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Kristin Wilson

16 Beautiful Ashton Woods Homes Ready For Your Family

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Ashton Woods is in its final sales phase at Asturia, with 85 percent of homesites sold since the community opened two years ago.

“We’ve had tremendous success in Asturia, selling over 100 single-family homes in this much-desired community,” said Marketing Manager Kristin Wilson. “We have under 30 homes available for sale, and expect all to be completed by the end of the year.”

Because most families want to move into their new home as soon as possible, Ashton Woods received permits from Pasco County for all of its remaining Asturia homesites.

“This saves our buyers up to three months in the building process,” said Kathy Midkiff, Ashton Woods’ community sales manager in Asturia.

“Our designers have put together beautiful combinations of flooring, countertops, design features and colors that will excite the vast majority of buyers,” she said. “Plus, we have a great combination of homes that convert flex space to extra bedrooms, add bonus rooms and extra baths, and have great outdoor living areas with front porches and extended lanais.”

Inventory Homes
Ashton Woods offers traditional one- and two-story homes in its Traditional home series.  All feature open floor plans, large living areas, beautiful master suites, high-end finishes and lots of storage. Homes have two-car garages, and many back up to private conservation homesites.

Spacious Classic Series
Five traditional, inventory homes are ready in the Classic series, including two, one-story homes. The versatile Odessa plan has three bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths in 2,243 square feet. The larger Naples plan offers four bedrooms, three baths in 2,321 square feet.

Also ready now are three, two-story homes with two-car garages, including the Ferrara model home at 2,890 square feet with its four bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths. The Milan is 2,722 square feet with four bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths. The largest home Ashton Woods builds in Asturia is the 3,365-square-foot Athens, which boasts four bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths.

Affordable Heritage Series
Many first-time homebuyers and downsizing families choose the Heritage Series. Ashton Woods has two move-in ready, one-story homes available in these well-designed floor plans — the Truman at 1,961 square feet with four bedrooms and two baths; and the slightly smaller Adams plan at 1,829 square feet with three bedrooms and two baths.

Evergreen and Grove Series
Ashton Woods is the only builder in Asturia offering single-family homes with garages at the rear of the house.  There are five, quick move-in homes available in these series, all conveniently located close to Asturia’s Amenity Center.

There are three Arlington plans at 2,003 square feet, and also four Ortega plans at 2,189 square feet. These homes begin at $269,000.

Great Schools
“For families with children, Asturia is a very popular community because it is zoned for some of the best schools in Pasco County — J.W. Mitchell High, Seven Springs Middle and Odessa Elementary,” said Midkiff.

Asturia buyers prefer the community’s smaller size of just 550 homes, compared to thousands of homes being built in neighboring developments. Plus, they appreciate that construction will not be ongoing for several years.

Ashton Woods was named the 2017 Builder of the Year by Builder and Developer Magazine and, for the fourth consecutive year, has been ranked among the top three for Most Trusted Builders in America.

For more information, go to AshtonWoods.com/tampa/Asturia. You can also call the sales center at (813) 446-8362.

Published November 28, 2018

Brightman Family Loves Asturia and Their Ashton Woods Home

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Alex and Jessica Brightman were one of the first Ashton Woods homeowners in Asturia, a master-planned community in Odessa, along the State Road 54 corridor.

Two years later, the young couple will be bringing home their second child to their Ashton Woods home, when their son is born in January.

“We just love our Ashton Woods home and living in Asturia,” said Alex, who works in the IT field. “We have a huge corner lot and enjoy the open floor plan of our Milan model.”

Jessica and Alex Brightman and their daughter, Kensely, have lived in Asturia for two years and love the open floor plan of their Ashton Woods home.

His wife, Jessica, adds, “We’ve met so many people and have made so many friends. It’s been perfect for us and our daughter, Kensley.”

The Brightmans also credit their Ashton Woods salesperson, Kathy Midkiff, for making their homebuying experience so successful. “Kathy was absolutely wonderful and helped us every step of the way.”

“Asturia is the perfect location for us. We moved here from Dade City, so we especially appreciate the convenience of being close to the Suncoast Parkway. It’s so easy to get to downtown Tampa,” Jessica added.

The Brightmans are typical of many Ashton Woods families. The builder’s spacious floor plans are the most affordable homes in Asturia, with prices beginning under $300,000.

“We found there is a lot of value in our home —we have beautiful finishes and lots of space for our investment,” said Alex.

Ashton Woods is in its final sales phase at Asturia, with 80 percent of home sites sold since the community opened two years ago.

“We’ve had tremendous success in Asturia, and have sold over 100 families their new home in this much-desired community,” said Marketing Manager Kristin Wilson. “We have less than 30 move-in ready homes that remain, and expect all to be sold very soon.”

To encourage families to buy before the end of the year, all Ashton Woods homebuyers in Asturia that purchase in the Grove Series will receive a free stainless-steel refrigerator and washer/ dryer, a value of over $3,500. Plus, Ashton Woods is contributing $9,000 towards closing costs with its preferred lender*.

“There has never been a better time to buy an Ashton Woods home in Asturia,” said Wilson. “And, some of our best home values can be found in our Grove series, which feature two-car garages at the rear of the home.”

There are seven of these unique homes ready now as inventory homes, with the popular Arlington model beginning at just $276,999.

This 2,003-square-foot home features open-concept family and dining rooms that open to the kitchen, complete with 42-inch designer cabinets, granite or quartz countertops, an oversized island and walk-in pantry. Also, downstairs is a powder bathroom, valet area off the garage entry and ceramic tile floors throughout the entire first floor.

Upstairs, the Arlington’s master suite has a spacious bathroom with double vanities, walk-in shower and large walk-in closet. Two additional bedrooms share a bath, and a laundry room is conveniently located upstairs.

“We have three Arlington homes ready for quick move-in, all under $280,000. It is a perfect first home and has many upgrades not usually found at this price point,” said Marketing Manager Wilson.

Ashton Woods also offers a slightly larger home in this series, the Ortega, at 2,193 square feet.

The Ortega has a soaring 20-foot volume ceiling foyer, a large open-concept kitchen, family room and breakfast nook. A formal dining room and butler’s pantry lead to the kitchen, which has 42-inch designer cabinets, granite or quartz countertops, an oversized island, and walk-in pantry. Downstairs also features a powder bathroom and plenty of storage closets.

Upstairs is a large master suite and bathroom with double vanities, walk-in shower and large walk-in closet. And, like the Arlington, there are two additional bedrooms that share a bath, and a convenient laundry room located upstairs.

“Our Ortega models begin at $296,990, which is a tremendous value for close to 2,200 square feet and Ashton Woods’ premium finishes,” said Wilson.

More Homes and Great Schools
Ashton Woods also offers classic one- and two-story homes in its traditional home series with the garage in the front.  All offer open floor plans, large living areas, beautiful master suites, high-end finish and lots of storage. Homes have two- or three-car garages, and many back up to private conservation lots.

“For families with children, Asturia is a very popular community because it is zoned for some of the best schools in Pasco County — J.W. Mitchell High, Seven Springs Middle and Odessa Elementary,” said Wilson.

Ashton Woods was named the 2017 Builder of the Year by Builder and Developer Magazine and, for the fourth consecutive year, has been ranked among the top three for Most Trusted Builders in America.

For more information, go to AshtonWoods.com/tampa/Asturia. You can also call the sales center at (813) 446-8362.

Published October 24, 2018

14 Beautiful Ashton Woods Homes Ready For Your Family

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Ashton Woods is in its final sales phase at Asturia, with 80 percent of homesites sold since the community opened two years ago.

“We’ve had tremendous success in Asturia, selling over 100 single-family homes in this much-desired community,” said Sales Manager Kristin Wilson. “We have under 40 homes available for sale, and expect all to be completed by the end of the year.”

Because most families want to move into their new home as soon as possible, Ashton Woods received permits from Pasco County for all of its remaining Asturia homesites.

“This saves our buyers up to three months in the building process,” said Jillian Harris, Ashton Woods’ community sales manager in Asturia.

“Our designers have put together beautiful combinations of flooring, countertops, design features and colors that will excite the vast majority of buyers,” she said. “Plus, we have a great combination of homes that convert flex space to extra bedrooms, add bonus rooms and extra baths, and have great outdoor living areas with front porches and extended lanais.”

While construction is underway on many homes, Ashton Woods buyers are still able to select flooring, countertops, cabinets and other nonstructural customizations on several homes that will be completed in November and December.

Inventory Homes
Ashton Woods offers classic one- and two-story homes in its Traditional Home Series. All feature open floor plans, large living areas, beautiful master suites, high-end finishes and lots of storage. Homes have two- or three-car garages, and many back up to private conservation lots.

Spacious Classic Series
Five traditional, inventory homes are ready in the Classic Series, including two, one-story homes. The versatile Odessa plan has three bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths in 2,243 square feet. The larger Naples plan offers four bedrooms, three baths in 2,321 square feet.

Also ready now are three, two-story homes with two-car garages, including the Ferrara model home at 2,890 square feet with its four bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths. The Milan is 2,722 square feet with four bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths. The largest home Ashton Woods builds in Asturia is the 3,365-square-foot Athens, which boasts four bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths.

Affordable Heritage Series
Many first-time homebuyers and downsizing families choose the Heritage Series. Ashton Woods has two move-in ready, one-story homes available in these well-designed floor plans — the Truman at 1,961 square feet with four bedrooms and two baths. The slightly smaller Adams plan is 1,829 square feet with three bedrooms and two baths.

Evergreen and Grove Series
Ashton Woods is the only builder in Asturia offering single-family homes with garages at the rear of the house. There are seven, quick move-in homes available in these series, all conveniently located close to Asturia’s Amenity Center.

There are three Arlington plans at 2,003 square feet, and also four Ortega plans at 2,189 square feet. These homes begin at $279,000.

Great Schools
“For families with children, Asturia is a very popular community because it is zoned for some of the best schools in Pasco County — J.W. Mitchell High, Seven Springs Middle and Odessa Elementary,” said Harris.

Asturia buyers prefer the community’s smaller size of just 550 homes, compared to thousands of homes being built in neighboring developments. Plus, they appreciate that construction will not be ongoing for several years.

Ashton Woods was named the 2017 Builder of the Year by Builder and Developer Magazine and, for the fourth consecutive year, has been ranked among the top three for Most Trusted Builders in America.

For more information, go to AshtonWoods.com/tampa/Asturia. You can also call the sales center at (813) 446-8362.

Published September 26, 2018

Ashton Woods Excels at Interior Home Design

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Your dream home is finally coming together. You’ve decided where you want to live, and found the perfect floor plan for your family by a builder with a great reputation.

After you formalize the details with a signed contract, the next step at the design studio is perhaps the most fun of all, because you and your designer will transform your floor plan into the home of your dreams.

It’s this interior design phase where Ashton Woods excels, both because of its talented and experienced design staff, and because it has the ability to customize and personalize home interiors more than most production builders.

“If we can make it happen, we will,” said Viana Ayuso, an Ashton Woods design consultant at the company’s design studio in Brandon. “We encourage our customers to dream big, because we are more flexible and have more options than most builders.”

Ayuso and her colleague, Kristin Wilson, have designed hundreds of homes for Ashton Woods families in Tampa Bay. Together, they have close to 20 years experience in new home interiors, and understand the cyclical nature of design that drives a client’s desires and expectations.

“Our goal is to achieve the look our buyers want, within the budget they have to spend,” said Ayuso. “We guide them to make sure their desired look flows seamlessly throughout the house, and help them make the many decisions needed to specify their home’s interior.”

Ashton Woods design consultants typically spend between four and six hours working one-on-one with buyers to select finishes that reflect their lifestyle, their design style and, of course, their budget.  Their overall objective is custom personalization that makes a home unique to the buyer.

“Before we meet, we ask buyers to think about what they hate about their current home, and what they love. That gives us a good starting point,” said Ayuso.

Viana Ayuso is an Ashton Woods design consultant at the company’s design studio in Brandon.

Because of HGTV and the plethora of interior decorating magazines and internet sites, most customers come in with a clear vision of what they want, and often bring Pinterest boards, fabric and paint swatches, magazine tear sheets and even photos of interiors from other models, Ayuso explains.

“Homebuyers are more educated than when I began designing homes five years ago — they know what they want by name and style,” she said.

Ayuso and Wilson begin their design sessions by asking lots of questions and closely listening to their buyers.

“Flooring is the most expensive element and extends to all living spaces, so it’s a great place to begin,” said Ayuso. “Next is the kitchen, because it is the heart of the home and the centerpiece of the living area.”

Ayuso advises clients to select timeless design features, using a neutral color palate with white or ivory cabinets and simple back-splashes, so that their home does not look dated in a few years as design trends change.

“You can change your style with accent pieces, new area rugs and paint,” Ayuso said. “That’s much more affordable than replacing dark cabinets and multicolor backsplashes. Our goal is to design a home that can be inexpensively updated as styles change.”

Most clients want their new home to be move-in ready, Ayuso said, because they don’t have time to take care of details like blinds and painting after they close.

“Plus, they can add the cost of their interior finishes to their mortgage, which is very attractive for many buyers,” Ayuso said.  “The general rule is for every $1,000 in design features, it adds just $6 a month to a mortgage. So, if you’re looking at $30,000 in upgrades, that comes to just $180 per month.”

Viana, who has a design certificate from NY Institute Art & Design, as well as an MBA in Advertising, loves her job at Ashton Woods.

“I come from a family of musicians, and creativity is a big part of me,” she said. “I’ve always had a knack for design, and love sharing with clients which colors work best, and explaining the theory and history behind their design choices.”

In Pasco County, Ashton Woods is building homes in Asturia, a master-planned community in Odessa located on State Road 54, just west of the Suncoast Parkway. For more information, go to AshtonWoods.com/tampa, or call Ayuso  at (813) 324-8815

Top 5 Design Trends

#1. Wood Plank Tiles – the look of wood with the durability of tile, generally for less money than real wood

#2. White Cabinets — always in style, transitional and timeless

#3 Farmhouse Style — casual lifestyle is the rage, with lots of classic Americana elements

#4. Quartz countertops — have replaced granite because they’re heat and stain resistant, and need no special care

#5. Personal Retreat — luxurious master spa to unwind with rain showerheads off the ceiling and stand-alone tubs in middle of bath

Published June 27, 2018

Asturia is a Neighborhood — Not Another Sprawling Community

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Caring father helping son put on bicycle helmet – Outdoors

Asturia’s uniquely small size makes it stand out among other new home developments along the in-demand State Road 54 corridor in Odessa and Land O’ Lakes.

While nearby planned communities have between 3,000 to over 5,000 homes in their master plan, and are looking at several years of construction, Asturia is building just 550 homes and will complete construction in just a few years.

“Asturia feels more like a neighborhood than a sprawling community because our nature trails, pocket parks, first-class amenities and community events encourage you to get to know your neighbors,” said Lane Gardner, managing director for Hines, Asturia’s developer.

“And, because Asturia offers a variety of lifestyles, it is perfect for families with school-aged children looking for larger homes, and young families buying their first home.”

Lane continues that Asturia also attracts empty-nesters wanting to downsize to a new home with all the latest upgrades. “These folks chose Asturia because we are a friendly, walkable community that promotes a healthy, active lifestyle,” he said.

Hines, which is based in Jacksonville, professionally manages the design and development of Asturia’s master plan, including overseeing residential neighborhoods, community amenities, parks and primary infrastructure. It also is responsible for community branding, marketing and the sale of multifamily and commercial parcels.

It’s this commitment to the integration of natural resources, high-quality design standards and thoughtful master planning that has earned Asturia several prestigious regional design and planning awards.

It’s been just two years since Asturia began selling homes, and already the development has moved into its second phase.

Phase Two opened in December and is selling 157 large home sites, most with conservation and water views, and all providing privacy and peaceful, quiet surroundings. A boardwalk connects the two neighborhoods within Phase Two, and will intersect with Asturia’s multi-use pathway that meanders for miles through residential areas, parks, playgrounds and the Amenity Center.

Three Premier Builders

Ashton Woods, David Weekley Homes and ICI Homes, some of the best builders in the country, are Asturia’s exclusive builders.

ICI Homes is the community’s newest builder and is celebrating the grand opening of its Serena Model this weekend, Jan. 27 and Jan. 28. Visitors can enjoy refreshments and can enter a $500 gift card raffle.

Ashton Woods and David Weekley Homes, Asturia’s builders since the community opened, both boast of successful sales during Phase One.

“We’ve successfully sold out of the Garden Series homes, and only one Cottage Home remains available in Phase One,” said Jennifer Cole, senior marketing director of David Weekley Homes.

And Kristin Wilson, sales and marketing manager for Ashton Wood, reports, “We’ve sold over 100 homes in Asturia and are very pleased with the keen interest in this community.”

“Our buyers are fortunate that they can choose from such premier builders like ICI Homes, David Weekley Homes and Ashton Woods to build the home of their dreams in Asturia,” said Gardner.

Award Winning Amenity Center

Asturia’s distinctive, 5,800-square-foot Amenity Center and Clubhouse earned the prestigious Silver Aurora Award for the Best Recreational Facility at the 2017 Southeast Building Conference.

This contemporary-design Amenity Center includes a fully equipped, modern clubhouse; covered outdoor dining areas; a luxurious, beach-entry, resort-style swimming pool; and an expansive event lawn for spontaneous outdoor games, such as Gaga Ball, volleyball and soccer.

For kids, there is a Kompan dome, swings, slide and spinners in the playground area that are designed to promote imaginative play and build strong bodies.

Asturia has wide, meadow-like spaces, lovely ponds, thick stands of cypress and hardwood trees, and large tracts of scenic wetlands. It is an exceptionally kid-friendly and family oriented community surrounded by miles of multi-use trails that are interspersed with playgrounds, dog parks and pocket parks.

Make Asturia your new home by visiting its models, registering at the community’s website, AsturiaFlorida.com, or by calling (813) 227-4148.

Published on January 24, 2018.