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Valentine’s Day is only a week away, and many homeowners around the world are feeling somewhat demoralized. We’re still locked out of life, in one way or another. For some, it might be a relief to avoid wandering the jungle of chocolates, flowers, jewellery, perfumes, and all that stuff that we have all seen a…
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Horizontal expansion or add a second story to the house? In which direction to renovate? Many bungalows, or one-story homes, around your neighbourhood have been built mid-century. Their primary purpose was to fulfil the basic needs of occupants at a time when money was hard to come by and mortgages were not a common thing.…
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Foreword:Aryo Falakrou studied architecture and worked in the field for over 37 years by designing homes and small businesses, helping over 1,000 clients. He is registered as an architectural technologist and respected the rules; he never claimed to be an architect, as he was not interested in becoming a registered architect. But AIBC, the organization…
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Step code 5 is becoming obligatory in most municipalities in the Lower Mainland. Energy efficiency first became a part of the BC Building Code objective back in 2008. Designers’ options to comply with the requirements comprised “prescriptive” and “performance” approaches, the first being a more common choice. The specific requirements for insulation, windows, heaters, lighting,…
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– I dream of renovating but am not sure if I can afford it. – Yes, I know what you mean; it’s easy for so many people who have unlimited cash or enough savings to run their project in any way they want! Really? I am a Home Designer, and I don’t know anyone like…
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Ernest is a 61 year young who lives with his wife in a spacious house, which, at the moment they come to our story, has long begun to show signs of aging. Little by little, problems kept getting bigger, and the house needed a major repair. The question was how to decide between renovation and building…
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Wallpapers are back, can you believe it? Do you remember houses in the ’60s and ’70s with patterned wallpaper that could make you feel dizzy at a glance? Some were flashy and colourful, and some were discreet. And then they went to history. Who would have thought that only half a century later, they would…
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This is the continuation of last week’s conversation about “Where to Start a Renovation.” A contractor’s job is to materialize the architect’s design. Larger projects may employ one general contractor and several subcontractors for specialized tasks. When you hire a contractor at this stage, his/her job will include removing and installing walls, light fixtures, staircases,…
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“Remember that free advice, no matter from whom it is received, will bear the closest of examination before it is acted upon as safe. And, generally speaking, this sort of advice is worth exactly what it costs.” -Napoleon Hill If you only knew how many times I have heard from my clients that they asked…
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In the previous article, we covered the topic of age-friendly home remodelling and the ways proper adaptations can enable safe and comfortable aging-in-place. Here we will highlight some details that require special attention. Age-Friendly Home Bathroom: Walk-in Bathtub or Walk-in Shower? A walk-in bathtub is a favourite among some seniors who experience fatigue often and…