HayLoft Sandwich Board

The HayLoft sandwich board turned out to be a wonderful integration of design (Derek Bachman), material (salvage barn board) and execution (laser etched by Dave Zolinski @ Laser Impressions).

This one was a bullseye...

SkyLight Addition

Nov 5, 2009 saw the long awaited installation of our skylight on the HayLoft.

The original plans called for the skylight because the kitchen is located in the middle of the building limiting natural southern light into the space. In addition to this, we've found that the combination of some dark colors and the exposed fir roof, while making the home very cozy and warm, tend to soak up a lot of the light that does enter the home.

So we pulled the trigger and managed to do the entire project in one day thanks to Ken Heath, my go-to-guy for renovations, and Western Urethane who came out to do the spray foam and waterproofing on the exterior of the skylight.

The end result has been to make two major improvements to the home: first, we get FLOODED with beautiful diffuse daylight all day long now and, secondly, we now have opening windows up high that will help with the natural ventilation in the summers and during house concerts.

Check out the photos...

Step Up To The Mic

I just took this photo with our new Canon G11 and thought I'd post it to share the experience of playing a house concert at the HayLoft.

Saskatoon Home Article

Here is a copy of the article from Saskatoon Home Magazine.

Photos from Saskatoon Home Magazine

Here's a few images shot by Jimmy Oneschuk or the Saskatoon Home Magazine, Spring Issue. The magazine is hitting the streets this next week but if you can't wait, wander down to Museo Coffee at the Mendel Art Gallery or Caffe Sola on 23rd and Pacific for advance copies...and grab a latte while you're there.

No Pressure, No Diamonds

"No pressure, no diamonds" is a favorite saying mine. When I'm under pressure I manage to use it as a galvanizing force to focus all of my energy into a single goal.  I think I learned that in the U of S Engineering program where I was under constant pressure for a 4 year run during my Engineering Physics Undergrad.

These days it's men with cameras in their hands that put the pressure on me.  Saskatoon Home Magazine, run by my good friend and powerchick Susan Zwarych, has decided to run a feature on the Hay Loft for their spring publication.  If there's one thing that puts me under the gun to finish the, ooohhh say, 100 uncompleted tasks in the house, it's a magazine photographer.

As such, it has been an intense couple weeks of working until 2 am on the house (sorry about the router at 12:30 last night, Carrie) to finish our master bathroom (image attached) and the fireplace in our living room.

  

We also stumbled into a floor model sale at local modern furniture retailer Sew and Home where we picked up a G.Romano sectional (with pull out bed, indie touring musicians across Canada celebrate in unison).  Our photographer/barista friends Jimmy Oneschuk commented "now you can add 'bought furniture specifically for a magazine shoot' to your list of 'you know you're an architectural nerd when...' " How true....

Oct 3, 2008 - Completion

I've heard it said that a home is never finished, and I think that the Hay Loft is no exception to that rule.  

Oct 3rd 2008 was our official move in date, followed quickly by the house warming and my 31st birthday on October 4th.  It was easily one of the best parties we've ever had the pleasure of hosting and we couldn't have done it without the help of our friends and family, especially Anthony and Anastasia McCarthy, who put on the most unbelievable spread of food I've ever seen. 

All in all, the project consumed about 1 year of my life. It has been amazing, but I'm ready to move on....next up, converting the ex-Motion Picture and Sound brick build on 2nd Ave South into a pair of condo's and then I'll try convince the former Saskatoon Chinese Mennonite Church in Riversdale that it could become a vibrant multifunctional art space (let's see what the city thinks of that plan).

Rear of building, new garage is up and waiting for the rooftop deck which I'll tackle next spring.

Our grain bin.  Perfect home for cereal and oatmeal....

Facade and side of the Hay Loft. Xeriscaping will commence in Spring '09.

The Ultimate Rendition by Victoria artist Colin MacRae, still brings me joy everytime I see it.

Inside the Hay Loft...front extension of the grain bin/kitchen.

My office, the grain elevator.  Saskatchewan Wheat Pool should have paid for this advertisement. I'll invoice them....

A la barn. I think Ron Sexsmith is really going to enjoy playing a house concert with a barn for a backdrop.

Kitchen. Bubinga countertop.