HOMES FOR HOSPITALS
Full House Lottery celebrates 25th anniversary in style with biggest prize package ever
Imagine yourself living in the White House.
No, not that one. The one on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. already has a tenant.
Or maybe it’s the McDavid room — as in the Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid — that’s more to your liking.
Either way, the Full House Lottery’s 25th anniversary edition — in support of the Royal Alexandra and University of Alberta hospitals — aims to make you a happy homeowner, with your choice of two $1.7-million-plus housing options should you win the second grand prize. The lucky winner can choose either the 4,906-squarefoot ‘White House’ from Perry Signature Homes, or the Kondro Homes offering that, in part, pays homage to No. 97 and measures 4,691 square feet.
On the other hand, perhaps it’s Full House’s biggest ever prize package, the $2.23-million first grand prize, that will sweep you away with its 5,411 square feet and a striking, custom three-storey glass staircase.
That staircase — a feature unto itself with crisp, clean modern lines set against a backdrop of three-storey windows — is a taste of what’s to come from builder Averton. This three-bedroom, three-storey home includes a prep kitchen in addition to the main gourmet chef’s kitchen, a wine room, and a third-floor entertainment zone that’s steps away from a rooftop deck.
“This is our first, first grand prize home,” said Paul Lanni, Averton’s president. “We were thinking grand all the way, but we were also thinking about building a house that people would actually like to live in.”
White ash hardwood floors complement the brightness from the 28 feet of windows found in this model, the Lamia. Paint in shades of white, grey and blue add to the modern, warm style of the home.
The open and spacious main floor — the Lamia’s entire floor plan has large hallways and feels roomy throughout — is where you’ll find the mud room, a home office space and wine room, in addition to the two kitchens, a dining room and great room.
As for the mud room, this is one of the more upscale versions you’re likely to see, with space for everyone (and then some) to gather without feeling cramped. Walk straight out the mud room and you’re in a home office space that connects to the prep kitchen, which in turn, connects to the wine room. But this is done in such a way that each space feels separate, even though they flow from one to another.
The second floor is the place for rest and relaxation. All three bedrooms are found upstairs, as well as a loft that can be set up as a den or a place to watch television. The master is equipped with a coffee/ morning bar, and the ensuite and walk-in closet transform the space into a master retreat.
The spa-like ensuite, with a large floor-to-ceiling glassed-in shower, has dual vanities separated by a makeup desk. A free-standing tub has porcelain hexagon tiles as a floor surround, ensuring you won’t track water onto the hardwood. Meanwhile, the walk-in closet with custom shelving and millwork brings a retail feel to this storage space, as glass doors transform portions to look like luxurious display cases.
Upstairs, the third floor brings the games zone into play. While others would put a bar and space for a billiards table on the lowest level, Averton decided to go bold by foregoing the finished basement and putting it in a different space.
“For us, this is a two-storey home with a third-storey entertainment space,” said Lanni, adding that Averton is proud to be involved and supporting Full House Lottery for its 25th anniversary. “Supporting the two hospitals is a huge bonus … it’s something that’s bigger than us or than the grand prizes. It’s about being a part of helping to raise millions so the hospitals can help those in need.”
LUXURY LIVING
Heading over to the second grand prize options, Kondro’s Evora model awaits. If we start downstairs, it’s all about going Hollywood, the Rolling Stones, and good times.
The home theatre transports you into a cinema setting reminiscent of old Hollywood but updated for 2018; forget the multiplex, the area has seven luxurious cinema chairs, a large screen, and a popcorn machine in the nearby wet bar. There’s also a games room with a ping-pong table nearby. You can even get comfy — but trust me, you won’t want to leave those cinema chairs — in the downstairs rock and roll bedroom that has a Mick Jagger feel to it.
Going up to the main level, this home exudes classic elegance and luxury living. Streamlined and modern, it has a warm and inviting feel to it.
“We’re conveying quality and family comfort, so that when you walk into this house, you feel that you belong here,” said Bernadette Pshyk of Bump Interiors, who has worked with Kondro on previous Full House Lottery homes.
Off the front door, the entry closet gets a revamp. No standard, drab doors here, as a sliding barn door in a resin finish adds panache to what traditionally is a utilitarian space. Also off the entry, there’s a library that doubles as a reading nook.
Stone walls frame the great room with touches of wood to add warmth. A large kitchen, with sunken full height pantry cabinets in each corner, includes an island with an attached eating bar. A domed light over the eating bar is reminiscent of half an egg shell, and adds a chic yet whimsical touch.
Upstairs, the Evora has a bonus room set up as family room for television viewing. Double doors provide entry into the master and its stepped ceiling detail. The generous ensuite, with an eye-catching marble feature wall behind the free-standing tub, has dual vanities and a walk-in shower.
A large walk-in closet connects to the laundry room.
Two more bedrooms, including the aforementioned McDavid bedroom — vinyl 97 lettering discreetly covers the walls and there are pops of Oilers colours, including an orange bed — round out the upper floor, which also includes a kids’ study space.
While Kondro pulled out all the stops for this year’s house, owner Brett Kondro said it is all about providing the hospital foundations and the people they serve with the help they need.
“It’s our way of giving back to this valuable cause,” said Kondro. “This is a part of what we do for the community and it has become a part of our business. This journey is usually 18 months long from start to finish, and it’s a great team of people that take part.”
NO POLITICS HERE
Then there’s The Harmony from Perry Signature Homes, another option for the second grand prize, or as it is more commonly called these days, the “White House.”
Step inside and you earn why The Harmony has earned its nickname, which you’ll quickly see has nothing to do with its namesake political counterpart. Virtually everything in this four-bedroom home is white — walls, cabinetry, furniture, and even the billiards table. And it works.
In fact, in some ways, this White House might even trump the other two homes. For example, this house comes with two master suites.
There’s the traditional master — actually nothing is truly traditional in this house, as the all-white design scheme gives this Edmonton home more of a Malibu beach type of feel — on the second level, while just off the main floor great room there’s a self-contained guest suite with metallic wallpaper and mirrored mosaic tiles adding a bit of Vegas glitz to its white backdrop. This all-purpose suite, which includes a wet bar and a bathroom, can easily double as an elegant hotel-like rest spot for guests if a second master is not in your plans.
Another intriguing main floor space is the den, equipped with a hidden nook as The Harmony starts to show off its whimsical side. The den includes a wall full of round mirrors of various sizes. Head upstairs, and the two bedrooms have their own unique twists: one adds pops of colours with a wall of footballs and basketballs, while the other has a more feminine flair, with pinkish accents that include an eye-catching wall mural.
“The idea for this house was for it to be very contemporary, clean and bright,” said Michelle Dolan, sales and marketing manager for Perry Homes. “We found that a big trend going forward is going light and adding bright colours. But I wanted to take it one step further. The whimsical touches add a sense of adventure, and it makes everything pop and feel special.”
Downstairs, this house comes with a games room and media space, but ups the ante with a ballet barre, fitness studio and craft room, all with white as the primary colour.
“We all look forward to this and how our work can help to advance medicine in Edmonton,” added Dolan, referencing being a part of the Full House Lottery. “It’s been an honour to have been involved and to make a difference. This spectacular cause has been a part of our company’s culture for the lottery’s 25-year duration.”
CHANGING LIVES
With more than $77 million raised to support both the Royal Alexandra and University of Alberta hospitals over the past 25 years, officials said the Full House Lottery has no intention of slowing down.
“Over the last 25 years the lottery has had over 100,000 winners,” said Lindsay Peddle, director of communications for the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation. “Their support has meant that nearly every space in both hospitals has been touched by lottery dollars with funding for new equipment, support for lifechanging programs, and to help build world-class health facilities.”
This year, the Royal Alexandra’s share will go to advancing women’s health and research at the Lois Hole Hospital for Women.
“The Lois Hole Hospital is set to become a national leader in women’s health, and we will achieve this goal through the research and innovation that is happening at the hospital and being supported by Full House Lottery ticket sales,” added Peddle.
At the University Hospital, funds will go to expand the emergency room, said Nicole Merrifield, director of communications and special projects for the University Hospital Foundation.
“Right now, the emergency department serves 20 per cent more patients than it was designed for, and because the University Hospital is the only tertiary care centre serving central and northern Alberta, these patients require the best specialized care and we want to help provide that care sooner.”