New Homes

New Homes

Charting its own course

Every now and then, you come across a new home design that represents a significant departure from current trends.

Depending on how "trendy" the design is, it can come across as being a positive departure from the accepted norm -- or a departure that may not see the light of day again. In the case of 79 Marine Drive -- a new Maric Homes design in south Winnipeg's Van Hull Estates -- it turns out that being fashion-forward is a very good thing.

"Our goal is to set trends, not follow them," Cathie Maric says. "I think we've done that with this home. It's a more contemporary design where, first of all, we've mixed cool with warm tones. The result is that the home's colour scheme is a bit more grey than brown. So far, the reviews have been very good."

As it turns out, the grey/brown colour scheme is only the beginning of the groundbreaking features. The first thing you see when you walk in the no-less-than-eight-foot-wide front door: a curved maple staircase bordered by what looks to be dark cultured stone that's set at a vertical rather than horizontal angle.

"It's actually called Black Rundle ProFit Stone. We used it not only to define the staircase in the foyer, but in the great room as well -- it gives you a different, and very elegant look," she says. "The stone looks spectacular coming down the staircase -- it cascades down to your right, while the chandelier to your left provides a bright, elegant touch."

Therein lies the next ingredient of the daring design: the light fixtures.

"This time around, we went with more chandelier-type light fixtures with shades and crystals -- they're the coming thing. It's a look we even carried into the master bedroom. Everyone who's been through the home says the look works extremely well," Maric adds.

Tom Haines, Maric's longtime marketing agent, says there's another innovative design feature in the kitchen: a staggered pantry that follows the curve of the wall that divides the kitchen from the great room.

"It's comprised of multiple compartments featuring rift oak custom cabinetry," he says. "Not only does the texture of the dark cabinets give you a different look, but this type of pantry does away with the traditional corner pantry, while giving you as much or more storage space. Without a corner pantry, you also have more room to move, too."

Haines' sales associate, Marc Goldberg, adds the kitchen's layout is bound to be emulated in the future.

"It's been oriented so that it's wide open, yet separate from the great room. It follows the contour of the curved wall, which opens up aisle space, yet divides it from the great room. Even the huge black granite island follows the contours, plus there's room for a dinette," he says. "It's the wave of the future."

Thanks to a literal wall of windows on the rear wall of the kitchen and great room (situated to catch the most sunlight possible) -- eight-foot doors also provide access to a large Trex deck out back -- ample sunlight shines onto the area because the home's rear portion has been angled to not only receive more sunlight, but to optimize the view of the forest and greenery behind the back yard.

"This area of the home has been designed to make sure you get the sun all day," Haines says. "The location here is spectacular -- the house overlooks mature forest, Henteleff Park, and is close to the river, so it was designed to take full advantage of the sun and the incredible views."

Upstairs, the master bedroom is the centrepiece. Set at an angle that follows the contours from downstairs, it not only offers a wealth of space but three huge windows afford an elevated view of the spectacular surroundings. There's also a bright, expansive ensuite outfitted in beige porcelain tile with an oversized frameless glass shower and requisite jetted tub to create a relaxing, spa-like atmosphere.

"We also went with a floating mirror to complement the floating (dark maple rift) cabinetry and create a 3-D look," says Maric, adding that artwork carefully selected by Mayberry Fine Art adds panache throughout the home. "We also continued through with the grey tones, which are dark so as to create a warm, contemporary look."

Downstairs, accessible by another curved staircase, the level of finish is just as high as that found on the main level (same floating cabinetry, etched tempered glass and carpeting), and there are no fewer than three separate zones of livable space that amount to another 1,500 square feet.

"The lower level has three separate quadrants," Haines explains. "There's a bar area, games area and sitting area with two-sided fireplace. Three huge windows in the games area let in lots of light, and there's also a huge bedroom with its own (huge) four-piece bathroom. Plus, there's a self-contained, temperature-controlled wine room, which adds a definite touch of class."

Maric says she and husband Steve are thrilled to offer such a cutting-edge design to the Winnipeg market.

"It's all about being innovative and keeping on top of current trends," she says. "It always our goal to keep raising the bar from a design standpoint; I think we've accomplished that with this home."

lewys@mts.net

79 Marine Drive, Van Hull Estates

Size: 2,780 sq. ft. (plus 1,500 sq. ft. in finished lower level)

Lot: 60' x 130'

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 3.5

Price: $879,900 (includes lot & net GST)

Contact: Tom Haines @ 799-7505 or Marc Goldberg @ 228-1889

Key Features: Cutting-edge design throughout: curved maple staircase framed by vertical Black Rundle Pro Fit stone; floating cabinetry with etched glass accents; chandelier-style light fixtures; staggered six-door dark rift oak pantry that follows curve of kitchen wall; angled master bedroom with opulent ensuite; lower level with wet bar, games room, sitting area, bedroom with ensuite and self-contained wine room.

Todd Lewys
November 9

New Homes

The option is yours

It should go without saying that when you buy a new home, that home should work for you -- in every respect.

Unfortunately, some home builders have a design template and are loathe to deviate from it. As a consequence, you might get a home that doesn't function or look the way you'd like it to in a key area or two.

That will never be the case when you deal with Qualico Homes, says Qualico's single family sales manager, Dale Penner.

"It's critically important that home buyers be able to pick and choose the options that work for them," he says. "Buyers can do that with us -- they're welcome to consult with the representatives at our show homes to see what might work best for them. We even have a slot open every Friday from two to four in the afternoon where people can visit us at 30 Speers Road to select their design, flooring, lighting and colour choices."

In the case of The Monticello, a 1,981 square-foot two-storey design at 14 Tallgrass Crescent in Sage Creek, prospective buyers can view the dressed up version of the bright, open-concept design.

"This home just serves to show visitors what we can do -- you get features like maple cabinetry, granite counter tops and a large, elegant master bedroom with deluxe ensuite that includes a corner jetted tub and shower, as well as a walk-in closet in the ensuite," Penner explains. "Basically, the customer decides what the home will be. That's the only way to ensure their needs are met completely."

While this version of The Monticello has a few more bells and whistles than one that might go with vinyl flooring (rather than the dark maple hardwoods that run through most of the main level), arborite counter tops rather than granite and perhaps oak cabinetry and trim rather than the cappucino-stained maple that abounds in 14 Tallgrass, several handy features come as a standard part of the design.

Take for example, the walk-through pantry that provides effortless access from the kitchen to the large laundry/mudroom area.

"This is a design feature that everyone loves," he says. "If you have a large family, it just makes life that much easier -- moms can easily wander back and forth between the kitchen and laundry room if they're sorting clothes or ironing, and you can bring groceries directly into the pantry from the garage. There's also lots of storage space for sports equipment and other items -- it's all off to the side and out of the way."

Next is a flex room located to the immediate right of the foyer.

"It can be used for a variety of purposes -- it can be turned into a formal dining room, can be a den, games, computer or exercize room. The dining area off the kitchen is quite big. With that in mind, we've found that many people have used the room as a den or reading room, because you can slip off to it by yourself, apart from everyone, without having to go to your room," Penner adds.

Meanwhile, the kitchen/great room section of the home is also a study in utility. An open-concept design, it uses the granite/dark maple island to create a subtle division between spaces, while increasing the perception of space by employing two neat design features: a vaulted ceiling in the great room, and tons of glass -- two windows and patio doors off the kitchen, four large windows on the back wall of the great room.

"Without question, this area is going to be the home's activity hub, so we wanted to make it functional and welcoming," he says. "Consequently, the ceiling in the kitchen is nine feet, while the vaulted ceiling in the great room is 17 feet. There's an eating nook for two off the island, and room for a table for six in the dining area. The great room is extra-wide with a maple entertainment unit, gas fireplace set in weathered beige ceramic tile and a huge niche for a big screen TV, a feature we added to meet the demands of the market. A bookcase/wine rack is also an option on the subwall between the kitchen and great room for division."

Upstairs, the design maintains the theme set downstairs: windows abound, letting in lots of natural light. Likewise, the layout is just as logical with the master bedroom being placed at one end of the landing/hallway, divided neatly from the two (large) secondary bedrooms at the other end by a laundry closet and four-piece bathroom.

"Again, the master bedroom is standard -- it's just the right size, and can accommodate an armoire, king-sized bed and two end tables without a problem. However, this version features a deluxe ensuite with corner jetted tub, corner shower, beige ceramic tile floor and walk-in closet inside the ensuite area," Penner says. "If buyers want, the bedroom can be kicked out several feet to create a double-door entrance and different storage configuration. Again, it's totally up to the customer."

With an additional 800 square feet of living space downstairs and a PowerSmart silver rating, The Monticello can be configured to be one very flexible -- and efficient -- family home.

lewys@mts.net

Todd Lewys
November 2

New Homes

A modern home that's touched by the past

Plan L-215-VSB, by Home Plans LLC, features a wraparound veranda and adjacent piazza that recall the peaceful days of the past when friends spent restful afternoons mingling at garden parties.

This design's two floors total 2,213 square feet of living space.

Inside, a series of handsome columns creates a dignified gallery that ushers guests into the living and dining rooms. When appearances count, serve dinner in the dining room. Afterward, step out to the piazza for a breath of the night air.

Day to day, the kitchen and breakfast nook will bustle with activity. Perfect for family meals, the nook is also a great spot for a student to finish schoolwork under the watchful eye of a parent in the kitchen. Nearby access to the garage saves steps when unloading groceries.

In the master suite, a number of perks provide special treatment for the homeowners. Access to the veranda offers a romantic escape, while a Jacuzzi tub in the bath pampers a weary spirit.

Upstairs, all three bedrooms are a good size and include sizable walk-in closets. The front-facing bedroom also boasts a soaring vaulted ceiling and its own vanity. A convenient laundry chute in the hall helps keep kids' bedrooms neat.

For more information, visit www.houseoftheweek.com. Or call 866-772-1013. Reference the plan number.

Details

Bedrooms: 4

Baths: 2 1/2

Upper floor: 862 sq. ft.

Main floor: 1,351 sq. ft.

Total Living Area: 2,213 sq. ft.

Garage: 477 sq. ft.

Exterior Wall Framing: 2x4

Foundation Options: Slab

Floor plan: Design I-56 has a living room, dining room, kitchen, breakfast nook, four bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths and a utility room, totalling 2,213 square feet. The attached two-car garage covers 477 square feet.

--Associated Press

November 2

New Homes

Housing industry still healthy

There has been a considerable hue and cry recently concerning the anticipated collapse of Canada's housing industry. Statisticians isolate one month of below-average starts and attempt to apply them to an entire year.

People read about what is happening in the United States and just assume that whatever happens there is destined for Canada in the immediate future. Investment brokerage firms create scare tactics to encourage consumers to hold back on big-ticket spending.

However, the simple truth is that Canada is not the U.S. and whatever happens there does not necessarily happen here; and there is a variety of experts who can give reasons why it won't. Two brokerage firms recently predicted the demise of Canada's housing industry and the media and many others picked up on these stories. These were not banks, credit unions or other financial institutions firmly entrenched and familiar with mortgages, but rather companies (one with a very limited Canadian presence) whose primary interest is encouraging clients to invest in savings strategies rather than big-ticket purchases.

Many sources disagree with the prediction of a housing collapse. Prime Minister Stephen Harper noted that the housing and construction markets are much stronger in Canada than the U,S. He also noted major differences between our mortgage situations.

As well, Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney expressed confidence in the Canadian economy and noted that personal spending continued to flourish. He emphasized that the Bank of Canada remained committed to the achievement of low, stable and predictable inflation and said that the cost of borrowing would not spike as it had south of the border.

The Scotiabank Group identified further differences between the Canadian and U.S. mortgage markets. While it is true that Canadian debt growth has increased on a par with that in the U.S. in recent years, it must be remembered that Canada experienced a much greater recession than the U.S. in the early 1990s and so took much longer to rebound.

Therefore, the two economies started at considerably different points. Canada's ratio of household debt to income is also much lower than in the U.S.

The U.S. subprime market for new mortgages from 2004 to 2006 was somewhere between 20 and 25 per cent. Canada sits at five to six per cent for outstanding mortgages and so isn't nearly as exposed to the dangers that can cause damage to the market.

Canada retains much higher homeowner equity than the U.S., where mortgage debt growth has been outpacing housing assets for the past 15 years. Riskier investor mortgages account for nine per cent of all outstanding mortgages in the U.S., 9.5 per cent in the United Kingdom and 10 per cent in Australia. They are between two and three per cent in Canada.

Canadian financial institutions tend to be much more conservative than their U.S. counterparts. This practice extends to mortgages on balance sheets, insured securitizations, a lack of reliance on short-term lines and prudent underwriting standards. Although our financial institutions and Canadians in general are frequently mocked for our conservative, non-risk approach, given the current financial situation in the U.S., perhaps a little cautious introspection is a good thing.

This column prepared by the Manitoba Home Builders' Association.

The Manitoba Home Builders Association
October 12

New Homes

Outside the box

Whenever you think outside the box -- especially where new home designs are concerned -- there's always an element of risk involved.

Go too far in the quest to be unique, and chances are people will think the design to be an impractical piece of art. Take no risks, and you stand to get lumped into a generic heap with your competitors.

Fortunately, Signature Homes decided to take a carefully calculated risk with The Stratford, a 2,680-square-foot, two-storey show home found at 15 Millbank Avenue in Bridgland Forest.

"We've been extremely pleased with reaction to the design," says Signature's marketing representative, Jeff McArthur. "All the comments about the design have been very positive. The Stratford is a family-friendly design that has unique features that also happen to be very practical."

Due to its striking exterior, The Stratford stands apart from the rest of the homes on Millbank Avenue right from the outset -- and not in a small way.

With a curved roofline that merges into a peaked front section that reaches its zenith over the two-car garage -- and a smaller peaked section at the low end of the curved roof section -- The Stratford is a one-of-a-kind design. Thankfully, that doesn't mean its interior is quirky.

In fact, it's just the opposite. A vaulted ceiling in the foyer and dining room provides an immediate sense of space, while a wide hallway in front of the foyer and angled staircase to the right open up the home's front even further.

For a subtle sense of separation, the designers defined the front-oriented dining room with a pillared entrace with cutout walls that neatly divides the home's front area from the kitchen/great room portion. All of which makes you wonder what awaits in behind. The payoff? An L-shaped kitchen/great room area that has been infused with loads of glass on the farm wall -- as well as all kinds of space.

"All the space makes for a welcome degree of separation," he says. "The island kitchen (with eating nook for three) is a space of its own, as is the dinette area. The deck doors then act as a divider for the great room. To add to the sense of space, there's a bay window by the dinette, and a recessed window in the great room. Yet, because the ceiling is normal height, the area still feels warm and intimate."

A trio of other design details also makes the kitchen/great room a space you instinctly want to inhabit: dark-stained oak window trim and baseboards that add definition to the area; a chocolate brown rear wall that exudes warmth and acts as a backdrop for a stand-alone, rather than built-in wall unit; and a long wall at the front of the great room that divides it from the kitchen while providing a separate wing for the garage entrance and a cool little powder room with pedestal sink and green-flecked beige wall paper.

"There's no built-in entertainment unit or fireplace because we wanted to give people a chance to visualize how they would arrange the room. We can also put in an entertainment unit and fireplace, no problem, if that's what the customer wants," McArthur adds.

Another departure from the norm is The Stratford's bi-level second-floor layout. The master bedroom is on the main level, while two (large) secondary bedrooms, a four-piece bathroom and cavernous 15-foot deep by 23-foot wide bonus room (with a built in laundry chute in the hallway in front) are five steps up on their own, separate level.

"That's why this is the ideal family home -- there's such great potential for separation," he says. "The parents can entertain downstairs, while the kids can play or watch a movie in the bonus room upstairs. We left the bonus room in an unfinished state so buyers can imagine how it might work for them. It could be a media room, games room, or even extra bedrooms."

Which then leaves the master bedroom, a marvel in itself -- and a unique one, at that.

"We consider it the crown jewel of the home," he says. "We've seen a lot of jaws drop when people have walked in and seen its soaring cathedral ceiling and huge bay window. It's everything a master bedroom should be -- roomy, elegant, and with a beautiful ensuite and his and her closets -- very practical, too."

Add more than 1,000 sq. ft. of living space in the home's lower level, and you have a unique yet practical home that any large family could cohabit in (at least) relative peace.

lewys@mts.net

Todd Lewys
October 12

New Homes

Life leases can offer community living

It's a buzz phrase that's been around the real estate industry for some time now. Life lease. But what does it really mean?

Local "life lease" expert Bill Thiessen, a realtor with RE/MAX Performance Realty, says a life lease is exactly that -- a lease for life.

"This is a lease for the rest of your life," says Thiessen. "There is no term."

A life lease is a mechanism used by not-for-profit groups to provide housing for a group of people at an affordable rate. But it's not a low-income housing program, Thiessen quickly points out. It is a good way to manage costs for people.

"It's simply the best delivery agent for getting people into seniors' housing at the lowest cost," notes Thiessen.

Here's how it works. A specific group of people, such as a church congregation, decides they want to provide housing for some of their members. Say there are 50 parishioners who need a place to live -- the group commissions a builder to take on the project and then determines costs.

The actual cost to build the project is divided by the number of people moving in. Then each person is required to pay half of that amount up front as an entrance fee. The other 50 per cent is put into a bulk mortgage to pay for the rest of the building costs. Residents pay that off through their monthly lease payment for maintenance costs. They pay monthly fees as long as they live in the building -- thus, a life lease.

"It's the least expensive but most realistic way to get the capital to build a building," Thiessen explains.

Monthly costs go up only when the actual costs to maintain the building go up.

The other beauty about a life lease that differs from a condo is the total liquidity it offers. If you have to move or you need access to your money for something else, you can take out the money that you originally invested in the project any time you need it.

"The money you pay into that entrance fee is always returned to you when you need it," Thiessen says, "It provides complete liquidity."

The option to get your money out when you need it provides people with a safe mechanism for estate planning, Thiessen notes. He says people are always looking for an angle to life leases, but there really isn't one. They are not-for-profit and while you do get your original investment back, you don't earn interest. You simply get back what you put in.

"It provides stability and a worry-free base for where your money is," he says.

Life leases have become popular in Winnipeg with a variety of different cultural groups. There are already many different life lease projects in and around the city, which are organized around faith and culture, such as Buddhist and Mennonite life-lease buildings.

"It's about providing a community," says Thiessen. "It's providing a group of people that definitely want to live together that opportunity."

While people could just buy a condo, investing in a life lease is much more than simply having a roof over your head, Thiessen explains.

In addition to living with people in your community who share similar interests or a common thread, a life-lease project is quite different and typically includes much more than a traditional condominium would offer.

For one, there are many more amenities. Take the newest life-lease project that Thiessen is marketing. The Cornerstone Life Lease Estates, to be located at Gateway and Knowles, not only provides seniors with brand- new housing in a community setting, it offers a wide range of amenities. Those include greenhouses, garden plots, a car wash, hobby rooms such as woodworking, and even a coffee shop.

"You can leave your suite and go to gathering places," says Thiessen. "It's a place for the community to grow together."

That community also evolves over time. While people might move in when they are 65, their needs are going to change when they reach 85. That's where the second phase of the Cornerstone life-lease project kicks in. Stage one is independent living, where people essentially live in their own condo and are totally self-sufficient. Stage two is assisted living, where people still live on their own but have access to services such as meal preparation and home care.

"We call it life in transition," Thiessen explains. "The two buildings in combination are an attractive thought for people in the future."

Demand for life leases is strong. Although construction on the Cornerstone Life Lease Estates project isn't set to start until November, the building is already 70 per cent pre-sold. Typically, pre-sale in condo projects is usually around 25 to 30 per cent.

"Interest is exceptional given that we don't have a building yet," notes Thiessen. "Northeast Winnipeg doesn't have many housing options and people want to stay in their own community."

tbryksa@mts.net

Tracey Bryksa
October 12

New Homes

Home a charmer with craftsman style

Craftsman-style details pair up with an ingenious use of both indoor and outdoor space in this charming home, Plan DW-1999, by Home Plans LLC.

The floor plan covers 1,999 square feet of living space. A deep porch introduces the foyer, which opens into a formal dining room. To the left of the foyer, double doors enclose a unique bayed study.

In the living room beyond, a high ceiling accents the warming fireplace, and sliding french doors along one wall open to a back deck. Adjacent to the living room is a bayed nook, which leads out to a sizable sun deck.

The kitchen boasts an island cooktop, a large pantry and proximity to the utility room, simplifying daily household tasks.

On the other side of the home, double doors introduce the master suite. The split bath features a corner garden tub and dual walk-in closets. Two more bedrooms share a full bath upstairs, while a versatile future area makes the design a perfect choice for growing families.

A downloadable study plan of this house is available at www.houseoftheweek.com. To order by phone, call (866) 772-1013. Reference the plan number.

--Associated Press

Details

Bedrooms: 3+

Baths: 2 1/2

Upper floor: 469 sq. ft.

Main floor: 1,530 sq. ft.

Total Living Area: 1,999 sq. ft.

Future area: 413 sq. ft.

Standard basement: 1,530

Garage: 639 sq. ft.

Exterior Wall Framing: 2x4

Foundation Options:

Standard basement

Crawlspace

Slab

Price Code: B

Floor plan: Cosy living spaces such as a front-facing study, a secluded master suite and a corner breakfast nook anchor this home's comfortable floor plan, while wide-open spaces are found at the home's centre. The central living room opens to the island kitchen and a formal dining room. A soaring ceiling enhances the area's openness. Upstairs, two secondary bedrooms share a full bath with a dual-sink vanity. A future area allows you to expand your home at your own convenience.

October 12

New Homes

Setting the standard

When you're looking for a new home, it's only natural to look at the different prices and wonder why some homes are (far) more expensive than others.

In some instances, location is the reason; in others, it's meticulous building standards. Or, it can a combination of both -- plus a host of other small, yet important intangibles.

All the above factors -- plus a heaping helping of cutting-edge technology -- is why Huntington Homes' newest show home at 56 Southlands Drive in Pritchard Farms Southlands is premium-priced, says Huntington Homes' Rob Swan.

"It might be a cliche, but in life, you do get what you pay for," he says. "Our building philosophy is simple: Do it right the first time, right from the ground up. This home (a 2,317-square-foot bungalow with walkout basement) has been built on piles, has a structural-wood basement floor and steel beams. Structure is what's most important. Once you've got that in place, you can concentrate on dressing it up."

Make no mistake about it, 56 Southlands is as pleasing to the eye as it is solid. It's also loaded with a host of practical features and technology that are designed to make life that much more enjoyable.

The eye-pleasing features start in the wide foyer, where an etched-glass wall neatly separates the foyer from the formal dining room. Meanwhile, 10-foot ceilings -- including a tray ceiling in the dining room -- increase the feeling of space. Large (Solar Shield) windows all-round allow light to flow freely throughout the home, while dark maple hardwoods, door trim and baseboards (and even heat register covers) combine with a palette of beige earthtones to provide a warm, welcoming interior.

A logical floor plan that includes a main floor laundry/mudroom, four-foot hallways and an integrated kitchen/dinette/great room/dining room area also works well, adds Swan.

"The idea was to create an area that put all the different elements at your fingertips, yet had four distinct spaces," he explains. "For example, the kitchen's grey quartz island not only looks unique, but divides the kitchen from the dinette area. Then, a three-foot-high wall with etched-glass partition divides the dinette from the great room. We then installed a three-sided fireplace to the right of the (maple) entertainment unit to separate the great room from the dining room. You can have all kinds of people in the area, yet the separation ensures they won't be crammed in."

Swan adds that comfort will also never be a problem throughout the home thanks to a state-of-the-art Carrier Inifinity heating/cooling system.

"In my opinion, it's the best on the market, bar none," he says. "For this home, it's been programmed to create three different climate zones: the lower level, master bedroom and ensuite, and the rest of the main level. Each area has its own thermostat (which reacts to conditions outdoors) to control temperature; the system also monitors humidity, adding and subtracting as it goes to maintain just the right comfort level."

More cutting-edge technology can be found in the kitchen, where gourmet types are sure to enjoy an induction cooktop by Thermador.

"You have to see it to believe it -- it truly is the microwave oven of cooktops. It's safer and quicker than any gas cooktop; we were provided with a demonstration, and it actually boiled a pot of water in less than a minute -- and cooled off incredibly quickly. It's an amazing system."

Technology also plays a central role in the master bedroom, which, aside from being very private and voluminous (it also provides a stunning water view) -- also offers up a spa-like ensuite with a couple of high-tech twists that are as practical as they are enjoyable.

"We put venting in the ensuite to ensure that clothes in the walk-in closet (contained in the ensuite) weren't affected by humidity," Swan says. "Not only is there a corner jetted tub, but the oversized shower enclosure has been outfitted with a Grohe shower tower. It's a one-piece unit that gives you body spray outlets, a rain shower head -- and the ability to control water temperature with the twist of a dial."

The home's crowning touch is a 1,700-square-foot walk-out basement with rec room, two bedrooms, wet bar, three-piece bath and water view. However, there's no media room. There's a reason for that, says Swan.

"We went away from that concept for two reasons -- first, today's new flat-panel TV's don't need dark for good picture quality; second, you don't have to open up double doors to see the TV when you're playing pool," he says. "We tried to think of everything when we designed this home. When you do that, you get a place that offers a good balance of looks, ergonomics and technology."

lewys@mts.net

Todd Lewys
October 5

New Homes

Home spacious beyond its means

An exterior of brick, siding and copper flashing adds an elegant touch to this feature-filled one-storey home, Plan APS-1516, by Home Plans LLC.

Its floor plan covers 1,593 square feet of living space. The recessed, sidelighted entry opens directly into the bright and airy family room, which boasts a high ceiling and window-flanked fireplace.

The adjacent formal dining room features a tray ceiling and includes a french door to a backyard patio.

Designed with the gourmet in mind, the kitchen offers a pantry, angled eating bar and sunny breakfast area. A second french door accesses a rear porch.

Enhanced by a cathedral ceiling and decorative plant shelves, the master suite hosts a sitting area and walk-in closet. The vaulted master bath showcases a garden tub, a separate shower and a functional dual-sink vanity with knee space.

On the opposite side of the home, two more bedrooms share another full bath. A laundry room is conveniently located between the entry and the garage.

A downloadable study plan of this house is available at www.houseoftheweek.com. To order by phone, call (866) 772-1013. Reference the plan number.

Details

Bedrooms: 3

Baths: 2

Main floor: 1,593 sq. ft.

Total Living Area: 1,593 sq. ft.

Standard basement: 1,593 st. ft.

Garage and storage/mechanical: 482 sq. ft.

Exterior Wall Framing: 2x4

Foundation Options: Standard basement

October 5

New Homes

When it has to be just so

Christopher Simmonds is a perfectionist.

The award-winning architect with a penchant for modern spaces, where glass blurs the line between outdoor and inside spaces, has been known to take hours mulling over a design problem.

Take the time he paced around the construction zone in his home in the fall of 2006, watching his colleague and contractor, Guy Robinette, perched on scaffolding high above the dining-room floor, holding up several drywall options for the ceiling.

The mission was to box in ductwork linking the fireplace to an exterior wall. It was impossible to send the metal work straight up and out the roof two floors up.

"He spent four hours talking about it, asking for changes," adds Robinette, who has known Simmonds since he graduated from Carleton University's School of Architecture 26 years ago. "The first attempt wasn't interesting enough for Mr. Simmonds," says his friend with a hearty laugh.

Eventually, the two settled on a 12-foot curve that hugs the ceiling, fanning out from a narrow span at the fireplace, gently widening as it passes in front of the large dining-room windows. Simple drywall flows like a gentle river into a delta.

The untutored eye would not realize there is essential ductwork behind the curve.

It is one small piece in a thoroughly modern home that sits on a narrow lot in Old Ottawa South. The silver stone house is entered in this year's Design Awards being organized by the Greater Ottawa Home Builders' Association and set for mid-October at the National Gallery.

Simmonds has a long track record of winning honours at the event, taking home multiple trophies for an Old World-style bungalow sitting beside a cascading waterfall in east Ottawa, a stunning bungalow set on a bluff overlooking the Ottawa River and a courtyard home tucked beside the Rideau River.

Yet all of his designs share common factors: a sense of light, flow, layered textures and intricate detailing.

For the Simmonds house, "there were a lot of changes and 99 per cent were inside," says Robinette, who says all of the conversations and changes added up to a sun-drenched home filled with hints of Australia, the homeland of Simmonds's wife, Inga D'Arcy.

"The changes were all worth it," says Robinette, who interrupted his honeymoon to make sure the house was finished correctly.

"Sun and light are very important to Inga," says Simmonds during a visit to his semi-detached home located between the Rideau Canal and the Rideau River.

A path leads past a garden to the front door while at the rear, three floors of glass drop down a steep hill to D'Arcy's lush garden of vegetables and herbs. Sunlight streams through the banks of south-facing windows, heating up the blond-coloured maple flooring and smartly reducing heating costs.

Simmonds, again the perfectionist, designed large roof overhangs to protect the house from the hot summer sun.

He abandoned a garage in favour of a carport and the option of more windows at the front of the house and another small, sheltered garden where he has been valiantly trying to grow bamboo.

He fully realizes Ottawa is at least two zones too cold for bamboo, yet this spring a few branches emerged from the snow, clearly delighting Simmonds, who took a year off before completing his architectural degree at Carleton University to work in Toronto for Jurgen Partridge, now a leading landscape architect.

"I am a crazy gardener with a Zen soul," says Simmonds, who has earned honours for eco-designs such as the Mountain Equipment Co-op building, a green low-rise apartment building and the eco-friendly headquarters of the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority outside Manotick.

It makes sense that his own home is green on the inside, with radiant floor heating, and green on the outside.

The small bamboo garden gives him great pleasure because it adds light to the house and it's the first thing he sees each morning when coming down the stairs.

Inga D'Arcy's studio, with her paintings and cupboards brimming with books on art and meditation, takes up the other half of the lower level. Both rooms are filled with sun and uninterrupted views of the garden.

Both D'Arcy and Simmonds have their own away rooms in the house, quiet, sunny places where they can be alone and meditate.

A different shade of sun pours through Simmonds's bathroom on the third level. Here a high window brings a soft blue light into the room.

Across the hall, there is the women's bathroom, a larger, brighter room with a curvy tub and tinted glass wall tiles re-creating feelings of walking along one of Australia's long, white, sandy beaches. The limestone flooring adds another level of texture and light in a house that has the power to encourage bamboo to grow.

-- Canwest News Service

Sheila Brady
October 5