms at other communities.
"The Valley View's bonus room is the ultimate blank canvas for buyers," said Taheri. "It's certainly large enough for a pool table as well as a seating area for playing games and cards, but the space is so versatile buyers are only limited by their imagination."
Also, because the majority of floor plans at Ravine Woods have a first-floor office or den, families don't necessarily need to use the bonus space as an office - unless they wanted to set up his-and-her offices for couples who both work from home, noted Taheri.
Ravine Woods offers 220 single-family sites with homes base priced from $309,900 to $366,900. Six floor plans range from 2,800 to 4,100 square feet and feature four bedrooms, 21/2 baths, three-car garages and standard basements.
Buyers can learn more about the flex space at any of these communities by contacting the sales centers. For more information about Willow Place, call (847) 818-0800 or visit www.lexingtonchicago.com. For more information about Midlane Club, call 630-281-4730 or visit www.jlawrencehomes.com. For more information about Ravine Woods, call 815-467-1800 or visit www.smykalhomes.com.