PRIZE HOME DAZZLES

Stampede Dream Home, featuring a clean, contemporary ambience, will be open for tours

The Homes by Avi Stampede Rotary Dream Home is back at the 2021 Calgary Exhibition and Stampede, part of the $2.2 million Stampede Lotteries prize roundup. This is the 25th year that Homes by Avi has built the annual dream home, a prize which was first offered in 1958.

“Thanks to Homes by Avi, we are proud to offer the most valuable Dream Home in our history,” says Jason Azmier, chair of the Calgary Stampede Lotteries Committee. “With Homes by Avi and our other incredible partners, we also anticipate supporting more than 50 charities through lottery proceeds, benefiting thousands in our community.”

The 2,490-square-foot Modern Prairie-style custom home will safely open for tours every day during Stampede. It was built on site in 2020 but left at the drywall stage when construction was shelved last year by the COVID -19 pandemic. Interior construction on the two-storey home resumed this spring with several fresh updates to the original design plans.

Julie Punter, Homes by Avi manager of show home selections and presentation, says her team chose an organic fusion interior design esthetic to create a sense of peace and tranquillity throughout the home.

“We were all needing that,” she says. “It's grounded with lots of natural elements. It's not completely organic, but we wanted that feel. Fresh, light and airy. Quite contemporary, modern and clean. That was our goal.”

Contributing to that airy ambience are 10-foot main ceilings on the main floor and nine-foot ceilings on the second, with a dramatic 20-foot open-to-below off the second-floor bonus room overlooking the dining room.

Upstairs are three bedrooms, a spa-like master ensuite and laundry room. The fourth bedroom is on the main floor.

“We haven't done a guest suite on a main floor before. In-laws can stay there, or guests, or it could be a nanny suite. So many versatilities. People are looking for that, given the different kinds of ways we're living now,” Punter says.

The kitchen, with striking ocean blue cabinetry, has two islands, two large pantries and a feature plate rack. The terrarium under the nearby open-rise staircase and terrazzo tile emphasizes the home's organic feel and easy energy. White metal accents and drops of gold plus the subtle geometric shapes of the terrazzo, tie the home together.

The home will showcase the work of Katie Leahul, the 2020 Homes by Avi Stampede Dream Home Artist, who has updated her collection for the 2021 edition.

“She is an artist that paints in cubism, with lots of geometric shaping and natural scenery. That ties in with our theme,” Punter says.

Post-stampede, the home will be moved to 46 Lucas Cove N.W. in Livingston. The floor plan is completely custom, but if someone wants to build an exact replica it's entirely possible, Punter says.

“If the square footage and size of the home fits on the lot and if it's in a community where we build, we can absolutely build it for someone.”

In the past decade, Calgary Stampede Lotteries has raised more than $28 million for local charities through a partnership with the Rotary Club of Calgary at Stampede Park, and the Kinsmen Club of Calgary. Tickets exclusively for the Dream Home can be purchased on the Stampede grounds. Lottery packages, which include the home, can be purchased on the grounds or online at calgarystampedelotteries.ca. A virtual tour of the dream home can be seen at homesbyavi.com.

PHOTOS: CHRISTINA RYAN The kitchen in the Stampede Rotary Dream Home built by Homes by Avi has deep blue cabinetry, two islands, two large pantries and a feature plate rack.

The stairs in the prize home are part of an open design, with a glass side wall providing an elegant and modern touch to the room. The home will be open for visitors to tour during the Calgary Stampede.

The prize home includes many special features that follow the interior theme of organic fusion, with the aim of providing a relaxing space.

Even the artwork in the Stampede Rotary Dream Home emphasizes the natural theme of the interior. Here the dining area, right, and breakfast bar, left, are seen from above on the open staircase from the second floor,

The kitchen has a long list of features, including two pantries, two work islands, stainless steel appliances, and a built-in plate rack above the stove. The deep blue of the cabinetry is consistent with the natural theme.

The 2,490-square-foot custom home built by Homes by Avi offers a clean, contemporary ambience. It will be moved to Livingston post-stampede.

One of the two work islands in the prize home includes a chopping-board prep area, conveniently place beside the sink, with shelves and cabinets below.

PHOTOS: CHRISTINA RYAN White is a key element in the prize home, and natural features such as a variety of plants, add to the organic vibe.

The bonus room on the second floor overlooks the dining room, a design features that emphasizes the high ceilings on both levels.

The spa-like master ensuite includes a walk-in shower, as well as large tub, and several windows to keep the space bright and fresh.

A large pantry area is located to the left of the main work area, and the built-in plate rack is just above the counter in the kitchen.

Three of the home's bedrooms are on the second floor, while a fourth bedroom on the main floor would be great for guests.

Wall mirrors in one of the bedrooms help reflect the light from the windows to make the area feel even larger and more airy.

The living room, with open-flame fireplace, is seen through a decorative divider in the dream home, which will be on display during the Stampede.