the MOUNTAIN ELEGANCE project
We are pleased to introduce you to our renovation clients and their Cape Cod meets Rustic Mountain sanctuary. From their inspiration, materials, hopes & fears, these ambitious design aficionados share their story of how they built their Mountain Home.
Built by Brons Construction
Photography by Michelle Callen x Inguz Creative
Interior Design by Adrienne Gerein
BRONS CONSTRUCTION: How did you come across our work which led you to contact us for the undertaking of your renovation project?
MOUNTAIN ELEGANCE:
Our starting point was contacting Kim Timbers (Timbers Home + Building Design) and starting the design work. We worked with her to develop an overall plan of the major changes we wanted to incorporate in the design. She was excellent at getting our thoughts and vision into a workable design as well as the construction drawings. We asked if she had any recommendations for a contractor, and she recommended Brons Construction.
BRONS CONSTRUCTION: What stage of the project were you at when you reached out to us?
MOUNTAIN ELEGANCE:
We had the names of two notable contractors in town that we wanted to interview, and with Kim recommending Brons Construction we thought we would talk with Joe. The more we talked with him, the more we appreciated his approach, attitude, and knowledge. In the final analysis, we decided to go with Brons Construction because we sensed we could work with him and his team. Knowing that we like to make changes while work is in progress, choosing Brons Construction was hugely significant for us.
BRONS CONSTRUCTION: What stage of the project were you at when you reached out to us?
MOUNTAIN ELEGANCE:
We had the names of two notable contractors in town that we wanted to interview, and with Kim recommending Brons Construction we thought we would talk with Joe. The more we talked with him, the more we appreciated his approach, attitude, and knowledge. In the final analysis, we decided to go with Brons Construction because we sensed we could work with him and his team. Knowing that we like to make changes while work is in progress, choosing Brons Construction was hugely significant for us.
BRONS CONSTRUCTION: What were your main inspirations / desired aesthetic for the project?
MOUNTAIN ELEGANCE:
To be honest, we had procrastinated for a long time on the reno simply because we weren’t inspired about a particular vibe or style for the renovation. We thought we’d like to move to a mountain rustic style that blended well with the land the house was situated on. However, the original design of the house, the rooms, the staircase, the trim, etc.- none of it aligned with mountain rustic. So, when considering all aspects of what we like and what changes were possible with the current configuration of the home, we decided to blend an eclectic, more formal style with some mountain features (fireplace and rock exterior) with a little Cape Cod thrown in for good measure.
BRONS CONSTRUCTION: What was to main areas that you were trying to fix with this renovation? In other words, what was the reason for your renovation?
MOUNTAIN ELEGANCE:
Having designed and built the house 30 years prior to the renovation, we had discussed things we’d like to change over the years leading up to starting this project. The Master Bedroom was the room that motivated us to start the renovation, as we were dissatisfied with what we had. My wife and I both have rather strong opinions on what we like in style, form, and function, and amazingly, we agree on most of our preferences. We both enjoy a large home with many separate rooms, for example. Many people in our time in life are downsizing to a smaller home but we have a tendency to use and enjoy the entire house, so space is important to us. Joe delivered on our inspiration of a great bedroom with a larger closet & dressing area, plus a fantastic en-suite. The tile work, shower, dry sauna, etc. in the en-suite are outstanding. We love our bedroom and mention it to each other almost every day. We also wanted to completely re-imagine the family room: larger floor space, more windows for natural light, update the fireplace, and generally enhance the room’s function and style. Once we made that decision for the family room, we wanted the kitchen to have some pop and sizzle of its own.
BRONS CONSTRUCTION: What elements are most important to you in your home?
MOUNTAIN ELEGANCE:
A large part of us deciding to go with Brons Construction was because we sensed we could work with Joe and his team without being put in the “renovation box” where all details had to be decided upon and slotted in a time frame. We wanted to make decisions on the fly, change our minds on some aspects, add other ideas, and experiment a bit. In other words, we wanted a ton of freedom which is usually a contractor’s worst nightmare. In our case, that’s how we got such a great finished product. We were also impressed with the quality of work that we looked at on other projects Joe had done. We knew we wanted some high-quality millwork on this project, so unique woodwork and finishing was critical to us. Thirdly, Knowing that our desires could be executed at this level was of great importance to us. Be it moving an entire wall in the family room, adding floor-to-ceiling windows, a new sunroom, and deck, or a completely redesigned front entry, we felt confident that Joe could deliver whatever we asked, and he did.
BRONS CONSTRUCTION: What was the process like for selecting your finishes?
MOUNTAIN ELEGANCE:
Due to previous experience in design and furnishings, we knew that we were going to be putting some different fabrics and finishes with whatever Joe constructed, so it was critical that he be able to deliver the finishes and quality we wanted, which he did.
We also worked with interior designer, Adrienne Gerein. She was invaluable to get ideas for finishes and fabrics, as well as tweaking places that needed some creativity or some increased functionality. She worked hand in hand with Joe and handled many of the suppliers for us which was extremely helpful. In addition, we were able to access her contacts to purchase several products such as furniture, appliances, fixtures, etc. She was an outstanding source of information and ideas. She saw specific aspects of the project that could be improved and brought them to our attention and recommended potential changes. Most importantly, she is a great listener and helps the homeowner achieve the desired results and thereby achieve their dream.
BRONS CONSTRUCTION: What were your biggest worries, concerns, or fears at the start of the project?
MOUNTAIN ELEGANCE:
To be honest, we are abnormal in that many couples dislike, even detest, doing a renovation or building a new home. We enjoy it. Yes, it’s inconvenient, frustrating, expensive, time-consuming, but in the end, the result is very rewarding and enjoyable. At the outset, we questioned if Joe would be able to do all that he said he could, but he quickly put that concern to rest when we saw his and his team’s workmanship.
Secondly, the cost is always a concern. But, we decided we would go for a complete look and spend the necessary money to achieve it., and we’re happy with how it all came together. How Joe was able to change plans on the fly was hugely important and beneficial for us and this project. While building, we experimented with him and his team until we got the look, the finish, the color, and the material we wanted. Few builders will do that for you.
They were very patient and worked hard to please us even with the many changes we made. They are an outstanding team. Plus, Joe uses quality trades on his projects which also delivered excellent quality results. We wanted some unique and high-quality finishes on items like the woodwork and Joe’s painter (Roy Hoffmeister) delivered on that.
BRONS CONSTRUCTION: What are some of your favorite surprise results from your renovation?
MOUNTAIN ELEGANCE:
There are many surprise results that we absolutely love. The family room/kitchen area is amazing and even better than anticipated. It is comfortable, visually appealing, and very functional with some unique features like the leather finish on the granite (Kootenay Granite) and the rock work on the fireplace.
Our master bedroom with en-suite is outstanding and is exactly as we dreamed of, with amazing finishes. We were able to create a sunroom below the Master, which enabled us to add a new, larger deck off the Master Bedroom, which wasn’t part of the original plan, but when the opportunity presented itself, Joe delivered an unexpected and unique room that we frequently use.
As I am now retired, I wanted an office that was conducive to my work, and now I have that. And I love it.
On the outside of the house, the rock work and front entrance are so much better than before. Again, we absolutely love the look of the house with the rock finishes, and generally fits in well with the environment of the forest and land.
We are very pleased with the outcome.
the MOUNTAIN
ELEGANCE Project
Build Perspective with
Joe Brons
BRONS CONSTRUCTION: What made you excited to take on this project?
JOE BRONS:
I could tell early on that these were people who appreciated quality work and quality materials. I knew that their eye for detail would give me and my team a great opportunity to shine with the craftsmanship we have. I knew it wasn’t going to go unnoticed by these clients.
BRONS CONSTRUCTION: What challenges could you foresee with the build that you were eager to take on?
JOE BRONS:
One of the big areas that our clients wanted to change with their renovation was that they didn't like how their previous living room felt small and cramped. They wanted to really open up the space. Everything is doable, but this element of their renovation required some major structural changes.
BRONS CONSTRUCTION: What were some of the biggest challenges to overcome with this build?
JOE BRONS:
Navigating between two different expectations from the clients was, and always is, a challenge. One of the clients wanted an extensive renovation, while the other wanted a much more modest renovation. The clients were also living in the basement while the renovation was being done which put pressure on everyone involved! It’s never a dull moment with a renovation project. To overcome a scenario like this one, scheduling and clear communication of timelines are absolutely essential. This is an element of my job that I take extremely seriously. I will always do everything I can to make sure that projects are easier on our clients, to help minimize their stress every step of the way.
BRONS CONSTRUCTION: What elements of the project do you feel especially proud of?
JOE BRONS:
The craftsmanship and custom details we did, I feel really proud of. The curved front entry steps are heated and we added lights built into the risers as well. They’re such great features, not just in appearance but they make things safer and more welcoming, especially in the winter. I also love the custom red cedar sauna that gives the ensuite a spa-like feel. There are also these really special detailed woodworking elements all around the house that are really special.
BRONS CONSTRUCTION: What are some of the most custom elements of this project?
JOE BRONS:
The full leathered granite slab with chiseled edges in the kitchen was customized specifically for this kitchen and it came out great. The extremely large format floor tiles in the laundry room and ensuite were fun to see come together. In the Master bathroom, the full tiled walk-in shower with a glass door was custom and adds to the incredible spa feel of that space. We also did a custom four-season sunroom with floor-to-ceiling windows which is functional but also gives amazing views of the forest outside.
BRONS CONSTRUCTION: What advice would you give to someone who is thinking of approaching a project like this one?
JOE BRONS:
It’s so important to establish good communication lines between you and your contractor as well as prepare yourself for a lot of unforeseen challenges. There are a lot of moving pieces with a renovation like this, timelines for placing orders, finalizing elements that need to be signed off on before we can move on to the next stages, things like that. Everything is doable, and working as a team makes things so much easier. Clear communication is at the center of all of that.
