West Coast Vibes and the Living is Easy
STORY MEGAN SMITH-HARRIS | PHOTOGRAPHY SHELBY ZAKOOR-GRAUL
STAGING DESIRED INTERIORS
Featured in London/Stratford/Middlesex • Perth • Huron Counties Holiday/Winter 2023/24
The word halcyon denotes “a period of time that was idyllically happy and peaceful,” and that’s precisely the goal Andrew Dawe, owner and vice-president of London’s Halcyon Homes has in mind for every homebuyer they collaborate with.
“We want to make the homebuilding experience enjoyable for each of our clients,” says Andrew, “and we believe that everyone deserves a home tailored to their unique needs and way of life.”
In 2014, Andrew, a journeyman Red Seal carpenter, relocated to the London area and launched City Wide Construction Management. Finding the company name too generic and impersonal, the company rebranded itself as Halcyon Homes in 2018.
Nick Trevail, a London native and graduate of Western University, connected with Andrew six years ago. After working on a few projects together, they discovered how well their skill sets aligned and decided to team up.
Today, Nick serves as Halcyon’s general manager. “Andrew’s technical and building skills far exceed mine, but people skills are my strong suit,” he says, “and managing people and trades is something I really enjoy doing.”
The amount of care and thought that goes into the Halcyon design process is impressive. “We think through every detail very carefully, then Patrick Lemieux, our in-house architectural designer, creates the plans and we re-evaluate before finalizing the project.”
The company excels at custom builds that are both beautiful and functional. Currently, lots are available in Talbotville Meadows, an upscale suburban development outside of London. This home, with interiors designed by Monique Soetemans of Monique Winnie Designs and staging by Danson Lewis and Patrick Hazzard of Desired Interiors, shows prospective buyers what Halcyon is capable of and it’s sure to tick a lot of boxes. The 2,650 sq. ft. house has a distinctive west coast/Prairie-modern vibe and delivers everything today’s discerning customer wants – openness, high quality and connectivity.
The house exterior is a mix of Arriscraft Fresco Greige stone (Ferrell Brick & Stone installed by Onlystone) and a Hardie product that outperforms wood.
“Wood on the outside of a house takes a lot of maintenance and doesn’t age well,” says Andrew. “We use a composite that mimics the look of wood but frees the homeowner from having to sand and stain it every spring.”
The large soffit overhang and cantilevered flat roof (D&M Roofing) provide depth, visual interest and functionality. Double glass front doors, front and back, (Golden Windows Ltd.) lead to the great room and the open-concept kitchen-dining-living area.
Durable wide-plank engineered hardwood (Moore Flooring + Design) runs throughout the house, unifying interior spaces. Living room built-ins, kitchen cabinetry and the fireplace mantel are all crafted of white oak (Casey’s Creative Kitchens), lending harmony. An inviting 48-inch fireplace with a sleek charcoal-grey granite surround anchors the living area. Kitchen cabinetry runs up to the nine-foot ceiling and coordinates with a custom range hood. The quartz kitchen countertops are echoed in the backsplash for a seamless look and the island has an eye-catching fluted detail (all Casey’s Creative Kitchens).
An additional main-floor space can be utilized as an office, playroom or flex-space depending on the homeowner’s needs. Even the laundry room has custom touches, including a textured subway tile backsplash, floating shelves and storage cabinets. A handsome black wrought-iron railing contrasts with the white oak stair risers, all by Brandao Carpentry Ltd.
The spacious primary bedroom has a tray ceiling and is flooded with natural light thanks to five windows with coverings by Covers Canada. The en suite has a floating double vanity, custom mirror cabinetry and a curbless shower (from Aqualuxe Bath Showroom). There’s also an additional guest room as well as a dual bathroom setup for kids.
The 1,100 sq. ft. basement is unfinished but has a full bathroom, eight-foot ceilings and multiple windows so down the road, the homeowner can customize the space to their needs. Attention is given to the outdoor spaces, too. The covered patio has a textured concrete floor (East Elgin Concrete Forming), ample seating room and a ceiling fan over the eating area. Other perks include built-in speakers, lighting and a gas barbecue wrap-in. “We try to anticipate people’s needs and think about these homes the way we would want to live in them,” says Andrew.
Andrew says there are two kinds of clients: those who know exactly what they want down to the last detail and those who want as much guidance as possible. “Either way, we’re going to provide our expertise and fulfill their respective visions. We do our very best to minimize stress for buyers by providing them with a designer so they know what they’re going to get before the build even starts.”
Halcyon prides itself on its post-close service and responds to client requests within a day. “We want them to be excited when we hand the keys over,” says Nick, “and we want to be friends with our clients afterward.” OH