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Custom-designed cherry cabinetry and support columns for the catwalk give the eye-catching bookcase wall in this luxury model home a library-like appearance of superior quality. The fireplace surround was created using a mix of tile and cherry detailing, which included the hearth. Additional cabinets above the built-in television provide storage space for electronic equipment. Flooring throughout the great room and adjoining kitchen is also cherry.
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A bookcase wall serves as the focal point for the great room in this luxury model home by Toll Brothers in Castle Rock, Colo. This intriguing element results when clever design couples with ingenious carpentry to make the improbable work structurally, says Ken Clark, senior project manager.
"The project was extremely challenging to execute because of local building codes and the location of the main staircase," says Clark. "But it was really a wonderful opportunity for us to do something more than just a sea of drywall on one wall."
Capitalizing on the volume, a mid-level catwalk cantilevers out 4 feet from the room's rear wall, creating a false ceiling above the fireplace and a more intimate environment for the seating area. That same walkway also serves a practical function - providing access to the built-in bookcases that trace the angle of the upper wall, culminating at the ceiling's 22-foot peak.
"We wanted to create some very dramatic interior architecture that would set this house apart from any other," says interior designer Mary Cook, who originally suggested the concept of creating a bookcase wall. In addition, says Cook, the unique wall treatment gives this portion of the great room its own identity, even though it opens to the adjoining kitchen. "Although it is really one big room, you don't get the feeling that the great room is just an extension of the kitchen."
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The loft, located at the top of the stairs, serves as a children's study or game room in the family-oriented home. Custom maple cabinetry provides a mix of display space and storage to hide clutter.
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The home was completed in November 2002.
Style of Home | Traditional
Location | Castle Rock, Colo.
Total Square Footage | 4,294
Estimated Market Value | $1.1 million
Builder | Toll Brothers, Castle Rock, Colo.
Architect | RNS Architects, Newport Beach, Calif.
Interior Design | Mary Cook & Associates, Chicago, Ill.
Builder's Luxury Model Home
Major Products Used | Fireplace: Heat-N-Glo | Windows: Milgard Windows
Photography by Mark Boisclair