This is the story of my first love at Kootenay Lake Village.

That love is my Waterfront Lot 12. I bought her because for two years I had scoured BC for exceedingly special waterfront and something that offered tremendous investment value. In Lot 12, these two qualities collided. It was love at first sight! The waterfront at Kootenay Lake Village offers knocks-your-socks-right-off-your-legs value compared to comparable lots at the overcrowded lakes closer to major centers. Moreover, on two sides, Lot 12, which comprises two hooked parcels, borders two acres of postcard perfect Crown land. The expression Crown is apt in this instance because the parcel truly is bejeweled. The developer considers the Crown parcel, which hosts a romantic-looking tiny lighthouse and is fronted with a combination of very private beach, dramatic sculptured bedrock, and lush moss, to be the most dynamic piece of shoreline within the development, and I agree. Set amidst towering old-growth fir trees, my house sits directly behind the Crown parcel, giving the appearance that Lot 12 boasts over 550 feet of shoreline when one includes my own beach. The house site also frees up the vast majority of Lot 12 for parking, space for a future large garage with suite above, and a massively-deep landscaped buffer from the road, providing more space for such than almost all of the development’s lots. Because I did not have to pay to enjoy the added privacy, pristine beauty, and tremendous spaciousness of the Crown parcel, you can see how finding Lot 12 was like being offered a view penthouse for the price of a one-room suite. Now that I am selling the lot to pursue my next dream (building a new home design on lot 32), it still remains the development’s best investment value home, competing well against a lot worth twice as much. From the photos, you can sense how picturesque the lot is.

The things I will miss most about Lot 12 are the lighthouse and the gorgeous rockery and irrigated flower gardens that Ray Nikkel built around the house. Well, the house is very special too! The oversized great room and 59 by 16 foot cedar deck overlooking the water are great places for a dinner party with friends, featuring fresh-caught juicy Rainbow trout prepared in the Gaggenau steam oven, or a family get-together. My thanks to John Gower for the very Zenlike and livable architectural design.