If first impressions last, then the Carlton’s grand foyer and dramatic staircase leaves visitors craving for more of the Trico show home in Morningside. Natural light streaming through the large solar windows create a welcoming feel in this spacious 2,498-square-foot show home. The open study to the right of the foyer can alternate as a library or a flex room but can also sit a large number of guests for parties.

A piece of art on a small niche lends a gallery effect as visitors move on to the Great Room. A fireplace with a mantle and a tile surround invites visitors to cosy up to the fire. The bright, airy nook has room for a large dining table and can be cantilevered out for another two feet of additional space.

But the piece dé resistance of the Carlton is the large kitchen with its long granite peninsula and generous cabinet space for storing dishes and other kitchen paraphernalia. A segmented, vertical wine rack and glass detailing on a cabinet show off both wine and china. “There’s a lot of surface area great for entertaining or for cooking,” says Jennifer Currie, area sales manager for Trico Homes in Morningside. Stainless steel appliances, a full backsplash and a large corner pantry with French door complete to pull the look of the kitchen designed to flow into the main floor.

Beyond the kitchen is a small corridor that separates the kitchen from the garage, the mudroom and a half-washroom off one section of the main floor. There’s a deacon’s bench right next to a closet in the mudroom, a welcome addition to the main coats closet just by the front door.

Another creative dimension is the 45 degree configuration of the staircase with its wrought iron and maple spindles. Visitors can pause by the landing to appreciate the foyer below and homeowners can add plants on the front ledge by the entranceway.

Double doors open into a master bedroom that accommodates a king size bed. Lots of natural lighting from three large panel windows brings a grand feeling into this spacious room. An archway opens into a sunny ensuite where painstaking detail to a homeowners needs’ have been taken into consideration. A seating ledge in the enclosed shower, his-and-hers sinks on either side of a corner soaker tub, an enclosed toilet and a generous master closet are features sure to delight home shoppers.

Out in the hallway is the laundry room, a feature that is finding favour among home shoppers for the convenience of doing laundry on the second floor.

Another archway opens into the kid’s wing where a shelf can serve as bookshelves or room for an additional computer. Two bedrooms with large windows provide living space for up to three children. Right across from the third bedroom is a three-piece washroom with a tub that has a full tile surround.

Beyond the kid's wing, through another archway is the large bonus room with a dramatic vaulted ceiling. Kids can hang out, watch DVDs or even do homework while parents entertain downstairs on the main floor. The massive entertainment centre is equipped with two sliding pillars to store videos and DVDs and can slide back out of the way.

The Carlton can be built for $472,000 including lot, GST and the standard features. Trico Homes has also simplified the process of homebuilding with the Trico Select program. “Customers can select options and structural deviations from a brochure, thus eliminating the need for more blueprints and keeping the cost of the home within a reasonable range,” says Currie. NL