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Stamp of perfection
Publication: Sunday Times HOME Magazine
Writer: Paula Aubin
Date: 14th March, 2010
The emphasis on quality workmanship and superior finish has seen apg homes being rewarded for their efforts.
Visitors to the Riviera may have been blown away by the all-star kitchen and ensuite, but it was the quality of construction that most impressed the judges in the Master Builders Bankwest Housing Excellence Awards.
Tailor-made for discerning buyers with an eye for detail, this apg display home in Woodlands has been named Best Display Home in the $450,000 to $550,000 category.
Praising everything from the plastering to the painting, the judges declared the Riviera a shining example of building excellence.
Contemporary yet supremely comfortable, the home has an undeniable wow factor that is especially evident in the kitchen and ensuite.
According to Leo Callisto, sales and marketing manager at apg, the materials and finishes used in the Riviera take these showcase rooms to a whole new level.
"The use of laminated cavity sliders leading into the utility areas, the integrated fridge and freezer, and the integrated coffee machine, microwave and double ovens are not seen at this level of the market." Leo says.
A long bank of floor-to-ceiling cabinets underlines the sleek, streamlined styling while a secondary cabinet configuration includes overhead cupboards framing a window.
In the ensuite, clever use of tiling and glazing has resulted in a sophisticated, fuss-free look, with a freestanding pier, stone tops and large drawers among the details.
The apg design team has demonstrated how built-in-cabinets can work elsewhere in the home, offering both function and modern good looks.
In the master bedroom, built-in bedside tables extend out to become a dressing table unit, while integrated cabinetwork in both the downstairs lounge and the upstairs sitting room provides ample storage for movies, music and technology.
In the dining room, a long, low cabinet with sliding doors is perfect for items that aren't needed every day but are invaluable when hosting barbecues and parties.
"The use of built-in cabinetry has been well thought through and tailor-made for the space and style of the home," Leo says.
Big windows in the everyday areas, combined with sliding doors to the alfresco, capture views to the pool and enhance the indoor/outdoor experience.
Meeting demand from buyers with teens still living at home, the Riviera offers well planned spaces with a kids' zone upstairs.
Three good-sized minor bedrooms and a bathroom lead off a spacious multipurpose sitting room.
Big enough for chilling out, the sitting room maintains the air of openness and space found elsewhere in this home.
"Anyone can build a house with four walls and a roof but it's the quality and detail in the finish that sets each home apart and says something about its occupants," Leo says.
"This home features excellent workmanship coupled with well-designed spaces that are filled with natural light. It takes full advantage of the limited block size" - Judge John Douglas