42
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SPRING
2015
ESCARPMENT
®
FEATURE
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HEARTOFTHEHOME
Architectural photographyhasaffordedme theopportunity
toexperience firsthandmanydistinctivehomes,eachonewith itsowncharacterandstory
to tell. Employedby someof thearea’s topbuilders, I’ve had thepleasureof capturing
the latest inbuilding style, techniquesand technologies.Moreover,workingwith real-es-
tateagents has presentedmewithan evenwider rangeof subjects. I’vephotographed
everything fromcenturyhomes in theheartofCollingwood tomilliondollarcountry retreats
overlooking theBeaverValley.Eachwithauniquepersonaasdistinctas their inhabitants.
Forme it is justasmuchabout capturing the feelof thehome,as it ismakingsure theexpo-
sureandcompositionarecorrect.Often thismeansspeakingwith thehomeowner.Finding
out what theywanted to create or where they drew their inspiration.What parts of the
home theyare themost proudof, andwhat things theywould rather not show. The story
comes together in thephotographsand ifapicture iswortha thousandwords, thensurely
anentirehome featuremust containanencyclopediaworthof information. This isnomore
evident thanwhencomparingbeforeandafterphotosof a renovationproject.
PhotographingEscarpment’s SpringMakeover Issuehas as becomeoneof my favorite
assignments. It’s compelling to see the end result of a vision, but evenmore so learning
about what went intoaproject, the challenges and triumphs. Askanyonewhohas lived
throughahomemakeover and theywill nodoubt relay the frustrationof living ina con-
struction sitewith thedust, clutterand inconvenience–anaspectof theproject that Idon’t
get to seeas I’m typicallyphotographing the finishedproduct. By the time I arriveevery-
thing ispictureperfect,andstoriesof renovationhardshipsareadistantmemory. Itwasn’t
untilmypartnerHailyand I decided to tackleour ownproject that I trulyhadagraspof
all thatwas involved.
A kitchen renovation is akin toopen-heart surgery for the home.More than just a space
where food iscooked, it isaplacewherepeoplecongregate, families’converseandmem-
oriesarecreated. Renovating suchahigh trafficarea is intrusiveand throws the function-
alityofahousehold intocompletedisarray. Tominimize the sideeffectsof thisprocedure
youneed tocreateplan from theoutstepandstick to it.Youneed tohavea targetdate for
completion,andofcourseyouneedhaveaskillful surgeon.EnterHaily’s fatherPatDurnin,
ofDurnin’sCustomCabinets.
The first timewehadPat andhiswife Lauraover fordinner I could see thewheels turning
as he surveyedour kitchen. It hadn’t changedmuch since I purchased the home eight
yearsago. Theoriginal pinecabinets,whilenot exactlyaneyesore, hidanunsightly inte-
rior. Chipping, yellowingpaint anda haphazardorganizational system left much tobe
desired. The countertop, delaminating linoleum, hada lovely greenish hue that worked
wellwith just about nothing. Thewhite tile flooringhad several cracksand showedevery
speck of dirt and theexisting lightingwas completely inadequate.We startedbygoing
overoptionswithPat’s teamatDurnin’sCustomCabinets.
Tomake theproject financially feasible,Hailyand Iweregoing to
have todoasmuchof theworkaspossible. Icouldhandle thedem-
olition, but thepost andbeamworkwas clearlyabovemy limited
carpentry skill level. I requesteda ‘chairliftmeeting’withGeorgian
Peaks Club President and owner of Baylyn Construction, David
Eaton. Itwasdecided that insteadofusingmultipleposts to support
thewoodwork,wewould install a largebeam, supportedwithone
post.Weweregoing toneedsomesignificant timbershowever,and
I knew just theguy to supply them.
Kitchen before
