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For years now I’ve admired Waterbury Construction. First from their ads in area magazines, then while working as a realtor I got to see some of the homes they’d worked on in person. Years ago when they were renovating the lovely old stone house along Scarlett Road in Kennett Square (now their home base) I used to drive by all the time and comment on the transformation taking shape. So you can imagine how impressive it was to meet the force, or rather forces behind the name.
Combined, Owners Colleen McFadden and Rick Lion bring over twenty-five years of experience in designing, building, restoring, renovation, and especially the fine art of “sympathetic additions.” A term their clients have come to know and love. Colleen made it pretty clear; “our philosophy is that the addition has to be sympathetic to the house, you shouldn’t be able to tell where it starts and stops.”
One very important and even unusual thing that sets Waterbury Construction apart is their habit of spending quality time with their clients in order to get a feel of how they live. Colleen explained that once you’re in someone’s house you get a better understanding of what would work for them in terms of connecting or disconnecting spaces. Rick said “the house calls out a lot on what you can and cannot do to it, and sometimes that creative light bulb goes on smack dab in the middle of a project. After meeting with prospective clients, Rick and Colleen return to the office to sit down and draw with the client’s wish list and budget number in hand. As Colleen says “it’s a lot better to spend the time drawing it on paper instead of building what you don’t want on your house. We build rooms but ultimately we build relationships.”
Keeping the client involved and up to date is of the highest importance. Rick is at every job every day, which is great because homeowners usually feel better if they see the guy in charge checking up on things. Colleen “I think part of our success has been that it’s personal, every client sees Rick every day and me probably twice a week, we are in constant contact. That’s the promise we make to them in the beginning – you see a principal every day and have both our cell phone numbers, you can get to somebody all the time.”
Waterbury Construction’s past clients Ed and Betzi West of Chandler Mill Road in Kennett Square will cheerfully attest to that. Waterbury Construction had just finished an addition that gave the West’s’ the perfect living space – not to mention premium entertaining capability. With cathedral ceiling, windows everywhere and just lovely reclaimed floors; the addition is an abundance of light – almost like being outside. “I just wanted a room with a wall of windows” Betzi explained, but Rick felt something just wasn’t quite perfect and talked her into putting an extra window in the corner…”I’m so glad I did!” she said. Betzi is a local artist and also has quite an eye for design; in fact I was so busy admiring what I could see that I nearly missed what I couldn’t see. You could have knocked me over with a feather when Rick stopped me and slid open what I was pretty darned sure was a closet. He revealed a gorgeous full bathroom done in wood and marble, complete with a glass-enclosed shower, modern slanted sink and vanity. To label it unobtrusive would be a major understatement; it’s got to be a kick watching company try to find the bathroom.
But they didn’t stop at bringing the outside in, Waterbury Construction decided to keep going and extend the addition to the home’s exterior, creating an inviting wrap around deck with an open pergola top. It rounds out two corners of the home and the West’s were so tickled with the results that they pretty much lived out there in the summertime. Ed looked around in satisfaction and remarked “this has turned out so much better than we envisioned.” Betzi added “we’ve had more company now than ever; actually we were entertaining before it was even done.” I must say though that Rick had the best summation: “it parties real well” he said with a big grin on his face, “and it even looks good from the road.”
When asked how she found Waterbury Construction Betzi’s instant reply was “excellent!” I had to laugh – but what a compliment! What I actually meant was how she decided to use them as opposed to any other company. It just so happened that Betzi too used to pass the house on Scarlett Road they were renovating on her way to the Giant, “I watched it being changed and just really liked the total effect” she said, “it was a natural or as Ed would say a no-brainer.” Ed took that opportunity to tell me that how flexible Rick and Colleen were about everything, “it was almost a partnership” he said “and we’re still friends.” As anyone who’s ever had construction done to their home while they’re living in it will tell you – that’s a major compliment.
With spring not terribly far away it’s a great time to start designing for the upcoming spring season. “Don’t be scared of the design process” Rick reassures, “we’re regular people and our process is gentle.” It’s just like Colleen said……when Waterbury Construction is finished, clients live happily ever after. Just ask them.
….but i think that most likely the “1 view” was myself checking from the cafe in wilmington. actually i thought it looked pretty cool, the weblog that is. can’t believe how much & how fast things have been changing & moving & are getting ready to do so again, with grandad. i don’t want him to go away, i want to see him back out by the pool, under the umbrella table i always drag up from the basement in the spring. “you’re too early” he says, or mom says he says, looking around the room. i know who he’s talking to, he always thought she was “too” something, it’s kind of funny.
but i digress, sorry just distracted i guess – getting ready to head back up to the hospital. life is seemingly about to change. i was thinking to myself last night sitting on the couch that this just might be the last normal night / week i have for a long time. warm weather always brings something, ever notice? at least in my case for the past few years. so we shall see what the day brings.
it all comes from within. what makes you stay – what saves you. my case is divine intervention on many different levels, i’m just grateful that i recognize it enough to be grateful.
her retirement has really sucked so far, she should be having a good time instead of all this. at any rate i need to get my butt moving, i will be praying again today…..keep talking, ’cause i’m listening. peace.
Hello world……….I’m awake!
