Old world charm, ultramodern luxury
Carlingford model home is an elegant marriage
When one thinks of old-world charm, English Tudor or Craftsman designs most likely come to mind. Both are styles that conjure up images of a relaxed and refined lifestyle. And that’s just what McKee Homes has created with its pretty Carlingford model in Airdrie’s coveted community of Cooper’s Crossing.
Its exterior facade is a lovely blend of both styles — peaked roofs, board and batting detailing, along with a spacious front porch and portico, defined by a series of elegant columns. Exterior window details emulate old-world crafted leaded glass, an element often used in Tudor homes at the turn of the 20th century.
But once you step through the front door sill, the design flavour transforms into a modernist gem.
Elegant oversized porcelain tiles clothe the floor, setting the backdrop for the clean-lined architecture and edgy interior design. The walls are swathed in tones of tender grey, allowing the architecture and a selection of colourful art to speak.
This open-concept, three-bedroom. two-storey home offers almost 2,700 square feet of generous living space. On the main floor, a wall of stone, punctuated by a black rectangular linear fireplace, takes the visual show, laterally dividing the kitchen and dining area from the great room.
The crisp, white and black-themed kitchen showcases a lavishly proportioned quartz-topped island that extends into a raised eating bar with three-inch square edges. It’s a flat profile that becomes even more stunning as the edges cascade to the floor, waterfall style.
The kitchen space flows into a generous open dining nook, while both areas blend into the bright and elegant great room, a space with “wow” written all over it. A baby grand piano nestles into the corner of the room, a beautiful sculptural element against the neutral walls and gleaming tile floors.
Although the main floor exudes tremendous sophistication and is an entertainer’s dream, it’s really the second level with its series of vaulted ceilings and a floor plan that defines a selection of private spaces that sets this home apart.
Upstairs, the spacious and open vaulted bonus room sets the tone. Its 14-foot ceiling adds drama, while offering plenty of wall space to showcase art, as well as the delightful contrast of the modernist eight-foot-wide white, linear rectangular fireplace.
From the bonus room, double French doors lead to the light and bright master bedroom, where a horizontally panelled wood feature wall adds warmth. The vaulted spalike ensuite soars 14 feet skyward. At the top of the vault, a large skylight offers views of the night sky — an excellent way to relax while soaking in the free-standing tub. The ensuite flows into a large walkin closet, which then extends to the laundry room.
The laundry room can also be accessed from the children’s wing, a separate area containing two bedrooms and a bathroom. Finishing the upper floor layout a warm and cosy study commands privacy — a perfect space for a student or workat-home parent.
Certainly, the home’s design builds upon its stellar familyfriendly location, just steps from Cooper’s Crossing’s network of walking and cycling paths that lead to boardwalks and ponds. Across the street from the show home, a beautifully landscaped two-acre park with a toboggan hill and playgrounds offers the perfect respite from the city’s concrete jungle, and the kids can get even more excited about the new Kindergarten to Grade 4 public school set to open in September of 2016. Making shopping a breeze a local market square with a grocery store, coffee shops and specialty stores is slated to open in the near future. And the best part is — its completely walk- able, located less than a block away.
The price of the show home including the builder’s signature finishes plus a few extras is $831,000 plus GST. But buyers can get into the base model of the home for $462,000, not including lot or GST. An average lot is priced at $189,000.