domus fall 2012

4 • DOMUS • fall 2012

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fall 2012 • DOMUS • 5

contentsi s s u e 0 2 • fa l l 2 0 1 2

expressions8 art sceneCalgary’s vibrant arts scene is spotlighted in our photo feature of some of the city’s most intriguing art galleries

editor’s choice12 suburban chicContemporary flair finds its way to the suburbs

innovations18 eye on custom homesacreage living and the new suburban options for custom estate homes

38 interior designCreating and impact with natural stone

home spotlight24 laNDMaRK hoMesThe seductive appeal of The Burton is laid bare in this new landmark show home

28 BaYWesT hoMesBaywest unveils its work of art in Riverstone, wait til you see the Rembrandt’s sun room

community spotlight32 QuiNNCoRP CoMMuNiTiesaspen Summit improves on westside perfection

8

oN The CoVeR. Karoleena homes, Moda architectural Collaborative and amanda hamilton interior Design collaborated to bring to life one of the most striking suburban homes Calgary has seen in a long time. Cover photo by lifeseven Photography.

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editor’s message

PUBLISHER

source Media Group [email protected]

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Jim [email protected]

EDITOR

Pepper [email protected]

ART DIRECTOR

Jean faye [email protected]

gRAPHIC DESIgnERS

Dave [email protected]

Megan [email protected]

EDITORIAL ASSISTAnT

aaliya [email protected]

EDITORIAL

andrea Cox, alykhan Velji, Richard White

PHOTOgRAPHY

lifeseven Photography, Ted Knude Photography, Don Molyneaux,

Ken Taylor of VRPhotos

ADVERTISIng SALES

[email protected]

ACCOUnTIng

Donna [email protected]

Issue 02 • IssN 1929-4581 (PrINt) IssN 1929-459X (oNlINe)

Copyright 2012 by Source Media Group Corp. Material cannot be reprinted in whole or in part without the expresssed written permission of the publishers. Source Media Group agrees to advertise on behalf of the advertiser without responsibility for claims or misinformation made by the advertiser and acts only as an advertising medium. Source Media Group reserves the right to refuse any advertising at its sole discretion.

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I’m a city guy I must admit — living in the wide, open spaces scares me a little. Just thinking of the mowing and snow shoveling I have to do in my tiny suburban home is enough to make me tired, imagine what the prospect of actually having to do that in an acreage will do to my mental health. That’s equal to 12 city lots as Richard White astutely points out in his Eye On Custom Homes column in this issue. Someone bring me an Advil…

But in doing my research for this issue, we did a lot of driving through the countryside just outside of Calgary and my eyes were opened to the calm beauty and relaxed lifestyle it offers. And the $1 million-plus homes found here not only opened my eyes but made them pop right out! As we also observed, however, you really don’t have to drive out of the city to find your dream mansion — there are new suburban communities offering custom-built homes on wider lots now, mirroring the kind of action you only saw before in the inner-city.

This issue of DOmuS comes at a time when the Calgary real estate market is on an upswing, particularly for the kind of luxury estate homes we are focusing on. A Sotheby’s report says 301 homes sold for over $1 million dollars in Calgary in the first six months of this year, up by 19 per cent from the same period last year. It adds that six per cent of homes over $1 million this year have sold for over the asking price.

Lifestyle change for baby boomers is one of the major reasons given for this surge, as is the next generation of young professionals who are seeking these exclusive, higher-end properties in the more sought-after locations in Calgary. There is also a palpable optimism and confidence in Calgary’s energy sector that benefits many other industries.

This optimism is mirrored in the kind of opulent show homes that have opened recently, including Landmark Homes’ and Baywest Homes’ stunning estate homes in the new riverside community of Riverstone of Cranston that we feature in these pages. The new community of Aspen Summit in Calgary’s sought-after west side is also spotlighted and we see how developer QuinnCorp establishes its brand to improve on an already perfect location.

In our cover feature, Andrea Cox talks to the owners of one of Calgary’s most notable architectural triumphs for a residential project in a while, that just goes to show that it’s not where you build, it’s what you build and how you go about it that creates the most exciting home.

As for the interiors, Aly Velji lends his trained designer eye to discuss the beauty of using natural stone to set the décor tone of your home, while Aaliya Essa features some of the hottest art work in the city to bring your walls to life.

Whether on an areage or in the ‘burbs, downtown condo or beltline infill, we’re dedicated to bringing you Calgary’s most spectacular homes, and we’re honoured to have them here in our pages. Let DOmuS open your eyes to the possibilities, like it has mine.

Calgary’s big and rich lifestyle

Pepper Rodriguez, [email protected]


aRT iN The CiTY

“Genesse”RebeCCa CaRon-Lienau. Her wire

sculptures are mostly of animals, with a fondness for

horses. She says their strength, and history makes

them a subject worth immortalizing. These sculptures

are malleable, and have exquisite clean lines that truly

hold the gaze of onlookers. Gerry Thomas Gallery

“Sweepers, West Lake, Hangzhou, China, 2011”DaviD buRDeny. A talented Canadian fine art landscape

photographer, Burdeny has worked on five continents in a 10-year

span, during which he participated in more than 40 group and solo

exhibitions. He was awarded Nature Photographer of the Year in

2008, by the International Pilsner Urquell Photography Awards.

Herringer Kiss Gallery

“Pop Colorado”SuSana eSPinoza. Originally from Chile, she has lived

in Canada for the last 30 years. Her current work is a unique mix of

metals, wires, even recycled pop cans, combined with a select colour.

It is based on a “minimalistic composition,” and how colours, on

their own, are perceived by, and in turn affect, others, and how can

this affect be magnified. Gibson Fine art


aRT iN The CiTYart scene

“Romantic night in Town”SeRGe Dubé. A painter with a unique talent of adding a

persona to his work, the landscapes are a blend of colours that are

both sharp and soft; his lines give definition to the viewer, drawing

the audience in. Dubé has been painting since 1982, has worked

with oils, and has created a new technique for working with acrylics,

which is becoming well known across Canada, the United States,

Mexico, and Europe. Latitude art Gallery

“oil on canvas”baRbaRa aMoS. She creates art that

is a depiction of a metamorphosis, sometimes

blurred, fragmented, and rearranged. Amos is

able to piece together what she sees and translate

this to her audience. Amos has even had a lens

designed to assist with creating her one-of-a-

kind images. She has worked with many painting

mediums, such as video and digital imagery,

and she has been awarded a grant recently to

construct a prism that develops concepts of

fragmentation. Gibson Fine art


“That old Romantic Feeling”KiMbeRLy KieL. A self-taught artist, originally from

Saskatchewan, she is a painter whose brush knows no bounds,

using oil and encaustic paints to give texture to her work. Her

paintings of figures have a whimsical side to them, where an

emotion is clearly being evoked from the figures, and conveyed

subtly to the viewer. Latitude art Gallery

“Golden opportunity”STeve CSoRba. An artist that is able

to create pieces that are a compilation of the

abilities, and talents that he has acquired

during his career. He is

a cancer survivor, and

much of his strength

came from his ordeal,

using his creativity to

address and overcome

obstacles he has seen. A

visual artist, he makes

art that can be described

as “neo-pop surrealism.”

Gerry Thomas Gallery


art scene

“Trip the Light”RoGeR byRT. Originally from Australia, Byrt is a master at creating

paintings that mimic a three-dimensional perspective, by the way he depicts

the lighting and the shadowing he is able to compose this effect. Byrt is

indeed a very accomplished artist, having received several grants for his

work such as an Ian Potter Foundation Grant for a Citibank Commission

(Caravaggio in 3D). Gerry Thomas Gallery

“Summer breeze”STéPHanie RiveT. This Montreal native

learned to use her artwork to express herself

when she was young. She is still spontaneous

in nature, with this quality showing in her

paintings and even individual brush strokes,

giving her work balance and presence at the

same time. Latitude art Gallery

“blue bowl”DaviD ReaDe. Originally from England, Reade has made a

home for himself and his craft in many exotic locations around

the globe. This master glass blower uses inspirations from various

parts of his life, especially his time in Africa, in the

mountains and deserts, which he and his wife still

often visit. Gerry Thomas Gallery


Contemporary flair finds its way to the suburbs

editor’s choice

suBuRBaN ChiC BY aNDRea CoX n PhoToGRaPhY BY lifeseVeN PhoToGRaPhY


Contemporary flair finds its way to the suburbssuBuRBaN ChiC


Even before construction was complete, this contemporary gem was turning heads.

Its architecturally inspired form, predicated on Californian mid-century modernism, pro-vides a welcome contrast to the traditional French Country and Craftsman-styled homes that line the streetscape of this affluent suburb in Calgary’s west side.

Despite its departure from the traditional, the home’s scale and textural aspects integrate well into the broader context of the neighbour-hood and the design melds seamlessly with the surrounding topography and landscape of mountain ranges and Aspen bluffs. “We want-ed something minimalistic, yet warm, with contemporary, clean lines,” says the owner and visionary behind the home.

For the owners, who come from one of Cal-gary’s most prominent families, the choice of where to build was a given: they wanted to be close to their children’s school as well as im-mersed in nature on a lot that flowed onto natural reserve space.

“We looked at a lot of homes and there was just nothing that we liked. We wanted a place where our family would come, where the kids could bring their friends — a place to gather with an open feel, where people felt welcome and we definitely wanted to see nature.” The ridge lot was perfect for their needs.

To create the home of their dreams, the owners brought in a collaborative design team comprised of Kris and Kurt Goodjohn of Kar-oleena Homes, Dustin Couzens of Moda Archi-tectural Collaborative and Amanda Hamilton of Amanda Hamilton Interior Design.

The result is a stunning, sculptural space — with lots of flat panes and sharp angles — that reflects the essence of indoor-outdoor living. It is a home that folds and blends and becomes part of the landscape. “We designed the archi-tecture so that it framed spaces to the exterior,” explains Couzens, the architect on the project.

editor’s choice

The suburbs haven’t always been known to be prime destinations to find architecturally distinct houses, but all that is changing. Indeed, this spectacular, eye-candy of a home in Aspen Estates proves that,

with just a little imagination, it doesn’t matter where you build your dream home.


It has three bedrooms and four bathrooms on the upper floor, a half-bath on the main, and two more bedrooms and two bathrooms on the lower level. Among its many modern conveniences and styl-ish features and finishes are NanaWall® fully retractable window and door systems, hydronic heating, natural stone and tile flooring, large spanning flat roof sections and extensive natural stone, tile and cedar exterior detailing. It also features some truly spectacu-lar outdoor living spaces, ranging from a stunning walk-out base-ment to Kayu Batu hardwood decking and a cozy built-in outdoor fireplace.

“The construction of the home was very complicated,” adds Kurt Goodjohn. “We had the building inspector come to do a framing inspection and he couldn’t do it, because the structure was so com-plicated. He had to bring in a more senior person and an engineer.”

It was all worth it in the end. This 4,705-square-foot home with fully developed basement offers over 6,000 square-feet in total liv-ing space and a design that Couzens says has a more “transitional” feel to it.

“The owners weren’t ready to be in the ubiquitous modern box; they wanted something that had modern sensibility but that still had some warmth.” The materials used throughout add to that ef-fect.

With cascading elements of steel and glass, the stairs are a key focal point. “We designed them not just as stairs moving between two spaces, it is sculpture,” says Couzens who is known for innova-tive use of space. “We look at every part of the house, especially transitional areas like hallways and mudrooms as opportunities to create something.”

The home backs westward onto a ravine, and by designing layers of living spaces that encapsulate the view beyond to the bluff and groves of Aspen trees it successfully brought the aesthetic of out-doors living in and vice-versa.

For example, the front foyer opens to a floor-to-ceiling glass wall, which frames an outdoor niche where a Zen-like pine tree takes cen-tre stage. Beyond that, another glass wall captures the living and dining areas, which is framed by floor-to-ceiling glass overlooking the stunning vistas. The back wall of the home is a fully retractable, which opens to reveal the outdoor living space.


editor’s choice

“We really turned up the amplitude on blurring the exterior and interior and capitalizing on space,” notes Couzens.

The NanaWall® opening glass wall system is framed by ceil-ing-height linen sheers that billow in the wind when the wall is open. “It is a really beautiful effect,” says designer Amanda Hamilton, who adds that the owner wanted crisp, clean fur-nishings to compliment the architecture.

Many of the furnishing pieces are from Ligne Roset com-bined with some custom designed pieces. “We wanted to make everything work with the architecture,” says Hamilton.

The contemporary hard edges of the design were softened with natural limestone flooring and wire brushed grey — toned hardwood with natural veining. “We didn’t want anything to feel super polished; we wanted to create some warmth especial-ly with Calgary’s climate when most of the year we are covered in snow,” says Hamilton. The home exudes a softer edge with lots of texture and splashes of colour against the clean white backdrop.

The upstairs hallway linking the children’s bedrooms with the master enclave is not just a hallway; it functions as a sec-ondary art gallery, as well as an office and a bridge looking out to stellar views of the bluff beyond and the dining room below.

With windows everywhere, the home is flooded with natural light creating an airy graceful abode: a stunning home that dif-ferentiates itself and makes a statement.

“This is a $3 million house with all of the upgrades, home au-tomation and custom features that the clients wanted,” Good-john says. “A similar house from Karoleena starts at $1.5 mil-lion — a ton of value and ‘upgrades as standard’ are included in that price.”

Which just goes to show, interesting architecture can be cre-ated anywhere. “Architecture can happen in the suburbs. It just takes a little more creativity,” says Couzens with a laugh. “In fact, some of the best architecture comes from the most con-straints.” D

Kurt Goodjohn of Karoleena homes.


Acreage living and the new suburban options for custom estate homes

liViNG

n BY RiChaRD WhiTe

laRGe

One of the great things about living in Calgary is the wide range of lifestyle options available within an hour of our city centre. Drive any direction out of the city and you will soon find yourself in the “acreage district” where you will discover massive acreage communities like Elbow Valley (1,000 acres) and micro ones like Harmony Ridge (9 lots

on 40 acres). While Calgary is becoming more urban and cosmopolitan, there still re-

main a significant number of people who grew up living in the country and prefer rural living. I recall reading awhile back that six of the 10 CEOs of Calgary’s largest oil and gas companies grew up in rural communities. It is no surprise, then, that many of them live on acreages west of the city with spectacular views of the mountains. Living on an acreage in the foothills or on the prairie is part of Calgary’s unique sense of place.

But if the wide open spaces are not for you, nor do you want to be boxed up in the inner city, there is still the middle ground of the suburbs that, sur-prisingly, is turning up a lot more of these grand estate homes that marry the convenience of a suburban lifestyle with the look and feel of a country-side manse.

What is acreage living?Though a quick Google search doesn’t come up with a definitive definition, “acreage living” would imply living in a home on a lot at least an acre in size. Just how big is an acre? It is 43,560 square-feet — about 80 per cent the size of a Canadian football field. With a typical city house lot being about 30 feet by 120 feet (or about 3,600 square-feet) this means an acre is approxi-mately 12 city lots.

It wasn’t until the 1950s that acreage living began outside Calgary’s city limits — before that, it was all ranching and farm land. Since the ‘70s, sig-nificant acreage development has taken place, primarily west of the city — Bearspaw, Springbank, Priddis and Dewinton.


eye on custom homes

Today, all rural areas surrounding Calgary are feeling the impact of rapid growth. Many ranchers and farmers are grappling with increased regulations, environmental challeng-

es and succession planning. They are looking to cash-out and the best offers come from develop-ers wanting to build new acreage communities, not from people wanting to ranch and farm. Not everyone agrees that this kind of residential acreage development is the right way to go, but you won’t hear any complaints from people in the market for these kind of custom homes as the op-tions are greater than ever.

Different strokes for different folks!For some, living in the country means getting away from the hustle and bustle of the city yet being close enough to Calgary and small towns — Okotoks, Cochrane, Airdrie and Strathmore — for everyday needs. It also means more privacy, as you don’t have neighbours watching when you sit out on the deck. For people who like gardening, large lots are a bonus. For others, it is the abundance of wildlife, butterflies and songbirds. For yet others, acreage living provides an oppor-tunity to be a hobby farmer or rancher.

But if you just want a larger home, one with a triple car garage and wider lots that won’t nec-essarily take you the whole weekend to mow, there are several new suburban enclaves in the city where you can find this lifestyle. Some that recently opened are The Ridges of Valley Pointe Estates in Valley Ridge, The Heights in Aspen Estates — both in the northwest. Then there’s Riverstone of Cranston in the southeast. Meanwhile, the community of Watermark of Bearspaw just on the western edge of the city offers custom made estate homes on lots from a quarter-acre up. Most homes in these new communities start at the million-dollar mark.

since the ‘70s, significant acreage development has taken place, primarily west of the city.

(above) Millarville’s estate homes. Photo by Jean faye Rodriguez.

(opposite page) Trickle Creek homes at Watermark at Bearspaw. Photo by Don Molyneaux.


Country charmThe country still holds considerable charm for some. One buddy of mine, upon retire-ment, sold his Invermere getaway and his city home and built a custom home in a new development called Pinehurst (named after the famous Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, North Carolina). He is now five minutes from his home golf course, 10 minutes from Po-liceman Flats for fly fishing and can spend hours playing in his garden on the edge of a forested escarpment. It is great place to host family get-togethers, which are getting larger and larger with grandchildren and in-laws.

Downsizing is not an option for many “empty nesters” as their family grows, not shrinks. A colleague of mine, decided to move to an acreage, as it provided the space and storage for her new blended family, which included several adult children with their own vehicles.Where in Calgary can you find space for seven cars and one recreational trailer at an af-fordable price?

Another couple, Margot McMaster and Doug Munro, moved from the city to live in a log home on 40 acres in the Millarville area to set up a home studio for his cinematography and her video production and editing work. But the real attraction was that she could board and ride her horses and he could create his own golf course. Yes, Doug has his own Par 3 golf course with three grass tee boxes and a fourth tee box off his back deck. Try that in the city.

“We love it here, there’s lots of room for our two border collies to run around in, as well as our horses,” McMasters says. “Doug and I get to practice on our golf swing out in the sun in our backyard rather than in a virtual golf game in the basement.”

Doug Munruo’s Par 3 golf course (above), in Millarville, where you can tee off from the back of his house (top right). Photos by Jean faye Rodriguez.

(bottom right) astoria Custom homes in Willow Creek. Photo by Ken Taylor of VR Photos.

New upscale communities offer high-end homes on bigger lots and you don’t have to leave the city.


n Richard White is managing director of 3D visualization at Riddell Kurczaba architecture and former executive officer of the Calgary Downtown association. he has been writing on urban art, culture and architecture for more than 20 years.

The suburb optionMatthew Jones of Macdonald Development Corporation, the developers behind Water-mark at Bearspaw, says their community is a terrific option for homebuyers who can not only get larger lots than can be found in the city, but “fully serviced” ones too.

“Acreage lots usually sit on undeveloped land where you have to build your own artesian well and a septic system,” Jones says. “But at Wa-termark you get a fully serviced lot that means your home will be connected to potable water, sanitary and storm sewer, electricity, natural gas, telephone, cable television and broadband internet. Ours is the first community in the coveted Bearspaw area to offer fully serviced lots, and we have our own waste water treat-ment plant right in the community.”

Watermark at Bearspaw is near 12 Mile Coulee Road and Crowchild Trail. Macdonald Development of Vancouver chose to create a hybrid of country and urban living. Watermark

lots are not a full acre, but they are all at least twice the size of a typical city lot with plenty of space between the houses.

They recently opened their “Street of Dis-tinction” showcasing the talents of their build-er group — Astoria Custom Homes, Homes by Us, Trickle Creek Homes and Wolf Custom Homes. The public can now tour show homes of the first three builders, and Wolf will have theirs open by December. “Albi Homes recently joined our Builders of Distinction and they will start construction of their show home by next year,” Jones says.

Aspen Estates is another new community that offers half-acre lots, and it’s within city boundaries. Million dollar estate homes here are de rigueur, just see the cover story in this issue. There are also the new communities of Riverstone in Cranston by Brookfield Residen-tial and The Ridges of Valley Pointe Estates by Melcor that are really extending the call of the suburbs to the high-dollar set who before were

limited in their choices of either inner city in-fills or acreages.

“There’s a growing market for this niche group, and they’re looking for something dif-ferent,” says Dave Rickett, vice president for sales and marketing at Shane Homes, one of the builders at The Ridges.

But, if you are thinking of living on an acre-age or purchasing a suburban estate home, you better act fast. Because the growth in the estate home market in Calgary, with the introduction of more upscale communities, both in and out-side the city limits means that these homes are more popular and in greater demand than ever. D

eye on custom homes


home spotlight

Seductive appealWith a worldly charm oozing sex appeal and a full-

bodied design that melds Old World elegance with a

cosmopolitan outlook, The Burton by landmark Homes

certainly makes a statement for the high life in the new

riverside neighbourhood of Riverstone of Cranston.

The interior’s rich colour scheme — resembling fine,

single malt Scotch — adds to the powerful design

impact of the 2,232-square-foot bungalow which, with

its appealingly masculine basement development, has

another 1,900 square-feet of finished living space.

The timeless quality of the bungalow’s interior is given

emphasis by the 20-foot-high ceilings and accompanying

tall windows that give the main floor an airy, open feel. The

spectacular wood-panel feature wall and the wood-clad

beams over the great room lend a rich earthy tone to The

Burton’s well-measured grandiosity.

But The Burton is not just sexy it’s also sustainable.

landmark Homes has honed its design capability to a fine

edge with The Burton, and the builder’s commitment to

sustainability carries through to all its homes. “Most of our

homes are certified to BuiltGreen™ Gold standard. all our

homes have the same exacting construction specification

regardless of size and finishing,” says area manager David

Wright.

The PVC slider and picture windows, besides providing

tons of natural lighting to the interior, are of maintenance-

free triple panes with low-E coating and argon gas. Spray

foam insulation is used in exterior walls and attic insulation

is upgraded to R50. all of these combine to make it easier

to maintain room temperatures.

The Burton’s sustainability makes it even sexier, and it

is still competitively priced, with the show home going

for $1.3 million. “Considering the amount of upgrades that

were put in this home, it is as affordable as they come,”

Wright says.

The BuRToN BY laNDMaRK hoMes

The drop ledge over the great room and the pot lights that line them denote a tone of classy

indulgence, and the two-way fireplace separating the great room and the spacious wrap-around

deck doubles the pleasure inside and out.

n PhoToGRaPhY BY TeD KNuDe PhoToGRaPhY


The attached master ensuite is a picture of creature comfort with ceramic tile flooring, a fully tiled,

oversized shower stall with bench seating and 10- millimetre-glass surround that enhances the spa-like

ambience. a luxurious soaker tub, underlit floating cabinetry with quartz countertops and designer

mosaic glass tile backsplash across the his-and-hers vanity sinks give it a boutique hotel feel.

(top) The generous amount of designer stone accents and cedar trim give a welcoming street profile to this triple-car side garage home with exposed aggregate driveway, making it stand out even in this millionaire’s row show home parade of Riverstone.


The developed basement display’s The Burton’s full potential, with two spare bedrooms, a full bath and a second laundry suite. The l-shaped wet bar features a floating 10-millimetre glass top and quartz countertops.

laNDMaRK hoMes

home spotlight

(right) a state-of-the-art home theatre in the basement

brings movie nights at home to the next level with its Sonos sound system. The whole show home is wired for today’s most

advanced entertainment and security options.


(above) The waterfall design quartz central island sets the tone in The Burton’s ultra-chic kitchen, while the five-inch mahogany hardwood flooring and the bamboo veneer cabinetry combine to give it a stunning, polished look. Wall-mounted stainless steel microwave, double-door fridge and oven integrate seamlessly in the design to create this kitchen of dreams.

The master bedroom has access to the wraparound deck that includes a covered patio with a protruding sun deck, all in vinyl decking for extra comfort and style. “We wanted to give the owners the full effect of bungalow living by extending the living space outdoors,” Wright says. “especially with the Bow River and fish Creek Park right on your backyard you want to have all the opportunities to enjoy this peaceful setting.”


(this page, lower left) You can’t ask for a more dramatic entrance than

the 34-foot open, double-curved staircase with classy stained maple

stringers, wrought iron spindles and open risers. an elegant eight-foot tall,

custom-made chandelier commands the staircase as its winds its way from

the basement to the loft.

The french Normandy architecture of the home gives it an art gallery form

and feel abetted by lofty ceilings and the elegant curving staircase.

The stucco and designer stone clad exterior gives it an enticing street

profile in front, while the generous glass paneling in the rear deck and the sun room below give the back

of the home an even more arresting rear outline.

home spotlight

ReMBRaNDT BY BaYWesT hoMesA work of artWe all aspire to something higher — something better, something more.

Baywest Homes’ stunning new show home in the exclusive estate community of

Riverstone of Cranston is the culmination of such aspiration, as the multi-awarded

builder has created a bungalow home that inspires as much as it aspires.

The Rembrandt is Baywest Homes’ idea of bungalow living at its million-dollar

best. The 2,615-square-foot home is a bit of a hybrid — as it comes with a loft and

fully developed basement that adds 1,588 square-feet of living space. a sunroom

and the rear deck above it add a further 586 square-feet each that perfects the

art of outdoor (and indoor) luxury living.

“The Rembrandt is Baywest’s signature luxury bungalow, featuring a full

custom circular staircase, upper lofted office, luxury ensuite, a fully developed

walkout basement and innovation and style that must be seen to be believed,”

says area manager Jodi Hodgson. The Rembrandt show home is priced at $1.5

million but the prestige it offers is priceless.

(opposite page) solid walnut hardwood, burnished to a gleam, sets the stately tone of the main floor, the grand piano that greets you by the entrance adds its own statement of classy allure.

n PhoToGRaPhY BY KeN TaYloR of VR PhoTos


The basement development is much more than just a man-

cave — although it certainly has these aspect with the game

room, home theatre and wet bar. But the sunroom just takes

the breath away. five sets of four-panel, eight-foot-tall

double doors can open to bring the outdoors in and seamlessly

closed to keep the elements out.

The great room has a 13-foot ceiling accentuated by the oversized windows that dominate the back wall of the Rembrandt. The resulting openness creates a statement in both form and function, wrapped in class with the rich walnut hardwood flooring adding to its exclusive charm.


ReMBRaNDT BY BaYWesT hoMes

home spotlight

(left) The kitchen features a massive central island with silgranite undermount sink and a breakfast ledge that can seat three. it has a wine cooler on one end and more than enough storage throughout. Custom cabinetry hides the fridge and the oven and microwave are expertly worked into the paneling for a seamless open feel that doubles on functionality and style.

(below) The master bedroom comes with its 12-foot tray ceiling and a luxuriously

well-appointed attached ensuite separated by a see-through fireplace with split granite

tile facing. There’s a stand-alone tub right beneath and the travertine countertops

add just the right amount of richness to the room. But the state-of-the-art

oversized glass encased shower with double showerheads brings the sexy quotient

way up. oil rubbed bronze and satin nickel plumbing fixtures add a classy touch.


community spotlightcommunity spotlight

Improving on perfectionThe west side of Calgary has long been the most sought after

real estate location in the city, it’s perfect for a family-oriented

community with terrific views, tremendous accessibility and

tons of amenities that puts all the necessities for a fun, relaxed

and convenient lifestyle within a five-kilometre radius. But

QuinnCorp Communities has found a way to improve on

perfection. “We have developed a brand for our communities

that make them stand out, you know you’re in a QuinnCorp

community the minute you drive in,” says vice president Joe

Quinn.

a QuinnCorp community is readily identifiable with

its attention to detail, where residents enjoy consistent

architectural guidelines, perimeter fencing and entrance

features, manicured boulevards and where no residences front

onto a collector road. “We don’t build homes fronting onto

collector streets,” says architectural manager Stefan Bieber.

asPeN suMMiT BY QuiNN CoRP CoMMuNiTies

(left) Tree-lined, well-manicured streets mark the 45 acres of aspen summit, which will have just 213 homes on build out. Keeping it a low density development — with no multi-family projects — is testament to QuinnCorp’s adherence to offering the best quality of life in the city.


asPeN suMMiT BY QuiNN CoRP CoMMuNiTies

(above) like all of aspen Woods, aspen summit

benefits from the gently rolling, wooded terrain

where it is not uncommon to see deer among the

aspen thickets that mark the neighbourhood. QuinnCorp

has created walking paths that preserve every possible

tree to create an intimate connection with nature.

an aerial shot of aspen summit heath, the enclave for aspen summit’s multi-million dollar homes. Duri homes and elegant homes are building here and will open show homes in october 2012.

“It’s not just a safety precaution — you never want to back your car onto

traffic — but also adds to the distinct look and feel for our communities.”

QuinnCorp’s latest development, aspen Summit, aims to carry on their

proud tradition of utmost exclusivity and upscale style for today’s families.

It offers three types of single-family markets to choose from:

aspen Summit view. from $650,000 (home, lot and GST) an arts &

Crafts theme with homes from 2,000 to 2,800 square-feet. Builders are

Crystal Creek Homes and WestView Builder Group.

aspen Summit Park. from $950,000 (home, lot and GST) french

Country homes on 46-foot wide lots with park and ravine to the

north and east of the site. aspen Summit Park will feature albi Homes

exclusively, with homes ranging from 2,600 to 3,200 square-feet.

aspen Summit Heath. from $1.2 million (home, lot and GST), the

architectural theme will be a combination of arts & Crafts and french

Country. aspen Summit Heath’s 52 to 58-foot wide lots will feature

Elegant Homes and Duri Homes as well as the opportunity to purchase

developer direct.


asPeN suMMiT BY QuiNNCoRP CoMMuNiTies

community spotlight

No homes front onto feeder roads in QuinnCorp communities, which is one of the ways the developer establishes their brand. “Pride of ownership is what we want to instill in our residents, and we achieve this by stressing the value they get in living in a QuinnCorp community,” Quinn says. Their neighbouringaspen estates development, in fact won the coveted saM awards for community of the year in 2002.

Duri homes in aspen summit heath is opening its new multi-million dollar show home that promises the same kind of stylish grandeur that the builder has been known for, as seen in this elegantly functional kitchen with granite countertops, full height designer tile backsplash and travertine flooring.


The Wellington 5 by albi homes is one of several models the award-winning builder offers in aspen summit Park, and one of its most popular features is the central kitchen with oversized island, and the walk-through pantry adds a lot of convenience.

albi homes, the exclusive builder in aspen summit Park is already

65 per cent sold. albi homes’ Robert Toth says they have sold

most of their smaller lots, and homes in the $1 million range

are what they have left. “We’re really happy at how well we’ve

been received here, it is a terrific community,” he says.


Creating an impact with natural stone

interior design

au NaTuReln BY alYKhaN VelJi

(opposite page) Photo courtesy Morrison homes.

(left) Photo courtesy iCoN stone and Tile.

There is nothing more luxurious than incorporating natural stone into an interior. Anytime I use it, my clients love the result, whether it be on a countertop, floor or backsplash—it simply adds depth, interest and makes any home that much more luxe.

It’s not always an easy sell, however. Some people are wary of using natural stone surfaces as they worry about cost and maintenance. While

it can get costly and, depending where you use it, be more work to care for, it entirely depends on the install. If you avoid using it in high traffic areas (such as flooring in a mud-room, where scratches are guaranteed) and always double check that it has been properly sealed, you can put your fears to rest.

When you’re ready to commit, consider marble, travertine, soapstone, or granite—just a few of my favourites. If you are more daring, consider some of the great new natural stone products on the market that are making waves in the design industry.

Incorporating natural stone into an interior simply adds depth, interest and makes any home more luxe.


Armani natural Stone This polished natural stone product is perfect for those who want to create a dra-matic look. The linear, layered look gives it a modern edge. Try using Armani Natu-ral Stone on a large feature wall in the kitchen, bathroom or as a fireplace surround.

Tiger EyeAn exotic and one-of-a-kind stone product, this one is a showstopper. Tiger-eye is a gemstone that is fused with resin. This process is time consuming but the result is magnificent. Used as a counter top it would make any kitchen go from great to spectacular.

grey AgateAnother precious stone that is resin bound, this product can also be backlit, mak-ing it perfect for use in a bar or lounge area. The pattern has a lot of presence so don’t overdo it with this one — incorporate it as an accent and make a bold state-ment without overwhelming your space.

White QuartzA subtle but still exquisite stone, White Quartz is an ideal choice for a modern space. Clean in its design (and almost iridescent in the light), I can see this as a counter top throughout a home. Paired with sleek cabinetry and refined accents, it would make just the right statement. Calacatta Marble An iconic stone used throughout the ages, Calacatta is timeless and classic. The grey veining gives it an organic and fluid quality. Perfect for walls, floors and coun-ters, the key to using this product is restraint. D

n Alykhan Velji is the president of alykhan Velji Design and has been featured on TV shows such as hGTV’s Designer superstar Challenge and My Rona home. he specializes in both residential and commercial interior design projects.

Clockwise from top: White Quartz, armani Natural stone, Tiger eye and (opposite page) Grey agate.all Photos courtesy iCoN stone and Tile.

interior design

domus fall 2012

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