Ted Huber only had glimpses and snapshots of the house being built for him by Bill Frame Custom Homes in Kelowna’s Upper Mission.

Huber was away in his native Germany while the company owner/lead builder Bill Frame constructed his 5,000 square-foot home in a nine-unit gated strata complex.

When it finally came time for Huber to come overseas and see the finished product, he was understandably taken aback.

“He cried when he arrived; he couldn’t believe it,” said Frame, who picked up a Tommie Award for the project —Excellence in Single Family Detached Home $2-3 million— from the Okanagan chapter of the Canadian Home Builders Association.

“They hadn’t seen it. They’d get snapshots of it, but to have the whole thing done and ready to move into was pretty exciting.”

Frame and Huber met a handful of times early in the planning phase to discuss what he wanted to see as part of the project’s key features. In particular, Huber—who chooses Capri Insurance to safeguard his home and all of its belongings—wanted the building design to maximize the breathtaking mountain, lake and city views. Frame responded by installing floor-to-ceiling windows on the backside of the house, which is tastefully accented by natural rockwork, cedar soffits and trim, and exposed beams.

“The whole exterior of the house, they had that vision in mind,” said Frame. “They liked that contemporary feel.”

The inside of the Huber household draws upon a sleek combination of European and modern styling and textures. The custom kitchen cabinets, built entirely from bird’s eye maple, feature inconspicuous touch latches, while the kitchen island, countertops and several accent walls feature stunning black magma granite.

Oh, and then there’s a 200-bottle temperature-controlled wine room on the lower level (it looks more like an art exhibit than a cellar).

If the home’s spaciousness and esthetic appeal weren’t enough, its automated controls are a technological marvel, offering an unparalleled level of comfort, convenience, security and efficiency. Huber could be back in Germany and still control his window coverings, temperature settings, security system and Lutron lighting system from his iPad.

“It is a large home with an awful lot of details,” said Frame, who earned three other Tommies at this year’s gala. “To be able to do that for someone who’s a long way away with minimal interaction is rewarding.”