Barb Livingstone

What do you get when you combine the most “one-percenters” per capita, a new national flagship Fer-rari Maserati showroom, the entry of high-end retailer Nordstrom next year and the biggest increase ever in $1 million-plus home sales?

You get Calgary — a city that, despite devastating floods this summer, continues to power this country’s economy, including the purchasing power for all things “luxury.”

Ben Brunnen, a Calgary economic consultant, says the city — with the largest number of head offices per capita in the country — has more executives, higher pay and the type of industries (oil and gas, mining, utili-ties, construction, manufacturing) that contribute to the strength of the luxury market.

Brunnen, former chief economist for the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, says the city's strong economic base and continued strong energy prices have led to continued consumers confidence.

“We showed our ability to weather the economic downturn and the confidence from that means people are willing to spend,” he says.

Newly released data from Statistics Canada reports that 2.9 per cent of Calgarians are in the top one per cent of income earners in the country. Toronto has the most one-percenters, with more than 73,000 making top dollars, but that accounts for only 1.6 per cent of Toronto’s population — much less than this city on a per capita basis.

Canada’s one-percenters now earn at least $191,000 per year, before tax, according to the latest 2011 Na-tional Household Survey. To be part of this country’s exclusive top one per cent of earners, you had to make at least $191,100 annually — an amount seven times greater than the national median income of $29,900.

But it is not just the one-percenters who drive the luxury market. Calgary also has the highest average incomes in the country — and that means purchasing power.

TD Economics predicts retail sales will rise by 4.8 per cent this year in Alberta and 4.6 per cent in 2014,

compared to 2.3 per cent and 3.1 per cent respectively across the country.

“We generally see the highest retail spending in the country,” says Brunnen.

And while this city is not a large retail market com-pared to bigger cities such as Toronto and Vancouver, he says international retailers are, more and more, see-ing Calgary as a good market to be in.

High-end U.S. retailer Nordstrom is entering the luxury market next year with a store at Chinook Centre, com-peting against Holt Renfrew — whose Calgary store is seen as one of the most profitable per square foot in the country.

Calgarians can also find luxury vehicles in the city, from Ferrari to Bentley dealerships.

But a sign of the times is news of a large expan-sion within that market. While there has been a Ferrari Maserati dealership in Calgary since 2008, this fall con-struction will begin on a 45,000-square-foot showroom at Blackfoot Trail and Heritage Drive S.E., overlooking Deerfoot Meadows. It is set to become the brand’s flag-ship store for Canada.

And when you buy a $100,000-plus vehicle, you need the garage to hold it. The luxury housing market is also reflecting this city’s purchasing power.

With still more than three months to go this year, Calgary’s luxury housing market had already set a re-cord for most sales in a year.

Total year-to-date MLS sales for properties of $1 million, and up as of September was already at 545 and counting —more than the 12-month record for transactions set only last year.

“Consumers have seen the value in investing in higher-value homes,” Brunnen says, in a housing mar-ket that is still considered affordable compared to other large Canadian cities.

He sees Calgary’s overall luxury market being strong for the forseeable future, with continued long-term investment in industry such as the oilsands.

“Alberta and Calgary are great places to be.”

Calgarians are in the top one per cent of income earners in the country, and it shows as the city's luxury market continues to grow

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Josh Skapin

uying a luxury home is anything but an impulse purchase. It takes a keen sense of the market to know where and

when there’s value in handing over a million dollars or more for a home.

And luxury home buyers are setup nicely in the Stampede City right now, says Becky Walters, president of the Calgary Real Estate Board.

She says purchasers are at an advantage when putting  pen to paper on homes worth seven figures or more.

“I’d say the luxury market in the city is still a buyer’s market,” says Walters. “There’s a lot of inventory in that price range inside the city and out.”  

Many of these listings are new homes and put on the resale market to sell, she adds.

“We’ve got just about 1,400 properties in the city of Calgary listed at more than $1 million and for the month of August we saw 525 sell,” says Walters. “That’s not eating up the inventory.”

Despite the buildup of million-dollar listings, high-end home sales are stronger in the Calgary area this year than in 2012. In fact, sales of homes of all kinds priced $1 million or higher soared 42 per cent between Jan.1 and the end of August com-pared to a year earlier. After eight months this year, 524 homes changed hands for the price of seven figures or more.

During the same time in 2012, there were 370 sales in this price range.

One of the most high-end areas in Calgary is the historic inner-city community of Mount Royal. While sales have been similar in Mount Royal this year compared to 2012, buyers are reaching deeper in their pockets to move there.

In August, six homes changed hands at an average price of $2.1 million. A year earlier, Mount Royal also saw six sales but for an average price of $1.4 million.

“The interest rates for one are making it more affordable,” says Walters. Another factor is that job stability in Calgary is back on track.

“Everyone took a step back in ’08-09, so I think there were a lot of people making sure that they were going forward solid in their jobs and income,” says Walters. “I think we’ve seen it’s had that turnaround for probably close to 18 months now anyways, if you talk to the downtown core.”

Job stability is also bringing homeowners from a lower price bracket to million dollar homes.

“It’s driving the entire market so they are able to sell their less —expensive home and then move up into that range because they have that confidence,” says Walters.

While the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. doesn’t re-cord sales, it tracks absorption, which is the time in which home owners take possession.

Absorption of single-family homes priced $1 million and higher is up 25 per cent, with 243 possessions from Jan.1 to the end of July compared to a year earlier.

During the same time last year, there were 195 possessions “There are likely a number of reasons we’ve seen the increase

in activity in the luxury home market,” says Richard Cho, CMHC senior market analyst, noting one reason is a growth in income earned in Calgary.

“Home values in general have been rising, and with that there are likely some buyers who have been capitalize on some of those equity gains and use it towards their next house.”

Josh Skapin is a Calgary Herald New Homes and New Condos staff writer.

Jamie Zachary

uxury and autos are as synonymous as Batman and Robin, Simon and Garfunkel, Abbott and Costello.

Represented by a plethora of storied nameplates, some of which date back to the birth of the automobile, luxury vehicles have long captured motorists’ imagina-tions.

In Calgary, they’ve transcended dream machines sta-tus over the past decade, with many of the world’s best automakers planting deep roots in a city that loves to live in the fast lane.

“The appetite starts with the oil and gas sector,” says Calgary Motor Dealers Association executive director Jim Gillespie. “These folks, who work extremely hard for their money, are high-income earners, and they like to spoil themselves.”

Calgary’s entrepreneurial spirit has also spawned a growing group of businesspeople working outside the oil and gas industry who are similarly successful and fuelling a further appetite for luxury vehicles, notes Gillespie.

“These people also like to treat themselves, whether that’s with a multi-million-dollar home, high-end appli-ances or a toy in the toy in the garage,” he says.

The Conference Board of Canada expects Calgary’s disposable income in 2013 to increase to $45,735 — the highest among Canada’s 10 largest cities, and an increase from $40,704 in 2012.

Alberta also leads all provinces with an average dis-posable income of $41,117 in 2013, compared to a Ca-nadian average of $30,898.

In Calgary, Lincoln, Cadillac, Lexus, BMW, Infiniti, Acura, Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche all have dealerships. Some, such as Hyatt Infiniti, represent their respective brands’ flagship stores in Canada — an in-sight into how automakers view the Calgary market, says Gillespie, noting a second Infiniti store is expected in Cal-gary within the next two years.

Many of the world’s exotic auto brands are also zeroing in on the city. Bentley, Aston Martin, Spyker and Fisker are all located within the Calgary Auto Mall, as well as Dilawari Detour, a unique 5,000-square-foot street-front shop in the CORE off Stephen Avenue.

A Lamborghini and Lotus dealership is also expected to arrive within our city within the next few years, located in a to-be-built facility off Blackfoot Trial and Heritage Drive. They will be joined by Porsche, currently located on Macleod Trail, and Ferrari and Maserati, which presently operates out of a facility on Barlow Trail.

Looking back, Gillespie is surprised at how quickly Cal-gary’s luxury vehicle market has evolved in such a short time.

“We didn’t have many of these brands in the city five years ago,” says Gillespie, pointing to the annual Calgary Interna-tional Auto and Truck Show, which represents the only West-ern Canadian stop for a number of brands such Bugatti.

“I think part of is simply evolution. The city’s population reached, and since surpassed one million people, which has fueled an evolution of the local economy.”

Jamie Zachary is editor of the Calgary Herald’s Wednesday Wheels section and writes a weekly Motor Mouth column covering the local auto industry.

Jay de Nance

battle in the luxury retail sector has been raging across North America over the past decade, with a recent focus on the Canadian market.

There has been a long history in the high-end retail sector where shoppers move south across the border to spend their hard earned fashion budgets.

Recently, both American and Canadian retailers have been focused on introducing lucrative store offerings to keep the Ca-nadian consumer dollars on home ice. Although the Canadian markets have a higher cost associated with doing business than their American neighbours, the Canadian economy at this time is viewed as a much healthier one than that of the United States.

Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom and Holt Renfrew are set to go head to head to compete for the top spot as Canada’s No. 1 luxury goods provider.

The Hudson’s Bay Company recently acquired the U.S. based lux-ury retailer Saks Inc. for $2.9 billion, which upholds the firm’s promise to further compete with the category-dominant Holt Renfrew brand owned by the Weston family. Hudson’s Bay is set to open approxi-mately 20 Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH outlet stores in Canada, in ad-dition to the full-sized Saks department stores planned for Vancouver and Toronto; set for delivery over the next two years.

Holt Renfrew, founded in 1837, has been a dominant player in the Canadian luxury goods market with very little competition over the years. Today, however, both Hudson’s Bay and Holt Renfrew are bracing themselves for yet another American retailer making the move north.

The emergence of Seattle-based luxury titan Nordstrom is about to enter several Canadian markets. Nordstrom’s plans to enter the market with four locations set for delivery, starting in Calgary at Chi-nook Centre with a 140,000-square-foot store on two levels in fall 2014. Vancouver and Ottawa are slated to open spring 2015 and Toronto in fall 2016.

Calgary has the strongest personal disposable income level in the country, which has made the city fertile ground for luxury retail-ers to expand and grow. Enclosed shopping centres have domi-nated the luxury retail market, particularly Chinook Centre and the Core Shopping Centre in downtown Calgary.

Chinook Centre has seen a dramatic increase in luxury retail chains moving into the shopping mall since the completion of a $277-million-dollar expansion in fall 2010. 

Brands such as Tory Burch, Tiffany & Co., Burberry, Michael Kors, Harry Rosen and Armani Exchange have lead the luxury surge at Chinook.

The CORE shopping centre, formerly known as TD Square and Eaton Centre, located in the heart of downtown Calgary has also been a dominant player in the luxury retail market.

Anchored by Holt Renfrew and Harry Rosen, the CORE also un-derwent a drastic redevelopment which completed in November 2011. It was recently awarded the VIVA Best-of-the-Best Award from the International Council of Shopping Centres, which hon-ours and recognizes the most outstanding examples of shopping centre design and development, sustainability, marketing and retail store design worldwide.

The luxury retail sector is an ultracompetitive market segment as Canadian based retail brands continue to evolve and international retailers continue to migrate onto the local retail scene. Calgary will continue to be an important stop for expanding retailers moving into the Canadian markets.

Jay de Nance is director of tenant services for Fairfield Commercial Real Estate Inc.

LuxuryLuxuryLuxury Real EstateRetailAuto

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LUxURy IS A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE CALGARy HERALD. zx Project co-ordinators: JAMIE ZACHARy AND JENNIFER WORLEy zx cover design: CHARLENE KOLESNIK zx advertising inquiries: 403-235-7168

LUXURYLUXURY

Rachel Naud

all is a great season for fashion. There’s no better feeling than throwing on a cosy sweater, slipping on a new pair of stylish

leather boots or glamming it up with a special piece of jewelry.

Jewelry is often an accessory worth its weight in gold.

“Investing in some qual-ity jewelry pieces is a good investment because whether it's gold, diamonds, platinum or precious stones, it's going to appreciate in value,” says a spokesperson for J. Vair Anderson Ltd. “They hold their value. And people love wear-ing fine jewelry.”

When it comes to sparkling up your wardrobe, have some fun with it, suggest the experts at J.Vair Anderson.

“There’s nothing wrong with mixing colours of metal. you don’t have to wear all white gold or all yellow gold. Mix and match.”

As for the rest of your ward-robe, this is the season for investing in some quality, luxu-rious pieces that are not only smart spending but make you feel like a million bucks.

“Investing in quality is always a smart way to spend,” says Stacey Shimozawa, buyer and manager of women’s wear at Calgary’s O’Connors Men’s & Women's Clothing & Foot-wear. “your wardrobe is an investment and the pieces, if chosen properly, should last for years. The fit, fabric and styling will be better so it will look newer for longer. Even the colours will be better researched and will look current for longer.”

And since we get a lot of mileage from our fall wardrobe, purchasing trendy looks that last is

especially important. To get you through the season in style, we've

asked local design experts to showcase their best wears for fall.

Jewelryn Wide band rings ( 1.77tw diamonds set in a

matte print 18kt gold) and cuff bracelets (1.52tw diamonds in 18kt rose gold). The rose gold ring and, particularly, the wide cuff bracelet, would

work beautifully with the animal prints that are popular this fall. In addition, the buttons on clothing are tending toward yellow gold. As such, women may enjoy wearing one of the yellow gold pieces of jewelery with the new suits that are current.

n Enameled jewelery (.47tw diamonds in 18kt white gold) The enameled rings come in an unlimited choice of colours, and thus are very versatile. The beauty and workman-ship of the ring illustrated would war-rant wearing with any outfit.

n Make a bold statement with a wide sterling silver bracelet with one sapphire. The statement piece in silver could take a classic black turtleneck or dress from everyday to dramatic.

Hot fashion trends this falln A fuller skirt. Everyone has been

obsessed with the pencil skirt for so long that we've forgotten how good a skirt with some fullness can look. Check out this beautiful mohair in a navy and forest green blend from

Max Mara. n A cigarette pant in a rich Jacquard goes with

so much more than you'd think. It can be bold or subtle, but will make everything else look fresh again.

n The staple leather of the season is the fine leather moto jacket. Wear it over dresses, with a girlie skirt or with your favourite jeans.

n Colourful denim. With everything from a

great blazer to cashmere sweater, they're a staple for fall, and with a fabulous fit and four-way stretch fabric, you'll find it hard to go back to anything else.

n Look for booties with chain details or studs, bright patent or suede pumps and man-tailored loafers and brogues — and then wear them with everything. The booties and brogues work with dresses and skirts and the feminine pumps can work with jeans. Everything goes.

Layering styleWith the Calgary climate, layering colours and

textures is a must. “Fall is a time to purchase some great pieces

that will carry you through eight or more months of the year,” says Aaron Miller, buyer and sales consultant for O'Connors Men's & Women's Clothing & Footwear. “It's about conquering the elements and looking great doing it, but keeping in mind your lifestyle and where it takes you.”

To get to where you're going in luxurious style, Miller recommends the following hot outerwear to keep gents looking cool all season.

n Lubiam hybred sport coat. These jackets are unique because they have a zip-out bib, so you can wear it on a cool morning layered and with a scarf, and it comes off as outerwear. Or with a quick zip, the bib comes out and you have great casual sport coat look for the weekend.

n Canali's quilted outerwear jacket and one of the hottest brands Barbour with its version. These jackets are great editions with their rugged looks, yet soft-weight appeal and clean lines.

n Samuelsohn quater lined soft constructed sport coat. For guys who run hot or like to layer up, these jackets are your best friends. They move with ease and are uber comfortable. They also look amazing with jeans or can be paired up with a great wool trouser.

n Ferrente wool knit with hoodie and Dale of Norway Alpin quarter zip. These are both great pieces because you can layer up and look great whether you're heading to the mountains or driv-ing the kids to hockey.

ALWAYS IN STYLEquality is Invest in some luxurious pieces for fall and feel like a million bucks

The cigarette pant in rich Jacquard adds luxury to the fall wardrobe; courtesy O’Connors Men’s & Women's Clothing & Footwear. Inset photos: Wide bands and enamelled jewelry are among the top jewelry trends making a statement; courtesy J. Vair Anderson.

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four calgaryherald.com/luxury calgaryherald.com/luxury five

Andrea Cox

he pursuit of luxury, like the pursuit of happiness can often be elusive, especially when it comes to real estate.

“Everyone has a different set of parameters that define luxury,” says Ross Pavl, a Calgary-based luxury real estate special-ist with Re/Max. “It really depends on the stage of life that the buyer is at.”

According to a recent study by Sotheby’s International, certain el-ements drive the marketplace when it comes to luxury homes and luxury neighbourhoods.

The Top Tier Trends Report: A Comparative Survey of Canada’s Luxury Real Estate Market reveals that in Calgary, luxury is all about a distinctive Western Canadian lifestyle, one that is defined by lo-cation, amenities, gourmet kitchens and stellar views — views of downtown, the river and the mountains.

Pavl agrees that luxury is all about lifestyle. “It’s not so much about a specific home or neighbourhood.”

He notes the younger set want to live in the inner- city close to work, great schools and the vibe. But as individuals age, the draw to a more peaceful lifestyle in the country beckons.

He says a luxury home is typically defined as a property $1 million or over — most sales occur in the $1-million-to-$1.3-million range. But he thinks that given Calgary’s market, the $1 million cutoff is below the luxury threshold. “A million dollars in the inner city isn’t really luxury.”

That is most likely why Sotheby’s report placed the baseline entry point for a luxury single-family home in Calgary at $2 million, which is comparable with that of Toronto.

There is no doubt that Calgary’s robust economy has added fuel to the luxury home market, which, according to numbers reported by the Calgary Real Estate Board, is on fire. As of mid-September of this year, the year-to-date sales for properties priced at $1 million or more sat at 543 — that’s just one off the all-time record of 544 set for the entire year of 2012. To give some perspective, the year-to-date sales last year at this time hovered at 375 homes.

Surprisingly the average luxury buyer driving the market in Cal-gary is young, between 35 and 40, according to Sotheby's. Many of those buyers make a lot of money — more than 80 per cent are earning an income of $500,000 or higher.

This new, young and wealthy demographic is drawn to the inner-city lifestyle with its walkability, access to restaurants, theatre and the river. The Sotheby's survey unearths the most desirable estab-lished luxury neighbourhoods are Mount Royal, Brittania, Bel-Aire, Aspen, Springbank Hill, Elbow Park, Elbow Valley, the Westside and anything inner city.

And buyers are snapping up inner-city real estate everywhere. Neighbourhoods such as Marda Loop, Kensington and Altadore are hopping.

“People are just buying, tearing down and rebuilding their luxury home,” says Pavl.

yet size doesn't necessarily define luxury, notes Jacqui Ackerley,

T

Luxury is all

about lifestyle.

it's not so

much about

a specific home or

neighbourhoodFrom estate homes on a large lots to little jewel boxes with beautiful finishes, luxury homes come in all shapes and sizes

planning co-ordinator for Qualico Communities, the developer be-hind the luxury neighbourhood of Dressage.

“What people view as luxury living is so subjective. Luxury can mean a lot of things — it can be an estate home on a large lot or a little jewel box of a house with beautiful finishes.”

From a developer’s perspective, luxury is really all about ameni-ties and architectural controls.

“What we have discovered is that luxury is a combination of large lots, many amenities and beautiful homes,” says Ackerley.

“We didn’t set a minimum square footage for the homes in Dres-sage because of that shift in thinking.”

To that end, the developer paid close attention to the community’s details, from location to lot sizes and neighbourhood landscaping.  

“There is enhanced detailing in the parks and the street scapes with the pathway connections and pergolas and custom benches. It is just about those little extras,” says Ackerley.

Dressage offers 26 estate-style lots of one-third to one-half of an acre carved into picturesque cul-de-sacs that back onto a nature re-serve and wetlands. The western edge overlooks the rolling hills and swaying grassland across to Spruce Meadows and the foothills.

Luxury also follows the old adage, it’s all about location, location, location.

“People are realizing that they don’t have to have the biggest house in the neighbourhood — it has to do with finishings and set-ting up your environment to suit your needs,” says Ackerley.

Take Andy and Joanne Lapins. This upwardly mobile couple

recently built a  3,500-square-foot, two-storey home with walk-out basement  in Discovery Ridge. But with two teenage daughters at home, they are finding the layout just doesn’t flow.

“We are looking for a bungalow that we will use every square inch of the space so that there are no rooms that sit empty,” says Joanne, recalling that in her last home, the only family member who sat in the living room was the cat.

“It made me crazy. I just want to use every single space and have beautiful quality.”

For the Lapins, it’s all about lifestyle — the right home design, combined with amenities and location. Location-wise, they are torn: with both girls involved in sports, there are huge advantages to living in the inner city, but the country estate lifestyle is pulling at their heartstrings.

One thing the couple knows for sure is they want a jewel box — a beautiful and thoughtful design — with uber high-end finishes; a home where the kids can grow and eventually the couple can enjoy being empty-nesters. So far, they haven’t had much luck.

“It looks like we will have to build, so now it is all about finding the right lot in the right location,” says Joanne.

Main photo: Luxury neighbourhood of Dressage near Spruce Meadows, courtesy Qualico Communities; above, inset: Andy and Joanne Lapins are house hunting as the couple finds the layout of their two-storey home is not suitable for their family’s needs, photo by Andrea Cox.

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Dealership is bringing a taste of Italy to Calgary’s streets, one supercar at a time

Luxe additionsRecent additions to the dealership include the 2014 Maserati Quattroporte, 2014 Maserati Ghibli.

Luxe locationFerrari Maserati of Alberta is preparing to move into a new flagship facility at Blackfoot Trail and Heritage Drive.

When you think of Italy, four things come to mind: fine wine and food, incredible fashions, fascinating history and superior automobiles.

Since 2008, Calgarians have had a small taste of Italy thanks to Ferrari Maserati of Alberta, which started bringing two of Italy’s signature luxury vehicle lines to the city after dealer principal Remo Ferri, president of Ma-ranello Automobile Dealers Inc. of Ontario, and his client-now-partner Carlo Galasso saw a growing demand for the two brands in Alberta.

“There were so many Ferrari and Maserati enthusiasts here travelling to Remo’s Fer-rari Maserati of Ontario (located in Vaughan, near Toronto), that it just made sense for Carlo to open a dealership here,” says Ferrari Maserati of Alberta general manager Tony L’Amarca.

“Even today, people don’t realize you can buy Maseratis in Calgary. It’s an exclusive brand. It doesn’t matter where I go, people are in awe of these vehicles.

Several models will be increasing the clas-sic line’s presence in the Canadian market this coming year: the 2014 Quattroporte, a reinvention of Maserati’s flagship four-door sport sedan dating back to 1963, as well as up-and-comers such as the Ghibli luxury sport sedan and the rumoured Levante, Maserati’s entry into the SUV market.

“Maserati plans to increase its production eight-fold for the world, up from only about 4,000 cars per year,” says L’Amarca. “To date, it has already passed the 16,000 unit produced mark due to orders on the new Quattroporte and Ghibli models.

“They’re really getting into the game, with the increased production and their four-year, 80,000-kilometre warranty.”

Ferrari Maserati of Alberta, meanwhile, is

getting ahead of the game. This fall, construction begins on a 45,000-square-foot showroom at Blackfoot Trail and Heritage Drive S.E., overlooking Deerfoot Meadows.

L’Amarca says the new location is set to become the brand’s flagship store for Canada.

The growing Maserati brand is exciting, says L’Amarca, adding the vehicles’ signa-ture sound, superior service record and lux-ury appointments appeal to men and women who have attained success in their lives and want a vehicle to reflect this.

The 2014 Quattroporte comes in two mod-els: a 3.8-litre V-8 twin-turbo rear-wheel drive pushing 530 horsepower (the Quattroporte GTS), and the S Q4 all-wheel drive model (perfect for Calgary’s climate), with 404-h.p., three-litre V-6 Twin Turbo.

“The Quattroporte has been totally re-designed for 2014, with new motors de-veloped by Paolo Martinelli, the man who built the engines for Michael Schumacher’s winning Ferrari Formula One team,” says L’Amarca.

“It’s got a large cabin that seats five, fully appointed Italian leather and you can have up to two laptops built into the car.”

The MSRP on the 2014 Quattroporte starts at $124,390.

For those looking for a smaller four-door sport sedan, the 2014 Ghibli will start at $75,000 and come with many of the same appointments.

The rumoured Levante will launch next spring and summer, marking Maserati’s entry into the sport utility market.

“The Levante will be another exciting ad-dition to our line because we know Calgary buyers love SUVs,” says L’Amarca.

The Ferrari brand, meanwhile, is making waves with the 2014 F-12 Berlinetta.

“The F-12 Berlinetta is a true supercar,” says L’Amarca. “It’s the most powerful road-going car Ferrari has built to date, with 740 naturally aspirated horsepower out of a 6.2-litre, V-12 engine. That’s with no turbo and no supercharger ... it’s a very exclusive vehicle.”

The ever-popular 458 line continues to be a sell-out.

“We also have other models, called the California and the Maserati Gran Turismo Cabrio, with retractable hard and soft tops,

which offer drivers the best of a coupe and a convertible” says L’Amarca, himself a Ferrari enthusiast since Galasso got him into his first one back in the 1990s.

“There is also the Ferrari FF, which is our ultimate year-round road going Ferrari. It’s a 12-cylinder, 660-h.p. hatch version of a Fer-rari — and people can drive them year round because of the all-wheel drive.”

Experience this luxury for yourself at the Ferrari Maserati of Alberta showroom at 204 Meridian Rd. N.E., just off Barlow Trail, call 403-273-6060, or visit ferrariofalberta.com.

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The Quattroporte S Q4 combines exhilarating Maserati performance with the sure-footed agility of intelligent all-wheel drive.

Its powerful twin-turbo V6 engine delivers 404 HP through an advanced AWD system that achieves unprecedented handling

and precise control in all weather, with an 8-speed automatic transmission designed for maximum acceleration and fuel

ef� ciency. Also available in rear-wheel drive with a 523 HP V8 engine, the Quattroporte blends unmistakable Italian design,

a spacious interior and engineering excellence — a celebration of performance, luxury and driving pleasure that is pure Maserati.

The Quattroporte S Q4 with intelligent all-wheel drive, including scheduled maintenance, starts at $124,390.*

six calgaryherald.com/luxury

Golf mecca Space to roam

Heritage Pointe Offering the perfect balance of city and country, Artesia is close to the action but you’d never know it

Jane Austen once said, “There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort.”

Our home is our sanctuary. It’s our escape from the hustle and bustle; it’s our shelter from the elements; it’s where memories are made and life happens.

And for developer Heritage Pointe, it’s a homeowner’s personal oasis.

As soon as you arrive at the doors of Arte-sia, you know you have ventured into a very special place. Offering the perfect balance of city and country, the quaint rural community prides itself on being a place where you can have vista views all to yourself, where you can take a walk with the clouds as your only companions and still have neighbours close enough to call on for a cup of sugar. It’s a place where you can emerge from a forest of poplars and find yourself just in time for happy hour at the golf course patio.

“Artesia is having the rush of the big city minutes away, but judging by the view from your living room, you’d guess it was hours,” adds Bill MacDonald, project manager of land development for Heritage Pointe Proper-ties. “It’s the place where the best the city has to offer, and the best nature has to offer, come together.”

Located along Calgary’s southern edge, next to Pine Creek Valley, Artesia is within minutes of an abundance of amenities. Ac-cess to Calgary’s two main arteries and LRT stations are mere moments away. In addition, with Deerfoot Trail and McLeod Trails to the west, there is no shortage of nearby shopping and restaurant options, not to mention the fact that downtown Calgary is just a 30-minute drive.

Guided by the architectural and landscape guidelines for Artesia, each home is designed and constructed with quality and care in the Heritage Pointe tradition. Homes in Artesia aren’t restricted to one design. In fact, you’ll find Georgian, English, French Country, Tu-dor and Craftsman architectural styles in a variety of single-family, bungalows, two-storey and custom homes.

With homesites ranging from 65 to 90 feet in width, and award-winning builders working to execute each buyer’s unique vision, there are endless possibilities for a new home.

The Villas of Artesia feature all the luxurious qualities of a high-end home but require none of the exterior maintenance.

“They’re perfect for anyone interested in a 'lock-and-leave' lifestyle, or those just look-ing to keep things simple,” says MacDonald.

MacDonald says the homes at Artesia rival those in any luxury neighbourhood in the Cal-gary region — and they should considering Heritage Pointe’s builder partners are three of Calgary’s most awarded.

“From our true estate-sized homes to our luxury villas, Artesia has a home to meet the needs of any lifestyle,” he says. “But what sets an Artesia home apart is the space surround-ing it. Every home in the community backs onto a natural amenity, be it green space, a park, or a water feature. With 1.9 homes per acre, Artesia is the lowest density neighbourhood compared to any Calgary community.”

Adding to the long list of reasons why Calgarians are choosing to call Artesia home

is the fact the community keeps the environ-ment and sustainability in mind at all times — from the design to the mechanics residents use to water their lawn.

Created to function in tandem with its natural surroundings, Artesia features low lighting at night so residents can stargaze on a whim. Narrow-winding roads work to naturally slow traffic, and state-of-the-art bioswales collect rainwater that is used to irrigate the entire community.

“And most importantly, we’ve simply left nature alone, and provided the residents of Artesia with the space to simply be,” says MacDonald.

Single-family homes start in the mid $800.000s and villas start in the low $800’000s.

With Phase 1 being a huge success and more than 80 per cent sold, Heritage Pointe

has accelerated Phase 2, which includes a total of 68 home sites.

Show homes are open Monday to Thursday from 2 to 8 p.m. and noon to 5 p.m. on week-ends and holidays.

Heritage Pointe, ranked among Canada’s best courses, is just a short drive from Artesia.

Artesia is interlaced with pathways and anchored by a community gathering space designed for family fun.

We’ve simply left nature alone, and provided the residents of artesia with the space to simply be.

eight calgaryherald.com/luxury

IT’S IN THE DETAILSFrom precious stone to exotic woods Calgarians are putting their unique stamp on their luxury homes

Marty Hope

uxury is a relative word.It's dictionary definition is a “state of

great comfort or elegance, especially when involving great expense.”

Allan Klassen, president and manag-ing partner of Albi Homes compares it to beauty: “It's in the eye of the beholder.”

For 31 years now, Albi has been work-ing closely with some discerning clientele to create urban masterpieces, winning a number of awards along the way, but al-ways responding to the wants and needs of its buyers, says Klassen.

“We’re in the business of building luxury homes,” he says. “Albi has been built on a solid foundation of Old World value, European craftsmanship and timeless ar-chitecture.”

Klassen says there are many elements that go into a luxury home.

“Size matters, of course. But it’s also the providing the quality of craftsmanship buy-ers expect in a luxury home," says Klas-sen. “It’s about fit and finish, providing the little extra details, the completeness of the product.

Barb  Kelly, Albi’s director of interior design, echoes Klassen’s vision of luxury by talking about the passion for timeless elegance — whether it be wrapped in traditional, contemporary or more modern design — that Albi creates with each of its homes.

“At Albi, luxury is about the sense of ar-rival,” says Klassen.

Albi builds in three distinct price cat-

egories. Its jewel-box homes are priced from about $600,000 to $750,000; luxury homes range from around $800,000 to $1.3 million; while what Klassen calls the “uber-estate” homes can reach into the $3.5-million range. This year, Albi will build about 150 homes with an average price of just under $1 million.

So, what do the buyers want in their luxury homes? Is the sky the limit?

Not really, says Klassen. While they know what they want and need — and have a wish list — they also come in with a budget. From Albi’s perspective, the de-sign of the home is limited by the size of the lot it is working with.

Today’s buyers are looking for a combination of looks, size, sustainability, eco-friendliness and front-line technology that cater to their life-styles — and designed to fit into a home likely 3,500 to 4,000 square feet in size.

Depending on lifestyle, the homes could have three or four bedrooms with large walk-in closets  or dressing rooms, and 3.5 to 4.5 bathrooms, says Kelly. They could also have completely finished lower or walkout levels with games room, bedroom and ensuite spaces.

On the main floor, typical luxury homes could feature a home office, formal or ca-sual dining area, gourmet kitchen outfitted with professional-grade appliance pack-age, walkthrough laundry and likely a walk-through pantry from the front-drive or side-slung two- or three-car garage that has been designed to hold some family toys.

Addition goodies could include a media room, spa or steam shower, wine cellar,

and fireplaces in the master suite, as well as on the main floor and lower level.

While many of these areas can also be found in less expensive homes, it’s the level of finishing and materials used that make a home luxury.

Dana George of Cielo Interiors says there is no end to the design ideas in the marketplace.

“People are still doing a lot of granite, but I’m seeing more with precious stone like agate or topaz in the slabs.

“People are also getting away from carpeting altogether and going into handscraped, exotic woods with custom-designed woven area rugs.”

Lighting fixtures are also becoming cus-tomized, almost sculpted, pieces, says George, noting smart home technology, with no visible wires is also popular.

“Wall fabrics are back in vogue,” adds George. Choices include silk fabrics that have been made into a one-of-a-kind wall-paper.

Despite the complexity of today's luxury homes, Klassen says the time from the first meeting to writing up the agreement typi-cally takes just 60 to 90 days.

“During that time, the customer gets a pretty good idea of what we have to offer as the builder, and also lets them visit our Galleria design studio where a lot of their design questions are answered.”

The delivery time for the home can vary from nine to 12 months, depending on the complexity of the project.

Above: The Carrara kitchen by Albi Homes; below Thinkstock photos

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LUXURYA C A L G A R Y H E R A L D A D V E R T I S I N G P U B L I C A T I O N • O C T . 2 3 , 2 0 1 3 • S E C T I O N T W O • W W W . C A L G A R Y H E R A L D . C O M / L U X U R Y

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Lincoln Grill Sure thing Try the Lincoln Grill’s popular ground-to-order coffee, which gets rave reviews from service customers.

Woodridge prides itself on making sure customers are able to make an informed decision about the vehicle they want to buy.

Woodridge Ford LincolnThere are just some words that pair well with

the word “luxury.” One is the word “safety.” Anis “service.”

Yet another is a name that’s been connected with luxury for decades: Lincoln.

All three come together at Woodridge Ford Lincoln Ltd. in southeast Calgary.

“It’s all about the quality the vehicle offers,” says Lincoln brand specialist Dimitri Anastasakis when asked to define the Lincoln magic that distinguishes vehicles such as the flagship MKX luxury crossover SUV.

“The MKX offers everything that Lincoln does best: safety, luxury, handling and power at a great price.”

With features such as 305 horsepower un-der the hood, a six-speed Select-Shift automatic transmission with paddle activa-tion, superior fuel economy and in-telligent all-wheel drive, it’s hard to argue the point.

But Anastasa-kis and general manager Travis Eade say Lincoln isn’t resting on its laurels. In fact, it’s in the midst of reinventing itself, beginning with a new branding,

Lincoln Motor Co., and the introduction of the MKZ luxury sedan, which Eade says reflects a new direction for Lincoln.

“For some time, a Lincoln used to be seen as a dressed-up Ford. Now, they’re attracting a younger buyer, a more upwardly mobile buyer,” he says.

Adds Anastasakis: “They’re redesigning the vehicle, going in a complete new direction from what they did before. All the technology you can pack into a vehicle today — that’s something that attracts the buyers.”

These days, a luxury vehicle is as much about intuitive design and safety as it is about plush leather seating and ample legroom. The MKZ, for example, comes with features such as adaptive cruise control that senses if vehicles

in front have slowed down; a lane-departure system that reads the lines on the road to help keep the vehicle on the straight-and-narrow; and blind-spot monitoring.

“It also has a voice-recognition system — you can tell the car what temperature you want, what radio station you want to listen to, you can enter an address for the navigation system, all using your voice,” says Anastasakis.

Lincoln offers a number of incentives to make buying a vehicle even more attractive, includ-ing generous delivery allowances and loyalty credits.

“All of these offers provide value-added prop-ositions,” says Eade.

“You can get a comparable vehicle, say a BMW, sometimes with less options than the MKX or MKZ, and end up paying at least $15,000 more.”

Being a Lincoln dealership requires Wo-odridge — a member of the Wood Automotive Group — to meet certain standards. All sales-

people need to be Lincoln-certified, and a sepa-rate showroom has been built to display Lincoln models, says Eade.

Bring your Lincoln in for servicing, and you’re provided with another Lincoln as a loaner. If you prefer to wait, you can access a business cen-tre with Wi-Fi, workstations and a printer, or en-joy breakfast or a snack in the exclusive Lincoln Grill café (be sure to try the coffee).

Want to experience a Lincoln before you buy? Contact brand specialists Anastasakis at dimitri@woodridgeford.com or Blair Jarvis at bjarvis@woodridgeford.com and sign up for the Lincoln Date Night promotion.

“You can take an MKZ on an extended test drive, usually over the weekend, and we’ll give you a $100 gift certificate so you can take your spouse or date out for an evening on the town, on us,” explains Anastasakis.

Drop by Woodridge Ford Lincoln at 11580 24 St. S.E., just off Deerfoot Trail, call 403-253-2211 or visit woodridgeford.com.

Where luxury is synonymous with safety and service

FAST FACTS

WOODRIDGE FORD LINCOLNPRESIDENT GERRY WOOD

GENERAL MANAGER TRAVIS EADE

SALES MANAGER RORY WOOD

NEW VEHICLE SALES MANAGER DIMITRI ANASTASAKIS

BRAND SPECIALIST BLAIR JARVIS

PLEASE READ. All offers OAC. All offers end October 31st, 2013. Dealer inventory may vary versus offers listed above and factory order/dealer trade may be required. See dealer for full details.

(403) 451-6185www.WOODRIDGELINCOLN.ca

WOODRIDGE LINCOLNAT DEERFOOT TRAIL AND DOUGLASDALE BOULEVARD

SAVE UP TO $6,500 IN FACTORY CREDITSON REMAINING 2013 AND 2014 LINCOLN VEHICLES

There's Never Been a Better Time toExperience Lincoln.

THE ALL-NEW 2013 LINCOLN MKZ

MKS MKZ NAVIGATOR MKX MKT

ALBERTAMOTOR VEHICLEINDUSTRY COUNCIL

LICENSED

ten calgaryherald.com/luxury calgaryherald.com/luxury eleven

Strong backingATS, XTS and SRX come with six-year, 110,000-km powertrain and four-year, 80,000-km full-service warranties.

To name a fewOther acclaimed vehicles at GSL GM City include the Chevrolet Impala, Silverado and GMC Sierra half-ton.

GSL GM City Customer experience earns Cadillac multiple top honours

Nothing says luxury like driving a vehicle dubbed Car of the Year by Esquire Magazine.

That’s just one of the accolades the 2013 Cadillac ATS has received, and one of the reasons why the ATS has become a flagship model at GSL GM City, one of Calgary’s old-est and most-established dealerships.

The ATS is Cadillac’s first entry into the small-car luxury sedan market, placing it head-to-head with the likes of the BMW 3 and Mercedes-Benz C-class.

For 2014, the ATS has been upgraded to include Turbo, Turbo Premium and Turbo Luxury models.

The Turbo Luxury offers features such as fine leather upholstery, heated steering wheel and front dual-zone air conditioning. The two-litre,

four-cylinder engine pushes 200 horse-power.

But it’s the Cadillac User Experience (CUE) system, available in the ATS, along with the XTS and SRX crossover models, that sets the vehicle

apart, says general manager Ashley Wolfe.“CUE is the brain of the car,” she says.

“It’s like a mini-iPad that fits in the dash and everything is slide-controlled. You can tell the vehicle to go to a radio station or make a phone call or find a destination — everything is voice-activated.”

Up to 10 Bluetooth-enabled devices can be paired with CUE. It’s even possible for two phones to be activated at once.

The system also features Pandora music streaming and access to GM’s groundbreak-ing OnStar driver-assistance service. Wolfe says, CUE turns the Cadillac’s dashboard into one big smartphone.

“My phone will be in my purse and I’ll get in and within 10 seconds CUE has picked up all of my music and all of my contacts instanta-neously,” she says.

With amenities like this, no wonder the 2013 ATS was also awarded Vehicle of the Year by the Motor Press Guild, North American Car of

the Year and even Luxury Car of the Year from Popular Mechanics.

But the price point is also award-worthy; there are still 2013 models available for less than $40,000, Wolfe says, with 0.9 per cent financing on both purchase and leasing. It’s possible to lease an ATS for less than $200 a month.

Also making waves at GSL GM City is the 2014 XTS Twin Turbo Vsport Platinum, which Wolfe describes as the “big brother” to the ATS.

Featuring a 3.6-litre, direct-injection V-6 engine pushing 410 h.p. and available in interior colours from platinum to jet black, the XTS is a luxury sedan that even makes

parking easy with the new Automatic Park-ing Assist feature. The XTS also comes along with other five-star-rated safety features such as adaptive forward lighting that automatically switches from high to low beam if it senses an oncoming set of headlights.

The SRX crossover SUV, in front- and all-wheel drive configurations, also with a 3.6-L V-6 engine and more than 300 hp with dynamic stability control and blind-spot monitoring system.

Cadillac describes the 2014 model as pro-viding “equal doses of refinement and exhila-ration,” with features such as backup camera and optional Bose surround sound system.

“Cadillac and GM have stepped up their game this year,” says Wolfe. “We’ve really excelled in the safety features (like) blind-spot alert, lane departure and adaptive cruise control.”

Cadillac also offers full-coverage mainte-nance packages that include free detailing once a year. When you bring in you Cadil-lac for service, a Cadillac will be loaned to you and dropped off at your home or business.

GSL also offers an on-site all makes colli-sion centre and free shuttle service.

To learn more, come down to the GSL GM City showroom at 1720 Bow Tr. S.W., call 403-265-7690, or visit gslgmcity.com.

FAST FACTS

GSL GM CITYGENERAL MANAGER AShLEY WOLfE

GENERAL SALES MANAGER

JOE CuCKOW

SALES MANAGER STEVE DEERY

THE

IN CADILLAC LUXURY

GREYHOUNDBUS DEPOT

INTRODUCING THE ALL NEW

2014 XTS

2014 ATS2014 SRX

BY G.S.L.BY G.S.L.

STARTINGFROM $58,095

STARTINGFROM $41,835STARTING

FROM $42,289

LEASEFROM0.9%

403-265-76901720 BOW TRAIL SW, CALGARY

www . g s l g m c i t y . c o m

Universal Ford LincolnFamily-owned-and-operated dealership is offering a shopping experience to match its rides with unique standalone Lincoln showroom

It has been the vehicle of presidents, count-less successful businesspeople and estab-lished families for generations. It’s a brand that truly says you have arrived.

For decades, Lincoln has been synony-mous with luxury. Universal Lincoln is poised to help the classic brand move into a new era of comfort and superior design.

“Lincoln is truly an iconic brand,” says vice-president and general manager Darin Schota-nus. “Today, it’s a modern, sleek and highly intelligent vehicle.”

Nowhere is this more vividly illustrated than with the new MKZ luxury sedan, which Schota-nus says is a game-changer for the brand.

“It’s the new flagship design for Lincoln, showcasing what Lincoln has become and will continue to be in the future,” he says.

“It’s been rede-signed from the ground up with technology un-matched within the industry.

Schotanus notes the MKZ has next-gen features such as lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, parking as-sist and a heated steering wheel.

Another feature is MyLincoln Touch, which allows driv-ers to synch their smartphones with the onboard com-

puter and have hands-free access to naviga-tion, climate control, entertainment choices and even a selection of apps.

“With the traffic in this city, and with so many people spending more time in their cars, the more seamless a transition we can make for the executive, the better,” says Schotanus.

The MKZ joins other classic lines such as the bestselling MKX compact SUV and Lin-coln Navigator SUV, which has proven that the words “luxury” and “family vehicle” are not mutually exclusive.

Lincoln also offers the MKT, a seven-pas-senger, all-wheel-drive crossover wagon.

“There’s a lot of choice within the Lincoln

brand, for whatever your lifestyle is,” says Schotanus. “There is a Lincoln that will fit any budget out there.”

Schotanus adds the range of buyers in-terested in the brand continues to widen as more diverse clients embrace the classic lines of these vehicles, their technology and their classic name.

“It’s getting tougher to categorize the demo-graphic,” he says. “We have loyal customers on their sixth or seventh Lincoln, from the old Continental to the new MKZ. But we’re also seeing buyers getting a little younger, and you’re seeing it reflected in the designs.”

For example, on the horizon is the all-new MKC, a crossover SUV aimed at attracting younger buyers. It’s expected to sport every-thing from soft, leather-wrapped interiors to top-of-the-line technology such as MyLincoln Touch and push-button gearshifts.

“It’s aimed at a segment we’ve never tar-geted before,” says Schotanus.

Universal Lincoln, a family-owned dealer-ship, has been in business for 70 years. Schotanus says staff members knows that a Lincoln buyer expects a higher standard of customer service, from the first sale through to the final maintenance visit.

All of this is the reason behind Universal Lin-coln featuring the only fully standalone Lincoln showroom in Western Canada.

“We have a separate waiting room with cof-fee and snacks, a business centre, a beautiful fireplace, a TV — it’s a nice place to relax and

continue on with business while you wait for servicing,” says Schotanus.

“You are not surrounded by the noise and business of a traditional dealership.”

And if clients need a loaner vehicle, they are provided with another Lincoln.

“With our standalone showroom, we want our luxury buyer to really distinguish that they have a Lincoln versus a Ford — a more relaxed atmosphere where there is no pres-sure,” says Schotanus.

Universal Lincoln is located at 2800 Barlow Tr. N.E. For more information, call 403-291-2800 or visit myuniversal.ca.

In the familyThe Schotanus family has owned Universal Lincoln since 1981, but the dealership dates back 70 years.

Iconic brandFranklin D. Roosevelt’s presidential vehicle, the Sunshine Special, was a modified 1939 Lincoln V12 convertible.

FAST FACTS

UNIVERSAL FORD LINCOLN DEALER PRINCIPAL SCOTT SChOTANuS

VICE-PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER

DARIN SChOTANuS

LINCOLN SPECIALISTS BRuCE BLOuGh BRYCE hARRISON

SERVICE MANAGER DARRYL AGNEW

2800 Barlow Trail NECalgary, Alberta T1Y 1A2403-291-2800

Visit our showroomfor complete details

2013 Lincoln MKZ...

fall in love all over again.

twelve calgaryherald.com/luxury calgaryherald.com/luxury thirteen

Porsche Centre CalgaryFrom the 911 to the recently redesigned 2014 Cayenne SUV, there is a luxury Porsche for every lifestyle

Parked in the middle of Porsche Centre Calgary’s Macleod Trail showroom is an Aston Martin DBS, the type James Bond drove in Casino Royale and one of the most prestigious brands in the world.

So why is it here?“We just took it on trade — the client

traded it in on a new Porsche 911,” says general manager Craig Shostak.

Nearby, a sales associate chimes in that, last year, they took in two Ferraris on trade from customers who also would rather be driving a Porsche.

If that isn’t illustration enough of Porsche's appeal, nothing is.

From the 911 to the recently redesigned 2014 Cayenne SUV, there is a luxury Porsche for every lifestyle.

“We don’t just offer one or two different packages; there are liter-ally hundreds of options,” says Shostak. “Specific inte-rior trim, leath-ers, titanium strips, carbon fibres are very popular on the inside. It really comes down to the customer’s preference, es-pecially with our new Cayenne.”

The Cay-enne, available starting as low

as the $60,000 range, is available in con-figurations from the 300-horsepower six-cylinder up to the sportier GTS model and the 500-h.p. eight-cylinder turbo model.

“This sport utility is a race car, pure and simple,” says Shostak as he shows off the five-passenger Cayenne’s features that include a centre control console, black leather interior, automatically opening rear hatch and heated seats. “You can take this on the track and compete quite nicely with the 911. It can go off-road … it’s probably the truest sport utility out there.”

The new Cayenne is also powerful enough to tow up to 7,000 lbs, making it

perfect for taking the boat out to the coast.“The Cayenne has been on the road

since (about 2003), and they redesigned it two years ago, so today it’s a completely different vehicle,” says Shostak. “It’s been made a little sportier and we’ve been selling them like crazy.

“You can get a base model starting at only $60,000, all the way up to a fully loaded Cayenne for around $185,000. But certainly the base price is right in the ball park when you are comparing it to our com-petition as a great starter luxury vehicle.”

The Cayenne and the 911 are only two of the iconic models available at Porsche Centre Calgary, alongside the classic Boxster two-door convertible with its innovative mid-body engine placement (allowing roomy trunks at both the front and rear), the four-door Pana-mera luxury sedan and the 2014 Cayman two-door hard top which recently won a rave driving review in the National Post.

One appeal about Porsche is you won’t find millions of them on the streets.

“Porsche is not a volume dealer,” says Shostak. “They want to sell cars, yes, but they’re not chasing numbers. Porsche doesn’t play the ‘zero per cent’ game.”

And this exclusivity – the type of thing that might even make someone eschew Aston Martin for a 911 or Ferrari for a Cayenne – ex-tends into the sales and service experience.

“Our management team talks about cus-tomer service all the time,” says Shostak. “Clients who buy Porsches are used to be-ing pampered and treated well, so we have to follow suit. And part of that is maintaining communication with the customer – listen-ing to what they want.

“Servicing is pretty much the same as on the sales side. We used to have our Porsche servicing done a few blocks away, but it’s now all in one building. We provide loaner vehicles and shuttle service … it is all about treating the customer right.”

Porsche Centre Calgary is located at 5512 Macleod Tr. S.W.

For more information, call 403-319-0000 or visit porschecentrecalgary.com.

Price is rightOn average, Canadian pricing for Porsches has decreased every year since 1999, compared to the U.S.

Rich history Porsche was founded in 1931 in Stuttgart, Germany by Austrian engineer Ferdinand Porsche.

FAST FACTS

PORSCHE CENTRE CALGARY GENERAL MANAGER CRAIG ShOSTAK

SALES MANAGER LAWRENCE ROMANOSKY

PRE-OWNED SALES MANAGER JOSEf fIGEL

AFTER SALES MANAGER DEREK RuSh

SERVICE MANAGER CASEY CONNOR

Porsche recommends

South Centre Fine Cars5512 MACLEOD TRAIL SOUTHCALGARY AB T2H 0J5(403) 319-0000http://south-centre.porschedealer.com/

©2013 Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd. Porsche recommends seat belt usage and observance of all traffic laws at all times. *Fuel economy based on Transport Canada estimates. Actual mileage and range will vary.

The new Porsche Cayenne Diesel redefines what it means to be an SUV. It comes equipped with a 3.0L V6 turbodieselengine with common rail injection system that turns out 406 lb.-ft. of torque giving you exhilarating acceleration andsuperior towing capabilities. Even with all this power it remains remarkably fuel efficient -- 6.7 L/100km highway andover 1,400 km cruising range* in a single tank. It sets new boundaries in a category all its own. Porsche. There is no

substitute.

It may feel like the accelerator, but that's boundaries you'repushing.

The new Porsche Cayenne Diesel.

Cooper’s Crossing Buyers are finding their dream homes at the most prestigious addresses in Airdrie

Located just north of Calgary, Airdrie has truly come of age, attracting home buyers looking for a more affordable alternative to the fast-paced city.

Cooper’s Crossing in south Airdrie contin-ues to raise the bar for quality homes and lots in this growing city.

Since work on the neighbourhood began in 1999, developer WestMark Holdings Ltd. and its builder group have worked hard to establish a community filled with superior homes of every housing type, from single- to multi-family.

And now a new phase of 24 front-drive estate home lots has been launched on Coo-per’s Park, which development manager Paul Gerla calls “Airdrie’s most prestigious street.”

All back onto linear parks and pathways on a quiet cul de sac, and range from 48 to 62 feet. Gerla says similar-sized estate lots might set buyers back $600,000 before even building the house. In Cooper’s Park, home prices start in the $800,000s, including the lot.

On nearby Cooper’s Crescent, WestMark’s building partners have built show homes val-ued at between $900,000 and $1.2 million. Canterra Custom Homes, Harder Homes, and Crystal Creek Homes have pulled out all the stops to show the dream home buyers can have built at the most prestigious address in Airdrie.

“Our front-drive estate home community is comparable with the best areas in Calgary,” says Gerla.

And it’s all about location. Cooper’s Park is literally in the heart of the community, less than a block from a beautiful central pond, board-walk and a future school site.

Cooper’s Crossing features an extensive park system with a network of trails that con-nect every corner of the community. It’s these parks that add natural beauty to the com-munity and provide a place for people to meet and get from place to place safely, says Gerla.

“Kids love exploring the different trails, active people use it for exercise — the parks are a major reason why Cooper’s Crossing is such an outstanding neighbourhood,” he says.

It’s a short walk to major retail to the east, there’s easy access to Highway 2 for quick commuting to Calgary or CrossIron Mills, and the community pathway system will soon link to a boutique shopping centre.

“You’ll be able to follow the park system right into a central plaza – you can imagine the

cafes and restaurants right on the plaza, a real Main Street feel,” Gerla says. “We envision the people living in Cooper’s Crossing will want to be out and about and active — and we know that where you choose to live has a huge im-pact on how you live your life, as well as how the value of your house will be sustained.”

Also coming soon is a phase of 27 rear-drive estate home lots on Cooperstown Court that face a beautiful central park and include the option of building a “carriage house” off the back lane.

“Essentially, they’re an oversized garage with a developed loft — ideal for a home office or studio,” says Gerla. “Vesta Properties will be offering these homes later this fall.”

Gerla says Cooper’s Park, the first phase of which was acclaimed by buyers and is home to some of the finest estate homes in Airdrie, is an eclectic street not tied to a specific archi-tectural theme.

“We encourage diversity,” he says. “Strict architectural guidelines ensure each individual design is executed extremely well. At a time when cookie-cutter neighbourhoods are typical, people seem to really appreciate the great variety of charming custom homes in Cooper’s Crossing.

The great-looking homes make for interest-ing streetscapes. Residents are as proud of the community as they are of their own home.”

To get to Cooper’s Crossing, head west on

Yankee Valley Boulevard from the QE II High-way and turn left at Cooper’s Crossing Gate. Follow the signs down Cooper’s Drive until you find the estate show home parade at 616 to 624 Cooper’s Crescent (hours are 2 to 8 p.m. Monday to Thursday, noon to 5 p.m. on weekends and holidays).

Visit cooperscrossing.ca.

NamesakeCooper’s Crossing is named for the Cooper family, which settled the land in 1892 and farmed it for the next century.

Proximity plusCooper’s Crossing is close to Chinook Winds Park, the Sierra Springs retail area, and it’s just north of Calgary.

cooper’s crossing continues to raise the bar for quality homes and lots in this growing city.

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Luxury decor is taking on a theme of its own mixing traditional and contemporary

WJoel Schlesinger

hen money is no object, the op-tions are limitless. This is certainly the case when furnishing Calgary’s high-

end homes. No one style dominates what’s ‘in’ for

luxury decor home furnishings. It’s all about being unique, thoughtful,

creative and meaningful, says Darcy Lun-dgren, a longtime residential designer with DaDe Art and Design Lab, an art gallery and designer furniture store in Calgary.

“High end can be such a generic term. To me, it doesn’t really equate to a dol-lar amount, but has to do more with the thought process that goes into making something.”

Today’s luxury homes feature styles that straddle a variety of motifs.

“It’s all across the board, though. Some spaces can be minimalist, open with clean lines. They’re contemporary and unclut-tered,” says Lundgren, who co-owns DaDe with Greg Fraser.

Other homes focus on paying homage to the past.

“you can go to another client who loves antiques and blown glass. There may be a collection of certain items that have a ‘curated space’ sensibility, designed spe-cifically to showcase those pieces.”

Certainly, the long-term trend for luxury decor continues to move toward a more contemporary and modern flair — and flexibility and functionality aren’t just the requirements for a budget-conscious homeowner.

“Having flexibility in pieces is important, even in larger homes. People want their spaces to be transformable,” Lundgren says.

“People like to be able to have a formal area that can easily be transformed into a laid-back feel for being with just family.”

The Calgary market has been moving toward modern, clean lines for the last two decades, notes Stan Eisenberg, co-owner of Eisenbergs’ Fine Furniture with his brother Cliff and father Jack.

“When we started carrying luxury fur-niture in 1991, it was very hard to sell a contemporary piece of furniture, but that’s certainly evolved since then,” he says.

“Today, contemporary furniture is a big, big chunk of our business.”

Two decades ago, luxury consumers in Calgary were a conservative bunch. They bristled at the idea of glass and metal, preferring more ornate styles that wouldn’t look out of place in a grand old mansion.

These days, luxury buyers are usually more eclectic, often reflecting the city’s multicultural and cosmopolitan growth.

One of the store’s more popular items is a dining set from Century Furniture’s Milan Collection. The table features a top made from a large slab of wood cut from a large tree with chrome or brass legs.

“It’s a contemporary piece of furniture with a very earthy feel,” Eisenberg says, adding demand is so strong for the piece the store orders it months in advance to ensure it’s available for customers.

Other popular styles are a cross of contemporary and traditional styles, such as Baker Furniture’s Thomas Pheasant Collection.

“It’s hard to describe the style because it’s so unique. One chair he has designed has been labelled ‘iconic’ by Architectural Digest,” he says. “It’s not traditional. It’s not contemporary. It spans both.”

In fact, blurred lines are an increasing trend for high-end design.

Many homeowners have tastes that can be quite diverse so designers often work with them to create spaces with decors that are a reflection of their experiences.

“For me, as a designer, I work to build a

space that suits them and not necessar-ily trying to dictate the space for them,” Lundgren says.

Many start with a centrepiece-type item. That can be a sectional that cost several thousand dollars or even a piece of art, and they build the design from there.

For many, a high-end piece of furniture is the focus of the room. It’s really a work of art unto itself.

“I call them investment pieces because you invest your money,” says Lundgren, meaning it’s not just the fabrics that reflect the quality—like silk or velvet, both of which can push the price tag up substan-tially.

It’s the bones. “The fabrics aren’t going to last forever,

but when you’re paying for the bones of that sectional, the cost of reupholstering at the end of the day really isn’t that burden-some because you’re getting a whole new piece,” Lundgren says.

Eisenberg says many buyers want solid patterned fabrics for furniture using throw pillows to add a splash of colour and texture.

Despite the growing taste for con-temporary, Calgary’s market for ornately designed pieces remains strong.

Baker’s Stately Homes Collection features exact replica pieces of unique furniture from some of the world’s most historic and wealthy families.

“These pieces are exactly like the original reproduced under licence from the current owner of that piece,” says Eisenberg.

One example is the Port Eliot Sofa — an English Regency sofa with a serpentine back and scrolled tapered arms. It’s an exact copy of a piece that resides at Broughton Castle, home to a family whose history includes signing the Magna Carta.

Eisenberg says some luxury home

buyers are willing to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars for their furnishings, while others may be looking to invest in just one piece that will the pride and joy of a room.

What the style will be is largely up to their sensibilities.

It’s about that personal touch, says Lundgren.

“A space should feel like it’s been put together carefully over time with meaning, as opposed to designed in a matter of a couple of weeks,” he says.

“There should be a sense that there’s been a deep thought process put into every piece as to why it’s there.”

Above: Darcy Lundgren, co-owner of DaDe Art & Design. Main photo: Today's styles straddle a variety of motifs includ-ing this traditional and contemporary chair design at DaDe Art & Design. Photos by Adrian Shellard.

Eastside KiaDealership takes it to the next level with top designation and introduction of premium brands

Nappa leather interiors, retractable side mirrors, hydrophobic front door glass, an exclusive call centre to discuss your vehicle needs — these perks and many others are set to become the hallmarks of Kia Canada’s new line of premium vehicles that starts this fall with the introduction of the 2014 Kia Ca-denza sedan.

“Kia Canada has always been looking for cars with more standard equipment, but a lower entry price,” says Eastside Kia dealer principal Kelly Temple.

“Our new ‘Pre-mium Brand Strat-egy’ shows our customers they can go to the next step without losing sight of what made Kia successful.”

Eastside Kia is one of only 38 deal-erships across Can-ada to earn Premium Brand dealership designation.

“Not every Kia dealership makes the grade,” says Temple.

“You have to qualify based on volume of sales, your customer service index and size of your facility, and the ability for your staff to handle the specialized

training that comes with the designation.”As southern Alberta’s largest-volume Kia

dealership, Eastside Kia has answered the call. A new premium brand area is being built in the showroom, with its own seating and information area, digital displays, information on Kia’s competitive premium-brand leasing programs and, of course, the Cadenza. It will be joined next year the Quoris, a rear-wheel-drive luxury sedan.

The Cadenza, created by Kia Canada’s chief designer Peter Schreyer, aims to take on other premium brands such as the Ford Taurus and Chrysler 300, but at a lower,

“more vehicle for your dollar” price point (starting at $39,280 for the base model, or $46,480 for the loaded premium model).

“The Cadenza is for those who want to step up to a luxury brand, but are value-oriented and don’t want to sacrifice luxury,” says Temple.

The Cadenza is the most technologically advanced vehicle Kia has ever produced, notes Temple. Sophisticated and elegant, the premium model has state-of-the-art features such as HID headlights with adaptive front lighting, upgraded premium leather with heated and cooled driver seats, 12-speaker premium infinity sound, lane-departure warning and blind-spot detec-

tion, push-button start, panoramic sunroof, puddle lights and a hands-free UVO enter-tainment centre.

The premium model includes innovative hydrophobic glass on the front side windows, designed to repel water for better visibility.

Temple expects the new Premium Brand showroom at Eastside Kia to be open by Christmas, adding the Cadenza and the Quo-ris are only the beginning of Kia’s luxury lines.

One thing that isn’t changing is Eastside Kia’s commitment to superior customer ser-vice, says Temple.

“We have a strategy called ‘Family-Like Care,’” he says. “We want our customers to feel like we’ll treat them like a member of our

family when they come to us.”Learn about Kia’s new luxury brands at

Eastside Kia’s showroom, 2256 23 St. N.E., beside Barlow Trail. You can also call 403-250-2502 or visit eastsidekia.ca.

Reap rewardsCadenza buyers have access to a premium customer call centre, and get a special Kia rewards card.

Luxury arrives Upcoming premium brands from Kia include the Quoris sedan in 2014, and possibly a future new sports car.

FAST FACTS

EASTSIDE KIADEALER PRINCIPAL KELLY TEMpLE

PRESIDENT JIM McMANES

PARTNER MIKE McMANES

NEW VEHICLE SALES MANAGERS KIRK TEMpLE JARETT SChNEIDER

PRE-OWNED MANAGERS ShAWN DINNER MIKE WISpINSKI SERVICE MANAGER KIRK ONRAIT

PARTS MANAGER BOB KONSChuh

Price include fees but not GST. Vehicles may not be exactly as illustrated. See dealer for details.

.CA

403-250-25022256 23rd St NE • www.eastsidekia.ca

2014 Kia

CADENZAPREMIUM$46,480FEATURES:

• 293 HP• HID headlights• 19” alloy wheels• Premium leather – heated & cooled drivers seat• Infinity sound• Rear window shade

• Hydrophobic door glass• Blind spot detection• Lane departure warning system• Smart cruise• Panoramic sunroof• Push button start

EASTSIDE KIAA PREMIUM BRAND DEALER

Blurred lines Blurred lines

Many

homeowners

have tastes

that can be

quite diverse

so designers

often work

with them to

create spaces

with decors

that are a

reflection

of their

experiences.