Hearth rooms are newest family space
What could be more inviting than curling up in front of a blazing fire on a chilly autumn day, and having the refrigerator just a few steps away?
What could be more practical than having an area for children to gather after school to work on those book reports while Mom starts dinner and supervises the quiet study?
Hearth rooms are putting the warmth in the cozy kitchens of many custom homes, and they are among several popular spaces for special uses in the kitchen constellation, according to Jeff Samuels, president of Samuels Homes.
"The kitchen has traditionally been the heart of the home, and a hearth or gathering area with a fireplace and some comfortable seating in the kitchen area certainly conveys the warmth of family in a very appealing way," Samuels said.
Hearth rooms are just one of several rooms that are oriented to the kitchen and fulfill purposes related to entertaining and household administration.
For one client, Samuels Homes designed an elaborate screened-in porch that is accessible from the breakfast room and will include a fireplace, flat-screen television, a built-in grill and seating. Family and friends can move easily indoors to outdoors.
Butlers' pantries are a universal request in luxury homes these days, with beautiful cabinetry with display shelves, a sink, dishwasher and wine refrigerator, Samuels said.
One recent buyer has a closet off the butler's pantry for the storage of linens plus extra tables and chairs. Another recently constructed home includes a chef's office with a computer station and abundant shelving and file drawers for the paperwork necessary to operate a household as well as files for the family's school, civic and social activities.
"These offices are typically well-used work areas that inevitably attract clutter, and they are secluded from the kitchen while still being conveniently close by," Samuels said.
In many homes today, the laundry room has been moved to the second floor, and the "mud room" now forms a transition zone between the garage and the kitchen.
Mud rooms may include a washer and dryer plus cabinets, lockers and other storage for school books, sports equipment and wet boots.
Samuels Homes, long respected as a custom home builder, also handles major custom remodeling additions, which offer many of the same challenges.
An affiliate of Red Seal Development Corporation, Samuels Homes has created several Northbrook communities including Normandy Hill, Courts of Stonehedge, Mallard Creek, Woodmere, Carlyle and Braeside.
Samuels Homes has also built custom homes in Glencoe, Long Grove, Highland Park, Deerfield, Buffalo Grove and Winnetka. Most of these custom residences are in the $1 to $4 million price range. Call (847) 480-6476 for more information.