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Currie 'dream home' includes flexibility of carriage suite and home offices

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Mike Urquhart, a widower with teenage sons, and Tonia Vipler, a divorced mother of pre-teen daughters, have been a couple for six years. Sensitive to their kids’ needs, they’re taking their time blending families.

Both live in Currie, a master-planned community by Canada Lands Co. next to Mount Royal University. Urquhart still maintains a residence with his youngest son, while Vipler and her girls live close by in the new three-storey home the couple built together. Urquhart’s 19-year-old son lives in the carriage suite above the garage behind the new home.

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“We’ve been very mindful of the kids, especially with mine, given the passing of their mom,” says Urquhart.

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The couple were introduced in 2014 by mutual friends. Building a home together in 2020 was the first step in a fresh start for both families.

“It may sound a little cheesy, but this is our dream home,” Vipler says.

They chose to build with Crystal Creek Homes, basing their custom design on the builder’s prior show home in Currie on Trasimeno Cres. S.W. After several modifications to the plan, the home grew to nearly 4,700 square feet with four levels of developed space and an 800-square-foot carriage suite above the rear triple-car garage.

The main level has a large kitchen with a butler’s pantry, main floor den and great room; the second-floor features the girl’s bedrooms, a full bathroom and bonus room. The third floor is the master suite with a luxurious bathroom, large walk-in closet and an office for Mike. There’s an outdoor living space off the master suite with a lounge area and hot tub.

The basement features another bedroom and bathroom, a gym and a massage room.

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When the home was under construction, the crew joked to Mike that it must be nice to have people come over to give massages.

“They thought it was for us, but Tonia is a massage therapist. This space was built so she can work from home,” he says with a laugh.

The carriage suite was purpose-built for Urquhart’s eldest.

“It could be good for rental someday because Mount Royal University is next door. There’s an economic benefit, but the plan wasn’t to rent it out,” Urquhart says.

The modern one-bedroom suite features interiors that echo the main house. It has a kitchen with an island and a laundry room. The windows face away from the main home and access is from the lane.

“We had privacy in mind when it was designed,” says Vipler.

Currie is zoned for carriage suites, but not every home can have one. Canada Lands has tight architectural controls, says Crystal Creek area sales manager Jason Benko.

“We can build them on any lot as long as there aren’t more than two in a row. The corner lots must have them because carriage homes at either end of the block sort of frames the streetscape,” he says.

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Crystal Creek has a new show home at 212 Normandy Dr. S.W., a three-storey modern farmhouse model with 4,000 square feet of developed space. Like Urquhart and Vipler’s home, it has a third-floor master suite. Just like Crystal Creek’s former show home in Currie, it’s completely custom-built and doesn’t have an official model name.

“With all the different lot sizes in Currie, we have to take a custom approach. We design homes according to our customer’s needs. Mike and Tonia are the perfect example,” he says.

Building lots on the former army base are selling quickly. Some lots in the next phase, which hasn’t officially been released, are sold or on hold. The primary buyers are young professionals with three or more children who want more space, great value and the best location.

“I’ve never seen so many three-plus kids families,” says Benko. “Living in Currie means families can capture time, our most valuable commodity. If mom and dad have to go back downtown to work, they’re only eight minutes away. Currie is eight minutes away from everywhere.”

THE DETAILS

COMMUNITY:  Currie.

DEVELOPER:  Canada Lands Co.

BUILDER:  Crystal Creek Homes.

MODELS:  Two and three-storey custom homes with carriage suites above rear garages.

PRICE:  From $1.1 million.

INFORMATION:  Show home is open by appointment at 212 Normandy Dr. S.W. Visit crystalcreekhomes.ca or learn more at currielife.ca

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