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Show Stopper

Ann Matesi, Contributing Editor
August 1, 2001
Luxury Home Builder

Julie Bernhard of SeBern Homes says her firm, in which she partners with husband Ken, took a unique approach when developing the Mediterranean/tropical-themed Siena for the local HBA’s 2000 Gallery of Homes.
Creating a successful show house for the luxury market takes a lot of hard work, attention to detail and sometimes the courage to be a little different. Just ask custom home builder Julie Bernhard of St. Charles, Ill.-based SeBern Homes, who developed this unique, Mediterranean/tropical, 5,200-square-foot spec home for the local Year 2000 Gallery of Homes. The Siena model received 17 awards from the HBA of Greater Fox Valley and generated a quick sale for the builder.

Bernhard’s commitment to making this project a success, together with that of husband and business partner Ken, was remarkable. From her exhaustive search for exactly the “right” natural stone for the home’s exterior finish to sewing the elegant silk draperies that adorn the windows herself, she was determined that this home would serve as a shining example of the company’s abilities. SeBern Homes builds an average of 15 custom and spec projects a year with prices ranging from $500,000 to $1.5 million.

The home’s elegant central staircase links the main floor and upper-level bridge connecting the master suite and secondary bedrooms.
“We really wanted to do something different with this house because we saw this as an opportunity to demonstrate our talents in creating an overall residential package,” Bernhard says. “With this type project, you have much more control over things like materials selection than when you are building a custom home for a specific client.”

Located in one of several upscale residential neighborhoods of Mill Creek, an acclaimed master-planned community in Geneva, Ill., the $975,000 home has a number of features and finishes that Bernhard says are relatively rare in the Midwest. These include a stone exterior, 10-foot ceilings and bamboo hardwood floors.

“Developing the design for this home was a very time-consuming process,” says architect Jamie Richards of Grasse River Studio. “We actually went through 64 designs in order to get everything just right.”

The kitchen’s custom cherry cabinetry has the “feel” of fine furniture. The hood above the stainless steel range is designed to resemble a fireplace mantel and features a tumbled marble backsplash beneath it.
Targeted to the area’s upscale family market, the two-story-plus-basement home features four bedrooms, a loft and a spacious hearth room where the ceiling rises to a dramatic 18 feet. In fact, the open, airy interior features distinctive volume ceiling treatments in nearly every room on both floors, including all the bedrooms.

In addition to separate living and dining rooms and a formal entertaining space, the main floor features a library, a gourmet kitchen, a computer room and a first-floor in-law suite. “This is a pretty consistent requirement for buyers these days,” Bernhard says. “They love the flexibility that a first-floor bedroom and full bath gives them.”

The master suite features a direct-vent fireplace crowned by a transom window accented by gothic-style mullions.
Upstairs, Richards designed the home with a second family room, or what he calls a “wind-down room” for the kids. “This is an important space, particularly with the busy lifestyle today’s family leads,” he says. “Kids today need to have their own space, an area where they can entertain and be responsible for taking care of themselves.”

The side-loading, three-car garage is turned away from the street, minimizing its visual impact while still providing all the storage capacity a family needs, including space for a boat, golf cart or a teenager’s automobile. A brick paver driveway and natural stone retaining wall complete the home’s elegant exterior.

Custom cherry trim and cabinetry create a luxurious ambience in the main-floor library.
Home prices in the neighborhood range from $800,000 to $1.1 million. The Siena was completed in June 2000.

Builder | SeBern Homes Inc., St. Charles, Ill.
Architect | Grasse River Studio, Huntley, Ill.
Developer | Sho-Deen Inc., Geneva, Ill.
Landscape Architect | Bernhard & Son Landscape, St. Charles, Ill.
Interior Design | SeBern Homes Inc.; Langguth Design Ltd., Plano, Ill.
Major Products Used | Appliances: Thermador; SubZero; KitchenAid | Cabinetry: Mouser Brand | Countertops: granite | Doors: ThermaTru | Exterior Finish: stone; James Hardie Hardiboard | Fireplaces: Majestic | Flooring: limestone; bamboo hardwood; marble | HVAC: Carrier | Lighting: Galleria Lighting | Plumbing Fixtures: Moen; Grohe | Windows: Row Brand, Low-E

Also See

Focus the View

Floorplan: First Floor

Floorplan: Second Floor


© 2008, Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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