Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2010-05-06, Page 14PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 6, 2010.Attention to detail makes all the difference As the spring days lengthen and summer approaches we enjoy, even more than normal, the pleasure brought to us by the addition we made to our house six years ago. The addition was designed with the help of an architect, even though it’s somewhat simple and most people would just have a contractor rough-out and build. Despite the extra cost, we’re glad we spent the money. We met with Goderich architect (and Brussels native) John Rutledge in late 2002 for the initial discussions on our plans. I’d worked with John in various capacities over the years, including interviewing him about respecting our traditional Huron County architecture in making additions, so he was an obvious choice when we wanted to add to our turn-of-the-century farmhouse. We’d lived in the house for nearly 30 years. On the back (south) of the two-storey house was a one-storey summer kitchen and woodshed. We’d tried to renovate the summer kitchen to make it useable but it was always cold so didn’t get much use. The woodshed was a place for junk and wildlife. After all the years, its foundation of wooden sleepers on top of field stones, was crumbing. Not only was the summer kitchen/woodshed a waste of space, but it blocked off the south and west views from the house. We lived in the country but couldn’t really appreciate the setting. In 2002 an inheritance allowed us to think about finally doing something about replacing the ugly addition. When we met, my wishes expressed to John were to more or less keep the same footprint as the existing building, but find a way to bring the outside in. I also wanted a building that looked as if it belonged with the century-old main house. Jill, being more practical, worried about having a large hall for people arriving and lots of closet space. She also wanted a mudroom where I could leave my boots and work clothes so they didn’t have to come into the house. After looking around and writing down our wish list, John went away to think. Later he sent out a young assistant to measure the old building, the width to the lot-line, etc. Early in 2003 John came backwith preliminary plans for a 500- square-foot addition, almost exactly the footprint of the old building. There were many things we immediately liked. He’d heard my plea for a bright room to connect the outdoors with the indoors and created a room with three sets of double-hung windows on both the east and south sides of the room. Along the west side of the new building he’d designed an old-fashioned porch. This was excitingbecause the west side of our property had been pretty-much a blind-spot from the house. Jill got her entry hall and a huge closet (it’s the envy of relatives who just don’t have as much space despite having large new homes ). That closet created a thick double- walled divider between the entry hall and the large light-filled, south- home & garden 2010 Give us a call 519-887-9061 Fax 519-335-3570 R.R. 2 Bluevale It’s Gardening Time • Natural Mulch • Screened Topsoil • Regular Topsoil • Recycled Crushed Asphalt (call ahead to make arrangements) • Sand • Gravel • Fill • Loading & Hauling • Bulldozing • Excavating Delivery Available You Pickup John CONSTRUCTION LTD. 191 Westmoreland St., Blyth 519-523-9687 The Blyth Laundromat ✓✓ Coin Operated machines ✓✓ Soft Water ✓✓ Always OPEN ✓✓ Wash & Fold Service ✓✓ Pick up & delivery available Proprietor: Lorna Fraser 43846 C-Line Rd. - R.R. #2, Wroxeter Watch for signs West of Molesworth North of #86 Hwy. at Adam’s Line Open May to September - Closed Sundays 519-335-6175 shirley@riverbendgardens.net www.riverbendgardens.net Lilies, Ornamental Grasses and More Large assortment of perennials priced $5.00 or less Hostas - 600 + varieties Daylilies - 600 + varieties (50 varieties of each @ $5.00 per pot) Perfect at last While the perfect addition, that both met the needs of the Roulstons and maintained the historical integrity of their home, didn’t come overnight, it did exactly what the pair was hoping it would, bring the outside, into the home. (Keith Roulston photo) By Keith Roulston The Citizen Continued on page 15