Looking for a modern-day Tara?
Head to Hawthorn Woods Country Club and the $1.75 million Hampton model.
Though the exterior of the house won’t remind you much of the antebellum South and the barren hillocks of northern Illinois may not resemble the green plantations of Georgia, there is enough visual drama inside the house to please even the famously demanding Scarlett O’Hara.
The Hampton model, at more than 6,000 square feet, is all about superlatives. It is a showpiece and is designed to create a luxurious aura for prospective buyers at this gated development planned for 600 homes around a 7,100-yard golf course with a 21,000-square-foot clubhouse.
The Signature series, illustrated by the Hampton, is the priciest of the floor plans at Hawthorn Woods Country Club. The seven floor plans begin at 3,600 square feet and are priced from $698,975.
Other home options in the development include the houses from the Masters collection priced from $557,975, and for those who want low-maintenance living, Golf Villa houses, from $543,975, as well as Tournament townhouses from $379,975.
More than 170 homes have been sold. Roughly one-third of those are from the sold-out Executive series, houses from 2,600 to 3,400 square feet and priced from $400,000 initially.
Early buyers have been attracted by the open vistas and greenery promised by the golf course, although not all buyers are golfers, said senior sales manager Cathy Wiesneth.
This is one of 13 golf projects Pennsylvania-based Toll Bros. is developing nationwide with Arnold Palmer Course Design Co.
Known for providing numerous options in homes, the builder’s sales video, which runs continuously in several of the models, informs shoppers the company also aims for some drama in its designs.
The Hampton certainly does not disappoint on that score.
There are two curving staircases in the foyer–think “prom night,” possibly “wedding”–with two small curved Juliet balconies with French doors opening to second-floor bedrooms.
To the left of the foyer is the living room; to the right is the dining room and straight ahead past several columns is the two-story family room with a wall of bookcases resembling a college library.
To the left of the living room, about 18 by 14 feet, there is a marble-floored conservatory or sunroom. Spacious enough for both a comfortable sitting area and a grand piano, the space is the length of the house. It provides the base for a sitting room, private bath and closet for each of the two bedrooms located above it on the second floor.
Behind the living room and to the left of the family room is the 16-by-14-foot study/home office, outfitted to appeal to a captain of industry or “Master of the Universe.” Three flat screen televisions are on one wall opposite another wall of rich wood shelving and cabinetry.
The breakfast area to the right of the 22-by-17-foot family room is 18 1/2 by 16 feet. It blends seamlessly into the kitchen, about 16 by 16 feet, which has two sinks, two dishwashers and, need I say, double ovens.
The walkout basement below has a fireplace, large bar and seating area, a wine cellar room and a room outfitted as a putting green.
It is almost impossible not to ooh and aah at the glamorous model, but, once in this house, where are residents likely to spend time, really live? My guess is the sitting rooms adjacent to each of the three family bedrooms. (The fourth– guest bedroom–does not rate a sitting area.)
The house is impressive to visit and the options the company is showing surely add to the experience. A family of four would be dwarfed by the space, whether sitting in the family room or in the breakfast area, but this would be a good residence for large-scale entertaining and impressing friends.
Among the smaller models, I visited the two Golf Villa models. Aimed at empty-nesters, this home series has a ranch as well as two-story plan with a first-floor master bedroom suite. The houses are 2,600 to 3,400 square feet.
The golf villas and the townhouses are the two types of housing that offer exterior yard maintenance. Buyers of other houses are responsible for yards.
The Muirfield golf villa is a two-story home with first-floor master suite while the St. Andrews next door shows a second-floor master bedroom option.
Both plans have a two-story foyer leading to a living room and family room. The living room and the family room are divided by a wall which I can only describe as looking like a stage set from the foyer.
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The wall allows occupants to have two different kinds of furnishings in the two parts, but it is really only an illusion of having two rooms. Not only is the edge of the wall between the two rooms unsightly; smack in the middle of the sight lines from the foyer, but it is little barrier to sound, especially because a two-sided fireplace in the wall is open to both rooms.
In the Muirfield, a bridge between bedrooms on the second floor overlooks both rooms, further diminishing privacy.
Sales manager Wiesneth said removing the wall for a large two-story great room is one option, but few buyers have opted for it. Though not a fan of voluminous spaces, I think it might be preferable in this case.
To the left of the foyer is the dining room, separated from the foyer by a half-wall which not only provides room definition but protects diners from drafts.
To the right of the foyer is the entrance to the master bedroom suite. The bedroom, shown with an alcove and bay window for sitting, is at the back of the house. There are two sizable walk-in closets; the master bath is at the front of the house.
Beyond the dining room on the left are the stairs to the second floor which ascend from the foyer.
The main floor plan radiates around the stairs. The living room and family room divided by the wall and fireplace are at the back of the house with views of the golf course through many windows. The family room is to the left of the living room and is separated from the comfortable breakfast area by a half-wall.
The breakfast and kitchen area is sizable, 24 by 11 1/2 feet. A peninsula cabinet divides the kitchen from the eating area. This is a good working kitchen with a door to the dining room and easy access to the garage though the laundry/mud room.
The two upper bedrooms are smallish, 13 by 13 feet and 13 by 11 feet, with reasonable closet space. A bridge between the two rooms overlooks the family room and living room on one side and the foyer on the other.
An unfurnished storage space over the kitchen and breakfast area is shown as a fourth bedroom/home office with a private bath and walk-in closet, a good use of this sizable but awkwardly shaped space, about 19 1/2 by 11 1/2 feet.
This is a floor plan with a lot of open space and with it some loss of privacy. Much of the space on the main floor seems to be in the walkways of the circular traffic pattern.
The adjacent kitchen, breakfast area and dining room appear to work well, maximizing the square footage while saving steps. The master bedroom suite strung along one side of the house feels somewhat narrow but does provides privacy from the rest of the main floor.
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Developer: Toll Brothers
Phone: 847-550-0400
Web: www.tollbrothers.com
Description: Housing available in four different series: Signature four-bedroom, 31/2- to 51/2-bath houses with 3,600 to 5,000 square feet from $689,975. Masters houses, three or four bedrooms, 21/2 to 31/2 baths, with 2,800 to 3,600 square feet from $557,975. Golf Villa houses, three or four bedrooms, 21/2 to 31/2 baths, 2,500 to 3,500 square feet from $543,975. Tournament townhouses, three bedrooms, 21/2 baths, 1,900 to 2,200 square feet from $379,975. Prices as of March 18.
Monthly assessments: Townhouse, $261; Golf Villa, $200; Signature and Masters houses, $90 a month for common areas.
Amenities: Gated development, hardwood floors in some rooms, crown molding and chair rails, granite or Corian kitchen countertops, basements, fireplaces.
Neighborhood: Arnold Palmer Signature 18-hole golf course with clubhouse, pool and tennis courts; near forest preserves, restaurants, shopping and Metra.
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