Newsletter April 2002

Atlanta Design Research Trip

Five members of our construction and design teams traveled to Atlanta and toured about 60 homes in gorgeous communities with rolling hills and pine trees. Over two days in the field we took about 350 pictures and many written notes. Then this week we had a team conference with eight of our staff where we reviewed the many ideas we found there.  While in Atlanta, our team also attended the NAHB Homebuilders Show.  We had the chance to meet with national suppliers, attend seminars on timely building quality issues and continue our homebuilding education.

Design Trends

The annual trip to Atlanta traditionally provides our Design Team with design elements and trends that are soon-to-come here in Wisconsin.  You will start to see these elements incorporated in some of our newest models.  New homes in Atlanta include details such as 9 foot ceiling heights on the second floor and 10 foot ceiling heights on the first floor, more tray, cathedral and vaulted ceilings in more rooms, drywall niches and large plant shelves, and new wall of windows configurations.  Many Andrew Homes visitors comment on our wall of windows…we’re excited to start introducing even more designs.  We’ll also be adding hearth rooms—these rooms adjacent to the dinette include fireplaces and provide a cozy retreat area for the homeowners.  We plan to modify the 2-story family rooms in some of our plans by lowering the ceiling to create a kids’ retreat above this space.  

Look for more dynamic exterior surfaces, like stone and brick combinations and molded trim.  Do you ever wish you could get upstairs from the rooms where you spend the most of your time?   Split staircases, where two stair sections start in different rooms and merge into one, are the answer.  Granite countertops and molded sinks in the kitchen are also popular. 

Design elements admired and studied during last year’s trip to Atlanta were incorporated into the custom houseplan for one Green Bay couple. The photos seen in this newsletter were taken at this home.

Where to Build

We’ll design and custom build your home anywhere you like but often people ask us which lots we may have available for them.

In Fond du Lac we have available one wooded lot on the Whispering Springs golf course. This lot is almost one acre in size. We have three non-wooded lots on the cul de sac in the new Highlands phase of this development on the 1st fairway, a couple blocks past the new clubhouse building.

In Oshkosh we have wooded lots in 2 different subdivisions. We also have a magnificent waterfront lot on the south shore of Butte des Morts just west of Oshkosh. This nearly one acre lot sits adjacent to a wooded county park.

On the north shore of Buttes des Morts is North Shore Preserve. Here we have several lots with a view of the lake over the top of beautiful swaying tall grasses along the shoreline. 

In Grand Chute we have just one wooded lot left in Bentwood Estates. There is another new wooded subdivision coming up in Grand Chute, too. Ask us about it.

But it is in Green Bay that we have lots available in the nicest woods we’ve seen since Brushwood Nestle in Oshkosh. Some are on a ravine with no homes behind them. This place is special and lots are selling fast.  Call us!

Parade of Homes

We’re excited and proud to present our custom-designed and built Oshkosh Parade Home, located at 3058 Pine Ridge Rd.  The Parade of Homes, sponsored by the Winnebago Home Builders Association, takes place April 19-21 and 24-28.  A stucco exterior on this 3,658 sq. ft. home offers a distinctive and stunning appearance.  You will not want to miss the cast stone fireplace in the family room, the iron spindles of the staircase, the sunroom with decorative exposed trusses and skylights, the master suite with sitting area and fireplace, plus many other features!

We’ll also be participating in the Fond du Lac Parade of Homes, sponsored by the Home Builders Association of Fond du Lac and Dodge Counties.  This event takes place July 26-28 and August 1-4.  Our home on display there is a new 4,320 sq. ft. model which includes 1,010 sq. ft. of finished basement.  This home offers a first floor master suite, spacious kitchen/dinette, a wall of windows with custom wood carving details, beamed ceiling and fireplace in the family room, French doors leading to the living room, an open rail staircase, double crown molding and chair rail in the formal dining room and more!

Our Parade Homes in both cities will be professionally decorated and furnished by Farrell’s Fine Furnishings of Ripon. 

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