Cover Story

LAKE SANDIA

"Boasts A New Home"

By M. R. Allen

The Lake Sandia complex proudly boasts a beautiful new home Mediterranean style home, full of innovative beauties inside and out.

Casa Ripley was recently completed by Rob Ripley, owner of Ripley Realty Development and Construction, Inc., for his parents. With his unique foresight to visualize a plan for a particular lot, taking into account the views, landscaping, and sun - for natural lighting - he was able to tie the inside of the home to the outside, giving the home even more of that Mediterranean feel.

Rob Ripley is the owner of the Lake Sandia development, located five miles north of Pulaski, Wl, on highway 32. Ripley prides himself on his attention to every detail of the custom homes he painstakingly builds there. ”I’m involved from the planning of the home, even down to putting in the lawn,” Ripley says. ”I do use a lot of subcontractors, but I do everything from excavating to putting on tiled roofs and installing ceramic floors. I only use the Vande Hey-Raleigh tile roof system when I build.

”Ripley, who has a degree in structural architecture from NWTC, and his wife Eileen team up to cover almost every detail of a new home’s production. Eileen’s specialty area is the interior, where she handles staining and trim work, interior design elements, and assisting the client with lighting and flooring decisions. She also serves as her husband’s primary research assistant when a little extra information is needed.

"Right from the beginning to the end, we try to keep in mind what the customer’s budget is, or how open-ended it is," says Ripley. ”There are ways to simplify a home, yet keep it beautiful. For instance, when you start putting 40 corners in the basement, that’s when it gets costly.”

Since the Lake Sandia development is still relatively new, enough unique lots are available to allow customers options regarding east or west exposure or park exposure. The lakes can be navigated throughout the development by canoe thanks to five foot diameter culverts under the roadways.

”I ask customers, - What is most important to you, sunrises or sunsets? We’ll keep you where you can enjoy what’s important to you.” Ripley explains. ”We have lots facing any direction you want. There’s a tremendous amount of potential for people here.”

The lots are shaped with fill taken from construction of the lakes, and allow for a variety of home plans. The lots are arranged in a series of cul de sacs and include sewer, electricity, phone, gas and cable. The average lot sizes are three-quarters of an acre,

The lakes reach a depth of approximately 11 feet, and are stocked with walleye, hybrid bluegills, and perch. Two wells maintain the lake level, clarity, and water quality.