Building Blocks Project

Today we’re going to tell you about our oh so special Building Blocks Project! When we first met our clients in their home for their initial walkthrough, they knew exactly what they wanted. As a contractor, our clients had been thinking about their home renovation for a while and already had tons of great ideas in mind. Plans were already drafted by an architect and we were even presented a maquette of the new layout made of legos! Now that was a memorable first – which we adored! 

The great part about working with someone in construction is that we get to do all of the fun stuff and hand off the rest. Given that fun fact, we worked differently with this project where we just handled the conceptual work, we presented the design, and the client took control from there. We designed the kitchen, main bathroom, and the living room built-in. Our presentation always includes concept boards like the ones on this post paired with construction plans, cabinetry elevations, and a detailed material list of the products that we’re suggesting and including in the design. The material package is basically a shopping list that our clients can take with them when finalizing the purchases for their individual products. This is part of a service that we would normally include, however, some of our clients who are more hands-on, handle the purchasing themselves.

From the very start, this couple knew what they wanted as a home for their young family both in terms of aesthetics and function. Their dream was to create a California style home with lots of white and natural materials, but still with a pop of colour. They were open to incorporating colour into the cabinetry, white oak floors and natural stones. We ran with that direction and gave it some of our Hibou flare by bringing in a chevron pattern in the cabinetry around the pantry and by playing with mixed metals.

Our clients had always wanted to build a custom unit in cabinetry around the fireplace wall. The tricky part was figuring out how to create a seamless transition between this built-in and the cabinetry of the adjacent kitchen. We definitely didn’t want it to feel too similar, as if it were an extension of the kitchen, but we did need to create a cohesive flow. The goal was also to create symmetry on either side of the fireplace and we did that by building a desk on the right side with some hidden storage.

For the bathroom, we weren’t given as much direction, however, we felt that carrying over that California vibe was the way to go. We did that by bringing in lots of light and bright finishes. We selected a beautiful handmade tile for the shower walls and we specified white shiplap on the other walls. The vanity finish selected is a white oak stained to match the wood flooring that would be installed throughout the main floor.

This renovation is only set to start in a few months. The clients have been through enough renovations to know that a successful project is all in the planning. Their plan is to confirm all products and purchases well in advance and only begin demo when every last detail is settled. Totally the right approach!

Are you looking for design services for your renovation project? Give us a call and we’d love to explain how we can help!