Life Changes Lead To New Homes At The Reserve In St. Charles

Planning to expand a family. Children reaching school age. These are the life changes that prompted Michael McCarthy and Ashley Schremser to build their new homes at The Reserve in St. Charles. While they moved two years apart, the brother and sister both chose the Meritus Homes neighborhood because it offered everything they wanted—a St. Charles address, familiar schools, big homesites, fresh home designs, and first-rate construction.

Michael was the first to move to The Reserve in St. Charles after growing out of his townhome. With a daughter and hopes for more children, he and his wife were ready for a larger home and yard. The Reserve in St. Charles provided both. The couple decided on a 2,491-square-foot ranch that backs up to open space. Today, their daughter and son…who they welcomed in May 2020…have plenty of room to play ball and run around yet stay within sight.

The McCarthy’s ranch is one of five designs Meritus Homes is offering at The Reserve in St Charles. The ranch and two-story plans feature 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 $545,900 to $602,900.

In all, Meritus Homes is building 88 semicustom single-family homes on sites that span up to one-third of an acre. The neighborhood also boasts natural and recreational amenities such as ponds, bike trails and a park. Approximately 75 percent of Meritus’ homes have been sold and although a limited number of sites remain, they include prime locations with several backing to open space.

“Where we live now, we have houses practically right in our back yard, so we knew we wanted more outdoor space in our new home,” said Michael’s sister Ashley. She and her husband purchased at The Reserve in St. Charles last year. “Not only is our homesite much bigger, we back up to a berm with grass and trees for extra privacy.”

“Our goal was always to move before our oldest son started kindergarten,” Ashley explained. Happy with the education she received in St. Charles schools…including St. Charles North High School…she wanted her children to attend schools in District 303, too.

Undeterred by the pandemic, the couple kept to their timeline.

“Despite everything that happened in 2020, we chose to stay on track with our plan to move in spring or summer of 2021,” she continued. “Meritus Homes is doing an excellent job of keeping construction on schedule and we should close by May.”

Another benefit of working with Meritus Homes, according to Michael, is that the builder was willing to make design and structural changes—more than most allow. In fact, he made some custom changes to his kitchen, reconfiguring one wall to accommodate a larger refrigerator and freezer to create his wife’s ultimate gourmet kitchen. He also added a bay window in his dining room.

Being able to personalize their home was one of the reasons Ashley and her husband, also named Michael, favored new construction as well.

“We looked at some resale houses in the area but none had everything—some had one feature but not another, and vice versa. Building allowed us to get everything just the way we wanted,” she said.

The family upgraded flooring, carpeting and cabinetry to match their tastes and upgraded from a standard to finished basement so that her husband, who works from home, could have a secluded office.

The Schremsers chose the Chesapeake, which is a great plan for large households or anyone who desires a lot of space thanks to its 3,188 square feet, four bedrooms and 2-1/2 baths. The design is versatile with a flex room that can serve as a study, library or office plus a craft room and mud room that provide more space for activities. The two-story foyer makes an instant impression and a butler’s pantry unites the dining room with the dinette and gourmet kitchen, which has a walk-in pantry and huge center island. The adjacent family room has a fireplace and is a cozy spot for relaxing. On the second floor, double doors make a grand entrance into the owner’s suite, which has a walk-in closet and luxurious bath with soaker tub and separate shower. Three additional bedrooms, each with a walk-in closet, share a hall bath. The laundry room is upstairs for convenience and the three-car garage loads from the side for curb appeal.

“With two young boys, we prefer the bedrooms being upstairs, away from the bustle in the main living areas,” said Ashley.

Michael, on the other hand, opted for the convenience of having everything on one level and built a Clover. The 2,491-square-foot ranch has three bedrooms, 2-1/2 baths and an open-concept layout that lives large. The center of attention in this elegant single-story home is the living room, which flows into the designer kitchen and adjoining dining room. An angled island, pantry and pocket office…perfect for planning meals or crafts…make the kitchen functional and fabulous. A covered porch in back is ideal for outdoor dining or simply relaxing. The owner’s suite has a walk-in closet and private luxury bath. The second bedroom also has its own bath and walk-in closet. In addition to the full basement, extra storage space is abundant in the garage.

“We adore the open floor plan with the kitchen and family room flowing into each other,” said Michael, who plans to finish his basement, which will nearly double his overall living space.

“We looked at a few existing houses over a six- to eight-week period but nowhere else measured up so our decision was quick and easy,” he explained.

Michael and Ashley grew up in St. Charles so it was a natural choice to live in the west suburban city and be near their parents and long-time friends when they had families of their own. Plus, they appreciate being only minutes from St. Charles’ quaint downtown as well as shopping, restaurants and everyday conveniences along the Randall Road corridor.

Now settled in, Michael is excited to soon have Ashley living right down the street and having the cousins so close by.

“It’s very convenient when we need a babysitter,” they agreed.

The Reserve in St. Charles is located on the west side of Rt. 31 between Red Gate and Silver Glen roads. To visit, take Rt. 31 and turn west onto Reserve Drive and proceed to the model and sales office at 775 Reserve Drive.

A decorated model is available to tour so home shoppers can see the stylish designs and feel Meritus Homes’ superior level of construction firsthand. Sales hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday through Wednesday (closed Thursday and Friday).

For more information, call (224) 634-4054 or visit www.MeritusHomebuilders.com.

Couple Finds The Enclave At Mill Creek An Idyllic Community

Brian Labat first noticed The Enclave at Mill Creek when Meritus Homes broke ground at the community and he watched it develop from an unused golf course into a beautiful new neighborhood. Last spring, when he and his wife Ginger decided it was time for them to move, The Enclave at Mill Creek was a natural choice because the property is right down the road from Cavalry United Pentecostal Church where Brian is a senior pastor.

“We got the ball rolling in April of 2020 and closed on our new home in October,” said Brian. “This is a great little community and there’s really nothing else like it around here.”

Nestled in an established area of central DuPage County, The Enclave at Mill Creek boasts abundant green space…including Westwood Creek, three ponds and a scenic sitting spot…with more than two thirds of the ranch-style homes backing to natural areas and open space. Phase II, where the Labats’ home is built, is tucked back over a bridge and their homesite backs up to a pond.

“The way Meritus Homes designed the overall property makes it stand out from typical developments with rows of cookie-cutter houses,” said Brian. ”The neighborhood feel was a selling point for us.”

The couple also were drawn to The Enclave at Mill Creek’s carefree lifestyle. For a reasonable monthly fee, the homeowners’ association handles snow removal on their driveway…which has been much needed this winter. It also performs lawn care for all homesites as well as maintains common area landscaping.

In all, Meritus Homes is building 87 homes at The Enclave at Mill Creek. Four designs are available in Phase II. Ranch plans have 1,603 to 2,154 square feet of living space; two, three or four bedrooms; and two full baths for base prices that range from $406,900 to $449,900. Second-story options add 866 to 1,090 more square feet of living space, one or two bedrooms or a loft, and another bath on the upper level. This brings the square footage up to 2,620 to 3,077 with base prices that range from $485,900 to $513,900.

Brian and Ginger chose the Waterleaf—a 2,154-square-foot ranch with three bedrooms and two full baths—because the open-concept layout works perfectly for entertaining, something they are looking forward to doing often in their new home. They enjoy the relaxing owner’s suite and the versatility of the flex room, and are using one of the two secondary bedrooms as a home office. The Waterleaf also has expansive windows that allow in lots of natural light to brighten the rooms and offer the Labats views of the pond outside.

Standard features in the Waterleaf include nine-foot ceilings, Colonist doors, decorative touches such as rounded drywall corners and brushed nickel finishes, central air conditioning, and a full basement. In fact, Brian and Ginger were so impressed with the level of standard inclusions, they didn’t have to upgrade much at all.

“Our home is very well built,” said Brian. “And our utility bills have actually gone down. We weren’t expecting such a pleasant surprise.”

That’s because all Meritus homes showcase energy-efficient construction for greater comfort and energy savings than older houses. This includes Tyvek® house wrap, ice and water shield protection for the roof, a damp-proofed foundation, 40-gallon high-efficiency water heater, R-21 wall and R-49 ceiling insulation, and 2-by-6 exterior wall construction.

After living in in their previous house for 15 years, this is the first home Brian and Ginger have built from the ground up, and the process went seamlessly despite building during a pandemic.

“It was so cool and exciting to choose our finishes and make this the home we really want,” said Ginger. “And the entire team at Meritus Homes was a delight to work with…from the patient and supportive sales consultant to the knowledgeable construction manager who performed our walk-through. We couldn’t be more pleased.”

The couple also appreciates all the area has to offer like restaurants, forest preserves, recreational opportunities, entertainment, and everyday conveniences. Plus, shopping at Oak Brook Center, Yorktown Center and Woodfield Mall are all about the same distance away. Being within minutes of Interstates 355 and 290 as well as Ill. Hwy. 83/Kingery Highway makes it easy to get around the suburbs.

Despite its convenient location at the intersection of Army Trail Boulevard and North Mill Street, “The Enclave at Mill Creek is peaceful and serene and a wonderful place to come home to.”

The community’s entrance is on the north side of Army Trail Boulevard at Links Drive and the sales office is at 758 Fairway Drive. (Enter 601 Army Trail Boulevard into GPS system to find the site.)

Two decorated models are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
For more information, call (331) 225-3646 or visit www.MeritusHomebuilders.com.

Read original article HERE.

Siblings Stay Close With New Homes At The Reserve In St. Charles

Brother and sister Michael McCarthy and Ashley Schremser grew up in St. Charles and loved it so much that when they had families of their own, they both built new homes in the west suburban city…right down the street from each other at The Reserve in St. Charles.

Here, Meritus Homes is building 88 semicustom single-family homes and approximately 75 percent have been sold. Although a limited number of homesites remain, they include prime sites with several backing to open space. Five ranch and two-story designs offer 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. Current base prices range from $543,900 to $602,900.

Michael moved into The Reserve in St. Charles first, about two years ago. Impressed with the location and quality of his home, Ashley decided last year to build there, as well.

“We were on a timeline, wanting to move before our oldest son started kindergarten,” said Ashley. Happy with the education she received in St. Charles schools…including St. Charles North High School…she wanted her children to attend schools in District 303, too.

“Despite everything that happened in 2020, we chose to stay on track with our plan to move in spring or summer of 2021,” she continued. “Meritus Homes is doing an excellent job of keeping construction on schedule and we should close by May.”

Michael also elected to move because of a life change. Living in a townhome with their daughter and with plans to have more children, they decided they needed a bigger home and yard. With its large homesites—up to one-third of an acre—The Reserve in St. Charles was the perfect fit. He and his wife welcomed a son to their family in May 2020.

“We looked at a few existing houses over a six- to eight-week period but nowhere else measured up so our decision was quick and easy,” he explained. Today, his home backs to open space so his children have plenty of room to play ball and run around yet stay within sight.

“Where we live now, we have houses practically right in our back yard, so we knew we wanted more outdoor space in our new home,” said Ashley. “Not only is our homesite at The Reserve in St. Charles much bigger, we back up to a berm with grass and trees for extra privacy.”

Another benefit—within the neighborhood are natural and recreational amenities such as ponds, bike trails and a park.

While Michael and Ashley agree on their love for The Reserve in St. Charles, they have different tastes in home styles. Ashley chose the two-story Chesapeake while Michael picked the Clover ranch.

The 2,491-square-foot Clover has three bedrooms, 2-1/2 baths and an open-concept layout that lives large. The center of attention in this elegant single-story home is the living room, which flows into the designer kitchen and adjoining dining room. An angled island, pantry and pocket office…perfect for planning meals or crafts…make the kitchen functional and fabulous. A covered porch in back is ideal for outdoor dining or simply relaxing. The master suite has a walk-in closet and private luxury bath. The second bedroom also has its own bath and walk-in closet. In addition to the full basement, extra storage space is abundant in the garage.

“We adore the open floor plan with the kitchen and family room flowing into each other, and the convenience of having everything on one level,” said Michael.

“With two young boys, we prefer the bedrooms being upstairs, away from the bustle in the main living areas,” said Ashley.

With 3,188 square feet, four bedrooms and 2-1/2 baths, The Chesapeake is great for large households or anyone who desires a lot of space. The design is versatile with a flex room that can serve as a study, library or office plus a craft room and mud room that provide more space for activities. The two-story foyer makes an instant impression and a butler’s pantry unites the dining room with the dinette and gourmet kitchen, which has a walk-in pantry and huge center island. The adjacent family room has a fireplace and is a cozy spot for relaxing. On the second floor, double doors make a grand entrance into the master suite, which has a walk-in closet and luxurious bath with soaker tub and separate shower. Three additional bedrooms, each with a walk-in closet, share a hall bath. The laundry room is upstairs for convenience and the three-car garage loads from the side for curb appeal.

According to Ashley, being able to personalize their home was one reason they favored new construction.

“We looked at some resale houses in the area but none had everything—some had one feature but not another, and vice versa. Building allowed us to get everything just the way we wanted,” she said.

The family upgraded flooring, carpeting and cabinetry to match their tastes and upgraded from a standard to finished basement so that her husband, who works from home, could have a secluded office.

Michael also plans to finish his basement, which will nearly double his overall living space. Additionally, he added a bay window in his dining room and made some custom changes to his kitchen, reconfiguring one wall to accommodate a larger refrigerator and freezer—creating his wife’s ultimate gourmet kitchen.

“Meritus Homes was willing to work with us to make design and structural changes, more than most big builders allow,” he said.

Now settled in, Michael is excited to soon have Ashley as his neighbor and the cousins so close by. The siblings are grateful to be near their parents who still live in St. Charles, too.

“It’s very convenient when we need a babysitter,” they agreed.

While Michael and Ashley are thankful to live near family and long-time friends, they also appreciate being only minutes from St. Charles’ quaint downtown as well as shopping, restaurants and everyday conveniences along the Randall Road corridor.

The Reserve in St. Charles is located on the west side of Rt. 31 between Red Gate and Silver Glen roads. To visit, take Rt. 31 and turn west onto Reserve Drive and proceed to the model and sales office at 775 Reserve Drive.

A decorated model is available to tour so home shoppers can see the stylish designs and feel Meritus Homes’ superior level of construction firsthand. Sales hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday through Wednesday (closed Thursday and Friday).

For more information, call (224) 634-4054 or visit www.MeritusHomebuilders.com.

Read original article HERE.