A Home For All Ages

New American Homes’ LIFEhouse™, opening soon in our waterfront development on the Chain O’ Lakes, is a home for the ages. Designed to be especially safe for those under six, over 60 and everywhere in between, the LIFEhouse™ offers features that make everyday living a little easier and accommodate more people for a longer time. We call it “a home for ALL of your life.”

A few photos illustrate what we mean:

The exterior of the LIFEhouse™ is a charming cottage. Tucked into the landscape and front porch design is an inobtrustive bricked ramp, ready to accommodate those who might have issues with steps. Another plus is that the ramp makes moving things in and out of the house easier. (The front door is 42 inches wide; there is no “step up” at this door.)

The kitchen is a contemporary, trendy design, yet it can be completely accessible. Note the easy-access appliances -  the dishwasher, oven, refrigerator (as well as the microwave and warming drawer) are all within reach whether a person is sitting or standing.  The space is exceptionally well-lit with over-cabinet, under-cabinet, ceiling, pendant and natural lighting.

The tech center, tucked into a hallway, is a great space for paying bills or playing computer games.  It's an ideal spot for adults and children - away from the hustle and bustle, but in sight of the main living areas.

In a secondary bath, two vanity levels make life easier for children and adults, standing or sitting.  A "spa" bench next to the vanity is set across from the shower, so one can sit there to meditate or dry off!

Built in collaboration with the Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access (IDEA Center) at the State University of New York, the LIFEhouse™ is a living laboratory of a safer home that is more user-friendly to a wider range of people.

It makes sense to design “accessibility” into every home, but – too often – this means an institutional feel. The goal of the LIFEhouse™ is to provide an attractive, quiet, upbeat, yet easier-to-live-in home.

Some Colors Sell

If you want to change your lifestyle (maybe move to a boating community like Newport Cove, on the Chain O' Lakes near Antioch, IL), you may need to sell the house you live in now.  Sales experts know that a fresh coat of paint and the right colors help sell a home.  According to an industry survey, the right paint job can sell your home faster and for a better price (more than the cost of the paint, if you do it yourself).  And, no, you should NOT paint the walls white. . .

We Have What Consumers Want

What do consumers want in a new home?

According to a recent survey by Better Homes and Gardens, high-efficiency heating and cooling systems top the list of features consumers say they would like in their next home, with 89 percent of those polled making this a priority. Eighty-five percent want high-efficiency appliances; 84 percent, a deck or patio; 79 percent, a private backyard, and 78 percent desire nicer finishes, everything from wood flooring to granite countertops and fancy trim.

When it comes to living spaces, 81 percent want a separate laundry room; 79 percent, extra storage through dedicated storage spaces, larger closets or built-ins; 67 percent, a home office space or tech center, 67 percent, an outdoor living area; 65 percent, at least one additional bedroom with a private bath, and 64 percent wish for an everyday eating area close to the kitchen.

Although the size of the average new American home has been declining, four out of 10 consumers indicate that, should they purchase a new home, they want it to be slightly larger, not smaller. The median-sized home these buyers are looking for is 1,914 square feet, about 50 feet larger than the median size of their current homes. The average new American home built in 2010 was 2,377 square feet, compared to 2,438 in 2009.

The Cottages at Newport Cove, offered at our waterfront community on the Chain O’ Lakes near Antioch, IL, are on target with these consumer desires. Sized from 1,625 to 2,300 square feet, the coastal-styled Cottages have high-efficiency heating/cooling systems and appliances, decks or patios, small backyards and top-notch fnishes  (basements with nine-foot ceilings, concrete fiber siding, Pella windows, eight-foot-tall interior doors, standard oak flooring, upgraded kitchens and more). All Cottages come with laundry rooms, plenty of storage, tech centers (see photo), guest suites, plus eat-in kitchens. And, all have first-floor master suites – two of the floorplans are ranch style and two are story-and-a-half homes.