Prime position

It’s an oft-repeated adage in real estate: location, location, location.

And while location plays a central role in determining the value and desirability of a property, there’s another factor that also contributes to a home’s allure: where it’s situated within a community.

The positioning of Hilton Homes’ new show home at 296 Masters Ave. in West St. Paul pays off in more than one way, says the sales representative for the 2,069-sq.-ft. home, Soren Frederiksen of Re/Max Executives Realty.

“I think the first thing to note about this home is that it’s on a corner lot that’s a very good size at 44-feet wide by 154 feet and 180 feet at different points,” he says. “Not only that, because of its positioning, there will also never be a home next to it on its right-hand side looking at it from the street.”

Instead, there’s a very family-friendly amenity on that side.

“There’s a path through the trees that leads to a park with a play structure and play area, so it’s just a short walk over for whenever the kids want to play,” Frederiksen says.

He says the home’s location yields two more benefits.

“Being able to build on a corner lot with no home on the other side was huge as it allowed us to put windows in on that side,” says Frederiksen. “In this case, floor-to-ceiling windows were placed on either side of a tiled linear-electric fireplace. They let in more natural light and look out onto the trees. When they bloom in the summer, you won’t be able to see through them.”

At the same time, two more huge windows and a patio door on the rear wall let in even more daylight, making for a main living area that possesses a bright, vibrant feel. A subtle, earthy colour scheme was then implemented to dial down the space’s natural brightness.

For starters, the walls were painted a light taupe that goes beautifully with the white baseboards, door trim and window casings. Then, medium-brown wide-plank flooring was installed to add a dash of warmth and texture to the design mix.

Rich finishes were then deployed brilliantly to add depth and character to the free-flowing, user-friendly area.

“In the kitchen, two-tone thermofoil cabinets — light-taupe up high, and beautiful blue-grey ones down low — were paired with a dark tile backsplash, a stainless-steel hood fan and appliances, and porcelain countertops,” Frederiksen says. “The countertops look amazing with their mix of black, bronze and grey colours and thin, elegant profile.”

There’s also plenty of functionality to be found, with a corner pantry adding useful (and highly accessible) storage space and a streamlined island that seats three.

“The dining area is also quite sizable,” says Frederiksen. “At 10-by-15 feet, it’s large enough for almost any size of table, and it’s next to a patio door that would provide access to a large backyard deck.”

Then, there’s the adjacent great room, which captivates with its subtle elegance.

“It’s a beautiful space with all its windows, the fireplace and the upper-level staircase to the right, which opens it up, and with its tempered-glass inserts,” Frederiksen says. “The dark railing also goes perfectly with the flooring and finishes in the great room.”

Take the wide, light-bathed staircase upstairs, and you encounter not one but two delightful spaces.

“I think people will appreciate two design features at the midpoint of the staircase — a huge window that lets in more light, and a window seat you can use to sit on and read a book or sit back and take a quiet moment for yourself with a cup of coffee,” Frederiksen says.

Next comes a large, functional loft.

“As lofts go, it’s quite large,” Frederiksen says. “A large window on its rear wall lets in lots of natural light, while a piano window on its side wall lets in more light — and the glass inserts on the side of the stairs ensure light flow isn’t interrupted. It can be the kids’ own separate space to enjoy.”

Meanwhile, the two oversized kids’ bedrooms are in their own private wing on either side of a four-piece bath, while the 11-by-15-foot primary bedroom is off in its own private spot.

“It offers a beautiful view of trees across the street and comes with a big walk-in closet and deluxe ensuite with woodgrain-style tile floor and walk-in shower with a custom swing door and tile on three sides, including a beautiful herringbone feature wall on the centre wall,” Frederiksen says.

He says Hilton’s design team knocked it out of the park with the home’s stellar plan.

“It’s possibly the best-positioned home in the area. At under $750,000, its value is exceptional. Several homes in the area are over one million dollars; this one is on par with them.”

lewys@mymts.net