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The Columbia Valley Pioneer • October 3, 2008

New Homes Your Guide to New Housing Developments in the Columbia Valley

Resort at CastleRock Business Feature The construction of Resort at CastleRock by Reign Developments Inc., a Calgary-based developer with upscale projects on the go across Western Canada, has started high in the hills above Invermere, adjacent to CastleRock Estates.

An intimate low-rise 84-unit condominium resort, hidden in the lush Columbia Valley in B.C., with still affordable prices, is only minutes away from the scenic downtown of Invermere.

Lake Windermere is close enough to smell the cool, fresh waters, while the Purcell and Rocky Mountains cut a stunning skyline into the horizon, making it an ideal spot for people looking to pamper themselves, as well as people who enjoy an active lifestyle.

“The Resort at CastleRock is a fully functioning, full-service, four-star resort, so it’s there to cater to those who want a vacation,” says Eric Watson, managing director of Ultimate Properties International Realty, the company marketing the project.

“People don’t have to worry about paying their bills because everything’s taken care of through one monthly payment. Everyone’s treated like a guest at a four-star hotel.”

The floor plans range from approximately 860 to 1,400 square feet and feature luxurious two- and three-bedroom layouts with upscale finishing packages: hardwood and slate floors, granite counters, stainless steel appliances, fireplaces and luxurious hotel-quality furniture.

Building plans also include a 6,000-square-foot recreation facility with a fitness centre, cafe, cozy lounge area, meeting space and a room that can potentially be used for spa services. And CastleRock is only a three-hour drive from Calgary, and a six-hour drive from Edmonton.

This gorgeous getaway is under construction at CastleRock on the south edge of Invermere.

www.resortatcastlerock.com

Continued on Page 2 . . .

2 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer – New Homes

October 3, 2008

Continued from Page 1 With quarter ownership options introductory prices starting at $95,000, now is the time to be looking at buying, Mr. Watson says.

“If anything, they’re almost too low for what people are getting,” he says. “Their newly-redesigned units are exceptional and very aggressively priced, even below the resale market. If anyone did a little bit of homework within the market, they’d see we’re selling these units new for less than a lot of the quarter-share resale stuff, so that’s a big attraction to get in right now.”

Ultimate Properties is also offering conventional mortgage financing, as well as the options to trade time with other high-end property owners around the world.

Once it is built, the resort will help to ease the shortage of quality short-term rental accommodation in the valley, through the optional rental pool offered to owners.

Reign Developments also reaffirms that the resort will be a green development with geo-thermal cooling and heating and superior R-value building materials used throughout.

Take a five-minute drive to the Resort at CastleRock from downtown Invermere, and marvel at the stunning mountain views from high above Lake Windermere. Visit the new sales centre in downtown Invermere at No. 110, 901-7th Avenue, call 1-888678-9338, or visit www.ResortatCastleRock.com.

The sun sets behind the mountains to the west of the Resort at CastleRock.

• Single Family • 5-plex • 6-plex • Plus 85 Suite Chateau Setting the standard for vacation homes; excitement, luxury, relaxation and amenities.

Each Chalet offers five distinct mountain accent suites of exceptional quality and craftsmanship.

Copper Wolf Properties Incorporated

Radium B.C. • 250-342-1725 • Cell: 403-809-4372 www.copperwolfproperties.com

October 3, 2008

New Homes – The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 3

Resort at CastleRock site plan This artist’s rendition shows the four resort buildings facing a swimming pool, with spectacular mountain views from every window. This is not a mega-development, but an intimate four-star resort with just 84 luxury condos.

4 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer – New Homes

October 3, 2008

Clean and simple window coverings are in style

By Cayla Gabruck Pioneer Staff If you are decorating your dream home, don’t forget to pay attention to the window coverings.

They can make a huge difference in the way your rooms look and feel.

The first thing you need to do is set a budget, so you know what you can and cannot afford. Like everything else, the sky is the limit when it comes to purchasing window coverings, but you should have a clear picture of what you want to spend.

Custom drapes are more expensive but will give you a huge range of options in fabrics and colours. But drapery can be very expensive, so choose wisely.

Today’s homes often have rounded or arched windows, and windows placed high in the walls. You may want to cover these for privacy or shade, but that can be demanding.

What rooms and what windows are the most important for you? Some experts suggest that you first do the rooms that you spend the most time in, such as the bedrooms and the family room. But set a schedule for doing other rooms, so you don’t end up six years down the road with the same inexpensive aluminum blinds that you first installed for privacy’s sake.

Next, find your style. Browsing through home magazines is a must. If you are still having trouble,

luckily there are several experts located right here in the Columbia Valley who will be happy to assist you in discovering what trends are hot right now.

Bill Cropper of Invermere, owner and operator of The Blind Guy, specializes in window coverings. He says energy efficiency is a top priority with his clients.

Keeping heat out in the summer and inside in the winter months is a key factor, he said.

Bill suggests energy-efficient rollers, which act like a wall of fabric over your window; or cellular or honeycomb shades, made of a spun woven polyester that acts as an insulating blanket for your window.

Certain fabrics have also gone “green,” now with anti-microbial, anti-fungal traits woven into the yarn or offered as a topical spray.

Stain-resistant and mildew- and mold-resistant fabrics are also popular picks for allergy-sufferers.

Organic window coverings made from wood and bamboo are popular now. Matchstick blinds let in a small amount of filtered light which can be very appealing.

Wooden venetian blinds, Bill said, are another very strong trend in the market right now. Natural shades such as muted greens, and bold accent colours such as blacks and dark browns, are very popular in the market this fall.

Overall, Bill said that simple is the name of the game when it comes to window coverings this season.

“People want clean lines, and nothing extra or bulky,” he said.

For more information, call him at 250-3424406.

Drapes are making a comeback for a more classic, luxurious look. But gone are the fussy balloon drapes with swags and ruffles.

Today drapes are often made of luxe fabrics like silk or velvet, and held back with ornamental wooden or metal hooks.

Roberta Hall, owner of Full View Curtains in Radium, said drapery is very fashionable this season but again stresses to keep it clean and simple.

“As far as fabrics go, people are going for a more natural look,” she said. “This includes linens and cottons.”

According to Roberta, colours such as rust-coloured reds, eggplant and peach are ideal to create a look that is not too bold.

“You want to be bold with your accessories, not your drapes,” she said. “Your drapes are the more neutral tones that tie everything together.”

She said the desired effect is to have drapes which are very appealing to the eye. This includes having well-chosen fabrics and well-thought-out colours.

For more information, call Roberta at 250-3479181. You can also stop into her store, located at 3 -7585 Main Street West in Radium Hot Springs.

New Homes – The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 5

October 3, 2008

ADMIRING THE VIEW – A couple stops at the new Rotary Park in Radium to admire the view of the surrounding mountains and the valley below.

Photo by Cayla Gabruck

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9/22/2008 8:48:55 PM

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6 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer – New Homes

October 3, 2008

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New Homes – The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 7

October 3, 2008

A home with stairs: blessing or curse?

By Elinor Florence Pioneer Publisher I always wanted a home with stairs, and during the planning process of my new home I imagined each of my daughters sweeping down the staircase on her wedding day.

Five years later, the reality of having stairs is a little different.

I don’t know how many times I have climbed the stairs to my master bedroom (have you noticed how the professional decorators now call it the “principal” bedroom, as if “master” has a sexist connotation?), only to find that I have left my sweater, glasses, book, etc. in the television room two flights down.

By the time I have gone back downstairs and come all the way back up, I’m gasping for breath. The other option is to hang my head over the bannisters and yell to see if my husband is on his way upstairs, or if I can persuade him to bring me whatever I’m missing.

If we are both in the bedroom and we both want something, our discussions go along the lines of: “You go!”

“No, it’s your turn!”

“But I’ve been down three times in the last hour!”

Lately I’ve been thinking about the advantages of a bungalow.

A spacious bungalow would offer the same amount of floor space, although more costly per square foot.

And the owners can still add a second storey at some future date if they desire. It’s a lot cheaper to build a second storey if the foundation is already there.

Although I love the design of my two-storey house, bungalows can also be very attractive. If I were going to build a bungalow from scratch, I would choose either a rambling, ranch-style house with plenty of floor space; or a charming Craftsman-style bungalow with deeply-overhanging eaves and a front porch.

Bungalows may lack the views that are visible from the upper floor of a two-storey house, but on the other hand, they are also more private. With bungalows, strategically-planted trees and shrubs are usually sufficient to block the view of neighbours.

As we are watching our parents grow older, we are naturally thinking about our own health and how long we will be able to remain in our homes.

Single-storey living can be easier on the knees and the heart, and a lot more convenient. If you create extra-wide hallways and doorways, you can even allow for wheelchair access.

That might be handy even if you don’t become permanently immobile, but are just recovering from an injury or an operation.

When planning my house, I made sure to allow

enough room on the main floor so that we could convert one area into a bedroom and bathroom if required. The lower floor can then accommodate either a renter or a caregiver. The upper storey will be available for guests.

In the meantime, though, I console myself with these facts from the Public Health Agency of Canada: • Stair climbing can be accumulated across the course of the day, making a significant contribution to the recommended 30 minutes of daily physical activity.

• A significantly lower risk of mortality is indicated in studies where participants climbed more than 55 flights per week.

• Stair climbing requires about eight to 11 calories per minute.

• Even two flights of stairs climbed per day can lead to six pounds of weight loss over one year.

• There is a strong association between stair climbing and bone density, in post-menopausal women.

• Stair climbing increases leg power and may reduce the risk of injury from falls in the elderly.

So the next time I’m forced to run up or down the stairs, I’ll remember what a great thing I’m doing for my own health.

Remember the old saying: that which doesn’t kill you will make you stronger.

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8 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer - New Homes

October 3, 2008

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