Photography: Chris Zimmer Photography

Craftsman style front door in a dark wood

Michele Lee Wilson

Exterior

This is the seating area for the Home Theater with a 100" projection screen display. Speakers are discreet. Timothy Hill

© Photography by M. Kibbey

The front walk as seen from the sitting patio. Westhauser Photography

Photographs by Maria Ristau

Brad

Wine is one of the few things in life that improves with age. But it can also rapidly deteriorate. The three factors that have the most direct impact on a wine's condition are light, humidity and temperature. Because wine can often be expensive and often appreciate in value, security is another issue. This basement-remodeling project began with ensuring the quality and security of the owner’s wine collection. Even more important, the remodeled basement had to become an inviting place for entertaining family and friends. A wet bar/entertainment area became the centerpiece of the design. Cherry wood cabinets and stainless steel appliances complement the counter tops, which are made with a special composite material and designed for bar glassware - softer to the touch than granite. Unused space below the stairway was turned into a secure wine storage room, and another cherry wood cabinet holds 300 bottles of wine in a humidity and temperature controlled refrigeration unit. The basement remodeling project also includes an entertainment center and cozy fireplace. The basement-turned-entertainment room is controlled with a two-zone heating system to moderate both temperature and humidity. To infuse a nautical theme a custom stairway post was created to simulate the mast from a 1905 vintage sailboat. The mast/post was hand-crafted from mahogany and steel banding.

AFTER...Because they are devout "foodies", we decided that that as much of the property as possible should be food producing. With that focus in mind, the front lawn became a vegetable garden. The installation was done by Sam Gomez of Gomez Landscaping. Caitlin Atkinson

This was a challenging project for very discerning clients. The home was originally owned by the client’s father, and she inherited it when he passed. Care was taken to preserve the history in the home while upgrading it for the current owners. This home exceeds current energy codes, and all mechanical and electrical systems have been completely replaced. The clients remained in the home for the duration of the reno, so it was completed in two phases. Phase 1 involved gutting the basement, removing all asbestos containing materials (flooring, plaster), and replacing all mechanical and electrical systems, new spray foam insulation, and complete new finishing. The clients lived upstairs while we did the basement, and in the basement while we did the main floor. They left on a vacation while we did the asbestos work. Phase 2 involved a rock retaining wall on the rear of the property that required a lengthy approval process including municipal, fisheries, First Nations, and environmental authorities. The home had a new rear covered deck, garage, new roofline, all new interior and exterior finishing, new mechanical and electrical systems, new insulation and drywall. Phase 2 also involved an extensive asbestos abatement to remove Asbestos-containing materials in the flooring, plaster, insulation, and mastics. Photography by Carsten Arnold Photography.