While driving home from the Kawartha Lakes, I drove past this old stone church. It turns out that it is a National Historic Site of Canada. The following is a quote from the plaque outside the church.

"This building, constructed between 1840 and 1853 by the congregation of St. Andrew's, is remarkable both for its beauty and excellent state of preservation. The aesthetic appeal of this modest Presbyterian church derives mainly from its balanced proportions, the elegant simplicity of its stonework, and its finely detailed windows. Inside, the horseshoe gallery, raised pulpit, and box pews have survived virtually unchanged since the 1860s. A fine example of local craftsmanship, this is one of the few intact vernacular stone churches now remaining in Canada."

Old Stone Church National Historic Site of Canada

It's really difficult to get the scale in the picture below: the window looks so much smaller than its approximately 14 foot height. Look at the picture above and compare the height of the windows to the height of the door.

Heritage Wood Double-Hung Window

Although I didn't get a chance to go inside, these double-hung wood windows would typically have counterweights and pulleys suspended by ropes or chains. 51 individual pieces of glass were cut and glazed with putty over 150 years ago. Amazing that it's still intact.

Heritage Wood Double-Hung Windows

Today I drove to the Kawartha Lakes to quote a cottage window for Allison and Tony's cottage. Allison is one of the designers I've had the pleasure of working with at Sarah Richardson Design, but today I am pricing a window for her, not a client. I arrived a few minutes early and took a walk around outside. Oh my gosh, what a cottage - fieldstone chimney, cedar shakes, wood siding, stone retaining wall. It was barely zero outside but I was imagining lazy summer days at the waterfront.

Rear View of the Cottage

The existing wood windows are in good shape and suit the decor, but Allison has some remodelling plans that include enlarging this particular window. Other trades were arriving as I was taking final measurements. The final product will be stunning!

Allison

The cottage is a timber frame construction. Timber framing (or post-and-beam) was originally used for barn construction. Hand-hewn beams were fastened together with wooden pegs and allowed for wide expanses without interior walls. Modern post and beam houses are often well insulated having a continuous outer shell of foam.

Timber Frame Cottage Interior

I kinda hate to leave, but I have to get back to the office and get some pricing for this cottage window off to Tony and Allison.

Allison’s Cottage Window – Part 1

Two Sides of the Same Semi-Detached Home

Ever drive past semi-detached homes with completely different colours or styles on each side? Red shingles on one side and green on the other, mismatched railings or windows, etc.

These neighbours decided to collaborate on the window style and colour so that the building would have one coherent look. Wood double-hung windows were chosen to replicate the originals, but with energy saving features.

These windows are aluminum clad on the outside so that exterior painting is not necessary.

Property value and curb appeal have increased immensely with this neighbourly effort. Good windows really do make good neighbours!

Good Windows Make Good Neighbours

David MacPhee

David MacPhee has been an exciting force in the Canadian design industry for over 25 years. His work has been featured in countless publications and on television shows including eight years on W Networks' "The Decorating Challenge". David brings a wealth of experience and a cultivated vision to every project with a solid foundation in design theory. He works in many diverse styles and is constantly challenging himself to develop new design approaches. David brings his Designer's Eye to all his design projects to help expand and develop ideas, solve problems and discover unique solutions.
David owns and operates an award winning retail interior design shop, Rafters of Muskoka. Along with his team, Rafters of Muskoka offers complete interior design services including space planning, kitchen and bath design, furniture planning and selection, custom bedding and window treatments, and the development of design build plans. David has been passionate about creating new standards for country living. Following a motto of "interaction not distraction”, he encourages clients to design their spaces surrounded by elements that give them pleasure. He believes good design is all about individuality.
David has given back to the community through his charitable support of the CNIB Lake Joseph Camp, Gilda’s Club, Baysville Library, Westerkirk Wellspring at Sunnybrook Hospital and many other projects.
View one of David MacPhee's renovation projects.

Designer Spotlight – David MacPhee

Ken Simpson

One of the great things about doing what we do is getting to work with talented designers and watch their ideas come to life. I really enjoyed working on this North Toronto renovation.

The client bought this 10,000 square foot bungalow knowing that they would have to renovate the entire house top to bottom. David MacPhee Design Services was retained to transform the space. A large part of the renovation was allocated to replacing the existing windows and doors to add a French provincial feel. No surface of the interior or exterior went untouched.

Below is a shot of some of the new arched windows and French doors in their rough openings.

The new Douglas fir windows installed in the rough openings

The clients wanted a separate office for each of them. His office is in the front and hers is in the back. Her office was actually a turret-shaped addition perched on a bridge to the indoor pool, and features a curved wall of glass. The French doors lead out to the gazebo atop the pool. The look David was going for involved raised panels on most of the windows and doors. None of the manufacturers we spoke with could replicate this look, so we had them fabricated and fitted to the new windows. The picture below shows the labelled panels awaiting installation.

Her office features a curved wall of glass. The raised panels are labelled, awaiting installation.

Here is a shot of the outside of the office windows and walkout basement French doors. The windows and doors are all aluminum-clad Douglas fir. Temporary plywood panels were installed during construction. The blue is a plastic protective material that will be removed upon completion.

Temporary plywood panels were installed during construction

Here is her lovely finished office. She is pleased with David MacPhee's vision. The desk, window coverings and accessories make it the perfect home office. Notice the finished raised panels below the windows. Love the herringbone floor.

The finished office with raised panels installed

The house received a new coat of stucco, a new cedar roof and of course new metal-clad Douglas fir windows and doors. Here, the extruded aluminum raised panels can be seen.

Custom aluminum raised panels were fabricated, painted and added to the new windows and doors.

David created a unique year-round octagonal retreat space joined to the house by this glass-floored breezeway. The glass floor allows light to flood the indoor pool below. You can stroll from the house to the gazebo without setting foot outside, or you can sunbathe on the pool's flat roof outside these French doors.

The glass floor lights the indoor pool below.

Here is the finished 300 square foot gazebo. It sits atop the pool and is a perfect getaway spot in winter or summer. I love the bright colours in the furniture and window coverings.

The gazebo sits atop the pool and is a perfect getaway spot in winter or summer.

The gazebo shares many of the same elements as the main house including the cedar roof, copper eavestrough and metal-clad Douglas fir windows and doors. These windows and doors are the only ones that do not have raised panels in them. The idea was to have more glass since it's a sun room.

These windows and doors are the only ones that do not have raised panels in them.

Here is one of the many magnificent finished rooms with its tray ceiling, trompe l'oeil image and lovely decor. The double French doors lead to the indoor pool, while the windows and single French door overlook the stunning rear landscape.

The finished sitting room with trompe-l'oeil image.

The original entry to this house was only 7 feet tall due to the low eaves line. David designed a whole new 12 by 16 foot stone addition to house this stunning 8 foot tall solid mahogany entry door. The entry has an ample overhang to greet visitors. Wrought iron is featured on the doors and fixtures.

New mahogany entry doors with wrought iron.

A unique feature of this front entry is that the inside floor is flush with the exterior stone sill. The door was stained on site to give it a distressed appearance.

Mosaic floor tile flush with stone sill

The photos don't do justice to the size of the house or the number of windows and doors on this whole project. Here is one of the many rooms with cambered top French doors. David MacPhee has made sure that each room is bright and cheerful with use of paint and window coverings.

Breakfast Nook

I really liked the his and her vanity in the master ensuite bathroom. This is a free-standing vanity with 2 sides to it. Each of them has their own side. The bathroom also features a steam shower, a jacuzzi tub and a urinal.

His and Her Bathroom

This is a close-up of one of the French doors. The extruded aluminum panels were fabricated after market, but match beautifully.

Dining Room Door Exterior

This set of French doors is actually the only one that did not receive paint inside. David MacPhee decided to stain the Douglas fir with a dark walnut stain to match the wainscoting and to add warmth to the dining room.

Dining Room

We continue to work closely with David MacPhee Design Services and hope to highlight more of his projects in the future. Be sure to visit him at his Muskoka retail interior design shop, Rafters of Muskoka. Read our Designer Spotlight on David MacPhee.

Designer Toronto Renovation – Bungalow

Please meet the team at Fieldstone and feel free to drop us a line any time, we are here to help.

Ken Simpson, Owner

Ken Simpson

Ken was born in Ireland and immigrated to Canada in 1970. He went to OCAD in Toronto where he studied design and illustration; while he was in college he worked as an installer for various window companies. In 1997 he started Fieldstone Windows Ltd. in his garage and has never looked back. When he’s not busy being a window and door guru, he enjoys snowboarding, mountain biking and following design blogs.

Scott Daniels, Operations Manager

Scott Daniels

After graduating from the University of Guelph with a degree in Philosophy, Scott began his career in carpentry to conquer his fear of heights. He went on to become the lead carpenter for many high profile concrete jobs in B.C. Scott ensures that our day to day operations run smoothly and manages all things service. Outside of the office, Scott is an avid soccer fan and a competitive member of Team Hookup Muay Thai Boxing.

Tancy O’Connor, Office Administrator / Sales Coordinator

Tancy O'Connor

Tancy is the newest member of the team, having joined Fieldstone in March of 2011. She graduated from Seneca College in 1999 with a diploma in Business Administration and went on to work in the Marketing & Business Development industry for the next 10 years. She is now responsible for running the office and keeping everyone organised. Her spare time is spent renovating her home in the country and running around after her gorgeous 2 year old daughter.

Rose Iavarone, Sales Associate

Rose Iavarone

Rose Iavarone started her career in the window & door industry in 2001 with a leading window and door manufacturer. She began as a customer service representative and worked her way up to Master Scheduler. She joined Fieldstone as the Office Manager in 2008 and moved into sales last year. Rose has a keen eye for detail and is well versed in current decor trends. Rose enjoys travelling; walking her 2 shitzu’s and anything candy!!

Dave Flook, Sales Associate

Dave Flook

Dave Flook has been in the window and door industry for 25 years and with Fieldstone since 1997. Dave is very active in his spare time; spending it running, playing tennis or fishing.

Meet the team at Fieldstone

Interior Design by Stacy McLennan Interiors

This is our first official blog post! We are Fieldstone Windows and Doors; a custom window and door dealer located in one of Markham’s heritage districts. We have been providing exceptional service to Toronto and the GTA since 1997. We believe that integrity, honesty and excellence are the fundamental business practices that have established us as an industry leader.

We work with many of Toronto’s trusted and respected designers. We plan to provide useful information about windows and doors but we would also like our blog to be a resource for all things “home”; whether that is updates on the latest design trends or links to other information resources.

Please feel free to send us your comments and suggestions! What is it that you would like to hear about? What can we help you with?

Welcome to our blog!

We value our customers' reviews. At the end of each installation, we ask that they send us feedback on their experiences (good and bad) with Fieldstone.
Each review we receive is entered into a monthly draw for a $200 gift certificate to The Keg Steakhouse. The November 2011 winner of the $200 gift certificate to The Keg is Gayle Idenouye of Scarborough. Thank you for your review Gayle. We appreciate it.
Below is what Gayle had to say:

"Dear Ken Simpson:
I wanted to take a few moments to express my sincere gratitude for a job that was well done.  I had my back sliding door replaced by Fieldstone Windows yesterday and I must say your installers were not only friendly and kind, but very neat with the work they were doing.
During this past year, I have had a lot of work done to my home because of the bad storm which hit the area in June and I must say the Fieldstone Window installers were by far the best workers I have seen in a long time.  The two gentlemen that came were originally from Russia and we had a great conversation while they were performing the work.  It is so great to see such enthusiasm in workers who took pride in the job they were performing.
I have had Fieldstone install new windows in my home a few years back and it was a pleasant surprise to find a company who stood by their commitment for minor repairs. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Rose the sales representative and Tancy in the office for being so kind and courteous.
I will strongly recommend Fieldstone to any neighbours who are considering doors or window replacements.
Thank you once again from a very satisfied customer."

You can have the Fieldstone experience too. Request an in-home estimate.

Review – Keg Restaurant Winner November 2011

We value our customers' reviews. At the end of each installation, we ask that they send us feedback on their experiences (good and bad) with Fieldstone. Each review we receive is entered into a monthly draw for a $200 gift certificate to The Keg Steakhouse.
The September 2011 winner of the $200 gift certificate to The Keg is Mike Chai of Markham. Thank you for your review, Mike. We appreciate it. Below is Mike's review.

"Sales:
Rose was excellent. I contacted Fieldstone early in the process of finding replacement windows when I was just starting to research things. Rose was extremely patient with all our questions and back and forth changes that were needed along the way as we eventually figured out exactly what we wanted. Rose was a pleasure to work with and never gave us any pressure, she let us take our time to decide things and be comfortable.
Installation: The installation was excellent. Before signing with Fieldstone, I read through all the customer reviews that I could find on the internet. Every single review was raving with a 10 out of 10 - it was quite difficult to believe. Well now I can say that it is TRUE. What impressed me the most was the installers took the time to pay attention to the details in their workmanship. They were not rushing to get the job done as fast as possible as is usually the case, instead they were paying attention to doing the job well.
Excellent experience overall and I will definitely be recommending Fieldstone to others."

Review – Keg Restaurant Winner October 2011

As an incentive for homeowners to make their homes more energy efficient, the Government of Canada will rebate them $40.00 for each new window installed.

If you have been thinking about replacing your old, drafty windows, this is the perfect time. Why not save on your energy bills and be reimbursed for doing it?

To complement the eco-ENERGY program, Fieldstone has introduced our own incentive for homeowners. We will pay for the pre retro-fit evaluation!! Some conditions apply, but feel free to call us for more details. Visit http://ecoaction.gc.ca/homes for more information on the Government of Canada's eco-ENERGY program.

Visit our contact page, fill out our form and one of our sales representatives will contact you.

Update: This offer has expired.

The eco-ENERGY program is back!