By Wayne A. Endicott
They say that little things mean a lot. And it's often the little things that make the biggest impression on homebuyers. Take for example the newest model from Michael J. Graft Builder, Inc., in Lake Barrington, Ill., northwest of Chicago.
The home is designed with the trend toward "nesting" in mind, says Michael J. Graft, Jr. "Home buyers are looking for a place where they can entertain and enjoy life without having to go out." As a result, the home contains a number of design features that cater to that desire, providing ways to stay at home to enjoy a quiet evening with just the family or to invite guests in.
Take the wine cellar, for example. It belongs in the basement, right? Not necessarily, Michael says. "People drink wine in the dining room, so why should you have to go to the basement to get it?" The Graft solution: The wine cellar is built into the dining room for easy access.
Spills and drops in the kitchen usually require a broom and a dust pan. Not at this home, though. There's an opening to the whole-house vacuum system in the baseboard of the kitchen cabinets. When Cheerios hit the floor, they can be swept right into the opening to be whisked into oblivion—or at least into the system's receptacle. If two cooks are working in the kitchen—a frequent scenario with today's busy families and casual entertaining—each will have a separate sink and dishwasher.
To keep guests protected from rain or snow, the home's front entry features a covered porch. And if those guests are calling around the holidays, they can enjoy decorations on the mantelpiece that are lighted without the need for extension cords. An electrical outlet built into the mantel itself does the trick. A very small detail, indeed, but it demonstrates the depth of thought that went into the home.
So does the planning for the future: Michael believes that just because baby boomers are aging, they shouldn't have to rule out a two-story home to avoid stairs. The solution is an elevator incorporated into the design.
"A major consideration today is a growing need to create a nesting place for the family," Michael says. "We tried in this home to address that need. We feel that we make it possible for the family to stay at home for their recreation and to entertain guests." Two features contributing to that are an in-ground pool and fire pit. To make them an integral part of the home and tie them together with indoor spaces, interior walls in many areas are lined with stone to tie them visually to the exterior walls of the home.
And finally, keeping tabs on all those diverse spaces is as simple as turning on a television monitor. Strategically placed security cameras in both indoor and outdoor areas give a quick view to what's going on there.
Little things add up big.
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