Green change - Home Makeover Magazine

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Advertorial Co-operative Effort By Frank O’Brien This successful makeover of a large family house on Vancouver’s Devonshire Crescent underlines the strength of the design-build process and the advantage of working with an experienced renovation company. After three years of architectural plans, budgeting, and price estimates that had spiraled ever higher, yet with their renovation plan still stalled, the home owners turned to TQ Construction in the fall of 2005. Fortunately, TQ, an award-winning renovation firm that has handled many large contracts, takes a unique, holistic approach in the busy renovation market. “We look at the owner’s budget first and then discuss in detail the vision they have for their home,” explained TQ president Ralph Belisle “The renovation Design/build approach creates a home to be proud of becomes a co-operative effort, but we always keep an eye on the costs, showing where savings can be made and where it is worthwhile to spend a bit extra.” Belisle explained to the owners how TQ’s design/build process works. The method outlines an overall vision within the budget parameters and then decisions are made on how the work will proceed. “It is a pay-as-you-go process so there are no sudden shocks,” said Belisle, whose work earned TQ recognition as British Columbia’s Renovator of the Year in 2003 and 2005, among other honours. TQ’s twenty-plus-years experience led to suggestions on how the renovation could be improved, at minimal extra cost to the owners. A simple example: all of the solid hardwood doors in the home were carefully removed, refinished and remounted rather than being thrown out and replaced. Working closely with the owners, who wanted a complete interior makeover of their three-level, 5,000 square foot house, TQ designed a consistent theme of materials that allowed the home’s décor to flow within its various elements. The plan called for a wall and beam divider between the kitchen, dining room and wok kitchen to be removed, the separation of the wok kitchen and a pantry, and the creation of a family room. At TQ’s suggestion, the entire main level was re-floored in large format tiles. Upstairs, all four bedrooms and three bathrooms were refinished. The faded marble tile floor was ripped up – some of the shards became the base for the master
Three new gas fireplaces were installed, two of them mounted with flat-screen TVs. The totally renovated kitchen includes a twolevel kitchen island that acts as a natural screen and divider, stainless steel appliances, a wine cooler, granite countertops, new flat-panel cabinets and a large garden window over the new sink. The wok kitchen was upgraded with new appliances, counters and cabinets and separated by a leaded glass door. ensuite shower – and replaced with ceramic tiles. Tubs, showers, cabinets and sinks in all bathrooms were replaced, along with new granite and sandstone countertops. TQ wired the 20-year old house into the 21st century with the addition of whole house structured “smart” wiring After photos: Raef Grohne The original bleached oak stairway to the upper level was replaced with a new railing in contemporary dark tones, and a new wrought iron railing was added. New nonslip carpet runners were also installed. that allows remote control of heating, lighting, security system and multimedia. Kitchen before Much of the existing lighting was upgraded with energy-efficient fixtures and bulbs, and the existing in-floor hydronic radiant heating was replaced with a new highefficiency boiler, and radiant coils beneath the tiles. As well, a total of three new gas fireplaces were installed, two of them mounted with flat-screen TVs. In the basement, TQ created a friendly place for the family’s four large Before dogs, which now have their own bathing area and private tiled spaces, plus easy access to an outside run. The successful result: a new home better than the owners have envisioned and priced within their budget. TQ Construction Ltd., 106, 8988 Fraserton Court, Burnaby, B.C., V5J 5H8 Phone: 604-430-9900 Web: www.tqconstruction.ca This home is featured in the Parade of Renovated <strong>Home</strong>s Address: 1291 Devonshire Crescent (at Hudson) Vancouver: Open Sunday, June 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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Page 3 and 4: Maybe it’s too comfortable. All b
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Page 15 and 16: CLOCKWISE FORM ABOVE: Reproduction
Page 17 and 18: Decorative curbs can protect garden
Page 19 and 20: Photos: Jo-Anne Richards, Works Pho
Page 21 and 22: KITCHEN MAKEOVER Timeless taste By
Page 23 and 24: ALL HOMES OPEN SUNDAY JUNE 3, 10 A.
Page 25 and 26: 4523 Southridge Crescent, Langley S
Page 27 and 28: 7538 Haszard Street, Burnaby Quinto
Page 29 and 30: Extensive cedar and pine decking, f
Page 31 and 32: ing ways. Local wide plank alder, f
Page 33: Design. Th is is captured in subtle
Page 37 and 38: Elevator doors can be matched to lo
Page 39 and 40: By Frank O’Brien If you are going
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Page 47: Introducing Nucasa hand scraped Wal

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