In the 25 years that Andrew Hoyt has operated his commercial painting businesses, he has been in thousands of homes. He’s seen some great designs as well as what can go wrong in renovation and new builds. When it came to designing his own new home in Fredericton, New Brunswick, he had a solid idea about what he liked and, perhaps just as important, what he didn’t.
A handful of years ago, Hoyt experienced a few life-changing events and it was time for a new home that would have space for his now 17-year-old daughter. In the summer of 2020, a unique opportunity was presented to him. Former clients had passed away. Their home had sat vacant for years and was falling into disrepair. The children decided to tear down the circa 1940s house and sell the lot. It was a distinctive location in the city. The unique property needed a unique home and that’s where Hoyt began.
The plot of land Hoyt purchased was the equivalent to four city building lots. Hoyt made an offer and in the summer of that year the land was his.
He spent the next few months researching house plans. Coming from a farming background in northern NB, he had an affinity for farmhouse design. He loved the familiarity of the farmhouse but he was looking for a more modern spin. It was an easy settle on the modern farmhouse concept but finding the right design for that piece of property would take a little thought. Most of the homes in the neighbourhood were built in the same era as the one that once stood on his lot on Smythe Street. His home would likely be the most modern or at least the newest build in many years.
Hoyt calls himself a modern day scrapbooker. “I’ve been in a lot of nice homes. When I saw something that I liked, I took a picture,” he explains. Even with his significant data base, he knew that if he was going to nail down the finished design, he would need a little help. That same autumn, Hoyt, an avid salmon fisherman, was spending a few days on the Miramichi River. While his plan was to catch a few fish, something else caught his attention. New Brunswick designer Faye Cowie was working on a project for a couple from New York who were renovating a home on the river. He liked what she was doing and told her about his project. He shared that he was working on a tight timeline but because he had a good idea about what he wanted, it didn’t take long for Hoyt to reel Cowie in.
Andrew Hoyt and his daughter Chelsea. The farmhouse design is all about creating spaces where people feel comfortable to gather. Hoyt says he loves having a home that creates that feeling.
“Andrew had a very clear idea of what he wanted. He even had software where he had most of the layout designed, so it fast tracked the whole process,” says Cowie. Once the two collaborated the plan came together quickly. In January of 2021 Hoyt applied for his building permit and early that spring shovels were in the ground to start construction of the 3,400-square-foot home.
“People say it’s a lot of house for one person but the lot was big enough to accommodate a bigger house. I didn’t want to have to put an addition on, and I thought, let’s just do everything on my wish list the first time. I wanted lots of room to entertain, a gym and a good outdoor space as well. It’s a lot easier to do it now than later,” Hoyt adds.
Modern farmhouse style marries modern sleek style elements with more cozy, casual elements. There is charm to the rustic rural farmhouse but the new take on this style creates spaces that reflect a modern way of living. Reclaimed barn boards, barn doors and timber clad walls are often the signature touches for the modern farmhouse zeitgeist, but Hoyt leaned a little more to the cleaner sleek look.
“Modern farmhouse can be a tricky design to get right. There is a fine line between going too modern,” says designer Cowie, who adds that her client likes minimalism. “I think we got things right with Andrew’s design. It is a home with all of the modern conveniences but with the elements of a traditional farmhouse that adds warmth,” she adds.
Some of the warmth resonates from the furniture that Hoyt designed and built in his shop. “I made the bedroom furniture for my daughter’s room and for the guest room. The guest room bed is a shaker style and made from cherry. My daughter wanted a “hotel” style headboard. We chose walnut and it really did turn out to be spectacular.”
Hoyt also built an oversized wall-hung Scrabble board. “It gets regular use and is quite a conversation piece. This is an example of my scrap book,” he says. “I saw a picture of one of these big Scrabble boards in a magazine a few years ago and I thought I could make one. It’s become a really nice focal point in the kitchen.”
Fredericton designer Nicole Bringham, who collaborated with Cowie on many of the décor finishes, calls her client’s woodworking skills as “next-level” craftmanship. She will continue working with Hoyt in the evolving interior design plan and expects that he will add more of his own functional pieces.
“I would love to see a round dining table and six or more generous chairs around it. I would love to fill out the master bedroom with a love seat at the end of the bed and a comfy ottoman. Maybe even a fireplace under the television to create a bit of a sanctuary space,” adds Bringham.
A key element of the design package was influenced from Hoyt’s work in larger executive homes. “I love homes with high ceilings and taller, wider door frames. Ten-foot ceilings and eight-foot doors were always part of the plan. I also installed 12-foot patio doors from the screen room to the back yard,” he says.
The design also features a barreled ceiling in the entry that is painted black, in keeping with adding an element of drama. A coffered ceiling in the living room brings texture and layered interest that are key elements of more storied farmhouse design while still looking fresh and modern.
While the plan evolved much as Hoyt had intended, what didn’t factor into the project schedule was a pandemic. “Like most people I was oblivious that COVID would be around for as long as it was. But I was very fortunate and while there were issues with supply chain, I was able to keep on target. That’s the beauty of being in the business for 25 years. I know just about everyone in the business, and was able to assemble a really great team of friends and colleagues that are the best in what they do.”
Hoyt credits the finished work on his new home to the craftmanship of his builder, Jason Russon. “We joked the whole way through that this home had to be magazine quality. Jason and his crew are very good at what they do.”
Hoyt moved in last February. This will be his first holiday season in his new home. He wanted to bring in a little of the season but keep the touches of Christmas on the subtle side with a few hints of colour and texture before putting up the tree. With help from his design team, Faye Cowie and Nicole Bringham, they used décor pieces that Andrew already had in his home, filling a few vessels with greenery and red berries that add a spirited pop of colour against white walls and fireplace mantle.
“The space is phenomenal,” says Hoyt. “Now that it’s done, I don’t think there is anything that I would have done differently.”
With the holiday season approaching he is looking forward to entertaining with his daughter Chelsea, lighting the fireplace and challenging family and friends to a game of Scrabble.
“Farmhouse design is all about creating spaces where people feel comfortable to gather. I love having a home that creates that feeling,” he says. “This house took hundreds of hours to plan but it was a labour of love.”