If you love the wide-open spaces, then take the drive south to scenic Black Diamond and visit NuVista’s show home in the town’s latest development Willow Ridge.

As you head west on Highway 22X, the picturesque ponds, farmers’ fields and stands of willows and pines invite you to take a deep breath and relax.

The spaciousness of the foothills is re-created in the Chelsea, NuVista’s 1,488-square- foot, bi-level show home.

With lots as large as 54 feet wide, builders like NuVista have plenty of space to build roomy homes and still have plenty of back yard to spare. “That is something you don’t often find in Calgary,” says NuVista’s sales manager, Brenda Sali. “A nice, wide lot with lots of depth.”

With so much extra room, all the NuVista homes come with a double-car garage minimum and can accommodate a third bay if desired. And with spec homes starting at $442,500, homebuyers can get much more for the same price as a Calgary starter home, adds Sali. And only minutes by car to the Turner Valley Golf and Country Club and blocks from the Oilfields Hospital, seniors love the quiet town away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

On the other hand, many young families are also enjoying raising children where there are plenty of amenities, such as schools, parks and playgrounds.

“We have lots of fabulous food and restaurants here,” said NuVista’s new home sales consultant Debbie Graham. “We have one of the greatest authentic bakeries.”

Those who enjoy an active lifestyle are also looking to the foothills, said Graham.

“Lots of my clients love to bike and hike,” she said, adding Willow Ridge’s pathway system will tie in to the town’s extensive pathway, which connects Black Diamond to the nearby town of Turner Valley.

The Chelsea’s foyer is sunk below the main level to allow for extremely large windows facing the front yard, which in turn act as a showpiece from the main-level living room.

Lofty ten-foot ceilings increase the feeling of spaciousness on the main level, where the kitchen, dining room and living room meld into one great room.

An L-shaped hallway takes you to the master bathroom, a spacious second bedroom and finally the master bedroom. The hallway extends past the master bedroom’s walk-in closet giving a sense of privacy and tranquility to the room.

On the main floor, maple or oak shaker-style cabinetry come standard and are adorned with unique twisted metal hardware. Black or stainless steel appliances are also a choice given to every NuVista homeowner. Wooden casings and door headers also come with every NuVista home, paying homage to the great outdoors that lies beyond the front door.

In fact there are very few upgrades in the Chelsea, thanks to a generous standard specification package provided standard by NuVista. “You don’t have to upgrade to get a great home because our specs and standards are so high,” says Sali.

 A few extras have been added to the Chelsea, allowing homebuyers to use their imagination in designing their own home. Dark-stained hardwood floors and a lighter taupe tile are extras, which add punch to the main level and highlight the possibilities for personalization. A laundry chute is another perk on many people’s wish lists that could be added as a convenience factor.

Downstairs, a development design shows how the basement could be converted into both a fun and a functional space. On the lower level a bar/kitchen space, which includes both a full size refrigerator and a dishwasher, is adjacent to the family room allowing for easy clean up following a family movie night or when entertaining guests. A laundry room is combined with a sewing room that is well organized with a bank of cupboards and still leaves room for a work table.

A third bedroom at the end of the hallway could serve as an older child’s bedroom or a guest room with plenty of privacy. It is this attention to detail and client-oriented service that has garnered NuVista the highly-coveted, mid-volume Customer Choice SAM award for seven years in a row, Sali says.

In Willow Ridge’s fifth phase, NuVista has two remaining lots and has spec homes at various stages in the building process. NuVista will also continue to build in Willow Ridge’s sixth phase. NL

For more information about NuVista’s Willow Ridge homes call Debbie Graham at 933-3595.