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Leon Bland of Van Gogh Builders is living his dream - building the homes other people dream about, homes that make their eyes light up from the very first time they see the plans.

After compiling a formidable resume that includes some design and business education from Purdue, hands-on carpentry experience, the start up of Van Gogh Painting and its evolution into Van Gogh Inc., which remains a major drywall subcontracting company today, he built his first home in 1997 and never looked back.

"I always wanted to be a general contractor," he said. "Throughout my years as a subcontractor, I learned first and foremost how important it is to listen to people. In fact, I got my start from someone who was impressed by the way I was able to provide a quick, simple solution to a problem he was having. With his support, I got started building custom homes by doing nearly everything myself. That's how I discovered exactly what it takes to build a truly high-quality home."

Because Van Gogh Builders typically focuses on just 10-15 homes each year, Leon as a licensed real estate agent, remain focused on their clients throughout the entire building process. Longtime colleagues like Rob Fischer, the head operational manager of Van Gogh Builders who brings a lot of ideas to the table including kitchen design and unique ceiling styles, are integral to the process as well.

"It's all about the vision a client has for their new home," Leon Bland said. "When we have our initial meeting to go over designs, we want to know as much as possible. What are their needs, wants, desires and wishes? Now, with our extensive portfolio of homes in the area, we can show clients a 3-D example of something I have already done and talk about the different ways we can customize it to meet their needs."

Another great way for clients to see Van Gogh Builders work firsthand, is to visit their current job sites. With 6 unique homes in progress right now, you can witness the exquisite craftsmanship of the company's trade partners at work, in various stages of construction. Crown Point's Stillwater. This custom model home is a unique gem in the Van Gogh portfolio, not only because it is representative of the combined influences of Leon and Vanessa Bland, but because it brings together the very latest technologies Van Gogh builders offers its clients. You can visit this beautiful home for as long as it lasts every Saturday and Sunday from 1- 4pm or call to schedule a private showing. "The Vanessa Lynn has been a real labor of love," Leon Bland said. "We had the wonderful opportunity to acquire this unique tract of land which is the final phase of Stillwater. The first home we built here was for a client, and the more we were out here, we kept envisioning this home. The sloping terrain is ideal for dramatic walk-out plans, and we wanted to take full advantage of the natural prairie views beyond the backyard."

The result is a sprawling ranch with over 4,300 square feet, including the finished lower level which adds an incredible family room, bath, bedroom, office and exercise/game room while leaving plenty of room for storage in the unfinished area that tends to attract the men who like to check out what's going on between the walls and under the floor, according to Vanessa Bland.

"We always impress the ladies with the storage space and 75-gallon water heater, but it's the men who really enjoy seeing everything else in the unfinished parts of the homes we build," she said. "But, I have to tell you, the beauty of this lower level has exceeded even our expectations.

We wanted to make sure there were plenty of windows to enjoy the beautiful view, and the result is just as stunning as it is upstairs."

She's referring to the amazing wall of windows in the main floor great room, as well as the over-sized sliding door leading out of the kitchen's dinette area onto a unique covered porch with a distinguished custom indoor/outdoor fan. But, these stunning features that take advantage of the picturesque views are just the beginning of a long list of well-planned luxury amenities in the Vanessa Lynn.

Along with the signature columns of a Van Gogh home, this home features impressively unique vaulted and tray ceilings through out, custom maple cabinetry finished in an appealing cherry stain, oversized oak trim and solid core oak doors hand-finished on site in what Leon Bland claims is a lost art. The oak floors have also been completely finished on site. From there, you'll find something unique in each individual room to give it its own character, according to Vanessa Bland.

The floor plan itself was designed based on what the couple hears most often from their clients. For example, the bedrooms are split, with the master bedroom featuring an inviting sitting area and glamorous attached bath on one end of the home and the other 2 generous bedrooms with a full bath on the opposite side. The kitchen is huge with convenient bar seating in addition to the generous dinette area and walk-in pantry. The custom mosaic fireplace in the great room has been equipped for both gas and real wood depending on the homeowner's preference and will accommodate up to a 48" flat panel TV. There's also a lovely ceramic front entry, dramatic dining room and oversized back hall that leads from the attached 3- car garage to the finished laundry room.

In addition to Stillwater, Van Gogh Builders is also building in St. John's Renaissance and Meadow Gate in the Gates of St. John, as well as Cedar Lake's Havenwood and Monastery Woods. Future projects are pending for Crown Point's Ellendale Farms and Feather Rock as well as Lowell's Misty Hills and Misty Glen where you'll find rural 1-1 acre homesites.

A proven, groundbreaking builder, Van Gogh is the first in a 6-state radius to use innovative new Bluwood which is anti-mold, antifungi and anti-termite. Featured on ABC TV's Extreme Makeovers Home Edition, Bluwood comes with a 30- year limited warranty. You can learn more about Van Gogh Builders and Bluwood this fall when Comcast profiles the company on its Meet the Builder show. For more information on Van Gogh Builders and the Vanessa Lynn in Stillwater, contact Leon & Vanessa Bland at (219) 322-7777 or log on to www.vangoghbuilders.com.

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