The latest project to be undertaken in Coventry Hills is Coventry Meadows, at the northern edge of the neighbourhood. Rockford Developments, one of Calgary’s most popular builders and the winners of the SAM Awards’ Multi-Family Home Builder of the Year two years in a row, recently opened two new showhomes for its 72-unit condo development in the community.

Each unit is a two-storey, 1,200 square-foot townhouse with an attached single-car garage and a large backyard patio with enough room for deck furniture and a barbeque. The buildings, with four units apiece, have either a

Victorian or Colonial exterior design, and several have walkout basements with a patio below and main floor balcony above. As Coventry Meadows is a Genstar e-community, all units are fully wired for high-speed internet. Rockford’s two showhomes detail the possibilities that can be done with both an outside and inside unit and showcase some of their impressive upgrades.

The first showhome, an inside unit, is Rockford’s standard model without upgrades. The main level has an open floor plan which augments the perception of size. As well, large mirrors are used with pronounced effect in the great and master bedrooms to increase the amount of natural light from the rear windows and to make the rooms seem larger. The décor throughout the home is streamlined and modern in shades of brown with natural wood elements in the oak kitchen cabinets and baseboards. Especially interesting is the wall treatment in the main floor half-bath, a bamboo reed covering which, along with the black and brown colour scheme, gives the room a trendy Oriental feel.

In the fully carpeted upstairs, the master bedroom has a large walk-in closet with standard wire shelving. The full bath has a deep soaker tub and a large vanity. One of the two other bedrooms is used as a spare, while the final one has been converted into a home office. Salesperson Karen Payne says that the units are especially popular with singles and professional couples without children, and the home office option is very appealing to them. An alternative floor plan offers two large bedrooms with an ensuite in one, an attractive option for roommates.

Rockford’s second showhome demonstrates all of their available upgrades. Although the two models have the exact same floor plan, it’s hard to find any other similarities. The most noticeable upgrade is in the flooring, including the dark hardwood flooring, which runs through the entrance and kitchen, and the carpeting upstairs. This unit also features a gas fireplace with an extra window above the mantle and a box window with a ledge in the great room. Other upgrades include stainless steel appliances, lighting fixtures, knockdown ceilings, ceramic tile in both bathrooms and a bowl sink in the main floor half bath. The design scheme in this unit is very spare and contemporary, with clean lines and a taupe and black colour scheme.

Units start in the $150,000s with a maximum cost, if you include all upgrades, of around $180,000. Condo fees are under $150 per month and include landscaping and Homeowners’ Shoreline Association membership. The showhomes are located at 2 Covemeadow Rd. N.E., and are open daily.

www.rockforddevelopments.com