The Charleton and Cameron by Muirfield

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	The Charleton by Muirfield Source: Muirfield Homes

	The Cameron by Muirfield Source: Muirfield Homes

This spacious and luxurious bungalow meets all our criteria for five stars. Fortunately it was Muirfield's only showhome at the time I walked through it, and it engendered an instant feeling of fine design and good taste - a home that the right people would enjoy living in and constantly feel pride of ownership.

That impression of elegant good taste and craftsmanship is conveyed even from the outside, as a consequence of the well-balanced roof lines - pitched higher in the center than over the two wings. And the simple porch over the front entrance is tastefully designed so as not to clash with the three arched brickwork soldier-courses over both garage doors and around the mullioned front study window.

Our eyes are immediately drawn to the far end of the bungalow as soon as we open the front door and walk in on a ceramic floor that extends through the foyer, hallway, kitchen, bathrooms and laundry closet.

The space is uncluttered, so that we hardly notice the oak rail of a staircase leading down to the basement (which is opposite the separate, formal dining room). No sooner have we taken in the length of this home than we become aware that it includes a study or front office to one side. And while the tasteful absence of clutter and clean sight-lines convey a sense of luxury and space, at the same time a perception of cosyness and comfort exists.

The perception of an amplitude of space comes partly from the 9ft ceilings. But it is mostly derived from an octagonal Great Room at dead-centre down the far end, because of its cathedral ceiling. The vaulted effect is made even more dramatic by the eight sides from which the ceiling rises, and the interesting shape as you glance up to its peak.

As well as a wide-open entry from the central passageway, the Great Room also opens out to a breakfast room on one side.

Other features are detailed in the chart below. But mere statistics or dimensions can't possibly convey the effect of the concave windowed wall at the far end, which you are drawn to from the moment you enter.

Moreover, everything in the bungalow is precisely where you would want it to be - the study in front, dining room easily served from the traditional kitchen with the breakfast room beside it. Bedrooms, luxury en-suite bathroom, second bathroom and laundry are all tucked discreetly away in the sleeping quarters on the other side of the basement stairs.

If the Charleton takes your breath away, the Cameron impresses by its ability to be appreciated in much the same way, despite it being smaller and built on a narrower lot.

While the larger Charleton consists of 1,652 square feet of finished space on the main level and sells from $305,900 on a 50ft wide lot, the Cameron comprises 1,444 square feet and is priced at $279,900 on a 42ft wide lot.

What is remarkable is that Muirfield Homes have managed to design a smaller bungalow that includes many of the basic advantages of its more spacious and luxurious partner.

The exterior elevation is quiet, calm and dignified. On entering, your eyes are again drawn down to the far end. But this time it is not towards a far wall that appear to curve outwards, and the Great Room is not located dead-centre, but off to one side. Muirfield achieved the effect of greater length and height by running the oak banister of the basement staircase across the far end, and providing a vaulted ceiling. The Great Room (with its gas fireplace) is 18'4 long.

Everything else is situated optimally but scaled down in comparison with the Charleton.

Several features in The Cameron separate it from the usual run of bungalows. For example, another builder might have been tempted to save costs by not providing bay windows in the front study or home office. Muirfield resisted the temptation (although his Elevation "B" does exclude them. Another builder might have been satisfied to offer the standard 10ft wide single car garage and widen the foyer by two feet instead., Muirfield evidently chose rather to focus on life-style and provide an extra-wide 14ft single garage.

Anyone who's used to driving in and out of a wider garage door appreciates the comforting reassurance of knowing the wing mirrors on the car are safe from being torn off!

Another builder might have preferred to make the bungalow more affordable by maintaining the standardization of the 9ft ceiling throughout. Muirfield decided it would be better to offer a vaulted ceiling in the Great Room, instead. Although that feature is an optional extra, it's unimaginable that anyone wouldn't be delighted to pay extra for it.

Those and other Muirfield touches - like resisting locating the laundry down in the basement - reveal the builder's attitude towards consumer comfort rather than construction orientation.

All this has been designed and executed so skilfully that, if one of these well designed and executed bungalows deserves an accolade, then the other must be applauded for its imagination, its professionalism, and its good taste, too. Whatever the quality is that they both possess, it appears to be that which separates a Master Builder from a mere producer of tract homes. The dedication of a custom builder perhaps?

Even if our judging criteria permitted slightly fewer stars for one than the other, we couldn't be that grudging, since they are equally excellent. If either deserves praise, so does the other. Muirfield has shown what can be done when designing a first-rate bungalow, overcoming by ingenuity what would otherwise appear to be a size limitation.

The Charleton may be  SOLD OUT  - Check availability with Muirfield

The Cameron may be  SOLD OUT  - Check availability with Muirfield

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The sole aim of the HomesExplorer™ 5-Star Design Awards Program is to reward excellence in the new homes industry by awarding five stars for the best design or innovation in a particular category. Our 5 Star Rating is awarded solely for excellence in design or innovation. Quality of construction and service are for buyers to ascertain themselves.