tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87386973039768900042024-03-13T16:14:35.401-04:00Beaver Homes & CottagesBeaver Homes & Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028882974183993020noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8738697303976890004.post-61679651862407988422022-03-01T13:33:00.001-05:002023-02-01T11:40:06.004-05:00Northern vision<p><b>A remote retreat brings all-season luxury to Long Lake</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Bg6nAMRVVLo" width="320" youtube-src-id="Bg6nAMRVVLo"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p>For many people building a cottage in Ontario, minimizing the dreaded cottage commute is a big deal. After all, who wants to spend more time than necessary on a cramped highway every weekend? But for intrepid souls who crave nature, heading farther north is worth the extra mileage. Stephen and Eva Taylor, who recently built their dream cottage with Beaver Homes & Cottages in a remote area outside of Sudbury, Ont., fall into the latter camp, and they love the land so much that they decided to make their new build an all-seasons retreat.</p><p>For the nature-loving couple, the northern landscape and its wildlife were a big part of the draw. Particularly in the early spring, it’s common to see moose trot through the roadside brush along Highway 69, while black bears poke their heads above the jagged granite walls that line the blacktop. “It’s true wilderness,” says Stephen. “It’s got the pine and the granite and the birch trees and all the wildlife that’s characteristic of Northern Ontario.”</p><p>The water and its wild surroundings provide plenty of opportunities for embracing the outdoors, and the Taylors and their five children and eight grandchildren routinely partake in standup paddleboarding, canoeing, kayaking, or fishing for bass off the end of the dock. “Between the canoes and the kayaks, we spend a lot of time on the water,” Eva says.</p><p>While the “hidden jewel” of Long Lake might feel remote, the Taylors also love being a short drive from Sudbury’s restaurants, street festivals, and farmer’s markets. “We’re about 15 minutes from a pretty major city,” Stephen says. “So even though you’re away from it all, you’ve got all the amenities of being back in civilization.</p><p>During the day, the couple’s towering windows might overlook a spectacular lake lined by conifers and rugged granite, but for Eva in particular, it’s after sunset that the remote region’s true beauty emerges. “The night sky is amazing up here. One of my favourite things to do is go out on the lake at night and float on my back and look up at the Milky Way. When you see that enormous wave of stars over your head, it’s really quite something.”</p><p>But a love of nature wasn’t the only reason the couple chose Long Lake. They both had a history that they wanted to preserve, not just for themselves, but for their family. “We brought our children here as babies,” Eva says. “And now they’re bringing their children here as babies, and we’re getting to enjoy the whole process all over again.”</p><p>“The property here has been in our family for about 65 years now,” Stephen says. “My dad bought it in the mid-1950s. At that time, the original camp that was on the site had no electricity, no running water, and literally had a wood-burning stove and an icebox where they delivered blocks of ice to keep things cool.” Add to those amenities kerosene lamps for lighting and, of course, a trusty outhouse in lieu of indoor plumbing, and you’ve got the quintessential cottage experience that many Canadians grew up with. But after Stephen inherited the rustic “camp” in 2013, he and Eva envisioned a way of honouring it while creating something fresh that they could enjoy well into the future. “The plan was to demolish it and rebuild to do something that suited the property,” he explains.</p><p>To bring their vision to life, they needed to enlist the right team. At the Spring Cottage Life Show, they met Jeremie Sally, the Beaver Homes & Cottages Design Consultant at Evan’s Home Building Centre in Sudbury. After a glance through the Beaver Homes & Cottages Design Book and a deeper dive into the models on their website, Stephen and Eva knew they’d found their team. Taking the Ashland model as a starting point, they were able to play around with its design features, bringing them closer to what they had in mind for the property. “The really nice thing about the design book is that they can pick features from different models,” Jeremie says. “Then we can pull all of those elements together and come up with a customized design for them.”</p><p>Aside from helping people choose the design features that suit their property, Jeremie also assists with the project’s various contractors and ensures they have the right supplies. “When I first met Stephen and Eva, they had a good sense of what they wanted from their cottage, but they weren’t familiar with the local builders and contractors,” Jeremie says. “Our philosophy at Beaver Homes & Cottages is to provide quality skilled help for our clients. We have builders that we work with day to day on multiple projects, so our clients can be confident that whomever we suggest is going to be a quality builder.”</p><p>After some calls, Jeremie suggested Sudbury-based contractor Kevin Radey. Of course, since the Taylors lived 400 kilometres south in Oakville, Ont., they could only visit the site every couple of weeks. That meant Kevin and Jeremie first needed to build trust.</p><p>“Trust is the most important thing when it comes to building a house for someone,” Kevin explains. Fortunately, that trust came quickly. “It was a great collaboration between Jeremie, who handled the design and the supply of the materials, and our builder, Kevin, who was responsible for the construction,” Stephen says. “Those two fellows worked hand in glove and did a great job of executing the project.”</p><p>With Jeremie’s and Kevin’s help, the Taylors laid out their hopes for the property. Part of that vision included a new cottage that would be fully winterized—and big enough to comfortably host their large family. A walk through the spacious interior reveals not only a keen eye for detail, but an understanding of how the cottage should function. The open-concept kitchen area serves as a hub for family and guests, and both the kitchen and the loft space above it offer stunning views of the lake through a wall composed almost entirely of windows. The kitchen flows into a seating area whose focal point is a stately, stoned-in fireplace, which warms both the main area and the four-seasons sunroom on the other side. Other details, like an ICF foundation, heated floors in the bathroom, body jets in the shower, and split-system heat pumps for heating and cooling, give the cottage both luxury and convenience. And above it all is perhaps the most awe-inducing feature: an expansive peaked ceiling of pine boards. Carefully placed lights embellish the wood’s natural warmth, while a 38-foot structural beam of BC Douglas fir completes the cathedral-like appearance.</p><p>So did the final product remain true to the Taylors’ original vision? “Eva and I had a clear idea of what we wanted—the warmth that we wanted to create through the use of natural materials—and the guys did a great job of executing that,” Stephen says. “And Kevin and Jeremie were really helpful in finding ways things could be improved or simplified. Sometimes it was cost savings; other times it was just about creating a better finished product.”</p><p>Perhaps most telling is that, while the gorgeous view of the lake is a focal point from within the cottage, the view of the cottage from the water is every bit as striking. “If you go out on the lake at night in a canoe, or even if you’re swimming and look in it, the whole camp just glows,” Eva says. “It’s really lovely.”</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiAemFc0KIH5xa3aj3qTsY5Lh-jD25Sq_PHDiQ5TYjboxDcDTqwBUxgRZfiO4Xy3DeL6T73So-kk2GwuuYWHLcXqF1zWwFGeQynRuVSMFaUTN4i_S4JVJE17eH5J44lbiK0QJg10rttZmhr-w5d9Ja6RVuu2hhgYLdUq7RjLSCG7pJabFQSbDoDjIm9tw=s2500" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1874" data-original-width="2500" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiAemFc0KIH5xa3aj3qTsY5Lh-jD25Sq_PHDiQ5TYjboxDcDTqwBUxgRZfiO4Xy3DeL6T73So-kk2GwuuYWHLcXqF1zWwFGeQynRuVSMFaUTN4i_S4JVJE17eH5J44lbiK0QJg10rttZmhr-w5d9Ja6RVuu2hhgYLdUq7RjLSCG7pJabFQSbDoDjIm9tw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgq5-vFI98IHFtfSD-1-gqAT1byZmsBHhAGkH0NXmtL9UwNWmgIDV06d8hJ5pzBTx7AT28Xa1DE8Kw1gp_v_rHbkne8NH5PN7Z-Nwj67S4jMCBlPUwm4WbuKRJ2tmcG_QAukB6Q_PyrTyNknfW-WZNEwxlIz97CMHTrFuG-zo4pExU2ZC_yVUPbDpGFDg=s2500" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1679" data-original-width="2500" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgq5-vFI98IHFtfSD-1-gqAT1byZmsBHhAGkH0NXmtL9UwNWmgIDV06d8hJ5pzBTx7AT28Xa1DE8Kw1gp_v_rHbkne8NH5PN7Z-Nwj67S4jMCBlPUwm4WbuKRJ2tmcG_QAukB6Q_PyrTyNknfW-WZNEwxlIz97CMHTrFuG-zo4pExU2ZC_yVUPbDpGFDg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b><p></p><p>When John and Susan Haley decided to move from Bracebridge to Orillia, Ont., to be closer to their families, they saw a spectacular opportunity in a two-acre parcel of land off of Lake Couchiching. But the lake itself, immortalized in a Gordon Lightfoot song of the same name, wasn’t the only factor. The charms of the nearby hamlet Washago also spoke to the couple. “It’s right on the cusp of Muskoka, but it’s still close enough to Orillia and Barrie,” says Susan, who loved the small-town ambiance. “There’s a canoe shop, a bakery, and a little restaurant called R Cottage that’s quite popular.”</p><p>After purchasing and clearing the heavily treed lot, the next step was to build the house of their dreams. And since they’d worked with Beaver Homes & Cottages on a previous build, they didn’t hesitate to make their new project a Beaver home. “It started with a visit to the Home Hardware Building Centre in Orillia. We had worked with them about eight years prior, when we built an addition and a two-and-a-half-car loft garage for our waterfront property,” John says. “We’ve always been junkies for the Design Book,” adds Susan. “We’d been looking at the layouts for years.”</p><p>For the couple, one of the key benefits of working with Beaver Homes & Cottages wasn’t just the ability to choose from dozens of models—it was being able to customize every nook and cranny of the build with in-house designer Bob Wafflemaker. “We had 210 feet of frontage, so we had ample room to build whatever model we wanted,” John says. “So we went through the book and looked at different models, and the biggest advantage with Beaver Homes was that we could take the basic model and then customize it to what we wanted”</p><p>It’s a process that Dave Traviss, a Beaver Homes & Cottages Design Consultant in Orillia, doesn’t just expect—he welcomes it. “We’d be disappointed if there wasn’t some amount of customization,” Dave explains. “We encourage customers to come to us at the beginning with 30 changes to the plan they picked out. And we’ll revise the design based on what they want. Sometimes we get it right the first time; sometimes we’ll go back and forth 15 times.”</p><p>That level of customization might take longer than a cookie-cutter approach, but for Dave, it’s worth the extra time to get things just right. “For up to 70 percent of our customers, this is their ‘forever home,’ so they want to get everything exactly how they want it. We do everything we can not to rush them.”</p><p>From their dog-eared copy of the Design Book, the couple chose the Inglenook for its farmhouse-rustic appeal. “But it doesn’t look anything like the Inglenook in the book,” John explains. “It had cathedral ceilings, which we really liked. But the cathedral ceiling only covered half of the living room space, and with Beaver Homes & Cottages, we were able to extend it to the full width of the house. We actually changed the whole roof structure and how it was positioned, and at the end of the day, they did it exactly the way we wanted.”</p><p>They also reimagined the flow of the home by moving walls and opening up the layout. “The open-concept living space is where we spend most of our time,” says Susan. “We wanted everything to look out to the backyard because we do have a nice forest back there. So you can have a great view whether you’re in the living room or kitchen area. And it turned out beautiful.”</p><p>Through all the changes the couple suggested, function was as important as fashion, particularly when it came to storage. Since the house was on bedrock, a basement wasn’t in the cards, so John and Susan replaced the existing one-car garage with extra living space and worked with the Beaver team to add a three-and-a-half-car loft garage to the plan, along with a third building that John uses as a workshop.</p><p>The durable and stylish steel roof was another important feature for the couple. “Within the pricing package, Dave was able to give us an upgrade price for putting steel roofing on all the buildings,” John says.</p><p>While some customers are content to let Beaver Homes & Cottages’ network of contractors do the heavy lifting, John and Susan were keen on playing a more active role in the build. “John’s a very hands-on guy, and there was a lot of stuff that he did himself. Both of them did, actually,” Dave explains. “In fact, Susan painted the entire house. She did a marvellous job. There are some people who just want to invest the sweat equity. And at the end of the day, I think the Haleys wanted to be able to say, ‘We had a hand in building this. We didn’t just buy it—we participated in it.’”</p><p>Of course, the couple’s almost daily participation throughout the project meant there wasn’t a “big reveal” moment at the end, but the sense of accomplishment was worth it. “When we were there that final day, you could tell how proud they were of the home they’d helped build,” says Dave. “And for us, just seeing that smile on their faces is what it’s all about—knowing that we’d helped them build their dream.”</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjSFPtVtuJSibHmUp427_T4iNy5iXq0ThNnZmYVTUvIYBaIun-fjlaMKMYWt-QXDDiZSrAkH2l16AvsmcgBLM356L8YUvcGcFoOxg8Fy679882PoU4YdZxjc-ez9bEvNKSaFprZYg9Wawc7SV7jgcM5WlIL3hw5nj1S3Bg9qcoppvupYLQBh9SEz6hVng=s2500" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1679" data-original-width="2500" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjSFPtVtuJSibHmUp427_T4iNy5iXq0ThNnZmYVTUvIYBaIun-fjlaMKMYWt-QXDDiZSrAkH2l16AvsmcgBLM356L8YUvcGcFoOxg8Fy679882PoU4YdZxjc-ez9bEvNKSaFprZYg9Wawc7SV7jgcM5WlIL3hw5nj1S3Bg9qcoppvupYLQBh9SEz6hVng=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6016" data-original-width="4016" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2gj-aYGMVOjn42Tp25oicIue1d_hIeqt5FfywP9p90aqxhm-WjSXv2cL3fwM6nC2BLkQfdt14eGiMhsluO5CusEztpdNCw31Jd62iECjFn4iwRc4jP4M0NkKfiUAFu4nCut3aNoJFiXgQaJD5-hn-_khqxCokA4Jhih_aHqRqQTk65XvRNGBGARsvIw=s320" width="214" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Beaver Homes & Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028882974183993020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8738697303976890004.post-71532623138584628982021-02-26T11:04:00.002-05:002021-02-26T11:07:41.715-05:00Living the dream from home<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJjPioDecWeCANVbH0aPnXn69tX0fGQKOFtM9wYFiGrIOY0kxCgJPAmO3L9CPmhxGxWldCCZBiPJUkpKWKsP5SdVao9bsd7cGwg9ISPlHMFQXvH0ANW-sRM6w3ly2wsro9-d6dOk2NVRM4/s2000/DSC_4427.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1335" data-original-width="2000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJjPioDecWeCANVbH0aPnXn69tX0fGQKOFtM9wYFiGrIOY0kxCgJPAmO3L9CPmhxGxWldCCZBiPJUkpKWKsP5SdVao9bsd7cGwg9ISPlHMFQXvH0ANW-sRM6w3ly2wsro9-d6dOk2NVRM4/s320/DSC_4427.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Working from home became the new normal in
2020, but for Gary Hewitt, it’s something he began earnestly working toward in
2016. A contractor with many skills under his work belt, Gary had just been
involved in building a custom home for himself but now it was time to aim for
the stars and build his dream home. That’s where he could showcase his lifetime
of craftsmanship and skills in a home that would serve as his resume for future
clients.</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">Designing a home from scratch seemed like
reinventing the wheel so he started researching plans and packages. It wasn’t
long before he discovered the perfect partner was Home Hardware’s Beaver Homes &
Cottages program. With a vast collection of plans to choose from, and then
access to tried and true suppliers and a top-notch delivery system with a
guaranteed package pricing strategy, it was a match made in heaven.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">John Oliver at J&K Home Building
Centre, Brantford, became Gary’s right hand man as they went through numerous
architectural revisions, part of the comprehensive package. </span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">J&K is one of a trio of Home Hardware
locations under the umbrella of Dealer-Owner Jesse Buchan who has brought
together locations in Brantford, Burford and Paris. It puts a range of
expertise within reach of customers when they need it.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Learning from his stepdad who harkened back to
the Beaver Lumber days of 40 years ago, John Oliver had a history of thinking
outside the homebuilding box, which made him a perfect partner for Gary’s
project. All begin with a sky-high limit of dreams so that plans can be drawn
and then amended to meet budgets and needs. “Then there are no inhibitions,”
says John. “We know what the goals are from the beginning.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Waiting in St. Thomas, there was a
gorgeous piece of property on a ravine lot that stepped down toward a valley
while absorbing the phenomenal view beyond, just waiting for Gary’s perfect
house.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Not your standard Beaver home, Gary had
definite ideas of what to include and was able to revise and revise and revise
again to design his own version of the Thompson, a one-bedroom, one bath home
with a wrap-around deck over a lower walkout. Taking the existing A-framed
front, he made it four feet wider, added a two-car garage with a two-level
master suite above. It was now the chalet-style home he’d been envisioning. And
at the back of the house a two-tiered deck; one level for barbecuing off the
living area, and one level for hot-tubbing.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">But there were a few challenges. The ravine
setting posed some delays. The site was within the Kettle Creek Conservation
Authority so, although Home Hardware has its own in-house Architectural
Solutions Group, local engineers were brought in to view the site, design the
foundation and liaise with the conservation authority.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">And while the foundation would have been a
two-week building process in the early spring, the municipality’s road
construction delays took them into the fall. And then the rain came. Through
the delays, Gary was able to focus on staircase design and all the finishing
details within the home – flooring, fixtures, trim -- decisions clients
normally rush through on an as-needed basis. And then he went shopping --
accumulating his finishes and fixtures in a storage locker so he’d be ready.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">With Beaver Homes & Cottages on call,
they held back materials when there were delays and provided prompt delivery as
soon as the project could move ahead.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">There would be no guesswork involved in
estimating exterior materials and lumber right through to the framing, siding,
roofing, decks and stairs, and then to interior finishes that include drywall, doors,
paint and trim. When each stage was completed, even through delays, supplies
were delivered on time for the next step. </span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The site had space
limitations so supplies needed to be delivered more frequently, and the
customized roof trusses needed to be lifted over existing power lines so a
larger crane was brought in.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“I got more than I expected and I’m really
glad I went with them,” says Gary. “If you’ve got plans and can’t follow through
with suppliers and deliveries, you lose clients. They have the resources that
most people don’t even know they need – architects, engineers. It’s all
included.” As a contractor, Gary found the supply estimates were right on the
money.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">With his own renovation experience, Gary
upgraded much of the interior finishes. </span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">He called on his own
resources while relying on Home Hardware for other finishes like trim packages
(with custom work done by the same supplier). </span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">For
the wrap-around deck, now a double tiered deck, </span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">the
glass panels and railing were provided by an existing supplier. </span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">John
Oliver explains,</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> “Our suppliers were pleased
to step outside the box to take it up a few levels to show the range of their
offerings.” </span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Gary included details like LED lights
along ceiling mouldings, and customized barn door sliders. There’s a waterspout
for pots right above the custom gas stovetop, elliptical windows and the
details go on.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“It really increased my passion for
building to see so many others invested in this project,” says Gary of the
experience. He forged an even stronger bond with the Home Hardware family as
his company, Sunset Dreams Home Building Services, has partnered to have his
services offered as a project manager/contractor for those embarking on their
own Beaver custom home. He’s even got a travel trailer outfitted and is ready
to set up on-site to be hands-on for these builds.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">With the unavoidable delays, this was a
16-month timeframe. But this was a dream home, on a dream piece of property and
worth every minute of the process. </span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Any regrets? Anything he wished he’d done
differently? Not a thing, says Gary. When you’ve spent your life working toward
your dream home, you’ve got every detail memorized.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">The Thompson is a perfect example of a home
that showcases the ideas of one client and combines them with the flexibility that
Home Hardware offers to all of its customers. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnPKKNd7C_N6EXuq85H6sS3CAy5FjGjzrPSNXQEOWZc6nEsSIilISEQY1Ee-JQ91T-QrEsF6-xtVqEFACY-pfXpowaE1yxBTQgjNbf_xc5Zx3nI9TYBHOWlpy98QK1a7mGWiY65V2XJoQE/s2000/DSC_4418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1394" data-original-width="2000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnPKKNd7C_N6EXuq85H6sS3CAy5FjGjzrPSNXQEOWZc6nEsSIilISEQY1Ee-JQ91T-QrEsF6-xtVqEFACY-pfXpowaE1yxBTQgjNbf_xc5Zx3nI9TYBHOWlpy98QK1a7mGWiY65V2XJoQE/s320/DSC_4418.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrd8mPbuckX0ysm2hWbBLF855C4iUoAF2Z8dfAhbIDGvBCqFTYH16WzcsHvKhyphenhyphenc78ZqMOeFgPOmF6Tfc0OUg7P-FGqyg7d3JHYgVWN9NazOLf40FuVqpWA_oSnwFVBhxApwJOmkbat2Wra/s2000/DJI_0457.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPhPgL_vL_MMJZNu8f91bUD91rm0NA6nPHBP5zkj9d0pbQVPWuDjbgjebi3NQEq-JQssqMINlHa2JVU_StiXi_du-9uUSJhs39yhHRa86DAp5_5OJIGkDcOM5AZCc_qTT__Irv-yb1Ynk-/s2000/6+Woodland+Rd-131.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1335" data-original-width="2000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPhPgL_vL_MMJZNu8f91bUD91rm0NA6nPHBP5zkj9d0pbQVPWuDjbgjebi3NQEq-JQssqMINlHa2JVU_StiXi_du-9uUSJhs39yhHRa86DAp5_5OJIGkDcOM5AZCc_qTT__Irv-yb1Ynk-/s320/6+Woodland+Rd-131.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span><p></p>Beaver Homes & Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028882974183993020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8738697303976890004.post-1021943770633555262021-02-26T10:32:00.004-05:002023-02-04T09:02:43.208-05:00 Home Team Advantage<p><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">How a hockey couple built their
lakefront dream house with the help of Beaver Homes and Cottages</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FUyqlgYAnJM" width="320" youtube-src-id="FUyqlgYAnJM"></iframe></div><br /></div><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">There’s
no escaping it. All cottage owners—and even their guests—have entertained the
same thought while gazing out over the water on a summer weekend: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I could live here</i>. But could it really
be that simple to go from “cottage” to “home” and build a life at the lake? Rob
and Heidi Wilson dreamed of rebuilding their cottage on Chemong Lake near
Peterborough, Ont., into a year-round family home for their two daughters and
son. And they discovered that building their dream home in cottage country was
easier than they could have imagined.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">While
many cottagers have jobs that tether them to the big city during the week,
Rob’s career as head coach of the OHL hockey team the Peterborough Petes put
full-time lakefront living within grasp. “I bought a cottage up here about
twenty-five years ago,” Rob says, “We had a lot of great years in it, and we
always knew we wanted to build a home here. Heidi absolutely loved it on the
lake and thought it was the most beautiful place.” For Heidi, the community was
just as important as the cottage. “Every day, people are out on the lake doing
yoga in boats, or they’re walking their dogs in big groups,” she says. “It’s
like a mini village.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">But
to make it work, they knew they’d need to rebuild—which can be a daunting task
when you’re trying to combine the charms of a cottage with a functioning home
for a busy family. Luckily, they started off on the right foot. “We were
looking around at a lot of companies, and a friend mentioned that Chemong Home
Hardware Building Centre is just up the road from us,” Rob says. “So we went in
and saw some really nice designs in their design book.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“The
design book is the perfect starting point for the process,” says Wayne Sellars,
the Beaver Homes & Cottages design consultant at Chemong Home Hardware
Building Centre. “It gets the creative juices flowing, and from there you just
have to ask the right questions. What’s your style and budget? What don’t you
like? What is your land doing? You might love a bungalow look, but then you
realize your land is sloped off and you have a natural walk-out.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Once
they had an idea of what they wanted in their new home, the couple began
collaborating with Wayne on how to make the best use of their lakefront
property. “When I first met Rob and Heidi, they already knew they wanted to
tear down and rebuild,” Wayne says. “So I went over and sat with them on their
deck one afternoon, and we started brainstorming. They had already gathered
some pictures, so we started designing and pulling things together.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Right
away, Wayne suggested a Beaver Homes & Cottages design that combined
everything they had in mind. “We had just introduced the Caribou model at that
time,” Wayne says. “I showed it to them, and they fell in love with it, so we
started working together to modify it and change a few things inside.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The
ability to customize is a key part of working with Beaver Homes & Cottages.
“With a lot of other companies, it’s more cookie-cutter,” Wayne says. “They
have a model and they can maybe move a couple of walls, but the footprint’s the
footprint. But Beaver Homes & Cottages has a lot more options and can
basically customize anything you want.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">For
Rob and Heidi, who had specific ideas for the flow of their home, that process
was surprisingly smooth. “When we first saw the design, we loved everything
about it,” Heidi says. “But we also wanted to change the floorplan a little bit
and make it our own. We had our own ideas for little things we wanted to do,
like vaulted ceilings.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“We
loved the outside of it, especially from the lake when you first see it,” Rob
adds. “It really stood out and had that wow factor. And then Heidi did some of
the designs inside, like moving the fireplace and making it more of an open
space.” Keeping bedroom choices civil between three kids was a crucial part of
the design process. “The girls wanted their bedrooms facing the water, so we
had to make their rooms exactly the same, not one centimetre difference,” he
says.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The
ease of adjusting the Caribou model’s floorplan wasn’t the only thing that impressed
the couple—they were just as floored by how foolproof the building process was.
“You hear a lot of stories from people who say it was one of the most difficult
things they’ve ever done,” Rob says. “They had a builder who wasn’t great or a
designer who didn’t work out. But we can honestly say that our process was very
simple. We were pleasantly surprised with how smooth everything went.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">For
Wayne, the only challenge was the distance between him and the Wilsons during
the initial stage. “Rob was coaching hockey overseas for most of the design
phase,” he says. “So most of our communication was through email.” But when it
came time to finally build, Rob and Heidi couldn’t stay away. “We work close
by,” Rob says, “so we were literally here every day. I’m sure we were annoying,
but they accommodated us really well. It was fun because we’d get excited about
every little thing, whether it was a new door or a finished closet. But the
initial feeling when everything was done and we first walked in was—<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">wow</i>.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">One
of the main reasons that building with Beaver Homes & Cottages is such a
smooth operation is their management of the end-to-end process, which meant Rob
and Heidi didn’t need to worry about juggling different contractors or buying
materials. “The lumber and all the pieces are covered by your package, right
down to your doors and trims and hardware,” says Wayne. “We have contractors
who’ve changed their whole business model because of us, because we do the
managing, we look after the ordering, and we make sure everything’s on the job
site on time. It’s a one-stop shop.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Thanks
to that organized approach, construction took six months. And were they happy
with the final product? “It couldn’t have been any better,” Heidi says. “The
people at Beaver Homes got everything that we wanted, and they made this
perfect home for us that suited everything we asked for.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJTms7gvVjtxRnJwBp-EtN2ri3cYvBpOzFur46ztEOHa8iL5t4UFdkTDJpvpjOyotwfltLGLM8ZNVKlQ8lrat8bX3KU0HMfQ2qHOm59EIVhdTbbHyhwn1fGghX-T6qzc8xllvsgdn5Ovwf/s1500/DJI_0369.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1124" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJTms7gvVjtxRnJwBp-EtN2ri3cYvBpOzFur46ztEOHa8iL5t4UFdkTDJpvpjOyotwfltLGLM8ZNVKlQ8lrat8bX3KU0HMfQ2qHOm59EIVhdTbbHyhwn1fGghX-T6qzc8xllvsgdn5Ovwf/s320/DJI_0369.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwUH4W7Dyxw69AfEHhF8OO39x9DCnehIWJ-hn03JquahWz-Fx3SPxgF3oPZKWFJcK9qXNkdrHs6caMFlL-GK0Xy4RzH4kyyGQPcDwCpQ9cgT_QyYaTgyAO1PE19dXWICuRxFZ8mHp8kye/s1500/DJI_0389.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCGVoI-AQKn78RUKubywYzyAT5b-8KWuyknXeKTZAbvXwHa1iwIviEh0_c1ZPZlmftU0qwPBgGAaLq82ibhvCnKpeRm6zzQorrFGn-KfDEkgLnGU87AZKVIBRBoPtiHBEtJnLM7PwqteO/s1500/267+Arnott_-126.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1001" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCGVoI-AQKn78RUKubywYzyAT5b-8KWuyknXeKTZAbvXwHa1iwIviEh0_c1ZPZlmftU0qwPBgGAaLq82ibhvCnKpeRm6zzQorrFGn-KfDEkgLnGU87AZKVIBRBoPtiHBEtJnLM7PwqteO/s320/267+Arnott_-126.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><p></p>Beaver Homes & Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028882974183993020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8738697303976890004.post-42299127278165479122020-06-12T13:43:00.003-04:002020-11-11T09:07:08.538-05:00There's no place like Home<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-bEJYO4PJoN41c_blyfSj-9K7KutmHPWIVbVCHbYB3wAH61SJjpoEWRQLI9i7JD-_pzBsWjPqKUlTwzTERje43w0364CPtDqf-HARJz70LdiBJDPPV-XB16dRJMxSdFhDWdfl1qp8gpge/s1600/DJI_0997.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1124" data-original-width="1500" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-bEJYO4PJoN41c_blyfSj-9K7KutmHPWIVbVCHbYB3wAH61SJjpoEWRQLI9i7JD-_pzBsWjPqKUlTwzTERje43w0364CPtDqf-HARJz70LdiBJDPPV-XB16dRJMxSdFhDWdfl1qp8gpge/s320/DJI_0997.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "hh agenda light"; font-size: 7.0pt;">Every summer the town of Otter Lake increases in size eight-fold as it
comes to life with cottagers and recreation enthusiasts. Visitors come for the
abundance of lakes and outdoor activities. It’s where the swimming is
fabulous and the view is simply breathtaking. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "hh agenda light"; font-size: 7.0pt;">Butch and Sandra Lepack are not strangers to the area and have longstanding
ties to Otter Lake. It’s Butch’s hometown and Sandra has been a regular visitor
to the area since her teens. Their busy lives over the past years have involved
living out of a suitcase. That’s what happens when you’re an IT consultant from
Canada, like Butch, but working for a California company and travelling
throughout North America. Fortunately, Sandra is retired and can travel with
him during his California sojourns. Still, with adult children living in Texas
and Toronto, much of their free time is still spent in transit as they visit
during Butch’s time off. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "hh agenda light"; font-size: 7.0pt;">With all the travelling, looking ahead to retirement and having a dream
home to come home to was a goal of theirs, one that was to become realty sooner
rather than later. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "hh agenda light"; font-size: 7.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">A peninsula of property caught their eye where
it reached out into Farm Lake, surrounded by the Otter Lake community. They w</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "hh agenda light"; font-size: 7.0pt;">aited patiently until the opportune moment arrived – and the land was
theirs. Just northeast of Ottawa, it’s within an hour and a half of the
Ottawa airport which is integral to their lifestyle. They’d found their dream
location and now needed a dream home to match. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "hh agenda light"; font-size: 7.0pt;">Their first and only stop was to see Brad Dale at Dale’s Home Building
Centre where the Beaver Homes & Cottages desk was a busy spot for those
wanting a choice of designs and with the ability to adapt a plan to their
needs. Brad has been part of the Home Hardware family his entire life. Parents
Bob and Grace have had their Home store since 1979. Brad used to work
there after school. Now he co-ordinates the Beaver Homes & Cottages
Program.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "hh agenda light"; font-size: 7.0pt;">As Butch and Sandra explained: “From the outset, we wanted to do
something different, to build a home for all seasons, with a design that
encapsulates the best elements of the past with an eye to the future. The
Beaver Homes & Cottages program gave us the design, flexibility and price
we wanted.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "hh agenda light"; font-size: 7.0pt;">Brad speaks of a clear vision for this overlooked property, the quality
of life it presented, a design concept that has resurrected the area. He began
putting together a partnership between Beaver Homes & Cottages, Denis Paquette
Construction, highly recommended and already in the throes of other Beaver home
builds, and the homeowners that resulted in a seamless process. “Denis made it
happen,” says Brad. “I knew he would be perfect for this and he was. It was a
great three-way team. There were so many components to this project that made
it a perfect showpiece for our program.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "hh agenda light"; font-size: 7.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">Construction began in May 2018 with completion
and final touches taking place in August/September following what Brad
describes as “an aggressive time frame.” Key to the process was Home Hardware’s
ongoing relationship with suppliers that enabled them to deliver supplies as
needed without stockpiling them onsite. The property also had some tight access
constraints, but due to Dale’s Home Building Centre’s versatility and
specialized equipment for store-level and drop shipment requirements,
deliveries were on time from beginning to end. Due to their frequent
absences, the Lepacks confidently relied on the Beaver team onsite to manage
and execute the project and keep them informed.</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "hh agenda light"; font-size: 7.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "hh agenda light"; font-size: 7.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">With the keen insight and skills of Paquette and
his team, the plan was revised to fit the footprint of the land while meeting
all the setback requirements of a waterfront property. There were aesthetic
revisions – such as the sizes of entry doors and windows to maximize lakeside
views, and insulation upgrades as well. Inside, Paquette’s skills are also on
display to incorporate cathedral ceilings throughout, even in the </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "hh agenda light"; font-size: 7.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">bedrooms. One bedroom was eliminated to expand
the kitchen and living area creating a light-filled space </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "hh agenda light"; font-size: 7.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">for the family gatherings that </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "hh agenda light"; font-size: 7.0pt;">are to come. It’s a perfect blend of rustic chic and refined eleganc<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;">e.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "hh agenda light"; font-size: 7.0pt;">Different is what they wanted and different is what the Lepacks
achieved. From its linear exterior with oversized windows facing the lake and
wood-grained accents, it elevates the home from attractive to spectacular. It’s
on view from its point on the peninusla where a flat roof rises up to reveal a
raised basement level with walkout to the waterfront, a lower level that is a
suite unto itself with bedrooms, bath and living area. Above, a wrap-around
deck, modern in every sense of the word offers unobstructed views and a double
pergola over patio doors at both sides of the deck. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "hh agenda light"; font-size: 7.0pt;">“It showcases a great blend of stock elements and the customization
elements that are a hallmark of the Beaver Homes and Cottages program, as well
as our ability to outfit a home from beginning to end,” says Brad.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "hh agenda light"; font-size: 7.0pt;">The Lepacks say they’d build a Beaver home again in an instant because
of the ease of the process. “There were no unknowns,” says Butch. “The package
included the materials, contractor and labour costs and all turn-key elements.”
It was so easy that when Butch was at the Home Hardware counter talking to
Brad, he turned to another customer and highly recommended the Beaver Homes &
Cottages program.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "hh agenda light"; font-size: 7.0pt;">“We’re very proud of the house,” says Sandra. “We wanted to build
something modern to suit us and we’ve achieved that with their existing plan.”
They were able to keep the trees surrounding the home and even added new ones.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "hh agenda light"; font-size: 7.0pt;">While they aren’t able to be there as much as they’d like, whenever they
are, they call it home. With two separate living spaces they can offer
comfortable quarters to guests or visiting kids.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "hh agenda light"; font-size: 7.0pt;">Still to come, the Lepacks plan on adding beach sand and volleyball nets
and a firepit to create a summer paradise. They’ve even included a 1970s
fireplace and wine bar. In the winter, they will be steps to the lake for ice
fishing, skating, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Butch and Sandra also
have access to one of the largest networks of snowmobile and ATV trails in the
country. Autumn brings with it radiant fall colours that can be enjoyed from
the deck. When winter subsides, the loons on the lake announce the arrival of
spring, and vacation season will begin again. But for Butch and Sandra, it will
never end.</span><br />
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<br />Beaver Homes & Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028882974183993020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8738697303976890004.post-60366754172383901722019-02-19T15:55:00.000-05:002019-05-08T15:56:35.988-04:00New Home, New Baby, New Beginning <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_04byaHB9lIcVA-lRZAAmLXrhABb-zNEkNu4E-z-poh825-TeImGJ7BQoGlAgAMk9tm5xMuvOIz8R_F2WdNg7mtzvYBXNoGlyhVZzfbIwAKPlfQnObfZ1Y91rf1mrrWefrc4Qm7dyXW_/s1600/DSC_1823.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_04byaHB9lIcVA-lRZAAmLXrhABb-zNEkNu4E-z-poh825-TeImGJ7BQoGlAgAMk9tm5xMuvOIz8R_F2WdNg7mtzvYBXNoGlyhVZzfbIwAKPlfQnObfZ1Y91rf1mrrWefrc4Qm7dyXW_/s320/DSC_1823.jpg" width="350" /></a><br />
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The Hartland plan was perfect, not only for their growing family but for their future. As a farming family they wanted this to be where they would raise their family and they knew they would be here for years to come.<br />
<br />
From Andrew and Heather Towns’ kitchen window, the neighboring dairy farm is in view while the land they farm and nearby fields spread as far as the eye can see. They’ve just said good-bye to family and friends who gathered here for the holidays and Christmas dinner. This is their dream home where they love holding family gatherings... but it was only two years ago that the family farmhouse standing on this very spot and everything they owned was lost in a fire.<br />
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It’s been a whirlwind of changes for this young family who have come full circle in 24 months from the fire, to the birth of their son Landon, to the rebuilding of their home and their lives. <br />
<br />
Heather and Andrew lived in the family farmhouse in Norwood when fire struck taking almost everything they owned. Everything, except the support of family and friends and a whole community.<br />
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Norwood is a small rural farming town just northeast of Peterborough, where everyone knows each other by name. In the spirit of a barn-raising from decades past, the community banded together to help this family in need bringing everything from food and blankets to toothbrushes. “One neighbor even offered their farmhouse to us to live in... we received unbelievable support. It was such a humbling experience”, explains Heather.<br />
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When the smoke settled they knew it was time to rebuild. Andrew, a long-time fan of Beaver Homes & Cottages, knew where to find the plans for their home. Almost instantly, their hearts settled on the Hartland. It was so similar to their lost farmhouse that there was no question this would be their new home. Even the artist’s rendering setting it in farmland, surrounded by pastures, reflected their own property in the countryside of east-central Ontario in Peterborough County.<br />
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Their first and only call was to Chemong Home Hardware Building Centre in Peterborough where the Beaver Homes & Cottages Program is offered. Consultant Wayne Sellars was there to answer their questions and walk them through the home building process.<br />
<br />
They developed an immediate rapport and a bond of trust with Wayne. He put together the package with one price, which was especially helpful with budgeting and when dealing with insurance issues. Standard features were impressive and considerably upgraded from what was expected, making them perfect for their needs. They customized their home by adding pine trim for a rustic look and Chemong Home Hardware Building Centre designed the kitchen as well. By May, construction had begun. <br />
<br />
With decades of experience building homes and working with families under many different circumstances, Wayne remembers the Towns’ very well. “They’d lost everything right before Christmas and yet they had such a positive attitude and just wanted to move forward. They were a breath of fresh air.” <br />
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The Towns’ hired all their construction trades from the local area. “We wanted to give back to the community for being so supportive of us.” The entire process was seamless. Supplies were delivered by Chemong Home Hardware Building Centre as needed. The Beaver Homes & Cottages’ capability to send product in stages was key so there was no downtime and no storage issues, ensuring construction remained on schedule.<br />
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“We work with the same suppliers and know their lead times so we’ve got our finger on the pulse when it comes to ordering supplies. That keeps everything right on time,” explains Wayne. <br />
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Heather and Andrew agree that building their home themselves through Beaver Homes & Cottages and Home Hardware Building Centre was one of the best experiences of their lives. Another past customer of Wayne’s passionately agrees that building with Beaver Homes and Cottages is as stress-free as it comes. <br />
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The Hartland plan was perfect, not only for their growing family but for their future. As a farming family, they wanted this to be where they would raise their family and they knew they would be here for years to come. With this in mind, the main floor master suite and laundry were ideal. “We can age in the house so it can accommodate our needs years down the road,” says Heather.<br />
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Tough decisions along the way? Not a one. “Wayne, Beaver Homes & Cottages and Home Hardware Building Centre made it so easy for us.” Andrew’s parents live and farm from the neighboring property where they stayed during construction, making it convenient for Heather to take on the role of general contractor. She had a great vantage point and was always accessible for instant decision-making. <br />
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“We loved the plan as it was so we didn’t have too many changes,” says Heather. One request was for a walkout basement. “Wayne said it was ‘not a problem’ and drew in the change within five minutes.” Since it changed the elevation of the back of the house, he suggested adding a porch to the master bedroom and a new balance was achieved. Other minor changes were also made, something that is frequently done and is included as part of a Beaver Homes & Cottages Package. <br />
<br />
The Towns’ now enjoy this modern re-creation of the home they lost but without the creaks and squeaks of their previous farmhouse. This is where the Towns family have farmed the land for decades past and will continue on for years to come. Giving her stamp of approval is Andrew’s grandmother, matriarch of the family and of the home that was lost. “She loves it, and that says a lot,” says Andrew.<br />
<br />
By the end of the year, every special occasion had been hosted by Andrew and Heather, with plenty of space for overnight guests. “It gives us a great feeling to be able to host all these family dinners in this wonderful home,” says Heather. “Most family members talk about moving in or building their own Beaver Home. In fact, Andrew’s parents are looking through plans right now, with talk of moving in with the ‘neighbors’ while it’s being built.”<br />
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</ul><div id="gallery-caption"></div></div>Beaver Homes & Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028882974183993020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8738697303976890004.post-28580178814504715572019-02-19T15:00:00.001-05:002023-02-04T09:03:41.480-05:00Cottage Country Couple Make Their Retirement Dream a Reality<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MAy5-7RYNl0" width="320" youtube-src-id="MAy5-7RYNl0"></iframe></div><br /><br />
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Retiring to a custom-built cottage country home is a beautiful dream and an incredibly smooth experience when you work with Beaver Homes & Cottages<br />
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Retiring to a custom-built cottage country home is a beautiful dream and an incredibly smooth experience when you work with Beaver Homes & Cottages, according to Mary Ann and Randy. The couple began retirement planning back in 2015 and always knew they wanted to spend their golden years in Ontario’s Cottage Country. “We had options to renovate, demolish and rebuild on an existing family cottage near Washago or look for suitable real estate.”<br />
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A sentimental connection to the pie-shaped family property and a friendship with local builder Charles Chartrand of Chartrand Carpentry, made the decision easy. By spring 2017, plans were set in place to build from scratch. “Charles had worked with a few Home Building Centre clients before and spoke highly of their customer service, along with their one-stop design and quality materials package approach,” says Randy. The couple interviewed two other home builder/materials package suppliers but ultimately they chose Beaver Homes & Cottages after their first in-store meeting. <br />
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“Our Beaver Design Consultant at the Gravenhurst Home Building Centre, Jim McMillan, was clearly well-informed,” says Randy, adding that they left the store with a thorough understanding of the process and the latest Beaver Homes & Cottages Design Book. Just two days later they’d already chosen two designs and had accompanied Jim on tours of a couple of construction projects underway in the Gravenhurst area. “It’s not always easy to visualize plans. Visiting the homes under construction was invaluable and helped to add scale, perspective, and realism compared to just looking at photos and drawings. The on-site visits were the determining factor in our design selection.”<br />
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Randy and Mary Ann wanted a design that ultimately made the most of their waterfront view. They chose the Rideau Model (pg 46) and Jim helped them to modify it by adding a lower level to the bungalow, along with wings on both sides that showcase the view of the nearby river while offering expanded space for a sitting room and the master bedroom. “He also gave us a great idea about building out the deck between the wings so that it had a covered portion.”<br />
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“While we made extensive design modifications,” adds Randy, “Jim was always very positive, enthusiastic and confident Home Hardware’s Architectural Solutions Group (ASG) would be able to meet our requirements.” Despite the unique lot shape and side-yard set-back restrictions, McMillan says that ASG was indeed able to make the plan work and maximize the footprint. They were also able to position the home in such a manner that beloved trees didn’t have to come down. <br />
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“Since we’re novices in home building design, Jim’s building experience and personal knowledge was extremely helpful in setting design parameters and keeping our expectations realistic,” adds Randy, who also valued, in addition to Beaver’s price guarantee, the strong communication throughout design iterations with their builder, Chartrand. “On several occasions, Charles would speak directly to Jim on our behalf to clarify items on our wish list. It was reassuring to have consensus from both the design and construction side of the process.”<br />
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The design was finalized on time by August 30 and picking the finishing products were simple and straightforward with Jim’s help. This included meeting specific requests from Mary Ann for areas such as the cathedral ceiling, trim and interior doors. The only real challenge proved to be with nature, as the builders encountered unexpected rocks that required a lot of blasting work. Combined with delays in the permitting and surveying process, the start day was pushed out a month to November 1st. “But in the end, Jim worked with Charles to adjust the delivery schedule and it worked out seamlessly. In fact, they still finished on the original schedule,” says Randy. <br />
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The couple felt comfortable taking a winter vacation and they appreciated the regular updates that came from both Jim and Charles. “When we returned in April, it was remarkable to see how far the home had come along,” says Randy. The couple was wowed by the nearly finished home and loved how it suited their needs and style. “We love how the front is very subtle and blends into our treed lot, but when you see the back with the gorgeous windows and deck, it’s really breathtaking.”<br />
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Randy adds that Charles spoke highly of the quality of the materials supplied in a Beaver Homes & Cottages Package. “He told me how he was impressed with the consistently high-quality supplies, specifically lumber. He was also impressed with how positive and pleasant the Home Building Centre team was during the winter months. Their coordination of materials allowed him to focus on other important work such as coordinating sub trades and the execution of the building process,” says Randy. <br />
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Beyond the final project, Randy and Mary Ann are most pleased with the personal relationship they developed with Jim as he guided them through the design-build experience. “That trust, combined with The Beaver Homes & Cottages Material Package Guarantee - that the materials package price does not change over the construction period, there are no shortages and that design and engineering meet or exceed building codes - really allowed Mary Ann and I to focus on many other activities in such a major project,” says Randy. “I would recommend Home Hardware’s Beaver Homes & Cottages Program to anyone who wants a truly positive, secure and smooth home-build experience.”<br />
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</ul><div id="gallery-caption"></div></div>Beaver Homes & Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028882974183993020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8738697303976890004.post-7857498494989921122018-02-09T11:58:00.000-05:002019-05-08T12:01:33.289-04:00Cottage Threes<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjqXUHop21LlbVPM2VwU4V57pG7cIEEfUNKTJbIl2RrNx5J1XdSzbgNq_p7XK1JtZF9X_NEw6bvmiE4sMlH2sobEX04HmiUNCLPb_yz-D-HwbEbrUbNwC6TxQPqErBY6Hj4TFcU1s8gI8p/s1600/DSC_0643.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjqXUHop21LlbVPM2VwU4V57pG7cIEEfUNKTJbIl2RrNx5J1XdSzbgNq_p7XK1JtZF9X_NEw6bvmiE4sMlH2sobEX04HmiUNCLPb_yz-D-HwbEbrUbNwC6TxQPqErBY6Hj4TFcU1s8gI8p/s320/DSC_0643.jpg" width="350" /></a><br />
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Ask both homeowners and Home Hardware design consultants what they love about Beaver Homes and Cottages’ Dorset II and they will give the same answer: its versatility. The spacious, 1300-square-foot home allows owners and designers to bring their vision to life—from bigger windows to more bedrooms to, yes, even secret passageways! Let’s look at how three families with very different needs adapted the Dorset II to make it uniquely their own.<br />
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<b>The Retirees</b><br />
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Danny, a retired industrial engineer, and Janet, a dental hygienist looking to retire within the next few years, were looking for a cottage that would also become their permanent home. The Dundas, Ontario couple had purchased an existing structure in Oliphant four years ago, but soon discovered it had been rotting away and needed to be torn down. They went to the Wiarton Home Hardware Building Centre and talked to Design Consultant Jason Stevens about their options. The Dorset II gave them the space they wanted, the flexibility to get the most from their picturesque location, and options to make it a home that will work for them as they grow older. With only one level, they won’t have to trek up and down any stairs. They also opted for a propane fireplace to avoid the strenuous task of collecting and carrying firewood. Danny also explains, “We moved the fireplace from the south-facing wall, and instead added a third window for an unobstructed view of the lake.” Because everyone seems to gather in the kitchen, Danny and Janet wanted to add a few extra feet of space. They also upped the ante on their exterior with rich Fraser Fir shingles. After five months, their new cottage was ready to go. Over Thanksgiving weekend, they celebrated with family while their golden retriever, Muskoka, got to chase raccoons outside. “We moved the fireplace from the south-facing wall, and instead added a third window for an unobstructed view of the lake.”<br />
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<b><br />
The Permanent Residents</b><br />
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Erik Carlson, Design Consultant at the Espanola Home Hardware, had met the Sabourins five years ago when they were looking to build a custom home. When lakefront property on Manitoulin Island became available, their plans quickly shifted gears. And work began almost immediately. Sarah Sabourin is a manager of The Island Jar, a health food store, and her husband Kyle is a instrument technician. They have two daughters who are 4 and 6 years old. They chose the Dorset II because, “It gave us the flexibility we wanted, and it fit within our budget,” Sarah explains. “It was just as easy as buying a pre-built house, but a lot more fun!” Erik worked with contractor Shawn Taylor, of Taylor & Son Construction, to add a full basement for additional living space for the young family. And Kitchen Designer Derek Sisson helped create a kitchen that was both beautiful and functional for everyday use. The features and fixtures have a sleek, modern look. Sarah would see something in a magazine or online and send it to the Home Hardware design team who worked to bring her ideas to life. “It gave us the flexibility we wanted, and it fit within our budget.” Sarah explains. “It was just as easy as buying a pre-built house, but a lot more fun!” “I feel lucky to have had such an amazing team,” she says. During construction, she came to Erik with an odd request: “In our old house, the girls shared a room. But here, they each have their own. We still wanted them to share some space, so I asked Erik if he could build a secret passageway into each girl’s room through their closets.” Erik was happy to accommodate, but Sarah expressed a concern: “Once the girls are teenagers, I feel like I will be asking him to plaster over it again.”<br />
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<br />
<b>The Siblings</b><br />
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“My father bought the property in 1954 as a bachelor getaway that soon became a beloved family retreat. I’ve spent all my summers here, gazing at the same rocks and water of my childhood,” she says. But, with three families now wanting to share one cottage, they needed something bigger. Maggie explains, “The Dorset’s layout and size were what attracted me. Thirteen hundred square feet was just right.” The three siblings worked together to create a space that accommodated the tastes and needs of not just one family, but three. “I closed in a porch overhang to make a screened porch –much appreciated when blood-thirsty mosquitoes are swarming outside, and I turned a second porch overhang into a mudroom. My brother chose the pine flooring, and he and my sister-in-law planned the kitchen, while my sister chose the door and closet hardware.” But getting the three siblings to agree was the easy part. The cottage’s remote location provided some unique challenges for Design Consultant Dave Traviss and builder Tim Hodges. “We had to clear a passage through the thick forest to drag all the materials up to the top of the hill by Bobcat. And because it’s only accessible by water, in the winter months we had to slide the materials across the frozen lake,” says Dave. Furthermore, Maggie lives in Peterborough, so she and Dave had to quickly develop a sense of trust when communicating their ideas solely over phone and email. She says, “Dave was terrific to work with. He had practical suggestions, and he always wanted to hear my opinion. He was quick to return calls and emails.” But all the effort proved worth it, with their uniquely stunning cottage resting on pillars on top of a lush mountaintop overlooking 6 Mile Lake.<br />
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</ul><div id="gallery-caption"></div></div>Beaver Homes & Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028882974183993020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8738697303976890004.post-79257611411807869782018-02-09T09:30:00.000-05:002019-05-08T11:07:58.662-04:00Exactly What We Wanted<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubLCSTGNboHJ5ONy-OYEmHtNPXGMmqPn5CPtcQorH7jBQ_qDDEgvFVzKhbs6DFPX_UEXnHl9eFqu-REUkxq9KmIdK8nbJ6cFLf1va7ukxZkr2t7cHVb0G0pk-wz9KeMiHH7rzwdxF-w40/s1600/DSC_0922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubLCSTGNboHJ5ONy-OYEmHtNPXGMmqPn5CPtcQorH7jBQ_qDDEgvFVzKhbs6DFPX_UEXnHl9eFqu-REUkxq9KmIdK8nbJ6cFLf1va7ukxZkr2t7cHVb0G0pk-wz9KeMiHH7rzwdxF-w40/s1600/DSC_0922.jpg" width="350" /></a><br />
<br />
When Lynn and Roger Delany bought land on Manitoulin Island’s Lake Kagawong 17 years ago, it was the peaceful surroundings and million-dollar view that sold them. “Building a home was not on my bucket list!” said Lynn Delany, laughing. But the Delanys, who both work in the transportation logistics industry in Mississauga and hope to retire in the next few years or so, soon realized that trying to make one of the property’s 60-year-old cottages retirement-friendly or starting from scratch with an architect would both be a huge amount of work. “It made sense to me to pick something and then just tweak it until it was what we wanted,” said Lynn, “and that’s exactly what we did.”<br />
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Because building a house can be stressful, “we try to make it as easy as possible,” said Erik Carlson, who’s been a Beaver Homes and Cottages design consultant at the Home Hardware store in Espanola, Ontario, for the past 20 years. “We walk them hand in hand through the whole process, from budgets, to preliminary drawings to builders to sub trades and changes to completion all the way through,” he said. Customers get “a lot of perks with the Beaver packages,” including blueprints, insurance policies, and “the experience that guys like me and other Beaver consultants bring to the table. We’re also super-competitive,” and customers get contractor pricing on many items, he said.<br />
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The Beaver Homes and Cottages program offers models in a large variety of styles and sizes. Since Lynn knew she wanted a bungalow the Delanys’ choice was a little easier, and being able to begin with the Glenbriar II model, add 500 square feet and customize it “was a real advantage of the program,” she said. <br />
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“One-level living was designed right from the get-go,” with possible age-related mobility issues in mind, said Lynn. “I built the house with wider doors and no steps and the shower so that a wheelchair can get in and out, the far side of the garage has a huge limestone ramp—even the kitchen microwave is in a microwave drawer, not up over your head,” she said. “Beaver Homes was very accommodating in updating the original plans so we could get an overview and look at everything ahead of time.” Especially in custom homes like the Delanys’, it’s very common “to make changes and do two or three sets of plans,” said Carlson, “and there’s no extra charge for that.” And such accessibility changes didn’t add much to the final costs, the Delanys agreed. For their builder the Delanys chose Shawn Taylor of Taylor and Son Construction. Carlson often recommends Taylor and Son for Manitoulin Island builds, knowing that sometimes-anxious customers appreciate Shawn’s reliability, professionalism and calm demeanor. And both Carlson and Taylor understood the challenges that might be posed by the build site’s location, a six-and-a-half hour drive north from where Lynn and Roger currently live. The Delanys met with Carlson in the Espanola, Ontario store, “and started picking doors, windows, exterior finishes—even baseboard,” said Lynn. “But other than me having to pick out colours and making it right, that was it!” The couple were in frequent phone and e-mail contact with Taylor, who’d update them with photographs, but felt very comfortable not being on site. Even during the build when Lynn asked for an interior wall to be changed, “I thought it would be a big deal!” she says. “But they just got the new drawings up, had us check and accept them and then continued on.” <br />
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“People told us, ‘You’ll have to ship materials to the island,’ but they really made it simple,” she added. “Erik had everything transferred to the Mindemoya Home Hardware store on Manitoulin Island, 25 minutes from our build. And if Shawn called Erik and said ‘I’ll need this in 2 weeks,’ it was there.” <br />
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“Erik and Shawn were both amazing to deal with, always eager to help out in any way they could,” with product ideas and advice about what would work best, said Lynn. “It was personal service,” said Roger. “If I sent an email I’d get one back right away, the following morning if not the same day.” <br />
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“The majority of the building materials were above ‘builder’s grade’ and very well done,’” observed Roger, whose own father had been a builder in southern Ontario. The Delanys particularly like that, wherever possible, materials are Canadian-made. “And we’ve been really pleasantly surprised with our hydro bill,” which can sometimes come as a shock to a southerner, said Lynn. “We’ve got 17’ ceilings, so there’s a lot of air to heat and air-condition,” said Roger. “They’re efficient, well-built homes.” <br />
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Construction began in June of 2016, and although winter on Manitoulin Island often means issues with weather delays, the Delanys’ home was finished by March this year. “I think Roger and I were both surprised how easily and nicely it went,” said Lynn. <br />
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“We designed the house to take a lot of people in and seat people at a huge kitchen counter,” she said, and their Beaver Home is already the focal point of family gatherings, Christmases and Easters. When three dozen of their family and friends came together last year to celebrate the life of Lynn’s 98-year-old grandmother, “that house welcomed those people—it was exactly what we wanted,” she said. <br />
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“We had a really great experience—and a really ‘Wow!’ home at the end of it. We’ve already recommended it to others.”<br />
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Beaver Homes & Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028882974183993020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8738697303976890004.post-82017755534366922962017-02-06T00:00:00.000-05:002017-10-12T09:43:50.653-04:00A Smooth Landing<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAcH12CNWHdkVjfdpWKmxJuVvo7hpI5fhasglxW9v1VZeOCsdcazLu54OE5xxU8Ftwft5Xmr1BOdPPXNygMytL5UE2w5KmYExYqhZ581Aa8456cXBXk42FRXLFMW6QqBLqx63VXbvdqwKN/s1600/DSC_3426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAcH12CNWHdkVjfdpWKmxJuVvo7hpI5fhasglxW9v1VZeOCsdcazLu54OE5xxU8Ftwft5Xmr1BOdPPXNygMytL5UE2w5KmYExYqhZ581Aa8456cXBXk42FRXLFMW6QqBLqx63VXbvdqwKN/s1600/DSC_3426.jpg" width="350" /></a>
Bruce Durrer has had his share of smooth landings over the course of his career as an Air Canada pilot but possibly none could have been smoother than building his dream home with Beaver Homes and Cottages. Bruce and his wife Sally said the task was the most rewarding experience of their life. “We were building our dream home and it was a dream to build,” said Sally. “The whole experience actually brought us even closer together!”<br />
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Bruce and Sally started their journey back in November of 2015 when they knew they wanted to tear down their old cottage in favour of a new home. While going through many design books and not finding the plan of their dreams, they stumbled across the Beaver Homes and Cottages catalogue while shopping at their local Home Hardware Building Centre in Port Elgin, Ontario. Blown away with the quality and the amount of home plans within the catalogue and website (beaverhomesandcottages.ca), Bruce and Sally zeroed in on the Beauport II model. “The home was the perfect size” said Sally, “It was big enough to host our kids and grandkids when visiting but not too big where it’s too tough to keep up”. Although it was the perfect size and feel, they just wished they could make a couple of little changes. That’s where their Beaver Homes and Cottages Consultant, Jim Lewis, came into help.<br />
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“The common perception with 99% of the clients who I see believe that the plan is the plan” says Lewis. “That couldn’t be the further from the truth and I want to make sure the Durrers understood that this is their dream home, and we want to make sure it’s perfect for them…so, if you want something changed from the original plan, just ask.” Armed with this new found flexibility, the Durrers added a substantial amount of windows to the back of the Beauport II so that they could enjoy their beautiful view of Lake Huron and their backyard. As Bruce points out, “Flexibility is a key word when building any Beaver Home and Cottage. Flexible on design, flexible on product, flexible on the contractors…that’s what made working with this program so appealing”.<br />
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Wanting to be heavily involved with the project, the Durrers decided to become the general contractor for this build and hired a local contractor/close friend to help administer and facilitate the hiring of local trades. Never shying away from work themselves, Bruce and Sally decided to pour in a little of their own sweat equity into their home. Knowing that tradespeople do great work and are expensive talent, they instructed their trades to purely just do their work and that they would clean up the worksite at the end of the day to ensure a safe working environment the next day. “This kept them doing what they are paid to do and stay productive…this would help us keep on schedule” says Bruce. “Whether it was painting trim or running to the store for extra supplies, we did it to keep the project moving and on time”. Bruce also acknowledged another key factor that kept production on schedule was that Beaver Homes and Cottages program guarantees that product is sent in stages so that there is no “down” time.<br />
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The Durrers also paid heavy attention as to what product was included in the standard home package purchased and decided to upgrade some of the products. “We switched out the standard batt insulation in favour of spray foam and upgraded the standard vinyl siding to Mabec wood siding. We also upgraded the stairs and trim, and what a difference this has made to the personality of our house,” says Bruce. “What really blew my mind is how we were able to incorporate a piece of driftwood that Sally and I found on the beach one day and use this as our mantel on the stone fireplace…that meant a lot to us,” Bruce added.<br />
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The wide range of products available through Port Elgin Home Hardware Building Centre was also an asset for the couple. “I would say around 95% of the products in this home came from Home Hardware! From the paint to bathroom vanities to our beautiful kitchen! Lori from the kitchen department was fantastic!” said an excited Bruce. The Durrers comment on how they felt like family with all the staff at the store and particularly their Home Consultant Jim Lewis. Sighting a delay in production with a window manufacturer, Jim kept production rolling by tarping and applying plywood in the open areas (at no cost) so that they could begin to put up the dry wall. “Jim went above and beyond the call of duty to ensure our project went smoothly. He was amazing and we now consider him a friend…he’s been back several times since we took occupancy.”<br />
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The Durrers can hardly believe that two very ordinary people like themselves could accomplish such a feat as building their own home. But with expert advice of the Beaver Homes and Cottages program, it was one of the easiest things they had ever done. “We have an even stronger attachment to our home because WE did it” said Sally. Bruce added, “to have a smooth landing, you first have to take flight…and we are so glad we took that flight with Beaver Homes and Cottages.”<br />
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“I would say around 95% of the products in this home came from Home Hardware! From the paint to bathroom vanities to our beautiful kitchen! Lori from the kitchen department was fantastic!”
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</div>Beaver Homes & Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028882974183993020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8738697303976890004.post-75099153975650443552016-02-08T00:00:00.000-05:002017-10-12T09:40:34.390-04:00Your Own Piece of Paradise<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib19bxQw_zom6l8mmMjXg9khrGgLDLZTb8xpz1VOrSz66nk6XNC_MGy1iifWyiu41c7E5jAUtK8CBIq5m7M113jYCFNYal99nX65u5-63Peb9lzjBVnW200Uzdj3XvB2F-6phIVqgZmfHv/s1600/LIVELY+Front+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib19bxQw_zom6l8mmMjXg9khrGgLDLZTb8xpz1VOrSz66nk6XNC_MGy1iifWyiu41c7E5jAUtK8CBIq5m7M113jYCFNYal99nX65u5-63Peb9lzjBVnW200Uzdj3XvB2F-6phIVqgZmfHv/s1600/LIVELY+Front+Cover.jpg" width="350" /></a>
Since its inception, customers looking to build their perfect piece of paradise have been ecstatic with the quality of products and services available through the Beaver Homes & Cottages program offered by Home Hardware Building Centre.<br />
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The comprehensive and easy to understand process, with its step-by-step approach to designing and building, makes what used to be a sometimes daunting and nerve-racking experience much more accessible to would-be homeowners and builders working within almost any budget. It should come as no surprise that - for many of the same reasons - the program has become an attractive and often times favourite resource for contractors and building teams; serving as an invaluable tool of the trade when it comes to keeping clients consistently satisfied and beaming.<br />
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Working out of the Espanola Home Hardware Building Centre (proudly serving much of Northeastern Ontario,) Erik Carlson has been a Beaver Home design consultant for close to two decades. His immersion in the program and vast personal experience with all areas of building and design for both residential and commercial projects has garnered him significant insight into what keeps contractors coming back to the Beaver Homes & Cottages program when new projects arise.<br />
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“(Contractors) are able to focus on the actual build,” says Carlson, “instead of working nights and weekends with material lists or waiting for product approval.”<br />
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Those hours, suddenly freed up by working with design consultants like Erik Carlson, resonate with contractors and builders on a number of different frequencies. On one hand, “More available time directly translates to the opportunity to take on more clients and accomplish more builds.” Carlson notes, adding that “It also means that there’s more time to spend with family or simply reclaiming personal time.” <br />
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There are close to a dozen contractors whom work closely with Carlson on a number of builds annually. Some he works with on several projects a year, others less frequently, but all seem to echo the same appreciation for the added focus which Beaver Homes & Cottages allows them to deliver in making sure that the build goes smoothly from start to finish.<br />
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Lakeland Custom Homes & Commercial Construction is a team of craftsmen headed by master builder Jason Wilcox and project coordinator Patricia Tucker. The team has worked alongside Carlson on countless builds in and around the Elliot Lake / Sudbury area for over half a decade. Tucker muses, “The Beaver plan book gives so many options,” adding “it’s a great jumping off point. Clients come in seeing a plan that has quite a bit of what they like but that they can customize with bigger bedroom or eliminating a wall, etcetera.”<br />
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Two instances of the Lakeland Custom team working in tandem with Carlson utilizing the Beaver Homes & Cottages program include a build with minimal customization for Lee and Lana H. in Lively, Ontario and a more highly customized build for Ed and Jane R. in Sudbury proper. Regarding the difference between the two builds and the versatility that contractors respond to when working with floor plans from the Beaver catalogue, Carlson stated that “Customers appreciate our relationship with the builder that gets them a well built home for the money they want to spend. Builders like that the customer has been given information about every step of the build and that I know about all internals before the builder is even called.”<br />
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From a builder/contractor perspective, Patricia and Jason spoke highly of the fact that “Lee and Lana wanted a more straight-out-of-the-catalogue build; a country home that’s been a bit citified. Ed and Jane were looking for something more high-end and customized. Even though they were very different, the time Erik spent talking to the customer about flooring, kitchen hardware and materials…since it is such a built-in operation, it allowed us time to focus on what we needed to do.”<br />
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When Lee and Lana H. were looking to have their property built in Lively, they knew that they wanted to work with a Canadian company and it was through an online search that they found Erik Carlson and learned more about the Beaver & Home Hardware Building Centre operation. “I don’t know why anyone would want to do it differently,” says Lee. “You can go as elaborate as you want without worrying about breaking the bank. It was all very hands on with open communication lines. After we worked with Home Hardware and Beaver staff to pick styles, paint and fixtures, Erik pointed us toward Pat at Lakeland…and we know that with their reputation they would only work with the best.” Lee also notes “Since we didn’t have to walk through the aisles of the hardware store picking out fixtures with Pat and Jay, we liked that they would be focused on building the house already knowing what we were looking for.” <br />
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Ed and Jane R. were equally enthusiastic about their experience working with the team for their custom build in Sudbury, Ontario. “Erik was my point guy,” Says Ed, ”He dealt directly with any concerns we had and communicated them to the build team.” Ed and Jane also enjoyed the simplicity of the entire process, stating that “We chose an existing model out of the catalogue as a basic framework. From there, pretty much everything was totally custom. The model was totally redone under Erik’s direction.” When asked about the overall project, Ed says, “We highly recommend the whole experience. The responsiveness of the Home Hardware team was spot on.”<br />
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Given Patricia and Jasons’ extensive professional experience working with Home Hardware and the Beaver Homes & Cottages program, it seems all too fitting that the two opted to work with the operation once again when the time came to build their own home and base of operations for Lakeland Custom Homes & Commercial Construction. Patricia notes, “As contractors we had kept going back to Beaver and Home Hardware…
so, it seemed logical and smart to turn to them when we were looking to build for ourselves.” The duo was looking to build on water, and ultimately decided that Elliot Lake would be a suitable place to set up shop. “We wanted our base of operations to showcase the quality of work we could provide, as well as the quality of product available through Beaver and Home Hardware.” says Patricia, adding “It was important for us to show the alliance between builders, and it was a combination of the personality compatibility, ability to support one another and the fact that Beaver offered a great product for the location. That’s what kept us going back.”
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</div>Beaver Homes & Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028882974183993020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8738697303976890004.post-53061446638690769782015-02-16T00:00:00.000-05:002017-10-11T13:48:45.282-04:00It all Started with a Garage<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJaSj7vocrPI_YrL6quK2jbRg1jv3B57hzkSlUPb4mZsr7j9xxjxr6heApo4mDwnaAB1Z0cZlpwaFtZhseMTGABtf_a39ntsnJvoq9n-wHTH-5ngWWPaPN8PBy6Vp_ouiTDZhKtJoFiUz/s1600/_DSC6145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJaSj7vocrPI_YrL6quK2jbRg1jv3B57hzkSlUPb4mZsr7j9xxjxr6heApo4mDwnaAB1Z0cZlpwaFtZhseMTGABtf_a39ntsnJvoq9n-wHTH-5ngWWPaPN8PBy6Vp_ouiTDZhKtJoFiUz/s1600/_DSC6145.jpg" width="350" /></a>
Corinna and Jamie Campbell were looking to expand on their cottage experience. “We wanted more space,” Jamie says, adding with a touch of wry humour “and I wanted a garage.” It was this desire that started the Campbells on their search for the perfect cottage.<br />
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Fortunately the task at hand was not an arduous one. While initially Corinna and Jamie had entertained the notion of acquiring a new plot of land upon which to build, the couple ultimately decided to keep their existing property. Jamie recalls, “We had looked around briefly for something new, but not for very long.” Not a difficult decision it would seem, given that since its purchase in 2003 the Campbells had created almost a decades worth of memories enjoying their immaculate property overlooking the picturesque shores of Three Mile Lake in Muskoka, Ontario.<br />
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With the location firmly established, the Campbells were able to focus primarily on what their new home-away-from-home would look like. Happily - almost serendipitously - due to a pre-existing working relationship with consultant Greg Alton at Home Hardware Building Centre in Milton, Ontario, all of the information Corinna and Jamie were seeking was readily accessible. Jamie notes, “We had worked with Home Hardware to redo the windows and kitchen at our home in Milton.” It was through these interactions that the Campbells had become aware of the many services and options that the Beaver Homes & Cottages Program offered in conjunction with <a href="http://beaverhomesandcottages.ca/store/Milton-Home-Hardware-Building-Centre">Milton Home Hardware Building Centre.</a><br />
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After taking time to peruse the Beaver Home & Cottage Design Book, Corinna and Jamie agreed that the <a href="http://beaverhomesandcottages.ca/Model/Copper-Creek-II">Copper Creek model</a> was the option best suited to their needs. “We really liked how open the layout was, and we loved the floor plan.”<br />
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The Campbells were able to work closely with their trusted Home Hardware consultant alongside friends from the Muskoka area from the planning stages right on through the build. “I have a few contractor friends from the area whom I would have over to discuss different parts of the project.” Jamie says. “We made the floor plan larger; moving the front wall out 2’ and the side walls out 1’. There were alterations to the bedrooms, bathroom, and the master bedroom on the main floor.” Adding, “We changed the design to have larger bay windows in the back to take in the view of the lake.”<br />
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“Corinna had just given birth to our son,” Jamie points out fondly. “And though I did a lot of the work myself, I was confident in the quality of work being done by Home Hardware’s and other various contractors.” While spending time with their family, the Campbells recall that they never had to worry about the progress on the build. “Deliveries were being made on time, and everything was moving ahead.”<br />
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The progress continued unabated right up to the completion of the build. “Corinna and I worked together on all the finishing touches as well.” Jamie says. From the flooring and fixtures, to the lighting and siding, all aspects of the projects went as planned.<br />
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When asked about their overall experience, both Corinna and Jamie felt that the process and final product exceeded their expectations and that they wouldn’t have changed a thing. “We would do it all again,” adding that, “It was a lot of work, but we both really enjoyed it!”<br />
<br />
As for the garage that Jamie was originally so emphatic about building: “I still don’t have it,” Jamie laughs. “We put it aside to focus on the complete cottage redesign.” With that in mind, and based on the glowing reviews of their experiences from concept to completion, it would seem that the perfect garage could be the next project for the Campbells, <a href="http://beaverhomesandcottages.ca/store/Milton-Home-Hardware-Building-Centre">Milton Home Hardware Building Centre</a>, and Beaver Homes & Cottages.<br />
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Beaver Homes & Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028882974183993020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8738697303976890004.post-44038465856539896262015-02-09T13:14:00.002-05:002015-02-09T13:14:21.097-05:00Beaver Home and Cottage Design Book<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDIKmzWwnBK7Xq1yfZ7fjZ-XZJZ1mHQ1UxKKuAL7cqSlueN1XNc7-g872J2eJjU5Nuc9E4UEn53wdrrZqEdqlU8g5mfbcTldu2R_PYEN4XoFj3vHBmIpenw6trhdMl-n32xlcHWBrTZ8ts/s1600/2015-plan-book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDIKmzWwnBK7Xq1yfZ7fjZ-XZJZ1mHQ1UxKKuAL7cqSlueN1XNc7-g872J2eJjU5Nuc9E4UEn53wdrrZqEdqlU8g5mfbcTldu2R_PYEN4XoFj3vHBmIpenw6trhdMl-n32xlcHWBrTZ8ts/s1600/2015-plan-book.jpg" height="250" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://beaverhomesandcottages.ca/">Beaverhomesandcottages.ca</a> is a great resource to view and
research our collection of beautiful homes and cottages. You may however, prefer to leaf through a
physical copy of the <a href="http://www.homehardware.ca/en/rec/index.htm/Building-Supplies/Building-Material-Packages/Pkg-Sales-Literature/Books/Home-Cottage/2015-Home-Cottage-Book-in-English/_/N-2pqfZ67l/Ne-67n/Ntk-All_EN/R-I2656089?Ntt=2656089">2015 Beaver Home and Cottage Design Book</a>. The book is available at Home Hardware
Building Centres and Home Building Centres locations as well as on-line. </div>
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<br />Beaver Homes & Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028882974183993020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8738697303976890004.post-25444558363943186312015-01-27T10:15:00.000-05:002015-01-27T10:15:00.695-05:00In Praise of Smallness: the "Not So Big" Cottage<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizDmstd2Pco-uGgCUheFtBslCK-qrdkEI1c_HyJyAwlSFUxikOGbpXoSDI0trkS8qvVCse3MjU3DSGyuqob7Ff3CQezrRZCQ2_geMPXg2xG1BIbhYPuTYz8UJc8SrrqGe-TdIUx-G3xx8c/s1600/SW-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizDmstd2Pco-uGgCUheFtBslCK-qrdkEI1c_HyJyAwlSFUxikOGbpXoSDI0trkS8qvVCse3MjU3DSGyuqob7Ff3CQezrRZCQ2_geMPXg2xG1BIbhYPuTYz8UJc8SrrqGe-TdIUx-G3xx8c/s320/SW-10.jpg" /></a>
Over and over, the reaction from browsers at Toronto's Cottage Life Show was the same. "How big is this?", followed by startled incredulity ("No WAY!") and the realization that bigger isn't necessarily better, "This is all we really need, we don't need it to be any bigger than this..."<br />
<br />
Visitors believed their eyes, not the specs, when they walked into the petite 572 square foot model cottage available as a material package through Home Building Centres, says Dave Bond, Marketing Manager for Home Hardware's Package Sales division. The structure is furnished and finished only with materials and accents available through Home Hardware and Home Furniture stores - and it was the undisputed hit of the Cottage Life Show. "They were walking in, asking 'HOW big is this?'" Bond recalls. "It was like they were asking, 'Did I hear you right?!? I can't believe there' s only that many square feet in this cottage!'"<br />
<br />
While the response to the Home Hardware cottage was overwhelming, the concept behind smaller space buildings is not a new one. Home Building Centres have carried smaller-sized packages for years, including the new line of bunkies in this publication. But with the popularity of books like American architect Sarah Susanka's The Not So Big House, which extols the virtue of smaller-as-better, designed for living houses, it's clear that consumers are thinking differently about the kind of space they want to live in.<br />
<br />
Tim and Anastasia Hurley of Tillsonburg, Ontario couldn't agree more. The Hurleys actually purchased the model cottage from the Cottage Life Show. "We were there ourselves," as vendors, explains a thrilled Anastasia, "We had about half an hour before closing when we finally walked through. I walked through again, and again, and I said to Tim, 'What do you think about this, about putting this on our property?'" The couple scrapped their initial building plans and took the leap (and delivery) this past July. "I just absolutely fell in love with it, the colours were beautiful - it was just everything we wanted!"<br />
<br />
Neatly blending form and function, the cottage begins with a generous entryway with lots of room for the things of outdoor living and family: shoes, towels, toys and coats. To the right of the foyer is a compact but complete bathroom featuring a roomy shower and space-saving vanity sink with plenty of storage. The high tech "sun tube" skylight brightens the room and provides excellent light on even the dullest of days. Like the building itself, the bathroom is small but doesn't feel it, thanks to good design and well-placed amenities.<br />
<br />
What really catches your eye when you walk in the door, however, is the spacious and welcoming "great room", which stretches away and up, giving a tremendous sense of bright, open space. "Things like skylights, larger windows, vaulted ceilings... they just give you that little bit extra," explains Bond. The designers also used the same high quality laminate flooring throughout, "By not breaking up open areas with different kinds of flooring, you're allowing the eye wander uninterrupted."<br />
<br />
The open-concept living space also includes a kitchen with storage for wine and other essentials under its large and versatile angled dining counter and bar area - perfect for accommodating gatherings of friends and family or an intimate dinner for two. The layout of the working surfaces relies strongly on principles of good kitchen design; everything is within reach, and there's lots of room for more than one cook. "Angling things off as opposed to squaring things off, these are things that make areas look larger than they are," Bond points out.<br />
<br />
With just one bedroom, the cottage plan was developed with empty-nest boomers in mind. "People who are looking for something a little higher-end to retire to, or those who want a cottage or guesthouse, but don't want something that's overwhelming," a big bonus for anyone who's ever considered the reality of maintaining two homes. "This was the second time we took a completely 100% finished cottage to the show," he continues. "We wanted to do it with quality finishes; we wanted to show off the variety of products that Home Hardware carries - the fact that we really have everything you need." As it turns out, that decision appealed to many, "People called, saying they wanted to build the cottage, but that they also wanted the exact same flooring and roofing and other finishes," Bond says, smiling.<br />
<br />
For the décor and interior design, Home Building Centres turned to the experts at Beauti-Tone. Bev Bell, Beauti-Tone Creative Director, Paint and Home Products Division, and regular décor and DIY columnist in Home Hardware's Home at Home magazine, worked her usual magic with stunning results. "We piggybacked on the wonderful warm wood," that panels the interior, explains Bell. "We made sure the colours all related, so they told a nice story; there's flow from one space to the next, it isn't jumpy." Done in deep, rich tones, the rooms are welcoming and inviting while still maintaining the sense of space and light that makes the cottage so livable. Even the stylish and well-priced, quality furnishings were provided by Home Furniture. "Everything in this model is available from us," Dave Bond states proudly. "This project was truly a collaborative effort among the experts at Home."<br />
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Beaver Homes & Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028882974183993020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8738697303976890004.post-18614947725786293412015-01-20T10:15:00.000-05:002015-01-20T10:15:00.576-05:00A Custom Home in a Premium Package<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZD5oj5vyfAzp0WvzZDA1D3zMSwIRSUzPmMxghX7neOrRu1woGp-_3e6-ACT33TomnecHg-CduO48JOAxaKCPpYThSHnA7-aH4thJJLqq0_L1JhTrXNfHZN9sy0BbG4YveKAhBiMapDSyU/s1600/JK-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZD5oj5vyfAzp0WvzZDA1D3zMSwIRSUzPmMxghX7neOrRu1woGp-_3e6-ACT33TomnecHg-CduO48JOAxaKCPpYThSHnA7-aH4thJJLqq0_L1JhTrXNfHZN9sy0BbG4YveKAhBiMapDSyU/s320/JK-07.jpg" /></a>
Chris and Karen Brennan had been looking for months for a country property outside of Brantford, Ontario. They did not need a large home, just one big enough for them and their two cats with a shed for their boat. They had lived in a small bungalow in Brantford and were eager to relocate to the open space of the country.<br />
<br />
They eventually found exactly the land that they were looking for; a three-acre, tree-lined property with a century-old farmhouse and shed in Brant County, Ontario. But closer examination of the house revealed "it was just too far gone," recalls Chris. They decided to have the house demolished and build from scratch. Thus, started their search for the perfect home.<br />
<br />
Chris picked up a copy of the Beaver Home and Cottage Design book and found a floor plan for a package home that fit their desire for a home with country charm. "We wanted to live in the country and I wanted a country-looking home. The front porch is what attracted me," explains Karen Brennan on her appeal to the <a href="http://beaverhomesandcottages.ca/Model/Fulmore">Fulmore</a> model.<br />
<br />
With a model from the Beaver Design Book in mind, the Brennan's met with Ted Costen, Home & Cottage Design Consultant at <a href="http://beaverhomesandcottages.ca/store/J-K-Home-Building-Centre">J & K Home Building Centre</a> in Brantford to inquire about building a package home. The fact that Chris could be his own general contractor and oversee all the sub-trades but to also have Ted to guide him through the process, should he need it sealed the deal. As owner of a heating & air conditioning company in Brantford, Chris had been working in the residential and commercial construction business for 15 years and knew a lot of sub-trades. Karen recalls, "Chris really wanted to build his own house. With Ted's help, this was a way to do it ourselves."<br />
<br />
The reasonable cost of the package home was also a factor for the Brennans on their decision to build. Chris also liked the security of knowing that the original quote would not change: "The price is locked in after the deposit. I was able to build in our budget." He recalled that the cost of plywood almost doubled during the construction process of his home but it did not affect his cost because the price had already been locked in.<br />
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Budget is one topic that Ted stresses during his first meeting with potential customers. "I preach about budgeting," says Ted. "Most of us build at the top end of our budgets so there are no room for surprises." One of the biggest advantages to building a package home is the guaranteed price. Ted continues, "You are given one price and that is the price. The price is frozen."<br />
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Chris and Karen were drawn to the home's covered veranda stretching the length of the front of the home. The interior was perfect in size for the two of them but they approached Ted about customizing the plan to better suit their needs. "Ted had some really good ideas. Whatever we wanted, he'd do," says Chris.<br />
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Ted sat down with Chris and Karen to listen to their ideas on what they wanted in a layout and then came up with suggestions. The Brennans did not need three bedrooms so the plan was altered to make two larger bedrooms. The living room and the kitchen were flipped from the original plan. A large picture window in the living room allows additional light and a great view of the couple's large backyard. Ted recommended vaulted ceilings and numerous pot lights to highlight the openness of the spacious kitchen, living room and dining room areas. The staircase to the basement was moved from the center of the house to the end of the hallway. A half bath and a 1 1/2 car garage were also an addition to the original plan. Four large symmetrical windows were added in the enlarged guest bedroom enhancing the front exterior. Two sidelight windows transform the front entrance. The Brennans also decided to brick the entire exterior of the home.<br />
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Acting as his own general contractor, Chris hired everyone from framers, drywallers, to plumbers, to bricklayers and was in charge of overseeing all of the sub-trades. He praised the scheduling and delivery of materials: "Materials were always on time."<br />
<br />
While most customers hire their own general contractor, Ted tells his customers that if they decide to be the general contractor of a project he can be involved in every step of the building process. He says, "I see myself as a service man. They [the customer] need services and I'll help them get whatever they are looking for. They know that I will be there for them."<br />
<br />
As a sub-contractor himself, Chris has seen a lot of variance in residential construction quality. One of the reasons he was so impressed with Home's material packages is the quality of blueprints and materials. "It is premium," says Chris of the quality of construction. He points out that package homes are built to meet or exceed the National Building Code of Canada. "When people hear a 'package home' they may think it is lesser of a home," continues Chris. "It is not a 'kit' home. It is really a custom home with a material package."<br />
<br />
"There are things that make the difference between an ordinary house and an extraordinary house," adds Ted. "You want to build the standard for tomorrow, not for today."<br />
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Beaver Homes & Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028882974183993020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8738697303976890004.post-41137800836552197072015-01-13T10:15:00.000-05:002015-01-13T10:15:00.048-05:00A Flawless Fit<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTzuq9VE14N_-ur7ARBZnwZfXUjvNF2Iv66-QwlorNZjZZYT0xsYNTtVzNpHSuGKrQbvQEim6zxWfhxJCTbgG_00EOpf_TpHY6zieAmM7KUyU3UlZUIwBWpab9zyOABNv_4F2C87eYErj/s1600/EL-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTzuq9VE14N_-ur7ARBZnwZfXUjvNF2Iv66-QwlorNZjZZYT0xsYNTtVzNpHSuGKrQbvQEim6zxWfhxJCTbgG_00EOpf_TpHY6zieAmM7KUyU3UlZUIwBWpab9zyOABNv_4F2C87eYErj/s320/EL-01.jpg" /></a>
Cory and Natalie Kaun were shopping for their own home, in which Cory, a welder by trade, planned to oversee the building of. Driving around their Red Deer, Alberta neighbourhoods, they noticed the familiar red, white and yellow logo on the majority of new homes going up. “It seemed like everyone was using Home Hardware,” says Cory, “so we thought we’d go see about a quote.”<br />
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Little did they know, that the initial visit with Tim Johnston, Building Consultant and Estimator at the Executive Home Building Centre, would result in a lot more than just their own home. It would lead the young couple into realizing a dream they’d shared since high school of starting their own business, Larkaun Homes.<br />
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“Our house just went flawless. It went up with no problems. And Natalie and I enjoyed doing it,” says Cory. Six months later they were back in Tim’s office and as Tim fondly says, “We’ve just been going ever since.”<br />
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Since Cory was still welding at night and Natalie was finishing degrees in massage therapy and pharmaceuticals, they couldn’t have gone into the construction business without Home’s help, says Cory. “It all comes down to the packages. They make life a lot easier. It’s one-stop shopping.”<br />
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Tim agrees: “They buy everything they can from us with the package ... framing lumber ... finishing lumber ... windows and doors and roof trusses and floor systems.” For Cory that provides peace of mind in knowing both the bottom line and that it won’t budge. “With the crazy market that we’re in, any given day the costs can be driven up. But Home’s material packages lock in. They guarantee their prices until the project is complete,” says Cory.<br />
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And for two young entrepreneurs in their mid-20s having the solid reputation of Home Building Centre backing you up also comes in handy. Especially in thebeginning, Cory laughs, when “people look at you and say, ‘You’re the boss?”<br />
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A dozen or so houses later (Cory’s lost count, but Tim guesses in the 15 to 20 range) and Larkaun Homes was ready to take on a bigger challenge. “Natalie and I owned this higher end lot that we wanted to do something special with.” Flipping through the pages of the Beaver Home & Cottage Design Book they came across the Lake Louise. With just a few minor tweaks to the floor plan it was exactly what they’d been looking for.<br />
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Making changes is welcome, even encouraged, says Tim, so that clients get exactly what they want out of their home. “You can flip through this book and take any plan you want and start drawing lines on it and say I want to do this, and I want to do that. Every home has the potential to be a custom home.”<br />
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Because of the size of the lot, Cory and Natalie felt the Lake Louise should be done on a grander scale. We wanted to blow up the square footage and give (a potential buyer) more value for their money.” Two feet were added to the bedrooms and another four to increase the kitchen and garage area. The revised plans were sent to Architectural Solutions at the Home Hardware head office in St. Jacob’s, Ontario, where the changes were made to code, and then sent back in a full set of blue prints.<br />
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In the open-concept, cathedral-ceiling upper floor, Natalie insisted the hardwood be installed on a 45-degree angle. “It adds a lot of character. Because the room is so big, it gives it a bit of direction,” she says of the unorthodox yet eye-catching effect. The maple kitchen cabinets are an inventive mix of dark and light stains. And the living room focal point, a homey gas fireplace, is rocked in from floor to ceiling. “It is called the Lake Louise. You’ve got to have a little stone in there,” laughs Natalie.<br />
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The first thing everyone notices when they walk in the door, however, is theacid-etched concrete flooring in the front entrance, bathrooms, mudroom and basement. A lustrous, swirling pattern of mottled dark and light browns with flecks of charcoal, “they’re gorgeous,” raves Tim. And heated, adds Natalie, for those who fear cold feet.<br />
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But it’s the David and Goliath partnership between Executive Home Building Centre and the Kauns that gives the Lake Louise, and other Larkaun-built homes their solid foundation. “We have a special relationship. They take care of us and we look after them,” says Cory. And the customer reaps the rewards of this relationship, says Tim. “From the blueprint stage right down to if there’s a problem because paint won’t stick to a baseboard,” Home Building Centres stand behind their material packages.<br />
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“We’re (Home Hardware Stores Limited) the big corporation - with what I think is an excellent reputation - and Larkaun Homes is the young up and comer. They’re putting their imagination to the plans. The combination of the two is building some pretty nice houses in town,” says Tim. And the Lake Louise is a perfect example of every package home’s potential. “They’ve basically taken our plans to the next level. We can tell our customers if you want to see what can be done, here’s the design book, go drive by the house.”<br />
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While Cory and Natalie didn’t have a buyer in mind while building the Lake Louise, they didn’t have to wait long. A month before it was finished, the very first couple to view the bungalow made an offer, enthuses Cory. “They just came along and said we’ll take it.”<br />
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The basement was unfinished in the original plan so Cory and Natalie designed a theatre room, games room and bar in addition to another bedroom and bathroom. And rather than brick they chose a stone tile trim for the exterior of the house. But what really makes it stand out from the others on the block is the interior design. Which is all Natalie, says Cory. “When it comes to colour and flooring ... she puts the flash on the homes.”<br />
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Beaver Homes & Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028882974183993020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8738697303976890004.post-28780316659551826372015-01-06T10:15:00.001-05:002015-01-06T10:15:00.260-05:00A Taylor-Made Dream<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7McxXnqcGiQDYmDNbBRq2za0EnJQWCD8CO-R7wAuRqsnXnB2BR9T28keubUXIzElYCzwjw6qJS6QB5cxgIlvXwOXsV0jD2LhK1FgktdoD59z0g-hhh68HLmpxpql2WJeNC1ZClo7Iyvbd/s1600/BS-09A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7McxXnqcGiQDYmDNbBRq2za0EnJQWCD8CO-R7wAuRqsnXnB2BR9T28keubUXIzElYCzwjw6qJS6QB5cxgIlvXwOXsV0jD2LhK1FgktdoD59z0g-hhh68HLmpxpql2WJeNC1ZClo7Iyvbd/s320/BS-09A.jpg" /></a>
When Bette and Steve Domotor were looking to buy a cottage they went on an extensive three-year search. The hunt for the ideal spot took them from Georgian Bay to Bancroft and back. For all the distance covered, they did not see much that they liked.<br />
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"We saw a lot of brick ranch-style homes set down in these beautiful settings," Steve says, "and we kept asking ourselves, "Why would anyone do a thing like that?"<br />
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The Domotor's dream was not to have a second house, but to have a real, honest-to-goodness cottage.<br />
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"We were looking in cottage country, after all," Steve points out. "We wanted something where we could sit back, look out and be in awe of the country that surrounds us." From just about any point at Bette and Steve Domotor's cottage, that's exactly what you can do. Whether you're on the wide, elevated deck or anywhere inside gazing through the windows that run wall-to-wall and stretch from the floor to the height of the vaulted pine ceiling. In every direction, the vista is stunning. Which is only appropriate, since the cottage itself is stunning too. The Domotor cottage is a modified version of the <a href="http://beaverhomesandcottages.ca/Model/Taylor-Creek-II">Taylor Creek</a> model. Its owners couldn't be happier.<br />
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"We'd been looking for something just like this for a long time. This is our dream," Bette and Steve agree. Looking around the warm, relaxing, beautifully appointed space it's easy to understand why. It seems that the cottage isn't just a dream come true for the Domotors. Guests frequently express their approval and then ask who designed the cottage. "When we tell them," Steve says, "they're always surprised."<br />
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<h2>
Choosing the Right Plan</h2>
After three years of looking to buy a cottage, the Domotor's decided to build their own and that way get exactly what they wanted. This was not a daunting challenge to Steve and Bette, who had previously built another cottage and three houses. Through a classified ad in a Toronto newspaper, they found a property they loved near Owen Sound. Perhaps not surprisingly the lot was just across the Sound from their previous cottage, which they'd built fifteen years before. Then the search was on for a cottage design to build on the new parcel of land.<br />
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Numerous road trips to different cottage builders helped Bette and Steve define what they did and didn't want. Then, at a local Cottage Show, they picked up a copy of the Home Building Centre Home and Cottage Design Book. Flipping through the pages, they found just the thing.<br />
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Ted Costen is the Home Design Consultant for <a href="http://beaverhomesandcottages.ca/store/J-K-Home-Building-Centre">J&K Home Building Centre</a> in Brantford, Ontario. He recalls it this way. Mr. and Mrs. Domotor came in with the Design Book and she said to me, "We like the Taylor Creek, but..." and they had a list of modifications they wanted to make."<br />
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They went through the floor plan together and then Ted sketched out the revisions and Home's Architectural Solutions Department redrew the preliminary plans. The existing flat front of the cottage became a prow front, for more light and an even better view. The bedroom ceilings became vaulted. The deck was extended across the entire width of the cottage and the decking made of composite material instead of wood.<br />
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"We didn't just want the cottage to be perfect," Steve points out. "We also wanted to reduce maintenance."<br />
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<h2>
Choosing the Right Package</h2>
Ted Costen has been helping people build with home and cottage packages for twenty-six years. First in the Owen Sound area and more recently at J&K in Brantford, Ontario - where the Domotors live. Not only did he have all the necessary contacts nearby when the Domotors wanted to build, he'd also worked with Bette and Steve before.<br />
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"Ted helped us build our first cottage and so, when we wanted to build this one, it was natural that we call him," Steve says. Ted's experience wasn't the only good reason for the Domotors - or anyone else for that matter - to choose to build with a package.<br />
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"Material packages make sense for customers for several reasons," Ted Costen explains. "There's a safety factor of knowing that somebody with experience is handling the job. In this case, the Domotors knew me from Owen Sound and also from Brantford. They'd seen a lot of the jobs that I'd been involved with.<br />
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"Another important factor is commitment to price. That doesn't mean that our quote will necessarily be the lowest price. But, if there are no big changes in what the customer wants, then the price we quote on the first day will be the price on the last day. It's certainly not like that with most jobs out there that aren't packages."<br />
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There's also the benefit of scheduling. All too often with non-package construction jobs, there are delays, disappointments and frustrations. But when you book a package, every aspect of the schedule can be worked out in advance - so that the material that's needed on Tuesday will be on the site by Monday.<br />
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"When we started to build, it was a very busy time up here. But Ted helped us find people right away. Once we were ready to get underway, Ted just kept coming up with these good crews who could do the work now," Steve says.<br />
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"We would have been lost without Ted," Bette adds. "It was the easiest home we've ever built. And he has good taste, too."<br />
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"Ted kept us on budget all the way," Steve says emphatically.<br />
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"He was very fair with us. He explained all the options every step of the way. He dealt with the whole building process as if it was his money that was being spent."<br />
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"It's up to me to make sure that customers have made the right decision," he points out.<br />
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"I want to make sure that everything gets there when it's supposed to get there, and gets done when it's supposed to get done. Our package system is designed to make things hassle free for the customer."<br />
<br />
And is that the way it was for the Domotors?<br />
<br />
"Absolutely," they agree. "It was a great experience. Ted was a great partner. And we love our cottage."<br />
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Beaver Homes & Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028882974183993020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8738697303976890004.post-18164777477131341972014-12-30T10:15:00.000-05:002014-12-30T10:15:00.644-05:00Building your Dream with Home<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXpbh2NKFftU4TILF5-thgm8yNxBq8TkMdMQBE7E0ed0tKKnwnST7xoaVvckPO7xm6l4g_NQvQPcis8OsbjsHJyJnqlNJ_5hVSB2_PP5sbkDGFgdvYGGbzmXvj1TEfzEYX1wzVkzyUqTa7/s1600/GH-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXpbh2NKFftU4TILF5-thgm8yNxBq8TkMdMQBE7E0ed0tKKnwnST7xoaVvckPO7xm6l4g_NQvQPcis8OsbjsHJyJnqlNJ_5hVSB2_PP5sbkDGFgdvYGGbzmXvj1TEfzEYX1wzVkzyUqTa7/s320/GH-04.jpg" /></a>
When it came time for Mike and Joan Smith to realize their plans for leaving the 'Big Smoke' and relocating to Ontario's near North, they knew what they wanted, "We lived and worked in Toronto for over 40 years," explains Mike, a former executive in the insurance business. "We had a cottage for over 25 years. We thought we'd like to move to Muskoka for a quiet, private life." Sounds simple enough, but finding their dream home proved more difficult than the couple had anticipated: "We must have looked at 25 homes, but we just couldn't find anything," he continues, "They all needed too much work." Deciding to build their own dream retirement home, the couple, both avid golfers, were thrilled to find the perfect location: a large private lot in a small subdivision just outside of Gravenhurst, backing onto the Muskoka Sands golf course.<br />
<br />
The spot was ideal - now all the Smiths needed to do was find a home to build on it. Enter David Langtree, a Home Design Consultant at the <a href="http://beaverhomesandcottages.ca/store/Home-Building-Centre-Gravenhurst">Gravenhurst Home Building Centre</a>. "They came in the store and talked to me," he recalls. When people who are thinking of building visit for the first time, "We usually try to find out where and why and how soon are they building, and talk about their budget. I usually have them look at the book, and then just let them go think about it after I tell them a bit about the product." Langtree also conveys another very important piece of information to his customers: "This is not just like buying a house at some lumber store, I am attached to the deal and will be part of the whole process."<br />
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After the Smiths visited David Langtree, wanting to make sure they explored all of their options, they did some additional research; "We looked at other home designs and home design catalogues, and we found that the best catalogue was Home Building Centre's," says Mike. "We spent hours going through it, looking for the ideal house."<br />
After deciding that a bungalow would best suit their lifestyle, the Smiths found a plan that had everything they were looking for. "It was just a nice layout, we wanted a view for starters, and there are just tons of large windows, even the basement windows are large," enthuses Mike. "We liked the looks and the design of the house, and we just love the master bedroom."<br />
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Once the Smiths had chosen a design they liked, they returned to the Home Building Centre for another meeting with David Langtree in order to get a ballpark price, start finalizing the home plan and sign the necessary paperwork. "At this point we sign the contract, ask for a small deposit and postdated cheques for the balance in three equal payments spread over 90 days," explains Langtree, something that Mike Smith really appreciated, "I liked that a lot. We needed the money from our unsold home in Toronto to pay the balance," the Smiths intended to sell their old house, but needed to live in the home while construction was completed. "That was a real bonus for us, that things were flexible."<br />
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Their new home's layout and design were flexible as well, "In between getting the deposit and the first payment, we go through the house piece by piece, room by room, making sure they like everything and that everything's acceptable," says Langtree. "If we need to adjust a window size, this is when we do it. At this time we may also add other product to the house beyond the base package; different flooring, upgraded windows, upgraded siding," he continues, adding, "Almost every time a kitchen is also sold with the house. We work with that design, what they would like for style or finish, and get that done as well." The Smiths were no exception in that department, "David helped us design the kitchen and had some very helpful hints on that, and Home Building Centre ended up installing it," Mike says. Determining all the finishing touches requires a lot of decision-making and time, so Langtree is careful not to overwhelm his clients with too much information, "It might take two or three meetings to get this all done, you can't do it all in one sitting," he explains.<br />
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With the process truly underway, the Smiths found themselves busy hiring a general contractor (Langtree provides clients with three or more names to choose from), getting the necessary permits, having the lot dug out and basement put in. Langtree recommends that clients go with the contractor they hit it off with, offers the best price, is available - or, preferably - a combination of the three. In the meantime, David Langtree was ordering all the required materials so that when the prep work was done, the Smiths and their contractor had everything they needed to start building their dream home.<br />
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Langtree finds that clients also really appreciate the conveniently scheduled nature of building with Home Building Centre, "A lot of our competitors deliver [all the building materials] in one lot, and the customer has to pay for the whole thing at once." Given the epidemic proportions of jobsite theft in Canada - it's estimated that over $1 billion worth of materials "vanish" annually - the Home Building Centre system protects the customer, "We don't want them to have an insurance claim right away with their new house and mess up their rates," Langtree says. And, as Mike Smith points out, it also ensures that the materials are in good condition when they're required, "We built a cottage years ago. When you buy through a prefab place, they just drop the whole package on your lot. If the weather is not good, the lumber starts to warp and you have to use it right away or worry about covering it."<br />
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Six months later, in time for Christmas, the couple moved in. "We've had all sorts of compliments on the house, from neighbours, from people just stopping by," says a thrilled Mike Smith. "We've even had a few real estate agents saying that if we ever wanted to sell, to call them [laughs]!"<br />
<br />
Towards the end of construction, David Langtree stopped by on one of his many scheduled and unscheduled visits to the construction site, and reminded the Smiths of something he'd said to them at the very beginning, "I told them, like I tell all my customers, 'the sale is never completed... if there are any issues down the road, I'm here for you. The sale never ends.' I like to leave all my customers with that thought."<br />
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Beaver Homes & Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028882974183993020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8738697303976890004.post-87446913922975584282014-12-23T10:15:00.000-05:002014-12-23T10:15:00.321-05:00A Change of Plans<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDr2ygPf5Dvnz0A56qYdRg55ZMxf5YA2xzRNCJI1XhKikr1scwnaLkNFVrItJiiYr1OxA5DmXYmNMixIc0WmpoxexNyAqXpyd5PzANAXMHME1WYgiVsOY5Hzn0CZwXXqC5XRYg_h5cpG_R/s1600/BB-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDr2ygPf5Dvnz0A56qYdRg55ZMxf5YA2xzRNCJI1XhKikr1scwnaLkNFVrItJiiYr1OxA5DmXYmNMixIc0WmpoxexNyAqXpyd5PzANAXMHME1WYgiVsOY5Hzn0CZwXXqC5XRYg_h5cpG_R/s320/BB-03.jpg" /></a>
Linda and Gary Shaw had a plan: Retire in five years and then buy some land to build their retirement dream home. They just didn't anticipate that part of their plan would happen sooner rather than later.<br />
<br />
Sitting in their spacious living room in Beaverbank, Nova Scotia, Linda and Gary laugh when asked what expedited their plans to build before actually retiring. "We weren't even looking for land," recalls Linda. "I was looking at the Sunday ads in the paper when I saw some land for sale in Beaverbank. I said to Gary, 'It says ocean front.'"<br />
<br />
"I said to Linda, 'There's no ocean in Beaverbank,'" Gary recalls his response with amusement.<br />
<br />
That did not deter the Shaws from taking a drive from their home in Lower Sackville to nearby Beaverbank, a community about 30 kilometres outside Halifax, to take a look at the lot. They fell in love with the acre of towering pines nestled along a ravine leading to an adjacent stream.<br />
<br />
Gary called the real estate agent that afternoon and made an offer. "Our offer was accepted that night!" Gary exclaims their disbelief.<br />
<br />
Now the proud owners of their dream lot, Gary and Linda still had different timelines on when to build. "My plan was not to build until we retired. But Gary had other plans," jokes Linda.<br />
<br />
"Instead of letting it [the land] sit there, I thought we should build," explains Gary. Linda soon agreed and the search was on for their perfect home.<br />
<br />
"I wanted something unique. In subdivisions, it's the same house but in different colours," recounts Linda referring to her desire to have a home unlike their previous split level home.<br />
<br />
In January 2003, the Shaws came across a Homes and Cottages flyer in their local paper advertising the material package, the <a href="http://beaverhomesandcottages.ca/Model/Caldwell-Cove">Caldwell Cove</a>. "The moment I saw it, I knew that was it," Linda says.<br />
<br />
"I always wanted a sunroom and I love windows," says Linda. The vast windows capture the beauty of the forest surrounding the Shaw's home. The home's two porches and two large decks make entertaining a delight. The open concept kitchen and living/dining area is wonderful for family gatherings or relaxing by the cozy fireplace after a meal. The exterior boasts a cottage-feel with its stone facing, abundant windows, and rounded turret.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Making a Plan of Their Own</h2>
Gary and Linda soon took the flyer featuring the Caldwell Cove to Debra Perry, Package Home Specialist and Contractor Salesperson at <a href="http://beaverhomesandcottages.ca/store/Payzant-Building-Products-Limited">Payzant Home Hardware Building Centre</a> in Lower Sackville, to discuss building their newly found home. Although they loved the design of the plan, Gary and Linda wanted to make some changes to fully make it their own.<br />
<br />
From the initial contact with a customer, Debra likes to stress that modifications can be easily made. "It is very easy. If you like the outside but don't like the inside, it can be changed," Debra points out. "If there is a plan someone wants smaller, that can be done." After a plan is chosen, Debra sits down with a customer to listen to what the customer wants and also make suggestions.<br />
<br />
With Debra's assistance, Gary and Linda quickly began reworking the plan to make it their dream home. "There were no problems with the changes," says Linda. "She listened to what we wanted."<br />
<br />
The modified plans were sent off to the Architectural Solutions Department at Home Hardware's head office in St. Jacobs, Ontario and final drawings were soon completed. An additional three feet was added to the master suite to make room for a Jacuzzi tub and a separate shower. The plan was "flipped" to a mirror image so that the sunroom faces south and the front entrance faces west giving ample sunlight on both sides of the home. The chimney was removed and a propane fireplace added in the living room. The crawl space became a full basement and an exterior basement entrance was added. A skylight enhanced the upstairs bathroom allowing more natural light. The windows were upgraded for heat efficiency.<br />
<br />
With final drawings in hand, the Shaws hired local contractor Austin Macrae, owner of J.A. Macrae Construction to begin building their home.<br />
<br />
<h2>
A Plan is Complete</h2>
Being in the business for over twenty years, Debra Perry knows first-hand the many benefits that home and cottage packages offer to customers. Cost is usually the number one thing on consumers' minds when looking to purchase a home. Debra points out that the main cost advantage to a home or cottage package is the guaranteed price: "There are no hidden fees. The price isn't going to change."<br />
<br />
This advantage far differs from conventional construction jobs (also called stick-build homes) where the price often ends up being far more than the customer anticipated. "With a stick-build home it is only an estimate," Debra explains. "If you run out of something you pay the difference."<br />
<br />
Having someone that you trust to guide you throughout the building process can alleviate a lot of unneeded stress. As first-time homebuilders, Gary and Linda were very appreciative of the consistent contact they had with Debra. "We really relied on her," comments Linda.<br />
<br />
"I like to work with the customer from beginning to end," Debra adds. "When you work that closely with someone, you know every step of the way what is going on. You build trust. That is what I am here for."<br />
<br />
Another benefit with material packages is that the ordering and scheduling of materials is done ahead of time allowing the project to proceed on time. Ordering and scheduling materials can often be headaches for customers building non-package homes. Often production is slowed because material has not shown up to the site on time.<br />
<br />
Both Linda and Gary agree that building their home was stress-free and recommend material packages, especially for the first-time builder. "It eliminates all of the headaches," comments Linda.<br />
<br />
The Shaws now have the house of their dreams. Sometimes plans are meant to change.<br />
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Beaver Homes & Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028882974183993020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8738697303976890004.post-12121392517506962112014-12-16T10:15:00.000-05:002014-12-16T10:15:00.199-05:00Doing Justice to a New Home<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj683vilYYeO_vbwUmMias9nOXhThPbj5ImQUu7-ENNFV-BCtZkR0oCYtSIFiAAnRgXn4IH5pzZ4hHFZHsdRZctpnQ6oen9CCtd9lc9MDDbNJ3shHqMtfEGF1m8s06ouVZT1jgAqXiKDQtQ/s1600/BMP-09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj683vilYYeO_vbwUmMias9nOXhThPbj5ImQUu7-ENNFV-BCtZkR0oCYtSIFiAAnRgXn4IH5pzZ4hHFZHsdRZctpnQ6oen9CCtd9lc9MDDbNJ3shHqMtfEGF1m8s06ouVZT1jgAqXiKDQtQ/s320/BMP-09.jpg" /></a>
"Everybody thought we were mad when we told them we were going to build a new house." Nan Justice's eyes sparkle with delight as she says this. "Oh they thought we were very brave and so on, but we were eighty-five years old. Who builds a house at that age?"<br />
<br />
There aren't many octogenarians who commit to such an undertaking but Nan and Jim Justice did. And, as they found out, when it's done right, it can be wonderful, rewarding and headache-free.<br />
<br />
When Nan and Jim decided to move to the Kingston area from Nova Scotia in May 2002, building a new home was the furthest thing from their minds. However, their old house sold in a remarkable forty-eight hours and a thorough search around Frontenac County didn't turn up many acceptable options.<br />
<br />
"Everything we saw was either sitting in the middle of a field or alongside a main highway," Jim says with a laugh. Within ten days, they had decided that building was the only way they would get something that suited their needs. After buying a piece of land in the town of Verona, about 30 kilometres northwest of Kingston, they had to have a house designed. Or so they thought.<br />
<br />
Then Nan and Jim saw a copy of the Home Building Centre Home and Cottage Design Book. Together with Brian Greenslade, owner of <a href="http://beaverhomesandcottages.ca/store/Atkinson-Home-Building-Centers-Kingston-Hartington">BMP Home Building Centre</a> in nearby Hartington, the Justices picked out a bright, spacious design called the Hawthorne.<br />
<br />
"Initially, we wanted a bungalow but the land was too low and too wet for that," Nan says. "So Brian suggested this house, which we love."<br />
<br />
<h2>
The complete package</h2>
Today, Brian Greenslade is deeply committed to the idea of home and cottage packages. When the Justices chose their new home design, however, it was to be Brian's first package project. "We'd built homes for years on a less structured basis - including one for the Justices' daughter and son-in-law," Brian says. "But packages allow us to be more involved with the building process, and to work more closely with the contractor. But the biggest reason we do it is because we like to see happy customers."<br />
<br />
When you approach the Justices home, it doesn't look like the kind of home you might expect from a couple in their eighties. The siding is stained a bold, friendly green that makes it stand out from the white, beige and cream houses in the area. Inside, it's spacious, airy and warm.<br />
<br />
"Because everything is still on one level, it feels like a bungalow," Nan points out. But the view from the elevated living area, which sits atop a full basement with nine-foot ceilings, is most unbunaglow-like. A vista overlooks sloping fields and a few other, widely spaced neighbours. Behind the house a wooded hill rises gently, creating a calm and private back yard.<br />
<br />
Nan and Jim took full advantage of one of the benefits of choosing from the Home and Cottage Design Book: the ability to modify the original <a href="http://beaverhomesandcottages.ca/Model/Hawthorne-II">Hawthorne</a> design.<br />
<br />
They made several adjustments through Home's preliminary drawing process to help make the home exactly what they wanted. The sunken living room was raised so that it, the dining area and the kitchen are all on one level. The result is a large and open space that is ideal for entertaining. An extra window was added to the TV room, and the second bedroom was enlarged. Up the stairs from the front foyer the railing and spindles were replaced with a low wall.<br />
<br />
Since the Justices were purchasing their material package through Home Building Centre making these changes involved no additional cost for modifying the plans. As contractor Bruce Fitzgerald points out, "Home Hardware has their architectural people do the drawings for any revisions. The drawings are changed and they're returned to me. It's less for me to worry about, and it's less for the customer to worry about."<br />
<br />
Does this architectural service make a difference to customers when it comes to choosing to build? "As soon as I tell my customers that, with these packages, they don't have to find an architect to revise or customize their plans, they're interested," Bruce Fitzgerald says. "Right off the bat, that saves them money and time."<br />
<br />
<h2>
Right on schedule</h2>
Scheduling, and the ability of the contractor and the dealer to work together closely, also make home and cottage packages work. "As soon as a customer picks out a package, Brian makes up a schedule," Bruce Fitzgerald explains. "Everything is selected and planned right up front. You don't have to hold up the job to wait for material. It makes it easier to schedule the sub-trades, and it also gives us the flexibility to adjust for weather."<br />
<br />
Another advantage to the practise of setting a schedule and then sticking to it is that something's always happening on the job. "There's nothing more annoying for customers than to go to the job site and find that there's nobody working," Brian says. "A lot of builders won't even let customers on the job site at all."<br />
<br />
Jim Justice, for one, was a daily visitor who always felt welcome and was never disappointed by an inactive site. "Everything went very smoothly," he says. "You'd come in the morning to see what was happening and, by that night, there'd be terrific change."<br />
<br />
Brian smiles as he gives an example of how efficient the package process can be. "On this job we're doing now, the customer said to me, 'I think Bruce will be pouring the foundations on Friday.' I told him, 'No, the foundations were poured two days ago.' He was amazed. At a time when most projects take too long, it can be hard to explain to a customer that their project is a week ahead of schedule."<br />
<br />
Paying for the project was made easy too. "They gave us a package price broken down into three monthly payments so you always knew where you stood," Jim explains. And did they stick to the budget? "There were no surprises," Jim adds with a smile.<br />
<br />
Perhaps Brian Greenslade sums it up best. "A lot of people say, 'I built my house and I'm never going to do that again.' But it doesn't have to be that way. It can be a good experience. We want to help make sure of that." Jim and Nan Justice are contented proof that such happiness is possible.<br />
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Beaver Homes & Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028882974183993020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8738697303976890004.post-68429224540655999342014-12-09T11:01:00.002-05:002014-12-09T11:01:21.351-05:00The Pros Know - Packages are the Way to Go!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7AeVc59rVZZYLKnuSBeaJ5N66SwJHB2QGfNQ3Gb8ZgsvPWKNBPJDjXk7h7hpVraf2hxHnLc8Yx5iRFNfevAf61Bgx0QNqMxNUzXnkei7FQYUJmn2xlycTfYh0yWNcZVPSjBkM4j8C6xn/s1600/MP-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7AeVc59rVZZYLKnuSBeaJ5N66SwJHB2QGfNQ3Gb8ZgsvPWKNBPJDjXk7h7hpVraf2hxHnLc8Yx5iRFNfevAf61Bgx0QNqMxNUzXnkei7FQYUJmn2xlycTfYh0yWNcZVPSjBkM4j8C6xn/s320/MP-01.jpg" /></a>
An experienced builder of very large projects, Clare Boudreau has been in the construction business all his life - he knows the ropes, and he's been very successful. A few years ago, he took over a housing development that had gone terribly wrong in northern Ontario - cost overruns into the millions, with fewer than half the homes completed. Clare needed to fix the mess, and shopped around at various local lumberyards and building supply places for quotes to complete the project.<br />
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A friend suggested he try the local Home Hardware Building Centre, so Clare did. There he met with Dave Traviss, then working in package sales at <a href="http://beaverhomesandcottages.ca/store/Midland-Home-Hardware-Building-Centre">Midland Home Building Centre</a>. "He mentioned the packages. I had already done my own [cost and materials estimates]," recalls Clare. "I compared mine and his and an estimate from another lumberyard, and I liked what I saw, so I said, 'Okay, let's try this!" Clare went ahead and purchased several materials packages from Dave, and hasn't looked back since. After building three package homes in 2004, Clare expects to complete 20 this year.<br />
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"Once he realized what we did and what came with our packages and how they worked, Clare said 'this is for me!'" explains Dave Traviss, now the Home and Cottage Building Consultant for <a href="http://beaverhomesandcottages.ca/store/Orillia-Home-Hardware-Building-Centre">Orillia Home Building Centre</a>. "He said, 'this is unbelievable! More people should do this! If more people knew about this, they couldn't help but be successful!'"<br />
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When it came time for Clare to build his own dream house, he not surprisingly returned to Home, "Clare [and wife Evelyn] made modifications to a standard model and came up with a design that worked for them," says Traviss. The Boudreaus had decided on the <a href="http://beaverhomesandcottages.ca/Model/Foxstone">Foxstone</a>. "For example, we put a little loft library in, with a spiral staircase, and we did some nice work with lights and crown mouldings to really dress the home up," Dave continues. "It was everything they wanted and expected, and of course that's what we strive for - to make our customers really happy."<br />
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Dave Traviss says the Boudreaus were typical of the type of customers he's starting to see more and more of, "They were downsizing from much larger home to a mid-sized home," he explains, "But really finishing it. They're not worried about the nickels and dimes - they've got all the bells and whistles." And most of those bells and whistles were purchased directly from Home Hardware Building Centre, "We like to buy everything through Home," says Clare Boudreau, "The paint, the cupboards, everything - even the furniture!"<br />
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It's not hard to see why Clare is such a fan - he's now running his business based on Home Hardware Building Centre materials packages because he's seen the value that they offer consumers. "It's peace of mind in knowing that you have everything in there," he explains. "Especially for the first-time builder."<br />
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"People have less and less time," adds Dave Traviss. "This program takes a lot of heat off people, it allows them to do the things they still need to do while they're building their house. I'm a huge believer in guaranteed packages. It just brings so much value to the customer. And so many of them who've been shopping around come in to see me and say, 'Wow! Why didn't I come here first?!'" he says, laughing. "And I think they say that because we have such a complete program. That's the key, we include so much - we do so much more for you than anyone else in the business."<br />
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<h2>
Making Your House a Home</h2>
The ability to customize is one of the advantages of a Beaver Home or Cottage package. The Beaver Home and Cottage Design Book is just the beginning - you will have the opportunity to tweak your home plan to suit your needs exactly. "This is a starting point," concurs Dave Traviss, "We've got to give you something to start the juices flowing, to get you thinking about what you want. Any plan can be completely customized."<br />
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Home Hardware Building Centre also offers a great resource for anyone just beginning to think about building - The Complete Guide to Planning and Contracting. Clare Boudreau, pro that he is, also uses it to help his clients decide what they want in a house. This book will walk you through many of the major decisions that you will need to make in the course of imagining your dream home, and will help prepare you for the process of actual construction.<br />
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Once you've decided on your package and made the changes you want, you'll have the added comfort of knowing that the construction drawings - the plans from which your house will be built - will be executed by Home's design team. These highly trained professionals are licensed experts in both national and provincial building codes, ensuring that you won't face any surprises down the road.<br />
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Of course, when you do purchase a Beaver Home or Cottage package from Home Hardware Building Centre, your Building and Design Consultant will be with you every step of the way - as one Consultant put it, "I tell all my customers, 'the sale is never completed - if there are any issues, I'm here for you. The sale never ends.'"<br />
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Beaver Homes & Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028882974183993020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8738697303976890004.post-62045052400801839122014-12-02T14:36:00.003-05:002014-12-02T14:36:18.657-05:00A Perfect Eastern Ontario Escape<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZu5Dvm-GKDGDYxm6tsdqsz8VO-5DcZ3s3O_CPGu2632qXEz7uCAIAtKLGFoyfUbXNRLe8z-zbvn-vhXDy58tmQmoEs_VoruHWcJeRT8iyhWPIPIJjs_QkfsxoLm0nTDv_hEhd6rgPOgm/s1600/AH-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZu5Dvm-GKDGDYxm6tsdqsz8VO-5DcZ3s3O_CPGu2632qXEz7uCAIAtKLGFoyfUbXNRLe8z-zbvn-vhXDy58tmQmoEs_VoruHWcJeRT8iyhWPIPIJjs_QkfsxoLm0nTDv_hEhd6rgPOgm/s1600/AH-12.jpg" height="320" width="251" /></a></div>
When a couple decides to leave the hectic pace of Toronto and return to their rural roots in Eastern Ontario, it's only natural that they would buy land in an idyllic setting. With a view of a gorgeous, clear lake to one side and acres of undisturbed forest to the other, that's exactly the spot that one couple found for themselves. The key was finding the right home to build there. It was by chance that they found the inspiration for that home at the <a href="http://beaverhomesandcottages.ca/store/Atkinson-Home-Building-Centers-Kingston-Hartington">Atkinson Home Building Centre</a>, with locations in Kingston and Hartington, Ontario.<br />
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"We had no idea that Home Building Centre dealers sold houses," they said. Then, while in the store to make some routine purchases, the couple noticed a sign advertising the Home & Cottages Design Book. "We bought the book, took it home, went through it in detail and found the home we liked."<br />
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Their chosen model, the Rosseau, appealed to them as a home "that suited the environment in which we were building. We didn't want something that would look too urban, or modern or in any way out of place in such a beautiful setting." With its stone façade, expansive wooden deck, hardwood floors, vaulted living room ceiling and stunning fireplace, the home is very much the picture of a relaxing, rustic retreat.<br />
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<h2>
A COMPLETE ABOUT FACE</h2>
Close as the Rosseau was to their ideal vision, there were still modifications to the plans that could be made to suit the specific situation. "We had built houses before," the couple points out, "and we already had our own design done but it was going to be too expensive to finish the way we wanted." By comparison, building a home through Home Building Centre was very affordable.<br />
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"Once we had the design picked, we called the store and inquired about the details. The man we spoke with, Wayne Sayeau, was very polite and courteous, and the price was quite reasonable."<br />
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Even though the couple felt the house design was the right one for their future and their property, there was one significant adjustment that had to be made before anything else could happen.<br />
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"We turned the house around," they say. "We reversed it so that the dormers and all the windows in the house are looking out over the lake. That's actually the front of the house, but the style is such that you could use either side as the front. It just made sense to us that, beautiful as the forest is, the view over the lake is spectacular and we didn't want to give that up."<br />
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In addition to turning the house in the direction of their choosing, a larger window was added to the parlour to enhance the lake view further still.<br />
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Although many people choose to have their homes built through their local Home dealers, using Home-approved contractors and craftspeople, this couple wanted to do the work themselves. Using their previous experiences in home building, they made numerous changes to take maximum advantage of the lakefront location, and also to modify the interior to suit their lifestyle to the greatest advantage.<br />
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"The plan called for a ground floor laundry room that backed on to the den. We prefer a laundry room on the second floor. So we expanded the den to take over much of the laundry room space, and converted the rest of the laundry room space into a small powder room.<br />
<br />
"On the second floor, we took space that was planned to be used for a linen closet and also a small nook from one of the bedrooms and created a laundry room."<br />
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In addition, closet sizes were altered to create more space in the bedrooms and other smaller modifications were made allowing two people to find their perfect escape in Eastern Ontario.<br />
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<h2>
SERVICE THAT MADE A CHALLENGING JOB EASIER</h2>
Since they were living in Toronto while building their house in the country, construction could only take place on weekends. That posed specific problems for people undertaking such a complex and difficult task. For example, what do you do with the building materials from one week to the next?<br />
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"Wayne is just such a wonderful person," the home builders say about Atkinson Home Building Centre's Wayne Sayeau. "He worked with us. He understood that our situation was unique in that we could work only a couple of days a week. So Wayne held the material for us and delivered it to our job site on an as-needed basis." The couple was quick to point out that, while what was done for them was specific to their needs, they're not the only people who benefited from such creative assistance. "They work with all their customers to accommodate different circumstances and that just made it so much better for us." This system helped ease the tension of the construction process which, under less ideal conditions, can be fraught with stress and aggravation.<br />
<br />
Would this couple, with their lakeside refuge now complete, recommend to other people that they, too, build their home or cottage with Home Building Centre's plans, materials and assistance. The two are unanimous and emphatic, "Yes, we would."<br />
<br />
Looking at their beautiful home, nestled in the sunshine between trees and lake, it's easy to understand why.<br />
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</div>Beaver Homes & Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028882974183993020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8738697303976890004.post-23051947195610586882014-11-18T15:55:00.002-05:002014-12-02T14:32:20.153-05:00A Picture Perfect Package<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP6rlKzREHbmZ7kb-9myogqqbRdBb9bhGlDfJJa5eg1rQ9SckeLLNWySFWDeFPTrbeDfKDZCB97zu60AcKZOdCa-BluMUT1IS2pi57ZBd1NpvZcaKQCI-Gfi1fTiPVTc0YH3s2XhQSekI8/s1600/BU-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP6rlKzREHbmZ7kb-9myogqqbRdBb9bhGlDfJJa5eg1rQ9SckeLLNWySFWDeFPTrbeDfKDZCB97zu60AcKZOdCa-BluMUT1IS2pi57ZBd1NpvZcaKQCI-Gfi1fTiPVTc0YH3s2XhQSekI8/s1600/BU-01.jpg" height="208" width="320" /></a></div>
“At first we were looking to buy an existing home,” Connie Nickerson explains about her plans with husband Barry Cole. “But we didn’t see anything we liked. Then we started thinking, why buy someone else’s home. We’re just going to tear it apart and rebuild it anyway. Let’s build our own right from the start.”<br />
<br />
Connie and Barry knew this from experience. The home they wanted to move out of was modular and, in the time they lived there, they had modified it extensively - practically rebuilding it - to suit their specific desires.<br />
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Once the decision to build was made “things just fell into place,” says Connie. They were suddenly given an offer too good to turn down. “The piece of land next door to us was put up for sale and the real estate agent contacted us to see if we were interested.” Since oceanfront property in the area never lasts long, Connie and Barry jumped at the opportunity. The wedge-shaped, heavily wooded, five-acre lot was the perfect location for a new home, situated on a hill with a majestic view down to the Atlantic. Plus, it was convenient for Connie and Barry to live in their old house next door and supervise the construction.<br />
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Then the search for a suitable home plan began. After an extensive search through numerous magazines and brochures, the couple found their way to <a href="http://beaverhomesandcottages.ca/store/Buck-s-Home-Building-Centre">Buck’s Home Building Centre</a> in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia.<br />
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It was there that Connie and Barry found the right home for them: the 2300 square foot, one-storey <a href="http://beaverhomesandcottages.ca/Model/Sinclair">Sinclair </a>in Home Hardware’s Beaver Homes & Cottages Design Book. “The Sinclair had everything we wanted in terms of space and layout,” says Connie. At Buck’s, the couple also found Peter Biddle, who helped them plan and price their project and who also helped with the modifications Connie and Barry wanted.<br />
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“Peter helped us out tremendously,” Connie says. “He’s the one we leaned on the most. The three of us put our heads together and there was a lot of talking and a lot of thought put into revising the plans.” Numerous modifications and upgrades came out of these brainstorming sessions. The wall between the master bedroom and the second bedroom was removed, creating a wonderfully spacious master suite. The en suite bathroom was extended by two feet. Interior doors through the house were changed to French doors to let in more sunlight. Exterior French doors also replaced the sliding patio doors leading outside from both the Master bedroom and the dinette. Pocket French doors now separate the family room from the rest of the house.<br />
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In order to maximize the home’s stunning ocean view, the great room window was replaced with a much larger 151-inch plate glass window with sidelights that open. Connie and Barry even added a patio that, while not included in the original plans, was also a Home Hardware design.<br />
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Peter made a significant contribution as well when Connie and Barry’s previous house didn’t sell as quickly as they’d hoped. The foundation for the new home had already been poured, but Peter suggested the couple put a hold on construction to relieve the pressure until a buyer had been found.<br />
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The foundation was covered using traditional methods, but this proved insufficient in the face of coastal wind and rain. “At first, water was getting in to the basement,” Peter says, “but then we came up with an idea that worked.” Being beside the Atlantic Ocean inspired an innovative solution. “We decided to try a boat covering. We put that over the foundation and it worked perfectly.”<br />
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Soon after, Connie and Barry’s old house sold. The closing date meant that construction timelines on the new home were tight. Construction began on May 15, and Connie and Barry had to be out of their old home by July 30.<br />
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Once again, Peter Biddle proved a strong asset. “I always recommend a few different contractors,” Peter says, “so that customers can interview them and pick the one they feel they can work with best.” Connie and Barry chose Darrell Wentzell Carpentry and couldn’t have been happier.<br />
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“The carpenter was excellent,” Connie says with enthusiasm. “We’d recommend him to anyone. In fact, from our front window we can see him working on his next job, building a lighthouse museum.” Barry concurs with Connie’s assessment. As a retired electrician, he has been on countless construction projects and has seen everything that can go wrong on job sites. He found nothing to worry about through the entire process. “It was the cat’s meow, like they say. The home is well planned and designed and everything just fell together like a jigsaw puzzle,” Barry says. “We’re very proud of this home.”<br />
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“It’s lovely and quiet, “Connie adds. “You can’t even hear the rain when it’s raining. It’s a really well built house.”<br />
<br />
For Peter Biddle and Buck’s Home Building Centre, such customer satisfaction is the ideal outcome. “Our job is to take the stress away from the customer,” Peter says. “All they have to do is pick up the phone and call us and ask to have the job done. My greatest satisfaction at the end of a job is shaking hands with the customer and asking if they got everything they wanted.”<br />
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In the case of Connie Nickerson and Barry Cole, the answer is a resounding, “Yes!”
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Beaver Homes & Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028882974183993020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8738697303976890004.post-59472958941660730292014-11-11T08:52:00.001-05:002014-11-11T08:52:05.215-05:00Custom Homes at Package Prices<div class="separator" style="clear: all; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67Bz5LWQbm88iS9rXZJZvuO2RDp1VXsjta9o_oIw3W0faZxm8Xg9yVRtNyDExvOddnhHGa_4BDNQw52FTR65G-uoKxYRq8ArfHwarPqJTnM9mn7HKtI7GozRg1jwyZ0iGVq3LSM6j_SV1/s1600/TC-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67Bz5LWQbm88iS9rXZJZvuO2RDp1VXsjta9o_oIw3W0faZxm8Xg9yVRtNyDExvOddnhHGa_4BDNQw52FTR65G-uoKxYRq8ArfHwarPqJTnM9mn7HKtI7GozRg1jwyZ0iGVq3LSM6j_SV1/s320/TC-01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
“I wanted a custom home, but I did not want to pay a huge custom price,” explains Rob Myhre, proud owner of this beautiful new river front home, near Lake Erie, Ontario. “I had a friend purchase a building through Ted Costen at the <a href="http://beaverhomesandcottages.ca/store/J-K-Home-Building-Centre">J & K Home Building Centre</a> in Brantford and he thought it went well, and he saved a lot of money. Personally, my biggest concern was quality. I wanted it done right. I thought: let’s just check out these packages”<br />
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So Rob did. Ted remembers the project well: “I had done a house in St. George for a customer and Rob knew the owner. He mentioned that I was able to massage the plan and the budget to suit them. So Rob came to see me.” It was an unusual project in more ways than one, “The house was going on a sloping river front property,” explains Ted. “It needed some engineering, huge pilings, and there were a lot of costs associated with this. Rob needed to make the house cost-effective, and that’s something that I really like doing.”<br />
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Rob and his family also had very specific criteria for any new home they chose to build: “Main floor, one story, ravine walkout, near the water and more a California style,” he lists off. “And we wanted three-bedroom, a big master and a big party area.” Above all, “We wanted a quality home. We didn't want formal living or dining, all we wanted was a large great room. A two-person home built around entertaining, for family and friends coming over,” he remembers.<br />
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The lot, though perfect and to their specifications, required the services of an engineer in order to build. “I’m on the south side of Black Creek, and that side is totally ravine,” says Rob. “I would say that my property is in the middle of the ravine, probably about 140 feet from the water right up to the top, and it’s quite a slope.” Though it was what they wanted, the site posed some unique challenges: “Because of the proximity to the water, the City made us do tests in order to determine the stability of the soil, to see if we could put a foundation on it. The closer that we got to the water, the deeper the foundation had to go.” The dimensions of the pie-shaped property also created additional issues, “With everything being so tight, we not only had to get a huge backhoe in there to excavate,” Rob explains, laughing, “We had to be able to backfill!”<br />
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Foundation and engineering challenges overcome (and apparently worth every penny) Rob and his wife had settled on Home’s <a href="http://beaverhomesandcottages.ca/Model/Silver-Maple">Silver Maple</a> model with some <a href="http://beaverhomesandcottages.ca/Model/Amberwood">custom modifications</a>. “I wanted just a single level with a walk out,” he explains. “We liked the outside [of the Silver Maple], and then we found an interior that we liked and had Ted work on that.”<br />
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“I love the creation of the interior plan,” says Ted “The creating is the high point of working with the customer. When all that happens and they finish happy, I’m really happy.” The home included many changes and upgrades, among them a high-end front door. “We put a lot of windows on the back and that just lightened it right up,” he continues. “It has 10-foot ceilings in the basement and we put steel beams in so we didn't have a bunch of posts in the way.”<br />
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Though he’s been helping people build their dream homes with Home Hardware’s Package Sales program for 30 years (“I have over 400 of them between Durham and Tobermory!”) Ted clearly views Rob’s project as one of his most memorable, “It’s amazing, for a 1500 square foot home,” he says. “It’s almost trickery, because it’s really enormous. It shows really well for a house that’s not a monster. We massaged the plans to suit them so that the only thing that was about the same was the doorknob on the front door. The front yard is very small, so he doesn't have a lot of maintenance, they have a gourmet kitchen, they can go out the back of their house and get right on their yacht and go out into the harbour... They didn't cut a corner anywhere.”<br />
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Ted’s services did not stop with the sale. He handled the many revisions to the building plans, the permit processes and assisted Rob in co-ordinating with and getting quotes from tradespeople. Because of Home’s unique “on time delivery” program, materials for package homes are delivered to the building site on an as-needed basis, eliminating delays and reducing the damage done by the elements as well as limiting “shrinkage” from jobsite theft.<br />
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As far as the timing went, everyone seems pleased with the outcome. “I've heard of people going two years building a new house,” says Rob. “We started July 7th and we finished May of the following year. I felt really good about that.” Though he admits that there were the occasional stresses and strains, given the unusual location he was really happy to have it done in that period of time. “Would I do it again?” he asks, pausing for thought. “I think so!”<br />
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Because the lot was so unique, and because Rob’s list of must-haves was so specific, in the end this truly was a custom home, but without the custom price tag. Because of Ted’s experience he figures that, “By the time Rob and his wife were done, and even with all the upgrades, it was still about $40,000 cheaper than the other nearest quote. He was a happy guy. What I’m waiting for now is for them to give me a referral,” he says, laughing.<br />
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Beaver Homes & Cottageshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028882974183993020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8738697303976890004.post-48131820308926744582014-11-04T10:19:00.001-05:002014-11-04T10:38:37.954-05:00It's All About the View<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left; width: 100%;">
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When Karen and Jeff Coles decided to build their retirement home, on the shore of Bellwood Lake in Southwestern Ontario, there was one aspect of the house that was crucial: the view. There’s little point in living next to a beautiful body of water if you can’t enjoy it in panoramic splendor and from every angle. “It’s all about the view,” Karen says. The ability to capitalize on that was one of the reasons the Coles chose their home from the Beaver Homes & Cottages Design Book.<br />
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After purchasing a lot by the lake in June 2009, the Coles were planning to sell their home and design a new modest cottage for the waterfront property – all that the municipality would allow. A change in legislation made a larger home possible and discussions were held with an architect whose quote was out of reach. Fortunately, a neighbour had picked up a copy of the Beaver Home & Cottage Design Book. Karen looked in it and thought, “Wow, there’s some nice stuff here.” They selected the <a href="http://beaverhomesandcottages.ca/Model/Beauport-II">Beauport II</a> model and the journey towards stunning views began.<br />
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After discussing how the Beaver program works with a Home Hardware Building and Design Consultant at a Toronto Home Show, the Coles were given “a fair and reasonable quote.”<br />
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Then the work began in earnest. Modifications to the <a href="http://beaverhomesandcottages.ca/Model/Beauport-II">Beauport II</a> design were made over the winter, and the revised plans were ready for construction to begin in the spring. Karen runs down a list of some of the key modifications. “We got the biggest windows we could get and we opened up the walls around the stairwell. We completely changed the second floor loft, making it larger and more open. We even had the position of the main support beam moved, which they did after consulting an engineer. All of it was no problem at all.” <br />
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“We didn’t have to pick everything all at once,” Karen points out. “We could change our minds as we went along and it was not a problem.”<br />
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“As contractors, we know that if you buy a package it’ll be cheaper than doing it piece by piece,” Karen says. “And Home can supply absolutely everything – kitchens, flooring, light fixtures, plumbing – everything.” <br />
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Even that, however, is not the whole story. Flexibility is integral to any project in the Beaver book. <br />
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“Building the house through Home was wonderful because there were some parts of the job we wanted to do ourselves, or have our own people do, and that was never a problem.” <br />
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Modifications were made at every stage of the process, not only during the planning process. “We didn’t have to pick everything all at once,” Karen points out. “We could change our minds as we went along and it was not a problem.”<br />
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As a result, the colour of the siding was changed three weeks before it was due to go up. Interior door designs were changed along the way as well. The stairs were made wider too “and it didn’t cost us any more money.”<br />
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Even with all that versatility and accommodation, “the best part,” Karen says, “was the schedule.” The Beaver Homes & Cottages consultant at Home worked along with Karen and Jeff so that material was always delivered exactly when it was needed. “I don’t think there was a single day that I had to wait for anything,” Karen says with satisfaction.<br />
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Since the drive in to the site is like most cottage country roads, curving and sloping, “it was adventurous at times for the deliveries but the guys did a great job.” Nothing was late or arrived incomplete.<br />
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As a result, in addition to being on budget, the job was also completed on time, with construction beginning in early June and finishing by the first week of November.<br />
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What’s most remarkable about the Coles’ decision to use Home and their experience with the process is that they run their own contracting business, J. A. Coles & Sons Ltd. So they know how projects ought to go and they recognize when a job is handled in the right way.<br />
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“This expertise led to one other unique modification. There are three fireplaces in the house.” Karen says. “As a masonry contractor, Jeff built two of three fireplaces with stone from our own beach.”<br />
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In the end, the Coles got the outstanding views they were hoping for. And their views of the Beaver building process are pretty nice, too.<br />
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