To Whom It May Concern:
We are very happy with the high-quality work that Mark Cooper and the Shakespeare Homes & Renovations Team, completed in the top-to-bottom renovation and extension of our home in Upper Lynn Valley, North Vancouver.
In early 2020 we considered purchasing one of the few original farmhouse properties remaining in North Vancouver. Built in 1930 from materials logged and milled nearby, the farm supplied Lynn Valley residents with eggs and poultry over much of the mid 20th Century. While we loved the craftsman design, the home had long since fallen into neglect and we knew it would need extensive work.
After contacting several companies, we selected Mark and the Shakespeare team to help inform our decision to purchase and then work with us throughout a year-long renovation adventure. While it was an intimidating prospect, starting right at the outset of the COVID 19 pandemic, in hindsight it was the best decision we could have ever made.
We wanted our renovation to keep the original look and feel, updated to meet current building standards and the needs of a modern family. With little about the original home that was ‘standard’, we leaned heavily on Mark and team’s ability to listen to what we needed, nudge us towards creative solutions, and keep the project moving during a challenging time. Our renovation included entirely new services from the street, structural upgrades and foundation underpinning, new insulation, plumbing and electricals, a two-bedroom basement rental suite, a new top floor, complete interior finishings, and a rear extension with covered deck, mud room and storage area. Shakespeare’s quality of workmanship is obvious in their attention to detail for design features such as the clipped gable roof and craftsman window trim, efficient use of interior space, and an extension that looks original to the house.
The positive feedback about the finished home that we’ve received from neighbours has been amazing, especially from old timers happy to see one of Lynn Valley’s last original homes kept intact. With a flourishing veggie garden and new fruit trees out back, it has the feel of the old farmhouse made new.
We highly recommend Mark Cooper and Shakespeare Homes!
