Brookfield General Manager Kurt Gibson tells New Home Living that Ashton II is a suburban home that has an inner city feel. “It has the kind of design flair usually found in inner city infills but not the cost.”

Ashton II is aimed at the starter market, but that hasn’t stopped it from having move-up home features like a curved staircase, second-floor laundry and a bonus room. “You don’t see a lot of curved staircases in the first-time homebuyer market, nor in many move-up homes,” adds Brookfield’s Suzanne Hylton.

The curved staircase — with its wrought iron and wood railing in the show home — does add a lot of drama and character to the main floor layout of the 1,739-square-foot home, the biggest of Brookfield’s two-storey laned home in Cranston. “The Ashton has been very well received by the 25- to 35-year-old crowd,” she says. “We’ve sold six of them since the design was released in April.”

The front porch elevation gives it a warm, friendly look from the curb and provides a front row seat to enjoy the timeless allure of Cranston’s rolling landscape. “It adds to the family-friendly orientation of the neighbourhood,” Hylton says.

Gibson says the layout of the open concept main floor is entirely functional, especially with the big, galley kitchen. The centre island provides an utterly chic yet thoroughly useful addition to the design. Also noticeable is small built-in desk at one end of the kitchen counter which makes for a convenient spot for a laptop or a small TV.

The marble countertops are an upgrade but the raised portion at one end of the island is standard. “The show home has this as a wine rack to give it a more aesthetic punch, but the standard design is to have cabinetry in it, as extra storage is something we can never get enough of,” Hylton says.

It is also one of the few starter homes that has a big enough main floor to have space for two dining areas, there’s a bigger one at the end of the home and a smaller nook in the middle between the kitchen and great room. “This space can also be an extension of the great room, or a sitting nook, or whatever that fits your lifestyle,” she adds.

The nine-foot ceilings and the big windows (including an oversized window right by small dining nook, and a four panel, almost floor-to-ceiling windows in the big dining room) give the home a warm, sunshine-y feel. “It also has a lot by way of functionality with a spacious, rear mudroom, a second-floor laundry and a master bedroom with an attached ensuite — it really can’t be beat as a starter product,” Hylton adds.

The bonus room at the top of the curved staircase separates the master bedroom from the kids’ rooms to give each member of the family additional privacy. “But it’s still a place where the family can gather conveniently to watch TV or play video games,” she says.

Starting at $362,000 including GST, the Ashton II is the star of the parade and is as affordable as it can get for a single-family starter, although Brookfield has 12 more models available in Cranston ranging from 1,026 to 1,740 square-feet.

“Cranston is just perfect for this kind of homes. Young families or couples and singles will really enjoy the community’s closeness to nature with the Bow River just down the street, Fish Creek Park is virtually in your backyard, and the mountains are visible on the horizon” Hylton says.  “And with two new schools, shopping and a private residents’ club now open, Cranston has everything your family needs, right in your backyard.” 


FAST FACTS:

Builder: Brookfield Homes

Developer: Brookfield Residential

Area: Cranston

Style: Two-storey single-family homes

Size: 1,740 sq. ft.

Price: Starts at $362,000

Address: 201 Cranford Dr. S.E.

Directions: South on Deerfoot Trail and exit at Cranston Ave. and follow the signs.

Web: www.BuildwithBrookfield.com