Reimagining Design: Sustainable Solutions Building a Family-First Neighborhood

Opulence is not always the qualifier for an award-winning home.

The kitchen of the Ridgeview home is very family-oriented. Below: Much attention was paid to the finishing details inside the Mitchell home. Photos: courtesy of Dilworth Quality Homes

Two handsome family-friendly, practically-designed houses in the Selkirk neighbourhood of Dilworth Mountain Estates won Tommie Gold for Excellence in a Single Family Detached Home (building construction value under $300,000) and Single Family Detached Home (building construction value $300,000 - $500,000) in 2007.

"I think the fact these two homes are situated within one block of each other on the same street serves to demonstrate the integration of varied home sizes and types within a master planned community," says Howard Rensler, sales and marketing manager for Dilworth Quality Homes.

Structuring a fully integrated community involving hundreds of single family homes and duplex style townhomes requires long term vision and fortitude to achieve a "pleasing overall and eclectic environment," he says.

"Collectively these two awards span a house price range from entry to mid price levels. Lot values range from about $180,000 to over $300,000 from one side of a mountainside street to the other, based on specific placement, size and view offering. Combining lot and home values, these two awards represent excellence in single family homes generally up to $800,000 ­ the core of the Kelowna new home market."

The winner in the first category is a small footprint (1,910 square feet finished) two-storey home with a decent-sized yard and a rooftop view of Glenmore Valley. It's designed with an open layout geared for family activity ­ a casual dining space, a great room, an office and an additional computer nook.

The small, workable kitchen, says Rensler, has "touches of frills, countertops and upgraded appliances."

The master bathroom and en suite are on the main floor; the younger children's bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs. The basement can be finished to adapt to the growing family.

"It's an excellent price-point home in a prestigious neighbourhood," says Rensler.

The Selkirk neighbourhood home that won in the second category ($300-$500 k) was also designed with a family in mind. Constructed on a challenging building site, this cleanly designed, Southwest-inspired home has a strong street presence with its many windows.

Inside, rock treatment and massive wood beams bring the outside in. Like the winner in the first category, it has many family-friendly features. For the children, an activity room and computer niche are upstairs next to their bedrooms and away from adult entertaining areas. While the 2,969 square feet of finished space above grade is more than enough space for the current family, the unfinished basement provides for a future in-law suite with a separate entrance.

Dilworth Mountain Estates and the Selkirk Neighbourhood were also Tommie Silver finalists in 2007 for Community of the Year, Outstanding Achievement in Environmental Consideration and Design of Model Home. The builder, Dilworth Homes, also garnered Silver finalist status as Large Volume Builder of the Year and Outstanding Customer Service.

Dilworth Homes has built hundreds of new homes in Kelowna and throughout the Okanagan Valley over the past two decades. They are the exclusive builder at Dilworth Mountain Estates, consisting of 750 acres of Dilworth Mountain and its immediate area. The neighbourhoods here besides Selkirk include Monashee Peaks, Cascade Falls, Cassiar Meadows, The Terrace and The Orchard Terrace. Kelowna communities in other locations include South Ridge in the Mission, Stonebridge Estates and Tower Ranch. Other Dilworth developments in the Valley are Mission Ridge Estates, Vista Ridge in Westbank, Meighan Creek Estates and The Armstrong Plateau in Armstrong.

Each Dilworth community may contain several neighbourhoods, each including both detached single family homes in a wide range of sizes and models and semi-detached bungalow town homes.

Buyers of detached homes in these communities participate in the Dilworth Blueprint Program. The building lot is chosen depending on view, size, placement along the street front and budget. The next step involves selecting a home model or plan from a large library of designs and personalizing it inside and out within the guidelines of the community.

At the Mitchell home, the outside is invited in.

The Ridgview home has a warm, welcoming street presence.

The Details

Area: 2,969 square feet finished (1.5 levels above grade; unfinished basement)

Web: www.dilworthhomes.com

Copyright © 2008 Wheat King Publishing and the authors. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied or reprinted without the written consent of the publisher. The opinions expressed in Okanagan Home are those of the writers and editors, and do not represent the official position of the Canadian Home Builders' Association, Central Okanagan, or of its members.