Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1998-10-21, Page 20Overlooking the countryside A picture-perfect setting enhances the lovely new home of Bruce and Rhonda Fischer and family of RR3, Brussels. Enjoying the fruits of the labours Nicely decorated, spacious and openly cheery, the Fischers' new home is an example of their personal creativity and style. It's a home built for comfort and family, but to be proud of. Room with a view The dining nook in the Fischers' home allows for a picture of pastoral tranquility, a moving image of the river and its inhabitants. Fun and games __AR.,..aanseemansal While work on the basement rec room is still on-going, Bruce couldn't wait to get his pool table. Father and son, Marc, enjoy a little healthy competition. Innovative A handy mesh net catches laundry from a second story bedroom closet, a big help for a working family on wash day. A place to entertain and work Nice features incorporated into the Fischers' kitchen include a ceramic-top stove, pantry and spray faucet. Daughter Cassie and friends enjoy some chat time. PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1998. THERE'S ALWAYS • THIERE ALWAYS y' • •II•1--___ Fait Home ROOM Improvements 1998 FOR MI.'.-- FOR HOME IMPROVEMENTI !HOME IMPROYEMENTI Expansion plans develop into gorgeous country home structure with full basement and a spacious garage. The kitchen, dining area and family room are an open concept, with a French door closing off the den. There are now two-and-a- half baths, with plans for a future one when the basement renovations are completed. The house is heated by a forced- air oil furnace. A nice feature is in-floor heat in the basement, which is hooked up to the water heater. This not only offers even heat for the feet on concrete, but in spring and fall, if heat isn't needed in the main portion of the house, the basement will still not become damp. The rich oak trim used in the main floor was made by Mennonites in St. Clements. The kitchen cupboards, also, oak, were designed by Bruce and built by local woodcrafter, Ken White. Joan Cloakey helped Rhonda with the interior desing work. In addition to designing the house, Bruce, who hired local contractors for the job helped with much of the construction. They say that to truly have your dream home, all the amenities you'd like, everything the way you want, designed to suit your living, you would have to build 10 homes. By Bonnie Gropp Citizen staff Growing families often discover a need for more space. Such was the case with Rhonda and Bruce Fischer of RR3, Brussels. However, what began as a plan to expand their existing quarters •soon, upon investigation, led to the construction of a new spacious, picturesque country colonial. As the couple, who has two children, Marc and Cassie, soon discovered the cost of an addition was going to be considerably more than they had originally anticipated. "We decided then that we might as well put the money into a new house," says Rhonda. Finding the right place to build was easy. Their present home was the original Fischer family farm. When Bruce used to pick stones he noticed a spot overlooking the river, and thought that it would be a nice place to build a house, Rhonda says. A re-zoning was required, and unfortuantely because the service _ did not extend that far, there was a big expense for them in getting hyrdo and phone service to the site. "We even debated on whether to go ahead because of that," says Rhonda. Having the perfect setting and knowing that this would be quite likely their last home, the Fischers wanted it to suit their likes and needs. They looked around for design ideas, then Bruce incoprorated what they liked into their own plan. As is often the case, what started modestly soon developed. "Originally we had decided on a single-storey, but I really wanted to have an upstairs. The bedrooms seem more separated from the living space," says Rhonda. Other prerequisites were a fireplace, a dining nook overlooking the river and a large front porch. "One of these days I might even find some time to sit on it," Rhonda smiles. "And Bruce's idea of a new hosue was having room for a pool table." Bathrooms were another important aspect for design consideration. Having had just one in their old house, Rhonda says, became increasingly inconvenient. "Four of us spent a lot of time in there together." Also, the lack of closet space in the old house was a problem that was not going to be repeated in their new environment. Having begun their planning in April of 1997, digging began on the Civic Holiday weekend. By January, the family had moved into their 2,200 square foot dream home. The finished product is a two- ,storey, three bedroom brick Though the Fischers admit there are a few things they might change if they were to start again overall they are thrilled. "We have been quite pleased with the way everything turned out," says Rhonda.