11 Bayhill Court
Huge eat-in kitchen and airy great room (below) earned home a design award when it was built.
Maste suite is designed to give mom and dad lots of privacy.
Looking for a used car or a resale home have at least one thing in common.
What is that commonality, you ask? Simple: It isn't often that you find a car -- or in this case, a home -- that still looks new, even after many years of constant use.
At 10 years old, 11 Bayhill Court -- a 1,732-square-foot, three-bedroom bungalow found in Breezy Bend Estates (just past Breezy Bend Golf Club off Roblin Boulevard going west) doesn't look its age -- on the exterior, or interior.
"The owners treated this home with care," says Lori Thorsteinson of Loren Realty. "So there's hardly a mark on it inside or out. It's a home that was built to be low-maintenance, with a stucco exterior, aluminum soffits, facia and eaves and a host of other features that were aimed at enhancing durability."
Curb appeal isn't the only thing that 11 Bayhill has going for it, she adds.
"This home was an award-winning design when it was built 10 years ago -- it's a great room plan with front-oriented dining rooming, and a huge eat-in kitchen. With a total of three bedrooms and a huge lower level (more about it later), it's a home that lends itself to family living."
Although the home isn't small at over 1,700 sq. ft., another feature -- 10-foot ceilings -- make it feel much larger than the listed square footage. Consequently, while there really is plenty of room in key areas such as the great room and dining room, they feel that much larger due to the extra foot of headroom.
The aforementioned kitchen -- nearly 14 feet by 11 feet -- not only benefits from the raised ceiling height, but also from a vaulted ceiling. To take advantage of the ceiling design, the builders (Parkhill Homes) placed a huge window in the far wall of the kitchen to catch as much natural light as possible and provide a clear view out to the backyard and mature forest behind.
"It's a design that works well -- there's all kinds of room to move," says Thorsteinson, adding there's also a deck out back that can be accessed by a door off the eating area. "There's a centre island (not too big, not too small), and the eating area is surrounded by windows. The appliances are built-in, and there's also lots of cabinet and counter space -- and the view out back is beautiful, it's like having your own private forest. The kitchen is also next to the great room so that parents can easily keep tabs on the kids."
Should entertaining be a priority, the dining room is set off towards the front of the home with its own server, and another large window to bathe the space in light. A short hallway then takes you into a long, deep great room whose focal point is a gas fireplace with oak mantel, cultured granite facade and three surrounding windows (the colour scheme is also neutral). While the spaces are distinct, flow isn't remotely an issue.
"Some people like open-concept designs because they're so functional. Even though the kitchen, great room and dining room are separate spaces, they're in close proximity to each other, and the hallways are short," she says. "It's a design that makes great use of space. There's division, but it's still intimate and cosy."
The compact hallway design also makes for another valuable attribute -- three large bedrooms, not to mention a big main-floor laundry room and generous-sized main bath. Most importantly, says Thorsteinson, the master suite is separate from the other bedrooms.
"It's off on its own to give Mom and Dad lots of privacy," she says. "A french door leads you into a roomy bedroom with a generous walk-in closet and bright four-piece ensuite white vanity, smart floform countertop and big, deep whirlpool tub. There's also a great view out back."
Two other intangibles make this a home that growing families should have a look at: its location, in countrified Breezy Bend Estates -- and a massive lower level that's ready for development.
"This community doesn't get a lot of attention, but it's a great spot -- very close to the city and all its conveniences (west Portage Avenue), and it's a very quiet, safe place to raise a family," Thorsteinson adds. "There's also about 1,500 sq. ft. of space to develop downstairs. All that space basically allows you to double the size of the home. This is a home with loads of potential. It can grow as a family grows, and parents can live in it from age 30 to 60 or beyond if they desire, because it's a bungalow. And it's like a new home, one that you can make your own without doing much work."
DETAILS
Address: 11 Bayhill Court, Breezy Bend Estates
Year built: 1999
Style: Bungalow
Size: 1,732 sq. ft.
Lot size: Large, pie-shaped
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2
Taxes: $3,956.43 (2009)
Selling price: $449,900
Contact: Lori Thorsteinson, Loren Realty @ 792-0188
