ICU Homes Presents The Showcase Home for 2012

The “Valverde”: A Home for All Seasons

Exceeding Expectations
The “Valverde,” exclusively designed by the ICI Homes team for this year’s Volusia Parade of Homes, is truly a customized showcase home for all seasons. Newly constructed in Woodbridge Estates in the master-planned community of Plantation Bay, this grand residence is the product of a year-long effort that started with hard-core market research and tireless consultation with ICI homeowners. Discerning homebuyers who favor quality over quantity and expect the latest time saving, energy efficient convenience are sure to fall in love with all 4,299 square feet of spectacular space under roof, with a generous 3,165 square feet under air to live and play.

Mindful of today’s economic realities, building a showcase home of superior value and beauty was paramount to the ICI Homes
team. “We were determined to offer a Showcase Home that a wide array of homebuyers could both appreciate and afford… and the “Valverde,” with a base price of $434,900, surpassed our wildest expectations,” said Rosemary Messina, vice president of sales and marketing for ICI Homes.

Customization and Energy Efficiency, a Powerful Combination
The clean lines and wide open design features three gorgeous bedrooms, a cozy study, two and a half bathrooms; all sparkling with the latest designer trends and custom touches throughout. Displaying a rich yet understated elegance, the “Valverde” embraces new energy eff icient technologies that enrich and compliment the way families live today. “The best part is, if you’d like to make some changes, this
plan can be customized to your heart’s content,” said Messina. “As is the case with all the plans in ICI’s extensive portfolio, true customization is easy and affordable, and has become the cornerstone of our success.”

Customization is just one of ICI’s many hallmarks. Also long known for its award-winning commitment to eco-friendly home design, ICI Homes pioneered “E-Factor,” its own private labeled green building program back in 2007. “Since then, the program has continually
evolved to include the latest performance standards and building science,” said Judy Lawrence, vice president of design and customer relations. “Today, not only do we carry Energy Star certif ication, but every ICI home is rigorously inspected by an independent third party energy rating service to verify the home’s efficiency and calculate its HERS rating.”

HERS, an acronym for Home Energy Rating System, is the increasingly accepted industry standard to gauge a home’s overall efficiency. The lower the HERS score, the higher the energy-efficiency. “ICI Homes currently produces some of the lowest HERS ratings in the state of Florida and we are extremely proud of that,” explained Lawrence.

Rustic Beauty Inside and Out
“Valverde” is Spanish for “Green Valley” and this home lives up to its name. The approach is whimsical, the unique entrance enchanting, the cobblestone accents greet warmly and pull you in. The moment you cross the threshold and enter the foyer, the verdant, earth-friendly surroundings follow you in and lead your eye to a hand-crafted wall of split stone rock you just have to touch. Venture in a bit
further to the expansive great room and you can’t help but look up to the intricately wood-coffered ceiling, notably placed at the precise diagonal of the distressed walnut wood flooring under your feet; an artistic statement in itself. “This house is so open and easy on the eye,” added Messina. “It’s very cool to watch people’s faces as they enter the main living area, look through to the outside entertainment
pavilion and beyond to the third green of the Tom Fazio-designed, Westlake golf course.”

The indoor-outdoor living is seamless and inviting… priceless… and will surely be a big hit for Parade-Goers. Stone-wrapped columns frame an expansive patio area which features a fully-equipped summer kitchen, seating for dining alfresco, a stunning pool and spa/gathering area all trimmed in stone; and the piece de resistance… the outdoor, rough stone privacy wall that houses not only a cozy fireplace for those chilly nights, but a weatherproof big screen TV to watch the big game while you sun, soak and swim.

High Style Kitchen, Owners’ Suite
Back inside, the mom, the entertainer and serious gourmet alike will appreciate the “foodie-friendly” kitchen, designed to inspire serious culinary pursuits while encouraging lively conversation and family gatherings. You can’t help but admire the enormous island that dominates the space; an eight-foot-long distressed black walnut custom countertop resting atop expresso island cabinetry.

A stunning backsplash wall of glass tile flanks the island and provides a dramatic backdrop for sable-polished, whisper-close cabinetry that encases the latest GE Monogram appliances and hides built-in spice racks, pull-out bottle storage, recyclable trash containers, pull-out shelves and silverware trays. “Exploring the 21st century refrigerator alone is worth the trip,” said Messina. “It’s truly a dream kitchen.” These simple touches reflect the creative work of the ICI Homes design team who has successfully fused a stylish kitchen that can host an elegant dinner party one night and a cupcake baking event for a gang of girl scouts the next.

The owners’ suite brings home the true definition of “getting away from it all” while still being part of the action. Separate vanity and
mirrored areas bookend plenty of cabinet space while a 32” TV, cleverly hidden behind the larger vanity mirror, provides entertainment during a long soak in the luxurious spa-bath. “His & Hers” custom closets and state-of-the-art walk-in shower continue the theme of simplified elegance.

The Spaces That Really Count
Last but never least, let’s talk about those not-so-glamorous, but essential, behind-the-scenes work areas; a lifesaving “drop off zone” adjacent to the roomy laundry area that “neat-niks” will love for its out-of-the way yet accessible location. Families struggling to stay organized will appreciate how it simplifies their efforts to reduce clutter throughout the house. Who doesn’t need a convenient spot for
golf shoe removal, a charging station for phones, laptops and iPads, personal nooks or an easy-to-find car key depository? There’s even a special cubbie for the family pet! The walk-in pantry makes it easy to keep rarely used pots and pans at the ready for those impromptu gatherings – or when you don’t have time or energy to find that large roaster. The 27-foot-deep garage welcomes more than just vehicles, with room for a golf cart, motorcycle, bicycles and lawn equipment without overpowering the house.

The Door is Open, See You There
The “Valverde” clearly embraces the environment in simple yet expansive ways, while making it easy and fun to relax at home. Each space of this artistically designed Spanish-styled abode thoughtfully emanates warmth, exudes comfort and embraces a practical yet elegant lifestyle; truly a Showcase Home for All Seasons.

As the Showcase Home, the “Valverde” serves as the main attraction for the March 17-April 1, 2012 Parade of Homes in Volusia County. For more than 40 years, the Parade of Homes, sponsored by the VBIA, has given area residents a peek into the latest in new home design. Created to offer a taste of the latest trends in residential construction, interior design and landscaping, the Parade typically draws thousands of visitors to new homes throughout the county. The “Valverde” serves as a local “dream” home, featuring the finest materials and highlighting the latest in new home, high tech and energy-efficient options.

To visit, take I-95 to exit 278 and head west on Old Dixie Hwy. Plantation Bay is on the left. Take Plantation Bay Drive to gated entry and the attendants will provide a community map to the Showcase Home. For more details about the “Valverde” Showcase Home, ICI Homes’ extensive plan library or ICI communities in the area, please visit ICIHomes.com. For more information about the VBIA Parade of Homes, please call 386-226-1414 or visit www.VolusiaParade.com.