Most people dream of living in an expansive mansion or sprawling villa with a kitchen suitable for a top chef to create his/her masterpieces in. However, reality often means that our culinary creations will need to be made in the smallest of spaces. But don’t let your tiny kitchen limit your dream creations. While not ideal, a small kitchen simply means that its design must utilize every inch of space in the most effective manner. Smart solutions to create an open, spacious, and functional space are a must when dealing with a small kitchen. It is after all the heart of the home.

What can be said about a bathroom – Well, every home needs to have one… but it doesn’t have to just be practical! 

Designing a custom home/renovation starts long before you meet with the architect. It starts with your own collaboration of wish lists, current lifestyle needs, expectations for the future, and function ability.

At Vanderzalm Construction Inc. our custom homes take advantage of as many of nature’s focal points as possible, through the strategic placement of layout and oversized windows.  But not every home has an extraordinary view; thus it is necessary that the right interior elements be chosen to set the tone and mood of the space.  So what is a focal point anyway?  It is the first thing that catches your eye when you enter a room. Its purpose is to capture your attention and the essence of the space in the most visually pleasing way.

Why is it that our utility rooms are designed as strictly that… utility? Function is always at its best when combined with form.  We do this in other rooms, but the laundry and mudroom are probably the most neglected rooms in a house. They are often designed simply to incorporate the necessities and thus are often under-utilized.  Since laundry is likely not anyone’s favourite activity, planning is the key to creating an efficient but inviting space. Redesigning your laundry room can make the chore seem like less of one.

Well, it is always a welcoming thought that it is beginning to look and feel like spring… Soon we will be seeing green grass, blooming flowers and hopefully a lot of sunshine.  But as always with the change of seasons, comes certain chores that should never be overlooked.

So, if your home is starting to look dated you are probably watching the current trends. While some have become less ‘trendy’ and more of a must have; some will last a few years and gradually cycle again down the road.  Then, others are here today and gone tomorrow in this age of ‘disposable décor’. It is almost impossible to predict what will happen over time.  All we can be sure of is that there will be another trend that we will like because our tastes change.  That being said, choose carefully – you may want an affordable avenue to incorporate a trend that inspires you to display your personal style, and be sure to invest in timeless choices for bigger elements of your home. 

Happy New Year to All!

 

After this very long winter, it is no wonder that people are longing to rediscover the joy of outdoor living and hopefully soon, that will be a reality. We have talked about the creation of outdoor rooms and the extension of our living spaces into our yards in the past. (See our reclaiming the backyard blog here.)

With growing or shrinking family dynamics and ever changing lifestyles sometimes, we simply outgrow our house…or it stops feeling like home!  For some, the simple answer is to move or build elsewhere…but for others, moving is simply out of the question.  Perhaps it’s about logistics and proximity to work, the babysitter, particular schools, parks, arenas, malls, or the nearest city centre that makes it impossible to consider. Maybe they cannot bear to leave their neighbours, who over time have become great friends, or it is just the general tranquility or maturity of their neighbourhood that is the draw. For whatever the reason for not moving, renovating can be the answer. For some a kitchen, bathroom, basement, or open concept renovation can often resolve an indoor functionality issue and make them love their home once more. However, sometimes the solution for a specific problem involves an addition for much needed space or the need to update or recreate the exterior of the home.