Couple Stays Close To Family With New Ranch At The Reserve In St. Charles
In real estate, location is everything. And after 27 years, Jim and Julie Keller have come to love living in St. Charles so they were thrilled to find a brand-new home that suits their current lifestyle within the popular suburb. They purchased a Marquis plan at The Reserve in St. Charles, a community of semicustom homes being built by Meritus Homes. One of five floor plans, the Marquis gives the couple the fresh, open-concept ranch they desire along with a familiar location near places and people they adore—including their new grandchild.
“We wanted to stay in St. Charles because we have so many ties to the area,” said Jim Keller, a wealth manager with an office right in town.
The couple looked at existing houses as well as considered renovating their current residence but realized it would have been much more disruptive and time consuming to rehab than to build from the ground up.
“Starting out fresh and having everything new was important to us,” said Julie. “And having all the main living areas on one level was key.”
With 2,610 square feet of space, the Marquis ranch fit the bill. It boasts an expansive feel thanks to 10-foot ceilings and an open layout. The gourmet kitchen with center island flows into the family room, creating a generous gathering place while the dining room is nearby, ideal for entertaining.
“We host a lot of family dinners and holidays so having a big dining area that was comfortable but not formal was a must-have,” said Julie. “We’re incredibly pleased with how beautiful the space turned out and how perfectly it fits our needs now and will in the future as our family—hopefully—continues to grow.”
Tucked off the kitchen and steps from the pantry in the Marquis is the laundry room, loaded with plenty of storage. On the opposite side of the home, the master suite has a private luxury bath plus walk-in closet. Both secondary bedrooms have walk-in closets, too. A den adds flex space—as a library, office or study area. A full basement and two- or three-car garage complete this luxury ranch.
The Kellers were able to make some structural changes to the standard Marquis floor plan to create the true open-concept layout they wanted. They also expanded the center island in the kitchen and upgraded to quartz countertops to create a statement piece where family and friends can congregate. The couple also added a vaulted ceiling in the great room to visually expand the space even more and created a huge walk-in shower in the master bath for a luxurious spa ambiance. They upgraded to a three-car garage and deep-pour basement, too.
“We chose a homesite that has a lookout lower level and with the higher ceilings, the basement has so much potential for us to finish it in the future,” said Jim.
In addition to the Marquis and another ranch plan, Meritus Homes offers two-story designs at The Reserve in St. Charles to meet a variety of households and lifestyles. Overall, homes have 2,491 to 3,716 square feet of living space, three or four bedrooms, two to 3-1/2 baths, and two- or three-car garages for base prices that range from $519,900 to $569,900. For those with a desire to move quickly, a Marquis is under construction and ready for immediate delivery. It is priced at $589,900.
Because of the big back yards and its location in highly rated School District #303, The Reserve in St. Charles is home to many families with young children. However, the neighborhood also has retired couples who have been attracted to the ranch homes.
As new homebuyers, Jim and Julie appreciate the friendly and welcoming ambiance at The Reserve in St. Charles. They have seen joggers and walkers out on the neighborhood’s paths and several people have stopped to say hi. While just a few minutes from the Randall Road shopping corridor and the city’s quaint downtown, the community feels like an escape.
“Thanks to the large homesites and the fact that we overlook wetlands and lush evergreens, we really feel like we are away from it all when we’re actually close to everything,” said Julie.
This is the fifth new home Jim and Julie have built so they were quite familiar with the building process.
“The entire staff at Meritus Homes has been great to work with,” said Julie. “The sales and construction team made sure we understood expectations so there were no hiccups along the way. They’re knowledgeable and have a genuine interest in us…and all the homeowners in the neighborhood.”
“This went very smoothly,” Jim agreed. “The home is well built and the quality of the finishes are high. Overall, we have been very impressed.”
A decorated model is open at The Reserve in St. Charles so home shoppers can see the stylish design and feel the superior level of construction first hand. The sales office is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
To visit, take Rt. 31 and turn west onto Reserve Drive, which is between Red Gate Road and Silver Glen Road. Proceed to the model and sales office at 775 Reserve Drive.
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