COLUMN: Trekking it to the Street

I hurtled my way down the freeway to MacDonald Highlands on Monday to take a quick trip through the Street of Dreams. It had been three weeks since I'd been there, and I wanted to see how things were coming.

Needless to say, the area was buzzing, with construction crews doing their thing while interior decorators attempted to place furniture, set tables, make beds and the myriad tasks that needed to be done before today's grand opening.

The first home I entered was Windemere, a transitional-contemporary desert oasis by Sun West Custom Homes with interior design by Karen Butera Inc. Seated at the bar were Sun West partner Dan Coletti and Carl Martinez, who supervised the construction of the home. Breezing in with the gale-force winds last week were Cynthia Coletti, who founded the company in Florida in 1978; and Julie Barbagallo, vice president of sales and marketing. It was like old home week.

Dan Coletti pointed out the newest waterfall-type feature that will blow you away when you see it. Suffice it to say that surface tension plays a major role in the function of this innovative product that Coletti invented.

The next home I wandered through was Kismet, a desert contemporary home by Job Construction. Bing Hu of H&S International was the architect with designer Sydni Jay Associates. This multilevel home has a foyer the size of most Las Vegas homes. And then there's the kitchen, which you have to see to believe.

Earth, Wind & Fire is the third home on the north side of the street, separated from the others by a snack bar and rest area and a millennia in concept. This contemporary home was designed and developed by architect Gregory J. Moore, who was busy installing hardware in the master bathroom, as interior designer Joy Bell talked about the minimalist concepts incorporated in the home. There's a mind-blowing link between an interior spa and the swimming pool. Check it out.

Last, but certainly not least, is Dragon's Oasis, the largest home and only Street of Dreams offering on the south side of the street. This contemporary design is the execution of architect V. Bedrosian of 5 Star Development and hillside home contractor Greg Gevorkian of Hi-Con Inc.

All the media kits show the interior designer as Designers Touch, a point of contention to Milton Homer.

"She (Annie Gevorkian, owner of Designers Touch) did all the interior architectural elements such as the stonework and floors and appliances, and did a fabulous job," Homer said. He also pointed to the tiered backyard designs as the work of Annie Gevorkian.

"But, we've spent $500,000 to $600,000 on the furnishings and carpets and drapes, and nobody has mentioned our involvement."

OK, Milton, now you've been mentioned. I jest, of course. Homer and his sons-in-law run Milton Homer on South Valley View Boulevard and Milton Homer Fine Furniture on South Rampart Boulevard, where they sell beautiful, upscale furnishings and accessories.

Homer told me most of the furnishings in Dragon's Oasis were custom made to follow through on the theme, which is "contemporary classic with Asian overtones." He gestured to the dragons woven into the fabric covering the dining room chairs as illustrative of the type of décor in the home.

This also gives you an opportunity to look at the custom-home neighborhoods and parks that are sited around the DragonRidge golf club. To get there, take Interstate 215 to Valle Verde Drive, go south to Horizon Ridge Parkway and proceed through the guarded gate to the parking area. Shuttle buses will bring attendees to the Street of Dreams.

Carmel Hopkins, real estate product manager for the Las Vegas Review-Journal and Las Vegas Sun, can be reached at 380-4574. Her e-mail address is Carmel_Hopkins@ reviewjournal.com. Snail mail is P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125.

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