Our Featured Home

7/11/2008

The Villa, Redefined

A new take on a favorite floor plan

Shadow Woods in the Springfield Township is a new neighborhood of single story villa homes. Yet, while the neighborhood is new, enough mature trees have been left in place to give it the look and feel of a well established community.

This week s featured home, at 1616 Deer Trail Drive, is the model home for the community and a perfect example of the fine work of builder Gary Grup. From the street, this stylish home looks as though it would be as easily at home southern California as it is in Ohio.

The exterior is in stone and stucco. The garage has the fashionable look of carriage doors, and a poured concrete walkway leads to the covered front porch. The insulated fiberglass front door has a dark stain and an attractive glass and iron insert. Sidelights and a transom admit light to the foyer.

Inside, the foyer floor is covered in an ebony laminate. The coffered ceiling instantly telegraphs that this home is something special. An amber chandelier hangs from above.

To the right is the formal dining room. This room, with its high tray ceiling and large window overlooking the front, was made for dinner parties and other celebrations.

To the left, behind eight-foot French doors, is the first bedroom. A double closet provides completes this guest room.

Across the hall is a full bath. This room is stunning, with a beautiful round-front vanity in a deep, rich finish. The floor is travertine marble, and a framed light above the shower makes it seem as though there is a skylight above.

Down the hall is another bedroom; this one has a large walk-in closet. At the end of the hall is the utility room. The cabinets store your laundry supplies, and a convenient sink is there for your hand washables. A closet here is the perfect place to stash your coat as you come in from the garage.

The entrance to the two-car garage is here. Attic storage is accessed via pull-down stairs. While this large garage offers plenty of space for two cars, the builder recognizes that many people require more. He states that a third bay can be added in as little as a month.

Off the aforementioned dining room is the gourmet kitchen. The 42-inch tall cabinets shown here are birch with crown molding. A peninsula snack bar extends the counter space and provides a spot for friends to visit while the chef prepares the meal. The counter is topped with Wilsonart high def laminate with the look of granite. A tumbled tile backsplash comes standard in this kitchen, as do GE appliances, including an electric range with smooth glass cooktop, a built-in microwave, dishwasher, side by side refrigerator and disposal.

Adjacent to the kitchen is space for informal dining. This sunny spot includes sliding doors to the covered porch outside a wonderful place to enjoy a meal in warm weather.

The great room is next. A long, spacious room, it is anchored on one end by a very chic gas fireplace. A contemporary stone surround with wood trim looks great as it is, or could be adorned with a hanging sculpture or other modern art piece. The 11-foot ceiling here only accentuates it.

Off the great room, behind 8-foot double doors flanked by lighted art niches, is the master suite. A deep tray ceiling makes the room feel like a jewel box. A ceiling fan creates a comfortable breeze.

This suite includes his and her walk-in closets, and a spacious mater bath. Two vanities here are topped with granite, separated by a jetted corner tub beneath a window. Step in to the glass and tile shower with tile insets, or into the private water closet.

Builder Gary Grup has included too many standard amenities to list here, but a few are worth noting: each home comes with a complete landscaping package, sprinklers, and poured concrete driveway. Each foundation is insulated for greater energy efficiency. Owens Corning R15 insulation is used in the walls, with R38 blown insulation in the ceilings. Energy efficient Pella windows are standard in every home, as are 9 foot ceilings and vaults up to 11 feet.