Spaces are ‘curated as little luxuries that we dip into every day’

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After falling in love with a contemporary, new build home overlooking Calgary’s Bow River Valley, empty nesters Erin Reid and Christopher Churchill ditched their downtown condo life where they had been living in an 1,800-square-foot penthouse and set their sights on “having the best of both worlds.”

The home they moved to was perfect the way it was, in fact, Erin calls it “magical,” but there were a few areas that allowed for some personalization.

“When we moved in, the basement was undeveloped, so we had this raw space that we could customize how we wanted it,” says Chris.

In addition, the home’s location adjacent to a golf course (it also spills onto an open green space with mature aspen stands and prairie grasses with a pathway leading down to the river) lends itself to indoor-outdoor living. There was already a large deck that could be accessed from both the master bedroom and from the open-concept living spaces, but it required attention to make it usable for three seasons.

The couple started with the basement. They had a strong vision of what they wanted and brought on interior designer Clare Gardiner along with the multi-award-winning renovation company Ultimate Renovations to help them achieve their goal. Ultimate Renovations had assisted the couple with a comprehensive upscale luxury overhaul of their downtown penthouse condominium in 2017.

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“We had this blank canvas to work with, and Chris and I were essentially on the same page as to what we wanted,” says Erin. The space was to be divided into two distinct areas — Erin’s spa and wellness retreat and Chris’s pub-style man-cave.

Both spaces are show stoppers. In fact, this renovation has picked up numerous awards over the past year, first at the BILD-Calgary Region Awards where it earned winning accolades as Best Basement Renovation and Best Bathroom Renovation, then at the Canadian Home Builders’ Association National Awards for Housing Excellence earning two awards: one for Best Basement Renovation and one for Best Bathroom Renovation. Most recently, the project has earned two finalist nods for the BILD Alberta Awards, with winners to be announced at the beginning of November. 

Ultimate Renovations was also awarded with the coveted Renovation Excellence Award at the CHBA National Awards for Housing Excellence, held in May of this year.

The lower-level design is well thought-out and executed. The experience begins with an open-concept foyer that reads as a gallery space filled with custom art pieces by a local artist, the biophilic art (it’s filled with textural natural elements like mosses and grasses) is inspired by the home’s location overlooking the river. The space is contemporary and melds with the rest of the home, but the aesthetic unfolds differently as the gallery transitions into the spa area, where a floor-to-ceiling, waterfall wall sets the tone for serenity.

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From here, step through the doorway to the right and a large gym awaits; or, step to the left, past a wall of tiled artistry, into a spa retreat with built-in cabinetry, a chaise lounge, perfect for reading, a coffee and drinks station and a custom-designed sauna and steam shower.

“I start and end my day in this space. I have my coffee. I read. I work out and then I get ready for work. It’s where I go to unwind. It’s very tranquil, super functional and it’s beautiful to spend time down there,” says Erin.

The man cave, located adjacent to the spa area and accessed from the gallery space via large barn doors, opens into an alcove that emulates the entryway to an old-world traditional Irish pub. Red-brick walls and authentic whiskey barrels adorn the space. From there, a thick wood door (just like in a pub) opens into an open-concept entertaining and theatre space with floor-to-ceiling Chicago brick walls. Ultimate Renovations just happened to have a few palettes of these rare bricks, manufactured in the early 1900s, waiting on the back-burner for the “perfect project”. 

The ceiling is adorned in wall paper that emulates a tin roof, while a two-way, floor-to-ceiling brick fireplace with an oversized hearth separates the theatre area from the pub space, which features a dining room table and full kitchen with dark wood cabinetry and open wood shelving. An oversized plump sofa beckons to those wanting to relax over a pint and conversation.

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The outdoor space began to take shape as the lower level was near completion.

“We really worked within the confines of the existing deck,” says Danny Ritchie of Ultimate Renovations.

“Outdoor spaces are becoming so popular and people don’t really understand the concept until they see it,” he says, noting that when all of the bells and whistles are factored in, it can be an expensive proposition, “but well worth it.”

A remote controlled louvered roof was added, as were wall screens, also remote controlled. Gas-powered Calcana patio heaters were positioned into the plan, while a hot tub was configured just outside of the master suite. A lovely seating area with gas fire table and an outdoor TV really amp up the usability of the space, which is used through multi-seasons.

“The family was here for Christmas last year and we were all outside at -18 and it was perfect — so warm and cosy,” says Erin.

As for the couple’s favourite spaces: “The sauna is my oasis. And Chris is a hot tub guy. He ends his day there and I end my day in the sauna. These spaces are really curated as little luxuries that we dip into every day,” says Erin.  

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