The Belmont's a beauty.
Metallic surfaces, glass, light woods make contemporary classic for Dynasty.

Sun, Apr 28, 2002 By Gloria Taylor RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

The Belmont features lots of space and lots of windows to light it.

A glass block wall separates the dining room from the lower level stairs. It's not just the decorative focal point for the dining room. It both hides the stairs and symbolizes new trends in finishing materials.

"There is a trend toward using glass blocks, stainless steel and brushed nickel and lighter wood, so we used these materials to give the house a contemporary feel," says Dan Thiessen, the Coldwell Banker realtor marketing the home for Dynasty Homes. Add to that the light-toned walls and the light hardwood floors, and the look is soft and relaxing.

The stairwell features an unusual stainless steel handrailing and decorative steel detail.

Further into the 1,897-square-foot show home at 10 Falcon Ridge Dr. in Linden Ridge Estates, a four-corner pillar helps to define the boundaries of the dining room. It's covered in pure slate stone in a multitude of colours ranging from pink to brown tones.

This is The Belmont, a three-bedroom bungalow and gold-medal winner in the Spring Parade of Homes.

Running his hand over the stone, Thiessen points to the craftsmanship that went into creating the pillar. Each slate tile has been set individually and cut just right so the surface has texture and is as interesting to touch as to look at, he says.

The stone with its multi-coloured ways has been offset by the staircase to the lower level, which has been developed with steel mesh sides topped by a stainless steel handrail in keeping with the company's brushed nickel look. Stainless steel appliances and handles carry the theme through.

Adding to the ambiance are the maple hardwood floors stained in a light natural colour flowing through most of the main floor areas. They complement the walls, which are finished in a rose taupe called Sweetwood.

In another nod to continuity, the company has carried the slate theme through to the fireplace where slate is used to surround and highlight the fireplace in the great room.

There are also original aspects of design such as a mirrored backsplash behind the counter in the kitchen where builders often place ceramic tile.

Walls on the main floor are nine feet, while the great room boasts a 13-foot high ceiling and a wall of dual pane windows with low E coating and argon fill. The kitchen also features a peninsula with breakfast bar, or overhang to accommodate seating, microwave shelf and recessed area for fridge.

One room at the front of the house can double as a bedroom or den. Like other areas of the main floor, it features a vaulted ceiling with pot lights.

Viewers in the mood to buy might also appreciate the deck available for this home. It has been planned at 12 feet, six inches by 11 feet, and although it has not yet been built, the company has included the deck as part of the buying price. It is not an option. Building the deck was delayed until warmer weather.

One option available to buyers is building a roof over the deck.

The master bedroom features a four-piece ensuite, a large window in the bathroom to let in plenty of natural light and a wide mirror that runs the width of the vanity.

Mechanical features include steel main beams, high-efficiency furnace, HRV system, central air conditioning and central alarm system. While the lower level has not been completely finished, the rooms on the lower level have been roughed out for future development.