 Pinewood Designs was founded in 1988 out of a need for quality reproduction gingerbread trim, authentic in design and proportion, to faithfully produce product for Victorian reproduction homes in Toronto and outlying areas. Not wanting to reinvent the wheel, Pinewood decided to utilize existing examples, so richly available in Southern Ontario on century homes in small towns and country properties.
As word spread, it became obvious that people all over the country were trying to recapture the elegance and graceful beauty of another time. At the same time, they were looking for cost effective and serviceable product which was easily installed and maintained.
Our plan was to sell, manufacture, finish and install our product without using a “middle man”, thereby keeping overhead and operating costs to a minimum and passing the savings on to our customers. Product had to be of high quality and faithful to original designs, as witnessed on our high end custom projects such as Angus Glen Golf Course Clubhouse, restoration work done on houses in Stouffville (6060 Main Street), and ongoing work with the Bowmanville Historical Society.
In 1991, Pinewood opened its retail store, The Victorian Source Store, in conjunction with Harvest Antiques in Brougham, Ontario. The store operated until 1996. At that time, new home builders (Wycliffe Homes, Tribute Homes, Cachet Homes, Queensgate, Fernbrook Homes, and others) sought out Pinewood Designs to do magic on their “row on row” subdivisions. Because of our diversity and numerous original authentic designs, we helped take the “sameness” out of the subdivision house. Our success with new home builders forced us to make a decision. Pinewood would have to grow to be able to continue to do both custom work and subdivision work. At that time we felt that we would lose the close contact with individual home owners and, because of the rising demand from our builders, we felt we could not look after both. We closed the “Victorian Source Store” and went full bore into subdivision work, only manufacturing the occasional custom job on request.
It is now 2008, a little older, a little wiser, with a burning desire to go back to what started this incredible journey. As an accomplished designer and woodworker, I have missed the contact with my customers and the sense of satisfaction I get when I finish a custom project; transforming a plain ordinary dwelling into a beautifully detailed piece of Victoriana. Whether it is upper gables, verandah railings and turned posts, column brackets, corbels, or spandrels, no job is too small or large if it compliments the architectural style of the home and achieves the desired effect of the house proud homeowner. Still using our original philosophy “Service, Quality, Affordability”, we hope, as you browse through photos of our work, that you will be inspired and give us a call (or e-mail). We would be glad to assist in any way.
Note: If you have a specific design of something you just have to have on your home, we would be glad to produce it for you at no extra design charge or one off premium. |
