Work worth celebrating: Custom home builders stand tall at awards
Carson Built recognized for outstanding work at the Awards of Excellence in Housing.
Author of the article: Laura Severs
Published by the Edmonton Journal May 12, 2023 • Last updated May 16, 2023
Cliff Crooks, from left, Darren Hart and Chase Copper of Carson Built with homeowners Eleanore and Neil Gibson, front, in their award-winning renovated home. Photo by Walter Tychnowicz /Postmedia
Design Dreams
Darren Hart was in sales and marketing. But his heart was in interior design.
Then, some seven years ago, he would team up with a total stranger at the behest of a long time mutual friend, a realtor, who suggested Hart, and Cliff Crooks, a custom builder, should meet. He felt the two saw the world the same way.
Suffice to say that realtor was right, resulting in the creation of Carson Built with Hart able to explore and expand upon his design interests. The team would also include another partner, Chase Cooper.
Carson Built started by building a lavish 3,500-square-foot estate home, followed by more estate homes and larger, custom renovations.
Meanwhile, award show entries weren’t always on their to-do list. Being busy 24/7 meant other items generally took priority. But now, with a small staff, they found the time. There was only the one entry, however, it won Best Renovation $300,000 to $600,000 for its Gibson Penthouse Loft.
Located in the downtown Excelsior Lofts, Carson took two separate penthouse units and combined them into a stunning single unit with industrial and New York influences.
The building, said Hart, was a factory/warehouse in its earlier incarnation with the penthouse level added when it was converted to condos in the 1990s. The couple who owned one of the top floor units eventually bought the unit next to it and hired Carson built to join the two — one 1,800-square-foot space, the other 1,750 square feet, and then added additional space by re-creating the partial second floor.
“They gave us some of the usages,” said Hart of the initially generic spaces. “They wanted an entertaining side and a living side.”
One side would house the kitchen, living, office and laundry spaces with a bedroom upstairs. The other side, for entertaining includes a bar, wine wall and a guest bedroom on the second level.
“It was shock more than anything (when we won),” said Hart. “We all sat at the table kind of stunned for a few seconds.”
Read the full article by Laura Severs at https://edmontonjournal.com/life/homes/work-worth-celebrating-custom-home-builders-stand-tall-at-awards
