THE BERKSHIRE BRINGS IT
Single-family home emphasizes functionality and fun in more than 3,100 square feet
In many cases, the island is one of the most important features in a kitchen. It can perfectly blend the purposes of conversation hub and work space.
If an island is done right, family and friends feel comfortable and want to spend time there, whether that be relaxing at the eating bar or grabbing an apron and helping out with meal preparation.
In a new show home by Crystal Creek Homes, the kitchen benefits from not one but two islands. The Berkshire is a high-end frontdrive single-family model presently demonstrated in the southeast Calgary community of Quarry Park. It has four bedrooms and 3½ bathrooms.
These well-sized islands have distinct functions. The one closest to the oven includes a sink and is positioned to support the steps needed to get dinner underway.
Directly in front of this one is an island that makes sense for socializing. Backing on to the great room, its eating bar supports seating for at least four people. There’s plenty of floor space to gather around it, too.
Overall, the kitchen is L-shaped and grand. It has a high supply of cabinets doors and drawers. The walk-through pantry adds to this strength with more cabinets and shelves.
The kitchen is adjacent to a dining area that floods with natural light. This area boxes out, giving people seated at the table exposure to windows both on the rear-facing wall and on a side wall.
On this side wall, sliding glass doors open to a spacious deck. With this orientation, it is easy to imagine hosting a get-together with some people eating at the dining area and others at a table on the deck, only a few steps away.
The aforementioned great room reaches 20 feet by 15 feet. Its focal point is a rectangle-shaped fireplace surrounded in full-height tile with a TV mounted above it. The fireplace is flanked by built-in cabinets, handy for tucking away items such as children’s toys and books when guests come over.
People who work remotely will appreciate the study located just off the foyer. This proximity to the front door makes it easy to greet clients and receive work-related deliveries.
In that vein, the foyer is designed with privacy in mind, restricting sight lines beyond the immediate space.
The front door and access to the garage are both spacious, allowing multiple people to enter and exit the home with ease.
Just off the garage, the mud room boasts multiple lockers, with hooks for hanging coast and spots to tuck away gloves, hats and scarves.
On the second level, the master bedroom and bonus room are side by side along the rear-facing wall. This positioning is beneficial, allowing homeowners to stay up later than their children and talk or watch TV in the bonus room before going to bed. The bonus room features a tray-style ceiling design.
An elegant barn door closes off the master from its ensuite. While there have been loose comparisons in the past between some ensuites and the characteristics of a spa, there is a definite familiarity here.
The design features, flow of the layout, and size are all reminiscent of a luxury hotel spa.
A walk-in closet is accessed from within the ensuite that is large enough to function as a dressing room.
Two of the secondary bedrooms access a Jack and Jill-style bathroom. It has two sinks, letting both children brush their teeth and hair at the same time, saving precious minutes on busy weekday mornings.
The walkout basement in the show home is developed, including a rec area, yoga studio, bedroom and bathroom.