The people you choose for a renovation shape the process as much as the finished result. When challenges arise along the renovation path, you want a professional team around you that, above all, with whom you communicate well.
The beginning of a project is an exciting time, full of ideas and possibility, and that energy is worth protecting. Bring the right people into the conversation early, let their insight shape your plans, and you'll start off on the best foot, with a clear path from the first sketch to the finished space. Above all,find a team that you can talk to. All renovations will come with their own challenges, and you want a team around you with whom you can communicate along the way.
Just over twenty years ago, we started Novell on a simple belief: that homebuildingis done best when the designer and the builder are the same team, accountableto the same person, working toward the same vision. Especially in a renovation project, we didn't know then how much the homes we'd work on would teach us —about craft, about people, and about what it means to truly listen. Here is some of what we've learned.
Architects design buildings, so it can feel like the natural first step. In reality, the answer is more nuanced than a simple yes or no- it depends on the type of project, the property, and the local municipal requirements.
If you’re planning a renovation, addition, or new build in Vancouver, you’ll likely encounter the term Floor Space Ratio (FSR) early in the process. While this sounds technical, FSR is simply a way the city regulates how much livable area a home can have to the size of a lot.
As you may have seen recently in the Vancouver Sun, multiplexes have become a lightning rod of controversy, with strong feelings on all sides. Communities are being affected positively with the gift of choice, but also negatively with boxy, unfriendly construction.
Often overlooked is the low voltage or non electrical wiring. This wiring serves all kinds of communication and data needs throughout your home. Ethernet, coaxial, speaker, fibre optic and telephone wires are all commonly found in our homes.
Are you planning to build an infill home in the Lower Mainland? Is there an existing structure that predates the 1980’s on your lot? Legacy buildings and infrastructure which doesn’t meet current environmental standards can create many challenges for your project.
Laneway or coach homes may be a relatively new addition to the Vancouver and Lower Mainland housing market but have become stitched into our communities. While they can be diminutive in size, that doesn’t mean they don’t have a lot to offer.