Category Archives: Stainless Steel Railing

“Mediterranean dream” home for Brian Morris

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Brian Morris threw caution to the wind and transformed his south Ottawa home into a Mediterranean dream

By Paula McCooey

Part of the fun of travelling is taking in the unique architecture of other cities and countries. But it’s not so easy to bring those discoveries home with you, except in photographs.

Brian Morris found a way.

Twenty years ago, Morris was vacationing with his family in California and fell in love with the Spanish-style homes of upscale Bel Air. The peach stucco exteriors, copious arched windows and beautiful clay roofs were like rays of sunshine and brought him back to the days when he lived in Bangalore, India, as a young boy.

The 64-year-old man had always longed for a place like his childhood home, which had a similar Mediterranean design, and he thought, “Wouldn’t it be great if Ottawa had homes like that?”

A few years after that California trip, that longing returned when Morris drove up to his newly built Richcraft home in Hunt Club Park and all he saw was the garage.

“I said, ‘Is this a house or is this a garage,’ ” he says. Like many tract homes of the time, the garage was the dominant feature.

So, after many years of saving and planning, he mustered the energy in 2007 to transform his home into the hacienda he always wanted.

“It’s different and I was sort of tired of the tract type of housing,” Morris says while sitting in what was once the garage that drove him to take a leap of faith. Now it’s his tropical great room.

“I wanted to do something different and I had two minds about doing something in this area.

“But I had already invested so much (into the original home) and we have a huge backyard and it is a good location. So I said, ‘This is my home, I’m going to make it comfortable, and do what I want.’ ”

It was neither an easy, nor cheap, endeavour to find the perfect architect and builder to take on the project.

He had hired two architects to draft a few drawings, but, despite the few thousand dollars he had invested, neither were good fits for what he had envisioned. A third also didn’t work out.

But he lucked out when he hired Dwayne Guy, owner of Riverdale Construction and Renovations Ltd., to take on the task and transform the threebedroom, four-bath home, expanding it to 3,700 square feet from the original 2,100 by adding 800 square feet to the front. An 800-square-foot sunroom that was added to the back of the house in 1998, designed by Urban Keios, was updated in 2010 with new floors, pillars, and a new bathroom to align with the renovation at the front of the house.

Morris based much of his concepts for his dream home on photos from his travels, the previous architectural drawings and his own ideas.

Guy – Morris affectionately refers to him as General Patton because he was able to take charge and get the job done – suggested they subcontract an architect he trusted to help them pull all the ideas into one plan.

Then came four months of work. “It’s a Canadian-type construction but we made it look Spanish-style,” says Guy. “We researched many companies (for the) tile roof … and it took us a while to find the colour blend that we wanted, which was from Sherwin-Williams. We used a standard Apex stucco. I just liked the way it went on, I liked the finished texture and it was better than some of the others.”

Guy says he’s thrilled with the way the home turned out, but admits he had some reservations about the project at first, knowing that the roof would be expensive.

“I wasn’t a big fan of this roof … just from the point of view that it is a large cost for a roof,” he says, adding the challenge was lining up the new roof lines with the original roof.

The bulk of the work was finished last October.

What Morris envisioned was realized outside, as well as inside.

Walk through the home and you can hear the sound of the water fountain in the backyard that sits under a weeping oak. Morris loves the sound and is convinced the constant trickle helps to lower his blood pressure.

“When you open the front door, you should be able to see the garden (out the back door); that was part of the design,” says Morris. “Not that that is good Feng Shui … they say if you have your front door and your back door (aligned), your money goes right through the house,” he says with a hearty laugh.

Good thing he has a sense of humour. The retired public servant says he stopped counting the cost of the renovation at $160,000. The job included adding a new garage to the side, an 18-foothigh grand foyer with decorative columns and marble floors, a new family room in the back of the home with four skylights, large windows with California shutters and an open-to-below feature from the upstairs master bedroom and new home office.

The old living room became an enlarged dining room and the former dining room became an informal eating area. The carpet was removed and replaced with new cherry-stained oak hardwood and ornate Spanish-style iron spindles were installed along the curved staircase.

Morris bought all his designer chandeliers, lighting and furniture through discount home decor wholesaler Direct Buy.

The property received a facelift with the help of a new a maintenance-free landscaped yard by Artistic Landscape Design (artisticlandscape.on.ca) that exudes a lush tropical effect with vibrant red and pink canna lilies, bougainvilleas, begonias, and geraniums.

The wide stone pieces that make up the pathway and stairs are made of stone with fossil inlay from Rajasthan, India – a nod to Morris’s heritage – and nicely complements the peach stucco, which Morris says changes colour according to the outside light. A custom wrought-iron railing on the front porch by Evolution Iron (evolutioniron.com) underscores the Spanish theme. And the roof, the key to the overall villa design, was the cherry on top, costing Morris an extra $35,000 as a specialized job.

While he wanted the look of an authentic clay roof, he couldn’t use the same tiles seen in the south of France, Tuscany or Spain.

So Morris purchased Decra tile from RRC Roofing on Sheffield Road, which also did the labour. Decra is a stone-coated steel made to look like authentic Mediterranean tile, but it withstands harsh winters and is fire resistant.

to be continued

from ottawacitizen.com

Castaways Beach : elegantly inspired home

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Elegantly styled

Tim Kenway

WONDERFUL street presence and private walled courtyards are just two of the attributes of this elegantly inspired home.

Originally constructed for a European couple, it is little touches like formally prepared courtyard gardens, generous use of glass, half pipe terra cotta roof and the privacy obtained from a deep breezeway setback to the double timber doors of the main entry that set it apart.

A grove of coastal paperbarks line the informal kerbside gardens and a wide driveway lifts to a double door garage. Neatly trimmed three metre height lilly pilly line the solid boundary walls to the courtyards and a beautiful native gardenia welcomes you with a delicious fragrance.

A pair of handsome custom made wrought iron gates secure the breezeway and the lofted portico also features cut outs of wrought iron.

The black wrought ironwork of these gates corresponds nicely to dark framed windows, sliding doors and strategically placed picture windows.

An open vestibule has a facing wall which carries the walled staircase, while traditional terra cotta tiles begin and run right throughout traffic and open living spaces.

A pale exterior render is carried through in a soft cream internal palette.

The staircase is a focal point of open living rooms, while the house concentrates on the wonderful east and northern light through two stories of sliding glass doors and fixed upper level panels.

Light plays across the home through these walls of tinted glass and sliding doors connect to a pillared loggia.

Dark granite bench tops and stainless appliances highlight the centrally located kitchen.

A stainless exhaust hood sits above a gas hob, with a wall mounted oven and under bench dishwasher. The atrium height walls and cupped light fittings provide a perfect canvas for favourite art pieces, while the open sky outlook and green backdrop of the courtyard gardens deliver complete privacy.

Two downstairs bedrooms set to the southern wall of the house are served and separated by a full bathroom. The southern wall of this outdoor room has an upper bank of adjustable cedar louvres to soften the sometime blustery south easterly winds.

A second tier hedge of magnolia along the eastern boundary provides colour and interest in the spring.

A security gate leads through to the Romanesque inspired pool for those days when you are not at the beach for an ocean swim. There is an automatic sprinkler system set up for the grounds.

Taking the carpeted staircase to the upper floor finds you in an open mezzanine room that runs down the length of the house to arrive at double doors isolating the main ensuited bedroom.

This serene upper level is a private retreat away from the main body of the house.

A southern view of the ocean is captured from this main bedroom. For those who like to do their entertaining under their own roof, this beautifully presented and well maintained home may be just the answer.

For dogs and their owners the stretch of beach provides off the leash exercise for your four-footed mates.

from noosanews.com.au

Larry Culp’s home : Water’s Edge

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At Water’s Edge
The Home of Larry Culp

Luxury homebuilder Larry Culp deftly sited his own Acadian French-inspired home at the edge of a pristine north Louisiana lake within North Pointe subdivision. And with a master’s stroke and an eye for detail, Culp has created a retreat for his family and friends to enjoy.

Edged in reclaimed brick, a technique Culp discovered on one of his many trips to South Louisiana, the home’s landscaping celebrates native plants that thrive in our climate – palmettos, azaleas, magnolias, Indian hawthorn, mandevilla, hibiscus and elephant ears – handpicked by landscaper Roy Bennett. In the center of the circle driveway, a sugar kettle water feature with a fleur de lis sculptural accent is nestled among blooms of drought-resistant flowers. The stucco and brick exterior of the home is brightened with wrought iron window baskets overflowing with hardy impatiens. An elegant garçonierre, opposite the garage, welcomes visitors and adds visual interest to the landscape.

Unmissed details like arched wooden garage doors are typical of Culp’s style of homebuilding. It’s the extra touches that add up to major “wow-factors” when Culp designs and builds a home. Bevelo exterior lighting, Old English ridge tiles and antique brick throughout add to the authenticity of the home.

Upon entering the foyer, the combined dining room and great room set the tone for a unique open feel. Atop an Aubusson needlepoint rug, the gold leafed and antique mirror topped dining table is a custom-made creation by Pettigrew in Dallas. A large paned, bay window looks out onto the front water feature as the sun casts its rays inside on the glimmering rock crystal chandelier dripping with pink, red and clear prisms from a gold ceiling medallion.

Gorgeous heart of pine wide-plank floors and enormous reclaimed cypress beams add continuity throughout the home. Culp is a master at repurposing materials, and the wood floors, beams and brick used in this home are no exception, as they were originally the bones of an industrial warehouse in Donaldsonville.

The custom, made-to-order Spanish cedar windows and doors are yet another unifying element in the Culp house. Their large panes and graceful arches make the views from inside out even more appealing. In between these doors and windows are sconces by Flambeau, one of Culp’s favorite lighting artists. The welcoming double front door is antique cypress with delicate wrought iron work.

Local artist Jenny Howse was employed by Culp to embellish key areas of interest throughout the home. Above an arched doorway in the foyer of the home that leads to the guest bedroom and bath, Howse painted a lovely cameo, instantly adding drama to the space. Along the edge of the wrought iron ballustered staircase, Howse painted a whimsical vine leading the viewer visually to the top of the stairs. Says Culp of the artist, “Jenny is a tremendous artist with a great sense of humor and so much talent.”

The interior spaces Culp has created are a juxtaposition of the modern with a touch of antiquity. In the Great Room, vintage chic sofas with lush velvet pillows co-exist with a Baroque French master painting in an ornate gilded frame Culp found at Material Things and an Indian-carved media center from Urban Village with a distinct world vibe. Interesting accents such as a large onyx lamp on a mirrored side table and a large pouf, which serves as a coffee table, add to the eclectic vibe. Three large arched French doors across the back of the house overlook the lake. The interior-side of the windows throughout are stained a beautiful honeyed glaze while the window exteriors are painted one of the historical colors, Rockwood Red, that Culp is inclined to use.

The master bedroom and en suite bath seem to be inspired by timeless Mediterranean architecture with an exquisite beveled ceiling that leades to a central dome from which hangs an exceptional Venetian glass and crystal chandelier with gold shells and crystal prisms. The dome is painted by Howse in a French design of elegant silver and gold flourishes. A large, sage green French Trumeau mirror with gilded accents dominates one wall while a contemporary black and white striped slipper chair with nailhead accents from Inside Indigo lends modernity to the space. Bella Notte bedding in hues of grey, cream and purple layered in luxe burned-out velvets, laces and embroidered jacquards offer a respite from the day. A French settee and armchairs are positioned in the perfect reading spot beneath a wall of Spanish cedar windows that afford a glimpse at the lake and its wildlife beyond. A fireplace at bedside peeks through to the master bath.

to be continue

from thenewsstar.com

Historic home for sale in Rusholme

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For sale: What a Rusholme!

By Connie Adair

One of the most surprising features of this traditional brick home is its wood- panelled entrance foyer, which has an 18-foot ceiling, a custom wrought iron staircase and turn-of-the-century stained and leaded glass windows.

The home, built in the early 1900s, was fully renovated to code in 2002. “When undertaking this renovation, the owners made a great effort to retain the traditional elegance and features of this century-old home,” says listing agent John Maguire of Royal LePage Real Estate Services.

“They restored the exterior of the home, the stained glass, leaded glass and bay window features,” says co-listing agent Julia Lorenzetti. “They also added to the exterior with reclaimed vintage cobblestones on the circular driveway, solid exterior doors and a sprinkler system.”

The home’s modern conveniences include a central vacuum system, a commercial humidification system, a security system, wiring and dimmers throughout, intercom and sound systems, a home theatre and professional appliances.

A Turkish marble fireplace in the living room and a coffered ceiling, crown moulding and wainscotting in the dining room are other features.

The kitchen, designed for entertaining, has a 16-foot island, Brazilian chocolate granite counters, a wine rack and French doors that lead to the dining room and study. The breakfast room has a walkout to a deck, which has a barbecue.

A fireplace and built-in cabinetry in the master bedroom, a whirlpool tub in the master ensuite bathroom and a loft bedroom are other highlights. The loft has a beamed cathedral ceiling, four skylights, its own heating and cooling system, a gas fireplace and built-in storage.

The three-storey home has decks or balconies on each floor and two legal apartments on the lower level. Each of the one-bedroom apartments has more than 500 square feet of living space, a separate entrance, separate metering and laundry

facilities.

The 34×147-foot lot has a two-car, double-door brick garage, a sprinkler system, a perennial garden and a granite front porch and walkway.

“The home combines modern quality and conveniences with a more traditional elegant style that would appeal to any couple or family. The house requires very little maintenance, especially with the grounds, so it would be perfect for a couple who likes to travel and appreciates the cosmopolitan style of the decor,” Mr. Maguire says. “The home is also perfect for entertaining and would suit an executive or diplomat.”

“In fact, the home has been host to dignitaries and diplomats from around the world,” says Ms. Lorenzetti.

from life.nationalpost.com

23-room home in Lower Hillsborough for sale

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Lower Hillsborough features lush grounds, 23 rooms

Nathan Spicer

The basics: For the first time in 40 years, this two-story, 23-room home in Lower Hillsborough is on the market. It was built in 1917 and designed by architect Arthur Brown Jr., who also designed San Francisco City Hall. The wraparound gardens were planned by landscape architect Thomas Church.

The house’s facade includes copper-lined awnings and cupolas, plus balconies with wrought iron railings.

A brick entry flanked by birch trees and foliage leads to a covered-entry porch and a finely detailed front door. The foyer features parquet oak hardwood flooring, crown molding and recessed art spotlighting.

The formal dining room has a wall of mirrors and windows overlooking the grounds.

A trey ceiling tops the living room, which also has oak flooring and a wood-burning fireplace with an antique mantel. Built-in mirrored shelves are also here, and sliding doors lead outside.

The den has built-in cabinetry and library shelving, plus picture windows.

The chef’s kitchen contains oak hardwood flooring, Corian counters, stainless steel appliances and backsplash, under-cabinet lighting and a dual sink.

Sliding glass doors in the family room lead to the exterior.

The master suite features doors that open to an office and three sets of mirrored closets. The room also connects to a bath with travertine slab flooring, a dual sink, soaking tub and bidet.

A tower room includes a two-story domed ceiling and windows overlooking the manicured grounds.

What you’ll love about it: Custom entry gates lead into the property, where lush gardens cover more than half an acre. This area also includes lawns, mature trees and an elevated terrace with a swimming pool. Other items include statues, wooden totems, a hand-forged bell from the steamship Susan and an iron crest from the original Bank of America building in San Francisco, plus a wine cave that’s built into the side of a hill.

Size: This seven-bedroom, 4.5-bath home provides 7,000 square feet of living space

from sfgate.com