Chicago Tribune
May 2007

As wood floors continue to grow in popularity, many home buyers are adding some pizazz to shake up their floor designs.

Instead of traditional oak that covers the entire floor, they are mixing in intricate stone or ceramic borders and inlays. Clear stains are being tossed aside in favor of rich cherry, mahogany and walnut stains that offer a more dramatic impact.

“You can get a variety of looks by changing the stain on the wood,” said Peggy Holloway, design counselor for Ferris Homes.

A decision about which wood to buy often goes hand in hand with the cabinetry selection, because these two elements are dominant features in the kitchen. Many people want both areas to have similar coloring, such as maple cabinets and an oak floor. However, others prefer a sharp contrast between the two.

The Grand Bend at Green Bay condominium project is just one example of how home buyers prefer contrast. The building, by Ferris Homes, has a rounded facade and is being built along a bend in a main thoroughfare through Evanston.

“Because it’s a contemporary building, people are using cherry cabinets and a lighter maple floor so you have the contrast,” Holloway said.

A buyer can take wood floor design a step further by having the wood installed on an angle or with wider planks. The angled floor adds an interesting dimension, but it also is more costly because there is more wood used.

While standard wood flooring today uses planking that is about 2 1/2 inches wide, there also are many designers that use wood as wide as 6 inches. Wider planking can completely change the way the room looks. In some cases, it adds a rustic, almost farmhouse-style look.

When deciding what type of wood floors to buy, think about colors and textures. Maple floors have a light, almost blond coloring, while oak and birch have more yellow and tan. Cherry and Brazilian cherry have red tones, while walnut is brown.

Oak and birch have more visible graining than maple or cherry. Maple is prone to displaying stray black streaks, which can affect a wide range of sizes. Some people consider those marks imperfections, while others like the natural, random look they bring.

Cost is a factor. Oak and maple are in the same general price range, but darker woods often cost 10 to 30 percent more. One way to get a dark floor without spending extra for an exotic wood is by staining. While oak has a different grain pattern than cherry or walnut, it can be stained to the same hue as those other woods.

At the upper end of the price spectrum are woods considered exotic, being hard to find. Those who can afford to spend more are turning toward zebra, Ipe or other woods to make a statement.

Regardless of the type of wood, it can be accented with a variety of materials to create a unique patter. Among the options are granite, limestone, marble, ceramic tile and copper.

A stone edge around a cherry floor can create a dramatic, formal look, for example. Copper or stainless steel tiles placed in a rectangular section can give a maple floor a contemporary look.

In one Lake Forest home, the owners used a herringbone pattern on their wood floor, then added a border stenciled in paint. The paint border was less expensive than adding a stone or tile border, plus it added a unique look, Holloway said.

“Doing borders is labor intensive, so it gets expensive,” she added.

One way to limit the cost is to focus the material in one key area. A circular medallion in the center of a foyer or a rectangular border near the kitchen sink can dramatically change the floor. The key is to be creative.

Chicago Tribune
December 23, 2006
By Allison E. Beatty

Contrasting colors and designs add drama to this kitchen created by Greenview Homes of Lincolnshire. Varying cabinet heights, depths, woods and stains is gaining in popularity. When it comes to kitchen cabinet design, home buyers are pushing the envelope.

While the mix-and-match approach to cabinetry design–with varying cabinet heights, depths, woods and stains–has been popular for several years, some people are taking that approach a step further. “A big trend we’re seeing is color blocking,” said Amy Silverman, design and sales manager for Greenview Homes in Lincolnshire. “They’re using two or three different colors in the same room. This goes beyond just doing the island cabinets in a different color.”

It has become more common to use two different cabinet woods, stains or glaze colors on the wall and base cabinets, plus a third color, glaze or stain treatment on the island cabinetry. Among the popular themes are designs with contrasting light and dark colors.

Buyers might combine cabinets finished in a chocolate glaze with cabinets with a white or off-white finish, for example. The cabinetry often is dressed up with glazes, decorative molding and fancy hardware. A third accent color–used as a separate focal point–might be black or red.

“People are stretching a little beyond the norm,” Silverman said.

This stretching outside the box comes as many high-end home buyers consider it the norm to use two different wood species or colors in the kitchen. As part of this mix-and-match concept, they may stagger the height of their cabinets and design their islands with different cabinetry and colors.

The wall cabinets might be 36 inches high except in the corners, where the cabinets reach to 42 inches high and have decorative glass panels. Or glass cabinets might be turned on their sides and stacked on top of other cabinets.

The countertop material also is pulled into the mix. There might be a dark-colored granite countertop for the island to add some drama, then a more subtle countertop for the perimeter, said Donna Stembridge, vice president of Stembridge Builders Inc. in Naperville: “People are doing a lot of mixing and matching.”

Such design, however, requires careful thought and planning. Otherwise, the kitchen could look disjointed.

“Make certain everything works together,” Stembridge said. “You don’t want just one thing to stand out, because the eye takes in everything in a room.”

Silverman suggests homeowners start by deciding where their focus will be.

“If you have a commercial-grade cooktop on the wall across from where you walk in, you might want to draw attention to that area,” she said.

In that scenario, the ventilation hood over the cooktop could be done in a bold color, such as black. The two cabinets on each side of the hood also would be black. The rest of the cabinetry would be an antique white, to create a contrast and make the hood area stand out.

The island is another area where buyers tend to focus. Many use furniture-styled cabinets or a farmhouse-styled table to mix up the design and create drama.

The cabinetry can be dressed up with detailed molding, carved legs and beadboard accents, said Charlene Timm, vice president of sales and marketing for Steve Carr Builders.

The styles of cabinetry also have changed. Most high-end buyers want cabinetry that looks like furniture. Some buyers are turning toward cabinetry that has a dull rubbed finish.

“Instead of having a sheen to it, it’s more of a furniture quality finish to it,” Timm said.

Homeowners also are using cabinetry to blend a kitchen with an adjoining family room.

“They are extending the built-in cabinetry into the family room, using cabinetry around a plasma television that matches the kitchen cabinets,” said Peggy Holloway, design consultant with Ferris Homes in Northbrook. “By pulling your kitchen into the family room, it makes your kitchen bigger and your family room more finished.”

A similar approach can be used for bookshelves that surround a fireplace or for a children’s homework area along one side of the family room. The goal is to integrate both rooms so they function as one.

“That’s really your Grand Central Station in your home,” Holloway said.

When planning any of these designs, think first about the look you are trying to create. If you want bold drama in one area, look for the place that visitors will see first, such as the cooking area.

If you want two or three more subtle focal points, consider how your eyes will move through the room. The end result should be a flowing design with a few areas that provide the “wow” factor.

Today’s New Homes
October 2006

The Ferris Home design team; headed by award winning interior designer Susan Ferris has started the home building process for the buyer, and taken custom home building one step further. They have included design services and all the finishing touches to their homes and response to this new concept has been overwhelming.

Two special home sites have been chosen at Liberty Grove in Libertyville, and two exciting plans are being featured. Goldberg Downey architects of Lake Forest, a selection specialist and Ferris’ HBAC award winning interior designer, Susan Ferris have combined their talents for these Showcase Homes. The results are sensational, a brand new professionally coordinated home, ready for move-in.

“Seasoned home buyers know that building a custom home and making selections can often be time consuming,” said Drew Ferris. “The Showcase Home gives the homeowner an exceptional result and a new home in no time.”

A Ferris Showcase Home features an available plan with special enhancements that specifically tailor the home to the home site and potential homeowner. Interior selections showcase the industries newest materials as well as the classic. On the exterior, the landscaping aligns the home with the unique lot contours and the wooded neighborhood.

There is a very special focus on kitchen and bathroom design. Key ingredients begin with Woodmode cabinetry, specialty layouts, and the magic of the Koehler’s exceptional finishes, including a master shower spa.

Experienced lighting placement, flooring selections and wall colors all contribute to the special “finished” feeling.

“Response to our Showcase Homes has been very strong”, said Drew Ferris. “Our potential homebuyers have the opportunity to see our talents in a home they can move into immediately, or they can pick and choose aspects of this home to incorporate in a plan we will build them from scratch.” The debut of our first Showcase home came late this summer and the home was purchased before it was even finished. The homebuyers, as well as everyone that previewed that home were enthusiastic about our concept and expressed the need in the marketplace to work with a professional team, like ours and have the ability and enjoy the ease of moving right in to a fully coordinated home,” continued Ferris.

“Our Aspen Model at Liberty Grove was recently recognized and won four awards from the Homebuilder Association of Greater Chicago 2006 Lake County Tour of Homes,” said Ferris. “Our Model won the Best Kitchen, Best Interior, Best Master Bedroom & bath, and the Best Exterior.”

Ferris Homes at Liberty Grove now has one Showcase Home completed at the community. The Sequoia Showcase Home is a beautiful two-story home, and is 5,191 square feet. The home is located on a wooded lot with fenced rear yard, with a patio and oversized deck.

There is a 1,700 square foot walk-out basement for growing room, and a three car tandem garage. A first and second floor laundry room are provided, and a second floor loft gives flexible space for a number of uses. Each bedroom in the home boasts its own private bathroom. The front foyer features a hand-forged wrought iron and oak custom staircase, and hardwood floors grace the entire first floor.

The Kitchen features Woodmode Cherry cabinetry with glazing, crown molding and light rails. A special island with seating, and extra prep sink, start a long list of amenities that are provided in this home. All details can be found on the Libery Grove Web site.

Now being built at Liberty Grove is another Showcase Home. The Aspen II Showcase Home comes in direct response to the 2006 Tour of Homes Awards. Ferris Homes will debut the Aspen II Showcase Model for the summer of 2007.

This popular Model will grow is size to 2,971 square feet and will feature the master bedroom on the first floor. Information, plans, progress are available to see at the sales center in Libertyville.

Ferris Homes has been successful in the marketplace by following trends and surveys to determine what potential homebuyers are looking for. The results of these surveys claim that buyers want features such as high ceilings, granite countertops and upscale appliances. According to experts, trends begin with upscale homes and trickle down. Ferris Homes has paid attention to this research and as a result, offers their potential homebuyers all the amenities they are looking for at Liberty Grove and their other communities.

According to Ferris, “We spend a great deal of time and planning in order to give our buyers a balance of value and amenities that will stand the test of time,” said Ferris. “Our clients are excited with our Showcase Homes product and the concept has given our customer ease, simplicity and value. The majority of potential homebuyers prefer to buy this way.”

For more information on Liberty Grove and the single family Showcase Home, interested parties can visit www.liberty-grove.com or call (847) 680- 0001. The sales center is located at 200 Cater Lane in Libertyville. The sales office and model are open daily from 10:00 to 5:00 except Sunday and Monday from 12:00 to 5:00.

Chicago Tribune
August 5th, 2006
By Jeffrey Steele

The upgrade selection process can be intimidating for some first- time buyers. But it wasn’t for Amanda and Mike Jauch.

Because they’d done their homework and legwork before buying, they were well prepared for the upgrade choice challenge.

“We looked at a number of builders before we decided on a home, and one of the things we looked at was what they included [as standard] and what they didn’t include,” Amanda Jauch said. “We were trying to get the most for our money.”

The Jauchs also quizzed acquaintances who had recently bought homes about their experiences.

“We talked to a lot of friends who had bought before we had, and asked–’What did you do and what do you wish you did differently?’” Amanda Jauch said.

A common complaint, she said, was that they hadn’t upgraded from their builders’ standard laminate kitchen countertops to more high-end surfaces.

The Jauchs took their friends’ advice into account when they purchased their two-bedroom town home at Village Station in Grayslake in June.

“Initially we were going to do the standard [countertop], and upgrade after we were in the home for a couple of years,” Amanda Jauch added. “We looked at it and realized we could upgrade now and put it in our mortgage for a few dollars more a month, rather than wait and pay thousands of dollars down the line.”

Like the Jauchs, many young first-time buyers are investing the time to learn about their upgrade options before they sit down to make their selections, builders report.

As a result, many buyers are well versed in what to expect when choosing upgrades, and frequently possess a good idea of what they want.

“They’ve gone to their friends’ homes and condos, seen all the bells and whistles and know they want an upgraded shower door, for instance,” said design consultant Peggy Holloway of Northbrook-based Ferris Homes, a semicustom builder.

“They’ve stayed at resorts and seen the fun things they have in the bathrooms. First-time buyers are much more educated and much more decisive than I ever was.”

Ann Danner, president of Residential Homes of America in Lake Forest, agrees, reporting that Internet and media coverage of what’s available in new homes is helping to make this generation of first-time buyers the most informed in history.

Though novice buyers have well-prepared wish lists of upgrades, they may not have fully considered which enhancements will provide them with enjoyment while they live in the house, and which add value at resale time.

That’s where builders’ personnel can be helpful, said Tina Baxter, sales manager at Toll Brothers’ Bowes Creek Country Club community in Elgin.

“There are new products that come on the market every day,” she said. “It’s my responsibility to know and be familiar with these products, and make sure I inform our buyers of what all the choices are out there.

“What I try to do is help people identify the best places to put their money now, and the places where they can wait and do it down the road.”

More than ever, first-time buyers of new construction homes are shopping among many builders, said Erik Carlson, home finishes manager with Chicago-based builder Dubin Residential. As they do, they should learn which builders limit a buyer’s range of options, and which allow comparatively more freedom.

Some people, he said, spend a lot of time in their kitchens and need a wide range of upgrade offerings there, while others eat out frequently and would rather spend their upgrade budgets turning bathrooms into spas.

“Find out what builders offer as standard items, and what your opportunities are,” Carlson said.

Some buyers take their time, weighing all the choices.

“For a year-and-a-half before we were ready to buy a house, we would go to new development models, do the tour and talk to salespeople afterwards,” Amanda Jauch said. “That gave us a lot of knowledge about what builders offer.”

A top priority should be choosing structural options that can’t be installed later without incurring often-prohibitive costs of additional construction.

For example, a fireplace generally can’t be added to a home later without substantial expense.

“If buyers think a fireplace is important for them and for resale, they should include it right away,” Danner advised.

Next, look at flooring options. Unless selecting carpet, buyers should make sure their flooring of choice is installed right from the start, Danner said.

In particular, hardwood flooring, or ceramic or marble tile is more affordable when bought from the builder than from an after- market provider, she said.

Moreover, to install a wood or tile floor later would require removing the baseboard and probably some of the moldings around doors, which would make the project more expensive.

Carlson advises buyers to switch from soft surfaces to hardwood flooring wherever possible. In some new homes, for instance, hardwood flooring might be standard in kitchens and living rooms, but not elsewhere.

“Use your upgrade budget to continue that [hardwood] into the bedrooms,” he advised.

Selecting proper upgrades in kitchens and bathrooms also should be a key concern.

“Beautiful kitchens and bathrooms help take a home’s value higher,” said Baxter.

If granite countertops aren’t offered as standard, they are among the most popular upgrade choices, Danner said.

No longer is granite seen simply as a status symbol. It is an option that not only enhances resale value, but adds to buyers’ enjoyment of their homes.

“A granite countertop is really functional,” she said. “You can put hot pans on it, and clean it up readily. Formica can scratch and burn.”

For more value at resale time, consider going with higher grades or enhanced thicknesses of granite.

“The thicker the granite the better,” Carlson said, adding buyers may want to upgrade from typical three-quarter-inch stone to 1 1/4- inch granite.

In granite countertops, there are a multitude of choices, Carlson said, advising buyers to select “more popular stones, because they complement any kind of decor, versus going with something that’s a very contemporary read.”
Also in the kitchen, first-time buyers should carefully consider their appliance packages, Danner said. That’s because the built-in look is becoming increasingly important at resale time.

Instead of refrigerators that protrude into the kitchen space, she strongly recommends refrigerators that are built in and flush with cabinet facings.

When looking at kitchen cabinets, buyers should consider upgrading from flat- to raised-panel cabinet doors, another hot button in building resale value.

In the bathroom, if steam showers and body sprays are desired, buyers should upgrade to them before the tile is installed, Holloway said.

Other kitchen and bathroom upgrades touted by Carlson include undermount kitchen sinks, kitchen faucets with pull-out sprays that add novelty, 42-inch wall cabinets, European or “back-saver” bathroom vanity cabinets and lighting fixtures that create ambiance.

While many of these recommendations apply to single-family homes, townhouses and condominiums, some of the suggested upgrades aren’t right for condos.

“For big-ticket upgrades, first-time buyers should definitely take the size of their home into consideration,” Carlson said. “A fireplace, while adding to a home’s ambiance, costs thousands of dollars and takes up precious wall space. When you’re [buying] a studio or one-bedroom, that could be very valuable wall space put to better use.”

So what can buyers delay purchasing until later?

According to Holloway, they can wait to add crown molding, change mirrors and upgrade bath accessories.

“Many people will also accept a builder’s standard countertop, for instance a Corian, in a secondary bathroom,” she added. “As long as you have your plumbing lines in place, it’s an easier switch later.”

Builder representatives differ in their estimates of how much first-time buyers spend on upgrades, citing figures ranging from 10 percent to 25 percent of the price of the home.

In other words, a buyer of a $300,000 home spending 10 percent on upgrades would budget an additional $30,000 for those add-ons, according to Baxter.

That’s not a trifling sum.

As the Jauchs learned, it can make sense to fold additional upgrades into your mortgage, rather than paying for them later.

After all, “you’re paying for today’s dollars over time, making the upgrades more affordable,” Danner said. “And because the average first-time buyers live in their homes five years or less according to the national average, they’ll be making back their investments fairly quickly.”

Chicago Tribune
May 27th, 2006
By Allison E. Beatty

Mixing and matching your countertop material may provide the answer when planning a kitchen island.

A rich walnut butcher block or a green marble slab can help distinguish your island from the rest of the kitchen.

Those on a limited budget might use a laminate countertop in a stone-like pattern on the perimeter cabinets, but splurge on granite, quartz or solid surface material on the island.

This approach saves money while adding a unique decorative product.

Butcher block countertops have seen a resurgence in recent years, as they add an old fashioned, natural look. They often are used for the entire island countertop or as a small part of the main countertop area.

While many home buyers use the same countertop material throughout the kitchen, more and more people are moving away from that tradition.

Instead of visualizing the island as part of the main cabinetry area, they are designing it as a separate entity, said Peggy Holloway. design consultant for Ferris Homes.

In many cases the island takes on a furniture styling, with carved table legs, decorative glass doors and vertical moulding. The countertop then becomes part of the display.

When trying to distinguish your island countertop, consider the type of material and the color or pattern. To ensure continuity, make sure there are some elements of the island countertop that blend with the main countertop, cabinets or overall kitchen decor.

Granite continues to dominate the high-end countertop market, as it offers a sophisticated look.

Granite also is a durable material with high heat resistance. This is important for cooking and serving, as it allows the cook to move around the island and set down hot pots or platters without worrying about damaging the countertop.

“The island tends to be used for everything, so the durability of granite works well there,” said Mark Elliott, president of Elliott Homes in Des Plaines.

An alternative that has gained popularity is quartz, which is made of quartz and resin. Quartz is highly durables and comes in a wide range of colors. Quartz is harder than granite, making it more stain resistant.

There are also functional reasons to consider quartz versus a solid surface countertop.

“We see a lot of quartz going on the island because it’s a wider material,” said Gene Jurczak, president of Stalwart Systems in Niles, a distributor of HanStone quartz and Hanex solid-surface products. “A solid surface might be 30 inches wide so with some materials you’d have to have a seam in the countertop.”

Quartz typical comes in 55-inch wide sections, which can easily cover a 36 to 48-inch wide island.

Many homeowners are combining quartz on the island with a solid surface on perimeter cabinets. The solid surface is popular because they like having an integral sink bowl in the food preparation area, Jurczak said.

Wood and marble are also interesting materials to use on an island, although each has its own maintenance issues.

“Sometimes we’ll do a butcher block on the island. We did one house where they used granite on the perimeter cabinets and a black walnut butcher block on the island,” said Amy Silverman, design and sales consultant for Greenview Homes.

Wood provides an attractive work surface, but does require some maintenance. Butcher block countertops should be oiled every six to eight weeks, for example.

“You wouldn’t want to cut directly on it, but use a cutting board that can be sanitized,” Silverman said.

Marble also requires extra care, as it is more porous than granite and some other materials. Some kitchen designers and contractors suggest avoiding marble in the kitchen because of its tendency to stain. Others recommend it for a limited area, such as a baking center on an island.

In that scenario, the countertop would be installed at 30 inches instead of the more traditional 36 inches wide.

“It’s a great surface is people want to put a baking center on the island,” Silverman said. “It also gives you a good height for kneading bread.

Another approach is to use the same material throughout the kitchen, but alter the color or pattern on the island. When adding granite or quartz for example, one could use a dark color on the perimeter cabinets, then change to a white or cream on the island. The cabinetry also can be changed to coordinate with this mix and match approach.

The countertop detailing can help distinguish the island from the main countertop area. One could add a beveled edge around the entire island countertop or change the edge detailing in the seating area to draw attention to that section, for example.

When looking for an island countertop, the trick is to think outside the box. A countertop with a unique material, color or pattern can help distinguish your island from the rest of the kitchen.