There are generally three elements that come into play when assessing the overall efficiency of a new home design: form, function -- and, of course -- style.
Ask Paradigm Custom Homes' Jeff Baertsoen which is the most important, and his answer is immediate.
"To me, function is foremost in the design of our homes," he says. "Any builder can make a home look beautiful. That's great, but the most important thing is function. If a home doesn't function well in all its key areas, then it doesn't matter how much you dress it up."
Which is exactly why Paradigm's latest creation -- The Mombasa II, a 2,280-sq.-ft. bungalow -- is built on piles with a suspended lumber basement floor system, has 12-inch roof truss heel heights which enable true R50 attic insulations, spray-foam insulation seals in all joist cavities and dual exterior house wrap. Not to mention a durable (and eye-catching) Prairie stone and acrylic stucco exterior.
Now that some of the technical (but nevertheless essential) details have been dealt with, it's time to look more closely at the design that's taken place between the walls of The Mombasa II. This is where form has to marry seamlessly with the functional details, says Baertsoen.
"In order for the home to function well, the form, or layout, has to be logical," he explains. "With that in mind, we work closely with all our clients to design a home that meets their every need. In the case of 40 Medinah, we think the floor plan makes all everything work together extremely well."
First off is a doorway to the right of the sunken foyer that leads to one of the most expansive laundry mudrooms found in any new home design in the city.
Again, it's all about efficiency, says Baertsoen.
"We deliberately made it huge so that organization wouldn't be an issue. There's not only a huge laundry/mudroom area off the garage, but there's also a folding table for laundry, a walk-in closet, broom closet and our signature Kiddie Kubbie organizer (several locker-like stalls) where kids can hang their jackets and store boots and other items. There's even a little shelf for your keys."
That shelf, it turns out, is adjacent to a doorway that allows for direct passage into the kitchen pantry, which then opens up onto the kitchen through yet another doorway. No problem bringing groceries through to the kitchen with such a logical design.
The home's main area -- the kitchen, dining area and great room -- is an open-concept, integrated design that offers the flow and segmentation necessary to accommodate a large gathering, yet enough division to ensure everyone doesn't end up jammed into the same space.
"This is basically the home's hub, so we designed it to be a user-friendly -- and stylish -- as possible," says Baertsoen. "There are tons of (maple) espresso cabinets, and the countertops are a grey shade of durable CaesarStone. There's an 81/2-foot island with eating nook for four -- and a huge dining area surrounded by four large windows. We went with a very contemporary (earth tone) colour palette, and clean, rectangular lines for a simple yet elegant look."
Meanwhile, the great room benefits from two striking design features: a two-sided gas fireplace set smartly in grey slate (no doubt stunning at night), and a bank of four large windows that provides an uncluttered view of the golf course and 12-metre deck out back. A tray ceiling makes the space feel that much larger, while espresso maple hardwoods define the area from the kitchen, which features a brown porcelain tile floor.
The bedroom wing is then set well away from the main living area in a compact hallway, which leaves more room for what matters -- two ample-sized secondary bedrooms, a main bath with two-metre soaker tub -- and a master bedroom with spa-like ensuite, including a 11/2-metre tempered glass shower set in grey tile with glass tile inlay -- and large walk-in closet with its own window.
"We're pleased with how the bedroom turned out -- with its tray ceiling and view out back, it has all kinds of style, and it's just the right size. And the ensuite offers a nice blend of style -- and function."
With another 2,100 sq. ft. ready to be developed in the lower level - with its 2.75-metre ceiling and massive windows -- The Mombasa II has offers all the style, substance -- and space -- that growing families require.
DETAILS
Paradigm Custom Homes
Address: 40 Medinah Drive, Kingswood South, La Salle
Style: Bungalow
Price: $584,625 (including lot, driveway included)
Lot Price: $106,000
Size: 2,288 sq. ft. (with another 2,100 sq. ft. to develop in lower level)
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2
Lot Size: 101' x 233'
Contact: Jeff Baertsoen @ 736-4686
www.paradigmcustomhomes.ca
