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Made to measure...
Oke Woodsmith crafts custom homes to fit client' lifestyles
  Since
1984, Oke Woodsmith has worked closely with clients to develop a
vision for their home. We believe achieving outstanding results in
design and construction start with good planning
- and a keen grasp
of how our clients live in their homes.
As
a design/build company, Oke Woodsmith acts as a partner with our
clients from the design stage to the completion of a project.
Although most buyers are focused on the end result, reaching that
stage can be a long and sometimes challenging process. Listed below
are the key steps we undertake during the design phase:
Make a list: We ask clients to write down their ideas
and arrange them into four lists. The first is an inventory, by
floor, of the rooms they most desire. What one spouse considers a
necessity, the other may discount altogether.
The second is a must-have list with critical elements
for each room, such as a sitting area in the master bedroom. We also
ask them to make observations about the way in which they live in
each room. Knowing whether they dress in their bedroom or in their
ensuite bathroom helps us to design the most functional floorplan
for them.
The third list is comprised of five to 10 elements
clients would love to have, but which may not be financially
possible. They may want a see-through fireplace
between the master bedroom and the ensuite bathroom, but realize
it's not an absolute necessity.
The fourth - and most important list
- details features couples
absolutely don't want in their homes. This list allows us to
eliminate certain possibilities and gain insights into their tastes.
Some clients compile magazine clippings of rooms or features they
admire, which also helps us to determine their likes and dislikes.
Prioritize: We ask couples to prioritize their top
three rooms. These may vary drastically from one spouse to another.
If each person, however, has omitted a certain room, but indicated
they wanted walnut cabinetry in that room, we question their
decision to spend a great deal of money in an area that
isn't a
priority. Although most people know what they want, many don't
understand how much it will cost to achieve it.
Preferences: We ask our clients why they're moving
from their present home. Many want a maintenance-free home that will
be brighter and warmer, or larger or smaller, than their current
residence. Some in lakeside areas, such as Grand Bend, are looking
for a cottage instead of a traditional home.
Point of view: Clients may not want a certain feature
because of a previous experience. Broadening their point of view is
often a matter of informing them about products, however. Clients
may think they don't want a skylight, for example, because of a bad
experience with one in the past when the problem was actually due to
incorrect installation. Other clients may prefer certain window or
door manufacturers over others.
 Lifestyle assessment: We meet with clients at their
home and assess, first-hand, how they live in it and what they enjoy
most about it. If they want to retire in a resort community, we
remind them their lifestyle as retirees will be quite different to
what it was when they were working full-time. Our goal is to ensure
their new home is designed for their future needs since their
present needs may no longer be relevant when they move.
Fine-tuning: We visit the client's new property to
check the views and the exposure they want to capture. We sketch a
design by hand, paying particular attention to the traffic flow of
the floorplan. Once we've worked out any problems, we create an
exterior elevation and price the home. We may change a design
three or four times in an effort to make it mesh with the budget.
Once our clients are happy with the results, we ask them to sign a
contract. We then create a working drawing and proceed to the
construction phase.
Construction phase: We maintain close contact with
our clients from the time the foundation is poured until the home is
finished. We help them choose elements such as stone, brick, stairs,
trim, floor coverings, plumbing and lighting fixtures.
Because the home and its components involve custom
design and fabrication, clients must be prepared to make many
decisions within tight timelines. Our job is to confirm they have
made the right decisions, show them what a certain change will look
like, or offer new alternatives.
At Oke Woodsmith, we enjoy helping
our clients transform their ideas into a distinctive home that was
crafted specifically for their needs, tastes and budget. We value
each of our clients and look forward to building a relationship with
them that will last for many years to come.
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Oke Woodsmith Building Systems
Inc., 70964
Bluewater Highway, Grand Bend, Ontario Canada N0M 1T0
Phone (519) 238-8893 Fax (519) 238-8894
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