By Jason Miller, Midwest Home Chicago magazine, Winter 2005-2006

In Burnham Custom Homes' Woodstock masterpiece, the details are truly divine. Fine materials announce the home's quality on the outside, and continue the theme with each successive interior space.

The exterior is a welcoming mixture of brick, stone, and stucco. Copper flashing and a copper-topped turret add great curb appeal, as do the clay chimney pots and cedar-shake roofing.

Inspiring interior space begin in the foyer, where a stunning chandelier that can be mechanically lowered for easy bulb changes lights a marble mosaic inset into the floor. The grand hall continues the foyer's 22-foot ceilings as it leads from the foyer to the kitchen. Chandeliers add drama, as do three art niches that frame murals of the Tuscan countryside.

"It's the details that make this home a standout," says Steve Case, field director for Burnham Custom Homes. "The trim work, the art, the craftsmanship- it all comes together to form something greater than the sum of its parts."

Finishes in the kitchen add to the grandeur: granite countertops on the island and perimeter, custom cherry cabinets along a unique curved-radius wall, and heated porcelain flooring. Twin chandeliers set into the coffered ceiling cast a cheerful glow over the scene.

Not just a pretty face, the kitchen also serves the needs of the serious cook. The generous island- more than 8 feet long and 6 feet wide- offers plenty of work space. Commercial- quality appliances include double ovens, a dishwasher and dishwasher drawer, a pot-filler, and an in-wall coffee maker.

A hearth room adjacent to the kitchen, featuring one of the home's five stone fireplaces, is a perfect setting for after-dinner coffee. An adjoining brick-paved patio offers views of the neighboring nature preserve.

Truly a conversation piece, the formal dining room is raised on an oval platform and topped by a tray ceiling with multiple tiers. Faux-finished ceiling and recessed chandelier medallion are fitting companions. A nearby, built-in cherry buffet that follows the curvature of the walls rounds out the elegant appointments.

Four Tuscan columns define the nearby great room, where a coffered ceiling presides over a stone fireplace and bamboo floors. Bowed windows frame expansive views of the backyard. The main-floor home office with its fireplace and private patio offers space to take care of business and to take a breather. Matching, custom-built desk and cabinets make room for a 42-inch plasma TV.

At 7,400 square feet, the home includes five bedrooms, four full baths, and two half-baths- ample accommodations for a growing family. From the foyer, a curved staircase with cherry treads and rail combined with iron balusters leads up to the master suite and a "princess suite" for guests. No detail is overlooked in this guest space. A walk-in glass-and-ceramic-tile shower, a cherry vanity, and granite countertops grace the bath.

In the homeowners' bedroom a handsome fireplace, an elegant tray ceiling, and bowed windows create a memorable oasis. The connected bath boasts dual cherry vanities with countertops and ledges made of granite. A cylindrical, mosaic-tile-lined shower resides in the copper-topped turret. "We call it Rapunzel's tower," laughs Scot Begovich, president of Burnham Custom Homes. Columns define sunken air-jet tub, and a heated floor warms the toes each morning. Another staircase at the back of the house leads to the secondary bedrooms.

In the hydronically heated lower level floor, a full bar features cherry cabinets, a 61-inch plasma TV, a beer tap, and more. Dressed fieldstone lines the walls; granite countertops provide an additional touch of class. An adjoining wine cellar includes a tasting room with a cork floor.

The lower-floor family room boasts a stone fireplace and a fun arcade, but the movie theater will certainly draw its share of the crowd, too. With stadium seating artfully arranged in nearly 500 square feet, it could handle the largest gathering. A starlight ceiling adds a romantic touch.

Family-friendly features seem to march on endlessly in this home. An arrival hall off the garages (there are two: a 2-car and a 3-car) boasts a copper ceiling, access to two separate patios, cherry clubhouse lockers, and a walk-in coat closet.

Originally conceived as its architect's dream home while he was still in college, the design evolved to meet the preferences of today's homebuyer.

"We wanted it to accommodate Luxury Tour-size crowds, while still retaining its intimate feel," says Begovich. "It needed to be equally suited for entertaining and quiet family time."

If the reactions of visitors are any indication, Burnham Custom Homes accomplished its goal.