If it weren't for the fact you knew you were in Royalwood, you'd almost swear you were in Bridgwater Forest.
With its cultured stone facade, front porch and non-protruding attached garage, 75 Bridgeway Cres. greatly resembles many homes that line the streets in Bridgwater Forest and Bridgwater Lakes. However, the home pre-dates homes in the popular Waverley West community by approximately five years, said Tod Niblock of Royal LePage Top Producers Real Estate.
"This home was built in 2003 and is a former Hallmark Homes show home," he said. "It's a distinctive home right from the front elevation on. The cultured stone is classy, and the covered front porch is a nice touch. And even though the home is 11 years old, its interior design is still very contemporary. It's a design that's still desirable now, and that will be five, even 15 years from now."
While 75 Bridgeway is an open-concept design -- they came into vogue around 2000 or slightly before -- the design, which is now commonplace, is notable for the way in which it was executed. The front entrance -- which is defined by tan tile -- was placed next to an open, front-oriented dining room (defined by honey maple hardwoods) with a huge picture window.
Meanwhile, the front entrance features a double front door with glass centres, a transom window above and a large vertical window on the side. Combine all that glass with a vaulted ceiling that arches majestically over the foyer (and runs through the balance of the 1,702-square-foot home's main living area), and you've got a home that feels good the moment you set foot inside.
"The dining room/foyer area is one of the most unique I've seen and puts this home in a different class -- the high ceiling and huge windows make for a bright, welcoming home," said Niblock. "The outgoing owner put a frosted, tempered glass insert (a custom piece designed by On the Edge Glass Studio) between the foyer and dining room to divide the two spaces in style."
Not only does the home possess flair from a design standpoint, the floor plan also makes sense. To the left of the foyer is a bedroom den, followed by a hallway that contains a four-piece bath, with the home's master suite placed privately at the end.
The foyer opens up into the great room, which is preceded by a lower-level staircase defined by one-third walls on either side. Although the great-room area is wide open, it doesn't lack in definition. The staircase's right-hand stub wall defines the family room, while an island brings definition to the galley-style kitchen.
Even though both spaces are generous in their proportions, there's still plenty of room left for a dinette area for four. Like the foyer, the great room has a bright, spacious -- and eminently livable -- feel.
"Thanks to the vaulted ceiling and huge windows on the rear walls -- there's a huge (vertical) picture window on the family room's rear wall and two large (horizontal) windows next to the dinette area -- the entire space is filled with light and feels even larger than it is," Niblock said, adding a big window over the double window in the sink injects more light into the kitchen. "There's also a patio door off the dinette that leads to a covered deck."
With plenty of honey maple cabinets, tons of counter space -- the long island is ideal for preparing food for large gatherings -- and a corner pantry, the kitchen is functional and nicely finished. The adjacent family room -- which is further defined from the kitchen by beige carpeting that contrasts the kitchen's smart taupe/rust faux tile (vinyl) flooring -- is big, with a corner gas fireplace being its focal point.
"It's an area that would work well for empty nesters who like to entertain, or a young family," said Niblock. "Flow is excellent for entertaining; the dining room could also be used as a play area until the kids get older, then can be converted back to a dining room. It's a very flexible floor plan."
Back down the hallway off the foyer is the master suite, which contains a mid-sized walk-in closet, a three-piece ensuite, and another neat feature.
"Another feature unique to this home is the patio door on the master suite's right-hand wall that leads to the covered deck," he said. "It adds more light and allows you to access the covered patio and private backyard any time you want."
Downstairs awaits another 1,400 square feet of partially developed living space. Currently, there's a media room, bedroom, three-piece bath and plenty of storage space.
"If the new owners wanted, they could actually open up the media room's far wall into all the open (framed) space on the other side to add a games area," he said. "The mechanical/storage area is so huge that you could also possibly put in another bedroom. Again, that flexibility makes this a home that would work well for empty nesters or a young family."
It's also a home that's ideal for families looking to build new, or for empty nesters looking to downsize.
"The home is in a mature, desirable area, and would cost significantly less than building new," said Niblock. "It would also provide empty nesters with the space and amenities they're looking for. Overall, it's a well-maintained, well-designed home in a great neighbourhood."
lewys@mts.net
