Variety Of Home Designs Appeal To Siblings At The Reserve In St. Charles

Open-concept ranch or traditional two-story? Brother and sister Michael McCarthy and Ashley Schremser may have different tastes in home styles but the siblings agree on one thing—The Reserve in St. Charles is the ideal place to build their new homes. The community offers a St. Charles address, familiar schools, big homesites, and first-rate construction from Meritus Homes.

For Ashley, the two-story Chesapeake suits her family’s lifestyle while Michael opts for single-level living in the Clover.

“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.

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 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. One of the two secondary bedrooms also has its own bath and walk-in closet. In addition to a full basement, which Michael plans to finish in the future, extra storage space is abundant in the garage.

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

The Chesapeake delivers…with four bedrooms and 2-1/2 baths spread over 3,188 square feet. The downstairs 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.

The Chesapeake and Clover represent two of the five designs Meritus Homes offers at The Reserve in St. Charles. Current base prices range from $550,900 to $607,900 for homes with 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.

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

“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.

Michael agreed, stating that “Meritus Homes was willing to work with us to make design and structural changes, more than most big builders allow.”

For example, he made custom changes to his kitchen, reconfiguring one wall to accommodate a larger refrigerator and freezer—creating his wife’s ultimate gourmet kitchen. He also added a bay window in his dining room.

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

“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.”

Michael’s home also backs to open space so his children have plenty of room to play ball and run around yet stay within sight. Having a yard was important to Michael and his wife, who moved to The Reserve in St. Charles from a townhome with their daughter and plans to have more children. They welcomed a son 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.

“We were on a timeline, wanting to move before our oldest son started kindergarten,” said Ashley. Having grown up in St. Charles and happy with the education she received in area 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/summer 2021,” she continued. “Meritus Homes is doing an excellent job of keeping construction on schedule and we should close this month.”

Now settled in after about two years, Michael is excited to have Ashley as his neighbor and the cousins so close by. Both siblings are grateful to be near long-time friends and their parents who still live in St. Charles, too.

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

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.

The Enclave At Mill Creek Offers Low-Maintenance New Homes In DuPage County

Being able to create a home that perfectly suits your lifestyle is one of the main advantages new construction has over resale. That’s exactly why Renzo and Franca Fontana decided to build a brand-new Waterleaf from the ground up at The Enclave at Mill Creek.

The Meritus Homes community, now in Phase II, is an unexpected oasis in the heart of DuPage County. It features 87 low-maintenance homes and abundant green space, including Westwood Creek, three ponds and a scenic sitting spot. The Fontanas’ site is adjacent to a pond and backs up to the creek, giving the family a sense of seclusion and relaxation.

The Waterleaf is one of four ranch plans that offer 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 $413,400 to $457,400. 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 $496,925 to $520,650.

“The Waterleaf has everything we want and need,” said Renzo. In addition to an open layout, the secondary bedrooms and full bath are separated from the owner’s suite in the 2,154-square-foot ranch. This is the ideal setup for Renzo and Franca, whose son Michael also lives in the home. The family is using the third bedroom as a study where Michael can go to watch television or get on his iPad. Additionally, wide hallways make it easy for Michael to maneuver his wheelchair.

“What was most important to us was that Meritus Homes was willing to make semicustom changes to accommodate Michael’s wheelchair,” said Renzo. For example, they built a ramp in the garage, enlarged the doors to Michael’s bedroom and bath, and expanded and added a seat to his shower. “Everyone at Meritus Homes was extremely helpful and responsive. The entire home buying and building process went remarkably smoothly.”

The Waterleaf’s open-concept layout also is perfect for entertaining.

“We had our first big family gathering recently and the open floor plan made everyone feel comfortable,” said Franca. She added that the high ceilings in the family room make the space live larger and expansive windows along with white cabinets make the kitchen feel light and bright. The basement is huge, too, and offers plenty of storage and play space for the couple’s grandchildren.

“We were at a stage in life where a ranch was appealing,” Renzo explained. “It was becoming more difficult to get Michael and his wheelchair up and down the stairs so single-level living was at the top of our new-home wish list.”

The couple also wanted to be closer to their grandchildren in Elmhurst. After living in their two-story Fox River Grove home for more than 30 years, they were ready to leave behind the yard work, pool and deck upkeep—and stairs—in favor of a more carefree lifestyle.

“We had planned on moving once we were both retired, but the pandemic caused Franca to be laid off from her job,” said Renzo. “After casually looking for a house for about a year, this gave us the push to do it now.”

While the couple did much of their home searching online, the sales center at The Enclave at Mill Creek was open so they were able to come out and tour the models. They signed a contract in April and closed on their new home in October…a few weeks ahead of schedule.

Coming from McHenry County, Renzo and Franca are impressed with all that DuPage County has to offer. Nearby are numerous restaurants, shopping centers and entertainment opportunities along with forest preserves. DuPage County has very good special needs programs, as well. Living at The Enclave at Mill Creek means that Interstates 355 and 290 plus Ill. Hwy. 83/Kingery Highway are all just minutes away, making travel around the suburbs, and even into the city, convenient and easy.

With so many benefits, it’s no wonder residents are moving to the community from towns as far away as South Barrington, Palatine, Arlington Heights, Schaumburg, and even Chicago.

“The people here are really friendly,” said Renzo. “We’ve mapped out a 3-1/2-mile path through the neighborhood where Franca and I walk and Michael rides his recumbent bike on a regular basis. Everyone who sees us out and about waves and says hi. It’s a warm sense of community here.”

The Fontanas have more time to spend enjoying outdoor activities thanks to the low-maintenance lifestyle at The Enclave at Mill Creek. For a monthly fee, the homeowners’ association handles lawn care for all homesites as well as maintains common area landscaping. Front, side and rear yards come fully sodded plus a landscaping package is included with each new home to give it instant curb appeal.

To complement the established character of DuPage County, exteriors have classic architectural styling and decorative elements such as brick and stone accents, and some homes have covered entries or front porches. Interiors have nine-foot first-floor ceilings, Colonist doors, decorative touches such as rounded drywall corners and brushed nickel finishes, central air conditioning, and full basements as standard features.

All homes at The Enclave at Mill Creek are built to the exacting standards that signify a Meritus home. 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.

Two decorated models are open at The Enclave at Mill Creek from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

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 in Addison. (Enter 601 Army Trail Boulevard into GPS system to find the site.)

For more information, call (331) 225-3646 or visit www.MeritusHomebuilders.com.

Read original article HERE.

Meritus Homes Personalizes Ranch Home For Family At The Enclave At Mill Creek

After living in their two-story Fox River Grove home for more than 30 years, the time came for the Fontana family to leave behind the yard work, pool and deck upkeep—and stairs—in favor of a more carefree lifestyle. That’s when Renzo and Franca Fontana moved with their son Michael to The Enclave at Mill Creek in the heart of DuPage County.

“We wanted to be closer to our grandchildren in Elmhurst,” said Renzo. “And we were at a stage in life where a ranch was appealing. Our son is in a wheelchair and it was becoming more difficult to get him up and down the stairs so single-level living was at the top of our new-home wish list.”

After casually looking for a house for about a year and a half, the Fontanas got serious about their search when the pandemic caused Franca to be laid off from her job.

“We had planned on moving once we were both retired,” said Renzo. “This gave us the push to do it now.”

While the couple did much of their home searching online, the sales center at The Enclave at Mill Creek was open so they were able to come out and tour the models. They quickly decided to purchase at the community and from there the homebuying process went remarkably smoothly. Renzo and Franca chose a homesite in Phase II that is adjacent to a pond and backs up to the creek, offering them a sense of seclusion and relaxation. They signed a contract in April and closed on their new home in October…a few weeks ahead of schedule.

“Everyone at Meritus Homes was extremely helpful and responsive,” said Renzo. Plus, the builder was willing to make semicustom changes to accommodate Michael’s wheelchair. For example, they built a ramp in the garage, enlarged the doors to Michael’s bedroom and bath, and expanded and added a seat to his shower.

Although the Fontanas made some changes to their home, the floor plan they chose—the Waterleaf—already had most of the features they wanted and they were thrilled with the wide hallways that make it easy for Michael to maneuver his wheelchair. In this 2,154-square-foot ranch, the secondary bedrooms and full bath are separated from the owner’s suite, allowing privacy for everyone. The family is using the third bedroom as a study where Michael can go to watch television or get on his iPad. The Waterleaf’s open-concept layout also is perfect for entertaining.

“We had our first big family gathering recently and the open floor plan made everyone feel comfortable,” said Franca. She added that the high ceilings in the family room make the space live larger and expansive windows along with white cabinets make the kitchen feel light and bright. The basement is huge, too, and offers plenty of storage and play space for the grandchildren.

The Waterleaf, as well as all homes at The Enclave at Mill Creek, is built to the exacting standards that signify a Meritus home. 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.

Interiors have nine-foot first-floor ceilings, Colonist doors, decorative touches such as rounded drywall corners and brushed nickel finishes, central air conditioning, and full basements all as standard features.

Exteriors have classic elements such as brick and stone accents, and some have covered entries or front porches to provide shelter from inclement weather. Front, side and rear yards are fully sodded plus a landscaping package is included with each new home to give it instant curb appeal and complement the established character of DuPage County.

The Enclave at Mill Creek also 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. For a monthly fee, the homeowners’ association handles lawn care for all homesites as well as maintains common area landscaping.

Coming from McHenry County, Renzo and Franca are impressed with all that DuPage County has to offer. Nearby are numerous restaurants, shopping centers and entertainment opportunities along with forest preserves. DuPage County has very good special needs programs, as well. Living at The Enclave at Mill Creek means that Interstates 355 and 290 plus Ill. Hwy. 83/Kingery Highway are all just minutes away, making travel around the suburbs, and even into the city, convenient and easy.

With so many benefits, it’s no wonder residents are moving to the community from towns as far away as South Barrington, Palatine, Arlington Heights, Schaumburg, and even Chicago.

“The people here are really friendly,” said Renzo. “We’ve mapped out a 3-1/2-mile path through the neighborhood where Franca and I walk and Michael rides his recumbent bike on a regular basis. Everyone who sees us out and about waves and says hi. It’s a warm sense of community here.”

Meritus Homes is building 87 low-maintenance homes at The Enclave at Mill Creek with four designs 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 $413,400 to $457,400. 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 $496,925 to $520,650.

The entrance to The Enclave at Mill Creek 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.