PORTFOLIO | RESIDENTIAL | TIMELESS ELEGANCE

Timeless Elegance

This Victorian era limestone cottage built in the 1850’s had previously undergone numerous renovations and additions. Upon purchase of the property in 2005, the new owners started the process of creating their dream home, inside and out.
The greatest challenge was adding to the overall site without disturbing the historic integrity of the property. Upon consultation with the design team, an overall design theme was created to enhance the historic features. The structural integrity of the home was also of utmost concern when excavating for the foundations of the new limestone retaining walls.
The curved retaining walls, complete with custom cut Indiana limestone coping, were built to match the existing tape-jointed walls on the home itself. Now that the walls are complete, it is difficult to tell where the original house ends and the new construction begins.
The square-cut mortared Wiarton flagstone patio adds an element of sophistication to the overall formal design, creating a front courtyard worthy of entertaining. What was once a double car driveway has been transformed into an interlock driveway and walkway, making the formerly utilitarian space into a meandering path to a grand front entrance.
The installation of hand-made copper gas lights on each of the front limestone columns adds yet another historic element to the design, tying old to new. Low-voltage night lighting washes the front retaining walls and house to complete the scene after dark.