This week, I will review the third and final tract in Lambert Ranch, The Hill. This is the mid-range tract, with large (but not enormous) homes and gorgeous views all the way to the coast on a clear day. Like the other tracts, The Hill offers a bathroom in every bedroom, options for private quarters, and a lot of flexibility in how the rooms are used. Click here to see my first review of Lambert Ranch, which includes general information about the community.

The Hill Spec Sheet

Residence 1

3,418 – 3,885 Sq Ft

Downstairs Bedroom

4 Bedrooms, 4 Baths, Great Room, Loggia, Formal Dining, Bonus Room, 3 Car Garage

Optional 5th Bedroom, Deck at Master, Office at Casita, Wok Kitchen, Conservatory

Starting from $1,106,800

Have you ever joked that it would be fun to buy a house next to your family or close friends and just cut a hole in the back fence so the kids could run back and forth? Well, The Hill does one better: you can buy adjacent properties and create a giant, shared backyard and/or a shared front courtyard. I walked into the first house and didn’t even realize right away that I’d crossed into the second. I thought it was a pretty cool setup if you had someone to do it with. The nice thing is, other than the outdoor spaces, the two homes are truly separate.

Residence 1 has a small casita at the front of the home, accessible both from the entryway and the courtyard. It is a simple room, slightly smaller than in the other Lambert Ranch homes, but still with a private bath. For a bit of extra space, you can opt to have an office, which lacks a closet, but still has the bathroom.

After walking down a breezeway, you enter the main residence, with a formal dining room to one side and the staircase on the other. The dining room is much closer to the kitchen than in the other Lambert Ranch homes, so it feels more accessible and convenient. Between the dining room and kitchen, is a pantry and your choice of either a butler’s pantry or a wok kitchen (see my review of the Grove at Lambert Ranch for more on wok kitchens).

The kitchen is beautiful, with a large island that seats six of gourmet appliances. It has room for a casual dining table as well. Aside from the island, the kitchen lacks counter space, with just a small space on either side of the stove.

Adjacent to the kitchen is a large great room, with a fireplace at the far end. The room is wide and spacious, with large doors to the backyard on one wall and small windows on another. Also off the kitchen is the loggia (conservatory optional), creating yet another dining area or casual indoor/outdoor living space.

Residence 1 has a two car garage with your choice of a home room and additional storage space, or a fifth bedroom. Unlike all of the homes other Lambert Ranch homes, it looks like you actually have to go into the hallway to access the bathroom. Because the model is set up with a sales office, I didn’t get to see what it would look like with a downstairs bedroom.

Moving upstairs, there is a bonus room at the top with lots of windows and options for various built-ins. Both secondary bedrooms upstairs have private baths and one has both a walk-in closet and a small balcony. In keeping with the trend throughout Lambert Ranch, the bedrooms are all a good size and they don’t share walls with each other.

The laundry room has plenty of counter space, a big sink, and a large storage closet.

The master bedroom has a huge wall of windows on one side and a walk-in closet that runs the entire length of the room. There is an option for either a big deck or an 18’ x 10’ master retreat. I would absolutely choose the retreat, knowing I wouldn’t sit out on the deck much but could definitely use the extra space for an office, a gym, or a sitting room. The bathroom is quite large, with split sinks, a bathtub, and a shower that is long, somewhat narrow, and that doesn’t have a door (I’ve seen this as a trend in newer homes, but not in the other Lambert Ranch models). I thought there was a little too much wasted space in the bathroom though.

I think my favorite part of this home is the backyard and loggia. It was a beautiful outdoor space with room to play, have a bbq, and more.

Residence 2

3,661 – 4,165 Sq Ft

Downstairs Bedroom

5 Bedrooms, 5 ½ Baths, Great Room, Loggia, Formal Dining, Bonus Room, 3 Car Garage

Optional Private Quarters, Master Retreat, Office at Bed 3, Deck at Master, Wok Kitchen, Conservatory

Starting from $1,172,800

As I mentioned above, I was in Residence 2 before I even realized I had left Residence 1. Obviously, that would only happen if you chose to connect the two homes, but it did cause a bit of confusion!

Like in the first home, this one has a bedroom or office space at the front of the home, accessible from the foyer and the courtyard. However, this one is a not a separate casita. In the model, it is set up as an office with a lot of built-in cabinets around the room. All of the cabinets made it hard to picture what it would be like if it was set up as a bedroom, though that is an option. It can also be private quarters, which includes a service bar.

As in Residence 1, there is a long breezeway that separates the front room from the rest of the house, with a dining room being the first room you come to inside the main home. The dining room is actually part of the great room, and is closer to the living space than to the kitchen. While it could work as a formal dining room, its proximity to the living area makes me think a casual table would feel homier.

I like the layout of the kitchen more than I did in Residence 1. The island isn’t quite as wide, with seating for four instead of six. There are many large storage drawers and more counter space. Two separate doorways at the back lead to other small rooms. Through one door are a home room and a pantry. Through the other is a “mom’s room.” I like the name, as I can say the space is officially mine and ban all other family members from using it! It is really just a small office space, perfect for paying bills and keeping important paperwork close at hand. Serious cooks can replace the mom’s room with a wok kitchen.

The home comes standard with a three-car tandem garage. However, for families who don’t think just one laundry room upstairs is enough, or who dislike the idea of upstairs laundry, you can opt for a two-car garage and a downstairs laundry room. I don’t like doing laundry and having two laundry rooms in my house certainly isn’t going to make me like it more! I would definitely take the three-car garage so my husband could have a workbench (only seems fair if I get a mom’s room, right?).

In this model, the loggia/conservatory is off the great room and the backyard access is off the kitchen. Most other Lambert Ranch homes have it the other way around. I don’t think it makes a difference either way, and I still like the idea of having a covered space that connects the house to the backyard. Remember, in the model, the backyard is shared with the yard from Residence 1.

Upstairs, there are four bedrooms and a bonus room. The bonus room is right at the top of the stairs and is next to the master. The other three bedrooms are on the other side, with two of them actually sharing a wall. I actually thought the upstairs was a bit of a maze, with linen cupboards and closets everywhere and more hallways than necessary. I didn’t really like the layout.

All three secondary bedrooms have their own bathrooms, including one where the sink area is separated by a door from the tub/shower and toilet. Two of the rooms are fine, but I really disliked the layout of the third (called bedroom 3 on the floor plan). It has two doors leading out to the same balcony, whereas I would prefer just one door so there is enough wall space to actually make room for furniture. That same room also has a small foyer that I think is a total waste of space.

The Master is right off the bonus room. It has an optional large deck (as shown in the model) or a retreat. Again, I would definitely choose the retreat. The master has a big bathroom and two walk-in closets. If you opted for the downstairs laundry room, you could choose to eliminate the upstairs laundry and create an expanded walk-in closet in the master instead. For some, that might make having laundry downstairs more appealing. I’d still choose the three-car garage and upstairs laundry though, since the house has plenty of storage and doesn’t really need another expanded closet.

I really didn’t like the layout upstairs in Residence 2. If I was buying a home in Lambert Ranch, this is not a model that I would consider.

Residence 3

3,792 – 4,392 Sq Ft

Downstairs Master Bedroom with Optional Second Master Upstairs

5 Bedrooms, 5 Baths, Great Room, Loggia, Formal Dining, Bonus Room, 3 Car Garage

Optional Private Quarters, Second Master Upstairs, Extended Loggia, Office, Music Room, 2nd Laundry, Deck at Second Master, Wine Room, Wok Kitchen, Conservatory

Starting from $1,234,800

The largest home in The Hill tract, Residence 3 has a pretty front room that can be a music room (aka living room), an office, or a bedroom. The layout of the music room and office are nearly identical, but the office is listed as being 17 square feet bigger, so I don’t see a reason to choose a music room. If you opt for a bedroom, it adds a walk-in closet. All options have a bathroom.

Beyond the front room is a formal dining room that leads through to the pantry area and then the kitchen. There are three options for the pantry area (all include a butler’s pantry): storage pantry, wok kitchen, or wok kitchen + wine room. The kitchen is longer and narrower than the other models, but still has ample counter and cabinet space. The island is long and skinny, but seats four and feels more manageable than the gargantuan islands in some of the other models.

The great room at the back of the house is bigger than in the other homes in the tract. It has French doors leading out to the backyard and the stairway is tucked into a little nook at one side.

A short hallway off the great room leads to a downstairs master bedroom. The room has lots of windows and the bathroom features split sinks, a big bathtub, and a walk-in closet. There is a loggia off the bedroom, with options to create an extended loggia or conservatory that also connect to the great room.

Residence 3 comes standard with a three-car tandem garage, small downstairs laundry room, and a small storage closet next to the stairs. Reduce to a two-car garage and you have four different options. One has a bigger laundry room, second walk-in closet in the downstairs master, and additional storage space behind the stairs. A second option leaves some storage in the garage and adds an exercise room inside. The third option maintains some storage in the garage, but adds a huge walk-in closet to the downstairs master. The final option turns the master bedroom into private quarters. It adds a porch and a sitting room with service bar. If you go with this option, the private quarters become a huge suite that encompasses about half of the living space downstairs.

Upstairs, you have to choose between a bonus room and a master suite. If you choose the bonus, there are still three bedrooms upstairs, each with a private bath, but none with a bath and closet as large or fancy as in a typical master. If you go with the master, you get the nicer bath and closet, but you lose the bonus room entirely. Choosing the master also gives you the option to add on a huge deck (retreat not an option in this model). It may be a hard choice for some. I think I would keep the bonus room, since I don’t need an overly fancy bathroom and would rather have the extra space for a playroom or office. The model is set up with a master but no deck.

One of the other upstairs bedrooms is extra large, with room for a table and chairs in addition to the standard bedroom furniture. That one also has a walk-in closet and a bathroom that separates the sink area from the tub/shower and toilet.

No matter which options you choose, this home will have one laundry room upstairs and another one downstairs. I really do not see the point of this and would much rather have one of them be a closet, an office, or any other more versatile space. Other than that, I don’t have any complaints about the house. It was gorgeous and every room is big, open and well-laid out.

Owners in The Hill will be treated to gorgeous views and large yards. The houses are big, but not massive, and have plenty of options for creating the perfect space for your family (or families, if you choose to create a compound estate). I’m looking forward to watching Lambert Ranch develop as they build more homes, parks, and community spaces.

A couple of weeks ago, I presented a review of The Field, a tract in the new community of Lambert Ranch. This week, I had the pleasure of visiting The Grove, the largest of the three tracts. Since the previous review gives a general overview of Lambert Ranch, I will jump right into my review of The Grove.

Lambert Ranch – The Grove Pricing 5/13/2012 (PDF)

Residence 1

4,278 – 4,956 Sq Ft

Downstairs Bedroom

5 Bedrooms, 5 ½ Baths, Great Room, Loggia, Formal Dining, Bonus Room, 3 Car Garage

Optional 6^th Bedroom, Private Quarters, Office at Bed 5, Wine Room, Expanded Dining Room, Wok Kitchen, Conservatory

Starting from $1,351,800

If you’re looking for a home that combines indoor and outdoor living, this floor plan is perfect for you. It features a spacious courtyard, a loggia (or optional conservatory), a big backyard and rooms that flow freely between the various outdoor spaces. The great room sits between the courtyard and the backyard, with large doors opening to both.

The great room itself is a large, multifunctional space. One end features a sitting area with optional fireplace and the other end has a beautiful gourmet kitchen. The island is massive, the appliances are top of the line, the pantry is big enough to hold food for an entire year, and there is a separate butler’s pantry, next to which I also discovered a big storage closet under the stairs.

Unlike the homes in The Field, where they had only a loggia and no formal dining room, this home provides three different options (four if you count the island) of where to dine. There is a casual dining area in the center of the great room, a formal dining room toward the front of the house (accessible from the kitchen through the butler’s pantry), and the loggia/conservatory at the back of the house. The courtyard has more than enough room for yet another table and chairs. If you entertain a lot, I’m sure you could make great use of all the different spaces. If not, you’d probably want to set up the loggia/conservatory as a different sort of room (office, playroom, etc).

While the home comes standard with a three-car garage, you can reduce to a two-car garage and add a larger formal dining room, a wine room, a home room (which I confirmed is a fancy term for a mud room) and/or a wok kitchen. What is a wok kitchen, you ask? It is a separate kitchen, featuring a fridge, sink, ample counter space, and a large wok. For someone who does a lot of deep frying, it’s a nice way to contain the grease (see photos of a wok kitchen below in Residence 3).

At the front of the home, you have the option for a bedroom, an office, or private quarters. All feature a bathroom and ample storage space. The private quarters includes a separate entrance and service bar. The model is set up with a standard bedroom.

Moving upstairs, I was greeted with an open bonus room that could be used in a variety of ways. The model has it as another sitting area with a wall of built-ins and a large TV. To one side, there are three bedrooms, each with a private bath and one with a walk in closet and balcony overlooking the street. None of the rooms share walls with the other bedrooms and only one shares a wall with the bonus room. As in The Field, the rooms all have many windows, are a good size, and laid out nicely so that you can actually put furniture in them. I’m always frustrated when bedrooms don’t have enough wall space, but that isn’t the case in any room anywhere in The Grove.

There is a laundry room and storage area off the bonus room as well. An optional 6^th bedroom and bath can be added at the front of the house. This is a completely extra space and doesn’t take away from any of the existing rooms.

On the opposite side of the bonus room is the master suite. Overlooking both the backyard and the courtyard, it has huge windows and lots of light. The walk-in closet is as big as the secondary bedrooms and even has a window. The master bath features separate sinks and a large bathtub. All three homes in The Grove had very large showers in the master bath. I always wonder why designers include huge bathtubs and tiny stall showers, since most people I know shower daily but rarely use their tubs. These homes actually all have large showers with benches.

Residence 1 is absolutely gorgeous and my favorite of The Grove tract. It has great space, a nice flow, and various options to suit any family.

Residence 2

4,411 – 4,595 Sq Ft

Guest House at Courtyard

5 Bedrooms, 5 ½ Baths, Great Room, Loggia, Formal Dining, Bonus, 3 Car Garage

Optional 6^th Bedroom, Super Great Room, Office, Exercise Room, Super Laundry, Enlarged Master Walk-In Closet, Wok Kitchen

Starting from $1,387,800

This home, while technically larger than plan 1, actually feels a bit smaller because much of its square footage is in the guest house at the back of the property. It is still plenty big, but the living space downstairs didn’t feel quite as vast. Upon entering, there is a room to one side that can be used as a formal dining room or as an office. If you choose an office, you get an additional bathroom. The sales consultant said if a bathroom is an option, never turn it down, so I would probably forgo the rarely-used dining room and put in an office. I find the idea of a dining room at the front of the house a bit odd anyway. Choosing the office eliminates the “dining pantry,” but since you still get a regular pantry and a butler’s pantry (which is expanded if you have an office), I hardly think you’d miss it.

The Great Room is a big space and can be turned into a Super Great Room if you take out the tandem third car garage. The garage would still have a storage area, but you get an additional 11 x 16 area inside the home, plus an optional fireplace. As in Residence 1, the kitchen island is very big and the appliances are top of the line. There is a morning room that has a built-in desk and could be set up with either a casual or more formal dining area. Beyond that is a loggia.

As you move back through the loggia, you come to the guest house. At approximately 42’ x 17’, this separate residence is perfect for a family with frequent out of town visitors, live-in family members who still want some independence or office space. You could also rent it out. The model has it set up with a large living area that includes a sitting room and a small kitchen featuring a fridge, sink, microwave and dishwasher (no stove or oven), with room for a table and chairs. The single bedroom is as big as the home’s secondary bedrooms, with a large bathroom and walk-in closet. The guest house also has its own washer and dryer. As an alternative, the guest house can have two bedrooms, each with a private bath and walk-in closet, and a family room. If you opt for the second bedroom, you lose the kitchen or laundry room. My choice would be for the great room and single bedroom.

Because of the guest house, this model lacks a backyard. However, it has a huge courtyard that, combined with the loggia, provides plenty of outdoor space.

As in Residence 1, there is an open bonus room at the top of the stairs. Each bedroom is at a separate corner of the upper floor, so none share walls with each other or with the bonus room. The secondary bedrooms all have a private bath and regular (not walk-in) closets, and two have balconies. They maintain the standard of large rooms and many windows. You can choose to have two or three bedrooms, in addition to the master. If you opt out of the third bedroom, you lose a bathroom. Your other choices are an exercise room (accessible only from the master) with expanded closet in the master, an exercise room plus super laundry room or a third walk-in closet for the master and a super laundry room. I’d opt for the bedroom, which could be used as an exercise room, as it affords a lot more flexibility than a room which is only accessed through the master. Since the master already has two walk-in closets, I don’t see the need to expand one or to create a third.

The master bedroom has a small retreat. Its bath has separate sinks and, again, features a much bigger shower than I’ve seen in many other homes. Because it is separated from the other rooms upstairs, it feels very private. The two walk-in closets provide more than enough storage.

It’s pretty hard to find anything to complain about in this home. While I did like Residence 1 a bit more, Residence 2 is certainly nothing to scoff at!

Residence 3

4,573-5,125 Sq Ft

Downstairs Bedroom With Optional Second Master Downstairs

5 Bedrooms, 5 ½ Baths, Great Room, Loggia, Formal Dining, Bonus Room, 3 Car Garage

Optional Private Quarters, Office, Music Room, Wok Kitchen, Conservatory

Starting from $1,426,800

The largest home in all of Lambert Ranch, this home has many living areas downstairs. When you enter the house, there are rooms to both sides (other models have a room only on one side with the garage on the other). One side is a music room (a.k.a. living room) and the other is a formal dining room with optional fireplace. This is the only model with an actual living room, so this is the choice for someone who really wants a formal living space. Again, I’m not used to seeing the dining room at the front of the house and might choose to use the space differently, but there is not an option to create a bedroom here.

Since I teased you at the beginning of the post with the idea of a Wok Kitchen, let me finally show you a photo. Opting for the Wok Kitchen does eliminate a large pantry, but the home still has a big butler’s pantry. I also found another closet under the stairs in this model.

I know I called the kitchen islands in the previous models massive, but this one makes the others look small. As in the other homes, the kitchen has a built-in refrigerator and multiple ovens. A morning room can be used for casual dining.

The Great Room is bigger than in the other two models, even if you opted for the Super Great Room in Residence 2. Behind it is a loggia or optional conservatory. Because it is adjacent to the backyard, it creates a nice patio area and allows the backyard to still have a grassy space.

This model has several options for the back of the house downstairs. All options have a powder room and home room off the garage, which is behind a motor court area. Option 1 has a tandem, three-car garage with extra storage in the front space and a bedroom, including a walk-in closet and private bath, at the back. Option 2 has a two-car garage and private quarters. Similar to the guest house from Residence 2, the private quarters here feature a separate sitting room and bedroom. This one has a service bar but not a kitchen. Option 3 is a two-car garage with a second master bedroom and a small, private patio at the back. Finally, Option 4 is tandem three-car garage with a Music Room that includes a bathroom and walk-in closet. Options 1 and 4 are very similar. The key difference is that option 1 has storage in the garage whereas option 4 eliminates that space and adds it to the room inside. The bedroom is 12 x 12 and the music room is 12 x 18. My choice is a bigger room inside, since a 3-car garage would already give me the extra storage space I needed.

Residence 3 is similar upstairs to the other models. There is a big bonus room at the top of the stairs with three secondary bedrooms and a master suite. Two of the secondary bedrooms have balconies, all have private baths, none have walk-in closets and none shares a wall with another bedroom.

There are three (yes, three!) separate linen closets/cupboard areas and a laundry room that is so large it even has a built in desk.

The master suite is huge, with a large bedroom, beautiful bathroom including separate sinks, big tub, large shower, and two huge closets.

I like all the different options in this house and the flexibility that they provide. It is a nice layout and every room is big and bright.

The homes in The Grove are elegant, beautiful, and spacious. The possibilities for upgrades and options, not to mention use of the space, seem endless. While they have a hefty price tag, it does seem that you’re getting your money’s worth. Even if buying one of these homes isn’t in your future, I highly recommend visiting the models just to see how gorgeous they are. I might go back again just for fun.

Stay tuned next week for a review of The Hill, the third and final tract in Lambert Ranch.

Today, I start a series highlighting the three tracts within Lambert Ranch (community overview), a brand new gated community in the hills above Irvine, bordered by Portola Springs and the 133 and 241 toll roads. Catering to families, the community has numerous parks, pools, and the Ranch House recreational center to allow members of the community to come together. It even features a Children’s Adventure Park, a new .75 acre park designed for children by children. The nearest schools are Stonegate Elementary, Sierra Vista Middle School, and Northwood High School. Lambert Ranch will have 169 homes.

Lambert Ranch is promoting what they call “life space.” This offers flexible living situations such as adjacent plots, separate guest houses, or private quarters within a home. This flexibility makes it easy for multi-generational families to live together, or to set up a private home office or studio.

What sets Lambert Ranch apart from every other new community in Irvine is the absence of Mello Roos taxes. This is a huge annual savings and may make a brand new home affordable for a family that can’t manage the extra tax in other communities.

I have the pleasure of visiting each tract and giving you the scoop on the different homes. This week, I’ll review The Field.

Base Property Tax: 1.05%

Overall Effective Tax Rate: Approximate 1.09%

Homeowners Dues: approx. $300/month

Residence 1

2,730 – 2,930 Sq Ft

Downstairs Bedroom

4 Bedrooms, 4 Baths, Great Room, Loggia, 2 Car Garage

Optional 2nd Loggia, Conservatory

Starting from $889,800

When I entered Residence 1, I was greeted by a long hallway with a glimpse of the great room at the back of the house. To the right is the first floor bedroom and bath. I noticed right away how bright the bedroom is, a trend that I saw carried out in pretty much every room of every house in The Field. The room is a nice size that would work well as a bedroom or office. The bathroom is not private, as it’s the only one downstairs, but it is accessible from the bedroom.

Past the bedroom is the loggia, a pretty courtyard with a fireplace and one open wall. With the right furniture, you can create a very cozy space to entertain, read or just relax.

At the end of the hall is the great room, with the living area on the right and the kitchen to the left. The space is large, bright and beautiful. The living area has windows or doors on three sides (one set faces the loggia), but still can be set up with an L-shaped couch or a sofa and love seat. Having a nice set up in the family room is important to me, and I didn’t feel like the windows restricted the set up at all. While a fireplace is available, the model features a set of cabinets instead, which I actually prefer. We never use our fireplace and I like the idea of replacing it with something more useful.

The kitchen is huge, including a large island with space for several bar stools. The stainless steel Wolf brand appliances, including a single oven and 48” six burner stove, and the granite countertops give the kitchen a sleek look. There is ample counter space, lots of cabinets, and a large walk-in pantry through the “home room.” I have never heard of a home room before, but it seems to be equivalent to a mud room, or a place to store shoes, coats, backpacks, etc. between the garage and the kitchen.

The kitchen feeds into a dining area with windows all around that face the backyard. While there is enough space for a large dining table, it doesn’t feel like a room that is so formal you could only use it on special occasions.

The backyard is not too big, but there is room for kids to play or to have a nice seating area.

Moving upstairs, the first thing I saw was a small computer area with a built in desk and several large cupboards. While this is common in many new homes, I don’t really like it. I can’t imagine really using the space as an office and I think it would probably just accumulate junk.

One of my favorite things about this floor plan is that none of the bedrooms share walls with each other, so there is less noise and more privacy. The master bedroom has windows on three sides and an arched doorway leading back to the bathroom and closet area. There is a large bathtub, dual sinks, and an average-sized shower stall with a bench. I would prefer a larger shower, but this is bigger than the ones I have seen in other new homes.

Both secondary bedrooms upstairs are big, with multiple windows and private en suite bathrooms. I noticed the size of these rooms immediately and was happy to see that The Field moved away from the trend of creating enormous master bathrooms and closets at the expense of the other bedrooms. Each of these bedrooms also featured a walk-in closet. The en suite bathrooms each have a single sink and a tub/shower combo and, while they are fairly small, they are adequate for one person.

Last, but not least, is the upstairs laundry room. It has a large utility sink, ample counter space, and plenty of room for an ironing board, folding table, or drying rack.

Overall, I had a very positive impression of Residence 1. I loved all of the windows and the large rooms, and can easily imagine raising a family there. An alternate Residence 1X is available, though there isn’t a model. The footprint is almost identical, but it has an extra half bath downstairs, a porch replacing the loggia, and a bigger loft area at the top of the stairs.

Residence 2X

3,020 to 3,276 Sq Ft

Downstairs Bedroom

4 Bedrooms, 4.5 Baths, Great Room, Loggia, Bonus Room, 2 Car Garage

Optional Private Quarters, Conservatory

Starting from $950,800

Residence 2X is actually the first model I saw in The Field and the one currently housing the sales office. It is also my favorite of the three.

The first thing I noticed was that this home has two front doors – one leading into the foyer and another into the downstairs bedroom suite. The second door is an option and may be a nice feature for someone using the space as a separate residence or for someone who sees clients in a home office. Another interesting feature of the house is that the garage is at the back of the house with a side entrance. I’m not sure if I would like this or not, since I am used to the garage facing the street, and it’s kind of hard to tell since the model has a sales office in place of a garage.

The downstairs bedroom in this model is the nicest of the three residences. It is a large room featuring a walk-in closet, a small foyer with arched doors, a wetbar with mini fridge and a private bath. As is the case throughout the house, there are large windows so the room is bright and airy. While I was in the bedroom, I heard a few other people commenting on how the room felt so big and private; one compared it to a hotel suite.

The great room is at the other side of the house, with the living area facing the front and the kitchen at the back. The kitchen felt huge, with the counters and most appliances in a large L and a very long island with barstools in the middle. The only sink is in the island, along with the dishwasher. The dining area is off to the side with no separation from the kitchen. There is room for a formal dining table, though I would probably prefer a more casual look since it would be used every day. An optional fireplace can be included in the dining area, but the model has extra long counters and cupboard space instead. To the side of the kitchen is a “home room” and large walk-in pantry.

The great room is square with windows on one side facing front and optional bi-folding doors to the loggia on another. The dining area also has access to the loggia. It’s a nice extra seating area, though my preference would be for another room inside the house that would get more use. However, if I did have a loggia, I would rather have sliding doors than bi-folding ones so I could include screens to keep the bugs out.

Moving upstairs, I first saw a laundry room with a big sink and lots of space. All three bedrooms feed off of a common bonus room. The bonus room isn’t huge, but it is versatile and can work as a playroom or an office. As in Residence 1, none of the bedrooms actually share walls and each has its own en-suite bathroom. Only the master bedroom shares a wall with the bonus room. The secondary rooms are very large with lots of windows. One has a balcony facing the side of the house.

The master bedroom has a front-facing balcony. It isn’t a huge room, and probably only has room for one dresser, but the enormous walk-in closet eliminates the need for another one anyway. The master bath features a tub and separate shower stall, as well as two separate sink areas. My only complaint about it is that I like a little more separation between the bedroom and the bathroom, either with the closet or a small hallway.

Overall, I really liked the layout of Residence 2X. There is an alternate Residence 2, but there isn’t a model. Its main difference is a lack of the separate powder room downstairs and the addition of a fireplace in the living room. The master bedroom also lacks a balcony in the standard Residence 2 (prices start at $898,800).

Residence 3

3,027 – 3,407 Sq Ft

Downstairs Bedroom

4 Bedrooms, 4 Baths, Formal Dining, Great Room, Loggia, 2 Car Garage

Optional Private Quarters, 5th Bedroom

Exercise Room with Expanded Closet, Conservatory

Starting from $950,800

At 3,027 to 3,407 square feet, Residence 3 is the biggest model in The Field. Downstairs, it is nearly identical to Residence 1, with one key difference. Residence 3 has a formal dining room, though in a somewhat awkward location, I think. With arched doorways into the hallway and the great room, it feels too far away from the kitchen. There is a loggia off the back of the kitchen where Residence 1 had the dining area. If you want casual seating in Residence 3, your only options are sitting at the island or putting a small table between the kitchen and great room. I prefer the kitchen-adjacent dining room in Residence 1 more than the layout of Residence 3.

This model has a bonus room at the top of the stairs and a huge laundry room. As in the other models, the secondary bedrooms upstairs are both large with en suite bathrooms and several windows each. They have average-sized closets with folding doors and one room has a front-facing balcony.

The master bedroom felt a little bigger than in the other models, so I liked that. Through the bathroom is an additional retreat, or exercise room, that creates extra living space within the master suite. It is big enough for a desk if you want office space, but also makes a nice sitting room or in-home gym. The only thing I don’t like about it is the location, since you do have to go through the bathroom to get to it.

Overall, the three different models (five if you count the “X” versions of Residences 1 and 2) have a lot of similarities. Each features a downstairs bedroom facing the front of the house and three bedrooms upstairs, all with en suite bathrooms. They all have a loggia in lieu of a formal living room. All three also offer some sort of bonus space upstairs (Residences 2X and 3 have a full bonus room while Residence 1 has the computer area).

I envision this community quickly becoming popular among young families. The large secondary bedrooms and lack of Mello Roos tax are very appealing. The community Ranch House and adjacent pool reminded me of the popular Woodbury Commons area, The smallest floor plan offers 2,730 square feet of living space, so these homes have plenty of room for growing families. None of the homes had very large backyards, but I don’t see that deterring too many people from buying in this neighborhood.

I am looking forward to reviewing the other two tracts in Lambert Ranch in the coming weeks.

Discuss below or on the companion thread at Talk Irvine.