Versatile layout will prove useful as the children age
“For example, as you enter the lower level from either the front entrance or two-car double garage, there is a nice sized carpeted den that can easily be transformed into a child’s playroom to stash all their toys. Then, when a child is older and demands more privacy, it can transition into a preteen bedroom.
“For parents, the den is a perfect office space away from the upper floors. And, many people love the idea of the powder room on this floor. It’s perfect for potty training or when everyone comes in with muddy boots,” laughs Wilson.
Light streams through a large vertical stairwell window leading up to the spacious wide-plank laminate main floor, showcasing the bright, open-concept living room/dining room and kitchen layout. At one end, sliding glass doors invite access to a large terrace and with the addition of tall leafy potted plants, a private oasis in which to entertain. Some of the townhomes are designed with the powder room off the kitchen instead of on the lower level, a convenience for many, given that the main floor will attract the greatest amount of traffic.
Who says kid friendly can’t be contemporary and stylish? All walls and Shaker-style or flat-panel kitchen cupboards are scrubbable and Wilson and her team chose a palette of pale grey contrasted with walnut laminate throughout.
“Grey is a huge design trend in magazines right now,” she says, also referencing West Elm and EQ3 in Vancouver for design ideas.
“Quartz counters and island tabletop, porcelain backsplashes similar to subway tiles all mean easy cleanup, too.”
Wilson gave thought to all the details when designing for family living. For example, the microwave is built into the kitchen cabinets above the stainless steel Whirlpool gas range, not in the island where little hands might play with the door. As well, the side-by-side front-loading Whirlpool washer/ dryer has a built-in wide table anchored across the tops for folding laundry and storage and is hidden away in a closet on the main floor.
Carpeted in neutral, strong wearing broadloom in stairwells and throughout the upper floor; it’s a soft touch for little padding feet as well as a welcome quiet for those congregating in the kitchen and living room below.
The master bedroom comfortably fits a queen-size bed, and there’s a walk-in closet and ensuite with double sinks and walk-in shower. “We put the soaker tub in the main bathroom between the other bedrooms, thinking that would be most convenient for a family with young kids,” Wilson says.
“The standard shower-head can easily be refitted with a detachable one to make it easier to wash
little kids’ hair.” With both elementary and high schools nearby, as well as shopping and dining (the latter including award-winning chef Vikram Vij’s My Shanti), Elva Kim reiterates, “Fleetwood Rise really speaks to this community.”