Custom View
Story Kristin Schnelten | Photography Sandy MacKay
“It was such a pleasure to work on this project, with great homeowners in such a beautiful setting. The views are just incredible,” says Ben Freeburn of Alair Homes Grey Bruce.
For Courtney Mahon and Donna Hall of Blended Interiors, this calming, light-filled home overlooking Lora Bay is their most extensive and satisfying project to date.
The homeowners sought design assistance on nearly every aspect of the home, from floor plans and exterior finishes to furnishings and décor. “We really had fun,” says Courtney. “They were quite open to our ideas, and so easy to work with.”
Together with the homeowners, Alair Homes and Blended Interiors spent months meticulously finalizing plans before the first shovel touched the ground.
“Alair’s process is different from most builders’,” says Ben. “The decision-making process takes place ahead of time, with all quotes and markups clearly posted online for client approval. The project management software we use makes it easy to ensure the client gets exactly what they want.”
Every detail has a line item on that initial list, including finishing touches such as lighting fixtures and faucets. To assist homeowners with those decisions, Blended Interiors utilizes 3D software to model every inch of the home. “It’s so helpful to virtually walk through a space and see how light will affect a colour or a feature,” says Donna. “We can easily choose different paint, trim, stone and other details.
Ben believes working with designers is a win for everyone: “It’s really our preferred method. This is their area of expertise, and it’s always best to go with the expert.”
Alair Homes brought together a full team of experts in their respective fields, including Walter Campbell of Campbell Masonry, John Bridge Plumbing and Heating, G&M Electrical Mechanical, and Norm Aubin of Wood & Wallworks.
“Norm Aubin at Wood & Wallworks does such an outstanding job with custom trim,” says Ben. “Their machinery allows them to create almost any profile, any piece.”
The home is filled with custom cabinetry, designed by Blended Interiors and built by Brubacher Cabinets. Their partnership on the many projects, including the kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, closets and built-in loft seating, was such a positive one that the two companies have now joined forces on forthcoming Brubacher builds.
In the lower-level media room, the team worked with Mark Aldous at Timeless Material Co. to create the reclaimed wood accent wall and with HDTV and Electronics to complete the audio/visual system. “Mark was just amazing,” beams Donna. “He stepped in to complete so many finishing pieces, and his product and work are just outstanding.”
Timeless provided wood highlights throughout the home, including the striking ceiling feature in the office, kitchen accents and fireplace mantel. Each of the wood accent pieces works to carry the energy of the towering beams down to eye level. “One homeowner leaned toward contemporary, the other rustic,” says Donna. “We were able to blend those two styles together harmoniously with small touches here and there.”
Having found just the right hue to capture the shimmering bay - Raccoon Fur by Benjamin Moore - that colour found its way to nearly every room in the house: as a ceiling colour here, an accent wall there, even the exterior.
Outside is further drawn in through the large rear-facing windows. Early in the design phase, Donna and Courtney reconfigured the exterior beams, bringing softer curves to the facade. That new curve is now reflected in the sweeping windows and doors of the living room, welcoming the striking views of The Golf Club at Lora Bay and beyond to the shimmering water.
“What stands out for me with this home is the strong timber framing and sheer amount of built-in cabinetry,” muses Ben. “It really was an all-round great project for us.”
Ben and his brother Dylan Freeburn joined Alair Homes in 2014, after many years of custom homebuilding. Becoming Alair Homes Grey Bruce was a game-changer for them, raising the bar for the client experience and giving them the freedom to focus on the details of management – design, costing and scheduling – with Alair’s proprietary software.
The brothers’ upcoming project, Southampton Landing, is the next step. The Seaton Group community will focus on active living and greenspace, preserving the ecology of the area as well as nodding to its renowned architectural style. “Southampton is known for its Cape Cod and craftsman-style homes, and these new custom-built homes will reflect that heritage,” says Ben.
