If you are shopping for a new luxury townhome, rowhome or villa-style duplex in Chicago’s north and northwest suburbs, choices abound.

These spacious homes offer open living areas, high-end finishes and luxury amenities. Some developments have water and lake views. Most offer a nice front yard, deck, balcony or patio space, a garage.

Here is a quick tour of some of the newest suburban townhome, rowhome and villa developments currently being marketed:

• The Heritage of Palatine Brownstones: Pre-construction sales are underway at The Heritage of Palatine Brownstones, a private collection of seven rowhomes on Greeley Street at Washington in downtown Palatine. The three-story rowhomes are being developed by R. Franczak & Associates and are planned for construction near downtown Palatine’s Town Square Park and just steps from the Metra, shopping and restaurants. The 2,473 square-foot rowhome floor plans have 3 bedrooms and 3.5 baths. Pre-construction prices range from $494,900 to $514,900.

The Heritage Brownstones offer a historic influence from the 1900s—with full brick and cast stone around the windows and roof-line, bay windows, brackets and corbels.

“The highly detailed, traditional architectural style of The Heritage of Palatine Brownstones is reminiscent of the turn-of- the-century period between the Great Chicago Fire in 1871 and the Great Depression beginning in the late 1920s,” said architect Mark Hopkins, principle of HKM Architects, designer of the R. Franczak & Associates project.

The sales center at the Heritage Brownstones is at 50 S. Greeley St. and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information call 847-705-6238 or visit http://www.rfranczak.com/

• Willow Lake. This upscale 52-unit development of villa-style duplexes in Lake Forest on Chicago’s North Shore, features two lakes and takes its cues from the site’s natural elements and setting next to Willow Lake. Willow Lake is being developed on the former Fitzmorris Estate, a 21.6-acre former private enclave located at Illinois 60 and Field Court in the western portion of the upscale suburb, said developer John McLinden, principal of Centrum Properties. The villas—attached single-family homes—will feature 3,885 to 3,995 square feet of living space in addition to a finished basement. Select units will showcase lookout basements. Base prices for the villa homes start at $999,000.

The home exteriors at Willow Lake will showcase English-Country style architecture highlighted by diverse natural colors and textures, said Jaclyn Krashin, project manager for Centrum Properties. Rooflines will be accented with natural cedar shingles.

Lake is open at the intersection Kennedy Road (Illinois 60) and Field Court in Lake Forest. Take Interstate-294 to Illinois 60 and exit east to Field Court. Turn left (north) to the models. The center is open Monday through Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and by appointment. For more information, please call 847-735-1400, or visit the web site at: http://www.centrum.com/.

• Meadow Ridge. Another new water-oriented residential development is Meadow Ridge, a gated, 164-unit townhome and duplex community on 40 acres at Waukegan and Founders roads in north suburban Northbrook. Meadow Ridge is a private, gated community targeted to empty-nester buyers moving from large single-family homes on the North Shore, according to KZF Development, the developer. Among Meadow Ridge’s features is the landscaping, overlooking water falls, water ways and two man-made lakes.

Construction is well underway on both townhomes and duplexes at Meadow Ridge. A model, priced at $495,000, recently grand opened and the development is scheduled for completion in March of 2011.

The 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom, units have 2,243 to 3,174 square feet of living area. The residences will be built in 2-unit duplex and 4-unit townhome buildings in the upscale community, which features a guard house and private streets.

More than 100 luxury townhomes already have been sold at Meadow Ridge, noted Shannon Gibson-Giampa, sales manager. Base prices range from $495,000 to $895,000.

The Meadow Ridge sales center at Waukegan and Founders roads in Northbrook is open weekdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. The center is closed on Tuesdays. For more information, please call 847-559-0500, or visit http://www.meadowridgenorthbrook.com/.