Are you the chef of the house who loves to cook for your family? Do you yearn to serve your guests expertly prepared drinks across the kitchen peninsula? Or, do you just enjoy swapping stories while entertaining friends around the kitchen island?
“The kitchen is much more than just a room for preparing meals. It has become the social hub of the American home,” said Ray Franczak of R. Franczak & Associates, developer of The Heritage of Palatine, where custom kitchens are a major focal point. “With today’s loft-like open floor plans, the kitchen now is a gathering place—the entertainment center for the home,” Franczak said.
“The kitchen is part of the great room—a center of activity,” noted Katie Campbell, sales manager for R. Franczak & Associates. “The kitchen is place to eat, relax, a work area to pay bills, make phone calls, entertain and more.”
Long thought of as the “heart” of the American home, kitchen design is reflecting that it is much more than just a room for preparing meals. We have a variety of kitchens that suit all taste levels—gourmet, island, eat-in and galley that are part of the mix at The Heritage,” said Campbell. “Over time, we’ve watched the trends and taken suggestions from our clients to create kitchens that serve as the heart of the home.”
Today’s buyers are very specific about what elements they need to make their kitchen as comfortable and convenient as possible, she said. For example, custom islands, cabinets and lighting are in demand, creating a special personalized space for the homeowner. Responding to home buyers’ needs and wants and incorporating them into the design is an R. Franczak & Associates signature, Franczak added. “In the kitchen, it’s a combination of form and function,” Franczak said. “You want the space to look great, be inviting and be a comfortable place to prepare meals all in one package.”
In addition to the customized kitchens, buyers are adding some personal touches that range from the luxurious to the practical at The Heritage.
“We’ve had buyers ordering built-in wine racks and wine coolers to choosing the convenience of a breakfast bar and special cabinets for displaying dishes,” Campbell said.“And with the wide range of kitchen choices at The Heritage—whether it’s an island, eat-in, galley or part of a great room—the options are wide open for creating your dream kitchen.”
R. Franczak also is open to semi-custom kitchen choices to suit their customers’ needs. “We can add or take away walls, customize the cabinetry, and offer different lighting packages,” Franczak said.
Great open loft-style kitchen designs have contributed to the sales success at The Heritage of Palatine Condominiums. With the community approaching close-out, buyers have a choice of eight distinctive 2-bedroom and 2-bedroom-plus-den floor plans with 2 baths. They range in size from 1,456 to 1,716 square feet of living space and prices start from $269,900.
“Right now, we have eight custom condominiums available for purchase and five of them are beautifully decorated models at the 48-unit community,” said Campbell.
Another alternative for buyers who desire maintenance-free living are the new-construction 3-story turn-of-the-century rowhomes, also being developed by R. Franczak & Associates.
The Heritage of Palatine Brownstones are a private collection of only seven distinctive row homes planned for construction near downtown Palatine’s Town Square Park and just steps from the Metra, shopping and restaurants. First deliveries will be in the summer of 2011. “We have already sold four of the seven rowhomes, and interest is very strong,” said Campbell. “Prices for the remaining three rowhomes start from $389,900.”
The Heritage of Palatine Condominiums and Brownstones are part of an extensive land plan with lavish landscaping that has been designed to blend with the neighborhood. The Village of Palatine has put considerable time and effort into a downtown revitalization project that has attracted stores, restaurants, and other amenities to the area, Campbell said. “Everything is within walking distance, the train station, shopping, restaurants, churches, schools, parks and park district facilities,” she said.
Schools include Paddock Elementary and Plum Grove Junior High School in Palatine Township, elementary District 15 and Fremd High School in District 211. A recreational attraction in the town is Palatine Trail, a bicycle, hiking, and nature trail, which extends through the Palatine Park District.
Combining a paved trail with designated side streets, Palatine Trail provides access to schools, Harper College, neighborhood parks, Palatine Hills Golf Course, and several other northwest suburban bike trails.
The Palatine Park District has some 48 parks and facilities. There are about five of these parks within walking distance of The Heritage of Palatine. Also nearby is the Senior Center at 505 S. Quentin Road. “It is easy for a buyer to find exactly what they are looking for in Palatine,” said Campbell.
Since 1967, R. Franczak & Associates has built over 3,000 condominiums in more than 60 condominium developments in the Chicago area. The company is responsible for redeveloping and revitalizing downtown districts in Skokie, Des Plaines, Arlington Heights, Wheaton and Palatine.
The Heritage of Palatine Condominiums and Brownstones sales center is located at 50 South Greeley Street and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information call 847-705-6238 or please visit: www.rfranczak.com.