V

ade

In the luxury home
market, builders create
homes that fulfill
your fantasies.

I

aS S CS

BY LISA BRODY

I

he sweeping grandeur of Tara.
The shimmering opulence of
the Carrington mansion. The
sumptuous, romantic hedonism
of any — and all — of the bedrooms
in Dangerous Liaisons. And, oh, the
staircase Rhett carried Scarlett up .. .
Grandeur. Luxury. Romance. Tradi-
tion. These are no longer the echoed
memories of a long-gone era but the
hottest buzzwords of builders, archi-
tects and interior designers.
Overall, today's luxury home mar-
ket — custom homes in the $500,000
to $1 million and up range — is
eschewing the sleek and monochro-
matic look of striking contemporaries,
opting instead for classical architec-
ture, design and amenities.
Notes builder David Jensen of
David Jensen Corporation in Bir-
mingham, "The people who can af-
ford these homes are reaffirming the
days of their youth, with plaster,
moldings, wainscotting and porches
they can live on in the summer. They
are saying, 'That was the best there
ever was, and I want a piece of it.' "
David Jensen is developing 13
homes in Bingham Farms that will
cost $1 million plus. Jensen con-
tracted noted New York City architect
Robert Stern to design the develop-

30

HOME

ment called Woodlynne, which
debuts in May.
In fall 1988, Holtzman & Silverman
completed 52 homes in Franklin
Ravines averaging a total price bet-
ween $500,000 and $1 million.
Architect David Sellards of D.A.
Sellards and Associates in Birming-
ham concurs.
"People are going back to classic
design with traditional elements
handled in a contemporary fashion."
One common element in luxury
homes is an emphasis on designer
kitchens and bathrooms. This means
not only the latest equipment, but
custom-made cabinets and custom-
colored tiles. It may also mean such
amenities as a higher-than-usual
vanity in the bathroom, so you don't
have to bend over so far.
The "look" of the kitchen and
baths usually ties in with the house's
architectural style. But whatever the
style and interior features, there is no
false modesty. Buyers want the re-
sults to look impressive and expen-
sive, says one builder.
Another common element is the
best workmanship money can buy.
The local luxury home market con-
sists of perhaps one to two percent
of the public. "It's a highly corn-