Loading...
The Citizen, 1999-10-20, Page 21THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1999. PAGE 21. J Tome Improvement Tree planting has enhanced natural beauty Inside and out Clockwise from top left: Diane and Doug found a creative way to utilize the wasted space below the stairs, transform­ ing it into a desk/work area with drawers for extra storage; the flagstone floor throughout adds to the cottage decor, while the fireplace, entertainment centre and bookshelves combine nicely into the corner of the living room; the charm continues in the outdoor area with gardens, ponds and walking trails throughout the property; Diane found the per­ fect way to display her pottery collection and use the bulk­ head space above the kitchen cupboards — as something other than a place to collect dust. The kitchentop is marble, quarried from Owen Sound. While the kitchen design was something on which Radford spent a lot of time, the living room was Scrimgeour’s, she says. He worked with Ian Hackett of bungannon Builders to create an environment for the fireplace and television. The addition of a window seat, “really made it fit,” says Scrimgeour and provided extra seating space. Hackett worked directly with the Teeswater craftsmen who did the staircase so the finishes were the same. When only the decorating remained, Radford considered the cool look of flagstone, the open con­ cept of the design and the large win­ dows. She opted for plain walls painted in rich, warm colours that create a welcoming, restful environ­ ment. Outdoors the couple has spent hours enhancing the existing natural beauty, planting about 75 fruit trees as well as a variety of about 3,000 other types, with assistance from local Scouting troops, who in turn use the property for their camping excursions. “We’re trying to add some colour to what is already here,” says Doug. Ponds and gardens finish the over­ all look, creating a haven, a setting of perfection both indoors and out, a place to commune with nature, to entertain and to relax. Continued from page 20 travel too far to find quality work­ manship. “The entire house was built by area tradespeople using as much local material as we could find.” One of the most distinctive fea­ tures inside the home is the flagstone floor throughout the main floor. Attractive, but utilitarian, it was again decided upon primarily for its esthetics. “John suggested we look at fieldstone. It was more the type of look we wanted,” says Radford. Though the stone, which was trucked from Wiarton was relatively inexpensive, the labour costs brought it up to a comparable level with other types of flooring. Laid by Mike Siertsema, Scrimgeour says the job was a chal­ lenge. “There were skids and skids of this and I’m sure they thought it would never get done. However, they did fantastic work.” Though the floor “looked dread­ ful” when first laid, once it was washed and a colour enhancer and sealant were applied it improved greatly. “The more you walk on flag­ stone the better it looks,” says Scrimgeour. In addition to a forced air heating and cooling system, as well as natu­ ral gas for the fireplace, cooktop and backup for the furnace, the floor also has a heating system. Flagstone was just one of many natural products used in the house. SIMPLY THE BEST! Digital picture; Dolby Surround Sound Up to 60 new channels arriving during the month of October Hot tub owners have feu) complaints, high satisfaction $200.00 programming credit with new dish purchase IT'S YOUR TEL Forget any notions you may have about hot tubs being high- maintenance investments. Not so, say current hot tub owners in a recent survey conducted by the National Spa and Pool Institute (NSPI), the industry’s trade organization. According to the 1997 national study, more than half of current hot tub owners have no complaints about ownership. In fact, more than 90 per cent would recommend hot tub ownership to a friend. Queried on issues of operation costs, energy efficiency, cleaning and maintenance, hot tub owners say they pay less for chemicals, water and electricity than they anticipated. And, thanks to the availability of pre-assembled water quality kits and quick-change filtration systems, maintenance is fast and easy. Survey results show: • 80 per cent find hot tubs to use little electricity. • 77 per cent find hot tubs are easy to clean and maintain. • 92 per cent would purchase another hot tub. • 83 per cent agree that hot tubs are sanitary. • 78 per cent use their hot tub year-round. • 80 per cent use their hot tub as much as or more than anticipated. The survey also shows that hot tub owners are finding uses for their hot tubs beyond the realm of social entertaining - they are integrating hot tubs into a backyard retreat for relaxation and renewal, and 72 per cent believe the addition of a hot tub increases the value of their home. Choose from over 140 channels and watch what you want. You can also customize your package by adding movies, sports and specialty programming. Trade in your Grey Market or C-Band Satellite system for a new Canadian 18” dish. Come in and see our display model. We sell, service and install the best! Hunters - don't get lost in the bush - purchase a GPS .MAGELLAN . SATELLITE ACCESS TECHNOLOGY Now available at Oldfield's Pro Hardware & RadioShack Oldfield Pro Hardware 'Lsk.ck & RadioShack si Brussels 887-6851 Fax 887-9426