Clear Ascension
Sartori Custom Homes brings a bright palette, pops of colour, and sparkle to a jewel box décor.
Clean lines, a bright palette, pops of colour, and sparkle provide a jewel box décor, making innovative and quality features almost seem over the top. Much like fashion, home style and accessories tell a story of how taste and preferences reveal who we are.
“It’s a place that fits my personality,” admits the homeowner whose vision aptly reflects a vibrant and creative nature—one that ultimately selected all finishes in the home. “I wanted a modern home that mirrored my style and the spirit of the community.”
Designed by Trent Letwiniuk of Inertia Corporation, he wanted to evolve his client’s vision by maximizing light flows and Calgary downtown views from the third story bonus room. Open layouts capture main floor flows where a dramatic staircase spans four levels, channeling light through its unobstructed design. “We placed the staircase at the front of the home with its generous, tall windows so that living areas would not feel on display,” shares Trent.
Built by Sartori Custom Homes, Dan Sartori was flattered when the client was delighted by his own home, striking an immediate stylistic bond. “It’s a modern family home in every sense, with bedrooms on the second floor, a great lounge area on the third level, and in-floor insulation that doubles as a sound barrier,” shares Dan.
Hosting approximately 3,200 square feet on the first three levels, all south-facing views capture the lights of the city. An equally desirable feature is an underground tunnel that carries from the basement to the three-car rear garage. “That has been the absolutely best part of the house this winter,” agrees the homeowner.
“The tunnel was a bit of challenge with water proofing and proper insulation needed for a subterranean passage,” adds Dan, noting that building a three-story home on an inner city lot can be challenging in itself. A smart home of ease and function, HVAC, security, music/video, and lighting are all integrated and controlled via wall panel and remote access.
“My ensuite is my sanctuary,” the homeowner admits. “Heated floors and the steam shower give me a great start to my day. Plus my staircase is dramatic—it’s almost like a piece of sculpture with the dazzling light fixture that drops through its centre.”
Perhaps it’s the Sartori difference, a quality of craftsmanship in a select number of projects that escalates design to the next level. For over forty years, Dan Sartori has taken his fathers core principles of high standards, personal service, and an efficient and interactive build to provide the sophisticated homeowner with what they need to achieve their dreams.
“We work hard to establish meaningful relationships with our tradesmen, many of whom we have teamed with for over twenty years,” says Dan. “These partnerships help make us who are and assist us in providing the highest level of quality product.”
On task and on budget, each Sartori build is guided by a well-defined construction schedule to ensure that your move-in date is a priority. “We believe in providing for our client’s needs, in using the highest grades of construction and finish materials, and that no detail is a minor detail,” concludes Dan Sartori.
“The end result went beyond my expectations and I am very happy,” confides the homeowner. “It was such a smooth process. Dan offered great guidance and I asked for his opinion constantly, taking his recommendations, which I am very glad I did.”
“I started in custom home building as a youth, where they let me help out on job sites,” recalls Scott Lawrie with a grin. “I became an apprentice and started my own tile company in 1999. Buying my first house at 18, I renovated it then went across the street to do it again and got a taste for it.”
Working his way through the ranks with various builders, Scott learned what he needed to apply to his own projects. Scott admits, “I wore a lot of hats and worked my way up these past twenty years.” Ultimately he launched Exco Contracting that offers full service renovation and landscaping services with minor development in Southern Alberta.
Recently expanding to provide high quality new builds, he and his wife Dani created Creek Stone Fine Homes and work as a team to provide the synergy that ensures smooth operations within an efficient, stress-free environment. “We are a boutique home builder, building only a few homes a year so that our clients feel comfortable, confident and have a clear understanding of the process, including full transparency in the budget,” states Lawrie. “Building for the first time one faces a learning curve, and given the education we offer with the changes in the home warranty program, service is the key issue.”
With an established base of reliable trades, Creek Stone Fine Homes created a home that would reflect and enhance its environment on the pastoral setting of an Okotoks acreage. “We designed the home ourselves with all useable space that is family friendly, very open, and hosts a large kitchen,” continues Lawrie. This walkout home favours unobstructed mountain views at the rear of the home enhanced by generous balcony and patio areas and an outdoor kitchen that backs onto a natural reserve.
The home offers 4,000 square feet on two developed levels plus a 1,550-square-foot, three-car garage with ample workspace. “It’s details that make a home exceptional and you need to figure that out all in advance in order to get that calibre of home
that’s on time and on budget,” admits Lawrie. “We want to make sure that the vision is fully addressed.”
This Craftsman home exhibits a timeless décor with low maintenance, high-end finishes suitable for a busy, young family. Creek Stone joined with Stanchuk Design, an Okotoks/calgary based interior design firm that specializes in full-service, residential interiors. “Since 2003 I have offered my clients expertise and experience in assisting them from concept to occupancy. Listening to Scott and Dani’s lifestyle needs, I developed a cohesive design that would embrace causal, timeless elegance,” shares Andrea Stanchuk, who has spent the last ten years servicing the Edmonton and Calgary custom home markets.
“The home was very much influenced by the mountains, which were used as a backdrop,” adds Stanchuk. Showcasing a transitional Prairie style décor, its clean, classic lines do much to enhance wow factor with intriguing style and eye-catching features. “Rather than succumb to a more referenced alpine style home that would also complement the area, we achieved a warm, transitional home where comfort and fetching details and finishes address both lifestyle and a picturesque setting.”