The new home in the new normal

The design of the home has always been determined by the lifestyle of its residents. It’s easy to pick a new home when you have a clear idea of what you want out of it. But in these days of the pandemic, when sheltering in place has become the norm, the careful balance of lifestyle has been turned on its head and the home itself has to be able to adapt to the new needs.

What staying at home for long periods of time has revealed is that spaces in the home that were once taken for granted have now gained more meaning. Kitchens for couples who always ate out are now gaining a new importance, unused dens and bonus rooms have become the central point of activity as working and studying from home become the order of the day.

Even the neighbourhood where one lives have gained more prominence in the lockdown, stay-cation is all that much easier when there are parks, pathways and places to gather without contracting the virus just beyond the backyard.

The need to look for a new home that answers the new needs of the new normal may account for a sudden rise in traffic to show homes around the city. Amie Brown, new home expert at Kimberly Homes, certainly thinks so. “We’ve been incredibly busy through the summer, as people now realize that the home they are currently in doesn’t work in the new normal, and they are looking to the future,” she tells Edmonton New Home + Condo Guide.

Brown points to Kimberley Homes’ new show home in the dynamic new community of Arbours of Keswick as a particularly adept model in addressing the new normal.

The Emerald 2 has a front-attached double garage, three bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths, but what sets it apart is its utter functionality.
Functionality that only a mother can understand is at the heart of the design for this 2,625 square-foot estate home.

“I designed this home myself,” says Amie Brown, New Home Expert at Kimberley Homes. “Being a mother myself, I know what is important for a family home to function best.”

The Emerald 2 has a front-attached double garage, three bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths, but it’s more than just the sum of all its parts.
Brown was able to turn the mud room into a multi-function area that has a walk-in coat closet, broom closet and dog wash. “There is a place for everything and everything in its place, it helps keep the whole home tidy.” The adjacent walk-through pantry also has a big enough space to fit a freezer.

“In the days of the lockdown, you want a full pantry, and Emerald 2 certainly has the storage space for this,” she points out.

She is also particularly proud of her design for the main bath. “It has a door separating the toilet and shower from the sink so two children can get ready for the day simultaneously, function is emphasized throughout.”

It doesn’t lack in glam either with soaring 18-foot ceilings in the great room. “When you have to stay in your home for months at a time, it helps if you love your home and the design fits all of your needs.”

Emerald 2 is also flexible and can be built with a three-car garage option or side entrances. It starts from the $600,000s. Find out more about Emerald 2 and their other homes at www.buildwithkimberley.ca.

Hopewell Residential in Edmonton is also seeing this trend and they are responding accordingly.

“Our homes have always been very functional, as well as warm and inviting. We offer many personalized options for home-buyers to suit their needs – whether it’s working from home, home-schooling, or just spending more time in the kitchen or living room,” says Hopewell’s Sue Carlson, Sales Manager for Edmonton.

“We’re also releasing new home models, which include in-demand items such as side entrances, basement suites, main floor master bedrooms, and affordable starting prices. We know the importance of loving where you live.”

Hopewell Residential has show homes in Secord (West Edmonton) and Citadel (North Edmonton), and builds townhomes, duplexes, front-garage homes and bungalow villas with affordable prices and stylish interior finishings.

Its Nolan show home in Citadel is particularly enticing for buyers, as it has four bedrooms as standard. It is 2,063 square-feet and is very much ideal as a multi-generational home with all its space, that provides room for the family to gather comfortably and still has room for everyone’s privacy.

The 2,278 square-foot Evora in Secord exhibits an open concept floorplan and sunny optimism is standard as well with all the big windows that let a ton of natural light shine in. The bonus room at the top of the stairs certainly lends itself well as a study room for kids as it is in the middle of the upper floor and easy enough for parents to keep an eye on them while they do their homework. Just make sure you have a strong wi-fi signal. Find out more about Hopewell’s line of homes and communities at www.hopewellresidential.com.

It’s one thing to love the home design, it’s quite another to love the community where the home is. The ideal community should provide a balance of family-friendly recreation and ease-of-living amenities that people would love to stay in, and not just because of the lockdown.

Canada Lands has certainly achieved that ideal in their Village At Griesbach. Village At Griesbach features a neighbourhood design concept firmly rooted in the “urban village” or “new urbanism” community planning philosophy.

This philosophy had its beginnings in the 1980s and was championed by H.R.H Prince Charles, who had grown weary of the architectural and social deterioration he observed in suburban England. A concept cornerstone was the principle of socially integrated, connected and engaged community planning that worked cooperatively toward the betterment of all residents.

“Canada Lands Company is focused on an innovative and progressive urban village built with community in mind,” says Georgette L’Hirondelle, Marketing Manager, Real Estate, at Canada Lands Company.

The Village At Griesbach emphasizes the charms and convenience of life in an urban village. “The design ensures access to daily conveniences and amenities within the community. Creating a balance within the urban village is the kilometres of interconnected walkable tree-lined trails, winding through the numerous parks and lakes. Residents and guests find great enjoyment in our amenities, such as the 26-acre Central Hill Park and our Community Garden.”

Its design has already earned praise from the industry, winning the 2019 BILD Alberta Award for Best Community. It is nominated again this year.
“We are proud of our previous win as 2019 Best Community in Alberta, and we are pleased to be nominated in the community feature category this year. This type of recognition is a testament to our planning and further supports the desire for enriching community development,” L’Hirondelle says.

“I believe the award-winning mix at Village at Griesbach is that the entire development has been and will continue to be planned around the many definitions of home. We’ve created a beautiful cohesive space to live, work, and play.”

Griesbach celebrates the past military history through commemorative street and amenity naming, along with mature trees lining the streetscape. “Our architectural designs and mixed housing styles from apartments to estate homes ensures the diversity of streetscape in this vibrant community. With our variety of builders, we are able to offer a number of solutions to assist future homeowners with defining their home in Griesbach,” she adds. Find out more at www.villageatgriesbach.com.