A home for all reasons

Thanks to wide-ranging wants and needs, designing a family-oriented home is no simple task.

First and foremost, a home must be versatile so it can seamlessly meet the daily — and ever-changing — needs of active families. Second, it must be sufficiently stylish, as well-appointed surroundings give a home the depth and character required to make it an enjoyable place to inhabit on a day-in, day-out basis.

Functionality was the main priority in the design of the Canmore II, says Ken Smith, A & S Homes’ sales representative for 41 Liba Way, the builder’s newest show home in Transcona’s Devonshire Park.

"This is an incredibly functional home," Smith says of the 1,747-sqare-foot, two-storey abode. "It’s an efficiently designed home that can literally be set up any way you want it to be."

The Canmore II’s functional yet fashionable design starts with a generous foyer that’s neatly separated from the great room by a wall with a privacy-coated, tempered glass insert. The upper-level stairs were placed discreetly to the left of the foyer, along with an adjacent set of steps that lead down to a sunken, tiled landing.

"The area holds a powder room, mudroom and the lower-level stairs," he says. "It’s accessible and functional, yet it’s set out of the way so it doesn’t intrude on the foyer or great room."

Initially, the bright, open-concept great room doesn’t seem all that big.

Once inside, it becomes apparent there’s no lack of space. All four spaces — an island kitchen and dinette area to the left and living room and dining room to the right — are not only perfectly positioned, but are also very well-proportioned.

"Each of the four spaces is just the right size, from the kitchen, with its mid-sized island and dinette area for four, to the dining room and living room on the other side," Smith says. "A nine-foot ceiling adds volume and allows for larger windows and a patio door with transom window above. It’s an area that can be configured in a number of ways to meet a family’s needs."

Those configurations can differ markedly from the show home’s great-room layout, he says.

"Instead of having a formal dining room next to the living room, you could put in a sitting area. Then, if you wanted to add more seating to the living room, you could move the sofa back toward the kitchen and replace the love seat with another sofa. There’s still a wide aisleway on the left that leads to the patio doors and a nice big deck out back."

At the same time, tons of natural light flows in to the great room through a host of oversized windows on the rear wall. Two-tone birch-style laminate plank flooring infuses the area with texture and warmth, while a contemporary colour palette and tasteful finishes give the great room a rich, inviting feel.

"I just love the earth-tone colours; they give the great room a soft, upscale look, and will never go out of style," Smith says. "The finishes are gorgeous, too — rift oak-style cabinets and quartz countertops in the kitchen and a gas fireplace with stainless trim set in taupe tile next to a beautiful entertainment unit with niche for a 60-inch TV. Everything blends together perfectly."

The Canmore II’s floor plan takes on an even higher level of function upstairs.

Instead of placing the laundry room on the second floor, the A & S design team opted to place it off a compact landing situated midway up the four-foot-wide staircase.

"We call it the mezzanine level. It’s a perfect spot for the laundry room, as we’ve found that many people don’t necessarily want the laundry room next to the bedrooms. Again, it’s in a convenient spot, yet it’s out of the way."

Eliminating the laundry room made for bigger spaces on the second floor, from the bathroom to all three bedrooms, Smith says.

"Both secondary bedrooms are a good size, with oversized windows and huge closets with sliding doors. The main bathroom is spacious and nicely appointed, and the master suite is a relaxing spot where mom and dad can go to decompress at the end of a long, challenging day."

With all its space and light, and a massive walk-in closet, the master suite is a true retreat that’s finished off beautifully by an elegant three-piece ensuite.

"It features a tile floor, rift oak-style vanity with quartz countertop and dual sinks and a five-foot shower with tempered glass enclosure and gorgeous tile surround," he says. "It’s just a wonderful space."

Smith says the Canmore II’s efficient, elegant design makes it a great choice for growing families.

"It’s just so functional and adaptable, you can set it up the way you want to set it up. We’d be happy to work with you to customize the home to your exact desires, so you get a beautiful home that meets your family’s every need."

lewys@mymts.net