A house can be filled with magnificent furniture and accessories, but unless its space is apportioned to fit your family’s lifestyle, it will never feel like home. That’s the principle on which Michael Lauren Development works with clients to create both the home of their dreams—a home that also will give them a lifetime of comfortable living.
The company, which started with its first project in 2007, works almost exclusively in Clayton and is now building its ninth home in the Clayton Gardens neighborhood, 210 Topton Way. The core design and architecture has already been established to reflect popular floor plans of previous Michael Lauren homes designed for comfortable family living. In addition, the siting and layout optimize the lot’s dimensions, but buyers will be able to select the home’s interior design elements, like paint color, hardware and appliances, to reflect their personal style. “Having the basic concept and design of the house already established is appealing to a lot of people,” president Michael Rechan explains. “Starting from scratch can seem overwhelming to some. At this stage of the building process, we suggest buyers look through magazines and browse Pinterest and Houzz online to find the aesthetic they want. Through meetings with my team and images they find, we can capture their vision for every room.” The company’s full-time design consultant works with clients to choose everything from windows to faucets, ensuring a cohesive overall design.
The 4-bedroom, 3.5-bath home offers an architecturally distinctive exterior with variation in depth along the roofline and front facade. “It has a little bit of a French aesthetic with the style of dormer windows and rounded shutters we chose for it,” Rechan says. “The design definitely makes an aesthetic impact.” And the main level has the kind of open floor plan that is popular with home buyers today. “It’s one of my favorite parts of the house,” Rechan says. “The kitchen flows nicely into the living room, which leads to the outdoor patio. It allows for multitasking in the same space; kids can work on homework while parents cook dinner.” One special feature of this particular home is the additional bed and bath in the lower level ‘in-law suite,’ which is ideal for extended visits or older children.
Another big draw is the home’s location in highly sought-after Clayton Gardens. “What’s great about this area is its perfect urban residential blend,” Rechan says. “It feels like a neighborhood but is blocks away from restaurants, parks, boutiques and a local grocery store.” He notes this kind of lifestyle is a major trend now in real estate, especially among empty-nesters wanting to downsize. “A lot of families aren’t ready for condo living, so this is a great alternative. The smaller lots mean less maintenance, but the location offers all the conveniences of an urban setting. Living in an area like Clayton just simplifies your existence,” Rechan says.