Toll Brothers has opened its equestrian community in Upper Marlboro, MD, offering home buyers the opportunity to live in a country setting that most people don’t even realize is there. New homeowner Debra Trott says she has been watching the community develop and purchased a home a year earlier in anticipation of a late 2008 move-in date. Although she doesn’t ride horses, the setting and the value of the home enticed her. “The community reminds me of home,” Trott says.
There are more than 250 acres of open space, state-of-the-art equestrian facilities, and miles of trails. The 8,000-square-foot community center, fitness center and meeting rooms, and competitive-size swimming pool encapsulate the uniqueness of the neighborhood. The barn has 22 stalls and limited private boarding, but most homeowners go to Marlboro Ridge for the tranquil atmosphere, convenient location, and diverse floor plans.
“Marlboro Ridge is Toll Brothers’ first equestrian community,” says Mark Nosal, Toll Brothers vice president. A stone entrance leads to green pastures, mature trees, central park, and four collections of homes including two-car garage townhomes and the single-family homes in the Glen, Hunt, Meadows, and Estate Collections. Prices range from the mid-$400,000s to the mid-$700,000s.
Designed to Emphasize
Two design firms, Linfield Design Associates and Childs/Dreyfus Group, outfitted the models to fit the community. Kimberly Michels, designer with Linfield Design Associates, says, “We call this urban comfort,” of the Richmond Gettysburg model. “By use of clean-lined, walnut-toned furniture and pimento reds and kiwi greens, we give identity to this model.”
When designing this model in The Glen Collection, Michels envisioned a couple in their forties who work in the corporate world and volunteer in the community, as well as have two teenage children. In the Richmond Gettysburg model, she added honey wood flooring on the main floor for warmth, a pedestal table, buffet and curios in the dining room, and geometric window treatment panels in the two-story family room. There are equestrian-themed rooms too, such as the mother-in-law bedroom.
For the second model Linfield Design Associates finished, The Hunt Collection’s Hopewell Provincial, Michels went with a sophisticated country-style design with Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired furnishings. The lower level became its own equestrian center, while the secondary bedrooms emphasized sports.
In the Malvern Heritage model, Childs/Dreyfus Group’s Rene Pabon says, “We wanted to keep the architectural design elements that were already there and use our choice of color, trim details, lighting, artwork, and fabrics to help create the additional drama and wow factor that such a grand home deserves.” He sees the target demographic as “affluent, young, dual income, and a family with children.” Krista Wachob of Childs/Dreyfus Group says, “The gracious entry, bridal staircase, two-story dining room, and social aspect of the plan set this model apart.”
A Recreational Neighborhood
Toll Brothers designed a community that takes in every aspect of its open spaces, green pastures, and recreational facilities. Marlboro Ridge offers an array of home styles nestled in a picturesque equestrian setting. At the ribbon cutting, County Executive Jack B. Johnson said, “Marlboro Ridge is a true example of what luxury living should be like in Prince George’s County. Toll Brothers has brought a new standard of living to our community.”
