One of the cool things about being a Realtor is that you sometimes get invited to swanky builder tours when they need help selling their projects. Such was the case this morning at Toll Brothers Damonte Ranch. We toured Dorado, an innovative duet concept (fancy term for duplex). According to the construction project manager, this is the first time they’ve built these models anywhere in the US.
Though they only have two floor plans, left and right (aka, Terracina or Savona), the layouts were really interesting. The Savona had a nice master on the ground floor, but the tradeoff was a really cozy great room (okay, it’s small) and some arguably wasted space in an overly grand foyer. However, there was a charming interior courtyard, multiple covered balconies and wonderful flowing bedrooms up top.
The Terracina was totally my favorite. (And apparently everyone else’s too, as it seems to be selling better). It had a charming casita to the left of the entry, a cozy library, and a larger, spacious great room area. The bedrooms up top flowed nicely, each with its own bath and private covered balcony. This floorplan also had an interior courtyard, two covered loggias, and a spacious master featuring a peninsula jetted tub. (Toll Brothers was looking for feedback, so my suggestion was to add a fireplace in the bath across from the tub, with a plasma TV above. So if you see the finished model with these in place–that was my idea!) But the best part of the house? Above the master… a 360 degree view bonus room with a fireplace. Talk about a wonderful hideaway. If I were looking for a compact, low-maintenance home, this would be it.
Did I mention that these homes are barely attached? They share only garage walls, and that’s it. So it’s like being in a single family home. Also, though your neighbors are close, the homes are designed with staggered balconies and windows so that you’re never looking directly at someone else, which creates a pleasant sense of intimacy and relative privacy. Lot sizes range from 4500 to 15000 square feet, some with premiums for size or views.
I think these are Toll Brothers’ best work yet. Truthfully, I’m not a fan of their 4000+ square foot McMansions. Sure, on the inside they’re masterfully designed with wonderful flow, but on the outside I could never get over the boxy footprint on the teensy lot crammed up against the neighbors. These duets, however, seem to work so well… maybe because they’re simply smaller versions, less expensive, on very deep lots. And they don’t look like McMansions. From the street they look more like well-crafted, compact Carmel cottages than their behemoth big-box brothers. They offer true charm. And at 2800-3400 square feet, there’s plenty of room for everyone.
My guess is that these homes will win major design awards next year. Prices start in the high fives. If you’re interested, please call me. I can get you a better deal.
