House Tours
This Alberta Home Shows What It Means To Be Truly Timeless
Photography, Joel Klassen.
House Tours
This Alberta Home Shows What It Means To Be Truly Timeless
Step into this Alberta home, exquisitely beautiful and designed to stand the test of time.
When you finally get your dream home, why would you ever want to leave? This sentiment was the driving force behind the constellation of brilliant design choices made by Alykhan Velji Designs and Alloy Homes when they joined forces to create this forever home outside Calgary. “The client was committed to aging in place,” says principal designer Aly Velji. And this was an opportunity to demonstrate that gorgeous interiors and accessibility features need not be mutually exclusive.
Photography, Joel Klassen.
For example, the top floor of the three-storey modern house is wholly devoted to the homeowner’s private suite. Thanks to an elevator, that floor will stay accessible for years to come. Similarly, the home’s gallery-like spaces are wonderfully wide open, making them ideal for easy passage. Even the ensuite shower – with its generous proportions and stylish zero threshold – is designed to be future friendly. “This house is a wonderful example of what a home should be,” says Aly. “It’s a showcase for art, a keeper of memories, and a celebration of all that’s to come.”
Lines and shapes
Photography, Joel Klassen.
“As you enter the home, a glimpse of the kitchen is visible through this wood-and-metal geometric screen,” says lead designer Alison Connor. The staircase doubles as sculpture, thanks to wooden steps and risers. Light from the windows above streams through the banister’s pared-back spindles, offering an ever-changing display of shadows.
Centre stage
Photography, Joel Klassen. KITCHEN MILLWORK, Liber Design Ltd. STONE, The Granite Guys. COUNTER STOOLS, CF Interiors.
Principal designer Aly Velji with lead designers Alison Connor (centre) and Katie Nelson lean into the striking monolithic showpiece that is the kitchen island. Wrapped in bold stone, it commands attention with its movement and character in the wide open, big-windowed space. Green appears as an accent colour on these counter stools and throughout the house.
Photography, Joel Klassen.
“We didn’t want anything to detract from that picture window. It makes surfaces gleam, capturing four seasons of daylight.” – Aly Velji
Table talk
Photography, Joel Klassen. CHANDELIER, Hudson Valley Lighting Group. TABLE, CHAIRS, Mobius Objects. FLOATING CREDENZA, Liber Design Ltd.
“The client entertains a lot, so she wanted enough space for large groups to be seated,” says Alison. The dining set was created by a local furniture builder. “We wanted to keep the space feeling wide open and airy, so we opted for a floating credenza in white oak,” she says. Nano doors at the end of the table make for easy pre-dinner gatherings in the backyard.
“I love chrome. It makes a statement without making a statement – even here on a chandelier.” – Aly Velji
The settle-in zone
Photography, Joel Klassen. SECTIONAL, OTTOMAN, CF Interiors. DRAPERY FABRIC, Maxwell Fabrics.
When the client wants to unwind at the end of the day, with or without friends, there is plenty of room on the sectional. A leather ottoman makes a great spot to drop books and put up your feet when the time comes to relax. Says Alison: “To capitalize on the daylight, we put seating near the window. But it faces the fireplace, so at night, the living space feels cozy.”
Rest and reflection
Photography, Joel Klassen. CHAIR, CF Interiors. Galaxy 48 FIREPLACE, Genesis Series.
A dedicated wall of oak millwork dis- plays items the owner has collected on her world travels. The strong design of the fireplace owes much to its stone hearth; it’s the same stone that’s used for the kitchen island. In keeping with the pops of green in the home, there’s a verdant reading chair here, nestled up to an antique table.
Top-level retreat
Photography, Joel Klassen. DRAPERY FABRIC, PILLOWS, Tonic Living. Custom NIGHTSTANDS, WALL PANELLING, Liber Design Ltd. BEDDING, Crate and Barrel. SCONCES, Robinson Lighting & Bath.
The entire third floor serves as a just-for-me suite for the owner. (The second floor houses guest rooms and another bath.) In the bedroom, oak-panelled walls offer a warm and restful counterpoint to the room’s huge windows. Oat- meal draperies and heavily textured bedding are paired with articulating lights. “They’re perfect for reading in bed,” says Alison.
Photography, Joel Klassen.
“The bedroom is a warm sanctuary that plays up the mixture of old and new, and uses gentle bedside displays to honour the client’s artwork.” – Alison Connor
Photography, Joel Klassen. Neptune TUB, Brizo BATH AND SHOWER FIXTURES, Robinson Lighting & Bath.
“This huge walk-in shower is spa-like and gorgeous. It’s proof that aging in place can be beautiful.” – Aly Velji
Gracious and glossy
Photography, Joel Klassen.
The walls and floors are clad with the same marble-style porcelain tile. Wrapping the space this way gives it a classic, timeless appearance. Says Alison, “The chandelier is a fun and sparkly luxury, which is lovely during a bath in that dreamy soaking tub.”
Natural accents
Photography, Joel Klassen. Custom VANITY AND SHELVES, Liber Design Ltd. CHANDELIER, Robinson Lighting & Bath.
Midcentury Modern lines and wonderful white oak come together in this vanity. “The wood invites some natural warmth into what is a shiny space,” says Aly. The open shelves, also wood, hold displays that can be changed on a whim.
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