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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2001-10-17, Page 14PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2001. TREAT YOURSELF... to new appliances from Groves TV & Appliance Centre Serving Clinton and area since 1935 • Roper • Inglis • Whirlpool • Kitchen Aid • Crosley • Broil King BBQs • Sharp TVs & Microwave Ovens • Woods Freezers • Samsung TVs Sales and Service Ask about our current Bell ExpressVu promotions 10 Huron St., Clinton 482-9414 U11111111117 he Applewood tor WA/ EPS ROYAL HOMES Couple restores stately former Brussels church manse The curved pine staircase The warm tones of the pine stairs and bannister enhance the more vivid colours of the decorative artwork hung in the stairwell. (Photo submitted) usual for the couple, the house they purchased was obtained with an eye towards renovation. Their Listowel home had been a formal older house with large interior cornices and ornate By David Blaney Citizen staff Ann and Ted Huffman moved from Listowel to Brussels in 2000. As was moldings. They wanted their new home to reflect a less complicated lifestyle. They chose an 1869 limestone block home with a view of the Maitland River. Originally built as the manse for the Presbyterian church, the house displayed the lack of osten- tation that was part of a 19th century minister's life. The interior features plain pine moldings and simple, almost austere lines broken only two bay windows and an elegant curved staircase to the second floor. Even these items are of practical use with the bay windows allowing more light into the rooms and the curve of the stairs allowing them to use less space. The Huffmans purchased the house six months prior to moving. This was to allow for the completion of the two most extensive renovation jobs they planned. One of these was the removal of the old garage attached to the north end of the house and its replacement with a workshop. Ted, who does much of the work himself said, "It was essen- tial that I have a place to work before we did much work on the interior of the house." He noted, "The garage had been built without proper foot- ings, on large squared timbers which had sunk nearly a foot into the ground and we couldn't save it." An interesting feature of this reno- vation was the opening for a garage door, which has been framed into the wall surrounding two of the work- shop's windows. If the space is need- ed as a garage in the future it will be a relatively simple task to remove the windows and put a garage door in place. The other major project prior to the Huffmans moving in was the com- plete renovation of the kitchen. The woodstove, which had stood against the north wall, had over the years bowed the floor joists as much as four inches. Further demolition revealed that the room would need to be gutted to accommodate the Huffmans' plans. Ann said, "We wanted to save the old pine floor but it proved impossible." The project was further complicat- ed by the fact that the only outside Continued on page 15 YOUR LOT, Visit the YOUR DREAM, CUSTOM BUILT Royal Homes Model and Design Center in Wingham on Highway #86 1-800-265-3040 or 1-519-357-2444 www.royalhomes.com Call: