It’s a fantastic idea to be sure (kudos to the creative team behind it) and an attractive advantage to homeowners, but according to Wayne Tordon, Baywest Homes’ sales manager in Auburn Bay, the concept doesn’t frequently apply to the company’s new two-storey show home, the Muskoka III.

“We have people walk through on a regular basis and say, ‘It’s perfect the way it is. We’ll move right in’.” Tordon says. “There’s over a $100,000 worth of upgrades in this home, so it really showcases what’s possible.”

The Muskoka III’s charm begins with the décor. The designer chose to go with a nautical motif, incorporating artwork and objects that reflect life by the water—a fitting choice, considering Auburn Bay is one of the few remaining lake communities in Calgary where it is possible to build a new home. The seafaring theme carries over into the colour palette—a spectrum of slate grey and calming blue tones anchored by rich brown cabinetry and hardwood flooring. While the colour choices are quite dark, the palette is offset by soothing cream accents and plenty of natural light.

“The windows are a big feature and they’re all standard,” Tordon says. “The segmental arched window at the front of the house is a great feature that adds a lot of appeal to the exterior.”

Walking into the home from the sales office, you’ll first be impressed by the flooring—a rough, deep grey ceramic tile that comes in various sizes and is laid in staggered format, creating the look and feel of authentic slate. Running throughout the foyer, mud room, kitchen, nook and family room, the floor provides fluidity across the main floor, making the open concept plan feel even roomier.

Make sure you poke your head into the powder room as you pass by—the custom sink is a showstopper in this little space, along with the two portal-window style mirrors hanging side-by-side on the wall.

The kitchen is best described as “weighty.” The island and attached breakfast bar are very large and finished with a charcoal grey, soapstone countertop. It commands attention, dominating the space. The chestnut-coloured cabinetry lends gravity to the room, and with its custom touches—a built-in wine rack and microwave unit—it’s as functional as it is beautiful. An eye catching mosaic tile backsplash is the perfect finishing touch.

The design team carried the tile treatment the extra mile in the family room, or least an extra nine feet, replacing the typical fireplace mantel with a column of 16-inch-by-16-inch tile running up the wall from floor to ceiling. It’s unique feature and in addition to differentiating the home, it also gives the property a really modern feel.

A gorgeous Brazilian walnut hardwood floor graces the staircase and continues down the second level hallway into the bonus room at the front of the home. It’s an inviting space. You can easily envision curling up there with a good book in the light of the afternoon, or snuggling down under a blanket to watch a late night flick. The vaulted ceiling is standard and lends opulence to what would otherwise be a very casual room.

All three bedrooms are great in their own right, but the real star of the second storey is (strangely enough) the laundry room. Having your washer and dryer on the upper level has an advantage that becomes abundantly clear when you see the room with your own eyes: no more trudging baskets of dirty clothes from the bedrooms where they came off to the mud room where they (rather ironically) go to get clean.

While the laundry room takes top billing, the master ensuite plays a pivotal supporting role in the Muskoka III’s storyline. Separated only by a three-wall gas fireplace, the bath is effectively an extension of the bedroom. The vaulted ceiling and dual sinks are upgrades, but three-foot-by-four-foot stand-up shower is standard—a final extra in the home among many that really set it apart.

“The Muskoka just opened in January, and already we’ve had tremendous response to it,” Tordon says. “It’s probably the best example of the level of customization we can achieve when we build.” NL