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For the house that love built, it should come as no surprise that its first occupants moved in on Valentine’s Day.
Laura Baker, Andrew Healy and their two-year-old daughter Nola are thrilled to finally be in their custom built Old Ottawa East digs after 11 months living in exile in the basement of Andrew’s parents’ sprawling Barrhaven home.
It became the young family’s temporary refuge after they decided to take a wrecking ball to the miniature bungalow that once occupied their large corner lot and erect in its place a three-storey, brick and stone semi-detached mixture of modern and traditional styles.
With much help from friends and family, particularly Healy’s dad Francis — a 40-year veteran bricklayer with a thick Irish brogue and a knack for telling people what to do and how to do it — they now have their dream home.
As for the second, slightly smaller dwelling – that was all part of Laura and Andrew’s clever scheme to finance the project, guess who just announced they were moving in? Francis and mom-in-law Sue.
Turns out he really did think of everything. Can you say built-in babysitter?
Apartment613 paid a visit to the new pad to chat infills and in-laws over tacos. Here’s an edited transcript of our discussion.
Apt613: Can you tell me about the original house that stood here?
Laura: It was advertised as a development opportunity. It was maybe 800 square feet. The basement wasn’t really usable because it was on a pretty drastic angle. We had a lot of bugs in the basement too.
I was just over eight months pregnant when we finally found the bungalow so that was quite stressful. This is the neighbourhood I grew up in so we were happy to find it, but we knew that it had to be torn down.
This tiny bungalow was just not big enough for Laura and Andrew’s growing family. So they decided to tear it down. Photo courtesy of Francis Healy.
Apt613: What was your original vision and how closely does the final product resemble it?
Laura: I wanted a mix of old and new which is what we ended up with. We needed bigger. We knew it had to be at least two storeys, likely three, because we knew from the get-go that the lot would have to be severed to be able to fund the project.
Apt613: What’s your favourite room?
Laura: I have two favourite rooms. The kitchen area is my favourite and that’s where we spend the most time. I think a big part of that is because Andrew and I were very much involved in the design of that. We used the Ikea 3-D tool software.
My next favourite one would be Nola’s room which is bright yellow and it’s so her.
Left: Both Andrew and Laura say their modern Ikea kitchen is their favorite room in the house. Right: Two-year-old Nola’s yellow room even has its own bathroom.
Apt613: Any other unique touches your father-in-law added?
Laura: I think it’s called the Kerdi system. Andrew’s dad said this is the new trend. Just a bunch of little tiles on an angle that slope towards drain so you don’t need a shower base.
The (huge master bedroom walk-in) closet was an after thought as well and it was a really creative use of space. We have full length pant drawers that come out. We’ve got more than enough room for both of us.
Left: A giant walk-in closet was a much welcomed touch courtesy of father-in-law-come-foreman. Right: Laura, and Nola, are big fans of the giant pant drawers.
Apt613: Infills in old neighbourhoods can be controversial, what was your experience dealing with neighbours and the city?
That was the most challenging part of the process. Luckily I was still on maternity leave so I had a lot of time to research the official plan, study the zoning and various bylaws that touched on our property.
We started initially by approaching the community association and then it was recommended that we get in immediately with a city planner. When you have to sever, you have to go before the committee of adjustment and if the planner is not on side, it’s pretty difficult to get that consent to go ahead.
Once we had the city planner and the community association on board, I started with the larger community consultation and literally went door-to-door with Nola strapped to my chest with a copy of the plans and a little blurb about who we were.
I did receive emails and letters of support from some people and there was some concern from others.
Apt613: What’s been the reaction from neighbours now that the house is up?
A red vanity for the bathroom offers a modern touch.
Laura: There was some suspicion during the consultation process about what our real intentions were. Were we really a family that was involved and committed to the neighbourhood or (were) we a developer in disguise?
I was a bit offended that they might jump to that conclusion, but I think now that people see we really moved in and there’s our daughter and she’s grown up and going to the park, I think that that has really allayed some of the concerns.
Apt613: Any advice for others looking to erect an infill?
Laura: Patience. So far we’re at about two years time. You have to be patient and willing to commit the time. (The couple says there’s still work to be done: the rooftop patios, much of the indoor decor and the cherry blossoms and Japanese maples slated for outside, to name a few items on the list.)
Apt613: What was it like helping to design and build a house for your son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter?
Francis: Stressful. There’s a lot to deal with. You have to keep your cool all the time. It’s easy to lose your temper.
Apt613: Your company Dublin Masonry has been building custom homes for years. Were you that much more of a perfectionist given your relationship with the would-be occupants?
Francis: I’m like this all the time. I’m a pain.
Apt613: Did you go the extra mile because it was personal?
Francis: When we were starting here, especially on the installation, they were trying to cut corners. It was another $8,000. I said, shag it, we’ll come up with the money and we spray foamed insulation from the top to the bottom. It’s well worth the money. You can heat this house on a candle.
Apt613: Were you worried about their reaction when you told them you were planning on moving in?
Francis: I was a bit. Maybe they didn’t want us moving in. But they don’t have a lot of choice do they? We’ll stay four years, five years and then move on again.
Left: The couple has spared no expense on making their home more energy efficient. They’ve even installed this smart Nest thermostat. Right: Francis Healy looks out his funky bedroom window. After leading the construction on his son and daughter-in-law’s new home and investment property, he decided to move in.
Apt613: Do you feel a desire to live in the house you helped build?
Francis: Ya, I do.
Apt613: What was your reaction when the in-laws said they were moving in?
Laura: Shock. (She laughs). To be fair, I think it’s going to be really cool. The plan all along was to sell the other side and to hopefully turn a decent profit. As the time went on and as more expensive things were put into the home, suddenly the profit margin decreased. The decision makes sense. We just weren’t expecting it.
Apt613: Andrew, I hear you had a hand in the construction. What was your role?
Andrew: What I did, which was out of my realm, is I helped (my dad) build the concrete block party wall that separates the two houses for fireproofing. It was three storeys tall on the scaffold, shaking each way. I had to lift the stone up, lift the cement up. It was exhausting to say the least. Other than that, mostly I was here every weekend cleaning up.
Left: Two wings: Mum and dad and two-year-old Nola each have their own wing. Right: Two years later, there’s still work to do. Like finishing the second apartment, the rooftop balconies and planting cherry blossoms and Japanese maples outside.
Apt613: Francis isn’t the only loved one that had a hand in the creation of this house. Who else was involved?
Laura: Andrews’s brother Francis. He’s a bricklayer and stonemason as well. He actually took some days off so he can come here and help his dad build the home so he did a lot of the exterior stuff.
And Andrews’s friend Tim, his former roommate, is now doing our landscaping. There’s been a lot of people we know involved and long time friends in the industry are part of it as well.
Tobi Cohen has worked as a journalist for more than a decade at Postmedia News, the Canadian Press and the Ottawa Sun. Born and raised in Ottawa, she loves this city and spends far too much time frequenting its many bars, restaurants and music festivals.
