The architect - Michael Werleman
Seeing the house with its windows, some (though not all) the doors and many of the rooms framed-in is very exciting and very emotional. It makes the house feel much more real. 'Real' is amazing because it promises a future that is tangible - wonderful moments to come and memories to be made. 'Real' is also difficult because it makes one face up to the change and the newness of everything, to the fact that so much is different and there is much that just isn't there any more. But in the balance, as you can see from the pictures, the excitement of the future takes the day.
It was wonderful to visit the house with our architect, Michael Werleman, who had the opportunity to meet Francois Duval for the first time. Jean-Marc showed us all the progress they had achieved, and we discussed several changes that could/should be made to the plans. Some key decisions were made - including moving the location of the stairs that go up to the second floor, shifting a couple of doors a few feet one way or another, and adding a vestibule.
It looks like it is a go with the hybrid electric-wood furnace that can be adapted to include geothermal heat (or some alternative energy source) when we are have figured out the best and most affordable way to do that.
On the general news front: there's a ton of snow (as you can see) and the lake is now ice and snow covered...though the snow came a bit too soon on the newly frozen lake for the ice to be very strong.
The girls and I are off to Paris for Christmas with Cecile and Emma - leaving on December 21 and returning on New Year's Day. Dave is staying here and will be living at the playhouse and celebrating with the McEntyres.
Our family is wishing you a wonderful Christmas and holiday, and hope you have a happy and healthy New Year filled with joy and peace.
It was wonderful to visit the house with our architect, Michael Werleman, who had the opportunity to meet Francois Duval for the first time. Jean-Marc showed us all the progress they had achieved, and we discussed several changes that could/should be made to the plans. Some key decisions were made - including moving the location of the stairs that go up to the second floor, shifting a couple of doors a few feet one way or another, and adding a vestibule.
It looks like it is a go with the hybrid electric-wood furnace that can be adapted to include geothermal heat (or some alternative energy source) when we are have figured out the best and most affordable way to do that.
On the general news front: there's a ton of snow (as you can see) and the lake is now ice and snow covered...though the snow came a bit too soon on the newly frozen lake for the ice to be very strong.
The girls and I are off to Paris for Christmas with Cecile and Emma - leaving on December 21 and returning on New Year's Day. Dave is staying here and will be living at the playhouse and celebrating with the McEntyres.
Our family is wishing you a wonderful Christmas and holiday, and hope you have a happy and healthy New Year filled with joy and peace.
View from the playhouse
Driveway view
Our contractor and architect with their house in the making
"Do we move the stairs to the second floor...?"
Francois and Jean-Marc Duval with Michael Werleman
Bay window to screened-in porch
Living room door to open porch
Upstairs sitting space with bathroom beyond
