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
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.

Seasoned home buyers know that purchasing a home and making selections is often difficult. Oftentimes, buyers have trouble reading blueprints and cannot visualize the finished product. Most times in selection, buyers find it necessary to upgrade their selections which adds to the cost of the home and begins to stress out the buyers.

For these reasons, Northbrook based Ferris Homes has always believed in giving buyers the opportunity to limit their upgrades and still have the exclusive products and finishes that today:s homebuyers are looking for in their new homes. Adding to that belief, Ferris Homes has just announced upgrades to their already impressive list of included features in the prestigious Liberty Grove community in Libertyville. “We realize that in today’s homebuying environment, consumers are very aware of high style and fine appointments,” says Drew Ferris, president of Ferris Homes. “We felt it was important for us to INCLUDE as standard items the things that homebuyers really want and have generally had to “upgrade” to with many of our competitors. We have listened to our customers and are offering them in their standard packages, the luxury of having wonderful options in their homes, without having to add on to their base price,” continues Ferris. Now included in their Liberty Grove single family homes are all Stainless steel built in Kitchen Aid appliances, granite countertops in the kitchens and the powder room, CUSTOM BUILT 42 inch Woodmode Cabinetry with Crown Moldings in the kitchen with a gourmet kitchen layout plan, custom staircases, 2.5 and 3 car garages, security systems , 30 year asphalt architectural shingles, front & side landscape plantings, brushed nickel levered hardware, and under cabinet lighting in the kitchen and much more.

“Response and feedback has been tremendous,” says Ferris. “Our homebuyers and potential homebuyers are thrilled at the amount of high quality, luxury goods that we are including in our homes. They feel that they are getting a phenomenal value for the product and the home in the end is really beautiful, both on the interior and the exterior,” comments Ferris.

At Liberty Grove in Libertyville, prospective homeowners can choose from 18 classically designed single family homes and 30 town homes – all embraced by their natural surroundings and built by premiere homebuilder, Ferris Homes. Located adjacent to Independence Grove, an award winning forest preserve of 1100 untouched acres of nature preserve overlooking a pristine 115-acre lake, homeowners will enjoy maintenance free living.

The single family home model, The Aspen, has 2,492 square feet, 3 bedrooms and 2 ½ baths, and includes a first floor master bedroom suite with two additional bedrooms – each with a walk-in closet, and a large, shared bath. The upstairs bedrooms are adjacent to a loft area which overlooks the foyer below. The first floor has a study with box bay windows, great room with fireplace and Tray ceiling, separate dining room and island kitchen. There is a powder room, guest closet and laundry room off the foyer. This model has terrific exterior features including a cedar shake roof, Hardiplank and brick exterior, double hung Marvin windows and a beautiful front porch with columns. The Aspen includes many upgrades including upgraded Kohler kitchen and bath faucets, master bath whirlpool, a granite fireplace surround and a gourmet kitchen cabinet and appliance plan with Viking appliances.

Aside from The Aspen, there are three other single family floor plans to choose from, with elevation styles in Cape Cod, Shingle Style and Colonial.

At 2,516 square feet, The Hawthorn is very spacious and functional. The home boasts a spacious family room, formal dining room, island kitchen with eating area and breakfast bar, first floor office/study, first floor master bedroom suite with separate shower/tub and walk-in closet, powder room, and first floor laundry. Two additional second floor bedrooms feature a private bath and walk-in closet.

The Magnolia unit boasts 2,296 square feet. The home offers a dramatic great room with vaulted ceiling, elegant dining room, large kitchen with breakfast area, first floor laundry, powder room, first floor master suite with two vanities, separate tub/shower and two walk-in closets. Two additional second floor bedrooms feature a private bath and walk-in closet, and an open loft area.

At 2,868 square feet, The Sycamore features a first floor library/office and mud room. This large plan also has an inviting great room, elegant dining room, large, island kitchen with breakfast area and optional butler’s pantry/closet, first floor laundry, and a powder room. A second floor master bedroom suite features double vanities in its generous bathroom and a separate tub/shower area. Two additional bedrooms share a bath and have their own walk-in closets.

Prices for single family homes at Liberty Grove start at $638,800. Ferris Homes is a Northbrook-based builder of custom and semi-custom single family and multi-family homes located throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. In 1994, Ferris Homes was founded, based on the premise that top quality homes and unrivaled service are the foundations for becoming an outstanding homebuilder. Its principles share more than thirty years of experience and expertise in the home building industry. Ferris Homes believe in a building process that stresses the utmost attention to detail from start to finish. The result is clients who are both thrilled with the product and thoroughly satisfied with the process.

For more information on Liberty Grove and their single family homes, interested parties can visit the sales office which is open Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays and Mondays, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Liberty Grove is located at the corner of Rt. 137 (Peterson/Buckley Road) and Rt. 21 (Milwaukee Avenue) at 200 Cater Lane in Libertyville, IL. The phone number is 847-680-0001 or visit Liberty Grove on the web at www.liberty-grove.com.