Located on a 6.5-acre forested lot just north of Grand Valley, a custom-built house offers owners David and Sharon Reimer scenic views and the comfortable, rural lifestyle which they love and don’t want to give up.
Constructed in 2019 by Dalerose Homes, the 2,200-square-foot (on the main level) bungalow is adjacent to a house they had lived in for two decades.
The creation of their retirement home is actually the culmination of a long-term strategy for which they had assessed and prepared for their future housing needs.
“We did not want to move from the area, as we love rural lifestyle and the small town environment,” says David.
So, when the time came to downsize about seven years ago, the couple decided to proceed with their plans to build a new smaller house on the lot, which they purchased some time ago.
“We had a clear sense of what we wanted our home to have,” says David about the objectives, goals, issues, and wish lists they considered even before approaching an architect.
A major priority was minimizing their environmental impact by removing as few of the trees as possible and, in the process, not being saddled with a large lawn. As a result, there are open views of the forest from large windows in every room, he says.
The wish list also included large interior spaces for entertaining, a custom kitchen that met their culinary skills and aspirations, plus a finished basement which functions like a main level with a walkout.
Working in close collaboration with the architect on the design which went through several concepts, they achieved the outcomes they had planned for. Included in that list were the expansive forest views and a large deck across the back of the house which can be accessed from the large master bedroom.
There are two additional large bedrooms with south-facing windows in the finished basement. The basement also has a three-piece bathroom and a utility room leading to the garage. However, the centrepiece is the great room with a woodstove, floor-to-ceiling wall-to-wall windows, a small wet bar, and a walk-out to a stone patio. From the patio there is walk down to a fire pit.
“The great room is an ideal space for entertaining. We can accommodate 35 people easily there,” he says.
Large get-togethers can also be hosted in the eat in-kitchen which boasts a bar sink, a wall oven, a separate stove top, and a peninsula which can facilitate large buffets. In keeping with making the most of the setting, there is also a large south facing window over the sink looking out on to the forest.
“We can look at the forest canopy and not the tree trunks.”
That particular view is possible because the basement level was built one foot above grade to ensure “it didn’t look like a basement.” That construction technique also raised the level of the house to ensure those canopy views, says David.
There is also a 14 by 24-foot living room with a gas fireplace and its own floor-to-ceiling south facing windows.
As David and Sharon are the owners of a home-based building technology strategy consulting firm, planning for and incorporating business oriented features was critical.
There is a small office on the main level which could be converted into another bedroom in the event of a sale, and the house is fully equipped with a commercial grade smart technology system.
Living in the country comes with both advantages and inherent responsibilities such as keeping the grass cut and the driveway clear of snow. To meet those challenges, the construction project also included the erection of a 15 by 24 foot shop with a 10-foot-high power garage door for the tractor bay and a sliding door for lawn tractor access.
But since the amount of lawn generated during the construction was limited, David only spends about 90 minutes every week cutting the grass. That task includes trimming a small trail leading into the forest.
Asked about how their plans transitioned into an actual project, David says the process was fairly straightforward after the architect completed the final design.
Construction by Dalerose started in the fall of 2018 and by September of 2019 had reached the stage that they could move in, although some work carried on until November.
When asked if their expectations were met, David said “We were delighted with the builder”.
Dealing with the builder was a full partnership between the couple. While David dealt with the trades, Sharon worked with Dalerose’s design team on the selection of the paint colours and the wall and window treatments, even choosing the electric switches.
Because of their in-depth attention to details and cordial relationship with the builder, the project came in on budget.
“I think that (on budget) is unusual,” says David, who cautions potential custom home owners to budget a 10% contingency about the quoted cost to meet unexpected expenses.
“Building a home is always complex and has many challenges which can impact budgets.”
Asked about some of the lessons they learned during the project which they can pass on, David recommends giving the builder lots of details to ensure the quoted price doesn’t escalate. And once construction is underway don’t ask for “on the fly” changes as that will only increase project costs.
Another tip is treating the builder and the tradespeople in a positive, respectful, and appreciative manner and listening to their suggestions. “That yields the best outcomes.”
WRITTEN BY: DAN O’REILLY | PHOTOGRAPHY: PAUL SPEARS
STAGED BY: WENDY POUND of PROPERTY STYLING REDESIGN AND STAGING
