One of the most joyful delights for any horse owner or enthusiast is sitting on their patio or veranda with a cup of their favorite beverage and savoring the sight of horses grazing in a pasture nearby. How great would that dream be if the pasture where adjacent to their home and their barn just a stone's throw away? How great would that dream be if taking a trail ride meant saddling up and opening the back gate with hundreds of acres waiting to be explored? Sounds like a dream? It's not. Sound like a sanctuary? It is. Sanctuary Estates, an exclusive cluster of equestrian properties, is now being built by prestigious Greystone Builders and Designers. The properties are located on St. Mary's Road just north of Town Line Road in Mettawa. A gorgeous, forested forty-acre parcel has been divided into six fabulous properties of various sizes to fit the needs of any horse enthusiast. Two of these heavily wooded estates are five acres, two encompass six plus acres, another has seven-plus acres and one lays claim to nearby eight beautiful acres. All of the acreage has a wealth of mature maple, pine, oak, hickory, and elm trees. IN addition, under the canopy of those wonderful, stately treasures are the wildlife creatures that put on a show for nature's stage and temper the stresses of the fast-paced suburban living.

John King

John King, an award winning builder and owner of Greystone Builders and Designers, is excited to be building the unique residences that will make up this close-knit community. The challenge of building custom luxury homes in keeping with pristine beauty of the site is a privilege as well as a project. He wants to create homes that surround lifestyles, nurture traditions and build memories - the kitchen fireplace, the 'pajama' back staircase, the warm, paneled English library, the Thanksgiving 'everyone around the table' dining room enhanced by ornate moldings overhead.

Even as a young man, John was always interested in building. In college, his summer jobs were with builders-remolding, adding additions, bathrooms, kitchens, roofing. He transitioned into building "…custom and semi-custom homes on the East Coast and throughout the Midwest." An "industry veteran" he has been in the business from the nails, nuts and bolts to the finished product. He's watched the smiles on the faces of his clients as they walk from room to room, running their hands over the fine details and finishing touches for which Greystone Builders is known. It is this background and excitement that John brings to the Sanctuary Estates project. He wants the homes to be sensitive to the lifestyles of the owners and to the beauty of the property itself. With the acreage being zoned for horses, the addition of a private stable and pastures adds endless possibilities.

John and his team or architects, designers and landscape professionals envision the homes in Sanctuary styled in French Country, New England cedar shake and stone and Colonial Revival. They will also design and build the barn on the property to blend with and compliment the client's home and can customize a charming yet efficient stable with as few or as many amenities as the client wishes their equine companions to enjoy. The landscape architects who work with Greystone can selectively prune the woods to retain the best and protect the privacy while allowing the close visual beauty that having horses on the property affords. Imagine sitting on a wrap-around veranda watching that big chestnut Thoroughbred or handsome bay Warmblood graze in the morning sunlight. John is proposing a trail around the entire forty acres for a very private close-to-home jaunt. After an afternoon trail ride, owners can treat themselves and their guests to a movie in their home theater because even though these properties are meant to feel 'out in the country' these custom luxury homes will offer the finest finishing touches and the latest state-of-the-art high-end amenities as well as four large garage bays for the dually, the sedan, the SUV and that smooth running two-seater treasure.

Greystone enjoys what they do and the challenge of anticipating the needs and blending with the personalities of each client. This is the characteristic that will make the journey through construction an exciting and pleasurable experience for everyone involved in the project. Their team consists of superior seasoned professionals, making their custom homes truly a collaborative effort that works like a well-oiled machine. Whether building in Sanctuary, another site or purchasing and customizing one of their speculative homes, John and his team can walk their clients through the entire process in-house: from land acquisition, to the architectural design, through the construction management, to the landscape and interior design, right down to the final finishing touches. The construction team is on-site every day. Scrutinized supervision ensures quality control and construction schedules.

Sandy Werner

Greystone Builders' properties are offered through Greystone Reality. Sandy Werner is their managing broker and is responsible for the sales and marketing. Working closely with Greystone for the last six years, she brings nearly two decades of residential real estate expertise to the table. As a resident of the North Shore herself, Sandy instinctively understands and is sensitive to the needs of her clients. She does the research for the land acquisition and price considerations with a secure grasp of the North Shore real estate market. An integral part of the Greystone team, Sandy can answer any questions concerning Sanctuary Estates or any other of Greystone's properties and projects in Lake Forest, Glencoe, Winnetka or Highland Park. Being in-house, she knows these properties literally from the ground to the rooftop, and she can handle all real estate transactions.

Quality, tradition and elegance are the characteristics that built the reputation held by John and his company. They will bring these same characteristics to the Sanctuary Estates. Don't dream the fantasy of owning a fabulous equestrian estate, live it. Create memories with a lifetime of green pastures.

All photos complements of Forest & Bluff Magazine