A cabinetmaker by trade, Heinz Albers is a big believer in craftsmanship.
Consequently, as a custom homebuilder, his goal is to build a home of the highest quality each time out, both in terms of its finishing and floor plan.
"We take pride in the craftsmanship of our homes," said the owner of Albers Builders Limited. "And I think it shows when you walk through one of our homes. We do our best to think of all the little details, right from the ground up. We not only use the latest construction processes and finest materials, but also make sure the floor plan delivers a high level of function."
Albers' latest show home at 27 Wood Sage Crescent is truly a home that deftly combines style with function. Because it's a 2,082-sq.-ft. bungalow -- with walk-out basement, no less -- space is abundant, and well-used. And even though there's plenty of lebensraum, a subtle detail -- exceptionally high ceilings throughout the home's main level -- make the home feel even bigger.
The 10-foot ceilings allow for two things: an increased feeling of interior volume, and the placement of larger windows. Two benefits result from those two features, said Albers.
"Although there's plenty of space, the great room feels even bigger -- you never feel closed in. The big windows do two things -- they make the area brighter, and give you a wonderful view of the wetlands in behind the home," he said. "The area flows very well because everything is so spread out."
While many of today's new homes don't have a formal dining room -- opting instead to place a dining room or oversized dinette area in the great room along with the kitchen and family room -- 27 Wood Sage has a formal dining room. Placed to the left of the foyer, it's a functional work of art with tempered glass doors with maple trim, mod lights (attached to a handmade wave medallion that hangs from the ceiling), floor-to-ceiling window and walnut hardwoods.
An eight-foot doorway then provides seamless access from the dining room into a wide-open kitchen ideal for concocting a myriad of culinary delights.
"It's a very functional space with an island (with eating nook for three), and large dinette area that we placed by doors to the balcony out back," said Albers. "A big pantry surrounds the (stainless) fridge, and there's all kinds of cappuccino maple cabinets and drawers; a tan tile backsplash goes beautifully with the cabinets. The drawers are all soft-close, and there's even a tray in the drawer by the stove that will vacuum up toaster crumbs."
Finishing materials -- such as the granite countertops and hardwoods are also notable for their high quality, he added.
"The countertops are thicker than normal at one-and-a-quarter inches, while the hardwoods are gorgeous three-quarter-inch walnut. The home also comes with high-end tile flooring, solid wood shelving, and eight-foot walnut doors with one-and-three-quarter ball bearings. Our goal is always to give our customers a level of finish that's second to none."
That high finishing quality is exemplified by the family room's stunning, wall-wide entertainment unit that combines the beauty of tile with the texture and grain of walnut.
"I clear-coated the walnut rather than staining it," said Albers. "Doing that allows you to see the beauty of the wood, which will lighten up over time. The tile surrounds the (Napoleon) gas fireplace and a large TV niche; to the left is a view of the wetlands through the huge windows. It's a great area to relax in."
Speaking of relaxing, the home's master suite is ideal for doing just that.
"We did our best to put in features that people would appreciate -- a big window for a view of the wetlands, a large walk-in closet with built-in shelving, and door to the raised deck that they can use to go outside and sip a cup of tea or coffee while overlooking the water," he said.
Then, there's the ensuite, which is chock full of luxurious features: walnut panelling between the mirrors of the granite vanity with dual sinks; a cappuccino vanity; chocolate tile floor; and corner jetted tub adjacent to a five-foot tile shower with tempered glass enclosure.
"It's what a master suite should be -- luxurious and functional," Albers said.
That same theme applies to 27 Wood Sage's walk-out lower level. Like the main level, it features high ceilings, huge windows (along with a door to a covered patio) and rich finishes. Once again, there's a handmade walnut entertainment unit -- and a laminate floor installed over the basement's wood structural floor. Two huge bedrooms (in their own private wing), a four-piece bath and tons of storage round out the basement, which is nearly as big as the main level.
"The floor gives the area a different look, while being very low-maintenance," he explained. "We're very happy with how this home turned out. It's not a cookie-cutter home, and with all the fine materials and attention to detail, it's a low-maintenance home that will function well and stand the test of time."
lewys@mts.net
Builder: Albers Builders
Address: 27 Wood Sage Crescent
Style: Bungalow
Size: 2,082 sq. ft.
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 3
Lot size: Large pie-shaped
Lot price: $180,000
Price: $835,000 (including lot & GST)
Contact: Terry Isaryk, Re/Max Performance Realty @ 231-5557
