What if this described your home? Every trip home would bring the anticipation of unwinding amidst green space, or relaxing with the family. This can be yours in Cranston.

Cranston is located in southeast Calgary, providing quick access to all parts of the city via Deerfoot Trail and just minutes from a number of established golf courses.  Set atop an escarpment overlooking the Bow River Valley, Cranston offers magnificent views of the Rocky Mountains and direct pathway access to Fish Creek Park from the ridge.

Of course, when you’re not in the mood for convening with nature there is still plenty to do.  South Trail Crossing, Shawnessy Towne Centre, and McKenzie Towne are nearby for your shopping pleasure and for fun Shawnessy YMCA, Shawnessy Library, Southland Leisure Centre and Bonaventure Family Leisure Centre and many other facilities are all just a short drive away.

The most recently opened showhome parade in Cranston consists of five showhomes starting at $269,900 from Greenboro Homes, Jayman Master Builder and BayWest Homes. Located in Phase 19 on three exclusive cul-de-sacs along Cranleigh Drive SE, these luxurious estate homes are a new fixture on the estate side of Cranston.

When visiting the showhomes, buyers will first come across the 2068 sq-ft. Model 1 and the 2574 sq-ft. Model 4B from Greenboro Homes at 1 and 8 Cranleigh Close. Greenboro has pre-selected specific floor plans for each lot, in turn saving the buyer considerable time and money. Each home on Cranleigh Close will include a triple-car garage.

The Model 1 is a charming country-style home, accented by wide-plank birch floors throughout the main floor, with knotty alder cabinets in the kitchen and a fieldstone fireplace in the great room. A cosy, open den greets visitors in the front entrance, as a long hallway to the right leads to the laundry room and the guest bathroom.

Upstairs, a niche-style office area immediately catches your eye. The second and third bedrooms lie along a hallway straight ahead, along with the main bath. To the left, the spacious master suite is home to a distinctive ensuite, where unique angles add to the charm of slate flooring and an open archway, with a corner walk-in closet and corner soaker tub.

Next door, the Model 4B (Model 4B includes a bonus room, while Model 4 does not) features a unique floor plan. The highlight is a Y-shaped staircase in the front foyer, leading in one direction to the bright front bonus room and in the other to the main upstairs hall. Here lies the adorable nursery with built-in feature shelving, as well as the main bath, third bedroom and master suite. In the master suite, the ensuite takes centre stage, with substantial vanity, oversized shower with seating, and soaker tub with tile surround.

The main floor is an elegant escape. The laundry/mudroom is situated down a long hallway to the left, along with the guest bathroom and impressive walk-through pantry. The main portion of the home is accessed by passing through an archway with niche shelving, on the other side of which is the great room. Here, the gas fireplace with unique stone surround and an attached den with archway are distinctive touches. The kitchen and dining nook are located next to the great room, and are accented by elegant track lighting, granite counters and tiled backsplash. A sliding door leads from the dining nook onto the patio.

Jayman Master Builder, presenting their French Country Collection, has also pre-assigned floor plans to specific lots, again saving buyers time and money. The French Country Collection offers elegance and style against the natural backdrop of Cranston, with the 2348 sq-ft. St. Germain and the 2181 sq-ft. Alsace currently on display at 101 and 105 Cranleigh Bay SE.

The front foyer of the St. Germain is breathtaking, giving a taste of what’s to come. The stylish den, sweeping main staircase and window seat with storage bench flanked by dual closets all add to the impact of the first impression. Deeper inside, the open-concept kitchen, dining nook and great room comprise the hub of the home. The great room is bright and warm, with gas fireplace and built-in entertainment centre and niche shelving. In the kitchen, a granite-topped island with breakfast bar and Silgranit sinks is the perfect blend of style and durability.

Upstairs, the grand staircase opens onto a welcoming bonus roo­­m, equally perfect for entertaining or enjoying some quiet solitude. Nearby, the master suite is home to a distinguished ensuite with dual sinks. The upstairs hall leads to the main bath, conveniently located laundry room and second bedroom. The third bedroom is located at the front of the second floor.

The Alsace is equally elegant and welcoming, but employs a completely different layout. Three steps down from the foyer lead to the basement door and the guest bathroom, and from the foyer the home opens up into the large kitchen, dining and great room area. The great room again features gas fireplace and built-in entertainment centre with niche shelving, and the dining nook is bright and sunny, but the kitchen is truly the highlight. With an unbelievable amount of cabinet space and a huge walk-in pantry, the kitchen of the Alsace is well laid-out and welcoming. From here, the garage is accessible through a well-organized mudroom with plenty of shelving and closet space.

Up the angled stairway, the main upstairs hall and bonus room are open-to-below. Extra privacy is afforded to the master suite, with the children’s bedrooms and main bath at the front of the home and the master suite and laundry along a separate hallway. This privacy can be put to use while unwinding in the raised soaker tub or oversized shower in the master ensuite.

BayWest’s 1868 sq-ft. Jasmine showhome, located across Cranleigh Drive on the other half of Cranleigh Bay, is a bungalow with a loft bonus room. Sixteen foot vaulted ceilings and two skylights create an extremely open and sunny feel, while large windows and pre-oiled Ancestral hardwood floors add to the warmth.

One notable feature of the Jasmine is the octagonal dining room at the front of the home, which lends as much character to the exterior of the house as the interior. The other highlight is the loft, where a slightly higher vaulted ceiling and the second skylight enhance the feeling of being in the sky, as does the view of the open kitchen, dining nook and great room below.

The large, bright kitchen is home to a dual-level island with breakfast bar and Silgranit sinks, as well as the dining nook, while nearby, the great room boasts a distinctive hardwood hearth and wood mantle, with gas fireplace and built-in entertainment centre, beneath large arched windows. The master suite is located below the loft and features a large ensuite with archway, niche display shelving and bright walk-in closet. The soaker tub is flanked by two windows and dual sinks.

Whether you’re single, raising a family, retired or somewhere in between, Cranston offers the amenities to fuel your busy lifestyle in a setting made for escaping it. To experience the best of both worlds for yourself, visit the newest showhome parade along Cranleigh Drive SE from 2 until 8 pm Monday to Thursday and noon until 5 pm Saturday and Sunday. The Jayman showhomes are also open on Fridays.