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Builder/Architec For Gold Coast Vol. 5, No.7 Residential Building Industry July 2001

Cover

Publisher's Note

Feature

SUNSHINE MEDIA, INC. P.O. BOX 37707

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Publisher of BUilder/Architect Magazines.

President David Lesniak

Builder/Architect is published monthly by Sunshine Media, Inc., 1540 E. Maryland Ave. Suite 200, Phoenix, AZ 85014. Mail­ing address: P.O. Box 37707, Phoenix, AZ 85069. Phone (AC 602) 277-3372. Subscription rates: $36.00 per year; $62.00 two years; $3.50 single copy. Advertising rates on request. Bulk third class mail paid in Tucson, Arizona.

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Although every precaution is taken to insure accuracy of published materials, Builder/Architect cannot be held respon­sible for opinions expressed or facts sup­plied by its authors. Copyright 2001 , Sunshine Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Postmaster: Please send notices on Form 3579 to P.O. Box 37707, Phoenix, AZ 85069.

Zone Managers Cindy Gibb Keith Gibb

Rick & Pam Jacobs Alan Niedenberger

Ron & Crystal Osteen Beverly Smirnis Steve Smirnis

6 7

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17 20 21 22

Cover James Sharon (left) and Steve Sellers of Old World Renaissance-Classic Craftsmanship with Tomorrow's Technology. Photo by Chuck Wilkins.

Feature Exterior Designs: AWAY with Repetition-IN with New Colors, Textures and Material COlnbinations ...Creating curb appeal with masonry and other siding products, roofing products and archi­tectural accents.

Remodeling: What Americans Want

Landscaping

Internet Interaction

Advertisers'Index @ Printed on

Recycled Paper

For local information call: (561) 852-5459 or write: Builder/Architect of Gold Coast

21485 Campo Allegro Dr., Boca Raton, FL 33433

4 Gold Coast Builder/Architect July 2001

Old World R.enaissance Classic Craftsmanship with Tomorrow's Te.chnology

Imagine custom home builders who spend months with their ar­

chitect, planning and designing one exceptional multimillion-dol­lar home at a time, begin building it on spec, put it on the market, and feel confident it will have a contract on it shortly.

Partners Steven A. Sellers and James A. Sharon of Old World Re­naissance have been foUowing this pattern for three years with homes in prestigious communities like Long Lake Estates, TielTa del Rey and Rio Poco. To date, each home has been

By A1ary/ynne Newmark

sold prior to its completion. That's because Steve Sellers and

Jim Sharon know what this exclu­sive homeowner wants. They have been building homes for this type of buyer for years. They come by these skills naturally. Steve, a general contractor who is also a licensed plumbing and air conditioning contractor, is in his 12th year of building luxury custom homes. He spent eight of them as qualifier and VP of construction for Para­mount Building Corporation, re­sponsible for overseeing the con­

struction of exclusive homes in the $450,000 to $2.5 million range in Boca Grove, Addison Reserve, St. Andrews, Long Lake Estates, Foxchase, Fieldbrook Estates and Boniello Acres.

Jim, a licensed building contractor with a degree in civil engineeIing and a certified solar energy contrac­tor, has constructed homes in TielTa del Rey, Rio Poco, The Sanctuary and Long Lake Estates. He also has owned, operated and renovated shop­ping centers and commercial proper­ties in Florida and Massachusetts.

o Roof by Graboski Roofing, windows by Coastal Windows, kitchen appliances by Florida Builder Appliances, landscape by Master Gardeners. Photo by Chuck Wilkins.

July 2001 Gold Coast Builder/Architect 7

Continued ji'om Page 7 The two became associated as a

result of their Long Lake Estates affiliations.

The methodology for their suc­cess as a custom home builder is a finely tuned formula. The partners buy land, usually in a community such as Long Lake Estates, and take their cue from the position of the site, its location within the commu­ruty, and the natural immediate en­vironment. They begin to list all of the amenities that would be special for this home. Taking all of these factors into consideration, the plan begins to blossom into a home with its own personality.

Because Steve and Jim are so sen­sitive to this specialized market, they keep themselves very astute to trends around the country and evolving lifestyles. They research all top-of-the-line products, mate­rials and technologies, in order to develop that certain magic that will make this one home surpass all others they have seen or built. They bring their ideas to their ar­chitect, Stuart Brenner of Garcia, Brenner & Stromberg, who devel­ops initial drawings for them. The process begins as a team, and can take months. When they are all satisfied with the result, Jim and Steve apply for all necessary per­mits, consult with subcontractors whose work they value, and ini­tiate construction.

They then confer with Alex Curcio, CRS, GRI, a Preview Property Specialist with Coldwell Banker International, who mar­kets the property nationwide through luxury home publications and services.

When Alex has an interested cli­ent, he makes an appointment for them to meet directly with Steve or Jim on the site for the very first visit, and for every visit thereafter.

"Nobody knows this home better than we do," says Steve. "We can explain the most minute detail, and personalize every inch of the home to fulfill their needs."

"The bottom line is giving our buyers the type of homes that not only show Old World craftsmanship

Gold Coast Builder/Architect Jul)' 2001

Photo by Chuck Wilkins.

and quality," says Jim Sharon, "but also to give them the palatial home they truly deserve at this price."

Both men supervise all job sites. They build no more than three homes at a time, to maintain abso­lute control over every level of con­struction and installation. They wel­come their buyers to the construc­tion site at all times. They take plea­sure in working with them.

The exceptional quality that is the basis of an Old World Renaissance home is the choice of materials and

products that the builders incorpo­rate into each home, which usually far exceed what other luxury build­ers might consider above standard. The Old World team uses mono­lithic concrete slab construction over concrete block walls for the second floor of the home. They use upgraded flooring for increased sound rating, fire protection and strength. They install 5/8" drywall instead of 1/2", for straight and square walls, and to provide a more structurally sound framed wall on

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16" stud walls instead of 24". Only hurricane-impact glass is used all around on both floors, which elimi­nates the need for hurricane shut­ters. "Speaking of hurricanes," says Jim Sharon, "there will never be a power failure in our new bome at Long Lake Estates, because we in­cluded a built-in power generator, which automatically picks up in an electrical emergency. In addition, the home theater at the center of the home has also been designed as a hurricane shelter with a concrete ceiling, floor and block walls." Old World Renaissance may have a clas­sic name, but the builders definitely have their eyes on the future. The company's newest home in Long Lake Estates is wired as a "smart house." "Consideration is pro­grammed in for all possibilities known to date," says Sharon, "in­cluding satellites, computer use in each room and integrated telecom­munications systems."

The home has a digital security system with four key pads and a panic button. There are two central vacuum systems throughout the home, and four sets of built-in stereo systems with their own volume con­trol. Energy-saving features include six efficiency air conditioning sys­tems and propane gas service to en­ergize appliances and pool heating.

Nine-foot-high solid cypress doors with designer hardware at the entrance preview the home within. The lavishly appointed living room has 23-foot ceilings with an extraor­dinary view of the lushly land­scaped pool deck and the lake be­yond. There is crown molding throughout the home.

The designer gourmet kitchen has a 14-foot ceiling under the second floor, with built-in coffers, creating spatial height unprecedented in a kitchen space. The appliance pack­age includes a $2,000 built-in Miele coffee maker, two Sub-Zero under­counter refrigerator drawers, two Asko stainless steel dishwashers, a full-size 48" Thermador oven/ cooktop, a convection oven, a 2.1 c.f. microwave, a warming drawer, a Sub-Zero 36" refrigerator and

Photo by Chuck Wilkins.

freezer, and two washers and dryers. The sinks have Franke satin-nickel faucets with pull-out sprays and lotion dispensers, and a Franke satin-nickel pot filler.

In addition to the home theater! hurricane shelter, the 10,700­square-foot air-conditioned home at Long Lake has eight bedrooms, nine bathrooms, three half-baths, a spa­cious library with solid wood floor­ing, a playroom, an office and an exercIse room.

Outside the 44-foot free-form pool is a raised-beam waterfall spa. Brick pavers cover the patio deck that sports an oversized barbecue! entertainment area with a stainless steel bar sink and refrigerator.

This exquisite waterfront home is priced at $4.75 million.

Aside from Long Lake, Old World Renaissance has built two homes in the five-acre equestrian community of Tierra del Rey. One sold at $1.5 million in 1999 and one at $3.2 mil­lion in 2000. They also built two

homes at Rio Poco and have one under contract.

Plans for the future include stay­ing within the same concept: plan­ning and building spectacular homes. However, their gaze is expanding geographically to include propelties on the Intercoastal in Boca, and pos­sibly the Florida Keys.

Buyers fit all types of profiles in the high income brackets, including corporate executives, professionals and stock brokers. Many are local, but there is a great deal of interest from buyers relocating from the West Coast and the Northeast, or investing in a second home.

"Since there is so much to con­sider in planning a home like this," says Steve Sellers, "it becomes a project of love for us. We enjoy sharing that with our buyers." Jim Sharon adds, "Our goal is to make this one house livable and comfort­able, but most of all, the ultimate home of their dreams."

BfA

July 2001 Gold Coast Builder/Architect 9