The Cascade – a SAM Awards finalist this year in the Best New Home category - has been a big hit, as the 2,958-square-foot show home (including developed basement) continues to impress crowds with its modern, open design and a sense of practical functionality that suits the lifestyle of growing families.

The Cascade can actually be built at 2,177 square-feet for a $417,000 starting price. But part of the plan’s appeal is its flexibility that is guaranteed to be able to accommodate any particular lifestyle need.

“The Cascade attracts a wide range of buyers, but in Heritage Hills we get a lot of families who are drawn to the model’s very functional and flowing floor plan that has no wasted space,” says Stepper area sales manager, Mary Anderson.

Despite all its space, it has a very comfortable design and an easy-living élan to it. The built-in lockers and shelving in the mudroom just off the garage provides easy convenience to active families, especially those raising hockey or soccer kids, even golfer dads, she adds.

“The kitchen is designed for style and practicality with lots of usable counter space and an extra big corner pantry, it’s a pantry-and-a-half, actually,” Anderson adds. Its birch French pantry door with one-inch cross reed glass stained to match cabinets give it that impeccable stylish touch.

Maple with wrought iron railings provide a dramatic touch as do the Heritage finishing package with five-inch baseboards and three-and-a-half-inch casings.

The galley style kitchen with a centre island and raised eating bar works well in this set-up, providing plenty of working space for the home’s chef. The gleaming granite tops combine well with the Brazilian Olive hardwood in the main floor for that stately look.

Adding a bit of Southern elegance to the surroundings is the Shade-O-Matic Sea View 4-1/2-inch almond shutters with side pull bars. “The shutters get a lot of attention from visitors and it gives the perfect touch of style and elegance to the home,” Anderson says.

The attached ensuite to the spacious master bedroom is luxury personified with its corner soaker tub flanked by his-and-hers vanities, a spa-like shower stall is practical and sexy at the same time. The decorative tile flooring pulls all these elements together into a relaxing, cohesive whole.

The Cascade show home intimately displays all the tremendous potential the plan has in maximizing living space, including developing the 781-square-foot basement and putting in a fourth bedroom, a full bath and a big recreation room.

“The nine-foot ceiling height in the basement gives it a very comfortable feeling, and not at all cramped,” she says. “We wanted to show visitors that having a pre-planned developed basement is an option with us.”

Undoubtedly, however, it is the show home’s location on a hillside overlooking the lush greenery of the Stoney reserve that is its biggest advantage. “Heritage Hills offers some of the best views in Cochrane and you know those views aren’t going to change,” Anderson says.

“Heritage Hills is also one of the best situated communities in Cochrane, we are very centrally located in town, nearer to downtown Cochrane than any of the new communities is,” she adds. NL

FAST FACTS:
Builder: Stepper Custom Homes
Area: Heritage Hills, Cochrane
Developer: Harmony Parks Development Corp.
Size: Starts at 2,177 square-feet
Price: From $417,000  
Directions: Head west on Highway 1A from Calgary, past the traffic lights on Hwy 22 and follow the signs.
Hours: Monday to Thursday, 2 to 8 p.m., weekends and holidays noon to 5 p.m.

For more information, visit http://www.stepperhomes.com