LIVING LARGE IN MAPLE RIDGE
Homes at Bridle Ridge big on space, inside and out
Nestled into the hillside in Maple Ridge's sought-after Silver Valley neighbourhood, Bridle Ridge, a development by Morningstar Homes, makes the most of the area's natural surroundings, ensuring each of the 109 single-family homes will have valley or mountain views or a treed outlook onto a greenbelt.
Deborah Calahan, Morningstar's vice-president of sales and marketing, says the area is known for its natural beauty and the development connects to the area's extensive trail systems where outdoor lovers can walk, hike, run and bike.
Silver Valley is known for its equestrian roots, “and one still sees lots of horses and small farms in the area,” she says, noting the colourful red cranberry fields ready for harvesting, from the back deck of the display home in Mier Drive.
“Morningstar has over 20 years of experience, coupled with as many years of homeowner surveys that help guide us to making the best possible home desired by today's buyer,” says Calahan. “But no matter how magnificent the house is, it only becomes a home when it is part of a vibrant community.”
The new subdivision includes a choice of four house plans – Carlton, Westchester, Mayfield and Windsor – ranging in size from 2,977 to 3,237 square feet. Two of the plans have walk-out basements while two “uphill” plans feature the double garage on the lower floor and take advantage of the spectacular views from the main and upper level, says Calahan.
All the homes are three-bedroom and give homeowners the option of finishing a fourth room as a bedroom or as a sitting room off the master suite.
In the Mayfield display home, the master suite has a walk-in closet, a spacious ensuite bathroom and a comfy sitting room with a TV, fireplace and bar fridge — a relaxing space to unwind after a busy day.
Calahan says feedback shows buyers like the option of choosing how to use this space.
“We used to do a four-bedroom plan but found so many people loved having an extra sitting room, now we give them the choice.”
The main bedroom also features a window seat running the length of the room to take advantage of the views. Calahan says over the years Morningstar found homeowners enjoyed the window seats so much that they went from initially being a feature element in one room to now being strategically placed throughout the homes.
“They are the eyes to the outside. When we only placed a window seat in one of the children's bedrooms, we would hear from parents that the kids were fighting over who would get that room,” she adds.
The display home is staged to reflect the equestrian influence in the area, with horses featured in many of the artworks used to decorate the home, while a fullwall mural of a horse plus a real saddle adds extra flair in one of the bedrooms.
Also, on the upper level is a laundry room with side-by-side washer and dryer, open shelving and cabinet storage space.
In the kitchen, the large island is a great place for morning coffee, enjoying a snack or as a gathering place when entertaining in the open-plan layout.
In the living room, an electric fireplace creates a warm ambience on a chilly day. Calahan says while gas fireplaces used to be the preferred option, there is now a trend to electric fireplaces, and buyers can choose either gas or electric.
Buyers can also choose from three colour palettes: Black and white, taupe (as seen in the Mayfield display home) and a grey scheme. While the colour palettes are very different, they each include some black accents — such as the contemporary matte black door hardware — says Creative Designworks' Mae Suffron.
“We wanted to give the homes a custom feel, so the different schemes have completely different floor colours, carpet and tile.”
All the kitchen designs feature quartz countertops, shaker-style cabinetry and full-height ceramic tile backsplashes. In the display home, a white apron-front sink with a black single lever pulldown spray faucet adds a farmhouse ambience to the space that also features a stainless steel appliance package including refrigerator, stove, hood fan and dishwasher.
The homes include a powder room on the main floor, the family bathroom (with tub, shower and double sinks) on the upper level, and the ensuite where the spacious shower is the star of the show. Ceramic tile flooring in the bathrooms co-ordinates with the wall and accent tiles.
Calahan says buyers who want an extra luxe touch in the ensuite can take advantage of an upgrade option that includes additional shower wands to create a spa-like experience.
Each floor plan shows options of an unfinished basement, a deluxe finished, and a finished suite or a temporary residential unit (TRU). Calahan explains that the TRU is a useful option (when a legal suite is not), enabling multi-generational families to live in the home.
The exterior design of the homes includes craftsman-inspired features with vinyl siding and shingle and board and batten, wood and stone accents.
But no matter how magnificent the house is, it only becomes a home when it is part of a vibrant community.