Show Home Spotlight
SHOW HOME of the week
By Janine Mackie
Splendiferous
ShowHomes
2011 brought
us bold colour,
dazzling kitchens
and imaginative
kids’ rooms
OK, you have 30 seconds to wow me. That’s the length of time most
potential homebuyers take to make the decision whether a home is for
them. As a real estate writer, I see dozens of show homes each week – and
am always excited to step inside and experience the unique approach
each interior designer takes in creating an inviting and welcoming first
impression. I’ve chosen a few of my personal favourites of 2011 – display
homes that flirt with decor and colour trends, hold imaginative rooms
and include spaces that give potential buyers the ability to truly imagine
themselves living there, whether they are buying their first townhome or
taking a chance at winning a $1-million prize home.
It was a stroke of genius for Legendary
Developments to welcome potential buyers into its
new show home at Clayton Heights via the back
door, rather than the traditional front entrance. It
makes me think of the phrase many of our mothers
would say to their neighbours and friends, “Back
door guests are the best!” As you enter inside, you
instantly feel like you’re part of the family – the table
is set for dinner and the space is impressive with its
10-ft. height ceilings and dazzling white kitchen with
shaker cabinetry and quartz countertops.
My response is echoed by sales manager Sat
Dhaliwal who says they’ve “been receiving great
feedback from everyone coming into the show home!
The staging looks amazing and everyone wants to
know where it all came from.”
Kudos and compliments to Moe’s Home Collection
on Terminal in Vancouver. They dolled up the show
home with an eclectic selection of furniture and
accessories that give a modern edge to the otherwise
traditional heritage architectural style of this home.
The family room is especially fabulous – a great space
to spend time with those you love, cocoon with a good
book or sink into the couch and watch the big screen.
“One of the most important pieces for creating a
comfortable family room is the seating area,” says Sara
Samieian of Moes Home Collection. “It is important
to be comfortable, as it’s the place where people spend
most of their time. Pick a sofa or sectional you can
just lay down on.”
Great advice. I’ll admit I was tempted to stretch out
on the Rovingo sectional with its L-shaped chaise.
White leather always looks so divine, especially when
accessorized with those sophisticated cherry blossom
pillows. A Texus club chair in blue denim adds a
hint of casual elegance for the urban cowpoke and
the whole room is softened with a luxe grey illusion
rug. There’s a nice mix of rustic and upscale glam –
with the juxtaposing style of a solid reclaimed pine
coffee table compared to the silver accessories on the
fireplace mantel and modern metal wall art.
Show homes also give interior designers the
opportunity to live out their childhood fantasies.
With memories of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory
and visits to the corner candy shop, Sam Muller of
Kleen Design caught my attention with her sweet
girl’s room at Keystone, built by Forge Properties in
South Surrey.
“I love designing kids’ rooms and welcome any
chance I get to dream something up and think outside
of the box,” says Muller, whose initial show home at
Keystone is nominated for a Georgie Award. “Kids’
rooms really enable me to unleash my creative side.”
While the shabby chic chandelier is delightful,
“The staging looks
amazing and everyone
wants to know where it
all came from.”
Sat Dhaliwal, Legendary Developments
Show Home Spotlight continued
“This home focuses around a lifestyle
of enjoying wine, good food and time
with friends and family.”
Tom Faliszewski, architect PNE Prize Home
it’s the bed that really steals the show! A colourful
menagerie of lollipops and gumdrops, the candyfilled headboard has been a hit with kids of all ages!
Custom bedding and matching window treatments
are like the cherry atop an ice cream sundae – the
finishing touch that brings it all together.
Speaking of sweet notions, I still find myself
daydreaming about the 2011 PNE Prize Home. I
was lucky to squeeze in a visit before 12,000 other
people toured the $1.2-million home displayed at
the Pacific National Exhibition fairgrounds this
summer. Now relocated to its breathtaking lake
view property in the Okanagan, it was designed and
constructed by Britco Structures with interior design
by Barbara Aylesworth. The prize home showcased
the hottest trends in design, decor and technology,
while also blurring the boundaries of inside and out
with wrap-around decks and outdoor sitting areas.
“Our homes are designed to enhance the
natural features of their final location,” says Tom
Faliszewski, architect and Britco’s special projects
manager. “In its ultimate Okanagan destination, this
home focuses around a lifestyle of enjoying wine,
good food and time with friends and family. In every
essence, it’s a mini-resort.”
Cooking would be a joy in this kitchen – quite
possibly the most stunning of all show homes I
toured, complete with granite countertops, old-world
chandeliers above the huge island, maple cabinetry
and a chef-inspired appliance package with sub-zero
fridge, six burner gas stove and fully integrated
double ovens.
This was also the year when homebuyers had the
opportunity to actually purchase fully-furnished
show homes. At press time, the final two display
homes at Stoneleigh in Maple Ridge were listed on
the market, decorated by Sheryn Calvert and built
by Portrait Homes. Knowing the mood-altering
power of colour, Calvert is known for creating show
homes that are vibrant and dramatic and house the
unexpected. Sure, you could go with another boring
study off the entranceway, but wouldn’t a martini
lounge be more fun!
“That’s our job as interior designers,” said Calvert.
“To bring to the public things that are different,
maybe with a European influence and not things
they see every day.”
Shades of tangerine make a dramatic pop
throughout the home and are especially effective in
the kitchen against a backdrop of white walls,
white cabinetry and white bar stools. Lighting
is such an essential component in creating a
memorable show home and this home delivers
intrigue with its tri-orb chandelier, custom made
by Propellor Design – giving the kitchen the feeling
of a summer sunset even as we settle into winter.
As we move into 2012, most designers anticipate
staying power for the trend towards outdoor
entertaining. Foxridge Homes continues to have a
great response to its single-family development The
Links at Surrey Golf Course. While the show home
is furnished to perfection, it’s the outdoor living
space that’s getting the most attention. Featuring a
custom stone fireplace, barbecue area and outdoor
seating, who needs a man cave when you can enjoy
the sizzle of steaks and great conversation in your
own backyard?
We can only imagine what’s in store behind
show home doors in 2012 – stay tuned in January
as we take you inside the new show home at
Montgomery on Vancouver’s West Side.
FAB5
This was the year for
flocked wallpaper,
chandeliers,
metallic wall art and
experimenting with
different elements
both modern and
traditional. Here are
five show homes that
moved us from the
foyer to the master
bedroom:
1
2011 PNE PRIZE HOME
Over 12,000 toured the
prize home valued at
$1.2-million and now
relocated to Kelowna.
2
KEYSTONE
2949 King George Hwy.
South Surrey
3
THE LINKS
7797 – 170 St.
Surrey
4
STONELEIGH –
Alder Plan
13851 – 232 St.
Maple Ridge
5
CLAYTON HEIGHTS
7310 – 191B St.
Cloverdale