The tile insert by the foyer draws kudos from visitors. “It’s a must in a buyer’s and seller’s opinion as it eliminates the need for a mat. It’s a welcoming entrance,” says Sherry Duperre, sales associate for Ashton Custom Homes.

Visitors are greeted by the warmth of natural light streaming from the large windows. The formal dining room harkens to days when people sat down to dinner with friends or family. The wainscoting, the grid ceiling and the pot lights add drama to an already elegant room.

Aside from art niches, glass transoms and other fine details, the Ashley show home owes its beauty to the grand open concept. The angled staircase allows visitors to look down from the upper floor into the basement. The great room with its 17-foot-high ceiling has a stone fireplace and maple banding, rich elements with country whimsy.

The bright and airy nook faces the pond. Maple wood from the great room are repeated in the custom built cabinetry in the kitchen, in turn complementing the diagonally placed yellow birch hardwood flooring.

Ashton Custom Homes is known for their kitchens and the Ashley show home’s kitchen is no exception. The granite countertops and the mouldings on top of the cabinetry were all custom built-on-site. Walls above the windows have maple cladding so that it blends with the kitchen’s theme. There’s loads of cabinet space, while glass cabinets can showcase fine china. From the maple bulkhead above the kitchen, to the tile insert behind the slide-in range, conversation pieces abound in this show home.

One of the sought after features of the Ashley show home is the elegant butler’s pantry. “You can come right from the garage and drop your groceries,” says Duperre. Down the hallway is the mud room with custom-designed benches for younger family members. Above is a series of hooks for coats plus a full closet to stash away winter gear.

Another door leads back into the foyer area. A powder room carries the same hardwood flooring as the rest of the main floor.

Up the angled staircase one is greeted by an art niche. The beautifully sized master bedroom has a sitting area and can fit a king-sized bed. The adjoining ensuite has a spa feel about it. Equipped with a jetted tub, a sitting bench in the shower and his and hers sinks separated by a vanity tower, there’s also a private loo by the side.

Many of the features of the Ashley were designed with the lifestyle demands of today’s family. All the bedrooms have walk-in closets. The second-floor laundry boasts a maple cabinet, a sink and a window that brings in natural light. The main bath carries the same tile from the ensuite and has an obscured window glass for privacy. The vaulted ceiling in one of the bedrooms provides the illusion of space.

“So now you know why we won the SAM award,” Duperre says in parting.  Currently priced at $467,000, the Ashley has excellent Old World craftsmanship that meets 21st Century lifestyle needs. NL