After deciding to move to Calgary, the next step is to decide what type of home you want for your family. Today, there are several contemporary home styles designed to fit the needs of many types of families. Discover three popular contemporary home styles and what each one has to offer a family.

Bungalows

A bungalow style home has a single level design. It’s detached and usually has an open floor plan. Along with the main floor, a bungalow may also have a basement.

Appealing Features of a Bungalow

One of the most appealing features of a bungalow is that the main living area is located on one floor. Many retirees go with a bungalow design so if they begin to have mobility issues they don’t have to contend with stairs in their home. Our Berkshire bungalow homes are popular options for retirees who are also empty nesters. In this house, you can live comfortably with just the right amount of space.

A bungalow home may also include a finished basement in its design. Berkshire 24 and 26 both have the option for basement development. So, if retirees have grandchildren living nearby, they have someplace to set up games, watch television and play while visiting. Plus, the open floor plan on the main floor allows grandparents to keep an eye on the kids’ activities! The basements on these models also have straight-run stairs, which are perfect for older people who might have mobility concerns. If you need to install a mobility aid in the future, such as a stair-lift, they're far easier to install on straight-run stairs than they are in a U-shaped or L-shaped staircase. 

Married couples who don't have children would appreciate the space as well as the extras available in a bungalow design. The master bedroom and its ensuite, the mudroom and the kitchen’s walk-in pantry are all attractive features to busy, married professionals. This is an especially nice home for couples who love to throw dinner parties and entertain. In fact, a bungalow style home is conga-line friendly if your party guests feel so inclined!

Bi-Level Homes

A bi-level has two levels with a common entrance between the two floors. In addition, the front door opens onto a landing. This type of contemporary design has many of the benefits of a two-storey home but can be built on a smaller lot.

Appealing Features of a Bi-Level Home

A young couple will appreciate the savings on a smaller lot while enjoying a home with plenty of space for their activities. Our Crescent bi-level home has two bedrooms along with the master bedroom. These bedrooms could be used as a nursery, a guest room, an office, exercise area or for any other purpose the owners can think of!

The open design of a bi-level home like the Crescent makes it easy for family members to talk with one another after a long school or workday. The Crescent’s kitchen area opens right onto the dining room and even extends to a spacious deck. This design is likely to appeal to parents with young children and teenagers.

Two-Storey Homes

A two-storey home has two floors with approximately the same amount of space in each. The entrance leads into the lower level of the home and there’s sometimes a basement included in its design. This type of home provides a lot of space to its occupants and can be more expensive than the other designs as a result.

Appealing Features of the Two-Storey Design

The large number of bedrooms in a two-storey home is an especially appealing feature to families with several children or an older relative living with them. Our two-storey home known as The Bishop has a master bedroom, two large bedrooms and a bonus room located on the upper floor. The Kendrik model offers the same number of bedrooms, but in a different arrangement on the upper floor. In short, there’s ample space for parents, children and a grandparent living with the family.

Another appealing feature of a two-storey home is the view it can offer. A married couple will appreciate a view of mature trees, a nearby pond or even the open sky just outside their master bedroom window! The upper floor offers an unobstructed view that other home designs aren’t built to provide.

Privacy is another attractive feature of a two-storey home. If a parent or child wants to be alone for a while, they can retire upstairs to their bedroom to get away from the noise and activities happening on the main floor. Our Kingsway model is another example of a two-storey home with all of the bedrooms located upstairs to provide privacy to family members.

Remember the type of contemporary design you choose depends on the unique needs of your family. Your brand-new Calgary home is going to be all the more welcoming when it suits your family’s lifestyle.