AT HOME IN HARMONY
Growing family set to move into large, new custom Baywest build early in the new year
Josh and Kara Hamill moved to Harmony in 2017, building a new house for their growing family. Two years later and another child wiser, they’re doing it all again.
“Our first build was perfect at that time, but I’m looking forward to a house that works for us today, versus a house that worked for us two years ago,” says Josh.
“An opportunity came up with some pretty special lots, so we doubled down.”
Their first home in Harmony, a Qualico Communities and Bordeaux Developments project in Springbank, was built by Broadview Homes. It has more than 3,000 square feet spread out over three storeys above grade. It had enough bedrooms, but not on the right floors. The Hamills have a guest suite on the third floor with a bedroom, bathroom and family room.
“We thought the kids would share a room on the second floor and we could still have our suite up there. But nothing ever turns out the way you imagine it will,” says Kara, with a sigh.
Their new home, ready in February 2020, is being built by Baywest Homes. The Hamills chose Baywest because of good reviews from neighbours and through happenstance; Baywest owned the lot they wanted.
“Their lots are on the park with lake and park views in front of us and mountains behind. Green space all around, so we jumped on it,” says Kara.
When the Hamills sat down to plan with Baywest, they had a list based on learnings from their current home and inspiration from show homes. The best fit was Baywest’s Ambrose estate model home. At 3,326 square feet, the Ambrose had four bedrooms upstairs with a bonus room and laundry with a large central kitchen on the main floor.
They felt it has a better “vibe” for gathering people around.
Kara says they “blew out” the mud room, making more room for kid stuff and rejigged the laundry room upstairs to hold two washers and two dryers.
The central bonus room separates the master suite from the kids’ wing.
“When we’re entertaining, the main level is open to the upstairs, so sound will likely travel, but because we’ve closed off that wing, I don’t think we’ll disturb them too much,” says Josh.
The Ambrose is a brand-new floor plan, a farmhouse style model that’s hot off the drafting table. The Hamills were the first family to build one, says Baywest associate sales consultant Reilly Mason.
Depending on the lot, the Ambrose starts at just over $1 million.
As a custom builder, Baywest accommodated their special requests, like the passage doors to the kids’ bedrooms, the open-tobelow foyer and moving the bonus room to the rear of the house so Josh and Kara could enjoy the same mountain views they had in the master bedroom.
Mason says Baywest has just one lot left in Phase 2, with a south backyard.
“We’re selling into Phase 4 with some south backyard lots with mountain views backing onto farmland. We can also build the Ambrose on the lake in Phase 10,” she says.
With 200 families now living in Harmony, the developer has gone full steam ahead in building the Adventure Zone, part entertainment district, part recreation destination, part public space. There’ll be a beach volleyball court, skating ribbon, Crossfit obstacle course, a toboggan hill, dog park and festival space.
This winter, a temporary rink will be open on the site of the future school.
“It’s a very active community with lots of events at the Discovery
Centre organized through the Owner’s Association,” Mason says. “In December, there will be paint nights, Christmas cookie house making, a residents’ Christmas party and more.”
With three kids under the age of six, Kara has put her small business on hold in favour of fulltime Mommydom. Josh, a senior managing director of a commercial real estate firm, commutes to downtown Calgary and finds it a relaxing drive.
“The first 10 minutes and the last 10 minutes are highway driving. I don’t really slow down until I hit Memorial Drive,” he says.
With Harmony’s private lake and the world-class golf course, there’s no other community that he’d rather live in.
“Our kids, they have so much fun here in the summer between the lake and the beach, the parks and the pathways,” he says.
Kara agrees, explaining that their children want to be outside whenever the sun is shining.
“Harmony is like a Disneyland for kids,” she says.