Following a professional hockey career, Cory Cross and his wife Shannon decided to build their dream home in Kelowna, British Columbia. After years of moving around, they wanted to settle down at a permanent residence they could call home, to raise their two children.
“I had always talked about wanting to move to Kelowna just for the quality of life and it’s a nice place to raise our family,” stated Shannon.
The Crosses found a house that was nestled into a hillside with a view of the city across the lake. The property and the view appealed to them, but the house wasn’t quite what they wanted. Their plans were to rebuild a modern home that was casual, soft and comfortable for entertaining family and friends.
Through a friend, they met James Wilson, of Wilson Custom Builders in Kelowna, who introduced them to Kolbe’s VistaLuxe® Collection. “The windows connect you to the natural environment and bring natural light to the home,” said Wilson. “You don’t want to pay attention to the window itself; you want them to frame the view and disappear. That’s exactly what VistaLuxe does.”
The Crosses worked very closely with Wilson, and the design evolved throughout the construction process. VistaLuxe’s contemporary look – clean lines, narrow frames, and Flush style exteriors – brought the plan to a new level. Shannon stated, “James knew we needed a higher end, very efficient window, but we also wanted a certain look as well. Kolbe had that look that we wanted, from the inside, but mostly from the outside . . . clean lines… and very flush with the home.”
Kolbe’s direct sets, picture casements and awnings with energy-efficient LoE3-366 glass welcome panoramic views of the lake, while transoms and clerestory windows admit passive daylight. “Having large glass doors that slide open . . . to the outside pool deck makes it easy for everyone to enjoy the outside from most parts of the home,” stated Shannon.
Wilson adds, “The views were number one. I think even more important . . . was . . . making sure we were connected to the lake from every room.”
Photos courtesy of Colin Jewall Photo Studios, Inc.
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