Unique new home designs reflect the consumer styles of today's

Real Estate Weekly, July 24, 1996

At The Highlands at Riverwoods, Spectrum Group, one of the region's most innovative home builders, is grand opening five home designs with furnished models that borrow consumer styles from some of Westchester's leading retailers.

"Whether it's Bloomingdale's or Neiman-Marcus, retailers have distinct consumer styles In our new model homes, we've created a showcase to reflect these different styles and show how they relate to the home buyer's lifestyle," said Mitchell Hochberg, President of Spectrum Group, a Valhalla-based residential development company that is building The Highlands at Riverwoods in a joint venture with Daniel A. Burack Enterprises of Manhattan.

"Our five new home designs are diverse enough to appeal to the varied tastes and lifestyles of Westchester buyers. Our buyers are all looking for a comfortable and carefree lifestyle in an active social community, such as The Highlands at Riverwoods," said Elise Platt of E.A. Platt & Company, NYC-based marketing consultant for Spectrum Group.

Nationally known interior designer Lita Dirks of Englewood, Colorado, designed the home interiors with an upbeat and exciting retail approach. "We've had a lot of fun creating these homes and feel that consumers will be energized by these easy-living designs," said Hochberg.

The design of the Bravo, a 2,200 square-foot home, bespeaks the casual elegance of Nordstroms. "The Bravo buyers tend to stay at home more. They have a comfortable, down-to-earth lifestyle. They view their combination kitchen-family room as their active lifestyle center and truly appreciate their main-level master bedroom. The second-floor bedroom convenient for guests or grown children, as is the upstairs den. The bonus space upstairs can be finished as a special, such as the workout room we've shown," explained Hochberg.

A 1990's version of the center hall colonial, the 2,300 square-foot Hudson model home has a Bloomingdale's flair, with interiors of white, beige and black. "These buyers lead very active social lives. They dine out a lot. They're not sitting home baking cookies," Ms. Platt said. In this home, the foyer separates the living room and adjoining library from the formal dining room. The family room is adjacent to the kitchen. True to tradition, the grand master bedroom suite is upstairs.

The elegant and formal furnishing style of the Potomac, a 2,650 square-foot home, reflects the refined tradition of Neiman-Marcus. This home is designed to appeal to the, 'move over' buyers who are selling larger homes but are not willing to pare down their lifestyle. "These buyers bring lots of memories from their former home, and want to retain a sense of continuity in their new house," Hochberg said. The home, decorated in regal shades of gold and blue, features a traditional library set off the entry with glass French doors. There is are formal living and dining rooms and a spectacular family room opening to a single-family size kitchen/nook. The master bedroom suite is on the main living level. Upstairs, there are secondary bedrooms, and even enough space an a balcony overlooking the entry and family room for a baby grand piano.

The 2- and 3-bedroom Countryhomes at The Highlands at Riverwoods are priced from $425,000. The homes, which are set on a beautiful rolling and wooded 122-acre site traversed by the Kisco River, are enhanced by a private clubhouse with both indoor and outdoor pools and tennis courts. Each home is sited to take full advantage of the scenic views while maximizing the privacy of each residence. Approximately half the site is preserved as natural open space.

"These homes are designed to fit the active lifestyles of today's growing number of baby-boomer empty-nesters, whose children have left home for college. And because this community is located in the prestigious Chappaqua school district, which is ranked 12" in the nation, there is tremendous appeal to young families as well," Hochberg said. One characteristic that is common to all buyers at The Highlands at Riverwoods is their desire for single-family style homes in a maintenance-free, resort-like environment.

Designed by the Washington, D.C.-based architectural firm of Devereaux & Associates, the interiors of the homes feature vaulted ceilings and expansive windows designed to maximize light and air. The exteriors emphasize traditional New England styles with pitched roofs, gables, shutters and bay windows. All of the homes have attached two-car garages and decks, and most feature walk-out garden levels and terraces. Inside and out, the Countryhomes at The Highlands at Riverwoods are designed as single-family homes, attached only by the two-car garages.

"The Westchester consumer is savvy, sophisticated and fashion-conscious. The trendsetting furnished homes at The Highlands at Riverwoods are sure to create a new sense of excitement in the market and stimulate home design ideas," said Peter Burack, Vice President of Daniel A. Burack Enterprises.

The Highlands at Riverwoods is easily accessible to 1-684 and the Saw Mill River Parkway. It is located just off the Route 133 exit of the Saw Mill River Parkway. The Village of Mount Kisco, with its fine shops and restaurants, is just minutes away. Midtown Manhattan is under an hour's commute via the Metro-North commuter rail station in Mount Kisco, which is closeby The Highlands at Riverwoods, The on-site sales office at The Highlands at Riverwoods is open daily.