A Literary Life

By Kate Jonuska

When it becomes clear that you want to build your next home, the first choice you’re forced to make is between national and custom builders, as if they’re two diametrically opposed sides of a scale. On one side lies choice and personalization, while cost and convenience weigh heavily on the opposite. But with a unique method of operation, honed over decades of building experience,

G.J. Gardner Homes had found a way to bridge the gap, offering completely customizable homes in an efficient and cost-effective manner – astonishingly cost effective, starting in the high $100,000s.

“We bring all the good things about an international builder to the table, things like proven systems, scheduling, buying power,” says Brook Swientisky, who directs G.J. Gardner’s Colorado operations, explaining that each office of the international company is a local franchise. “There are a lot of efficiencies builders like us have, but then we partner up with local builders, growing locally owned and operated businesses, too.”

When the Colorado Springs G.J. Gardner opened almost two years ago, it was 25-year veteran of custom building in El Paso County Dennis Wheets who took the helm, along with his wife and family.

“In the last two years, I still haven’t built the same house twice, not even close,” says Wheets, who teamed up with the company because “they built their reputation on custom building, and that is what I was doing in my work, so it’s a really good partnership. The G.J. Gardner systems that they have in place have helped me tremendously with things like scheduling, supervising, advertising, but I don’t have to change anything about the quality of service I offer.”

CLICK HERE to read the full text of this article, which published in the the Feb. 7, 2010 Home & Style.

Charming vintage rancher a hot ticket into a great neighborhood
By Kate Jonuska

Many of the properties that grace the cover of Springs Houses are lavish, upscale homes because, honestly, they’re pretty fun to read and dream about, but in addition to luxurious amenities, such homes come attached to high-end price tags. Therefore, this week’s featured property is a breath of fresh air, an adorable and attainable 1950s rancher in Skyway that’s sure to awaken the real estate dreams of families with limited resources but big plans.

“Skyway is one of my favorite neighborhoods. Many young families are discovering the area, moving into the classic ranchers and revamping them,” says Eric Scott of the Stuart Scott Limited Group at ERA Shields, who lists the three-bedroom, three-bath rancher for $273,500. “To get into (School) District 12 and the Skyway neighborhood at this price point – especially in a single-family home in a mature neighborhood – is a great opportunity. District 12 has won numerous awards and it’s had the highest CSAP scores in the state since 2006.”

With its brick exterior and bright white shutters, the home charms from the outset. Surprisingly open plan for a home built in 1956, the original hardwood floors lead through a living room with a bay window and a refinished natural stone fireplace into the dining area. Completing the circle is the kitchen, which offers black and stainless steel appliances, including a flat-top range.

CLICK HERE to read the full text of this article, which published in the Feb. 6, 2010 Springs Houses.

Families can experience ideal Colorado living in model-quality Monument home
By Kate Jonuska

In real estate, you usually begin describing a home at the front, because obviously that’s where you begin to experience it. This week’s featured property, however, is best done in reverse, starting just past the backyard fence with the lovely mountain view.

“The best feature, of course, is the the view. Pikes Peak, Mount Herman, the Air Force Academy, it’s all there, and the air shows looks fabulous from here,” says Kathryn Newman of The Platinum Group Realtors, who lists the six-bedroom, four-bath home for $454,670. “The home was really built around the views,” she continues. “I often tell clients to come here in the evening to watch the sunset from here. It’s pretty stunning.”

Such thoughtful planning is certainly why the view is best enjoyed from the heart of the home, a great room with a combined bayed informal eating area, the kitchen and a soaring two-story living room. The latter includes a floor-to-ceiling wall of windows, a gas fireplace, built-ins, and several art niches and shelves. The kitchen appliances have been recently upgraded to stainless steel, adding to features such as a five-burner flat-top range, cherry cabinets and custom tile counter tops with a leather-like finish.

CLICK HERE to read the full text of this article, which published in the Jan. 30, 2010 Springs Houses.

Kings Deer custom dream home, ready for dream owner
By Kate Jonuska

They chose the neighborhood. They chose the site on the Kings Deer Golf Course. Along with their builder, they made careful choices about every detail, from the counter tops and baseboard to the flow of the floor plan and the landscaping materials. In other words, the sellers of this week’s featured property spent time and resources to create the perfect permanent home after a lifetime of travel, and now that they’ve found they cannot stay, another family is sure to find their own dream home there, turn-key ready and beautiful.

“Of homes at a comparable price point, this home has hands-down the best floor-to-ceiling quality because everything was upgraded,” says Dean Weissman of The Platinum Group, Realtors, who lists the four-bedroom, four-bath home for $849,000. “It’s a house that is very well designed to be functional and stylish, elegant and comfortable. You don’t have to dress up in order to come home.”

Located off Roller Coaster Road near Monument, homes in this area of Kings Deer perch atop rolling hills, each with their several-acre estates, this one surrounded by lovely yet low-maintenance rock beds, pines and grass. The stucco-and-stone exterior offers an oversized front door with stone columns, which opens to a massive great room that makes up most of the main level.

“Because we are elevated, we have a commanding view. That’s one of the reasons we selected this lot,” says the seller, walking the wide-plank hardwood floors up to the wall of windows. Sure enough, the mountains and golf course sit front and center. Not a small segment of the golf course either, but a swath that at this time of year resembles part of a ski slope meandering past. “We have privacy without the feeling of isolation,” he adds.

CLICK HERE to read the full text of this article, which published in the Jan. 23, 2010 Springs Houses.

Golf course home offers amenities usually accompanied by higher price tag
By Kate Jonuska

In any circumstances, this week’s featured home would be a crowd pleaser: a remodeled four-bedroom, four-bath rancher located on the 16th hole of the Country Club of Colorado’s scenic golf course. But when economic forces align just right and the deal is sweetened with membership to the country club with purchase, homeowners are sure to be awed by the level of luxury that lies within their reach.

“It’s fabulous in that it includes many of the features that we usually see in multi million dollar houses,” says Stuart Scott of Stuart Scott Limited and ERA Shields, who lists the home for $680,000. He cites the throughly modern and stylish gourmet kitchen, three wet bars, a theater room with equipment included and, he says, “added to the purchase is the inclusion of a membership to the Country Club of Colorado. It’s a really astounding facility, the best in Colorado Springs, I think, because of its beautiful lake.”

It’s difficult not to notice the lush greens and lake from the first step into the 4,810-square-foot home, which opens into an expansive great room with a peaked ceiling, ending in a floor-to-ceiling wall of windows. An elegant chandelier, the first wet bar and a toasty fireplace invite you in, and the hardwood continues into the open kitchen and dining room.

“If you’re lucky enough to have a view, you should try to walk right into it from the beginning. So few achieve that goal, but this one just strikes you with it,” says Scott. Stepping onto the partially covered deck, which stretches the length of the home, he observes that golfers are teeing away from the home, allowing all of the beauty of golf course living with none of the danger or damage.

CLICK HERE to read the full text of this article, which published in the Jan. 16, 2010 Springs Houses.