You’ll have to look west for the inspiration behind Black Tusk Development Group’s custom homes. Just south of Whistler, BC in Garibaldi State Park you’ll find Black Tusk Mountain. This imposing mountain appears, at first glance, a very challenging climb; but when it is broken down into small parts is achievable. This mirrors the Black Tusk team’s approach to home building & design, breaking the project down into smaller pieces and integrating custom design from the very start of the build all the way through to the finish, keeping the final summit in mind at all times.
Owners Bill Brown and Barb Patton-Brown are a husband and wife team based in The Blue Mountains. Bill brings 30 years experience, both in BC and Ontario, in architectural design and planning to every custom home project, and Barb excels at managing each project down to the smallest detail, in addition to providing interior design planning & execution services to all of their clients. Black Tusk operates out of the couple’s Craftsman style custom home they built in Lora Bay back in 2008.
Black Tusk homes are known for flowing design and use of natural light, owing in part to their being inspired by the practice of Frank Lloyd Wright. Bill and Barb’s 2,500 square foot home is no exception, with an open concept main floor offering numerous thoughtful design elements, such as the double-sided wood burning stone & timber fireplace, the reclaimed hemlock wood wall in the dining room and the live edge Cherry bar in the kitchen.
Bill & Barb are also clients of ours, having recently listed their home for sale with us as they prepare to build a smaller home within the Lora Bay community. We recently sat down with them to get a better understanding of their business and approach to home building in Southern Georgian Bay.
1. Tell us about your approach to new home design in Southern Georgian Bay right now. Our approach is client based – all of our work is custom. We provide a design & service that fits their unique & personal lifestyle. Our first designs were mainly centered around the weekend family home (summer & winter) essentially 3200 square feet and larger that would potentially become a retirement home for them in later years. We still do a number of these homes however we are getting more requests for a smaller bungalow style home with a little more emphasis on full-time. It still functions as a weekend retreat and can host family but with a smaller footprint & high level of finish – less cost to build & maintain. A home with a smaller footprint uses fewer materials & is friendlier to the environment (less materials, less waste & uses a smaller carbon footprint). To design that smaller home with all the same functionality requires experience & skill. It is more difficult to design a smaller home than a larger home. 2. What sets Black Tusk apart? Our design skills – we understand our clients well & find creative solutions to their unique design needs. Our attention to detail is acute we are truly a ‘concept to completion’ design build firm. 3. Where does your inspiration come from? A number of places & people. Frank Lloyd Wright – functional spaces, quality materials & use of local materials. William Krisel – scale, site orientation, windows, light. Travel – Palm Springs is a treasure trove of good design & interesting use of materials. Also BC & the West Coast – we want to combine the lifestyle of the west coast with the sensibilities & climate in Ontario. 4. Why are you moving? What can we expect in your next home? To downsize – we don’t require quite so much space. Our next home will be a bungalow (approx. 1800 SF) with some modern twists, creative details & include a 4-season room. We continue to learn & grow as Designers. We are thrilled to be able to build again in Lora Bay & we are excited about a new family purchasing our home to begin their traditions & memories.Visit www.Blacktuskdev.com for more information about Black Tusk Development Group.
For more information about this home for sale, please view the listing or contact us today to arrange a showing.
