Like many newlyweds searching for a new home, Carolyn and Tom Lorenz had their list of must-have features. Topping the list were a great location and more space – space for his and her offices, roomier bedrooms and a place to showcase Carolyn’s passion for the southwest, including a slot machine.
To their pleasant surprise, they hit the jackpot across the board at Willow Place, a townhome community in Wheeling not far from their previous home.
“At first we didn’t know new construction was what we were looking for, but we found Willow Place and we didn’t even give it a second thought,” said Carolyn. “Tom had heard about it through work, and its location was definitely a factor in our decision to buy. We fell in love with it instantly – it’s exactly what we were looking for.”
Tom is an employee of the Village of Wheeling, and Carolyn works for the Village of Deerfield, so an easy commute to and from work was paramount for them. Carolyn said they like the peace and quiet surrounding Willow Place when they arrive home. “It’s so convenient and peaceful with bike trails and green space,” she said.
“At Willow Place we can both get to work in less than 20 minutes and there isn’t a lot of after-hours traffic coming through the neighborhood because we’re set back from busy roads,” Carolyn said. “Yet we’re still close enough to Milwaukee Avenue’s Restaurant Row, which adds to the convenience.”
Developed by Lexington Homes, Willow Place offers 58 townhomes at Willow Road and Foster Avenue. Two floor plans are available measuring 1,858 to 2,157 square feet. Base-priced from the $320,000s to the $360,000s, the homes include three bedrooms, 2½ baths and an attached two-car garage.
All homes at Willow Place feature brushed nickel lighting fixtures; oversized private balconies; 42-inch maple cabinets and GE stainless steel appliances in the kitchen; and a dual-bowl raised-height vanity with a cultured marble top in the master bath.
The Lorenzes purchased the Hickory floor plan, a 2,157-square-foot end unit. Priced from $369,990, the Hickory includes three bedrooms, including at first-floor master, 2½ baths a loft and a finished lower level.
Before moving to Willow Place this past July, the Lorenzes were renting another townhome in Wheeling that was just off Milwaukee Avenue’s Restaurant Row. “We were drawn to the Hickory’s end location because that’s what we were accustomed to in our previous home,” Carolyn said. “The Hickory also provides us with a lot more space, giving it the feel of a single-family home.”
For example, the Lorenzes have utilized the third bedroom and finished lower level to easily accommodate their individual home offices.
Another feature that attracted the couple to the Hickory was the master bedroom’s size and location on the main level. “The bedrooms at Willow Place are bigger than at our old home,” Carolyn said. “We like the fact that the master bedroom is on the main floor, because it allows us to do much of our living on one level.”
The loft has even provided Carolyn with the opportunity to showcase her passion for the Southwest. “The spacious loft was a great spot to decorate with fun southwest colors and designs,” she said. “We have a Vegas slot machine up there, as well as an additional sitting area, so it’s a fun setting to hang out in.”
Outside their new townhome, the Lorenzes said they are impressed with the peace and quiet of the community. “We appreciate that this will be a small, intimate development and not a sprawling subdivision,” Carolyn said. “The community is very inviting with the natural green space, adjacent bike trail and nice landscaping – it’s beautiful.”
Carolyn added that part of the appeal of buying a home at Willow Place was the helpfulness and understanding of the Lexington Homes sales staff. “The sales associates we worked with became like part of the family to us,” she said. “While we were out shopping for our new home, I called the sales center and they helped by going into our place and taking measurements for us. They were so available and accommodating – it was a fantastic help.”
