Villas offer maintenance-free luxury
With the kids out of the house, many empty nesters are looking to simplify their
homes. Popping up in West Omaha and Elkhorn, villas offer one option for baby
boomers to enjoy all the high-end touches of a luxury home, but with a smaller floor
plan and no need for a lawnmower or snow shovel.
Tucked in the Tuscan Ridge subdivision at 198th and Pacific streets, Royal Homes
offers villas designed with the empty nester in mind. Ranging from 2,900 to 3,300
square feet, the one-story homes feature downsized square footage but upgraded
amenities. That appeals to retirees and soon-to-be-retirees, said John Greguska,
marketing manager for Royal Homes.
“They’re looking at the big house they built in the ’90s and saying, ‘We love this
house, but we don’t want to take care of it anymore,’” he said.
What the homes lack in square footage, they make up for in wow factor, said Marcia
Soe, villa designer with Absolute Design Interiors. Priced from $425,000-$475,000,
the Tuscan Ridge villas feature open floor plans with kitchens that blend into the
hearth area and living room. Dark-stained birch cabinets extend to the ceiling,
offering maximum storage. Eye-attracting details include high-end granite, intricate
tiling and modern pendant lighting. In the walk-through pantry, a granite coffee bar
keeps the cappuccino machine and other appliances off the counter and out of the
way.
In the main-level master suite, the master bathroom offers a spa-like retreat with
vessel sinks, decorative mirrors and a large, walk-in shower. Intricate tile work and
higher-end granite amp up the visual impact.
Couples that plan on having the kids back for the holidays may opt to retain a formal
dining room in the floor plan, Greguska said. But many people eschew that option.
Instead, a spare room on the main level can be used for guests or converted into a
home office.
Off the main level, covered or three-season enclosed decks extend the living area. An
enclosed deck with a fireplace allows people to enjoy the view while staying toasty
all winter long, Greguska said.
Walkout basements offer additional bedrooms for when the kids come home to stay.
A beverage mini-fridge in the downstairs bar area is a frequent extra touch, Soe said.
Three-car garages offer extra storage space to the downsizing couple, and circle
driveways heighten the curb appeal. Maintenance-free living is also a major draw to these homes, Greguska said. In
Tuscan Ridge, the villa association takes care of lawn care, snow removal and
garbage collection. It even includes window cleaning twice a year.
Greguska sees demand for villas quickly outpacing supply in the Elkhorn area. As
the population ages, more baby boomers are seeking to downsize, but not all want
to move into a loft downtown.
“We get people that have raised their kids in Millard or Elkhorn and like the
suburban feel, and they don’t want to go to midtown or downtown for the condo,”
he said. “They’d rather have the feel of the home.”
Villa 101
For the downsizing empty nester, villas offer several attractive features, including:
• Smaller, one-story floor plans
• Upgraded amenities
• Master suite on the main level
• Ample storage space
• Maintenance-free living
