A true original

The word ‘unique’ is, to say the least, ambiguous.

Look up its definition, and viewed as an adjective it means, ‘being the only one of its kind: unlike anything else.’ Taken as a noun (archaic), the definition of unique is, ‘a unique person or thing.’ Depending on the context in which it’s used, being ‘unique’ can be a term with positive or negative connotations.

Eagle Custom Homes’ newest show home — a 2,067-square-foot design found at 204 Bonaventure Dr. East in Bonavista — is unique in the best sense of the word.

"It’s a design that we put a lot of thought into," says Eagle Custom Homes’ owner, David Gurvey. "Our goal was to create a home that was filled with unique design features, yet was extremely livable."

The first thing that Eagle’s design team did was create a floor plan that was open, yet had subtle segmentation built into it.

"There’s good visibility from the front of the home right through to its back portion. Light flow from front to back is really good, and so is flow from the foyer into the great room. The result is a spacious, livable feel."

Several design elements combine to create that inherently livable feel. Because the home is 2,067 sq. ft. in size, there’s no shortage of space. Consequently, each area in the great room — kitchen, dining area and living room — is generous in size.

That said, space alone does not make a home’s main living area an attractive place to spend time in. Look beyond the great room’s space and it becomes evident that its allure can be attributed to a trio of subtle, yet distinct, design details.

First, there’s a 17-foot ceiling (same as in the foyer) that gives the living room a voluminous feel. Second, the entire great room is surrounded by big, well-placed windows both down low and up high. And last (but not least), the finishes create a modern, yet warm ambience that gives the area a contemporary, yet comfortable feel.

"One of the first things you notice is that there’s lots of natural light," says Fritz Pacag, Eagle’s sales representative for 204 Bonaventure. "Not only is there a ton of glass at the back of the home, but there’s also two huge windows over the entertainment unit, plus two windows between the countertop and cabinets either side of the stove — an unusual but welcome feature that lets even more natural light in."

Then, there are the finishes: warm (yet bright) bleached engineered oak hardwoods and a smashing combination of white (glossy) acrylic and (smoke-stained) maple cabinets in the kitchen that go beautifully with dark and light taupe quartz countertops with medium taupe glass tile backsplash.

"Both the cabinets and countertops add contrast," Pacag says. "And the (smoke) maple entertainment unit in the living room (an option) goes perfectly with a gas fireplace that’s set in taupe tile. At the same time, the floor plan flows very well through the dining area and (island) kitchen. There’s an office/guest room to the rear of the kitchen along with a powder room that leads to the two-car garage. Another great feature is a pantry (a clever use of space) positioned right across from the mud room’s doorway."

Head upstairs via an extra-wide staircase and you encounter the home’s upper level, an area that features three bedrooms, a well-appointed four-piece bath — and a spectacular view down to the living room. Both secondary bedrooms are a good size (11.5 x 10 ft. and 10.5 x 11 ft., respectively), while the master suite is a gargantuan 18.2 x 14 ft.

"It’s a completely separate space that was designed to be a relaxing space to retreat to after a long day at work and ferrying the kids around to activities," said Gurvey. "It features a sitting area, ensuite with plank tile floor, six-foot shower, smoke maple vanity with dual sinks and a huge walk-in closet — and its own private, covered balcony. The idea was to create a sanctuary for parents."

Pacag added that the spacious secondary bedrooms are the result of a subtle yet significant design feature.

"Both come with walk-in closets, which adds more space to the bedroom itself."

As if the 2,067 sq. ft. of livable space spread out over the main and second floors weren’t enough, the lower level adds another 1,100 to 1,200 sq. ft. of space to the equation. Again, a lot of thought was put into its design, Gurvey says.

"There’s only one telepost (making for an open layout), three extra-large (30 x 60-inch) windows let in tons of natural light, and we wired the walls to make way for the installation perimeter plugs, a standard feature in our homes. You can easily put two bedrooms downstairs, along with a rec room, bathroom and storage."

Reviews of the home have been outstanding, Pacag says.

"Pretty much everyone who’s been through the home has said, ‘I can see myself living here,’ " he says. "That’s a big compliment. They like how open and inviting it is and love all the thoughtful design features that make it so livable. People expect it to cost $680,000, while it costs $569,900 (significantly less if you go with basic finishes). It’s a home that delivers a lot of value on every level."

lewys@mymts.net