Dazzling debut

Anytime a builder unveils a new home design, they tend to hold their breath. That’s because no matter how much thought is put into the design, you never know how it will be received until it undergoes scrutiny from a fickle public.

So far, so good for a newly-minted design by Avanti Custom Homes found at 32 Big Sky Dr. in Oak Bluff West, said Avanti Homes’ sales representative, Coldwell Banker Preferred Real Estate’s T.J. Stroud. "We’ve been open less than a week and we already have two to three people looking to build this home," he reported. "Everyone just loves the design."

The stylish yet functional design begins the moment you walk in the front door, said Stroud. "Your first impression of the home is a good one," he said. "The foyer is generous, with a high (10.3-foot) ceiling overhead. Then, you see the open-concept great room with its monster fireplace, huge island and a wall of windows at the rear of the home."

That wall of windows is all the more extensive thanks to another subtle but significant design feature: a vaulted ceiling. "Because the ceiling is 14.6 feet high at the peak of its vault, that allowed for Avanti’s designers to put in a series of oversize transom windows up high. As a result, the back of the home is filled with glass, making for an exceptionally bright great room. At the same time, the vaulted ceiling makes a big space feel even bigger."

At 1,763 sq. ft., the bungalow isn’t exactly small. That said, it feels even bigger because of the way it was laid out. The great room is smack in the centre, with bedroom wings situated smartly on either side. Everything has its place. And even though the great room is wide-open, that doesn’t mean that it’s a random collection of spaces. Quite the contrary, said Stroud. "While everybody has loved the wide-open design of the great room – it’s ideal for entertaining, with all the spaces being so accessible — each space is nicely defined.

The kitchen is defined by a 10-foot (angled) island, the family room is set off to the side with plenty of space between it and the kitchen, and the dining area — which you can easily put an eight-foot dining table in — is set off in a spacious area adjacent to the kitchen next to patio doors and a big window."

Just as flow from space to space is impressive, so to is the great room’s finishing quality. Because the great room is so bright, it was imperative that finishes offset all the light with a palpable warmth. Avanti’s design team got the balance just right with medium-brown engineered hardwoods, a wealth of slate maple cabinets, island with slate base and a taupe glass tile backsplash.

The great room’s focal point — the monster fireplace — then adds additional substance to the design mix, said Stroud. "Its huge (taupe) cultured stone surround adds a rich feel and extra element of texture (which complements the textured engineered hardwoods), while its simple (slate) maple entertainment (next to a generous TV niche) goes with the cabinets in the kitchen. The balance of light, space, warmth and texture in the great room is ideal."

While the great room was designed for entertaining and accommodate the frenetic activity of daily life, the separate bedroom areas were designed to promote privacy. Two big bedrooms with vaulted ceilings and a four-piece bath were set on one side of the home, while the master suite was set on the opposite side. If a family were to purchase the home, parents would enjoy complete privacy in their section of the home; should empty nesters acquire the home, the two bedrooms could be used as a guest bedroom and den, respectively.

In either case, the master suite would serve as the home’s crown jewel, said Stroud. "It’s a huge space that features a vaulted ceiling, which again allowed for transom windows to be placed over its (large) picture window to inject more natural light into the area," he said. "The ensuite is a beautiful space that features a heated tile floor (an upgrade), standard glass/tile shower and slate maple vanity with dual sinks set in a (beige/taupe) Cambria quartz countertop. There’s also a spacious walk-in closet with tons of built-in storage."

Meanwhile, another 1,500-plus sq. ft. of livable space awaits downstairs in a massive basement, he added. "It’s already framed, and has been designed to hold two more bedrooms, a rec room, theatre, gym, bathroom and storage. With a finishes lower level, the home would come close to 3,300 sq. ft. of total livable space."

Then, there’s the price of the sprawling bungalow — $669,900 including lot, net GST, appliances and more.

"The home also comes with a Control 4 system (operated via a wall-mounted iPad), attached triple garage, a huge mud/laundry room with wash sink that people really appreciate plus features such as pot lights, and even standard USB outlets in the kitchen to charge your smartphone or tablet," Stroud said. "Little wonder so many people love this home. It’s stylish, practical and spacious, and delivers incredible value for the price."

lewys@mymts.net

Back to News Home