TODD LEWYS / FREE PRESS
The spacious, private and light-filled primary bedroom comes with an oversized walk-in closet with free-slide shelving.
TODD LEWYS / FREE PRESS
A cool Jack-and-Jill bathroom was placed between the two kids’ bedrooms to optimize utility and open up more space in the bedrooms.
TODD LEWYS / FREE PRESS
Tons of natural light pours into the well-ordered main living area through huge windows on its front and rear walls.
TODD LEWYS / FREE PRESS
The kitchen in Ventura Custom Homes’ economical Summerlea two-storey home features a narrow but long island that frees up functional space while still providing seating for two.
TODD LEWYS / FREE PRESS
The finishes in the well-designed main living area and kitchen are fabulous.
TODD LEWYS / FREE PRESS
Sharp-looking outside and efficiently designed inside, the 1,330-sq.-ft., two-storey Avery D-23 model starts at $475,000 with standard finishes.
TODD LEWYS / FREE PRESS
A five-foot walk-in shower with optional black trim serves as the focal point of the handsome ensuite bathroom.
TODD LEWYS / FREE PRESS
A 20-by-22-foot double detached garage is included in the price of the show home.
These days, when families look for a new home, they must grapple with a stark reality.
That reality — due to high building costs and mortgage rates that are still hovering in the four per cent range — is that they must exercise financial discipline in the purchase of a home. They just can’t throw caution to the wind and spend $600,000 (and even likely more) on a 2,000-sq.-ft., two-storey home.
Instead, they have to be more realistic and find a new dwelling they can get into for $550,000 or less to keep mortgage payments at a manageable level. Knowing families are looking for an abode that’s affordable yet livable, Ventura Custom Homes conceived the Avery D-23 model.
“Our design team really pulled out all the stops with the design of this back-lane home,” says Anders Frederiksen of Re/Max Executives Realty, sales representative for the two-storey, 1,330-sq.-ft. home. “Building on a back-lane lot allows us to build a better priced home.”
At the same time, building on a narrower lot is more challenging, so Ventura’s design team worked hard to maximize every square foot of space in the sharp looking home, which features an urban-farmhouse design theme.
“For example, the main floor comes with a nine-foot ceiling, which gives it a more spacious feel,” Frederiksen explains. “That, along with an open-concept floor plan and large windows placed on the walls at either end of the main living area, gives it a bright, spacious feel.”
Frederiksen says great attention was paid to the dimensions of each space — and the accessories in them, such as the island in the kitchen.
“To open space up, the island’s width isn’t as great as it normally would be. That created more room to move in the kitchen, yet the island can still seat two. The kitchen also looks amazing with its contrasting white cabinets, black countertops and island, and stainless-steel appliances.”
Because the kitchen is just the right size — it also features a big pantry — plenty of space was left over for a good-sized dining space, as well.
“The area is defined simply by a beautiful black light fixture above and an optional transom window on the side,” Frederiksen says. “Young families can put a smaller table in to save space while the kids are young. Still, there’s plenty of space for a table that can seat six to eight, if you like to entertain.”
No matter what size table resides in the dining area, there’s still plenty of space left over in the family room for a sectional, end tables and a flat-screen TV on the opposite wall.
At no point does functionality suffer in the thoughtfully designed main living area.
“Its design is very efficient,” Frederiksen says. “With this show home, there’s even a 20-by-22-foot double detached garage out the back door, which is included in the price of $549,900.”
Meanwhile, the Avery’s upper level exhibits the same practical imagination that went into the design of the main floor.
To make the most of the available space, Ventura’s design team placed the two secondary bedrooms to the left of the stairs at the end of the hallway — a hallway without a main bath running off it. “A Jack-and-Jill bathroom (a shared bathroom with dual entrances, accessible from two bedrooms) was placed between the two bedrooms to save space and make it easy for the kids to access the bathroom,” notes Frederiksen. “Putting in that style of bathroom also allowed for larger, better shaped bedrooms. One bedroom is 11.9-by-9.2 feet, while the other is nearly nine-by-12 feet. The Jack-and-Jill bath is a cool, but practical design feature.”
The primary bedroom was placed at the opposite end of the second floor, with a brief hallway (which is filled with daylight coming in from a huge window next to the stairs) to maximize privacy.
Again, it’s larger than expected.
“It’s a very good size at 11.9-by-12.1 feet,” he says. “Tons of natural light comes into it from a huge window on its rear wall, as well as a transom window on its side wall. There’s also an oversized walk-in closet with free-slide shelving and a private ensuite with walk-in shower with optional black trim and fixtures.”
While the show home is priced at $549,900 with all its upgrades, a home with standard finishes would cost significantly less, says Frederiksen.
“Going with standard finishes would take the price down to about $475,000,” he says. “With a few selective upgrades and by putting the garage up on the pad yourself, a family could get into the home for about $500,000 or a bit more; there’s also 445 sq. ft. of space downstairs to develop. We’re doing all we can to provide good new-home options for less than $600,000.”
lewys@mymts.net
Details
Builder: Ventura Custom Homes
Address: 239 Emberwell St., Summerlea (Transcona)
Style: two-storey
Model: the Avery D-23
Size: 1,330 sq. ft.
Bedrooms: three
Bathrooms: two-and-a-half
Price: $549,900 (show home includes lot, upgrades & GST)
Contact: Anders Frederiksen, Re/Max Executives Realty, 204-226-7128
