March 10, 2006

Just came from the Realtor-only sneak preview of the long-awaited, highly-anticipated opening of Twin Lakes... located in Cary, North Carolina... the first-of-its-kind collaboration between Martha Stewart and a major builder. In this case, it's KB Homes, one of the largest and most active builders in the Triangle.

In short, Twin Lakes is a winner! From a total design viewpoint, this is, arguably, the most refreshing subdivision in the entire Triangle. Drawing inspiration from the designs of Stewart's own homes in Connecticut, New York, and Maine, every house is a departure from the ordinary.

Over the years, the area has proliferated with traditionally-styled homes... the so-called "five, four, and a door"... the ubiquitous two-story home with five windows across the second floor, and four windows along the first floor with two each flanking a central entry door. Some would say... and they wouldn't be wrong... that the building community here lacks imagination and creativity.

At Twin Lakes, Stewart's influence is instantly recognizable in the curb appeal, and warm, inviting interiors. The rooms are spacious and, taken together, make the homes live much larger than the stated square footage. Kitchens are particularly inviting with great space for storage, center islands, huge pantries, and "Martha touches" like extra shelving, glass-front doors, and her inexplicable "feel good" panache. And, as wonderful as the kitchens are, the Master Bedroom suites may be more impressive to some... there's plenty of space in the bedroom itself but the "WOWs" come when people walk into the attached bath and closet, truly rooms unto themselves. You'll particularly feel Stewart's preferences in the baths where she has employed tried and true materials, such as "subway tile," deep sink basins, oversized tiled showers, and tile floors. As you might expect, the models are decorated with wonderful, soft, inviting colors.

Home sizes range from 1,550 to more than 4,000 square feet. Base prices from the low $200s to over $500,000. KB's plan calls for more than 600 home sites, about 150 of which will be townhouses. The detached homes will be sited on lots ranging from about 1/10 of an acre to about 1/4 acre.

A KB representative with whom I spoke indicated that the community will open to the general public on Sunday, March 12. The first building phase will include 108 sites... KB already has reservations for 168 homes, sight unseen!!

If you are in the market for a home in any of the price ranges above, don't miss Twin Lakes... call me at 919-713-2035 to schedule a personal visit...

-Ed Carpp

Real Estate Affects the Triangle...

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