New Homes
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
