Todd Lewys / Free Press
The kitchen/dining area in Irwin Homes’ River Oaks North two-storey design impresses with its abundance of natural light, great flow and rich finishes that add just the right amount of depth and texture to the mix.
The quietly spectacular great room is a cosy spot to visit with guests after enjoying a meal.
Todd Lewys / Free Press
A hammered-copper hood fan combines with quartz backsplash and countertops, and espresso-stained oak cabinets to give the kitchen a rich, luxurious feel.
Photos by Todd Lewys / Free Press
A glass-filled rear wall makes it possible to enjoy gorgeous river views from every space in the main living area of the stunning River Oaks North home.
With its heated tile floor, freestanding soaker tub, elegant glass/tile shower and a stunning river view, the ensuite is a stunning, spa-like space.
Rest comes easy in the tranquil primary bedroom, which comes with a gorgeous river view from on high.
Todd Lewys / Free Press
All three secondary bedrooms are big and bright, with one featuring its very own ensuite bathroom.
As a builder, it’s natural to feel a bit of trepidation when you’re blessed with a lot that — literally — has everything going for it.
In this case, Irwin Homes came up winners when they acquired a huge, beautifully treed riverfront lot in River Oaks North, which is in the RM of St. Clements just a short drive from East St. Paul.
However, as fortunate as they felt to be able to build on such an amazing lot, their design team was tasked with coming up with a plan that would mesh with the countrified surroundings.
After much brainstorming, it was decided that the dwelling’s motif would be modern-farmhouse.
“That design theme is exemplified by its exterior,” says the new homes sales consultant for the 2,875-sq.-ft., two-storey home, Dave Heinrichs. “It fits in perfectly with the surroundings with its white, low-maintenance exterior that comes with stone and wood accents to really play up that modern-farmhouse theme.”
Step inside the king-sized abode, and you immediately feel at one with its breathtaking surroundings.
The home’s size provided plenty of room for designers to work with and comes immediately into play with a generous, well-lit foyer that’s flanked by a den to the right and spacious mud/laundry room to the left.
And while those design features impress in a practical sort of way, you quickly forget about them the moment you shift your attention to the back of the house.
There, right in front of you — framed by an extra-wide doorway that provides unfettered access to the home’s main living area — is a majestic river view that simply takes your breath away.
“I just love the view, as has everyone who’s gone through the home,” says Heinrichs. “It’s simply stunning. The best part about it is that because the rear wall is filled with glass, you can take it in from every space in the area, from the great room to dining room to kitchen.”
While all the glass allows tons of light to cascade into the main living area, the sheer volume of natural light isn’t overwhelming.
“That’s because the finishes — two-tone engineered-oak flooring and espresso-stained oak cabinets and an island with an espresso-tone base — are just the right tone,” he says. “They add just the right amount of warmth without absorbing too much of the light.”
Heinrichs says two well-chosen finishing materials add a quaint dash of texture to the design mix in the kitchen, while another material was spotted beautifully in the great room.
“The first thing that stands out is the oversized hood fan over the slide-in range,” says Heinrichs. “It’s made of a gorgeous hammered copper that adds rich colour and texture without going over the top. It goes perfectly with the quartz backsplash behind the range and beneath the huge window over the sink. It carries right through into the island’s countertop.”
Then, there’s the dining area between the kitchen and great room, which can seat up to 10 guests.
“It’s in a perfect spot for entertaining — and enjoying the river view,” says Heinrichs. “The sliding patio door behind it also provides access to a large deck that looks out onto the river.”
The adjacent great room then drives the modern-farmhouse theme home with a quiet elegance.
“Again, the river view is spectacular,” says Heinrichs.
“The entertainment unit is centred around a gas fireplace with a textured white surround and lit display areas on either side with espresso-tone oak shelving that ties in nicely with the kitchen cabinets.”
Head upstairs, and the home’s seamless combination of livability and refined luxury gets even better.
As is the case on the main floor, swanky practicality can be found at every turn.
“In total, there are five spaces,” Heinrichs says.
“There’s a gorgeous main bath, and four bedrooms. Two of the secondary bedrooms have their own walk-in closets, with one having its own ensuite. All three bedrooms are large and filled with natural light.”
That leaves the primary bedroom, which, including its ensuite, occupies about half of the second floor.
“The bedroom itself is huge, so there’s lots of room to lay it out just as you want it to be,” says Heinrichs. “A large window on its rear wall provides an amazing view of the river, there’s a big walk-in closet and a massive ensuite with a soaker tub and gorgeous tiled walk-in shower. The ensuite is a true, spa-like retreat. You could spend your whole day in here.”
The thoughtfully crafted home is the ultimate modern-farmhouse design, says Heinrichs.
“Attention to detail is second-to-none, from its exterior to the interior. The river views are amazing, as is the flow, sense of space and finishes. It fits the area perfectly.”
lewys@mymts.net
Details
Builder: Irwin Homes
Address: 27 Kraus Drive, St. Clements/East St. Paul (River Oaks North)
Style: two-storey
Size: 2,875 sq. ft.
Bedrooms: four
Bathrooms: three-and-a-half
Price: $1,309,802
Contact: Dave Heinrichs, New Homes Sales Consultant, 204-479-9222
