Its open design, centralized around the U-shaped stairway, has a very modern feel to it, along with a functional, practical approach to fit today’s families needs. The 2,323-square-foot two-storey is an estate-style home in every way, with an unbelievable standard package that includes hardwood and tile flooring, nine-foot ceilings, arched entryways and rounded corners, and top-end appliances.

“What we offer is an estate-quality home on smaller lots that are more within the reach of the average family,” says Albi Homes’ Neil Williams. “The construction of these homes is no different from our million-dollar estate homes but made more affordable because they are on more economical lots.”

The home boasts stately spaciousness yet every inch of it has a function and a purpose; a difficult balance to achieve, but the Manhattan 2 attains this with rare finesse. This is backed, of course, by Albi Homes’ more than 25 years of homebuilding excellence.

The home’s stylish comfort comes across from the moment you step foot into its wide and inviting foyer, featuring a built-in bench on the side for convenience. Straight ahead is a unique “pocket” office with French doors, one of the home’s more popular features, Williams says. “It gives families a unique space where they can do their bills and other paperwork in peace and keep the rest of the house uncluttered.”

Off the double-attached front garage is an extra roomy mudroom with an enclosed laundry, providing even more welcome storage space, which growing families can always use. This is especially useful for families involved in lots of sports activities, as a spot to stow hockey gear or golf clubs well within reach.

The kitchen is the heart of elegance with its granite countertops, full-height designer-tile backsplash and gleaming Bosch stainless steel appliances; the hub is where most of the show home’s upgrades were concentrated. But that being said, the Manhattan 2 show home is by and large a standard model, housing only modest upgrades throughout the rest of the home, Williams notes.

Among features adding to this particular show home’s appeal are huge windows on the main floor, which lend fantastic sights of the pond the community is named after. The view just adds to the dramatic character of the home and the wide deck gives residents a better vantage point from where they can enjoy the calm surroundings.

The same form-follows-function philosophy is taken in the 1,252-square-foot upper floor, with the big bonus room acting as a buffer space between the luxurious master bedroom with attached ensuite and the children’s bedrooms. “This arrangement gives the parents more privacy,” Williams says.

Although the show home itself is pegged at the $732,000 mark, Williams says the Manhattan 2 can be built for less than $500,000—another big reason for the model’s popularity.

The location in CopperPond, which Williams notes is a hidden gem in Calgary’s southeast, is one of the biggest lures of the Manhattan 2. It is meant to be an estate-style enclave designed for those seeking a more distinctive neighbourhood and home at a price best described as attainable luxury. “We are getting a lot of inquiries from families from the northeast who are looking for a bigger house in a community where they feel a sense of safety and security,” he says. NL