Standing in a field in rural Centre Wellington in August of 2020, Zack and Heather Dowling had no idea if their vision of building a new home on their family farm was even feasible. “We initially contacted Hoegy Building Ltd. to see if what we wanted could even be done within our budget. I (Heather) had grown up here in rural CW and was curious about building an additional family home on the farm. After that first meeting, we knew that Scott was the right guy for the job. He assured us that we could accomplish what we wanted, and we broke ground in March of 2021”. The family farm needed to be rezoned to allow for a second permanent dwelling and that did take time to work through the process and caused a few headaches, however once approved and load restrictions on the rural road lifted, the Dowling’s home was completed in less than a year, and they moved into their new space in December of 2021.
Their stunning stone bungalow with timber accents is located on 63 acres in Rural Centre Wellington, just minutes from Fergus, Elora and Belwood Lake. With a well thought-out, open concept layout and attention to detail throughout, Zack and Heather have created a space that is clearly family focused. “We wanted a home that was meant for family” says Heather when asked about the inspiration for their design. “It was important to us that it was conducive to entertaining and raising our children. We wanted a place where we could relax and come together with loved ones in a warm and welcoming environment”.
The Dowling home is modern farmhouse in style, with a warmth that is palpable from the moment you walk through the door. The 2,500 square foot open concept layout with split floor plan is perfect for family living and abounds with natural light and sweeping rural views.
The large foyer has high ceilings and soft brown engineered hardwood with 7” trim and features 9-foot ceilings throughout the main floor.
The kitchen/living/dining area is an entertainer’s dream, featuring vaulted ceilings, a hand finished floor to ceiling stone fireplace with wood mantle, and a chef’s kitchen with oversized island that provides additional storage – all with sweeping views of the farm and an abundance of trees that were planted around the property.
The kitchen cabinetry (completed by Lloyd Scott Enterprises in Alma, ON) is finished in modern white shaker style with brushed nickel hardware and provides ample storage. It is complimented with contrasting black and white quartz countertops, a stunning patterned tile backsplash and stainless-steel range hood. The built in Bosch speed oven is both a microwave and convection oven – a 2 in 1 appliance that offers the convenience of microwave settings for quick reheats and cooking, but also the power and performance of a convection oven when you need it. The unique chandelier over the island (from Chatelaine Lighting in Guelph, ON) is a true conversation piece and finishes the room off nicely. The dining area is large enough to seat 12 or more and is the perfect transition from the kitchen to the living area. The family room is large but cozy, with the focus on the beautiful stone fireplace with propane insert that offers both ambiance and warmth during the colder months.
The sleeping area is divided from the living room by a custom-made barn door, which offers privacy and continues with the modern farmhouse theme. All of the bedrooms are oversized, and the two kids’ rooms have lots of space for double bunks as well as a desk and play area. The master bedroom features a spa-like ensuite with a step-in glass shower with teak pull-down shower seat and storage nook for toiletries, and a large walk-in closet with built-in organizers. It also offers a private walk-out to a patio with hot tub with incredible views but is sheltered from the wind!
The super cute laundry room and mud room offers additional storage space and is finished in a fun patterned tile floor which compliments the rest of the home and leads into the oversized triple car garage with an additional overhead side bay door for larger equipment.
Building a home from the ground up is a huge undertaking – one that requires patience, planning and a general contractor/builder that is knowledgeable and dependable. The Dowling Family are thrilled with the end result and look forward to continuing to complete outdoor landscaping and living space projects. “We feel so fortunate that we were able to work with Scott Hoegy and his team, they were knowledgeable and great people to work with. We look forward to many years in our home and making great memories with family and friends.”
Hoegy Building has been creating award winning projects in the Elora area for more than 25 years. His wealth of knowledge and experience in construction and project management, as well as his focus on quality craftsmanship and reputation for building on time and on budget have earned him many 5-star reviews and customer referrals. “We take pride in everything we do, no matter the size or scope of the project” says Scott. “Whether it is an addition, a custom build or a renovation project, our goal is to provide the best service, the highest quality of work and an end result that our clients will love”.
Scott and his team are based in the beautiful town of Elora, ON and can be reached via their website at www.hoegybuilding.ca or by calling him directly at 519-846-0163.
WRITTEN BY: TANYA BOTTOMLEY | PHOTOGRAPHY: PAUL SPEARS
