Long admired by thousands of devoted fans, Thomas Kinkade announced that a architect is designing homes based on the artists input in the $4-6 million dollar range that will be built in Couer d’Alene, Idaho. The new development will not be the first to have Kinkade inspired homes. Four years ago a subdivision in Vallejo, California sprouted Kinkade-styled homes. The subdivision sold well with average prices around $400,000.

The homes will be built on a 20 acre parcel with views of Lake Couer d’Alene, a easy commute to Spokane, Washington. The homes design and look will focus on reproducing his style from the Kinkade Gate series. A total of five homes will be built and will be marketed to fans of Kinkades that want to live in a three-dimensional experience of his art. Five designs have already been selected from five paintings that will fit into the site appropriately.

Kinkade has been very successful selling his artwork to middle America, for many years and in many forms. The developer has had requests from a wide variety of custom home buyers to reproduce Kinkade-style homes. Riding on the single-minded nature of these fans, plans are progressing on the development. I see the only possible drawback is a resale one, when the first wave of fans decide to move on, will there be enough interest by a second wave at extremely high price points to support the resale of Kinkade homes?

My attitude is a wait and see. Kinkade as a brand has never been marketed at the super-luxury level. Most serious art collectors aren’t in this developments target market. But then does taste really matter if you have the money? The developers think not and might consider Kinkade high-art as many his followers do.

By: Mark Nash

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