Starting today, the South Surrey Grand Prize home will be featured in New Home Guide. You can download/view the article, written by Janine Mackie, here – or read on below.
FOR MONTHS NOW, PASSERSBY HAVE BEEN CAPTIVATED BY A NEW HOME TAKING SHAPE IN THE PACIFIC DOUGLAS NEIGHBOURHOOD OF SOUTH SURREY.
Perhaps it’s the glimmering golden hue of the copper roof that’s been flirting for attention, the handcrafted stone work, or the whimsical landscaping with meandering dry riverbed aside the impressive 16,000-sq.-ft. lot. While the word magnificent comes to mind, at the same time it’s undeniably welcoming, and causes those staring from the sidewalk to ask, “Who’s the fortunate family to be moving into this well-designed home?”
Turns out, it could be you. This Craftsman-style family home located at 17388 – 4th Ave. in Surrey, is one of five super-grand- prize choices in the BC Children’s Hospital Choices Lottery. If the number of shoes scattered on the front porch is a true indicator, there’s a voyeur in many of us, who just can’t wait to have more than a peek in the front window, but a real life tour of this sensational home.
Built and designed by Roy Brown Homes Ltd. with advice from Jo-Ann Burley of Sense of Style, and staged by interior designer Gabrielle Schellenberg of GL Ambience Interiors, this 3,500-sq.- ft. home (plus a 1,600-sq.-ft. unfinished basement) is a showcase of innovative design, new building products as well as inspiring furnishings and accessories.
“Street appeal is the beginning,” says builder Brown. “Then walking up to the front entry also has to be pleasing. The front door and just beyond sets the tone.”
HOOD DESIGN IS DICTATED BY THE SPACE
He went with an eight-ft. solid wood door with glass sidelights to complement the Arts-and- Crafts architectural style and also balance the impressive entryway with its soaring ceiling.
“The home has been designed so that as you enter any room, the first thing you do is look out a window,” says Brown, who was inspired to bring the outside in and create a sense of well- being within the home.
Natural elements are found in each room: peaceful landscape paintings, vibrant floral arrangements, and botanical motifs on fabrics, all coordinated by interior designer Gabrielle Schellenberg.
It was also important to create a home with few hallways, but rather an emphasis on depth and dimension.
Stonework is featured on accent walls, as a focal point around the dancing flames of the family room’s linear gas fireplace, and stacking stones on architectural columns.
RECYCLING CENTRE AND SLIDING PANTRY SHELVES
Wideplank American walnut is the hardwood of choice in this home, a wood that shows minimal color variation and has a beautiful natural waxed finish that makes it easy to maintain.
What room is getting the most applause? It all depends on who you ask. For builder Roy Brown it’s the kitchen, which he jovially refers to as the “world headquarters,” where discussions and most major decisions take place. Walnut cabinetry with European soft-close hinges, integrates beautifully in this space with luxurious stainless steel appliances by Dacor and Samsung. Innovative touches include the recycling centre and well-organized pantry room with sliding shelves and pull-out drawers.
MASTER BEDROOM: REFINED & FEMININE, YET SUPREMELY COMFORTABLE
For interior designer Schellenberg, the master bedroom is the jewel inside this beautiful home – the perfect retreat to escape the busy routine of life. The grey bedding with its subtle bamboo motif has a calming effect which is glammed-up by shimmering sequinned toss cushions.
“I just couldn’t pass them up. They bring a fun-element to the bedroom,” says Schellenberg, who also splurged with one of this season’s hottest colours – tangerine, as silk flowers, on pillows and accessories throughout the home.
There’s a total of four bedrooms upstairs, each showcasing popular trends in home decor such as upholstered headboards, funky metallic wall art and mirrored accent tables. Schellenberg intentionally limited window treatments in order to highlight the beautiful woodwork.
TEEN HANG-OUT IS A VISION OF COOL STYLE
Two thumbs up for the multi-faceted staging of the upstairs games room where teens can text, stretch, shuffle their iPods or kick back and watch a flick in their very own space. The pair of black leather “Chloe” gaming chairs by Mobital are on the most-coveted list, and available at Valley Direct Furniture for $999 apiece. Studying may just become a priority when it’s behind a trendy high gloss white desk, also by Mobital and accompanied by two futuristic “Beauty Chairs” in a combination of black leather and white fibreglass.
And of course while the women are oohing and ahhing over the rainhead shower and opulence of the master ensuite with its marble flooring, quartz countertops and square Kohler sinks, the men can be found in the impressive 26-by-28-ft. long double- door garage featuring a polyaspartic coating over the concrete floor and plenty of room for both storage, cars and workbench.
Besides a couple new cars that come with this prize option, the winner will also receive $500,000 cash, which can be used for anything – including finishing the basement into their picture-perfect space. The prize package is valued at more than $2 million.
“It’s been a great experience to design and build this home,” says Brown. “I walked through this past weekend and was so pleased to hear people say that it feels like… home.”
Tickets for the BC Children’s Hospital Choices Lottery can be purchased online at bcchildren.com or at any of the prize homes: 849 Dunsmuir Rd. in Victoria (open 12pm to 4pm on Weekends), 14381 Marine Dr. in White Rock (open 11am to 5pm daily), 172 Victory Ship Way in North Vancouver (open 12pm to 4pm Friday and Sunday) or in this featured show home at 17388 4th Ave. in South Surrey, (open daily 11am to 5pm) For more information, call (604) 692-2333.
