With Canada’s aging population, the demand for accessible homes is greater than ever. Buyers are increasingly seeking housing that adapts to changing needs, whether it be for aging in place or supporting multigenerational living.

We recently completed our Villa Ave project with new homeowners, Chris and Lina Wong, who were seeking a new home to ensure Chris's aging mother could live comfortably with their growing family.

Having previously explored pre-owned homes and various new build options, the Wongs found that a custom build was their best fit and chose to build with Urbis after speaking with past Urbis customers.

While they mentioned that the homes they’d toured were impressive, Chris noted that “It wasn’t until we interviewed past clients that made us way more comfortable with choosing them [Urbis] than some other builders. They all had really good reports and experiences with Urbis.”

Scroll to see some highlights from this project.

Introducing Villa Ave

Located in a beautiful historic pocket in Westmount, Villa Ave is a custom Craftsman character home featuring just under 3,000 sq. ft. of living space, 5 bedrooms, and 4 baths. The thoughtfully designed floor plan prioritizes accessible living while also fulfilling all of the Wongs’ wish list items for style and interior design.

Transitional design elements create a timeless, elevated feel. The exterior boasts a charming mix of materials with Hardie panel and shake siding and beautiful brick-accented columns. Inside, subtle shades of blue pop throughout the various living spaces, contrasting perfectly with the white oak cabinetry and aged hickory beams throughout. Vaulted ceilings in the open-to-above foyer, great room, and primary bedroom add a sense of grandeur.

The Wongs’ Top Picks

When asked about their favourite parts of the home, Chris expressed his excitement for the wood-burning fireplace. Its limestone hearth adds cozy charm to the great room, flanked by stacked firewood storage that serves as a design element in its own right.

Great room in Villa Ave project in Westmount in Edmonton by Urbis.

Lina, on the other hand, adores the covered deck with its vaulted ceiling and retractable screens overlooking the ravine. She also loves the primary bathroom which features a glass shower with sky-blue tiling in a herringbone pattern and champagne bronze fixtures. The ensuite includes a dual sink vanity with a built-in beverage fridge and provides convenient access to a walk-in closet.

“The last minute add on that we had was a little secret area under the stairs in the basement for our kids. They have no idea so it’s going to be amazing to show them,” Lina added, in reference to a play area hidden behind a bookcase.

Click for even more on what the Wongs love about their new home.

Other Noteworthy Features

Other unique features in Villa Ave include a built-in coffee station just off the kitchen, making the open-concept main floor the perfect place to entertain morning through night.

The kitchen boasts an impressive 12’ island with quartz countertops and an extra-wide basin sink with three (yes, three!) champagne bronze faucets. Polished marble tiled backsplash pops beautifully against the gas range, while a contemporary side-by-side fridge adds a striking touch to the space.

The home also includes a 3-car front attached garage, a rare find in this centrally located mature neighbourhood where many lots cannot accommodate such a desirable feature.

Accessible Living

Accessible living was a top priority for the Wongs when designing their new home, with features that not only enhance mobility, but also ensure safety and independence for their loved one with limited mobility.

“This is the whole reason why we decided to build a custom home…it was a big value for us that she [Chris’s mom] could live with us and that we have a space for her,” said Lina. “Building was the only option to perfectly accommodate her,” Chris added.

As such, the Villa Ave project includes a main floor in-law suite complete with its own ensuite featuring a curbless, wheelchair-accessible shower with a fold-down bench. Extra backing in the bedroom’s side wall can accommodate a mobile lift.

Accessibility extends beyond just the suite with wider doorways throughout the entire living space and a RAM Crystal elevator providing seamless access to all three levels of the home. This premium residential lift is the pinnacle of performance and style, with an 800 lb capacity and customized finishings that blend beautifully into the home’s design aesthetic.

“We don’t want the barrier of stairs to be in the way of her having a regular home life,” emphasized Lina.

Click to hear more from the Wongs about Villa Ave’s accessible features.

Accessibility and Style, Hand in Hand

For Chris and Lina, building a custom home was the best way to address their family’s unique needs. Their home not only achieves functional goals in terms of design, but it does so while seamlessly blending accessibility with aesthetics.

“Urbis has been wonderful because they were able to take the feeling that I wanted to have for my house and the vision that we had…it was so stress-free…it was wonderful,” said Lina, when asked about the design process for their home.

“The fact that everything was in-house and that it was vertically integrated was a huge benefit because our first meeting with them [Urbis] was with a one-week-old,” added Chris.

“—and it’s been an amazing process since,” concluded Lina.

The Villa Ave project is an inclusive build, adaptable for all stages of life, and a true testament to how a home can merge function and beauty while supporting the needs of our aging population.

Explore more of this custom Westmount home here, and connect with us to chat about our custom home design and build services.