Written by Joe Leary
Erin Cebula photos Alfonso Arnold
Hair & Make-up Heather Nightingale
Stylist Sarah D’Arcey
It’s a given that the annual BC Children’s Hospital Choices Lottery offers some lucky prospective ticket holder a spectacular Lower Mainland home as the Grand Prize.
With each ensuing draw it seems that the dream homes offered simply rise to the next level.
This year’s offering certainly maintains those standards; with a prize home boasting three floors, occupying just over 7200 square feet including a three car garage – a single and a double – complete with 14 foot ceilings that can easily accommodate a car lift. The property is located on a 13,000 square foot lot on 144th Street in the prestigious Elgin Park area of South Surrey, surrounded by old growth forest and carrying a list price of just over $2,800,000.
Vic Sanghera, President and Owner of Red Tree Creative Homes constructed this year’s magnificent property; taking roughly about a year to build.
“It’s a six bedroom; six and a half bathroom home; four rooms upstairs, all with an en-suite,” he says.
“The feature upstairs though really is the Master Closet with 13 foot ceilings right in the middle of the room.
The basement is designed to be a complete luxury retreat, offering a home gym, massage room, sauna, wine cellar; bar and pool table and there’s also a home library with a baby Grand Piano; dressed in maple-stained walls to really give it that classic library feeling.”
That’s just the inside.
The exterior is equally impressive with a backyard water feature; a golf putting green, fire table in the middle of a covered sitting area and a hot tub pad.
Sanghera is a repeat builder for the BC Children Hospital contributing his second creation, having also constructed two VGH/UBC Millionaire Lottery Homes, along with homes for both VGH/UBC Hometown Heroes and Variety; The Children’s Charity lotteries.
While his company has constructed multiple properties along the way, Sanghera maintains that each property’s design and construction remains unique for each project.
When asked if he’s continually striving to set the bar higher with each ensuing project, Sanghera responds affirmatively.
“The name of the company is Red Tree Creative Homes so we always look for something to go a bit beyond each time out.
We’ve been building luxury homes for almost 14 years; primarily based in South Surrey but we’ve built in Richmond, Tsawwassen, Delta and White Rock.
Since becoming a regular contributor to the dream home construction side of various hospital lottery foundations, Sanghera is thrilled to again do his part.
“I am always honoured when Red Tree Creative Homes is asked to provide one of the Grand Prize options,” he says.
“This particular campaign is important to the Children’s Foundation’s fundraising efforts in support of B.C. Children’s Hospital.
I’m humbled and at the same time awestruck to know that I’ve had a small part in helping our Children’s Hospital to continue to provide vital, world class services to our community.
The bonus is always seeing the faces of the lucky winner!”
As construction nears completion on the BC Children’s Hospital Lottery Prize Home, the interior design and décor becomes the major focus.
It’s no small order for such an exquisite piece of real estate.
Enter Sandra Hurtley of Positive Space Staging and Design Inc. “I am brought in approximately six to eight weeks prior to the home being open to the public,” Hurtley says, noting she stays actively involved with the builder throughout the process.
“My goal is to make choices from a decor standpoint to really highlight the architecture and compliment the features of the house. This means that draperies, furniture and all décor’ have to be selected very quickly to meet the deadlines.
There are wonderful suppliers I work with and everyone works as a team to make it happen and work especially close with Valley Direct Furniture and Stylit Window Designs.”
And much like the home building designs take a different look each and every time out, so too do the interiors.
“Most definitely”, she adds emphatically.
“In my line of work I see a lot of gorgeous homes – but this home stands out.
To me it is timeless in its formal, yet livable design.
There is such an elegance to the front parlour, dining room and library.
The great room has massive high ceilings and the kitchen is a chef’s dream (and probably one of my favorite features); the walk in closet in the master bedroom is also just incredible!
The inspiration for this 7200 square foot; multi level; six bedroom/6.5 bathroom home, she sums up as, “Glam in the Master Bedroom, elegance in the Dining Room and Library and quality, livable lifestyle throughout.
The style of the house leans traditional, so the furniture and decor are transitional – nothing too modern.
I choose soft colours with a bit of sparkle.”
It’s a role she’s played many times prior since forming Positive Space Staging and Design eight years ago; with a focus on staging and having provided her services to mainly vacant show homes along with numerous interior design projects.
“I worked with the lottery and the builder, Vic Sanghera of Red Tree Creative Homes last year on the house next door for the Millionaire Lottery,” says Hurtley.
“Prior to the current house being chosen for the Choices Lottery he had hired me to stage the home that is the Grand Prize, so I am very familiar with this house.
Once it was chosen as the lottery Grand Prize, we changed out almost everything to create with a new concept.
I have worked with the lottery since 2015 and have styled more than 14 lottery prize homes!
I love what I do and feel so fortunate to work on such amazing projects.”
