Description by Alair Homes Chilliwack

This was a challenging project for very discerning clients. The home was originally owned by the client’s father, and she inherited it when he passed. Care was taken to preserve the history in the home while upgrading it for the current owners. This home exceeds current energy codes, and all mechanical and electrical systems have been completely replaced. The clients remained in the home for the duration of the reno, so it was completed in two phases. Phase 1 involved gutting the basement, removing all asbestos containing materials (flooring, plaster), and replacing all mechanical and electrical systems, new spray foam insulation, and complete new finishing.

The clients lived upstairs while we did the basement, and in the basement while we did the main floor. They left on a vacation while we did the asbestos work.
Phase 2 involved a rock retaining wall on the rear of the property that required a lengthy approval process including municipal, fisheries, First Nations, and environmental authorities. The home had a new rear covered deck, garage, new roofline, all new interior and exterior finishing, new mechanical and electrical systems, new insulation and drywall. Phase 2 also involved an extensive asbestos abatement to remove Asbestos-containing materials in the flooring, plaster, insulation, and mastics.

Photography by Carsten Arnold

Visit Alair Homes Chilliwack

Description by Daniel Contelmo Architects

When the homeowners approached Daniel Contelmo Architects to design their new home, they knew they wanted something different. Daniel Contelmo sketched several options for them, but quickly realized that a modern style was not suitable. Inspired by the gatehouses of local estates, many of which were stone cottages, Daniel Contelmo settled on a gothic cottage design, seamlessly blending the two styles. The result was unique, an organic and whimsical home that perfectly reflected the clients’ wishes.

The exterior is dominated by steeply pitched roofs and clover windows reminiscent of the carpenter gothic style, which was predominant in the area. The metal roof reflects the sky, lending an airy feeling that contrasts the stone at the base of the main entrance. Graceful arches soften the roofline and, to the right, a swooping fence lengthens the front elevation.

The surrounding landscape influenced much of the design; Daniel Contelmo oriented the home on the site to maximize the pastoral views. To the left, large windows capture a meadow scene, while the rear of the house is almost entirely glass, allowing for unobstructed views of a pond.

Inside, the homeowners wanted to emulate one of their favorite inspiration homes, Hollyhock, in California. Daniel Contelmo took this into account when choosing wood paneling for most of the interior, which was then whitewashed to create a lighter feel. The main floor is an open, informal space comprised of one great room that incorporates both eating and entertaining.

The final result is an open and airy home that embraces its bucolic setting. Strong rooflines stand out against the sky, creating a striking silhouette, while the light metal roof and earth toned siding complement the surrounding landscape. The interior spaces, while not grandiose, are sized perfectly for their intended uses, providing the homeowners with their ideal cottage lifestyle.

Photography courtesy of Daniel Contelmo Architects

Visit Daniel Contelmo Architects

Photography courtesy of Upscale Construction

Visit Upscale Construction

Description by Boysplaynice Photography & Concept

After a long search of an apartment offering both interesting and atypical elements, and located in central Prague, this proved to be an ideal choice. Time management was perfect, and the arrangement with the developer was that the apartment would be made over as shell and core, meeting only the most basic approval standards. The owners also addressed our studio ahead of time, providing us with enough time to think about the project in detail. As soon as the owners were handed the keys to the apartment, we were ready to begin with the changes.

Upon our first visit of the apartment, we faced an unpleasant surprise – the windows. The industrial design was replaced with plastic windows, although the developer had committed to keeping the original design. Since this was a corner apartment and windows played a key role in the interior, the change had unfortunately altered its overall character, despite the extraordinary size of the windows. Our goal was to restore the industrial ambiance of the place and supress the impact of the windows.

The main residential space was opened into the entering area as much as possible. We let the central column show to good advantage, as well as the ribs leading out of it. These form the basic construction of the entire building and create an interesting structure on the ceiling. The structure has impact on the overall shape of the apartment, which is not rectangular. We pursued this irregularity in the floor which is made of two materials, skim coat and wooden boards, depending on the floor’s functionality – the poured skim coat in the entrance hall and in the kitchen, the wood in the hallway, the rooms and the main living room by the TV set. The joints of the floors follow the direction of the ribs. The apartment was to appear as clean and light, that is why the ribs are not visible on the original ferro-cement construction, but the principal colour was white in this case. Concrete was used only marginally in the form of exposed concrete in the living room behind the TV set and on piece furniture.

The dominant feature of the main residential space was a concrete island. A built-in narrow board made of wood and Corian passes through it, forming the dining table. Grey-stained wood, Corian and concrete are materials repeated on other pieces of furniture in the main residential area. The island is the central point of not only the living room, but of the whole apartment. It emphasizes atypical bar seating in the form of suspended swings. Also, because of the interior openings, one can spot it upon entering the apartment.

The element of black is apparent in the entire apartment and can be seen in the entrance hall (the coat hanger), in the wardrobe or on the handles of fitted closets. The swings and the rope curtains also stress the atypical height of the interior, which is 3,3 metres.

When walking through the apartment, it gives the impression of a very clean and light interior. The bedroom and the bathroom, however, are in contrast with this impression – much darker material was used there, as these rooms serve for rest and relaxation.

The wardrobe and the boarding of the bedroom wall, which also conceals the technical room with a washing machine and a drier, should evoke shipping containers. For this reason they are made of plywood, only lightly stained in grey.

Photography by BoysPlayNice

Visit Boysplaynice Photography & Concept