What's at the Top of the Holiday Wish List for Homebuyers?

There’s a reason the song says “there’s no place like home for the holidays” – at perhaps no other time of year do families spend so much time enjoying the comforts of home with family and relatives. And according to local homebuilders, choosing the right home features can go a long way toward making the holidays “merry and bright” for everyone. Here are some of the top holiday-friendly features to look for:

A Space for Everyone and Everyone in their Space
For those whose loved ones live out of town, the holidays might be one of the few times of year they can get together, which often means extended overnight visits. One way to make hosting out-of-town relatives more comfortable for everyone is to choose a home design with a first-floor master suite, such as those offered by Glenview-based Edward R. James Homes.

“The first-floor master suites provide convenience for the homeowner year-round, but this is especially true during the holidays when their home is filled with guests,” said Jerry S. James, president of Edward R. James Homes. “While the homeowner remains comfortably in the first-floor master suite, guests have all the privacy and space they need to be comfortable on the second floor, including two bedrooms, private bath, and a family room where they can check in with the office or let the kids play.”

Edward R. James Homes is offering first-floor master suites in its single-family homes and rowhomes at Westgate at The Glen, a maintenance-free community in Glenview. For more information about Edward R. James Companies’ communities, visit www.erjames.com/find-your-new-home/.

Party-Ready Pantries
The holiday season is also the party season, and whether homeowners enjoy hosting lavish dinner parties, lively open houses or casual get-togethers with close friends, a convenient butler’s pantry can help them entertain with ease. Brian Brunhofer, president of Deerfield-based Meritus Homes, noted a butler’s pantry is one of the most popular design elements among buyers at Meritus’ two single-family home communities, The Reserve of St. Charles and Greenbrook at Highland Woods in Elgin. “The function of a butler’s pantry is twofold,” he said. “When homeowners are entertaining, they can use the extra counter space as a serving buffet or set it up as a beverage station. And when the party is over, the butler’s pantry has plenty of cabinetry for storing all that glassware and serving dishes that only get brought out for a party.”

For more information about The Reserve of St. Charles and Greenbrook at Highland Woods call 630-883-8547 or visit www.meritushomebuilders.com.

Walk-in pantries are another in-demand design element when it comes to holiday entertaining. According to Jeff Benach, co-principal of Lexington Homes, a walk-in kitchen pantry has been one of the most popular options at Lexington Chase, Lexington’s newest townhome community in Palatine. “Buyers especially love the extra storage space during the holidays, when they want to stock up before a big party,” said Benach. “Families also appreciate space to have extra snacks on hand for kids and their friends who are home on holiday break.”

For more information about Lexington Chase of Palatine, call (847) 728-4700 or visit www.lexingtonchicago.com/.

Santa’s Workshop:
One of the biggest challenges for parents can be stashing and wrapping gift without letting the children sneak a peek. That’s when the bonus features in several master suites at Red Seal Homes’ Provenance in Northbrook will come in especially handy. Three of the single-family designs at the master-planned community feature large walk-in closets/dressing rooms or a sitting room – all of which can be easily closed off to serve as a make-shift Santa’s Workshop for storing and wrapping gifts leading up to the holidays.

“Whether it’s having a place to hide gifts or for a quick clean-up when an impromptu guests drops by or having an area with plenty of space to also spread out and wrap gifts, these private spaces are extremely beneficial during this busy time of year,” said Brian Hoffman of Red Seal Homes.

For more information on Provenance, visit www.homesatprovenance.com.

Also featuring an extra-inviting space for homeowners to play holiday elf is Foxford Development’s 7,000-square-foot, five-bedroom, 5½-bath quick-delivery home at Lansdowne Estate in Lake Bluff. The custom-designed home has a main-floor library with a fireplace, turning the room into a cozy retreat where gift wrapping or holiday card writing can be enjoyed next to a crackling fire. “Add some holiday music and eggnog and you might never want to stop wrapping gifts,” said Peter Brennan, president of Hinsdale-based Foxford Communities.

To visit or learn more about the immediate-delivery home at Lansdowne Estate contact Jeff Ohm of Premier Realty Group at 847-821-9090 or visit www.premierlistingshowcase.com.

Decking the Halls
Of course no holiday celebration is complete without seasonal decorations. For families that make an extra-tall Christmas tree the star of their holiday décor, Meritus Homes includes 10-foot first-floor ceilings in all of its homes, and also offers a floor plan with a two-story family room for those with super-sized taste in evergreens.
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“We also have several home designs with a very traditional foyer, where the main stairs are the centerpiece,” said Brunhofer. “Buyers love this for holiday decorating because the banister becomes the focal point of the entry when it’s wrapped in garland and holiday lights.”