Space and grace

Designing a single-family detached home to fit a 26-foot-wide lot is no easy task.

That being the case, it’s critically important for designers to use their imagination to come up with a plan that maximizes every square inch of space in the home. In short, they must possess a mindset that’s at once practical and creative to design a home that deftly balances function and flair.

The design team at A & S Homes walked that line smartly with the Belmont, says Adam Virgilio, of Royal LePage Dynamic Real Estate, sales representative for A & S’s new show home at 481 Ken Oblik Dr. in Prairie Pointe.

“This home is a must-see to appreciate its design — the quality and detail throughout is impressive, as it its overall livability,” he says. “I think a key to its livability is the fact our design team managed to squeeze out some extra square footage. The home is 1,517 sq. ft. and the difference between that square footage and a home that’s 1,400 sq. ft. is quite noticeable.”

And while an extra hundred-odd square feet of space (some back-lane homes check in at 1,350 sq. ft. or so) doesn’t sound like much, it has a meaningful impact on a home’s overall livability.

Case in point is the Belmont’s main floor.

Whereas many smaller back-lane homes — both detached and attached — can have a congested, bowling alley-like feel, that’s not the case here, says Virgilio.

“The use of space in this home is impressive,” he notes. “For example, look at its main living area. The first thing you notice is how generous the dining area is — it easily holds a table that seats six. Not only that, but there’s plenty of room to move by it as you walk toward the kitchen. It also has a handy bar/sideboard area next to it, a feature entertainers will appreciate.”

At the same time, the adjacent kitchen gets exceptionally high marks for utility.

“Look at all the space there is to move around. Because it’s U-shaped, there’s lots of room for two people to work in the kitchen without a problem,” says Virgilio. “There’s also an eating nook for two, and the finishes — quartz countertops, tile backsplash, long cabinets and stainless-steel appliances — give it a modern, upscale look and feel.”

He says there’s more utility to be found to the rear of the kitchen with a generous a back-door landing featuring a powder room.

“There’s also a window and a door with a glass centre that lets in natural light, and leads out to the backyard,” says Virgilio. “Right now, it’s a concrete parking pad for two cars. That pad could be turned into a double detached garage for about $27,500.”

Back inside, the main living area continues to impress with its high level of livability. Flow between spaces is seamless and there’s no shortage of space in which to move around freely.

The last (but not least) of its three spaces — the great room — is just as functional as the kitchen and dining area.

“Again, it’s a very well-designed space,” says Virgilio. “It has the depth needed to allow for a sectional and two chairs, a glass-filled rear wall lets in lots of natural light, and the entertainment unit is gorgeous with a linear-electric fireplace in a tile surround with open shelving on either side and a generous TV wall above.”

Ascend a four-foot-wide staircase to the second floor, and more pleasant surprises await.

Chief among them is the laundry space, says Virgilio.

“It has a real laundry room rather than a laundry closet. With all its storage and room to work, it’s so much more functional.”

Families will also appreciate the way the second floor has been laid out.

Essentially, the laundry room and main bath were placed in the middle to act as natural buffers between the secondary bedrooms and primary bedroom.

The secondary bedrooms are at one end of the hall next to the main bath, while the primary bedroom was set at the other to the right of the stairs.

“Separation between the kids’ bedrooms and primary bedroom is excellent. And the primary bedroom has a luxurious feel to it,” says Virgilio. “It’s bright, spacious and comes with a big walk-in closet and ensuite with tile floor and beautifully tiled walk-in shower with mosaic tile inlay.”

The Belmont’s well-balanced design will appeal to families, says Virgilio.

“It also comes with a side entrance and a bright, spacious lower level with windows at either end. It’s style, quality, livability and value are off the charts.”

lewys@mymts.net