6/17/04 - Design Center Debuts for Dubin Residential Homebuyers

June 17, 2004
Design Center Debuts for Dubin Residential Homebuyers
Retail-like environment aids buyers in personalizing homes

Many new homebuyers select finishes without knowing if their choices will create the home they have always imagined. To ease the minds of these homeowners, Dubin Residential announces the grand opening of its new Design Center , a retail-style studio in which buyers can evaluate a number of installed home finishes prior to making selections.

Located within Welbourn Row, a Dubin Residential community of 140 condominiums priced from the low $200s at Wellington and Clybourn avenues in West Lakeview, the Design Center serves homebuyers from multiple Dubin Residential communities in Chicago , including Welbourn Row and Kilbourn Court on the Northwest Side.

“An abundance of choices are available to customers in new construction, so we opened the Design Center to make the selections process easier and more pleasant,” said Mike Kelahan, director of sales and marketing for Dubin Residential. “It's essential that buyers have the opportunity to peruse everything from lighting, appliances and faucets to cabinetry, flooring and countertops in a practical setting.”

According to Kelahan, it is rare for mid-sized builders like Dubin Residential to offer a stand-alone studio for selections, but customer demand drove the builder's decision to open the Design Center . “Today's homebuyers want to personalize their homes, whether they are spending $200,000 or $2 million,” he said. “Plus, no matter the size of the budget, we can help buyers create the home they've always imagined with our wide range of selections.”

Dubin Residential also has a dedicated home finishes manager, Erik Carlson, who manages the Design Center and oversees the selections process for all homebuyers. Carlson helps buyers select appliances and color schemes, but also advises them as to which selections will increase the resale value of the home, he said.

“And for buyers on a budget, I can offer interior design advice and share ideas to give the home the feeling a resident is trying to achieve without spending a lot of money,” he said. “There are a lot of ways to be creative, such as adding marble to a bath in smaller amounts, which saves money but still lets the home exude the look the buyer desires.”

One of the first buyers to use the Design Center was Rosa Sanchez, who purchased a three-bedroom, three-bath townhome at Kilbourn Court . Located at 4500 W. Belmont Ave. , Kilbourn Court offers 116 townhomes priced from the $290s. Sanchez previously owned a home that she rehabbed herself and knew which design elements were important for her new home.

“I'm very particular, and I knew the look and feel I wanted,” she said. “Using the Design Center allowed me to express my own personality in the home.”

Sanchez said the Design Center was helpful in coordinating selections in each room. She was able to match the cabinetry with the marble countertops in the kitchen, as well as the ceramic tile in her master bath with the carpeting in the bedroom.

“I was able to visualize the pieces together so I could be sure the rooms had good flow,” she said. “I could see the accent colors coming off the tile to be sure there was no stark change. I also liked that I could see the different vanity heights, and I ended up selecting the upgraded vanity because I could tell that it was not too tall for me.”

The Design Center offers a host of choices for every room of the home, from standard to upgraded features.

Flooring is one of the most important decisions buyers make, said Carlson. Tile flooring ranges from ceramic to porcelain to natural stone, and can be selected for kitchens, front entries, and baths. Tile can also be selected for shower surrounds in baths.

“The most popular floor choice is ceramic tile, which is also the most affordable. However, many buyers choose natural stone tiles like slate, granite, limestone or marble,” said Carlson. “These are more expensive, but add value for resale.”

“Hardwood flooring is offered in different species of oak, as well as various stains from light to dark. We also offer maple, cherry and exotic hardwoods, such as dark Merbau wood or dark, patterned African Kambala,” said Carlson.

Countertops in baths and kitchens are another popular feature of the home for upgrades, he added. In baths, buyers can choose from various shades of limestone, marble, cultured marble, granite, laminate and Corian countertops. For kitchens, the choice includes granite, laminate and Corian tops.

Buyers also can peruse a full line of Whirlpool appliances in black, white and stainless steel, including refrigerators, ranges, dishwashers, microwaves, and stackable or side-by-side washers/dryers.

A variety of sinks are also available, including topmount, undermount and integral bowls in materials like stainless steel and porcelain. One of the most popular upgrades is a Moen stone granite sink, which is made of stone that is ground down and mixed with resin, said Carlson. “This sink is displayed in the model home at Welbourn Row and is a nice change from stainless steel, plus it's extremely durable and scratch resistant.”

Other selections on display include a variety of faucets, lighting, cabinetry, doors, fireplaces, staircases and carpeting.

The Design Center is located at 2933 N. Clybourn Ave. , one mile east of Interstate 90/94, at the corner of Wellington and Clybourn avenues. To visit from I-90 East, take the Fullerton Avenue exit and turn left onto Clybourn Avenue . From I-90 West, take the W. Diversey exit, go east on Diversey and turn left onto Clybourn.

Dubin Residential homebuyers can schedule an appointment at the Design Center Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., or can visit without an appointment Tuesday or Thursday evenings from 5 to 7 p.m. For more information, call (773) 327-7085 or visit www.dubinresidential.com .

Building condominiums and townhomes in Chicago since the early 1990s, Dubin Residential has earned a reputation for quality and value. The company is currently developing more than 400 homes at such communities as Arcadia Place in the West Loop, Welbourn Row in West Lakeview , Kilbourn Court on the Northwest Side, and The Courts of Evanston.

Prices are subject to change.