FLEXIBLE FAMILY HOME
Beckett design offers options
JOSH SKAPIN
When deciding on what to buy for a new home, lifestyle is a crucial component.
It’s always better to find a floor plan that works in favour of how the buyer lives, rather than that person needing to adjust to what the home allows.
Maybe it’s a space that can be rented to offset mortgage payments, or a spot to store the allterrain vehicle.
These ideas are supported by the designs at the fee-simple townhomes by Excel Homes in the Cochrane community of Sunset Ridge.
Three show homes opened at the development recently, with the largest being the Beckett with 2,121 square feet of space. Uncommon for townhomes, this model comes with a triple-car garage.
But as presented in the show home, buyers have the ability to shift gears. There are a number of options available, including the ability to reduce the garage and go with a full suite, which is displayed in the show home. This includes an eight foot seven inch by 12 foot bedroom, bathroom, flex room, laundry room and a sink area with a fridge.
It’s a nice fit for a variety of living arrangements, including a rental tenant, guest room, or adult child living at home.
The triple-car garage route can be multi-purpose, too. It’s that extra storage for the kayak, skis, snowboard, camping equipment, and other necessities for active, outdoorsy people looking to embrace Cochrane’s proximity to the Bow River and Rocky Mountains.
If three people in the home have a vehicle, or one has an extra, such as a motorcycle or hobby car, it accommodates that nicely, too.
On the main level, the home is open and bright. The great room pulls in substantial natural light through a large front-facing window and two tall but skinnier windows on a side wall.
Another window, above average in size, gives the central dining area a pleasing amount of sunshine. This is on a boxed-out wall that gives the main level added architectural interest. For this wall, it’s easy to imagine someone choosing to use a different colour of paint, making it a striking visual accent.
The show home has three bedrooms, creating a sensible pick for young families.
Staying on this path is the size and function of the kitchen, clearly designed as a gathering spot. It’s an L-shaped orientation featuring a central island with an extended eating bar that comfortably seats two people.
What makes this a social hub is the substantial space between the island and kitchen features along the wall. It allows multiple people to stand at the island and visit without disrupting the person cooking. It also makes it more convenient for dinner preparation to be a team effort — providing plenty of space to circulate without crossing paths.
There’s also a pantry closed off by double doors with glass fronts, next to a surefire stop before people leave for work in the morning — the coffee station.
Through the kitchen, there’s a connection to the fresh air, with a welcoming 20 foot by six foot deck. Entertain guests here, or maybe just enjoy a cup of brew from that coffee station on a warm Saturday morning.
On the top floor, the outdoors is a theme once again. This time, it’s the views. Through the master bedroom’s largest window, there are sight lines of the majestic Rocky Mountains. The master bedroom has a walk-in closet and an ensuite with dual vanities beneath a full-width mirror.
The second floor also includes a full bathroom, laundry room, and two secondary bedrooms that sit side-by-side and area equal in size.
These townhomes are fee-simple, meaning the buyer also owns and is responsible for the exterior of the home and the land it sits on. As a result, there’s no need for a condo board or condo fees.
The scenic Sunset Ridge is master-planned by Melcor Developments and accessed off Cowboy Trail.