Fall Parade features universal home designs
Sept. 27 through Oct. 12 marks the 67th anniversary of Kansas City’s Fall Parade of Homes. This year’s Parade, presented by the Home Builder’s Association of Greater Kansas City (HBA) and sponsored by Stewart Title, features 307 homes constructed by 84 Kansas City metropolitan area builders.
New-home communities featured on the Parade straddle both sides of the state line, encompassing single-family homes, townhomes and villas in seven counties and 18 school districts. Prices range from $150,000 to $1,399,000. In each, prospective homebuyers can peruse the latest in home design, construction, technology and more.
Among the current focuses of builders this year is the concept of universal home design. One of these builders is Syler Custom Homes, a division of Syler Construction Inc., a family owned and operated business focused on creating custom homes to meet each individual’s desires.
“Universal design is creating a home with design features that meet the current and future needs of people who are very different, but they can all enjoy living in the same home,” said Garret Syler, president. “For example, in our homes you will find features such as no-step entries for garages, wide interior doorways, suspended garage floors, walk-in showers and many other concepts. In doing so, the home is actually able to meet every resident’s lifestyle.”
The company’s experience and diversification in both residential and commercial building enables it to blend construction techniques and design practices across both divisions that are both stylish and conform to universal design needs.
In this year’s Parade of Homes, Syler Custom Homes is featuring a four-bedroom, three-bathroom, reverse 11/2-story home in the Thousand Oaks community in Parkville (Tour No. 140). Priced at $499,900, the home is highlighted by numerous universal design features, as well as eco-friendly elements like radiant heat, ground-source cooling, insulated foundations and upgraded insulation packages that offer long-term financial rewards while keeping a focus on leaving a smaller environmental footprint.
Another custom home-building company in the Kansas City area that impacts the local housing market by establishing trends that affect the way homes will be built in the future is Willis Construction Inc.
“We have first-hand experience in the housing evolution that has ‘right-sized’ the American home,” said Patrick Willis, president of Willis Construction and the 2014 Parade chairman. “Our housing styles vary from plans that appeal to growing families to downsizing empty-nesters, and we focus our designs on how people want to live and entertain in their homes, both now and in the future.”
As a CAPS certified (Certified Aging in Place) builder, Willis Construction incorporates a wide array of sustainable living aspects and universal design principles into its homes, such as elevators, zero-step entries, lifts and wider hallways and doors.
“These features create a comfortable environment for everyone, not just those with physical challenges,” Willis said. “We take pride in not only creating a home that can suit the needs of the physically challenged, but that provides them a beautiful environment in which to live.”
Open floor plans, low maintenance and high energy efficiency details and elements are also important components of the homes they build.
During the Parade, prospective homebuyers can find two Willis Construction-built homes located in Leawood.
The first, in the Tuscany Reserve Village community (Tour No. 282), is a four-bedroom, four-bathroom, single-family villa priced at $898,950. In the White Horse Villas neighborhood there is another four-bedroom, four-bathroom, single-family villa (Tour No. 283). This furnished model home is priced in the $700,000s. Both homes encompass several maintenance-provided features and have master bedrooms on the first floor.
“Our homes have been widely recognized for their interior design elements and many now have a lighter feel to them,” Willis said. “While slightly more contemporary, they reflect a simpler, sleeker profile that lends itself to whatever furnishings and decor the homeowner prefers.”
2014 Fall Parade of Homes
When: Sept. 27 through Oct. 12. All homes are open daily from 11 a.m. -6 p.m. and admission is free.
Where: 307 homes throughout the metro. Free Parade Guides listing addresses and information for every home are available at the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City office, 600 E. 103rd St., and at all Parade homes.
Information: Event information and an online Parade search are available at kcparadeofhomes.com. Homes can be viewed by price, location, builder, floor plan, subdivision, school district and more. Visitors can also find links to builder websites.
My Mobile Tour: Available at kcparadeofhomes.com, it is designed specifically for smartphones and tablets. Search homes, save featured homes in a “My Tour” list, and get driving directions from home to home.
This story was originally published October 3, 2014 at 7:00 PM with the headline "Fall Parade features universal home designs."