THORNBURY REVIVALBY JUDE WAYLAND // PHOTOGRAPHY BY SANDY MACKAY // STYLED BY DEBORAH MASTERS AND JEN GILBERT

The former Thornbury Creamery on Bruce Street has undergone a

top-to-bottom renovation by Kingpost Builders. Here in the dining room,

the walls are painted Barnboard by Benjamin Moore. Teal accents add a

pop of colour to the neutral décor.

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Born and raised in Toronto, Steven, owner of Kingpost Builders, says he first glimpsed Georgian Bay from his family’s Craigleith cottage when he was just a few days old. As a kid he was a Collingwood weekender, boating in the summer, snowboarding in the winter and designing and building tree forts along the way. His passion for building eventually led

him to study cabinet making and carpentry. Years later, he purchased the family cottage, where he lives today with his wife Jennifer.

This enterprising man got his start in the construction business with Meaford resident Jim Patterson (Cedarport Window and Door Centre). Together, they built pan-abodes and decks in Rexdale and the Huntsville area.

Steven Vipond is one fascinating character. He’s a man of many hats – a true entrepreneur, builder, father of six, music lover, co-owner of Bruce Wine Bar, volunteer concert organizer at the Marsh Street Centre in Clarksburg, and founder of the wildly successful Bruce Street Social Club… more about that later.

The colour scheme is carried into the sitting room. The alcohol-burning table-top

fireplace is from Terase Art and Home. Original

pocket doors separate this room from the dining room.

TOP RIGHT: Panelling adds warmth and timeless architectural detail to the

main floor hallway. RIGHT: A painting by Deborah Masters hangs above the substantial

sideboard in the sitting room.

Continued on page 52

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The main floor office is located just off the entrance. A modern lounge adds a contemporary feel to the charming desk and chair. OPPOSITE: Back in the dining room, cat grass wrapped in moss and peacock feathers on teal dinnerware make this table setting fun and colourful.

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Steven is one of those rare people with the capacity to think outside the box. He fondly remembers quitting a full-time job to take on an unusual woodworking challenge. “Somebody called me up and said, ‘I hear you’re a woodworker, and I want you to make a cherry wood briefcase for my husband for Christmas,’” he chuckles. It took Steven weeks to craft the $400, custom-made dovetailed box, complete with hinges and clasps. That offbeat creative initiative soon led to more work in Oakville, and a move to Orangeville resulted in years of solid construction work in Mulmur and Creemore.

In 2009, after completing a 10,000 sq. ft. home on Lake Simcoe, Steven was driving around Thornbury looking for a lot to build a spec home. That’s when he discovered a big old century gem on Bruce Street in dire need of a facelift.

“I liked its look from the road,” explains Steven. “It was a big place and it had that sun porch up there, and those dormer windows in

the attic, but it was really run down. Structurally, it was great.” He purchased the property and set to work re-vamping the tired 2,900 sq. ft., three-storey abode.

It turns out that the ramshackle building at the back of the property once housed the Thornbury Creamery, where many moons ago, school kids flocked to buy homemade ice cream. Steven and his crew tore down the dilapidated structure, and removed the equally unsound back of the carriage house/barn.

“The carriage house is now half of what it used to be,” says Steven. “It’s got two garage bays in it, and upstairs there’s 600 sq. ft. of open space. Great studio space.”

The historic home’s double brick exterior walls were tight and in good shape, so after the wood windowsills were replaced with new stone ones, “muckchucker” Marcel Rutte (of Marcel Rutte Drywall Inc.) masterfully re-plastered all the interior walls.

The kitchen is a work of art. Reclaimed wood

from a demolished barn was used to make the cabinets and raised

bar. Open shelving, marble counters and

a red island make this one fabulous space to cook and entertain in.

RIGHT: Steven Vipond’s love of original art is

evident throughout the home. This vignette is located in the kitchen.Continued on page 54

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After cleverly reconfiguring the chopped up layout of the home, by removing the back maid staircase, relocating the basement stairs, redesigning a very small kitchen, and closing up and panelling a closet under the stairs, Steven created a much brighter and roomier space. He also fully converted the attic, and replaced all but one window in the building.

When possible, he wisely reused and recycled materials, resourcefully constructing basement stairs from old barn rafters, using the home’s original studs to fabricate a kitchen counter, as well as stair treads, and fashioning kitchen cabinets out of the carriage house barn board.

Tim Chaput of Barrie refinished the stunning original ash staircase, and Kurtz Millworks in Orangeville did the trim. Steven salvaged and sanded all the original floors, and for a unique touch, constructed a funky wood-panelled ceiling on the main floor.

His cabinet-making skills were put to use in the kitchen and both bathrooms, and he purchased marble for the master glass-enclosed shower and kitchen counters at AST in Toronto. Floorcrafters installed the tile throughout the home. All paint came from Birch and Benjamin.

An original pane of cranberry glass casts a rosy glow into the fabulous second-floor sunroom. Twenty-one windows enclose the sunny space. “It took four guys about three weeks to re-do all the windows,” says Steven. “We fixed, stripped, re-painted and replaced all the glass.” Now, every second window opens.

LEFT: Vipond made all the vanities in the bathrooms. Modern touches add to the charm of this room, where the tub is original. BELOW LEFT: The incredible sun porch upstairs is perhaps the best space in the entire home. Vipond’s staff spent weeks stripping and painting the trim around the windows, inside and out. BELOW RIGHT: The door from the porch leads up to a finished loft, where Vipond hosted jam nights with area bands.

Continued on page 58

BROKER, SRES

MEMBER OF THE GEORGIAN TRIANGLE REAL ESTATE BOARD AND THE TORONTO REAL ESTATE BOARD

GRAHAM MCDONALD

CHERYL WEATHERALL

HELEN LIGHTBODY

ROSE MARIE FEAVER

EMMA BAKER

CHRISTINE SMITH

AGGIE DAVIDSON

SHERRY RIOUX

MAUREEN GOWANS

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DO IT WITH OUR SERVICE.

BROKER OF RECORD SALES REPRESENTATIVE

BROKER SALES REPRESENTATIVE

BROKER SALES REPRESENTATIVE, SRES

SALES REPRESENTATIVE

SALES REPRESENTATIVE, SRES

C l a i r w o o d R e a l E s t a t e . c o m

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The master en suite has a blonde vanity with a glass backsplash and wall faucet. A glass-enclosed shower completes the transformation.

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Panoramic Bay Views4.7 acres, minutes to ski ing

& golf . This home dates back to 1855 & has 3 bdrms., 1670 sq. ft . , eat- in kitchen, pool, garage.

$649,127

3.6 Acres Near Osler2+2 bdrms., 2 bath, 2560 sq. ft.

in a wonderful setting, stunningly landscaped w/2 ponds, perennials

galore & privacy. Huge master w/ensuite on main level.

$598,366

2 Acres in Beaver Valley Beautiful 3 bdrm. w/walk out.

Enjoy the peace & tranquil l i ty of your estate lot. This newer home

is close to BVSC & Bruce Trail . $339,000

Townsend Lake Waterfront Property for Sale!Enjoy the views of the lake and

the sounds of the quietness from your own back yard!

$279,000

Custom In ClarksburgTo be built on quiet street in

quaint town of Clarksburg. This 3 bdrm., 1538 sq. ft . raised bungalow

wil l be Energy Star eff icient. $369,000

Executive WaterfrontStunning 2 bdrm. + den bungalow

in prestigious Point at Admirals Gate. Upscale f inishes & superb Bay views. 2 parking & storage.

$614,900

Executive Family HomeImmaculate 4 + 1 bdrm., 3.5 bath, 3302 sq. ft . w/hardwood, f inished basement, landscaped & partial ly

fenced. This Clairf ield model is on a 50` lot w/many upgrades.

$364,369

Tanglewood With ViewsNew 2 bdrm., 2 bath end unit.

Open concept living/dining/kitchen makes this an ideal cha-let. Attached garage & storage area w/inside entry to building.

$214,811

Ski In - Ski OutFully furnished 1 bdrm. suite

in Mountain Springs. This 737 sq. ft. suite sleeps 6

comfortably and is fully furnished. Excellent rental potential.

$119,119

Great Starter HomeCozy 2 bdrm. cottage w/hardwood, steps to Georgian Bay & minutes to downtown. Situated on a large

landscaped lot with heated garage. Ideal starter/retirement home.

$169,400

The Links At CranberryBright & invit ing condo townhouse. 2nd f loor l iving/dining w/cathedral cei l ing & large, spacious kitchen.

This suite has been well main-tained & shows pride of ownership.

$227,900

Lighthouse Pt. Garden HomeFurnished 2 bdrm., private

end unit w/attached garage. Large terrace off dining area &

2nd f loor covered balcony. Steps to rec centre, beach & tennis.

$265,000

Kimberley Bungalow 3 bdrm., open concept l iving area w/walk out to in-ground

pool. This beautiful home backs onto a stream and is privately

located on a quiet street. $194,900

Furnished in KimberleyFabulous views from this 5 bdrm. home w/double attached garage.

3 f inished levels, 2 f ireplaces w/walk out to lower level, this home represents terrif ic value.

$334,000

Water ViewsVery spacious 2 bdrm., 2 bath,

2100 sq. ft . townhouse with main f loor l iving. Bonus rm.

upstairs has add. bdrm. & bath. Enjoy your view from all patios.

$320,000

Turnkey in ThornburyVery attractive, furnished 2 + bdrm., 2 bath w/large master & ensuite. Extra

sitt ing rm w/walkout. Private deck & patio.

$159,900

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Every two weeks, while refurbishing the home (before drywalling), Steven threw private house parties for his friends, complete with great grub (by none other than Steven and Skot the chefs!), and stellar live music by the likes of Romney Getty, Craig Smith, Suzie McNeil, Matthew Barber, and The Warped 45’s. These informal get-togethers were an instant success, and gave rise to the now infamous Bruce Street Social Club (BSSC). Steven currently organizes concerts at the Marsh Street Centre, keeping a vigilant eye out for a new venue for the BSSC.

This newly renovated home is up for sale (listed with Royal LePage’s Ian Hawkins), beautifully staged by Deborah Masters (Master’s Design Studio) and Jen Gilbert (Terase Art & Home). Staging furniture was sourced at Terase (living room), Foley’s Furniture (master bedroom suite), Desiron (kitchen stools), and from Steven’s personal collection.

Steven just completed construction of a wine bar, run by his wife Jennifer, which recently opened in downtown Thornbury. The Bruce Wine Bar features tapas-style “share” plates and a unique selection of wine. Now he’s busy with phase two on the lower level. What can we expect? He grins. “It’s a secret.” Knowing Steven, it will be well worth waiting for.

From custom homes to renos, from project management to musical rambles, from wine bar owner to music promoter, the sky’s the limit for Steven Vipond. Hats off to this visionary for mastering all he sets out to do. OH

SOURCE GUIDE

Kingpost Bui lders,

M a s t e r s D e s i g n

Studio, Terase Art &

Home, Floorcrafters,

Cedarport Window

a n d D o o r C e n t re ,

Cedar Master Roofing,

R i g n e y E l e c t r i c ,

Birch and Benjamin,

Marcel Rutte Drywall,

N C G l a s s , Fo l ey ’s

Furniture, Ashton’s

Bl inds Draperies &

Shutters, Desiron,

Cal lahan Paint ing,

Home Zone.

LEFT: The master bedroom on the second floor is painted Elephant Tusk, furnished with a suite from Foley’s and bedding from Home Zone. BELOW: The exterior at dusk.

Every move matters.

Visit us at our “NEW HOME” at 41 Hurontario Street.

41 Hurontario Street, Collingwood, Ontario L9Y 2L7

705.445.7085

Emma Baker, Sales Representative

705.444.3989

Christine Smith, Broker

705.888.0201

Sherry Rioux, Broker, SRES

705.443.2793

ExecuTeamAdvantage.com

HomesAtBlueMountain.comSellingCollingwood.com

CIRCA 1864 on 49+ SCENIC ACRES4 bdrm., 2 bath, 1705 sq. ft.

Stone farmhouse, barn, pond.$975,000

WATERFRONT ESTATE8 bdrm., 6 bath, 5765 sq. ft.

90 ft. shoreline. One-of-a-kind!$1,995,000

THE ORCHARD IN CRAIGLEITH4 bdrm., 3.5 bath, 3011 sq. ft.

$200k+ in upgrades. GORGEOUS. $895,000

LIGHTHOUSE UPPER UNIT2 bdrm., 1.5 bath, 1042 sq. ft.

Open plan living, amenities galore!$194,806

ACREAGE & 2 PONDS3+3 bdrm., 5 bath, 4938 sq.ft. totalBeaver Valley, stunning property!

$874,749

49+ VIEW ACRESSits high atop Irish Mountain.

2 road frontages. Build your dream home!$439,000

STUNNING WATERFRONT HOME4 bdrm., 3.5 bath, 3930 sq. ft.

Includes waterfront building lot!$749,654

SIERRA WOODLANDS3+1 bdrm., 3.5 bath, 2700 sq. ft. totalFormer model w/$$$$ in upgrades.

$535,000

RUPERTS LANDING3 bdrm., 2.5 bath, 1493 sq. ft.

Updated unit, pool & tennis on site. $224,238

2 ACRES WITH POND3+2 bdrms., 2 bath, 2250 sq. ft. total

Across from Oslerbrook Golf. Immaculate!$389,000

LIGHTHOUSE STUNNER3 bdrm., 2 bath, 1000 sq. ft.Bright, corner suite w/deck.

$235,000

75 FT. WATERFRONT3 bdrm., 2 bath, 1570 sq. ft.

Many renovations & room to expand.$599,000

DOWNTOWN LOCATION3 bdrm., 1.5 bath, 1844 sq. ft.

Circa 1890’s stunning brick home.$298,286

CUSTOM BUNGALOW IN ALTA2+2 bdrms., 3 bath, 4599 sq. ft. total

82’ x 203’ lot w/ski hill views.$1,299,000

SKI HILL VIEWS4 bdrm., 2.5 bath, 2877 sq. ft.

Beautiful home, $$$$’s in upgrades. $699,550

NEW

PRIC

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