2003 Idea Houses

FORD DIVISION

Casually elegant indoor-outdoor living at the Warm and Colorful House extends to the automobile in the driveway: a Ford Thunderbird convertible. This sleek and sporty new American icon updates and reinvents the classic original Thunderbird from 1955. With a picnic in the backseat, who could resist taking it for a spin down the coast to Big Sur?

Contact: www.fordvehicles.com

GOOD GUYS

State-of-the-art electronics from the Good Guys ensure that both Idea Houses are fully equipped for 21st-century entertainment. Each house includes a Philips 34-inch CRT TV and a Denon DVD player. In the family room of the Warm and Colorful House are Monitor Audio Bronze Series center channel speakers, a Klipsch subwoofer, and a ViewSonic 42-inch flat-panel TV.

Contact: (408) 361-0300

KITCHEN AID

Dual-fuel cooking ― a gas rangetop for maximum control and an electric oven for ease in baking ― is now available in a 48-inch, eight-burner, stainless steel, commercial-style range with double electric convection ovens from KitchenAid. It’s one of the stars of our kitchen, along with the console dishwasher with its Empire Red front panel. It boasts KitchenAid’s quietest wash cycle.

Contact: www.kitchenaid.com, (800) 422-1230

KRAFTMAID CABINETRY

When it comes to kitchen cabinetry, the key question is how to achieve a custom look without a custom price. KraftMaid, which manufactured the cabinetry for this house, offers more than 100 door styles in six types of wood. In our kitchen, maple cabinets are treated with Charcoal and Pewter Glaze finishes. Adding character and an open effect are Antiquity glass inserts in some cabinet doors.

Contact: www.kraftmaid.com, (800) 791-1990

PELLA CORPORATION

Our windows needed to be compatible with the shingled exterior. Pella Architect Series divided-light windows re-create vintage charm with 21st-century energy efficiency. Casement windows in the living room, kitchen, and master bedroom also complement the architecture. Their argon-filled insulated glass reduces fading and saves on heating and cooling costs. The SureLock System lifts and pulls the sash against weather-stripping to form a tight seal.

Contact: www.pella.com, (888) 847-3552

SCHLAGE

First impressions are important, especially when it comes to door hardware, as the Warm and Colorful House demonstrates. The front door embodies security and style, thanks to Schlage’s Artisan Series products, including the Plymouth Maximum Security deadbolt and handle set in an Old World finish called Antique Pewter.

Contact: www.schlagelock.com, (800) 847-1864

WEBER-STEPHEN PRODUCTS CO.

When the weather is nice, you want to take advantage of it by cooking outside. Weber’s Summit Gold B gas grill on our rear patio has six stainless steel burners, an electronic ignition system, welded stainless steel cooking grates, a double-walled stainless steel hood with matching handle, and a storage cabinet. This unit can handle everything from small barbecues to family reunions. Durable swing-up Thermoset work surfaces are scratch- and heat-resistant and clean up easily.

Contact: www.weber.com, (800) 446-1071

Keep Reading: