Beating the Odds
Kimberley Development sets new record with stunning spec home in West Des Moines.
They say that records are made to be broken. When it comes to building spec homes, Bill Kimberley of Kimberley Development has a reputation for being right on the money—and for breaking his own records.
“I’m hoping I still have that track record,” Kimberley says.
If history and customer satisfaction are any indication, the odds are in his favor. Kimberley has twice built the most expensive spec home in the metro, and his most recent spec project breaks the record yet again.
In the Stonewood Development at the western edge of West Des Moines, the $3.3 million home is the first property visible as you enter the development. It overlooks a pond and water feature and the Racoon River Valley beyond.
“This view will basically never change,” says Kimberley. “We wanted to build a home that does justice to that view. But because of the lot’s unique incline from the street, there wasn’t a design that was suitable. We had to start from scratch and rethink everything.”
The 7,000-square-foot modern Prairie Style home nestles into the hillside. On the front, full-height windows take advantage of the view, and the wide overhanging roof and balconies shade the home on even the brightest days.
“The concept for this home came from the custom home I built for myself in Florida,” Kimberley says. “That home sits across from the water, so we wanted to enjoy that view without the glare from the sun. The overhanging roofline accomplishes that.”
Kimberley says that the challenges of the lot helped spark creativity in the design. “The incline requires everything to be oriented toward the front. In most homes, we orient the living space to the back of the home, where it’s private. We couldn’t do that with this lot.”
In fact, the main level of the home is built into the hill in such a way that Kimberley had to rethink the typical floorplan. Instead of designing the family room and bedrooms at the back of the home, Kimberley wisely used that space, which backs to the hill, for the utility room, storage, and a luxurious master suite walk-in closet. The primary living spaces—master suite, great room, and dining/kitchen—are oriented to the front to take advantage of the expansive views.
“We were able to bring in natural light all along this side of the home, from the master bedroom to the spa-like bathroom, because it’s set back so far from the sidewalk and the road. And the hill actually gives you privacy,” Kimberley says.
Upstairs, additional bedrooms and an office access either the tree-lined backyard and patio or the covered deck along the front of the home.
“When we made the decision to buy lots out here,” says Kimberley, “we wanted to build something that would show people what we can do with a custom home. It’s not about showing off the latest products or the most popular trend in all the expensive houses. It’s about doing it right and paying attention to every last detail. That’s what custom home buyers are looking for.”
Highlights of the design include stunning architectural trim details, all in special-ordered white oak that adds warmth in a neutral tone. The same oak was used for the wide stairway at the back of the family room as well as the wainscoting along the stairs, the architectural feature at the front entry, and the wood ceiling with beams over the main living area.
Luxury touches, such as heated floors throughout, an elevator, and a spacious butler’s pantry, are designed to offer comfort as well as convenience for the owners.
“We recognized that this new Stonewood Development is probably one of the finest developments in all of the metro,” Kimberley says. “So we wanted to create a home that did justice to the neighborhood, that made a statement as you drive into the community. Basically, I approached the project as if I were going to move into the house—what I would I want, and what I would expect this home to offer.”
With a record for not only building the three most expensive spec homes for their time, but a record for selling them quickly as well, Kimberley has demonstrated that he understands what homeowners want. And he knows how to build the quality product that custom-home buyers demand.
“I wanted to do something very special,” he says. “Designing and building a home of this magnitude is minimum a two-year process. Some people in this market don’t want to wait that long. They don’t want to live in temporary space while they wait. They don’t want to uproot their families twice. They don’t want to deal with the whole process that goes into building a custom home like this. But I believe there is a market, albeit a small one, for homes of this type. If you do it right and you treat it like a custom home, not a spec home, there’s a buyer who will say what I did: ‘They thought of everything I would have asked for.’”
Odds are, Kimberley is right again.