Parade of Homes

Building a dream home is a once- in-a-lifetime event for most people. Sarah and Andy Oliver had such a positive experience with Hearth Homes, they did it twice — and it was even better the second time around. Sarah says they were happy in their first Hearth-built home in Taylor Farm, but when a riverfront lot became available, they took the leap, building a bungalow that's tailored to their family inside and out. She says the Hearth team were on the same page from Day 1, and architectural designer Brandi Soloway was so organized, the entire process was smooth sailing. The Olivers are already thinking ahead to a time when their sons Jackson, 3 1/2, and Max, 1 1/2, will have their own car to park in the triple garage. For now, the boys have an extra-large playroom in the finished basement. There's an office for Andy, a getaway space for Sarah and they even added a private den under the stairs for their Bernese mountain dog, Wyatt. Andy, who works from home, says Hearth was so accommodating throughout the build, he feels like they pulled together as a team. "It's such a big purchase building a home, it would be a very stressful thing if you didn't have full trust in your builder as a partner," he says. "It's been really awesome right from the start. It's been super collaborative." Connecting with clients is an important part of the Hearth Homes process. The family company places a lot of value on relationships, choosing to limit the number of homes they build each year to ensure they are always in close contact with their customers. Sarah says she appreciated the level of responsiveness and personal attention to her family's needs. "They did such a good job of giving us exactly what we wanted." "Even when it comes to the financial part," Andy adds. "Our mortgage broker and our banker say they're the easiest builder to work with. They're super communicative and flexible." After three years in their first Hearth Home, the Olivers say their design choices were a bit more adventurous this time out. The new home has a massive stone fireplace and soaring tongue-and-groove ceilings, and the exterior boasts stunning natural wood and stone elements and chalet rooflines. With two little boys and one big dog, they spend more quality time with their washer and dryer than they do with a soaker tub, so they chose to make a bigger laundry room a priority over a large en suite. If you're curious to see how the house turned out, you're in luck. It's on display as a show home at 46 Curry Drive during the Parade of Homes. Hearth has another show home right across the street at 51 Curry Drive, along with a lakefront bungalow in RidgeWood West and a roomy two- storey model in Sage Creek. The Olivers have already recommended Hearth Homes to friends and family. And while they say the Curry Drive house is their "forever home," Sarah laughingly doubles down on the endorsement. "We would choose them again." Learn more about Hearth Homes online at hearth-homes.com POH HEARTH HOMES IT'S SUCH A BIG PURCHASE BUILDING A HOME, IT WOULD BE A VERY STRESSFUL THING IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE FULL TRUST IN YOUR BUILDER AS A PARTNER. A Custom Experience Worth Repeating Parade of Homes FALL 2021 117

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