A trip to Colorado and my new Martha Stewart/KB Home community

I went to Denver, Colorado, the week before last to celebrate the one-year anniversary of our Martha Stewart/KB Home community in Stapleton. If you haven't visited or seen one of our Martha Stewart/KB Homes, it's well worth the effort to do so. These homes are fantastic and affordable -– and they are modeled after my very own homes in New York State and Maine! In addition to the community in Stapleton, there are other Martha Stewart/KB Home communities in Georgia, North Carolina, California, Florida, and Texas. More information is available here.

Home buyers at the Stapleton community have their choice of five floor plans ranging in size from 1,593 to 2,084 square feet, all with three bedrooms, two and a half baths, and two-car garages. Prices begin in the mid-$300,000s. The community in Stapleton is also Energy Star qualified, so they are engineered to heat and cool efficiently and to use less energy resources.

The interior design details are exquisite and feature wainscoting, picture-frame molding, open shelving, and so much more of what I love. Plus, all of the models were decorated by the Martha Stewart design team. In addition to touring these lovely homes, we hosted approximately 100 guests for a delicious luncheon and a cupcake-decorating contest. Of course, I judged the creations and was very impressed! 

Oh, and don't forget to check out my interview about this with Neil Cavuto! 

The Katonah model is based on my own home in Katonah, New York.

The living room in the Katonah model has extensive wood work leading up to a magnificent raised ceiling.

The dining area in the Katonah model features a beautiful table from our furniture line with Bernhardt.

The kitchens in the homes feature lovely details like deep farmhouse sinks, granite counter tops, and roomy cabinets. This is a kitchen anyone would love.

The master bedrooms are cozy and inviting. This bed features linens from our Martha Stewart Collection at Macy's.

The master baths feature both soaking tubs and showers. The homes in Denver all feature two and a half baths -- all very clean and crisp.

Here I am in front of the Katonah model with Jeff Mezger, president and CEO of KB Home, and Rusty Crandal, KB Home division president.

The Lily Pond model is fashioned after my Long Island home in East Hampton, New York.

The kitchen in the Lily Pond model includes stainless steel appliances and a large center island. What fabulous cabinets!

All kitchens feature a dining area to encourage families to eat together. I love that light fixture.

As you can see, the living room in the Lily Pond model is light and airy.

The homes in Stapleton all feature roomy basements and large garages.

Lovely built-in bookcases.

This upstairs bedroom was decorated for a baby -- all models include three bedrooms.

Beautiful tile in the bathroom.

Each home includes a convenient and functional laundry room.

This bedroom in the Lily Pond model features a built-in desk.

Another pretty bathroom.

All master baths include free-standing showers with separate soaking tubs. The gorgeous tile extends all the way to the ceiling.

The Skylands model is based on my home in Seal Harbor, Maine. I will show you photos of that model next time.

Jeff and I did a number of interviews with the Denver press. Here we are with Rebecca Cole of Colorado Business Magazine.

Here I am with Katie Goldberg, our AVP of Corporate Communications, in the kitchen of the Katonah model.

More than 100 local residents joined us for a delicious luncheon and cupcake decorating contest.

It was so hard to choose just three winners from the wide array of cupcake entries.

Comments

[Claudia at Homefashionsu]

Martha,

This is so exciting, I live in Arizona and have been thinking about moving to Denver, (closer to grandkids) I will visit the properties when I'm in Denver next month.
Claudia
www.homefashionsu.com

[lil]

Does KB Homes use environmentally kind building materials in your homes? Do you require environmental impact studies on the plats before building? Knowing how careful and concerned you are, I am sure that you expect a high standard in the communities that carry your name.

[Marci]

Martha, you look beautiful in your tied jacket and slacks. I enjoy your blog and intend to do one myself one day! You've inspired me!! I want to invite you to Etsy.com on Sunday for our first Vintage Market Day. There will be many vintage dealers participating. Here's a link: http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5776635 Also, while you are there, please visit my store. It's called Serenities!! Marci

[David Bondarchuck]

Hello There Martha,
I am so sorry I missed you here in Denver, actually I was so distraught you wouldn't even believe. The last couple of times I have been in NYC, you have been in Russia and then in Maine, the day you come to Denver, I am in Vegas at a Conference for my Job.
Hopefully in November when I'm back in NYC I can finally see your show or something! Anyhow I hope you had an enjoyable time and don't worry I wrote that mean Libby Weaver of Fox 31 news a little piece of my mind- I mean how dare she!
Much Love, Chow!

[Norbie K. of Las Vegas, NV]

Subway tiles as back splash? what a cool idea.
I love the clean lines and details.
I am not one of those that feel every room has to have a splash of vibrant colors. Every corner is so serene and calm. Loves it!!!!

[Kathy]

Hi, Martha,
Thanks for the tour of the homes. I like both the Katonah and Lily Pond models. Such beautiful homes!
Kathy

[Patia]

Your homes are so beautifully and thoughtfully designed. I tried very hard to win one in your contest, but I don't know what I would have done with it, since I don't want to move away from Montana. Any chance you'll sell kit homes or plans one day?

[X]

Rusty Crandall of KB Homes is my brother-in-law. We affectionaley call his wife Sherri "Martha Jr." We mean that in the kindest of ways. She is the consumate host. She is very creative, a fabulous cook and takes the time to really make family events a great experience, as you always seem to do. She is a great decorator and has a lot of class. Hopefully you take our nickname for her as a compliment. I believe you met her while you were there at the event. We love our "Martha Jr." and the real one too.

[Sherey]

Martha...we need to have your homes offered in Canada. Lovely and well appointed! I need one of these! Aah...and cupcakes...how very much i love them! As a young child, i would shop at the Eaton's department store with my lovely mother (the store was a well known institution in the good old days in Canada). The food floor offered up the most delectable cupcakes and i was forever smitten! Needless to say, when Tiffany offered a cupcake charm...well, i just had to have one!

[Lisa Johnson]

Fantastic homes... and blog! I found it through Typepad's feature! Congrats! Mine was featured a few weeks ago... very fun to "meet" some new people! I've been a fan for a long time and often think of your simply elegant style when I'm designing. Thanks for all you do for the creative world!

[Prudy Handelman]

Dear Martha,
Thank you for all the creativeness you have added to my life. My only disappointment with you was when you said recently that you were a Democrat. I would so prefer that I didn't have to know my hero's political views. Especially at this time when politics are so devisive and feelings are hurt so easily. I prefer my Angels above the fray.
Otherwise, I think that you are wonderful.
Sincerely,
Prudy

[wangui mwangi]

Have been wondering how you are able to do it,that is make a fortune.still consider myself young but would love to be comfortable in the future.pliz advice.kenya

[Jenny B. from Sycamore, IL]

We lived in Denver for a few years, and moved just as the Stapleton area was starting to be revitalized. What a treat to see examples of the homes in one of the hottest "new" spots in the Mile High City!

[Kimberly]

Martha, you look great and the homes are beautiful.

[Margie]

I want to say the cupcake decorating was great fun. I have never done something like decorate a cupcake so it was a terrific --not terrifying--experience. My creativity impressed me but let me tell everyone the cupcakes were much, much better. As they say "to die for". When Martha is involved the bash (event) is unequalled.

[Sarah]

Dear Martha,

Any chance the Martha Stewart KB Homes will come to Northern Virginia? They're quite beautiful and stylish and I really love them, but the closest one to me is almost 5 hours away.

[Bipolar Christy]

The Colony, TX is an excellent area to build because it's still within the Dallas city limits, nestled between Plano and Frisco. Your only competition, really, is the Austin Ranch!

[Cindy Bricker]

These homes indeed are quite lovely! They all seem to have all the prerequisites for the busy family! (like insulation, central a/c, and efficient heating systems!)

I live in my "dream-home" - a two story brick colonial, built in 1935, in the end of town where all the doctors and merchants built their homes or lived during that era. You can imagine all the grand homes and varying architecture, resulting from having the means to afford custom-built homes and top-quality building materials. Mine IS built well but is on the smaller size of "grande". When I see the kitchen and bath pictures as I scroll down - man, would I love to have them in my home! I'd have to build on, though, as the original footprint for these rooms is rather small (for function and practicality, I guess - get in/get out...)

Boy oh boy, if I had the money!... (we're never happy, are we?!!...)

(Big sigh!)

=^..^=

[susan ciesluk]

Dear Martha
The homes are just gorgeous...and i saw them first hand....my son bought one in Imperial California and we are so proud and excited for him. We cannot wait until we sell our home here in New England to buy one and join him in his wonderful new community. sue ciesluk