If you spend anytime in the neighborhood of the
Glen Stewart Ravine, you've no doubt watched the
progression of the renovations to 242 Glen Manor
Dr. W. Well, it's been finished for about a year
now, and the contractor, Walder & McSweeney
Contracting Ltd., has won the award for its efforts.
The Beach design and build outfit was presented
with the 2002 National SAM Home Renovation Award
(Whole House Category) from the Canadian Homebuilders
Association (CHBA) at the ceremonies held Feb.
24 in London, Ontario. Project Manager, Joe Sexton
of Walder & McSweeney explained that the award
focused on many of the unique features of this
particular renovation, including the brickwork,
the heating and the driveway.
...Whereas most of Walder & McSweeney's renovations
take between 18 and 20 weeks to complete, this
project took 16 months…Sexton said that once
he realized the scope of the renovation plans,
his first order of business was to make sure the
neighbors were going to be happy.
"I figure I spent from 35 to 40% of my time
maintaining good relations with the neighbors,"
Sexton said. And how did it go? "The neighbors
were fine," he said.
...Congratulations to everyone on the CHBA Award,
and thanks for creating what is sure to become
a future Beach landmark.
Office @ Home
...Jerry McSweeney of Walder & McSweeney
concurs, and has a few key points to add.
"Everyone is asking for connections –
such as specialty cabling going from the home
office to the area in the house where services
enter – so that there's separate power into
the home office to provide flexibility for future
improvements or the Internet, without interfering
with their phone line," he says. "In
the modern home office you have a direct line
fax, one or two phone lines, and an Internet access
on a different computer, so that any children
using the home office to do their homework aren't
distracted."
"And the modern home office uses cable lines
or telephone lines to provide a network so homeowners
can access their workplace electronically,"
says McSweeney.
But besides these pragmatic considerations, he's
noticed that everyone wants at least one 'creature
comfort' in their home office, be that a fireplace,
big windows, or nice cabinetry that can accommodate
a television and stereo. Inconspicuous 'surface
storage' for items such as copiers and fax machines
is also something to consider.
Like the other rooms in the house, the home office
is evolving and becoming more sophisticated.
"We're getting more call for home offices
to look more like regular offices, and to be part
of the living space of a house rather than in
the basement, so that on occasion people can have
business associates come and meet them there,"
says McSweeney.
House & Home Of The Month
...Interior designer Philip Moody had contractor
Wayne Walder of Walder and McSweeney Contracting
Ltd., who owns a cottage in New York State's Adirondack
mountains himself, add a skirt roof, proud columns
and a covered porch with a vaulted ceiling characteristic
of classic Adirondack architecture.
Makeover Magic - A Stunning Transformation
...To accomplish the Kitchen/Breakfast room renovation,
the builder, Walder & McSweeney, gutted the
existing kitchen and constructed a 133 sq. ft.
addition over a block foundation. The home's rear
wall was completely removed. Details of the small
addition include a cantilevered bay area with
sloped windows overhead, a north-facing solarium
wall topped with transoms, and a set of five window/doors
which open to the garden.
