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Curtains rise once more on Ballet Edmonton’s dwelling tour

By Mike D. Wagner

  1. homes

Take a self-guided tour inside five fabulous homes for inspiration and to support the arts.

The great room in the Like a Song home in Groat Estates/Westmount on the Ballet Edmonton Home Tour 2022. The great room in the Like a Song home in Groat Estates/Westmount on the Ballet Edmonton Home Tour 2022. Photo by Courtesy, Adam Borman /Postmedia

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With the equivalent of five opening acts, Ballet Edmonton is unveiling its newest production.

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But unlike its traditional performances, this self-guided touring show — the 2022 edition of its annual BE Home Tour — leaves the stage behind and instead provides glimpses of some of this city’s most inspiring homes.

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Homes in Glenora, Groat Estates/Westmount, Oliver and Patricia Heights highlight this year’s version of the Ballet Edmonton fundraiser, which takes place Sept. 17 and 18.

“As we emerge from the pandemic it is more important than ever that we find creative ways to raise money as we carry on as an arts organization,” said Sheri Somerville, Ballet Edmonton’s executive director. “We were among the last sectors to reopen, yet despite that we kept our dancers employed for the entire two years — we made films in the studio; we created work for our artists because a ballet dancer can’t take two years off.”

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Taking the tour, added Somerville, not only helps to support the ballet company, but allows people to see some of the best talents in Edmonton’s builder and designer community.

“These houses are to inspire people in their own design (and build) choices,” said Somerville, noting there’s an opportunity to find out who did the work and get in touch with them.

Like A Song, one of the two tour homes in Groat Estates/Westmount, was at one point a stately older offering that Postmedia previewed. The homeowners, a younger couple who wish to remain anonymous as do most homeowners who put their homes on this tour, initially thought they would keep this older property and renovate but found that it was “a hot mess” that included walled-off staircases that went nowhere. In its place they built a newer home while trying to honor the architectural spirit of that old home.

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“The new house, when you look at it — I remember the old house, I can see it, I can see that old house, I can see what they did,” said Somerville. “It’s really nice, it’s really beautiful. The house that they took down was a grand home but the house they put up is a grand home.”

From the street, the house doesn’t look out of place even though the couple opted for more of a modern farmhouse feel for their new home. A front veranda remains off the second floor — its pays homage to a former owner, an opera singer, who would sing from there.

Inside, the modern farmhouse style is evident as well with blacks, whites and wood tones prevalent. At just under 3,000 square feet — the finished lower level adds another 1,000 square feet — the home is spacious yet at the same time has a somewhat compact footprint that keeps everything close together; the owners wanted a form of big but cozy.

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Storage is also a key factor with a large walk-through pantry just off the kitchen, an eye-catching wall unit in the home office (also just off the kitchen) and upstairs closet designs were maximized by Stor-X Organizing Systems.

“People don’t realize how they can turn space they’ve been using into so much more,” said Jason Hryhorczuk, franchise owner, Edmonton South, regarding how he helped to optimize the storage options. His favourite, he said, is the wall unit he did for the home office, in a gray color with smoky green undertones.

Meanwhile, the home’s owners said they were flattered to be asked to show their home as part of the tour and to be able to help the ballet meet its fundraising objectives.

Also on the tour, you’ll find the following homes:

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  • A Childhood Dream — in Glenora, a Cape Cod style home designed and built by a couple from a distance as they lived in another part of Canada;
  • Begin Again — a Groat Estates/Westmount home, a modern, multi-level home with a backyard that looks like you’re in the country;
  • All Kind of Angles — in Patricia Heights, a stunning 1980s original build with a full reno that’s very modern, yet warm; other
  • Lofty Living — in Oliver, with no dividing walls and a circular staircase.

The tour includes a bonus stop, at the new Glenora Park Revera retirement residence.

“It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen for seniors,” Somerville said, calling them luxury rentals.

BE HOME TOUR

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 17 and Sunday, Sept. 18.

TOUR HOURS: 11 am to 4 pm

TICKETS: $40. Each ticket will allow you to view each home once over either day. Purchase tickets at balletedmonton.ca/be-home-tour/

HOW TO TAKE THE SELF-GUIDED TOUR: Your ticket will get you a QR code to be scanned at the homes. When visiting the homes no purses, pets, food or bare feet allowed. Visitors are given a bag to carry their shoes in. Masks are not required, though they’re welcomed.

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Mike D. Wagner 1140 posts 0 comments

Love to write so I write about Edmonton my beloved City!!! Studied at University of Alberta, I love this place. Ask me anything!

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