Source: Rhino Times Greensboro

Last Weekend for the Parade

by Sandy Groover

October 18, 2012

The Greensboro, Winston-Salem and High Point Builders Associations’ 2012 fall Parade of Homes continues this coming Saturday, Oct. 20 and Sunday, Oct. 21 from 1 to 5 p.m., with 65 new homes in Guilford and Forsyth counties open to the public. Admission if free.

Each association has its own publication listing all the homes on the parade, or go to www.TriadParadeofHomes.com, that has links to the Greensboro and Winston-Salem association websites for additional information. Also available on those websites are mobile apps for your smart phone and tablet that include driving directions and an interactive buyer’s guide of participating members who helped in the construction of these homes.

New to the triad area, and its first time in Greensboro Parade of Homes, is Shea Homes, a division of J.F. Shea Co. Inc., America’s largest privately owned new home builder. Headquartered in Walnut, California, Shea Homes has been building in North Carolina since 1994, primarily in Charlotte and Raleigh. They have begun building at MacIntosh on the Lake, which are their first homes in the area. Shea has 87 lots in McNairy Pointe, just off Lake Townsend.

There are 11 Shea models to choose from, ranging in size from 2,800 square feet to over 5,000 square feet, and priced from $263,750 to $358,750. Their parade entry is the decorated Cypress model, a 3,800-square-foot two-story with four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a spacious loft and a large bonus room.

An inviting front porch welcomes visitors, while inside, a wide stairway leads from the foyer to the upstairs loft and bedrooms. An office is to the left, and next to it is the formal dining room with a stacked stone wall. Behind the dining room is the great room, kitchen and breakfast room. The open kitchen has granite countertops, GE stainless steel appliances and a large granite-topped island, while a cheerful back porch is just off the breakfast area.

The first floor master suite has an elegant tray ceiling and a picture window that overlooks the large backyard. His-and-her vanities flank the deep soaking tub in the master bath, and there is a walk-in shower, separate water closet and huge walk-in closet with built-in shelving.

Upstairs there are also 9-foot ceilings, an open loft, and an enormous bonus room, thanks to the three-car garage option.

Further north are three more parade homes built by area custom builders. Home Team Builders has entries in both Jessup Ridge in Greensboro and Stonebridge in Summerfield. Allen Hyatt Builders entry is in Lennox Woods in Summerfield. All three entries are approximately 4,000 square feet and priced in the mid-$500,000s.

Allen Hyatt Builders has constructed a spacious home at 8151 Rob Roy Dr. in Lennox Woods. It has a main level master bedroom with spa bath and unique tile ceiling, and a large gourmet kitchen with an angled, granite-topped counter that opens to both the breakfast room and the keeping room. Just off the breakfast and keeping rooms is a large screened-in porch. There is also a stamped concrete patio accessible from both the keeping room and the master bedroom. Next to the kitchen is the elegant formal dining room with a beautiful coffered ceiling, stylish wainscoting and a graceful chandelier.

A deep tray ceiling with recessed lighting defines the spacious master suite on the first floor. Its large bath has a separate water closet, jetted tub, frameless walk-in shower and a large walk-in closet. In front of the master, left of the foyer, is a unique office room that looks like a turret from the outside and receives lots of light from floor to ceiling windows.

Upstairs are two more bedrooms, a large bonus room and an unfinished walk-in storage room. There is also a small loft and a bridge (leading to the unfinished storage room) that overlooks the great room and foyer below.

Lennox Woods has its own clubhouse, swimming pool and lighted tennis courts, and the houses are on lots of at least half an acre.

Home Team Builders’ two entries are in communities close to each other. The Jessup Ridge home at 8314 Lilly’s Circle is a 3,875-square-foot, four-bedroom house with a three-car garage and open floor plan set on a corner lot. Two porches distinguish this home – the front porch wraps around the corner of the house and can be reached from the interior of the home via a set of French doors in the dining room. At the rear of the house is a large screened-in room that opens to a deck. Both the front and rear decks and the screened-in room are made with Trex flooring, so there is no maintenance.

Inside, a coffered ceiling in the great room and a tray ceiling in the dining room, plus a unique paneled ceiling in the foyer, add distinction, while hardwood floors tie the spaces together. In the great room, the stone fireplace is flanked by built-in bookshelves and sits opposite the all-white kitchen. Energy efficient appliances are arranged in a convenient workflow arrangement that allows a busy cook easy interaction with family and friends in the great room.

The master bedroom and bath are on the first floor and include his-and-her vanities, a jetted tub, two walk-in closets, a walk-in shower, plus a dressing area.

This house also has first and second floor laundry rooms as well as abundant closet and storage spaces – including a massive storage area above the three-car garage.

Home Team’s house in Stonebridge at 1805 Springberry Ct. also has a three-car garage and is set on a wooded lot. Its open plan includes an L-shaped great room, kitchen and breakfast room arrangement. Built-in shelves and cabinets flank the fireplace in the great room, and French doors in the breakfast room open to a large screened-in porch and deck.

The first floor master overlooks the wooded backyard and has a tray ceiling and crown molding. Like the Jessup Ridge entry, this house also has both upstairs and downstairs laundry rooms. Upstairs are three more bedrooms and a bonus room, plus lots of storage.

Because this house is still under construction and for sale, the new owner will be able to select their own colors, tiles and carpeting.

Home Team’s Jennifer Strimple is one of just a handful of women in the building industry, and her construction experience, along with her understanding of what women want and need in a home, have helped her design homes that men and women love.

A map of the homes are on page 22, and photos are on page 32.

For directions, pictures and floor plans, along with a list of sponsors, contractors, suppliers and service providers, pick up a copy of the 2012 fall Parade of Homes magazine at any Harris Teeter or Lowe’s Home Improvement store. Or visit www.TriadParadeofHomes.com. Magazines are also available at each of the homes.

Don’t forget that the parade has a mobile application for your smart phone where you can map your tour route. It can be downloaded at the Greensboro Builders Association website at www.GreensboroBuilders.org.