NOLAN HILL ROCKS THEIR WORLD
Music memorabilia commands centre stage in family’s new home
Anyone who knows the Anderson family will appreciate the doublemeaning on their front step ornament.
It’s a rock displaying the words “the Andersons rock.”
“My husband and I have a rock and roll vibe, if you will,” says Sharon Anderson. “We go to a lot of concerts, so our home is actually starting to look like the inside of a House of Blues or Hard Rock Cafe.”
They’ve travelled to the United States to watch iconic bands in concert, and display their collection of autographed memorabilia from the likes of the Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Buckcherry and George Thorogood in their new home.
“My husband and I went to Boston for our 15th wedding anniversary and did this meet and greet with Aerosmith at the House of Blues right across the street from Fenway Park,” says Sharon. “It was a really cool day.”
One year ago this June, the Andersons moved to their new home by Sterling Homes in the northwest community of Nolan Hill from Edgemont. Darren and Sharon Anderson have a daughter named Darci, and Darren’s mom Shirley Ferrier lives with them, as well.
They also have a chocolate Labrador named Ace, a nod to Ace Frehley, a founding member of the rock band Kiss.
In the design selections process, Sharon welcomed the change of pace from their Edgemont home. “Everyone was into browns and wood in the early 2000s,” she says. “So I was, like, ‘no brown in this house at all.’
“Everything is white, black, grey and orange. We stuck to this palette, and it worked out really well for us.”
Rather than going with something neutral, the splash of orange brings an extra bit of personality to their cooking space.
“People love that I did an orange backsplash in the kitchen,” says Sharon. “I didn’t play it safe. This will hopefully be our forever home, so we did what we wanted to do.”
Darci played a role in the design process, too.
“It sparked an interest with her in interior design,” Sharon says. “We had her active in the selections and had her pick everything in her bedroom and bathroom. She got a say in what we did with the rest of the house, as well.”
They bought Sterling’s Beaumont 2 floor plan, which is displayed as a show home in the community.
“We built a really nice suite for ( Ferrier) to be downstairs. It’s more like living in a real home versus living in a basement. She picked everything ... the finishes she wanted in her colour palette.
“We are really happy with this house,” she adds.
The home also gave the couple a large walk-in closet, something that would have been difficult to accomplish as a renovation if they had chosen to stay in their previ- ous home, Sharon says.
Sterling is one of five companies building single- family homes in Nolan Hill, along with Trico Homes, Shane Homes, Morrison Homes and Homes by Avi. The community’s single-family homes include options in the estate-style, conventional move-up, and front-attached zero lot line segments of the market.
There are townhome developments by Cardel Lifestyles, Morrison Homes Multi-Family Division, Jayman Built and Cedarglen Living for sale in the community, as well.
The community master-planned by Anthem United is now selling in its final phase of development. Single-family homes on lot sizes ranging from 29 to 34 feet, start from the $460,000s.
“Nolan Hill has always benefited from its location,” says Steve LePan, sales and marketing director for Anthem United.
“Now with more competitors in the north end of the city, it benefits from being the more established of the group.
“Buyers love the parks, entry features, the playgrounds and the neighbourhood retail. You are moving into an established community, not a construction zone. The amenities are not a story in a brochure, they are out your front door.”
Combining with Sage Hill, a neighbouring community by the same developer, residents have direct access to 9.6 kilometres in pathways and 76 hectares of green space, parks and environmental reserve.
The Andersons have enjoyed outings with Ace in some of the open space in and around the community, says Sharon.
“We absolutely love it,” she says. “It’s so quiet, and the neighbours we’ve met so far have all been great people.
“We have met tons of dogs, and
mostly know the dogs’ names first before the people’s names,” Sharon adds, laughing.
Its location in the amenitystocked Symons Valley corridor, stood out, as well.
Nolan Hill is a short drive to major commercial developments such as Creekside Shopping Centre and Beacon Hill Shopping Centre, along with hubs located within the communities of Sage Hill and Nolan Hill.
This puts Nolan Hill residents a quick drive to Sobeys, Costco, Coop, and Loblaws City Market.
“We literally don’t have to come past Stoney Trail to go grocery shopping,” Sharon says.
“There are so many amenities in the area.”