If you can dream it, we can build it

We believe homeowners have a central role to play in the renovation process.

Too often clients are told to “leave it to the experts” or “follow the latest trends”. This advice leads to perfectly beautiful bland homes with no personality.

The best renovations come together when the homeowner has an active imagination.

So fire up those creative juices and get dreaming.

Planning and envisioning changes to your living space can be exciting, but as the homeowner you need to take the time to ask yourself what you want to accomplish. So instead of throwing out buzzwords like open concept or modern, think of how you want to use your space.

Start with a clean slate and put your needs, your wants and your wishes on paper. Brainstorm the possible without holding anything back. (We know there’s always hard realities like budget considerations, bearing walls, and square footage, but now is not the time to worry about these details. Now is the time to dream.)

Ask yourself some of the following key questions to stimulate your thinking:

• How are you using the space now, and how will you grow into the space? Remember time doesn’t stand still, so think through the various stages of life, from having toddlers or adolescents to being empty nesters and the needs of aging at home.
• How do you live in your space? Do you host elegant dinner parties, big informal gatherings, or prefer quiet nights around a fire? Do you love to cook? How do you use your yard? Are you looking to create a warm and cozy nest, or a bright and vibrant atmosphere? What about kids, pets, guests?
• Do you need to add space or does the space you have just need to be reconfigured? Maybe you simply need a cosmetic makeover to freshen things up?
• Consider the flow from indoor to outdoor living spaces. What if anything you would like to do to the outdoor living space that could add to your comfort and usable living space?

As you work through this process you’ll grow your thinking about your home and your needs.

The most important thing to do when you start planning a renovation is to let yourself enjoy the process. By getting ready before hand, you can be sure that your ideas are front and centre when you enlist the services of professionals. You’ll also save precious time and money as they will have a starting point and can help you make sensible and practical decisions, tailoring the finished product to meet your dreams.