New Homes
New Homes
Tweaking it to the max
As good as a new home's design might be, it can always be made better.
Which is exactly what the design team at Sterling Homes did when they subtly tweaked an already successful home plan, The Montara: make the 1,675-square-foot bungalow better in several key areas.
"The tweaks started with giving the home a new elevation to give it even more curb appeal," said Derek MacDonald, marketing manager, Qualico single family homes. "Its exterior looks very refined with its cultured stone accents and clean lines -- it's a home that really catches your eye when you're walking by. That rich look extends inside; the home was designed to offer upscale family living."
Because it's a show home, The Montara comes loaded with -- get this -- more than $100,000 in options. As such, the home truly delivers on it intention of providing a family with an upscale envelope in which to co-exist.
However, as fetching as those options are -- they combine to create a warm, relaxing main-floor ambience -- the floor plan sets the table for the finishes. Were the floor plan not functional, it would be nearly impossible to enjoy the surroundings to the fullest possible extent.
The Montara's functional floor plan starts in the foyer, which is extra-wide -- and feels that much wider due to the presence of a formal dining room to its left. A brief hallway then leads into a T-shaped great room that's open, yet deftly divided into three distinct spaces.
"The great room's floor plan basically defines each space for you in a seamless, subtle way," said MacDonald. "It starts off with a very functional kitchen with a nine-foot by four-foot island with eating nook for three and a chocolate-stained maple base that contains a wealth of cabinets for extra storage."
Meanwhile, the remainder of the kitchen's copious collection of cabinets contrasts sharply (in a good way) from the chocolate-stained island.
"Upper cabinets are a beautiful white maple -- the upper cabinets have glass inserts," he added. "The countertops are a sharp-looking (striated) taupe laminate. A corner pantry adds extra storage space; a chocolate brown glass tile backsplash makes the white cabinets pop and ties in nicely with the island."
A jog to the left -- a significant one, at that -- yields space that houses an oversized dinette area (for four), which is placed next to a huge window and patio door.
"It's a well-designed area," said MacDonald. "There's lots of room between the dinette and kitchen, so it doesn't feel boxed in. Not only is there plenty of room for a table for four, but the patio door also gives you access to another great feature -- a covered deck that's ideal for grilling steaks and visiting with guests."
Another buffer area creates welcome separation between the dinette area and family room, while a nine-foot ceiling and loads of glass placed all around the great room makes for a naturally bright great room.
"There are large windows everywhere, so the great room is just flooded with daylight," he said. "The family room is a beautiful space that's defined by a tray ceiling (an optional feature) above and whose focal point is a gas fireplace with striking cultured stone surround with maple entertainment units on either side. The high-end laminate distressed oak flooring, which runs through the whole great room, is warm, and it looks so good, you're hard-pressed to tell it isn't real hardwood flooring."
A one-third, dark-capped stub wall that defines the stairs also defines the front of the family room -- and a hallway that leads into the home's ultra-private bedroom wing, which is actually much more than just a bedroom wing thanks to a sound ergonomic design.
"I think the bedroom wing is an exceptional use of space. Essentially, Sterling's design team took one corner of an open-concept home and dedicated it to being a quiet, private and efficiently-designed area," MacDonald said. "Both secondary bedrooms are large (at 12 feet by 10 feet each), there's a big four-piece bath and laundry/mudroom with access to the 21-foot by 23-foot double garage."
Then, there's the master suite, which is set off in its own little corner of the world.
"It's close to the common area for quick access, yet it's set away from the kids' rooms for privacy," he said. "The bedroom was deliberately mid-sized (at 12.6 feet by 12.6 feet) to leave extra room for the ensuite, which I think was a great move."
And how. Not only is there loads of room to move, but there's loads of natural light that flows in from an obscured glass window set over a nice, deep soaker tub. The spa-like space is finished off in style by a taupe tile floor, five-foot shower and French white vanity; it's even wired for sound so residents can soak in style to the soothing strains of their favourite tunes.
"The master bedroom is what it should be -- a true retreat," said MacDonald.
He added that because The Montara is a bungalow, there's all kinds of living space to develop downstairs.
"Conservatively, there's 1,200 sq. ft. to develop into media and games areas, a bedroom or two and storage. With the basement, you have a home that offers nearly 3,000 sq. ft. of total living space. It can also be built for a little over $400,000 with basic finishes, as well. You get the same great floor plan, just not the high-end finishes. Either way, it's a great home that's loaded with function and style."
lewys@mts.net
New Homes
Let there be light
It isn't often you walk into a foyer of a new home that sports a three-piece glass wall that greets you in grand style.
Yet, that's the scene that unfolds the moment you enter 29 East Plains Drive, a two-storey Artista Homes design in Sage Creek. However, it's the scene on the other side of the glass that causes you to do a double take: a rather expansive area surrounded by glass on three sides -- with a brick-backed ribbon fireplace on the far wall.
What is it, you think -- a sunroom?
"Actually, it's a courtyard," said Coldwell Banker Preferred Real Estate's Sasha Dukic, Artista's sales representative for the 4,231-square-foot home. "It's quite the area. The three windows (about nine-and-a-half feet high by four feet wide) are so heavy that special oversized wood supports were needed to keep them in place. But all that wood, and effort, was worth the end result."
Dukic said the glass surrounding the courtyard has another effect -- a very positive one -- on the home's great room.
"Those windows really increased the amount of light that comes into the area," he said. "If you just had one small window on the wall (to the right of the foyer), there wouldn't be nearly as much light coming in."
Even without that stunning collection of windows, there wouldn't have been a shortage of natural light in the great room. The family room (set beneath a 17-foot ceiling) -- which is set two steps up from the main level -- features a rear wall filled with floor to ceiling windows, while the central-located dining area was placed adjacent to a huge three-piece picture window
Even the kitchen is filled with light. Like the family room and dining area, it's privy to a near-panoramic view of the wetlands behind the backyard.
All this is just the beginning of a well-designed home that's filled with fabulous features from top to bottom, said Dukic.
"There's a lot to take in. I've had some people come by four, even five times to go through the home. It's not only a beautifully-finished home, but I think it's also one of the best floor plans that Artista has come up with to date."
While the home is filled with artistic touches, those touches surround a practical floor plan that make the home a habitable work of art.
In the family room, natural maple hardwoods and a ribbon-style gas fireplace with grey/brown tile surround are a perfect complement to the soaring ceiling, huge windows and the space's generous width and depth. Step down into the dining area, and there's room for a table for six to 10, plus a door that leads to an elevated deck that overlooks the wetlands.
Then there's the kitchen, which revolves around an eight-and-a-half foot by four-and-a-half foot taupe quartz island with a built-in induction cooktop.
"It's a space that's been geared toward entertaining," said Dukic. "There's lots of room to move and lots of counter space to prepare food, not to mention tons of storage space. There's a huge, five-door pantry opposite the island, plus a built-in stove. It's a very functional area, nicely finished with natural maple cabinets, taupe quartz countertops and tile floor."
Not to be forgotten is the courtyard area that can be accessed via double (glass-centred) doors off the kitchen's front portion.
"The courtyard extends space and is a wonderful place to sit and visit with guests in privacy in front of the fireplace," he said.
Accessed via a natural maple staircase with open risers -- the tempered glass walls that define it allow light to flow from the back to the front of the home without interruption -- the home's upper level offers the same artistic function as the main level.
It starts off with a loft area to the right, a multi-purpose area that could be used as a media room, play room or sitting room.
To the left of the stairs is a den surrounded by glass; there's also a patio door on the opposite wall that leads to a private balcony that also overlooks the courtyard.
Meanwhile, the bedroom wing contains two generously-proportioned secondary bedrooms equipped with walk-in closets (with windows) and a four-piece bath.
The best was saved for last in the form of the master suite, said Dukic.
"Again, it's a beautiful yet functional space. The wetland view from up high is tremendous, there's all kinds of space and light and the use of different materials. The feature wall behind the bed is brick, as is the wall (with built-in TV niche) that partially divides the bedroom from the ensuite."
The ensuite is a bright, luxurious space surrounded by windows -- and filled with amenities such as a stand-alone soaker tub, six-foot frameless tempered glass/tile shower and long, rectangular closet with built-in walnut veneer shelves.
Head downstairs to the walk-out lower level, and there's another 1,200 square feet of well-illuminated space that includes a media area, games area, exercise area, wet bar, fourth bedroom and three-piece bath. The wetland view through the myriad windows on the rear wall isn't bad, either.
"Feedback on this home has been really good," said Dukic. "Even though it's a modern-themed home, people love the layout and finishes. It's a creative, yet practical home that works well for a family."
lewys@mts.net
