Contractors will tell you it is less expensive to build new than to renovate. This is true, but what if you love the property on which your house is built because the land fronts the Assiniboine River, is adorned with looming ash, oak and elm trees, and is located in a semi-rural area where birds warble and wandering deer keep the human heart from care?
Mark Hope and his wife, Marie, decided the beauty and tranquility of their property was more than worth the extra dollars it could cost them to double their existing 2,000-square-foot home.
"When we looked at the skimpy sizes and treeless locations of new building lots, we realized how fortunate we were to own our piece of heaven near Headingley. There was nothing comparable," said Mark.
As a result, Mark and Marie hired contractor Larry Larwyn of Larwyn Custom Homes to add a 2,000-square-foot addition to their traditional home in Tuxedo of the west, as the lovely area is referred to by many people.
Construction began in earnest last October after a false start in which Mark was forced to fire a contractor whose personnel were not "on the same wavelength as my wife and I."
(Mark's advice to people considering a reno is to talk to friends and relations who have had experience with contractors.)
"Larry's (Larwyn) name kept coming up when I asked for recommendations," he said.
As of the end of July, Larwyn and his crew had completed most of the reno including a large extension to the kitchen, a theme room dubbed "The Cabin" as well as a great room with a cedar cathedral ceiling and a 30-foot-high stone fireplace.
"It was Larry's idea to create a sloped ceiling which I really like," said Mark, who said the original plan had called for a flat one.
The steep ceiling is festooned with pot-lights operated by dimmer switches as well as built-in speakers to provide surround sound throughout the house.
"The sound system is very cool," said Mark. "It can be operated on separate bands so my wife, son and daughter can all watch or listen to their favourite shows or music; it can be piped throughout the house during parties.
Most of the main floor is covered with luxury vinyl planking called Abura Dockside Sand. It has a hand-scraped pattern to complement the rustic theme of the house, according to designer Michelle Wiebe.
RB Millwork built most of the cabinetry in the house. Throughout the kitchen, the cabinets are distressed maple and cherry to echo the traditional theme of the design. A dark stained cherry island reflects the deep brown of the beams in the great room. The island and kitchen countertops are light champagne granite which picks up the sand tones of the LVP flooring.
RB Millwork also installed a fireplace at the main entrance that has exotic black-granite slabs on both sides; each slab weighs about 900 pounds.
A "fun bar" behind the fireplace will have zany colours such as lime green and fuzzy peach, as well as LED lights that change colour and low-slung couches in a yet-to-be-determined colour.
A nearby powder room includes a vanity made from half of a whiskey barrel, and the sink has a faucet that resembles an old fashioned water pump.
A screened deck will be built across the back of the house allowing sliding doors and windows in the kitchen, Great Room and Cabin Room to admit fresh air during warm days.
The upstairs is carpeted throughout with Shaw's Pacific beach cut-and-lift rug.
The family's two children have their own bathrooms, each with a special feature: The boy's has taps that change colour and the girl's has a sink in the shape of a palm leaf.
The ensuite looks out on the Assiniboine River and features a round walk-in shower designed so that a door is unnecessary for privacy.
Much of the exterior front elevation will be covered in cultured stone.
"The stone work has yet to be completed because there was a glitch with the colour. The tone of the second batch was noticeably different than the first," said Mark.
Aside from this problem and an air duct that had to be moved, he said he and his wife are happy they made the decision to remain on their lovely acreage near Headingley.
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