Oftentimes when you purchase a new home, you can plan on racking up mileage on the car and filling up extra slots on your calendar. That’s because when it’s time to make important selections like cabinetry, flooring and lighting fixtures, you’ll likely have to make several trips to various home improvement stores, suppliers and builder sales offices.
When you buy a new home from Shodeen Residential, on the other hand, you can count on simple one-stop shopping for each of these significant selections, thanks to the builder’s convenient design center located off N. Mill Creek Drive within the heart of Mill Creek—a master-planned, golf course community in Geneva featuring semi-custom single-family homes.
“We provide one large, central location to better serve our homeowners who need to select their colors, masonry, hardware, trim, cabinets, tile and other base or upgraded choices prior to moving in their new home,” said Diane Durpetti, manager of Shodeen’s design center, which also serves buyers who purchase at Reston Ponds—Shodeen’s newest community of single-family residences in Sycamore.
The well-stocked and spacious design center “brings all of the exterior and interior products, styles and materials together under one roof, with ample room for floor and wall displays, samples and swatches, she added.
Durpetti said she’s not aware of another comparable builder that features such a comprehensive, sizable selection headquarters in one preferred location. “Commonly, a builder reserves a small corner of their model home—often the basement—for selections. There’s often very little for the customer to see, touch or browse other than a few product displays and carpeting samples.”
As an additional benefit, Shodeen buyers are each given up to six hours of one-on-one time with Durpetti, who works closely with them during the selections process.
“You can meet with me as many times as needed for up to six hours worth of visits, which provides plenty of time to narrow down your choices,” said Durpetti, who has staffed the design center for more than 12 years and is valued by customers for her designing/decorating expertise. “And I never rush people or pressure them to pick something they’re not comfortable with. They are provided accurate pricing right up front without any surprises or delays, and I provide plenty of suggestions for those who can’t make up their mind or have trouble mixing and matching colors, textures and materials.”
The process begins on the first visit to the design center after a customer has signed a contract to purchase a Shodeen Residential home. Durpetti outlines all the steps involved and proceeds to collaborate with the customer first on exterior preferences, including numerous brick and/or siding color combinations.
Next, mechanical selections are made, during which Durpetti will mark up where on the home blueprints the customer prefers to put things like outlets and lighting fixtures. Then the customer commits to interior trim, door, plumbing and hardware choices, followed by kitchen picks—including cabinetry, countertops and backsplash.
“We can upgrade your kitchen very inexpensively with high-end custom cabinets, eye-catching crown molding and other surprisingly affordable options—upgrades that can make a big difference in terms of creating a ‘wow’ factor and increasing your resale value, too,” she said. “Our gourmet kitchen option starts as low as $3,000.”
Lastly, Durpetti helps the customer make fireplace face selections, appliance and lighting decisions, and paint color choices.
“Our center provides a wide range of products and upgrades by quality manufacturers, including faucets by Moen, portico carpeting by Mohawk, Aristokraft or Pyramid cabinetry, all types of granite, laminate, Corian and Zodiac countertops, a wealth of prefinished wood flooring options and much more,” said Durpetti. “We carry all the latest designs, finishes and shades as well as the hottest trends, from oil rubbed bronze cabinet pulls and antique brass lighting fixtures to Brazilian cherry hardwood floors. And even though there’s a lot to select from, I work closely with each buyer to ensure that they’re not overwhelmed about making the wrong choices.”
Mill Creek
In Mill Creek’s Tanna neighborhood, shoppers can pick from several distinctive luxury single-family to-be-built homes, base priced from the upper $200,000s (all prices subject to change without notice). Additionally, shoppers can pick from several inventory homes that are move-in ready.
Buyers also can choose from several distinctive luxury single-family home styles that can be built in Mill Creek’s Oakmont neighborhood, base priced from the upper $300,000s. Like Tanna, Oakmont has move-in-ready residences available.
Mill Creek provides a country club lifestyle, offering 36 collective holes of golf, on-site schools and retailers and quality-built residences spread across several different neighborhoods. Residents love Mill Creek’s two premier golf courses providing breathtaking views—including Tanna Golf Club, which recently expanded from a nine- to 18-hole course; a Village Center offering convenient on-site retailers, such as a grocery store, dry cleaners and a dentist; a clubhouse and outdoor swimming pool; a restaurant; a church; and highly ranked schools for children to attend within Geneva Community Unit School District #304, including Mill Creek Elementary and Fabyan Elementary.
To reach Mill Creek, take I-90 west and exit Randall Rd; proceed south toward Geneva; turn west on Keslinger Rd; proceed west to Prairie Clover Dr; turn left and head south to the models. Or, take I-88 west to Orchard Road; head east to Randall Road; proceed north to Keslinger Road; and head west to the models. Hours at all neighborhoods are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Mondays and Sundays. For more information about Oakmont, Mill Creek or Shodeen Residential visit www.ShodeenHomes.com.
Reston Ponds
Buyers at Reston Ponds in Sycamore can select from two ranch and six two-story single-family home styles that offer three to four bedrooms, two to two-and-a-half baths, two- to three-car garage, family room, and approximately 1,576 to 3,000 square feet of living space. Among the standard features built into every home are a full basement; nine-foot ceilings; a 92 percent efficient furnace; central air conditioning; white colonist doors and trim; microwave, range, dishwasher and garbage disposal unit in the kitchen; fully sodded homesite with shrub package, and more. All two-story homes boast formal living and dining rooms. Several homesites offer scenic pond views. Reston Ponds homeowners also pay no SSA tax. Base prices range from $219,950 to $286,950.
Reston Ponds residents will appreciate the community’s preferred location accessible to a variety of nearby attractions, including hotspot destinations on State Street, the Sycamore Sports Complex, an 18-hole public golf course, the Sycamore Public Library, the bicycle-friendly Great Western Nature Trail, several churches, and Shabbona Lake State Park.
To reach the Reston Ponds sales office and two new models, take I-88 west and exit Peace Road, heading north; turn right onto Bethany Road and proceed east; make a left on Somonauk Street and head north; turn right onto Becker Place and continue east to the first model at 345 E. Becker Place. Or, take Rt. 64 to Somonauk Street (downtown Sycamore), turn left onto Becker Place and head east to the models. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays and Mondays, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. For further details about Reston Ponds, phone (877) 901-5151 or visit ShodeenHomes.com. To learn more about Sycamore, visit DiscoverSycamore.com.
