Demo Days

So, the moment the house closed, we knew we needed to demo - the extent to which we would do so went well beyond our wildest imagination - the 8-foot lowered ceilings, pink broadloom and wood panelling and ceiling tiles all had to go.

Here was the first demo day, when about 15 of our closest buddies showed up with saw-z-alls, crow bars, hammers and respirators to help us out.

It was a mess, and through the several month-long process, we filled 5 bins full of plaster, lathe, panelling, carpet, ceiling tiles, insulation and all imaginable destruction waste.

It was only a few weeks into the demolition that the rain started to pour in from the roof. The former owners had not disclosed that the roof was leaky - so we scrambled with the rest of the city - or so it seemed - to find somone to re-shingle our roof: unexpected major expense #1. I know you're thinking, "Didn't the home inspection turn up a leaky roof?" No, it did not - in fact it said that there were at least 3 - 4 years left in the existing roof. This signaled the beginning of many surprises we would find working at Willoughby House.

The original plan of the house, from the 1870's, showed that the street name was originally Willoughby Avenue. It was named for Captain James Willoughby and his estate which was situated on most of the area northeast of High Park, where our house is located.