Opening a New Vista on Suburban Family Living

ELGIN, IL, August 1 - Occupying a compact cul-de-sac, each of the 29 classically designed homes will back up into a peaceful and private wooded area-in a northern suburb known for its sparkling lakes and scenic forests. That's the short description of Lake Vista in Lake Villa, an exclusive enclave of large and luxurious single-family homes being built by Grand Pointe Homes. But that description is only the beginning of this grand opening story.

Lake Vista offers tradition with a distinct twist. It's a community of three, four, and five bedroom homes with formal living rooms, formal dining rooms, studies, two-story family rooms, gourmet kitchens, and loads of space-ranging in size from 2,100 to 3,552 square feet (and in pre-construction price from $410,900 to $483,900). They're homes built with real families in mind. "Our large living areas are designed to provide growing families with all the space they'll need," said Scott Ballard, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Elgin-based builder. He adds that all that classic space comes with the attention to detail and craftsmanship for which Grand Pointe is well known.

Buyers can also see both the detail and the craftsmanship in the unique touches that variously help shape the community's six models (which even includes a traditional one-story ranch). Art niches-places for a prized photo or paining-provide one such twist on the conventional. Another is a dramatic skybridge that connects a two-story foyer and family room. Others include imposing columns separating a dining room and living room; a master suite with its own octagonal sitting room; an octagonal breakfast area connected to a gourmet kitchen; a turret-style dinette; private shower and toilet areas; studies and master suites with double-door entryways; arched openings; and much more. They all lend a contemporary-and in some cases, artistic-feeling to the homes.

Meanwhile, Grand Pointe offers buyers plenty of choice, encouraging them to add their own personality to the home through upgrades such as bay windows, skylights, built-in entertainment centers, lofts, extra bedrooms, cathedral ceilings in master bedrooms, three-car garages, and-even-raised-platform Roman tubs in master baths. "Buyers have the flexibility to essentially put their family's personal stamp on their new home," said Ballard.

Distinctive style isn't confined to just the inside of Lake Vista's homes. The exteriors can encompass covered entries, large front porches, shutters and coordinating trim, archways, coach lights, and decorative windows such as transoms, half-rounds, and palladians. Each floor plan comes in several exterior variations, producing many eye-catching elevations. Furthermore, Grand Pointe offers a variety of colors and materials (including brick, siding, and Dryvit) to help create diverse streetscapes and pleasing curb appeal.

"The appointments of Lake Vista are so exceptional that-when completed-it will almost seem like a community of custom homes. And that's even before you consider the basements, central air conditioning, and 90-percent high-efficiency furnaces, all of which are standard features. When you add Grand Pointe's high-end construction standards to the mix, you realize Lake Vista will be one very special place-equally classic and contemporary," said Ballard.

To see a Lake Vista model, take 294 to Grand Avenue, exit and head west to the sales center, which is located two blocks east of Route 83.

Submitted 8/1/2007