When it comes to homes, the best designs offer both beauty and functionality. Nowhere is this more true than the kitchen. Not sure what kind of kitchen design would give you the style you want without compromising the function you need? We have put together a list of seven of our favourite beautiful and functional kitchen designs to provide you with some inspiration...
Over the last eight weeks, we have covered a number of topics in our series on Stop Work Orders. We hope that we have made it clear how devastating non-permitted work can be. Why, then, do people undertake such work – and how do you avoid ending up in a similar position? Read more from our Stop Work Order series: Stop Work Order horror stories:...
We have noticed a new trend in Vancouver home design: The sinkless vanity. What is it, and what are the pros and cons of a sinkless vanity? What should you know before you install one? And is the trend here to stay or will it soon go down the drain? The rundown on the latest Vancouver home design trend: The sinkless vanity The sinkless vanity is...
A Stop Work Order may sound manageable, but it can be incredibly financially damaging. While we have touched on some of the issues we have seen over our years working in Vancouver home design, we have some true horror stories that show just how devastating getting a Stop Work Order can be. Stop Work Order horror stories We have had a number of cases...
Before beginning a custom home design project, most clients have a budget in mind. It can be easy to find yourself over that budget though – especially when you encounter hidden costs. This list of the four most common hidden costs in custom home design is intended to help you make an informed decision when selecting a home Designer for your project. The 4 most...
One of the most important things to do when you are buying a property is check that the home matches the plans on file with the City. This is vital because, if the plans do not match, there are likely renovations to the house that have been conducted without a permit, meaning once you purchase the property, you are at risk of being hit...
When planning your custom home design, inspiration is key. Before Designers start a new project, they will often spend some time looking at interesting ideas and styles from around the world. Now, you can draw on such inspiration too, with this list of our favourite global designs of the moment. Our top four global inspirations for your custom home design 1. The green machine [caption id="attachment_3700"...
As Building Codes are available to the public, many people believe that they do not need professional guidance regarding renovations, and attempt to do it themselves. Individuals with some knowledge of Building Codes may also believe they have enough information to handle Vancouver renovations on their own. However, not working with a Vancouver Home Designer can land you a Stop Work Order. This article...
When a loved one has a disease like Alzheimer's, paying for outside assistance may not always be an option. But help in any form is crucial if you’re connected. Alzheimer's disease affects about 5.4 million Americans, about 5.2 million of which are 65 and older. It can be your grandparent, your cousin, your sibling or even your parent who faces the diagnosis. Eventually, those...
With square footage as valuable as it is in Greater Vancouver, maximizing the size of your property on paper can represent huge returns when it comes time to sell. If you are building a custom home, you can get more square footage from your home, at least on paper, with insulation and building envelope design. Talk to your custom home designer for more details, but...
We have already addressed two evolutions of the TV room, as well as the impact these evolutions have had on family dynamics. Now, for the final article in our TV rooms series, we turn our attention to predicting the next evolution of the TV room. One potential evolution of the TV room Photo credit - Greytek We are already seeing the beginning of a new evolution of...
Designing a custom home? One of the best ways to create a custom home design that best fits your family's lifestyle is to include specialized rooms and features that go beyond the standard bedroom and living room. From ensuites to smart home tech gadgets, here are four features you may wish to include in your custom home. Four of our favourite, on-trend features for custom...
For more than 50 years, the TV room has been the center of family life. In this blog series, we have tracked how the TV room grew as screens expanded, then shifted as watching shows on personal screens became the norm. But what has the evolution of the TV room done to family dynamics? The impact of the first evolution of the TV room...
When creating the look for your house, you have a choice between stock plans and custom home design. Stock plans are general and pulled from a bank of options, while a custom home design is created for you by an expert builder or developer. Before discussing the reasons for getting a custom home design over using stock plans, there is one other thing we...
In the first part of this series, we explored the growth of TV screens. It has definitely created and impact on the evolution of the TV room and how they are designed. Now, we examine the next stage of evolution in the TV room - and the potential “death” of the TV itself. The rise of individual screens and how they sparked the latest...
When it comes to home designers, teamwork really does make the dream work. The teamwork, in this case, comes in the form of open communication. In order to get the house of your dreams, there are several topics you need to cover with your home designer. The five topics to discuss with your home designer 1. What a typical week looks like for your family Home...
At the opening of the 20th century, the TV had not even been invented. By the start of the 1950s, however, TVs were taking private households by storm. TVs only solidified their role in our lives, families, and homes throughout the remainder of the century. During the past century, the evolution of the TV room has occurred at an increasingly rapid pace. The square TV...
With the amount of residential construction in Vancouver skyrocketing, the number of Stop Work Orders is exploding. In fact, Stop Work Orders are becoming downright common for builders and homeowners. But what are Stop Work Orders and why should they matter to you? What is a Stop Work Order? A Stop Work Order is a legal notice to suspend work on a given project....
Getting a Building Permit can feel overwhelming… but it doesn’t need to. That’s why, today, we are focusing on one of the most difficult – and, for many people, frustrating – parts of the process: Building Permit Drawings. There are three easy ways to simplify the development of your Building Permit Drawings, while also protecting yourself against future issues. The three ways to make...
As the number of Secondary Suites in the Vancouver area explodes, the pool of illegal rentals is growing. In fact, the majority of Secondary Suites in the City are illegal. While having an illegal Secondary Suite means risking being reported to By-Law Inspectors, the process of legalizing your Secondary Suite can be costly and arduous. If you do decide to pursue the legalization process,...