Gladstone Homes’ Family-Friendly Designs Make Room for Growing and Changing Households

North Aurora, IL, September 19, 2008 --(PR.com)-- American television is a window into our culture. The 1950s American view of family featuring Ward and June Cleaver was replaced in the late 60s and 70s with blended families such as the “Brady Bunch.” The 1980s brought us the Tanner-Katsopolis-Gladstone family of “Full House” and “Fraiser” introduced Americans to mature singles sharing a home with aging parents. This fall we’ll get a glimpse of the “Boomerang Generation” with “Kath & Kim,” a new sitcom about a recently separated daughter moving in with her mid-40s divorced mother. Families have changed a lot since the Cleavers and so have the homes they live in.

“The changing make-up of families has a big influence on home design too,” said Gladstone Homes General Sales Manager Katie Minott.

Today more than 15 percent of children are living in blended households, and multi-generational households – including those of more than 22 million Boomerang adults living in their parents’ homes -- are growing faster than any other housing arrangement, according to US Census data.

“Several of Gladstone Homes’ designs offer a bonus room or dual-master suites to accommodate the needs of today’s multi-generational households and blended families,” said Minott. “And the kitchen, which in the past was closed-off workspace, has become the heart of the home.”

“With all the tag-team activities our families are involved with, kitchens are like home base,” added Marketing Manager Aimee Babcock. “We centrally locate the kitchens in all of our home designs because active families value their time together, whether it’s working on homework at the kitchen table, snacking at the breakfast bar, or preparing meals while continuing a conversation or watching a favorite TV program together.”

In Gladstone’s Premiere Series Jadestone and Riverstone designs, an optional wet bar for entertaining or an e-space for the family computer may be conveniently placed within the family room, adjacent to the kitchen.

“When generations share a home, that home often becomes the gathering place for extended family,” said Minott. “Entertainment amenities such as a wet bar are important to our homeowners.

“We know kids are using the Internet and that parents want to monitor this activity,” she continued. “And when even grandma and grandpa are using digital cameras and have their own e-mail accounts, a central location provides convenient access for all to the family computer.”

Much more than a few extra outlets and an Internet connection, the e-space is open to both the family room and the kitchen. It includes wood cabinetry and decorative work surfaces that can match the kitchen and complement the overall décor of the home.

Along with creating such welcoming family centers within its homes, Gladstone recognizes family members’ need for private space. In addition to its luxurious master suite, three spacious bedrooms and a loft area upstairs, the Jadestone includes a private study off the formal living room and also offers an optional bonus room. The bonus room can be converted to a first-floor bedroom suite by upgrading the adjacent powder room to a full bath.

“We offer several plans where an additional bedroom suite can be created from existing space or available options,” said Minott. “These first-floor suites are ideal for in-laws or a grown child returning after college, or, for families with younger children, an au pair.”

Similarly, the Premiere Series Ashstone includes a 165 square-foot room with a private entrance at the courtyard. It, too, can be converted to a private suite with an adjacent powder room upgrade. Several of Gladstone’s Signature Series homes also offer the first-floor suite option by converting the powder room at the study.

“As a semi-custom homebuilder, we offer numerous options to personalize our home designs,” said Minott. “Beyond bonus rooms, wet bars, e-space and powder room upgrades, several plans offer additional second-floor bedrooms through partial loft conversions, and private or Jack-and-Jill baths at secondary bedrooms.”

Gladstone offers 25 different home designs among its Premiere Series, Signature Series, and Luxury Townhome and Villa Series. Using the Gladstone Home Designer, Gladstone Homes’ exclusive online customization tool, homebuyers can view available homes and options to create the perfect home for their family. They can even select a community and lot on which to build their virtual home, then work with Gladstone sales managers to make that home a reality.

Gladstone Homes currently is building in six communities throughout Chicago’s west and southwest suburbs including Highland Woods in Elgin, Moose Lake Estates, Windstone Place and Oak Creek in North Aurora, Chatham Square in Plainfield and Grande Reserve in Yorkville. Photo galleries, floor plans, community information and the Gladstone Home Designer can be found at www.gladstonehomes.com.

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