New multi-family projects in the suburban market have a wide variety of interior design options, owing to the variety of project types and price points available in the market. Projects offering a relatively basic, but good quality interior design are found in new communi-ties throughout Calgary and the surrounding area. These projects offer many of the design and features common to single-family homes, including linoleum flooring in kitchens, foyers, and bathrooms, and cut-pile carpeting in the living and bedroom areas. The quality of the carpeting offered at most projects is quite high, with many developments offering higher carpet than the builder’s standard, as a number of projects include 32- to 40-ounce carpet with six- to eight-pound underlay. Appliance pack-ages also vary between projects, with most developments offering a full appliance package from a major brand in your choice of white or black finishes. Most of the appliance packages include enough fea-tures and upgrades to meet most consumer demands, including glass-shelved refri-gerators, programmable ovens, and full feature dishwashers. Additionally, some projects include appliances which are generally considered upgrades in other markets, such as washer/dryers and over the range microwaves.

Downtown and inner-city projects that are generally more expensive than their suburban counterparts, include better quality and more luxurious interior design features. While most suburban projects feature laminate countertops, many inner-city projects include granite counters in the kitchen and bathroom. More exotic counter materials, such as concrete, quartz, and limestone, are also starting to be included at projects entering the market, creating more unique design options and choices in the market. Kitchens receive a lot of attention in downtown high-rise projects and unique features, such as high-end designer plumbing fixtures, glass inserts in cabinets, and under-cabinet lighting, are found at projects throughout downtown Calgary. High quality and unique flooring is also included at many projects, including hardwood, Berber carpet, tile, and cork flooring, with carpet weights and quality generally higher than in the suburban market. These projects also include upgraded appliances, including higher-end brands and more features, such as smooth top ranges and stainless steel finishes.

A number of new projects that have recently launched have pushed the envelope for standard specifications in the Calgary market, most notably The Waterfront in Eau Claire. This project offers a very high-end specification package in all suites and includes a number of features which were not commonly found in the Calgary market. Upgraded appliances, including a Subzero Refrigerator and Electrolux Professional Series gas cooktop, wall oven, and dish-washer, were included standard in One Waterfront, as was custom wood cabinetry and polished stone counters. Two new projects in suburban Calgary—Highbury in the south and Tuscany Pointe in the north—are also offering new and exciting interior designs. Highbury is one of the only Calgary developments to offer Fisher & Paykel, a high-end appliance brand, and CaesarStone™ countertops. This project also includes engineered hardwood floors and high-end plumbing fixtures. Tuscany Pointe, a villa project in northwest Calgary, includes many features found in custom luxury homes, including Bosch appliances, extensive choice in cabinets, and hardwood flooring. Tuscany Pointe also features high quality finishing and millwork, including crown mouldings and knockdown ceilings.

The quality and choice of interior features at new multi-family projects has been steadily increasing in the Calgary market, as new design elements and styles are intro-duced at projects throughout the region. As developers seek to differentiate their project from the competition, new and distinctive interior design features are being introduced to give projects a unique style and position in the marketplace. This has helped to open up the interior design options for consumers in Calgary and keep new homes at the forefront of design and style.   CL