This charming little house located in St. Marys speaks volumes about what I hope is the future of housing - reasonable size, good proportions and built to last. This storey and a half has all of that and more. The proportions are spot on, the symmetrical balance of the windows and the height of the dormer not overpowering the facade - like so many older homes (and few newer houses!) and the detailing, such as the simple stone lintels over door and windows, a pleasing execution. 

What a great house this would be to duplicate in a new structure, with lots of thoughtful built-ins such as window seats and cabinets under the stairs to take advantage of those little storage areas. Simple to build, easy to heat and clean, low taxes and durable. We need to build more houses like this one!

Catherine Cassidy is a Designer with Build, a construction firm in Stratford, Ontario, specializing in new custom homes and renovations.

It's a shame when a historic structure is permanently ruined in the name of energy efficiency. This two storey home has been wrapped in a blanket of urethane foam insulation and then covered with vinyl siding. The original brick and it's appropriate and pleasing detail is irreparably damaged, and what it is being covered with will not last half as long or look half as good.

Insulating from the inside is a more sensible approach, it allows for upgrading of wiring and other services at the same time. Add in the unsympathetic style of window, the bland color of siding and the fact the foam insulation has lost R-value from being exposed to UV radiation for more than two months and this just goes from really bad to really sad.

Rory McDonnell is a General Contractor, Licensed Carpenter and Architectural Designer with Build, a construction firm in Stratford, Ontario, specializing in new custom homes and renovations.