Challenge, charm

Phil Fernandes helps people design new houses from the ground up, but for his own dream home, he's going with South Walkerville vintage.

"An investment into a house, in a neighbourhood with that much character, just seems to be a lot more rewarding," he said.

Phil and his wife Amanda, who works for a civil engineering firm, have been living on Lincoln Road in the Lincoln in the Woods area for about 10 years. They were looking for an upgrade and knew they wanted to stay in the neighbourhood, with its mature trees, big lots and unique architecture.

When the owners of 2450 Lincoln Rd. decided to put their house on the market after living there since the mid-1940s, Phil and Amanda pounced. But it needed a lot of work - about $200,000 worth of work - or about as much as the price of the house itself.

Phil was up to the challenge. He drew up plans for an ambitious renovation that brings the house up to date while keeping its character, with additions above the garage and off the back, an expanded kitchen and three small bedrooms converted to four.

"It was a good project, because it was very challenging, to me, anyway, to make a floor plan for a house that wasn't really working for the modern family and revise it so that it could be utilized, reused, re-adapted to what we need today."

Phil said the most difficult part has been keeping the house's original charm. The couple has gone to great lengths to do so, salvaging and cleaning the original bricks to use on the additions and moving the hardwood floors from the first floor to the second.

Phil said the previous owner of the house is particularly pleased with a plan take the original etched glass from a vestibule and use it for the laundry room. "She loved that. It's really fun meeting somebody who loves their home so much," he said.

The couple is on track to finish the project in July, about eight months after buying the house on Nov. 25. They've done some of the work themselves, with Phil's experience as a contractor for Paul Davis Systems coming in handy.

They've also received a lot of help from Phil's father, who often comes all the way from Wallaceburg on weekends, and Tony Martell of Roofing With Integrity, who helped with demolition as well as the roof. Amanda is blogging about the project as she goes, keeping track with posts and pictures at pfernandesdesigns.com/blog.

See the original post:
Challenge, charm