In The Press

03/26/06 - Customize Your Kitchen
Winter's grip is waning and spring is beckoning.The kitchen is the heart of many a home. Thus, making that kitchen both functional and beautiful is a high priority for most homeowners.

At Running Brook Farm in Johnsburg, customizing the kitchen is standard operating procedure.
The Reserve One Homes community offers six floor plans, ranging from 2,171 to 3,450 square feet. Homes have three to six bedrooms and two to 3 1/2 baths, on home sites ranging from one-quarter to one-half of an acre. Base prices range from $271,990 to $327,990.

Reserve One Homes is a semi-custom builder, not a one-size-fits-all production builder, "So we alter homes to meet individual needs," said Lisa Porter-Loftus, a partner with the Cary-based company.
Kitchens are prime spots for tweaking. "Some of our buyers have completely redone the kitchen layout," said Susan Borta, senior sales manager at Running Brook Farm, which also includes neighborhoods of townhomes.

Some of the most popular changes? Replacing a few standard cabinets with pullout cabinets for pots and pans or for sliding wastepaper/recycling baskets, Buyers also like to trade standard wood doors with glass ones. Many homeowners also want the extra-tall 42-in upper cabinets instead of the standard 30-inch cabinets, or prefer to mix standard and tall cabinets, for a staggered, alternating look that's more visually interesting.

Other alternatives include warming drawers, spice racks, extra-deep drawers, appliance garages and lazy Susans. "There are really lots of possibilities," Borta said. "Our buyers are pumped up by what they can add to their kitchens."

Of course, Reserve One helps sort through the options to prevent customers from becoming overwhelmed. Buyers sit down with a salesperson and the "cabinet book" of offerings to see what's available, Borta said.

"We help our buyers mix and match what they have with what they might want. We walk them through the various layout options to help determine how best to organize space in the kitchen and what works best for them."

Running Brook Farm also features 144 affordable townhomes, base-priced from $163,990 to $205,990.

Homeowners love the peaceful setting, with rolling terrain, a pedestrian trail and an adjacent park. At the same time, modern conveniences, including stores and restaurants, are just minutes away. "It's a great combination," said Porter-Loftus.

Children will attend Johnsburg School District No. 12.

Johnsburg offers 40 acres of park land, including two major park facilities with ball fields, soccer fields, walking paths, picnic areas and playground equipment. Johnsburg residents also enjoy a free boat launch facility provided by the village.

Commuters and visitors can reach Chicago via the McHenry or Fox Lake Metra stations.
Running Brook Farm is near Routes 31 and 120. To visit, take Route 31 north to Route 120. Go east on Route 120 one-half mile to Riverside Drive. Turn north on Riverside and drive two miles to Runningbrook Boulevard, following the signs to the models.

Models are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, or by appointment. Call (815) 759-0808 for more information.