Distinctive digs

As a home builder, it can become all too easy to become complacent.

The reason for that is simple: after you find a formula that works, the tendency is to keep repeating it because buyers seem to like it.

Oftentimes, that formula involves employing soft earth tones — variations on taupe, beige, brown and white — to create a feeling of warmth. Or grey, white and even black tones are used to endow a home with a more modern feel.

The result is show homes can morph together in buyers’ minds because — as beautiful as they are — their finishes weren’t distinct enough.

That being the case, it’s important that builders attempt to push design boundaries on a regular basis to keep home styles fresh and intriguing.

Marie Livingston of Century 21 Carrie Realty, Hilton Homes’ sales representative for their new show home at 22 Ken Butchart Cres. in Transcona’s Devonshire Park, says that’s exactly what Hilton’s design team did with the 1,765-sq.-ft., two-storey Yvonne II model.

“This home is one of our most popular models,” she says. “It’s built on a 32-foot-wide lot and is just a little under 1,800 sq. ft. Families like it for its layout and reasonable price point. With standard finishes, the home can be built for just under $589,000 — and those standard finishes are just as impressive as the layout.”

However, in this instance, Hilton’s design team decided to load the home with a host of upgrades to show what the dwelling could look like with finishes that are anything but standard.

Suffice it to say the calculated gamble to take a more daring route with the finishes paid off.

Step into the main living area — which is preceded by a generous foyer followed up by a main-floor bedroom and full bath — and the first thing you see is the island kitchen.

To put it more precisely, the first thing you notice is the kitchen’s vibrant ceramic backsplash, which is composed of aquamarine and teal tiles interspersed with white tiles.

“It certainly catches your eye and goes beautifully with the taupe cabinets. The quartz island also has waterfall sides, which is another option that adds style and texture to the kitchen.”

As it turns out, Hilton’s design team was just getting started.

Wander into the adjacent great room, and you can’t help but notice the colour scheme, which is vibrant, in a very good way.

“Three large windows — they’re 12 inches longer than normal and are optional — were placed in the rear, teal-painted feature wall to add style and capture more natural light,” says Livingston. “The linear-electric fireplace is surrounded by a beautiful teal-and-bronze surround.”

That theme was then carried into the cleverly boxed out dining area, which is defined nicely by another teal feature wall that adds depth, and an appealing, vibrant warmth.

“As great as the finishes are, the other thing that stands out is the layout,” says Livingston. “Even though the home is 1,765 sq. ft., it lives larger than its listed square footage. A lot of attention was paid to its layout both on the main floor and upstairs.”

The Yvonne II’s seamless blend of functionality and style continues upstairs. Accessed by a four-foot-wide staircase, it’s exceptionally family-friendly.

That user-friendly feel comes from a simple, logical design.

Look to the right of the stairs and you can see two secondary bedrooms were set at the end of the hallway.

“They were tucked away behind the main bath, which naturally separates them from the primary bedroom. Both bedrooms are also huge — not something you expect in a home under 2,000 sq. ft.,” says Livingston.

Then, as if to put an explanation point on the home’s inherently high level of functionality, the primary bedroom was then set at the end of its own hallway to the left of the stairs. A large laundry closet on the left-hand wall (and the stairs) buffers it beautifully from the kids’ bedrooms.

Meanwhile, the primary bedroom is impeccable in its design and finishes.

“It’s a good size with a large window that lets in lots of natural light and a big walk-in closet,” Livingston says. “A beautiful ensuite with a five-foot walk-in shower and a floor-to-ceiling teal/bronze-tile surround finishes it off with a perfect touch of luxury.”

Livingston says the upscale version of the Yvonne II is an inspired design.

“The optional finishes really give it a touch of class, but it’s also a great home with standard finishes, too. It’s just a wonderful family home in every way.”

lewys@mymts.net