The architectural firm of Harry Morison Lay, Architect, prepares designs for properties in the Greater Toronto Area (G.T.A.) and in Ontario's cottage country.
If you are looking for a residential architect or an expert in house architecture and cottage architecture, then we can help you. Our renovation work and new construction can be seen across Toronto and throughout southern Ontario. We can put you in touch with builders, prepare the floor plans, help you in getting your building permit, and assist you during the construction of your new home, addition or renovation. We can advise you about construction costs, how to hire a builder, how to negotiate with your local Committee of Adjustment, and we can represent you during the construction of your home when it comes to dealing with the builder.
How much does an architect cost? Architect's fees vary according to the building project and what services are needed. Every project is different, and we can advise you about architect's fees when you discuss your needs with us.
How much does an addition, facelift or a new home cost? We can advise you about construction costs, what builders charge, and what you need to budget for your project.
We specialize in houses. When it comes to residential design and the preparation of plans for homes and cottages, we have over twenty five years of professional experience. We are a licensed architectural firm based in Toronto.
We have provided services as house architects for Toronto properties in the Annex, the Beach, Cabbagetown, Forest Hill, the Junction, Oakwood, Moore Park, North York, Oakwood, Riverdale, Rosedale, Summerhill and Yorkville.
In southern Ontario, we are custom cottage architects in Caledon Township, in Grey County, Dufferin County, Simcoe County, Northumberland County, Peterborough County, Muskoka and on Georgian Bay.
We are experts in custom home design, the planning of cottages and country houses, the use of green building technology, and the preparation of budgets to suit the homeowner's needs.
The architectural firm of Harry Morison Lay, Architect, designs homes in Toronto and country houses in Ontario's cottage country.
Are you looking for architect, homes, cottages, Toronto, Ontario, residential design, additions, renovations, renovation planning, architectural firm, home design, house architecture, country houses, building homes, construction, dealing with permit?
The architectural firm of Harry Morison Lay, Architect, based in Toronto, specializes in designing homes. We have built numerous homes and renovations in Toronto and in the Greater Toronto Area, as well as country houses for properties ranging from Caledon to Muskoka.
The firm was founded in 1991. Harry Morison Lay is a practicing member of the Ontario Association of Architects.
Homes are our specialty. With over 20 years of building in Ontario, we understand what it takes to build a home well, and to work within your budget.
What We Do:
Owners first come to us just to ask questions. Probably the most important one is ??what can an Architect do for me??.
??All home-owners want to get the best from the place in which they spend their time. They want function, adequate storage space, and to be able to enjoy the view from wherever they relax or perform household activities. Above all, owners want space and light. The intricacies of achieving these goals -- dealing with permits, builders and construction -- are second nature to us. We pride ourselves on how accurately we translate our clients' wishes into rooms that really 'live.' Each house I design is a reflection of the people who live in it." -- Harry Lay
The Stages of a Project
New clients interview us to see if we understand what they're looking for. We demonstrate our understanding in a detailed, job-specific proposal.
Preparing the proposal usually requires that we see the property first-hand. Once the clients have asked us to proceed, our next step is to prepare a variety of drawings -- providing a set of design-options for the project. These drawings not only conform to the clients' stated wishes, but they reflect the agreed-upon budget.
After completing the design and finding the right builder for the project, we act on the owners' behalf during the construction phase. We review the progress on an ongoing basis, and provide the builder with advice. We review builder's invoices in detail. Finally, we assist the owners during the "takeover" phase, when the builder's work is complete.
Many elements make up a home. We deal with all of them
? Putting the home where it wants to be on the site
? Cooking places
? Bathing and relaxing
? Lighting for every room
? Indoor sunlight
? Places for children
? Gardens, porches, decks, gazebos
? Storage
? Attics and Basements
? Interior Design
? Selection of materials (brick, stone, countertops, paint, wood floors and anything
zzelse you can see or touch)
? Window selection (the ??Eyes? of the house)
? Heating and cooling. Radiant heating, ??warm floors?.
? Garages and coach-houses
? Home offices
We take care to examine each of these elements and assess them in terms of your stated needs. For example, one special renovation -- for a professor who needed to store his research material -- turned a storage problem into a delightful and practical display of 1,000 books.
We manage the project right through to completion of construction. Any issues to do with City Hall -- building permits, variances and so on -- can be handled by our office. Getting competitive bids from builders, and safeguarding your budget are important features of our service. We are on the construction site regularly to review the work as it gets built, which is very important -- we are your professional eyes and ears, determining how the builder gets paid, and what work gets accepted.
Our Fees
Our fees vary, depending on the type of project you are planning. Every project is different! Renovations, for example, are assessed differently from new home construction. A feasibility study, or a preliminary budget to help you figure out what kind of cost you should anticipate for construction, is often performed first for a modest fee, just to help you decide about going ahead. We fit the fee to the project. Call us to discuss your needs, and we can give you a better idea just what your house project involves.
About a Toronto home by Harry Morison Lay, Architect:
??We are committed city-dwellers, and after buying a historic, 3-storey Victorian house in downtown Toronto, we looked for help in improving it. Our tastes are both modern and classic. We recognized that our home (a former rooming house) possessed great potential. It had high ceilings, great formal rooms graced by fireplaces, as well as space for a vast kitchen. We searched for someone who could realize that potential.
We had some serious structural and planning issues to resolve. After we reviewed Harry Lay??s suggestions for remedies and costs, we gave him free rein to manage the whole project. Years of neglect meant that all parts of the home had to be rejuvenated. We had problems with the heating and cooling; the lighting was terrible; we needed a new staircase, and all aspects of the interior design needed a professional touch.
Harry has struck a balance between old and new in our home. It now shows off all the best parts of its?? age, without making sacrifices to modern function. The design for our home has captured exactly the spirit that we wanted to convey. The principal rooms sparkle; our third floor is a romantic aerie.
Harry worked alongside the builder to tailor the work carefully to our needs, and shepherded our budget through to the end of construction. We are happy to suggest that any home design, be it modern or classic, would profit from Harry??s care.?
J. Black and B. Allan, Toronto, Ont.
About a Muskoka renovation by Harry Morison Lay, Architect:
"Your renovation has preserved the look and feel of a cottage that has enjoyed almost 100 years of family ownership. Doing a major renovation like this required an architect we could trust to carry out our wishes and to see that the work was done well and on time. You did all this and were terrific to work with.
The beautiful cottage we now have will be enjoyed by my family for another 100 years."
Kirtland Gardner, Tuscon, Arizona
Of Harry Morison Lay's Doritty Residence in Port Hope:
"Elevated in a secluded inner hollow of the town [Port Hope], this beautifully proportioned house is a fine blend of the traditional with the modern, where nothing seems out of place."
Architectural Conservancy's Guide to Port Hope, 1997
About a Millbrook renovation by Harry Morison Lay, Architect:
"We searched high and low for the Toronto Architect who could best handle the tough job of renovating our century-old farmhouse. We chose Harry Lay because of his beautiful work. We chose him for his excellent rapport with builders. We chose Harry for his wonderful feeling for Ontario architecture. And we would recommend him to anyone interested in design, be it for a home or a country place."
Mrs. H. S. Gooderham, Millbrook, Ont
About a Lake Joseph renovation by Harry Morison Lay, Architect:
"You can see from our photographs how the boathouse looked before, and after. What a makeover! We have received many compliments - the deck has been put to good use. The main room in the Boathouse is very pleasing in terms of size, proportion and window placement. The compliments from neighbours abound!"
Mr. C. Marshall, Lake Joseph, Ont.
About a new Muskoka cottage by Harry Morison Lay, Architect:
"It's a great feeling seeing the neighbours boat by and give the "thumbs up" sign when they see us. We are delighted with how nicely the cottage nestles in with the surrounding forest and terrain. The porch view both up and down the lake is magnificent. Pam and I think the fees paid to your company were the best investment we could have made in this project. Thanks for your professional advice, support and guidance!"
Mr. D. Blakey, Bass Lake, Ont.
About a home renovation by Harry Morison Lay, Architect:
"Harry and I met at the Cottage Life Show 3 years ago ... and recently completely renovated a 25 year-old home on Rice Lake. Harry acted as both Architect and Construction Manager for the project.
Kathy and I are thoroughly pleased with our new home ... Harry transformed it from a gloomy, dark structure to a modern lakefront haven.
We are particularly pleased that the project was completed on time and on budget. He has earned our unqualified confidence and trust, and we feel that we received excellent value."
Mr. J.D. Thom, Bewdley, Ont.
About a private country house by Harry Morison Lay, Architect:
??We couldn??t have been more pleased and satisfied with the experience, skill, creativity and talent that Harry brings to bear in his work. Harry is a very good listener with a talent for translating dreams into realities. He is very careful not to impose his own views, but will work as a partner in developing solutions that align with our own style.
In our project ... Harry not only creatively but very enthusiastically met the challenges that we had struggled with for years. The end result is that they have turned out to be the signature features of our building! Harry handled our work very independently, managing the general contractor, subcontractors and all the liaisons with the government bodies for permits, with little involvement from us once the plans were agreed upon. We are especially indebted to him for his skill in this aspect of the work. We would not hesitate in any way to use Harry??s services again (and, in fact, are doing so, as we head into Phase 2 of our project).?
Glenn and Trish Jones, Port Severn, Ont.
