the oke woodsmith collection of homes - spring 2007

FEATURES:n Nestled in the Forestn Mexican-Themed Retreatn Bayside Beauty n Renovation…Dereliction to Dignityn Designed for Familyn The Natural Beauty of Log Homes www.okewoodsmith.com

Building Innovative Homessince 1984 first edition, spring 2007

Oke WOOdsmith Building systems was launched in 1984 with just one client and a tremendous vision. In the years since then, the Hensall-based company has built and renovated 600 distinctive custom homes from Muskoka to Rondeau Provincial Park for clients who have come to expect the unusual.

The idea for the company came about in 1983 when the four Oke brothers – Brad, Wayne, Randy and Kevin – reunited with their parents for Christmas. At that point, Brad, an architectural technologist, was em-ployed by Bell Canada in Saudi Arabia and Wayne, an engineer, was working in the tar sands in Alberta.

Over Christmas dinner, Brad enlisted his family’s aid to help him build a home in Southcott Pines in Grand Bend. Wayne volunteered to quit his job in Alberta to work on the project, Kevin quit his job as a welder in the agricultural sector, and their father, Don, decided to resign from his management position. Many years before, Don had owned his own construction company.

With just one client, Oke Woodsmith was born. It was a courageous move, given the recession of 1981.

“How foolish were we to think we could start a construction company?” Brad recalls. “Three guys quit their jobs, I bought them each a brand new truck and we started to build my house, so we were going to be a one-house wonder.

“The only reason we were successful quickly was the fact that my father had 33 years of building experience and was very well-respected as a builder in the area. Even though we started off fresh, people weren’t looking at a bunch of kids building houses.”

Don, who was an equal partner in the company, priced the homes and ensured his sons correctly estimated the time needed for each stage of construction. After completing Brad’s house, the partners landed a contract for a $1-million home in Grand Bend, which raised their profile in the area.

Randy and Brad worked for the company on evenings and weekends until the business grew. Brad, who was still working for Bell, was the last to join full-time in 1986.

“It took us two years from inception until the company was large enough to pay five. The day I came in, we had three new contracts,” Brad recalls. “We went out to dinner to celebrate because we figured now we were a construction company.”

Brad’s role centred on selling the homes, which involved providing architectural drawings to clients based on their ideas, budget and property. That was a new concept in an area where clients normally chose a stock plan and contracted a builder to construct it.

There was no charge for the drawings, which included three revisions and pricing. If clients weren’t happy with the results, they weren’t obligated to work with the company.

“With nine out of 10 people that we did that for we were able to achieve the budget and the design to their liking,” Brad says.

The five partners undertook all aspects of the construction work, from roofing to drywalling the homes. Randy believes that was a benefit.

“It’s very satisfying when you start a job from the ground up and finish it. Any one of us could build a house from start to finish and lay the carpet, lay the tile, lay the hardwood – finish it completely.”

In 1987, the company began building foundations and, later,

above-grade exterior walls with Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF). The partners believed they were headed in the right direction because of the improved energy efficiency and sound resistance of concrete.

Home buyers, however, were skeptical until the company began incorporating concrete floors with in-floor radiant heat into the design. Visitors to two of the company’s model homes in Grand Bend came specifically on cold days to experience the warm floors.

“Concrete floors are warmer and the colder it is outside, the better they are inside,” Randy says.

At that point, clients began to appreciate the floors and recognized the value of building exterior walls of concrete to the eaves because of the added comfort and energy savings.

Oke Woodsmith has since become one of the leading builders of ICF homes in Canada and is also the distributor throughout Ontario and Quebec for Lite-Form, an ICF building system. The company sells the systems to builders and to private individuals throughout Ontario.

Over the years, the partners’ roles in the company have changed very little. Brad is responsible for the design and sales of the homes, Randy is the general manager of the Oke Woodsmith office and manager of Lite-Form, Wayne acts as construction supervisor and Kevin, a finish carpenter, looks after the drywalling and fine details. Don and his wife, Betty, who joined the company in 1990 as general manager, have since retired.

Altogether, 45 staff members comprise Oke Woodsmith, including a team that is responsible for the company’s framing, trimming and concrete work. Employing in-house staff instead of subtrades ensures consistency in each home from the time a site is excavated to the time a client moves into a home.

Annually, the company builds about 20 new homes and undertakes up to 10 renovation projects. The partners have also designed and built many commercial projects, including a fire hall east of Toronto, as well as office complexes and agricultural buildings in Huron County.

Oke Woodsmith is currently building homes in the Grand Bend area, and in Muskoka, Windsor, Niagara Falls and points in between. The company specializes in the unusual, which attracts clients from young professional couples to empty nesters.

“I like the challenge of taking an unusual site and making it work, or taking a budget for a small home and giving clients what they want,” Brad says.

While the company will always be a custom home designer and builder, the partners are turning their attention to the aging population. One new project, Stone Meadows, a one-floor condo community in Zurich, is geared toward retirees. The development is one of the first of its kind in Huron County and a first for Oke Woodsmith.

“What we’re trying to do is provide similar qualities that we offer in a custom home, but in a smaller square footage and a more economical package,” Brad says.

Randy hopes to create other similar communities as the company evolves. He believes Oke Woodsmith’s future will be in the Oke children who, like

their parents, joined the company after working farther afield. “I’m hoping our growth is in family members – our kids

– joining the team,” Randy says. “That’s where you get genuine interest in the company and the ability to expand it.”

from one home to six hundred...…the history of Oke Woodsmith Building Systems

Daring to Dream

The Oke family, from left: Randy, Brad, Betty, Wayne and Kevin.

oke woodsmith, spring 2007 | 3

Oke WOOdsmith Building systems was launched in 1984 with just one client and a tremendous vision. In the years since then, the Hensall-based company has built and renovated 600 distinctive custom homes from Muskoka to Rondeau Provincial Park for clients who have come to expect the unusual.

The idea for the company came about in 1983 when the four Oke brothers – Brad, Wayne, Randy and Kevin – reunited with their parents for Christmas. At that point, Brad, an architectural technologist, was em-ployed by Bell Canada in Saudi Arabia and Wayne, an engineer, was working in the tar sands in Alberta.

Over Christmas dinner, Brad enlisted his family’s aid to help him build a home in Southcott Pines in Grand Bend. Wayne volunteered to quit his job in Alberta to work on the project, Kevin quit his job as a welder in the agricultural sector, and their father, Don, decided to resign from his management position. Many years before, Don had owned his own construction company.

With just one client, Oke Woodsmith was born. It was a courageous move, given the recession of 1981.

“How foolish were we to think we could start a construction company?” Brad recalls. “Three guys quit their jobs, I bought them each a brand new truck and we started to build my house, so we were going to be a one-house wonder.

“The only reason we were successful quickly was the fact that my father had 33 years of building experience and was very well-respected as a builder in the area. Even though we started off fresh, people weren’t looking at a bunch of kids building houses.”

Don, who was an equal partner in the company, priced the homes and ensured his sons correctly estimated the time needed for each stage of construction. After completing Brad’s house, the partners landed a contract for a $1-million home in Grand Bend, which raised their profi le in the area.

Randy and Brad worked for the company on evenings and weekends until the business grew. Brad, who was still working for Bell, was the last to join full-time in 1986.

“It took us two years from inception until the company was large enough to pay fi ve. The day I came in, we had three new contracts,” Brad recalls. “We went out to dinner to celebrate because we fi gured now we were a construction company.”

Brad’s role centred on selling the homes, which involved providing architectural drawings to clients based on their ideas, budget and property. That was a new concept in an area where clients normally chose a stock plan and contracted a builder to construct it.

There was no charge for the drawings, which included three revisions and pricing. If clients weren’t happy with the results, they weren’t obligated to work with the company.

“With nine out of 10 people that we did that for we were able to achieve the budget and the design to their liking,” Brad says.

The fi ve partners undertook all aspects of the construction work, from roofi ng to drywalling the homes. Randy believes that was a benefi t.

“It’s very satisfying when you start a job from the ground up and fi nish it. Any one of us could build a house from start to fi nish and lay the carpet, lay the tile, lay the hardwood – fi nish it completely.”

In 1987, the company began building foundations and, later,

above-grade exterior walls with Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF). The partners believed they were headed in the right direction because of the improved energy effi ciency and sound resistance of concrete.

Home buyers, however, were skeptical until the company began incorporating concrete fl oors with in-fl oor radiant heat into the design. Visitors to two of the company’s model homes in Grand Bend came specifi cally on cold days to experience the warm fl oors.

“Concrete fl oors are warmer and the colder it is outside, the better they are inside,” Randy says.

At that point, clients began to appreciate the fl oors and recognized the value of building exterior walls of concrete to the eaves because of the added comfort and energy savings.

Oke Woodsmith has since become one of the leading builders of ICF homes in Canada and is also the distributor throughout Ontario and Quebec for Lite-Form, an ICF building system. The company sells the systems to builders and to private individuals throughout Ontario.

Over the years, the partners’ roles in the company have changed very little. Brad is responsible for the design and sales of the homes, Randy is the general manager of the Oke Woodsmith offi ce and manager of Lite-Form, Wayne acts as construction supervisor and Kevin, a fi nish carpenter, looks after the drywalling and fi ne details. Don and his wife, Betty, who joined the company in 1990 as general manager, have since retired.

Altogether, 45 staff members comprise Oke Woodsmith, including a team that is responsible for the company’s framing, trimming and concrete work. Employing in-house staff instead of subtrades ensures consistency in each home from the time a site is excavated to the time a client moves into a home.

Annually, the company builds about 20 new homes and undertakes up to 10 renovation projects. The partners have also designed and built many commercial projects, including a fi re hall east of Toronto, as well as offi ce complexes and agricultural buildings in Huron County.

Oke Woodsmith is currently building homes in the Grand Bend area, and in Muskoka, Windsor, Niagara Falls and points in between. The company specializes in the unusual, which attracts clients from young professional couples to empty nesters.

“I like the challenge of taking an unusual site and making it work, or taking a budget for a small home and giving clients what they want,” Brad says.

While the company will always be a custom home designer and builder, the partners are turning their attention to the aging population. One new project, Stone Meadows, a one-fl oor condo community in Zurich, is geared toward retirees. The development is one of the fi rst of its kind in Huron County and a fi rst for Oke Woodsmith.

“What we’re trying to do is provide similar qualities that we offer in a custom home, but in a smaller square footage and a more economical package,” Brad says.


their parents, joined the company after working farther afi eld. “I’m hoping our growth is in family members – our kids

– joining the team,” Randy says. “That’s where you get genuine interest in the company and the ability to expand it.”


from one home to six hundred...…the history of Oke Woodsmith Building Systems

Daring to Dream

The Oke family, from left: Randy, Brad, Betty, Wayne and Kevin.

Since 1984, Oke WOOdSmith has worked closely with clients to develop a vision for their home. We believe achieving outstanding results in design and construction start with good planning – and a keen grasp of how our clients live in their homes.

As a design/build company, Oke Woodsmith acts as a partner with our clients from the design stage to the completion of a project. Although most buyers are focused on the end result, reaching that stage can be a long and sometimes challenging process. Listed below are the key steps we undertake during the design phase:

make a liSt… We ask clients to write down their ideas and arrange them into four lists. The first is an inventory, by floor, of the rooms they most desire. What one spouse considers a necessity, the other may discount altogether.

The second is a must-have list with critical elements for each room, such as a sitting area in the master bedroom. We also ask them to make observations about the way in which they live in each room. Knowing whether they dress in their bedroom or in their ensuite bathroom helps us to design the most functional floorplan for them.

The third list is comprised of five to 10 elements clients would love to have, but which may not be financially possible. They may want a see-through fireplace between the master bedroom and the ensuite bathroom, but realize it’s not an absolute necessity.

The fourth – and most important list – details features couples absolutely don’t want in their homes. This list allows us to eliminate certain possibilities and gain insights into their tastes. Some clients compile magazine clippings of rooms or features they admire, which also helps us to determine their likes and dislikes.

PriOritize… We ask couples to prioritize their top three rooms. These may vary drastically from one spouse to another. If each person, however, has omitted a certain room, but indicated they wanted walnut cabinetry in that room, we question their decision to spend a great deal of money in an area that isn’t a priority. Although most people know what they want, many don’t understand how much it will cost to achieve it.

PreferenceS… We ask our clients why they’re moving from their present home. Many want a maintenance-free home that will be brighter and warmer, or larger or smaller, than their current residence. Some in

lakeside areas, such as Grand Bend, are looking for a cottage instead of a traditional home.

POint Of vieW… Clients may not want a certain feature because of a previous experience. Broadening their point of view is often a matter of informing them about products, however. Clients may think they don’t want a skylight, for example, because of a bad experience they had in the past when the problem was actually due to incorrect installation. Other clients may prefer certain window or door manu-facturers over others.

lifeStyle aSSeSSment… We meet with clients at their home and assess, first-hand, how they live in it and what they enjoy most about it. If they want to retire in a resort community, we remind them their lifestyle as retirees will be quite different to what it was when they were working full-time. Our goal is to ensure their new home is designed for their future needs since their present needs may no longer be relevant when they move.

fine-tuning… We visit the client’s new property to check the views and the exposure they want to capture. We sketch a design by hand, paying particular attention to the traffic flow of the floorplan. Once we’ve worked out any problems, we create an exterior elevation and price the home. We may change a design three or four times in an effort to make it mesh with the budget. Once our clients are happy with the results, we ask them to sign a contract. We then create a working drawing and proceed to the construction phase.

cOnStructiOn PhaSe… We maintain close contact with our clients from the time the foundation is poured until the home is finished. We help them choose elements such as stone, brick, stairs, trim, floor coverings, plumbing and lighting fixtures.

Because the home and its components involve custom design and fabrication, clients must be prepared to make many decisions within tight timelines. Our job is to confirm they have made the right decisions, show them what a certain change will look like, or offer new alternatives.

At Oke Woodsmith, we enjoy helping our clients transform their ideas into a distinctive home that was crafted specifically for their needs, tastes and budget. We value each of our clients and look forward to building a relationship with them that will last for many years to come.

…Oke Woodsmith crafts custom homes to fit clients’ lifestyles

Made to Measure

Oke Woodsmith Magazine’s production team… production manager: Lana Breier writer: Judy Liebner art director: Nancy Greenfield photography: Richard Bain & Tony Boros printing: Sportswood Printing4 | oke woodsmith, spring 2007

[ N e s T l e d i N T h e F O R e s T ]

locat ion: GRANd BeNd

wr i t ten by: JUdY lieBNeR

photography: R iChARd BAiN

Southcott home reflects a love of entertaining

imand JackieSouthcott felt a strong senseof responsi-bilitywhentheybeganplanningahomeinSouthcottPines

inGrandBend.Notonlywas thesetting beautiful, in themidstofaCarolinianforest,butJimalsohadaconnectiontothelandthatdatedbackmanyyears.

TheSouthcottfamilypurchasedthe250-acreparceloflandontheshoresofLakeHuronin1892.In1946,Jim’sfatheranduncles began transforming it into an upscale residential com-munity.Jimandthreerelativeslaterinheritedthepropertyandspent25yearsdevelopingitbeforecompletingtheprojectin2001.

JimandJackie,wholivedinMississaugafor30years,chosetheirlotintheearly1990swithaviewtoretiringthere.Theirgoalwastobuilda fairlytraditionalhomethatwouldcomple-

mentthepineandoakforest.“Wewantedittofitintothesur-roundings,”Jackiesays.

ThecouplecontractedOkeWoodsmithBuildingSystemsofHensalltodesignandbuildaone-floorhome.Becausetheyen-tertained frequently, a large kitchen within an open-conceptfloorplanwasimportanttothem,aswereaseparatediningroomandaself-containedlowerlevelforvisitingfamilymembers.

Brad Oke, an architectural technologist and a partner inOkeWoodsmith,developedadesignbasedontheirneedsandlifestyle. “We liked what he came up with right away and wehardlymadeanychangestotheoriginalplan,”Jackiesays.

TheSouthcottsoptedforahomeconstructedofInsulatedConcreteFormsandheatedwith radiant in-floorheating.The

J

The spectacular view is everywhere

Designed for Living

6 | oke woodsmith, spring 2007

[ N e s T l e d i N T h e F O R e s T ]

Southcott home reflects a love of entertaining

The spectacular view is everywhere

Designed for Living

“It’s a wonderful home to live in!”floorsinthemainlivingareaswerefinish-ed with engineered hickory wood floor-ing, which decreased the possibility ofshrinkageinherentinnaturalhardwoods.The couple moved into their $800,000homeinJune2005.

Constructedoftexturedgreystone,thefrontofthehomefeaturesarecessedentry flanked by a round Victorian-stylecoveredporchsupportedbyfourcolumns.A side entry connects the home with atwo-car garage faced in pine board-and-battensiding.

Inside, light fromtwodormers illu-minatesthefoyer,whichisdistinguishedbyarectangular-cutslatefloorandamas-siveoakdoor.Acurvingoakrailingwithpineapple-shaped newel posts sweepsdowntothelowerlevelanduptwostepsto the great room. An arched transomaboveasetoffrenchdoorscontinuesthethemeof curving lines,drawing theeyedeepintotheroom.

Thedoorsopenouttoaconcretedeckthatspansthelengthofthehome.Temper-edglassrailingswithstonepostsprovide

animmediateviewofthetreesthatsur-roundtheproperty.

A gas fireplace in the great room isflankedoneachsidebybuilt-incabinetrywith recessed panels and leaded glassdoors.Acathedralceilingaccentuatestheroom’sairiness,whichwasalsoachievedthroughaneutralpaletteoflinen-colouredwallsandwhitewoodwork.

Thegreatroomisseparatedfromthekitchenbyanangled islandwithafinelydetailed cherry base and a deep granitecounter.Thecountercombinesshadesof

chocolate,greyandpeachandeffectivelybridgesthetransitionbetweenthenaturalcherryislandandthecabinets,whicharepaintedawarmcoffeetone.

The cabinets and the stainless steelappliancesarearrangedonarearwallbe-hindtheisland.Finishedwithdeepcrownmouldings, the cabinetry extends to theheightofthe12-footceiling,maximizingstorage space for items that aren’t fre-quentlyused.

Offthekitchen,sunlightfiltersintoarounded sunroom through narrow case-mentwindowsthatprovidea180-degreeviewof thebackyard.“Wehadasimilarroominourlasthomeandwewantedtotake advantage of the sunlight and theview,”Jackiesays.

A small screened-in porch off thekitchenallowsthecoupletocomfortablydineoutdoorsinsummer.Ahallleadstoawalk-inpantryontherightandJim’sof-ficeontheleft;alaundryroomandastair-casetothelowerlevelarelocatedinasideentryoffthegarage.

Behindthekitchen,ashorthallleadspastapowderroomtothediningroom,whichwasdesignedforthecouple’sItalianpecandining suite.Two sidewallswere

“It’s a wonderful home to live in!”Sources:

COUNTY heRiTAGe – Trim dAshWOOd iNdUsTRies – Windows, doors Geddes sheeT MeTAl – soffit, Fascia ROes sTAiRs – stairs TURNBUll’s PlUMBiNG ANd eleCTRiC UNdeRFOOT – Flooring WOOdeCOR – Cabinets

recessedtocreatenichesforachinacabi-netandabuffet.Avaultedceiling,rimmedbyabulkhead,furtherdefinesthearea.

On the opposite side of the greatroom,doubledoorsleadintothemasterbedroomretreat.Avestibulelinksadra-maticensuitebathroomwithdarkcabi-netry and marble counters on the leftwiththebedroomontheright.Likethesunroom, the bedroom incorporates arounded sitting area that overlooks thereardeck.

In the lower level, a sunken hometheatreroomislocatedoffthestaircaseatthefrontofthehome.Furnishedwithtwocomfortable loveseats and rattan chairs,the room features anovalMexican-stylefireplaceandabankofcasementwindowsthatofferaviewofarearpatio.Twostepsleaduptoaraisedcounterwithbarstools,whichprovideadditionalseatingfortele-visionviewing.

“You can be up on the second levelandhaveagreatview,”Jackiesays.

The lower level also includes a kit-chenette,agamesroom,aworkshopandabright guest bedroom with an ensuitebathroom. A vestibule to the left of thetheatreroomconnectstwoadditionalbed-roomswithafullbathroom.

At4,634squarefeet,theSouthcotts’homeiswelldesignedwithroomsthatre-flect their lifestyle. “Our home, overall,didn’t turn out to be that much smallerthantheonethatwehadbefore,butthe

areas that we use are more functional,”Jackieobserves.“WeeliminatedaformallivingroomandIthinkwegetmuchmoreuseoutoftheroomswe’reusing.”

Jackie believes it’s important forcouplestoknowwhattheywantinahome.SheandJimtouredmanyhomesthatOkeWoodsmith had built and accumulated aportfolio of magazine clippings to helpthemrefinetheirlikesanddislikes.

“I think the more you know aboutwhat you want, the better it is,” Jackiesays.

Jimagrees.“It’sabeautifulhome;it’sawonderfulhometolivein.”


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OUR 48TH YEAR


PROUD SUPPLIER TO OKE WOODSMITH

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A MORE ATTRACTIVE, COMFORTABLE AND ENJOYABLE PLACE TO BE. TODAY, TOMORROW. AND FOR YEARS TO COME.

Winner of the most outstanding kitchen and bathroom 1996-97 in all of Ontario and 2006-07 in all of Ontario – (Ontario Home Builders Association)

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OUR 48TH YEAR

[ M e X i C A N - T h e M e d R e T R e AT ]




modest square footage with striking features

I anandTrudyBustard’shomeexudesasenseofworldtravelsthat’sapparenttovisitorsassoonastheyenterthefrontdoor.

Great expanses of tile floors, paired with terracotta and gold-colouredwalls,formadramaticbackdropfortheunusualpiecesthe

couplehascollectedovertheyears.TheBustardshavecreatedinterestingvignettesrightfromthefront

foyerwherealeatherelephantappearstostandguardonahalltable.Be-sideit,abenchupholsteredinaleopardprintintroducesanexoticnotethat’sbalancedontheothersideofthefoyerbyatribalmaskanddrapesimprintedwithtropicalleavesandmonkeys.

Severalofthepiecescamefromprevioushomesandwereaconsid-erationwhenBradOke,anarchitecturaltechnologistandapartnerinOkeWoodsmith,plannedthehome.

“WhenBradhelpedusdesignthishouse,wedesigneditwiththoseitemsinmind,”Trudysays.“Wewantedtoreusethembecausewelovedthem.”

Thecouplealsohopedtocreatealivingspacethatwouldbesmallenoughfortwo,butwithenoughroomtoentertaincomfortably.Be-causetheyworkedlonghours,theyneededafloorplanthatwouldallow

themtobepartoftheactivitiesonthemainfloorevenwhiletheywereconversingwithclientsonthetelephone.

“Bradwasvery,verycreativeandheknewwhatwewantedproba-blymorethanwedid,”Trudyrecalls.“Wejusttalkedtohimaboutourlifestyleandwhatwethoughtwewanted.Wehadnoideathatthiswaswhatitwouldlooklike.”

Okecreatedaone-floorplanwithalower-levelwalkoutthatwouldallowtheBustardstolocateroomswithsecondaryfunctions–twoguestbedrooms,abathroomandanentertainmentarea–downstairs.Havingalowerlevelwalk-outmeanthewasabletorestrictthemainfloortoamodest1,562squarefeet.

TheBustardsdecidedtoincorporateanelevatorshaft,sizedforanelevatorcar,toincreasethehome’saccessibilityastheyage.Theelevatorwouldtakethecouplefromthelowerlevel,wheretheyenterthehomefromthegarage,tothemainfloor.

Asprojectmanager,Okekeptthecouplefocusedonthegoalstheywantedtoachieveandhelpedthemadheretotheir$500,000budget.“Wheneverwetriedtospendmoney,orfocuswhereourprioritywas

Small Size, Big Impact


“We just talked to Brad about our lifestyle”[ M E X I C A N - T H E M E D R E T R E AT ]

modest square footage with striking featuresSmall Size, Big Impact

notsupposedtobe,hewouldtakeusbacktoourpriority,”Trudysays.

Okespentayearwiththecoupleplanningtheirhome,whichisconstructedofInsulatedConcrete Forms and heated with radiant in-floorheat.Theresultisastunninglakesideres-idencethatfeatureslarge,airyroomswithinasurprisinglysmallsquarefootage.

Square-cutlimestonetilesinshadesoftanandstone,usedthroughoutbothlevels,conveythesenseofatropicalretreat.Thetilesprovidea neutral contrast to the vibrant walls, richwoodsandwroughtironthatformaconsistentthemethroughoutthehome.

Unusualceilingtreatmentsandboldco-loursdefinethemain-floorlivingareas,whichweredesignedforasunnyexposure.Okemadethefrontfoyerseemlargerbyincorporatingavaulted ceiling and an arched transom abovedoubledoors.Thefoyeropensontherighttoa

smallhomeoffice thatoffers aview, throughwrought-iron spindles, of a staircase with anantiquedmaplerailingthatleadstothelowerlevel. Without a door, the office allows thecouple,whoarerealtorsinGrandBend,toin-tegrateworkintotheirlives.

“Welovetocooktogetherandwelovetoentertain – that’s why it’s an open concept,”Trudyexplains.“IliveintheofficeandIwanttobeabletocommunicatewithIanwhenhe’sinthekitchen.Whenoneofusisintheoffice,we’renotclosedoff.”

Ahalfwallwithtworoundcolumnsvis-uallyseparatesthefoyerfromthekitchen/din-ing area to the left. Painted a deep shade of

gold,theareaisawelcomingspotthatimpartsitsownsenseofenergy.

Twogardendoorsopenoffthediningarea,which is furnishedwitha simpleoakMission-styletableandsixchairs.Onedoorleadstothefrontdeckandtheothertoasidepatio,blurringtheboundariesbetweentheindoorandoutdoorlivingspaces.

Inthekitchen,Shaker-stylemaplecabinetsinstaggeredheightsrimtheperimeter.Atex-turedceramic tilebacksplash, laidon thedia-gonal,givestheworkspaceadistinctlyMexicanflavour.

Aneight-by-eight-footisland,illuminatedbytwoskylights,formsacentralentertainingarea.Theislandpairsamaplebase,stainedinadarkfinish,withagranitecounterthatrevealsasurfaceofcutstones.Theislandincorporatesbarstools,abarfridge,amicrowaveovenandopenshelvingforTrudy’scookbooks.

Trudy is particularly fond of the island.“Welivearoundit,justthetwoofusorwhenwe’re entertaining – that is what I love themost,”shesays.

Thekitchenopensdirectlyintothegreatroomattherearofthehome.Aforestoftallpineandoaktreesisvisiblethroughawallofcurvedfeaturewindowsthatincorporateagasfireplace with a granite surround. Tropicalplantsspill fromwickerbasketsonpedestals,emphasizingthehome’ssoutherntheme.

Asmallhallwayleadspastapowderroomto the master bedroom, which overlooks thefront lawn. It’s a dramatic room with warmgoldwalls,atrayceilingandacontemporarysleighbedinsetwithleatherpanels.

Off thebedroom, a sunnyensuitebath-roomfeaturesacornerwhirlpoolbathtubthatseparatestwovanities,eachwithagoldmarblecounterandafurniture-stylebasefinelycarvedwithaleafmotif.Alaundryroom,concealedbehinddoublepocketdoorsatoneendofthebathroom,maximizesthespace.

Thestaircasefromthefoyerleadstoahall-wayinthelowerlevelthatopens,oneachside,to a guest bedroom. The main living space,painteda cool shadeof limegreen, includes agamesroomwithapooltableandacomfortablefamilyroomdecoratedwithframedfolkart.

Thegreystonehomeisaccessiblefromalong driveway that winds through a wooded

area.Stepstotherightofthehomeleaduptothe front deck where tempered glass railingsprovideaviewofthelawn.

Thedeckconnectsthestairswithacover-eddiningareaontheleft.Ledgerockstepsandfeatheryornamentalgrassesbridge theupperandlowersectionsofthepropertywherethehome was built into a sand hill. Three stonearchesbelowthedeckdefineacoveredpatio.

The Bustards decided to use their frontlawnastheirsummeroutdoorlivingarea,main-lyduetoitssouth-facingexposure.Theirback-yardwasbissectedbyawalkwayusedbyresi-dentstogainaccesstothebeach,whichlimitedthecouple’sprivacy.

TheBustards,whomovedintotheirhomeinApril2005,aredelightedwiththeresults.

After being away for an extended vaca-tion, they were surprised by their reactionwhentheydroveupthelaneway.

“Itreallywowedme,”Trudysays.“It’saveryspecialhomeforIanandme–it’sus,wejustloveit.”

Brad spent a year planning with the couple


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Brad spent a year planning with the couple


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Makers of Distinctive Custom Cabinetry since 1983


[ B AY s i d e B e A U T Y ]

locat ion: WiARTON


photography: TONY B OROs

inspired byBruce Peninsula’s rugged shoreline

E ricandLisaHeinrichputsomuchthoughtintotheirnewhomenorthofWiartontheywereinnohurrytocompletetheplanningstageandstartconstruction.TheyparticularlywantedtoensurethedesigndidjusticetoitsexceptionalwaterfrontlocationnearGeorgianBay.

Whiletheygavepainstakingconsiderationtotheroomsandfea-turestheymostwanted,theirlackofexperienceinplanninganewhomemade themsecond-guess someof theirdecisions.Thecoupleworkedwith Brad Oke, an architectural technologist and a partner in OkeWoodsmithBuildingSystemsofHensall,for2½yearsbeforeconstruc-tionbegan.

“Itwasourfirsthouse,sowewerejustwingingit,”Ericrecalls.“Wekneweveryroomwewantedoneachfloor,sowemadeascrapbookforBrad.”

ThescrapbookincludedmagazineclippingsoffeaturestheHein-richsadmired,fromrooflinesandbalconiestoflooringandcabinetry.

Thecouple,whohavetwoyoungdaughters,AlexandSophie,particu-larlywantedacomfortableyear-roundresidencethatwouldreflectitscottagesetting.

Okedrewadetailedplanafterdiscussingthecouple’sideaswiththem.“Bradhaddonealotofextraworkforuswithoutknowingifweweregoing tobe committing to anything,”Lisa says. “Hedrewup abeautifulplanandwewentfromthere.”

Atonepoint,EricandLisawerereadytostartbuilding,butdecid-edtodeferconstructionforayearwhiletheywereexpectingtheirfirstchild,Alex,now3.Inthemeantime,theycontinuedtofine-tunetheirplans.

“Theywerereallygoodtoletusmakechanges,”Ericsays.Althoughthepropertywasflat,Okefoundhewasabletoposition

thehomeonahigherareaofground,whichallowedhimtocreatealow-er-level walkout. He also built two separate two-bay garages stacked

A floor-to-ceiling feature window frames views of Colpoys Bay


Picture Perfect

[ B AY s i d e B e A U T Y ]

inspired byBruce Peninsula’s rugged shoreline

A floor-to-ceiling feature window frames views of Colpoys Bay

Picture Perfect

aboveandbelowoneanother.Thelowerbaysareaccessible fromtherearwherethedrive-waywindsaroundbythesideofthehome.

“Webuilttheequivalentofafour-bayga-rageinatwo-bayfootprint–thatwaskindoffun,”Okesays.

EricandLisaoptedforahomeconstruct-ed of Insulated Concrete Forms and heatedwithradiant in-floorheating–apriority inalocation exposed to high winds and extremecold.

The couple moved into their 5,537-square-foothomeinJuly2005.Thefive-bed-room, six-bathroom home and property arevaluedat$2million.

The exterior of the home resembles a

one-floorplan,inspiredbyCraftsmandesign.It features a combination of natural OwenSound ledgerock, quarried in the Wiartonarea,andcedarshinglesiding,bothchosenfortheir low-maintenance qualities. Two stonepiersatthefrontentryanchormassivetimberframepostsjoinedbyanarch.

Copperrainchainshangfromthecornersoftheeaves,givingthehomeadistinctlyAsianappearance.Therainchainsactasanalterna-tivetodownspoutsbybreakingthefallofthewaterandguidingitdownward,preventingicefromformingintheeavestroughs.

Becausethetwo-acrelotboasts365feetofwaterfrontproperty,Okedesignedthehometocaptureviewsofthesunriseoffthecouple’s

first-andsecond-floorreardecks,which facesoutheast.

Ascreened-inporchoffthediningareaatthesideofthehome,andanupperdeckoffthesecond-floor master bedroom, face northwestandcatchtheeveningsun.“Thedeckupstairsisquitehigh,soithasaniceviewandittakesadvan-tageofeveryminuteofthesun,”Ericsays.

Thehome’sconnectiontoitsnaturalset-ting is evident right from the front door.Gleaming maple flooring, rich oak trim andsoftcaramel-greenwallsblend thecoloursofnaturefromtheoutdoorsin.

Aheavyoakdoorwithanarchedtransomaboveopensintothefrontfoyer,providingan

all-encompassingviewofthemain-floorlivingareas.Thetwo-storeygreatroomisbalanced,ontheleft,bythekitchenanddiningareaand,on the right,byAlex’sbedroom,herensuitebathroom,andEric’sluxurioushomeoffice.

Justbeyondthefoyer,afreestandingoakstaircasewithtexturedwrought-ironspindlescurvesdramaticallyuptothesecondflooranddowntothelowerlevel.Itintroducesthetwo-storeygreatroom,whichliesdirectlyahead.

A floor-to-ceiling feature window withanarchedtopformsawallofglassthatframesaviewofColpoysBayandtheruggedshorelineof the Bruce Peninsula just beyond. Slidingglass doors open out to an angled deck thatoverlooksthepropertyasitslopesdowntotheshoreline.Surroundedbythedeepbluewatersofthebay,twoislands–CloudandGriffith–givethesceneapicture-postcardquality.

Thevaultedceilinginthegreatroomal-lowedforthecreationofanarchednicheabovethewindow,drawingattentiontothecurvinglinesthatformarecurringthemethroughoutthehome.Animmensestonefireplace,flankedoneachsidebybuilt-incherrycabinetrywithflutedpilasters,reachestothefullheightofthe22-footceiling.

Acurvedraised-ledgebreakfastbarwithagranitecountercleverlyseparatesthekitchenfromthegreatroomandoffersanunobstruct-edviewofthebaywhileEricandLisaarepre-paring meals. Craftsman-style cherry cabi-

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netsarepositionedonarearwallbehindtheis-landoneithersideofastainlesssteelrangeandhood.DesignedbyLloydVandenbergofWoodDecor inStratford, the cabinets featuredeepcrownmouldingsandrecessed-paneldoors.

Theanglesofthetrayceilinginthekit-chenanddiningareaarerepeatedinasecondisland,whichalsofunctionsasacasualeatingarea.Itdistinguishesthekitchen’sworkspacefromthediningarea,whichoverlooksbirch,pine,spruceandcedartreesonthreesidesoftheroom.

Behind the kitchen, a small hallwayleadstoSophie’sbedroomandherensuitebathroom,aswellasapowderroom.Anotherhallconnects a second entry at the front of thehomewithamudroom,a laundryareaandawalk-inpantryoffthekitchen.

Thesecondfloorcomprisesa914-square-footmaster bedroomretreat that’s decorated

inshadesoftanandcaramel.Athree-sidedgasfireplacedividesacosyareaforviewingtelevi-sionfromthebedroom,whichfeaturesanan-gledtrayceilingandastunningviewofthebaythroughawallofwindows.

The adjoining ensuite bathroom is illu-minated by light from two skylights, whichgivestheyellowandpeachtonesinthemarblefloorsasoftglow.Thebathroomincorporatesacornerbathtubsurroundedbycasementwin-dows,aglassedshowerwithmarbletilefloorsand two vanities, one of which conceals alaundrychute.

From the foyer, the oak staircase leadspastacurvedwalltothelowerlevelwalkout.Designedasaguestretreatwithaseparateen-trance,itfeaturesasunkenfamilyroomwithastonefireplace,araisedbarareawithagamesroom,aswellasanexerciseroomandabath-roomwithasauna.Totherightofthefamily

Sources:

BRANdeR sTeel – steel BeamsCOUNTY heRiTAGe – Trim, doors hAROld sUTheRlANd CONsTRUCTiON – Concrete supplyOWeN sOUNd GARAGe dOOR – Cedar Garage doors TiMBR MART – lumber WOOdeCOR – Cabinets TURNBUll’s PlUMBiNG ANdeleCTRiC

roomare twoguestbedrooms,oneofwhichfeaturesaroundedsittingarea,andafullbath-roombehindpocketdoors.

Eric says he andLisa are glad they tooktheirtimeplanningtheirhome.Hebelievesit’sparticularly important to seek good advicewhen building in a resort area where homesshould reflect elements from their naturalsetting.

“We’ve seen houses being constructedevenonthewaterherethathavesmallwin-dows that just don’t take advantage of theviews,”Ericsays.“Wefeelwedidthatquitewell.”

Although theHeinrichshaven’t lived intheirhomeforverylong,theyhavehighex-pectationsofit.“It’sgoingtosuitourlifestylequite well because of the space and the de-sign,”Ericsays.

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[ d e s i G N e d F O R FA M i lY ]

locat ion: NORTh OF lONdON



etermining the optimum location for a home on apropertyisacriticalpartofthedesignprocess–particu-

larlywhenthereareoutstandingviewsofforests,riversandravinestotakeintoconsideration.

ThatwasthechallengeforBradOke,anarchitecturaltechnologistandapartnerinOkeWoodsmithBuildingSystemsofHensall.Hewascontractedbyacoupletodesignahomeona23-acreparceloflandover-lookingtheThamesRiverinaruralareanorthofLondon.

Thecouplewantedtomaximizetheirviewofthevalley’sgentlehillsanddenseforestsfromtheirmainlivingareas.Becausetheirprop-ertywasflat,andslopedawayabruptlytotheriver,theviewwasn’tevi-dentexceptatcloserange.

“Wespentalongtimeonthepropertytryingtofigureouthowwecouldseedownthevalleythemostandprovideprivacytothecouple,”Okeexplains.“Iwastryingtogetthehouseasfarbackonthepropertyaspossiblesoyoucouldtakealookdowntheravine.Ifithadbeenupat

theroadlevel,youwouldneverhaveknownthevalleywaseventhere.”Thecouplealreadyhadapreliminaryplanfortheirhomethatwas

drawnbyanotherdesigner.Theranch-styleresidence,however,wasn’tdesigned for the lot anddidn’t reflect the family’s casual approach tocountryliving.ThehusbandandwifeapproachedOkeWoodsmithafteranacquaintancerecommendedthecompany.

“Wechoseourproperty fairlycarefully andhadan idea thatwewantedahomethatwaswelcomingforfamily,”recallsthehomeowner.“We both have extended family that’s quite close in the area and wewantedthemtofeelaswelcomeaspossible.TheplanthatBradprovidedmetthoseneedsthatwewerelookingfor.”

Thecoupleparticularlywantedtoavoidformalroomstheywouldn’tuse.“That’snotwhatwe’veeverexperiencedorhadenvisionedforour-selves,” thehomeownernotes. “Wewantedbig,open,practical spacesthatwouldbecomfortable,welcoming,holdlotsofpeopleandbeused.”

Okedecidedtoexcavatetherearofthepropertyforalower-level

D

reflecting its riverfront setting from the inside outCarved in Stone


Carved in Stone

visually define the main-floor

and tiered granite counters,Fine cherry millwork,

“We wanted a home that was welcoming for family”walkout that would accommodate the chil-dren’sbedrooms.Excavating theareaaroundthefoundationalsoallowedforthecreationoffull-heightwindowsandapatio.

Becauseof their exposed rural location,thecoupleoptedforafoundationandexteriorwallsmadeofInsulatedConcreteForms,whichare known for their energy efficiency andsound resistance. They also chose radiant in-floorheatingastheirheatsource.ThecoupleandtheirtwoyoungchildrenmovedintothehomeinMarch2004.

“It’sacomfortable,quietplacetobe.Wecanreallyrelaxhereandhaveourlifethewaywelikeitwithoutalotofintrusionsfromtheoutsideworld,”thehomeownersays.

CladinOwenSoundledgerock,the5,000-square-foothome isanaturalfitwith its sur-

roundings. Stone piers support heavy timberframe posts and an arch that curves over thefrontentry.

Inside, the foyer offers an unobstructedviewofthemain-floorlivingarea,whichisunifiedby rich cherry woodwork, engineered pecanflooringandwarmgoldwalls.Therollingcoun-tryside,visiblethroughawalloffeaturewindowstrimmedincherry,resemblesartwork.

The vast proportions of the great roomarebroughtdowntohumanscalethroughava-rietyofelements.Built-incherrycabinetswithdeep crown mouldings and fluted pilastersflank each side of a wood-burning fireplace,spanningthelengthofonewall.Thecabinets

combineopenshelveswherethehomeownersdisplayacollectionofdecoys,booksandpho-tographs,aswellasdoorsthatconcealtheirau-dio-visualequipment.

The fireplace, faced with cut fieldstone,extendsuptowardthe14-footcathedralceil-ing.Twolongleathersofasarearrangedateachend of a conversation area, balanced by tworeadingchairs.

Finecherrymillworkandatieredgranitecounter create visual separation between thegreatroomandthekitchen,whichislocatedtotherightofthefoyer.Thebarisafocalpointforentertaining and also shields the kitchen’sworkspacefromview.

Detailedcherrycabinetryinthekitchencombines visually arresting elements, includ-ingaflaredrangehoodofcherrybeadboard,abuilt-inchinacabinetcarvedwitharopemotif,andalowwindowbenchwithdrawersbeneathforstorage.Acentreislandformsthekitchen’smainworkarea,juststepsawayfromabuilt-indeskwithopen shelving above thatholds thehomeowner’srecipebooks.

In the adjoining dining area, a gardendooropensontoaflagstonedeckwherestoneposts link railings of clear tempered glass.Casement windows on three walls provide aview of landscaped retaining walls and stonestepsthatbridgethetransitionfromthedecktothepatiobelow.

Awidesideentryoffthegarage–apriorityforabusyfamily–providesaccesstoapowderroomononesideandalaundryroomontheother.

Attheoppositeendofthehome,asmallvestibulelinksthegreatroomwiththemasterbedroomretreat.Decoratedwithpalegreycar-pet,whitewoodworkandstone-colouredwalls,thebedroomevokesafeelingofserenity.

The ensuite bathroom is flooded withlight from an arched window above a raisedwhirlpool bathtub. White vanities, separatedbyamakeuparea,arebalancedontheoppositesidebyaglassedshowerwithabenchandasep-arateroomwithacommode.

Acherry staircase leads fromthe foyer tothelowerlevel,whichincorporatesanopen-con-ceptfamilyroomwithagamesareaandabar,aswellasasewingroom.Aself-containedwingwas

createdthroughavestibulethatprovidesaccesstoafullbathroomandtwobedrooms.

The homeowner says it’s important forcouplestothoroughlyplanthedesignoftheirhomeandtobeinvolvedineverystageofcon-struction.OkeWoodsmithhelpedherandherhusbandtostreamlinetheirideas.

“It’safamily-basedbusinessandwewerevery pleased with the companies they workwith,”shesays.“Theyweresuper,qualitypeo-pleandgoodcompanies.”

The thought the couple put into theirhomeisreflectedinvisitors’comments.“Theythinkit’sbeautiful,”thehomeownerobserves.“They’rehappytoseethatwewereabletobringtheoutsidein,especiallyfolkscomingfromthecity–theyjustdon’tgetthatathome.”

Sources:

BRANdeR sTeel – steel Beams CliFF’s PlUMBiNG – Geo-Thermal heating COUNTY heRiTAGe – Trim dAshWOOd iNdUsTRies – Windows elROY WAGleR MAsONRY – stone Mason Geddes sheeT MeTAl – soffit, Fascia iNsUlPRO – insulation MARshAll deCORATiNG – drywall McCANN Redi MiX – Concrete ROes sTAiRs – stairs RONA CAshWAY – Building supplies TURNBUll’s PlUMBiNG ANd eleCTRiC


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The StonePlace CorporationLondon, ON519.649.1500

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Patene Building SupplyLondon, ON519.649.1588

Ed’s Concrete ProductsStratford, ON519.271.6590

Can-Tario Brick & StoneWoodstock, ON519.537.6645

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locat ion: BelGRAve



From dereliction to Victorian stateliness

G

Return To Grace

eorgeandElizabethProcterhadalwaysadmiredastately yellow-brick Victorian house across the road from theirownhomesouthofWingham.Locatedonarise,thetwo-

storey residence had a commanding presence, as well as asweepingviewofforestsandfarmlandformilesaround.

Whentheownerdiedin1995,theProctersdecidedtheyhadtoactquicklytochangetheinevitableoutcomeofthehome.Builtinthe1890s,ithadamultitudeofstructuralproblems,aswellasnoindoorplumbing,runningwaterorevenakitchen.Severalwindowshadbeenbrokenandthehousewasinhabitedbyaraccoon.

TheProcterswereparticularlycaptivatedbytheexterior,whichboastedadeepverandawithwoodengingerbreadtrim, lintelsetchedwithagracefulscrollmotif,andbaywindowsthatcreatedaroundedef-fectonthemainfloorandthesecondstorey.Theypurchasedthehomein1997andbeganthelongprocessofreturningittoastateofdignity.

“Itwasjustsounique,”ElizabethProcterrecalls.“Wehaven’teverfoundanyotherhousethat’sexactlythesame.”

Asmuchasthecoupleappreciatedtheexterior,theinteriorprovedtobeunworkable.Themainfloorconsistedofahallway,alivingroomandasmallbedroombehinditwithastaircasethat ledtothesecondfloor.Upstairs,thereweretwotinybedroomsandalargerbedroom.

“Itwas a total rebuild;wehad to reworkeverything,”Elizabethsays.

ThecouplehiredJohnRutledge,aGodericharchitect,toredesigntheinterior.Duringthetwo-yearplanningprocess,RutledgesuggestedthecouplecontractOkeWoodsmithBuildingSystemsofHensalltocar-ryouttheinteriorandexteriorrenovationwork.TheProctersparticu-larlywantedtoheatthehomewithradiantin-floorheat,atechnologyinwhichOkeWoodsmithspecialized.

In2001,Okeremovedanadditionattherearofthehome,leavingonlyashelloffourwallsandtheroofraftersintact.

Thecompanythenguttedthe interior,which includedremovingtheoriginalwoodenfloorjoistsandinstallingaHambrocompositefloorjoistsystemonthefirstandsecondfloors.Thecombinationofsteeljoists

Flagstone-look ceramic tile floors and off-white walls accentuate the great room’s open-concept design


BeFORe

From dereliction to Victorian statelinessReturn To Grace

Flagstone-look ceramic tile floors and off-white walls accentuate the great room’s open-concept design

Salvaged and reclaimed brick create a seamless blend of old and new.and poured concrete allowed for wider rooms and reduced the need for structural supports. Radiant in-floor heating was installed in all three levels of the home.

In the process of rebuilding the home, Oke used Insulated Concrete Forms in the ex-terior walls of two additions on the main floor to increase the home’s energy efficiency and sound resistance.

To the right of the front foyer, Oke creat-ed an open-concept living and dining area bal-anced by an east-facing sunroom on the oppo-site side. The area beneath the sunroom was excavated and the original basement deepened by two feet to accommodate a finished lower level; that work involved underpinning the stone foundation.

At the rear of the home, the company built an addition with a kitchen, a side entry, and a garage faced with board-and-batten sid-ing. Upstairs, a master bedroom, a home office and a bathroom were created.

Oke used a combination of salvaged brick from the home and reclaimed brick to create a seamless blend of old and new. The brick was also repointed, the double-hung windows re-placed and new concrete windowsills made to duplicate the originals. Elizabeth stripped and painted the gingerbread trim, as well as the columns on the front veranda, a pale shade of yellow to match the brick.

Brad Oke, an architectural technologist and a partner in Oke Woodsmith, says the greatest challenge in the renovation lay in incorporating new technologies into a century- old home. “We

built the house in the same fashion as we would build a new house, but we had to retain the feel and the look of the project,” he explains.

“The biggest thing was trying not to lose the character of the home, but putting in all of the new technologies. The house is a new home, barring the brick.”

Although the interior is new, the Procters have made an effort to incorporate features found in the original home. Ash hardwood, grown in the area, was used for deep base-boards, as well as heavy window and door cas-ings. The couple also salvaged two of the origi-nal ash doors; one became a pocket door lead-ing into the sunroom and the other was used in

the master bedroom. One of the most striking features of the

home is the impression of light and spaciousness that’s evident to visitors as soon as they enter the front foyer. Off-white walls and pale ce-ramic tile floors create a contrast to the dark woods used throughout the interior.

The sunroom, which is filled with tropi-cal plants and furnished with a rattan dining set, opens to the left of the foyer. Sunlight streams through five sets of casement windows with deep windowsills and transoms above. The windows create a rounded effect that bal-ances two sets of bay windows in the living room across the hall.

To the right of the foyer, deep cove mould-ings unify the living and dining rooms, which form an open-concept area ideal for entertain-ing. Behind the dining area, a streamlined kitchen pairs deeply grained oak cabinets with granite counters in soft shades of peach and cream. A built-in desk, an island with a cook-top, and a pantry accentuate the kitchen’s effi-cient design.

A side entry opens from a recessed porch in to a long hallway with a full bathroom and a laundry/hobby room at the rear. The laundry room also accommodates a boiler that heats the water for the radiant in-floor heating system and the domestic hot water.

From the rear of the home, an ash staircase leads to the lower level. It incorporates two well-proportioned bedrooms with full-height win-dows and pine ceiling beams, a cold room for storing Elizabeth’s preserves, a family room with

a rustic fieldstone fireplace, and an exercise area.The second floor is accessible from the

home’s original cherry staircase in the front foyer. It features a hallway that leads, on one side, to a home office and, on the other, to the master bedroom and a full bathroom.

The Procters are delighted with the level of comfort they’ve achieved in their home – from the floor-to-ceiling warmth provided by the radiant in-floor heat to the design of the in-terior layout. The couple will be able to use the main floor exclusively if mobility problems prevent them from gaining access to the sec-ond floor. Shallow exterior steps also increase the home’s accessibility.

“Planning the layout was extremely im-portant and getting the spaces we wanted,” Elizabeth says.

The Procters agree that collaborating with Oke Woodsmith was a rewarding expe-rience. “They were wonderful to work with,” Elizabeth notes. “Brad was so helpful in helping us find the right trim or the right hardware. If there was something that we felt wasn’t going to work, we just changed it. They couldn’t have been nicer.”

The renovation was completed shortly be-fore the Procters moved into the home in July 2002 at a cost of $350,000.

While many people questioned the cou-ple’s decision to renovate the home instead of demolishing it and starting over, George says he’s glad he and Elizabeth invested in their property.

“Rejuvenating a house that’s old gives you some satisfaction,” he adds.


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CONCRETE SPECIALISTS

Sources:

Canam Hambro – Concrete Floor Systems InSulpro – Insulation puglIa mouldIngS and plaSter WorkS ltd – plaster and mouldings rIdley WIndoWS and doorS – Windows and doors roeS StaIrS – Stairs underFoot – Flooring

“We do beautiful” Design and build outdoor living spaces Concrete countertops

Full design service Design, stain and polish concrete fl oors

Poolscapes Custom concrete balconies

519-472-7667

CONCRETE SPECIALISTS

[ T h e N AT U R A l B e A U T Y O F l O G h O M e s ]




modern amenities with rustic charm

ome buyers who plan to build a lakeside retreat now have another option in cottage properties. Pre-engineered loghomesoffertheappealoftraditionalloghomes,butwithallof

theconveniencesofayear-roundresidence.WhisperCreekLogHomes,aCanadiancompanybasedinAlber-

ta,buildsloghomesmadeofpre-manufacturedpanelsinafactoryset-ting. Each 2x6 exterior wall is custom-built using hand-crafted halflogs,whicharefastenedtothewallsatthetopandbottomat16-inchintervals.

Entirewalls–completewithwindows,sheathingandahousewraptoprotectthehomeagainstmoisture,andexteriorhalf logsthathavebeenstainedandchinked–areshippedbytrucktoabuildingsite.

OkeWoodsmithBuildingSystemsofHensallrecentlybuiltaWhis-perCreekloghomejustnorthofGrandBend.Thecompany’sclientsareacouplefromDetroit,Michiganwhoresearchedpre-manufacturedlog

homesasanalternativetoacottage.ThatdesireiscommontomanyofOkeWoodsmith’sclients,says

Brad Oke, an architectural technologist and a partner in the family-ownedcompany.Clientschooseloghomesmainlyforalakefrontorawoodedproperty.

“They’relookingforaretreat,buttheywanttheefficienciesthatyouwouldhaveinanewhome,”Okeobserves.

The couple’s log home represents the first Oke Woodsmith hasbuilt,althoughthecompanyhasconstructedfourtimber-framehomesinconjunctionwithPineridgeTimberFrameHomesinLondon.

“We’vestayedawayfromloghomes,traditionalloghomes,becauseoftheinherentproblemsthatloghomestypicallyhave,”Okesays.

Someofthoseproblemsincludedraftsandheatlosscausedbythesettling, cracking and shrinkage of logs. Insulating and wiring thosehomescanalsobedifficultbecauseoftheirsolidlogconstruction.

H

Whisper Creek Log Homes


Inside, the scent of pine is evident

modern amenities with rustic charmWhisper Creek Log Homes

Inside, the scent of pine is evident

TheWhisperCreekloghomesareassem-bledinakitthatrepresents25percentofthevalueofthehouse.Thekitincludestheexteri-or walls, structural beams, rafters, framingmaterial, and a staircase; the interior can befinishedinhalflogsorwithdrywall.

Thehomesareavailableinavarietyofde-signsthatrangeinsizefrom725squarefeettomore than 6,000 square feet. They featuremaintenance-free, double-glazed, low-e vinylwindows and 2x6 exterior walls that exceedR-20insulationvalues.

Becausethehomesareassembledinafac-torysetting,theycanbemanufacturedtoex-actingspecifications.“Theadvantagesarethatyou have the factory quality-control,” Okeexplains.

OncethepanelsarrivedonthebuildingsiteinGrandBend,OkeWoodsmith’srolein-volvedpouringthefoundationanderectingtheoutsideframe.Thecompanyalsolookedafterinstalling the heating and cooling system, aswell as the plumbing, wiring, insulation anddrywallingofsomeinteriorwalls.Thelaststepinvolved completing the interior finishes andinstallingthecabinetry.

Because thekit allowed forflexibility inthelayoutoftheinteriorwalls,Okedesignedtherooms to takeadvantageof thebeautyofthestructurallogs.Theyfacealloftheexteriorperimeter walls and are also used as ceilingbeamsandmassivestructuralsupports.

Concretefloorsthroughoutthehomearewarmedwithradiantin-floorheatandfinishedwith engineered maple flooring, which de-creasesthepossibilityofshrinkageinherentinnaturalhardwoods.Radiant in-floorheatalsoheatsthehomethroughaboilersystem.

The four-bedroom, four-bathroom homefeaturescentralair-conditioning,aheatre-cov-eryventilatorandabackupnaturalgasgenera-tor. Special exterior elements include wrap-aroundporchesonthreesidesandtwobalconiesthatareaccessiblefromfrenchdoors.

The 6,000-square-foot home was com-pletedinasix-monthperiodlastJulyatacostof$750,000,excludingtheproperty.

With its dark green steel roof, dormersand chalet-style balcony tucked into a gable,thehome’s frontelevationhasacommandingpresence. Wide slabs of Owen Sound ledge-rockformstepsthatleadfromdeepperennialflowerbedsuptothefrontporch.

Inside,thescentofpineisevidentinthefoyer,whichfeatureswallsofexposedhalflogsand slate-coloured porcelain tile floors. Thefronthallwayleads,ontheleft,pastafullbath-room, also accessible from the rear of thehome,toahomeofficeandamasterbedroom.

Theownersinvitednaturalelementsintothehome’s interiorthroughtheirselectionofcustomwoodfurnishings.Inthemasterbed-room,twocasementwindowsflankabedwitha high headboard and footboard made ofgnarled,knottedwoodinlightanddarktones.Ablanketboxatthefootappearstobewrappedintwistedbranches.

In the ensuite bathroom, a whirlpoolbathtubistuckedbetweentwovanitieswithquartz counters and cabinet fronts made ofhalflogs.Stone-lookporcelaintilefloorsandtilewallstoppedwithamosaicbordercreateaspaambiance.

Themainlivingareaislocatedontheop-positesideofthehomeandopensontherightfrom the foyer.Double stone arches separatethegreatroom,with itssoaring20-footceil-ing,fromanopen-conceptkitchenandadjoin-ing dining area. A raised-ledge breakfast barwithalacqueredpinecounterfurtherdefinesthetwoareas.

On the kitchen’s perimeter, rustic cabi-netsofcherryandpinecreateanunusualmixof light and dark wood tones that set off thestainless steel appliances and brushed nickel

faucets. A slate backsplash in shades of rust,goldandgreenispairedwithcharcoalandtan-colouredquartzcounters.

Atwo-storeywallofcasementandtrape-zoid windows in the great room provides abreathtakingviewoverLakeHuron.Theviewisparticularlyarrestingfromthevantagepointofasecond-floorloft,accessedbyasolidpinestaircase.Slantedpineceilingsandarailingofstraight spindles give the room a particularsenseofgrandeur.The loftoverlooksa two-sided, floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace thatwarmsthegreatroomandascreenedporchatthesideofthehome.

There is a wide range of designs

Sources:

BRANdeR sTeel – steel Beams CANAM hAMBRO – Concrete Floor systemsCONi MARBle – Quartz Counter Tops COUNTY heRiTAGe – Trim dAshWOOd iNdUsTRies – Windows iNsUlPRO – insulation iNNOvATiONs iN WOOd lTd. – Cabinets lAKeWOOd GARdeN CeNTRe – landscaping McCANN Redi MiX – Concrete RONA CAshWAY – Building supplies TURNBUll PlUMBiNG ANd eleCTRiC


n Multi-Media Cable TV/Satellite

n HDTV Custom Cabling & Integration

n Telephone & Teledoor Systems

n Computer Networking

n Signature Whole House Audio

n Surround Sound Systems

n Home Theatre Systems

n Custom Audio/Video Equipment Design & Installation

n Lighting Control Systems

n Security/DVR Surveillance & Monitoring

Please contact us to arrange an appointment to view our experience centre, where we will “wow” you with a complete Kable Solutions demonstration, in an actual completed home setting!

Thedford Showroom397 Main StreetThedford, ON N0M 2N0Ph 519-296-5187Fax 519-296-5566

London Experience Centreby appointment onlyPh 519-296-5187email: [email protected]

“Where the Wiring of today… meets the technology of tomorroW”

Ahallwaytotheleftleadstoabathroomandthreechildren’sbedrooms,eachdecoratedwithrusticwoodfurniture.Eachbedroomisdistinguishedbyastainedglasstransomabovethedoorway.

Thelowerlevelwalkoutincludesacomfort-ablefamilyroomwithagasfireplaceanda fullkitchenthatopenontoacoveredpatio.Awell-appointedbathroomcompletesthelivingarea.

Althoughthehomewasafirst-timeven-tureforOkeWoodsmith,itwasanexperimentthecompanyplanstorepeat.Thehomeownerswere delighted with the results and Oke hastwomoreloghomesinthedesignstage.“Ourclientswereverypleasedwith theoutcome,”Okesays.

There is a wide range of designsMulti-Media Cable TV/Satellite

HDTV Custom Cabling & Integration

Telephone & Teledoor Systems

Computer Networking

Signature Whole House Audio

Surround Sound Systems

Home Theatre Systems

Custom Audio/Video Equipment Design & Installation

Lighting Control Systems

Security/DVR Surveillance & Monitoring

For new and existing homes, contact us to arrange an appointment to view our experience centre, where we will “WOW” you with a complete Kable Solutionsdemonstration, in an actual completed home setting!

Thedford Showroom397 Main StreetThedford, ON N0M 2N0Ph 519-296-5187Fax 519-296-5566

London Experience Centreby appointment onlyPh 519-296-5187email: [email protected]

www.allenstubbs.com

“Where the wiring of today…meets the Technology of Tomorrow”

10328 Sinclair Drive RR1, Ilderton, Ontario N0M 2A0519-666-2073 Toll-free: 1-877-922-4522www.weatherdekontario.com

Maintenance Free

Durable Powder Coated Finish

Over 200 Custom Colours Available

Picket or Glass Styles

Engineered for Strength

Quality Installations

Custom Fit to Any Deck

Suitable for Any Climate

Waterproof Walking Surfaces

Waterproof Walking Membranes to Protectand Enhance Decks, Patios, Steps,Roofdecks, Walkways and More.

We coverthem all!

AFTER

BEFORE

Transform your landscape into a…

Specializing in large natural stone design and construction

Erosion control on lake banks and sea wallsWalk-outs and retaining wallsDriveways, patios and stairsWaterfalls and ponds

2889 Mount Carmel Drive, Parkhill, Ontario N0M 2K0

519-235-3377 – 519-318-9721

Proud supplier to Oke Woodsmith391 Main St., Exeter • 519-235-0009 • www.villagevinesfl orists.com • Mon-Fri 9-5:30; Sat 9-5; Sunday closed

SERVING LONDON & SURROUNDING AREAS

• The Leading Professionals in High-Style Custom-Made Artifi cial Floral Designs

• Meet with us to discover what amazing pieces we can design for your home.

• Shop our online gallery of permanent fl orals at www.villagevinesfl orists.com (as of April 1st, 2007)


AFTER

BEFORE

Transform your landscape into a…

Specializing in large natural stone design and construction

Erosion control on lake banks and sea wallsWalk-outs and retaining wallsDriveways, patios and stairsWaterfalls and ponds

2889 Mount Carmel Drive, Parkhill, Ontario N0M 2K0

519-235-3377 – 519-318-9721

A division of Canam Group

www.hambro.ws 1-800-871-8876

SUPERIOR FLOOR SYSTEMFOR FINELY CRAFTED HOMESSUPERIOR FLOOR SYSTEMFOR FINELY CRAFTED HOMES

A proud supplier ofOke WoodsmithBuilding Systems Inc.

MacLachlan/HMS Insurance and Financial Services

Serving Your Community for Over 75 Yearswww.maclachlaninsurance.com

Farm

Marine

Cottages

Life

Disability

GICs & RRSPs

Auto

Home

Business

67 Main St., Thedford, ON519-296-5593 / 1-888-970-5555

30 - 81 Crescent St., Grand Bend, ON519-238-2692 / 1-888-281-2111

197 Main St., Parkhill, ON519-294-6871 / 1-877-294-9666


SPECIALISTS IN COPPER AND ALL TYPES OF SIDING PRODUCTS

Proudly associated with Oke Woodsmith

5731/2 Grey Street, London, ON N6B 1H6 • 519-663-1182 • Fax: 519-663-1184 • www.geddesandson.com

SPECIALISTS IN COPPER AND ALL TYPES OF SIDING PRODUCTS

Proudly associated with Oke Woodsmith

5731/2 Grey Street, London, ON N6B 1H6 • 519-663-1182 • Fax: 519-663-1184 • www.geddesandson.com

C.E. Reid & sons


septic systemsinstalled

excavation

519-235-0677

granularmaterials

screenedtop soil

519-263-2321

Family ownEd sinCE 1943


VONNIE OVERHOLT MOVED from an apartment to a condo at Stone Meadows in late February. Her daughter, Sandy Overholt, says her mother is thrilled with her new home.

“She has the best of both worlds where she can feel that she has her own home without the responsibilities of a home. I just see how much happier my mom is – she’s not in a small apartment, she has beautiful big windows and she can go outside. Her happiness makes me feel happy when I see how content she is and how much she loves it. I think it’s perfect for her.”

Sandy was also delighted with Oke Woodsmith’s approach to sales and service. “Randy has gone above and beyond to make sure all our questions were answered. I was just blown away by their customer service approach to everything.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: www.diversexf.comSALES: [email protected] INFO: [email protected]

LITE-FORM® is a concrete wall containment and forming system which produces a continuous, insulated, monolithic concrete wall requiring no stripping and ready to receive fi nish materials.

www.okewoodsmith.com/liteform/Default.htm

the oke woodsmith collection of homes - spring 2007

Documents

construction company

brad recalls

oke brothers brad

hensallbased company

construction work

stage of construction

clients werent happy

years of building experience