Jason Seper and his wife, Jacquie, were so taken with the family-friendly features of the show home that they quickly came to an agreement to buy it. “We just fell in love with the overall design of the home, we have a big family and this home of all the ones we visited answered all of our needs,” Jason tells New Home Living.

It’s easy to see why they fell in love with the Sage so quickly, aside from its gorgeous hillside location in Sunset Ridge and its terrific views of the mountains and surrounding countryside, the home is designed to meet all the convenience and ease-of-living needs of a growing family.

Janssen Homes’ Diane LaMonaca says it’s more than just a family home, as the 2,400-square-foot Sage represents “executive living in a hometown atmosphere.” She says the west-facing view from the master bedroom alone is a terrific bonus, where you can sit back, relax and enjoy the calming beauty of the surroundings.

“It’s a very popular model. The Sage has an openness to it and an underlying principle that no space will be wasted, and none are,” she adds. “It’s very popular with families, but there are a lot who also look at it for its stately appearance and exclusive estate design.”

The nine-foot ceilings, big windows, wide hallways and an open-to-above foyer sets the elegant design flow of the home. The maple railing with metal-spindles staircase adds a dramatic touch that blends well with the dark cork flooring in the family room, kitchen and bonus room. “That takes everyone by surprise, they can’t believe how elegant and glamourous cork flooring can look,” LaMonaca says.

The Sepers, however, look at the Sage as a place where they can raise their three kids in a very comfortable and convenient environment. “The mudroom with the built-in shelving was definitely a big deal for me, it offers a lot of convenience,” says Jacquie. “The huge kitchen is attractive with a lot of style to it.”

The developed walk-out basement adds another 799 square-feet to available living space and LaMonaca says all this additional space is a life-saving premium you quickly find out when you have kids. “You need a lot of storage space not to mention living space, and the Sage does provide these even without the basement development,” she says. “But it’s always nice to have one as beautifully developed as the one we have here.”

The mudroom that the Sepers found so attractive comes with built in storage lockers and a laundry chute, facing the laundry room with its own sink for added convenience. There is also a built-in bench off the door leading to the garage and a walk-thru pantry that has ample shelving. “This portion of the house really has a functional feel to it, every inch of space in it has a use.”

Functionality aside, the Sage has its stylish side too, as the great room provides a perfect setting for large gatherings and a handsome fireplace with built-in bookshelves and cabinetry surrounding it provides a splendid backdrop of dignified elegance.

The kitchen has a natural flow to it with an angled centre island with raised eating bar that provides extra working space for the chef as well as a convenient setting for quick meals for families on the go. “It’s also the most natural spot to gather around for parties,” LaMonaca adds.

The Sage starts at an affordable $629,000 but can be built to as much as $699,900. “Janssen Homes is a custom home builder that has been around since 1964, and we take pride in our ability to design custom homes from scratch,” LaMonaca says. “Any of the plans we have can be customized to fit the buyers’ needs.” 

FAST FACTS:
BUILDER: Janssen Homes 
AREA: Sunset Ridge, Cochrane
STYLE: Two storey, single family home
Size: 2,400 sq.ft.
PRICE: Starts at $629,000
ADDRESS: 51 Sunset Way, Cochrane
DIRECTIONS: Sunset Ridge of Cochrane is east off of Highway 22 onto Ranche Road which is the next intersection north of Highway 1A.
HOURS: Monday to Thursday, 4 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, Sunday and holidays noon to 5 p.m.
For more information, visit http://www.janssenhomes.com