SWEET PRAIRIE HOME
Swale setting inspires show home design to optimize views, Jeannie Armstrong writes.
The natural beauty of the Meewasin Northeast Swale provided the inspiration for the design and construction of Capilano Development’s newest show home, located at 403 Fast Crescent in Aspen Ridge.
The 2,015 square foot two-storey walkout backs on to the Greenway, a corridor of restored prairie featuring a multi-use trail that provides a transition between Aspen Ridge and the protected grasslands of the swale.
“We love this spot. It’s like living on an acreage. It’s so refreshing,” says Stephanie Baliski, a member of the family team that owns Capilano Developments, a new home builder established in 2015 by the Dziadyk and Baliski families.
The mid-modern style show home has been designed to capture the scenic vistas that are unique to the Northeast Swale. On all three levels of the home, Capilano has installed huge expanses of glass for maximum viewing advantage. This is particularly evident in the ensuite bathroom, where the traditional vanity mirror has been replaced by a panoramic window facing the swale. His and her cabinets on either side of the window feature mirrors cleverly placed on the inside of the cabinet doors, for makeup application and grooming.
The home’s exterior is also influenced by nature, with a nod to the classic prairie modern style first pioneered by Frank Lloyd Wright. The contemporary roof line, stone column detail, oversized front door, Lux wood grain panelling, Okanagan brick and stucco exterior set this home apart on the block.
The use of natural wood and stone continues inside the home, beginning with the exquisitely crafted open-tread stained beech wood staircase that leads from the spacious foyer up to the secondfloor bedrooms and flex area.
“To achieve that warm, woodsy feel, we mixed different tones of wood throughout the home,” says Baliski.
The main floor great room is a vast space that will easily accommodate any size of family gathering. An attractive brushed oak engineered wood floor extends throughout the open concept space.
The living room features a fireplace feature wall, adorned with tile and maple wood accents. The dining area is conveniently located between the living room and the large galley-style kitchen. Glass doors provide access to the large maintenance-free deck.
The spacious galley-style kitchen is a refreshing change from the white-on-white-on-white kitchens that have dominated new home construction in recent years. The rich warm brown maple cabinets are accented with gold hardware, a black matte faucet and pendant lighting. The artistic backsplash features gun metal-coloured 3D geometric ceramic tiles from Spain, complementing the array of premium black stainless appliances. “Everyone who walks into the house says ‘wow’ as soon as they see this backsplash,” says Baliski.
The white quartz-topped island extends almost the full width of the kitchen. Adding to the kitchen’s welcoming vibe is a built-in hutch, ideal for serving coffee or cocktails to guests. Adjacent to the kitchen is large butler’s pantry, offering additional storage and food prep space.
The pantry opens onto a convenient mud room, with direct access to the garage. “It’s a really large boot room. It keeps the clutter out of sight. It’s the family’s zone. When we design our homes, we always design them with real-life families in mind,” says Baliski.
Three bedrooms await upstairs, including a spacious master suite with a luxurious ensuite and walkin closet with built-in shelving and shoe racks. “We tried to get all the “I-wants” in this master suite,” says Baliski.
The flex room at the top of the stairs would make an ideal TV viewing area, with pre-wired hookups on either side of the space. “It would be a great home office space. It could also be reconfigured into a fourth bedroom for larger families,” says Baliski.
Capilano Developments has priced this home at $699,999. The show home, located at 403 Fast Crescent, is open for viewing Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. To view by appointment, contact Reagan Baliski at 306-290-7377 or Clark Dziadyk at 306-227-2036.