When you’re the new kid on the block — in this case as a custom home builder — it’s critical to establish your presence as quickly as possible. With that in mind, Avanti Custom Homes — which has been building homes in the Winnipeg market for a little less than a year in affiliation with Randall Homes — decided to go the extra-value route, said Blair Holm, Avanti’s sales representative for 35 Big Sky Drive in Oak Bluff West.
With this home, we’ve included a lot of standard features that are typically upgrades in other homes,” said Holm, while standing in the expansive great room of the 1,722 square-foot bungalow, situated on an oversized 74 by 140-foot lot. “We wanted to offer buyers exceptional value, and I think our standard features accomplished that.”
Those features include light fixtures such as stylish pendant lights over the kitchen’s island, lacquered aspen baseboards, an insulated garage door and more.
“The style is there, but so are all the important little details,” said Holm. “You get the style with the pendant lights at no extra cost, the aspen baseboards look nicer and will last far longer than soft, painted MDF baseboards, and if you decide to insulate the garage, you won’t have to get a new door. All those little details matter because they can really add up.”
Not only do those little details matter from a financial standpoint, but they also matter from a functionality standpoint. Although 35 Big Sky isn’t a small home at just over 1,700 sq. ft., it feels a good deal larger than it is thanks to a key design detail.
“A vaulted ceiling runs through the entire main floor, and everyone who’s gone through the home just loves the airy feel it creates,” he said. “The moment you step inside the home, you’re surrounded by space and light. Each space (from the foyer to the flex room to the left of the foyer to the kitchen, dinette area and family room in the great room) is big and bright.”
As fashionable and functional as each space in the main living area is, its piece de resistance is unquestionably the family room. “The vaulted ceiling really gives it a more dramatic look, as it allows for the cultured stone stack that frames the gas fireplace to go up to a height of 11 feet. Then, you’ve got a huge picture window on the family room’s rear wall with an extra window above that lets in even more natural light.”
Meanwhile, next to the family room is the expansive dinette area, which is also privy to a heaping helping of glass along its back and side walls. “There’s a window directly behind it, one in the corner and a door that leads to a back yard deck,” Holm said. “That makes for a naturally bright space that has more than enough room for a table for six or more. The light-coloured engineered oak floors that run through the entire great room add texture and temper all that natural light that floods in from all the (Jeld-Wen) windows.”
Then there’s the kitchen, with an oversized island. “It’s about eight feet by six feet and comes outfitted with a double sink and eating nook for two to three. The show home features the upgraded version of the kitchen — off-white quartz countertops, stained maple cabinets and (taupe/mocha/chocolate brown) glass-tile backsplash,” he said. “A two-third wall at the rear allows light to flow from the front of the home into the kitchen.”
Turns out, the home’s front portion is just as functional as its rear portion. To the left of the generous foyer is a flex space; to the right, a bedroom/den. Further up to the right is a private, unobtrusive bedroom wing.
“Again, it’s all about the little details,” said Holm. “The flex space could be used as a dining room, office or play room, while the bedroom could be an office or in-law suite. Because we’re a custom builder, we could change the configuration of the spaces to suit your lifestyle needs.”
Another small but significant design feature is a subtly-angled wall that leads you stylishly into the bedroom wing. Once inside its private confines, you encounter three bedrooms, a four-piece bath with extra-deep soaker tub and laundry/mudroom with huge window that provides access to the triple detached garage.
As is the case in the home’s main living area, each space benefits from a vaulted ceiling and oversized window. Space, light and function abounds, and those three qualities coalesce beautifully in the secluded master suite.
“It’s got everything you want — space, a huge picture window, ensuite with heated vinyl tile floor, five-foot glass/tile shower and his/her sinks on either side of a centre sink on a maple vanity,” said Holm. “And the angled walk-in closet next to the entrance has wooden shelving, not wire shelving — another nice touch.”
Add in the framed lower level with its oversized windows and 1,300 sq. ft. of livable space (two bedrooms, rec room, bathroom, storage) and 35 Big Sky’s total square footage comes to 3,000-plus.
“This is a beautifully-designed home that we can get a big family into with basic finishes (which includes natural maple cabinets) for just over $500,000,” said Holm. “This home delivers great value and function in every area.”