The new Nitro show home that just opened in December has the Nitro Z — Urban Modern elevation of sharp angles and a strong European flavour that draws the eyes and makes it stand out in the streetscape.

Walden’s developer Genstar Developments has encouraged the builders in this popular and “green” themed neighbourhood to come up with a more contemporary home designs, and Innovations by Jayman just took that idea and ran with it to come up with some of the most compelling and utterly modern suburban homes in the city. Yet they remain very affordable.

The Nitro starts at 1,647 square-feet, although the show home has been extended to 1,948 square-feet, and it’s priced from a starting point of $374,000, including lot and GST. The show home itself is in the $430,000 range, which is still a bargain considering the upgrades it contains.

“Innovations always likes to showcase the fun features of a home in our show homes, and The Nitro is no exception,” Noer says. “This serves a double purpose: to make it more memorable for visitors who are looking to buy a new home and make it stand out from the crowd; and to make it easy for them to imagine living in this home.”

There are subtle ways that Innovations went about to make The Nitro stand out: the two-step separation between the foyer and the rest of the main floor is one, as it serves as an “innovative” way to create a sense of delineation in the open concept plan. This design is repeated in the centrally located bonus room upstairs.

“The drop landings create a higher ceiling in those parts of the home and gives the entire home the feel of an inner-city split level at a fraction of the price,” Noer adds.

Of course, the maple hardwood and ceramic tile flooring along the main floor and the nine-foot ceilings and one-and-a-quarter-inch granite countertops (all standards) help carry the modern look inside the home, but the gourmet Chef’s Fit kitchen really ties everything into an electrifying package.

This kitchen is complete with built-in appliances, including the wall oven, microwave, stovetop and hood fan, brought together by a stunning stainless-steel and glass mosaic backsplash that’s repeated on the facing of the gas fireplace across from the kitchen.

The U-shaped configuration of the kitchen counters with extended ledges creates two separate eating bars (one facing the great room, and the other the dining room). “This makes intelligent use of all space, making it a totally rocking home for entertaining and still utterly functional for families as a handy spot for quick meals.”
The full-height cabinets in the show home beautifully illustrates just how much storage space is available in the home, which is always something that young families are looking for.

The central staircase is an elegant touch that leads to the bonus room upstairs. In the show home, the third bedroom is located beyond the bonus room, while the master’s suite is across the way from the second bedroom. So, if you have an infant, that second bedroom can easily be a nursery while the larger third bedroom will be a perfect room for teenage children or a very generous guest room.

Innovations by Jayman has a second show home next door called The Unite, a 1,721-square-foot home that like The Nitro also has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and a front attached garage, but is designed as the other part of the coin. “The Unite is designed with an eye more towards the traditional tastes, but it also has its own pleasant surprises,” Noer adds.

The beauty of this southeast community of Walden is that it is a community that takes sustainability seriously. “There are lots of parks and green space and Genstar, the developer, has taken pains to keep old-growth trees in the neighbourhood,” she says. “There are already tons of amenities in Walden itself as the Gates of Walden commercial centre is going to add to that, and the new South Calgary hospital is just down the road. It’s a really up-and-coming neighbourhood with plenty of potential for families to grow in.”

FAST FACTS:

Builder: Innovations by Jayman

Developer: Genstar Development Company

Area: Walden

Style:  Two-storey front attached garage single family home

Size: Starts at 1,647 sq. ft.

Price: Starts at $374,000 including lot and GST

Address: 109 Walden Mews S.E.

Phone: 403.452.3913

Directions: Head south on Macleod Trail and exit on 194 Avenue 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 www.jayman.com