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By studying the housing market in the Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia areas and gathering feedback from sales and project managers, Toll Brothers can define what homeowners are looking for in every type of residence from single-family to townhome to multi-family dwellings. And what this region’s buyers are requesting – bigger homes with more options and a full range of community amenities.
High-end homeowners want all the amenities, says Jed Gibson, vice president and director of architecture for Toll Brothers. Optional morning rooms, side conservatories, extended family rooms and bedrooms along with fancy finishes, such as accent moldings and upgraded flooring, set the stage for the dramatic Toll Brothers’ designs offered to area home buyers.
“We are continually seeing and responding to trends in the home building industry,” says Cory DeSpain, senior vice president of the Virginia-Maryland Division of Toll Brothers. “We listen carefully to our home buyers and what they tell us about how they use their homes.”
Topping the trends list is the taller interior. About 10 years ago, eight-foot ceilings were phased out and nine-foot ceilings were introduced. Then the progression moved to nine-foot upper level bedrooms and now, 10-foot ceilings in the high-end estates. Several years ago, floor plans didn’t have 10-foot first floor ceilings, Gibson says.
Today, Toll Brothers’ Signature Collection of homes features estates with 10-foot first floor rooms and nine-foot ceilings upstairs in many area communities, such as Potomac View in Potomac, MD and Shenstone in Leesburg, VA. These homes also bring a vast range of “wow” elements to the buyers. Starting with the “memory features” of the two-story foyers and family rooms, Gibson adds, these homes also show dual spiral staircases, rear stairways, side conservatories with fireplace and bookcase options, and closets that go on and on. “Closet space is something people really look for,” Gibson says. And with the three-car garages standard in these communities, one of the Henley’s owner’s suite closets extends more than 26 feet over the garage.
“Our customers are more interested in having a secondary staircase…often from the kitchen to the upstairs, where they want large master bedroom suites with plenty of closet space,” DeSpain says. Formal settings, such as larger dining rooms, as well as lots of windows and environmentally-friendly gas fireplaces stand out among the many requested amenities, he adds.
Among the popular floor plans is the Malvern in the Signature Collection with its unique two-story dining room. The Richmond design, which is available in many communities, shows a two-story living room option. These ideas are borrowed from the California market while “in the Northeast you tend to see two-story family rooms as a matter of course,” says Gibson. A popular feature, though, is the sunken family room as shown in the Chamberlain design among others, which still allows for tall 10- or 11-foot ceilings in the family room as well as a room built above the space.
Refreshing Details
Every home in this collection comes with a standard study and the option to create a first floor bedroom. An “elite” room option is also available if the study is opposite the garage. This allows the space to be used as an in-law or guest suite. Even the Age Qualified buyers, those over 55, opt for separate study areas because often the desk in the kitchen becomes merely a place to talk on the phone. But one of the most popular options is the conservatory, which can become a four-season room or music center, Gibson says. There are a couple of variations of this space, while the atrium option presents more of a square room used as a retreat.
Some home styles are getting taller as opposed to wider, while Toll Brothers’ Signatures Collection offers not only tall and wide homes, but also exteriors of distinction. Elevations tend to change more rapidly than interior designs, Gibson says. From the simple exteriors 10 years ago, the elevations have developed more interest and especially more texture. Brick is still the most popular material, he adds, but the use of stone combined with brick or siding or stucco extend the options. “We refresh the design by offering new elevations,” says Gibson.
Need based designs are in demand, including Age Qualified dwellings seen more in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for the over 55 set, as well as the resort communities springing up in Bethany, DE and Ocean City, MD. These neighborhoods offer community amenities to the buyers, such as indoor pools and clubhouses, which is a draw for the Age Qualified group. Plus, more Toll Brothers’ communities feature homes with first floor owner’s suites, such as in The Hunt and Glen at Loudoun Valley Estates, The Glen, Fairways, Golf Carriages and Preserve at South Riding, and The Carriages and Executives at Belmont Country Club.
“Our ongoing plans here also reflect Toll Brothers’ nationwide urban infill initiative, which includes luxury high-rise condominiums in some of the country’s most prestigious locations,” as seen at Belmont Country Club, DeSpain says. With land costs so high and little land to build on, Toll Brothers is looking at more multi-family, urban infill and condominium projects, Gibson adds. As a company organized to evaluate trends and figure out the best way to adapt and deal with changes in the market, Toll Brothers often looks at the success of other builders in a new area or market before it follows suit.
Sweet Suites
“One trend that is rapidly gaining in popularity here is having a suite or suites for the children,” DeSpain says. “Each suite includes a bedroom, bathroom, closet(s), and play/study area.” These are featured in Toll Brothers’ larger homes, such as those at Waterford Ridge, the Estate Collection at Dominion Valley Country Club, the Estates at Shenstone Farm, and the Estates at South Riding.
The girl’s bedroom at Potomac View, above, is the inspiration of Cynthia Younghans, lead project designer, and Angela Svoboda, project designer, of Linfield Design Associates Inc. “The overall feel was a quaint tearoom that any girl would want to call her own,” say Younghans.
Top of the Line
Elegance is not just for the formal living and dining room settings. There is an increased demand for luxury cooking spaces as seen in Toll Brothers’ granite and stainless steel kitchen in the Henley Williamsburg model at Potomac View. A mantlepiece graces the commercial-grade cooktop and oven, while varying levels of counters ease food preparation. The flooring is a bonus as well. “We are also seeing a demand for more choices in flooring, from hardwood to marble to ceramic tile,” DeSpain says. New custom textures of tiles as opposed to the smooth glazed styles are popular options, he notes.
“We are constantly refining both our options and our home designs, including the creation of new home designs,” DeSpain adds. Once a new design is built, dozens of Toll Brothers’ designers and project managers walk through the home and consider cost effective changes to it. Also on the drawing board for Toll Brothers are neotraditional designs, such as attached homes adjacent to alleyways and even a townhome with a central side garage as opposed to the traditional front-load garage.
“Our commitment to luxury and quality” as a big builder specializing in luxury sets Toll Brothers apart from other builders, Gibson says. Locally, the small custom builders are in its category, he says, and Toll Brothers’ systems, buying power and delivery of more house for less money make the company different than others.
“We’re looking forward to continued expansion in the DC area – in both the number and diversity of homes we build – as we continue to meet the changing needs of our home buyers,” says DeSpain. “Our top priorities, as always, are to provide the best locations, the highest value, the best quality, and the best customer service – thereby earning the trust our home buyers bestow on us.”
