The Design Husky by Rodrozen Blog

Air Canada Cargo

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 23:30:22 GMT

AIR CANADA CARGO

RING RING

Its not often you get a call from the largest airline in Canada, asking if you would like to design and renovate their interior space at Vancouver International Airport. Fast forward a couple of years later, and today, we are proud to announce a very cool project that we completed late last year - the Air Canada Cargo Refresh Project at YVR.

Here is a bit more background behind this project and what it took to take this 1980s reception space and turn it into something suitable and presentable for the next 30+ years.

THE EXISTING SPACE

THE INITIAL IDEA

When we were asked to design and renovate this area, we envisioned what a contemporary airport check-in terminal might look like. We had to keep in mind a couple of things, firstly, this space needs to last! The cargo environment is demanding to say the least. Secondly, we had to keep in mind this is a cargo facility and not a passenger terminal. Our initial renders took the idea of curved drop ceiling with wood paneling in the ceiling.

FIRST DESIGN

DESIGN ITERATIONS

We eventually settled with a more conservative design, while ensuring it looks amazing.

One of our goals was to open up the space, create an inviting and welcoming environment for customers. We identified that the walls on either side of the desks space could be removed to open up the space. We also improved the expanded use of the space by designing it with an extra weight scale station and designing the space with two stations per scale set.

FINAL DESIGN

TAKE OFF TIME

Once we settled on the design we set about the process of gaining permit from YVR Airport. This process ensured that we covered all the mechanical and engineering requirements in this complex building. We also invested significant effort in the efficient redesign of the counters for modern day equipment needs and ergonomic considerations for staff.

Eventually with a greenlight, we started the build process. We stripped down the ceiling to raise the ceiling height, demolished all the existing millwork and worked through all the various elements, electrical, mechanical, flooring, drop ceiling and drywall to achieve the design.

Working in an operational space such as this also posed challenges working with the requirements of Air Canada Cargo and other tenants of the building to ensure their continual operation and success.

DURING CONSTRUCTION

MILLWORK CENTRIC

The millwork itself was the center piece of the design and required various stakeholders to ensure the design met requirements in terms of operational use and space optimization, human ergonomics, Air Canada Cargo branding and obviously the design that features the beautiful combination of wood and black acrylic paneling.

A key design element we had to include was a station accessible to wheelchair users, featuring a table set at a height suitable for those in wheelchairs. We designed a foldable bench that can be raised and lowered as required.

ACCESSIBLE STATION

FINAL APPROACH

Once we completed the public reception area, we were able to commission the new space with the Air Canada Cargo operations team so that they could use it, while we moved into the hangers for phase two.

In the hangar space we decommissioned the old millwork and with our trade partners, we went about installing the millwork that we had premanufactured off site. Due to security protocols, we are unable to share photos of this section of the project.

The design followed the same consistency that we set about in the main public reception areas with beautiful wood detailing and upgrading the countertops to durable and long-lasting quartz countertops for both the desks for the public as well as operational storage and workspaces.

THE FINISHED PROJECT

It’s fair to say we are immensely proud of what we achieved here for Air Canada Cargo. It was a privilege to work with them to create this newly renovated and refreshed space. Just looking at the before and after photos of this project, you can see such a significant difference in the lighting and space feeling we created. Very cool!

If you have any commercial renovation requirements, whether it’s a medical space, an office, a shop or showroom, or a cargo facility, talk to us about what we can do for you to create a space to wow your customers.

Canada First

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 00:15:23 GMT

TARRIF TIME!

How We Are Adjusting To The Political Volatility

The trade tariffs imposed by the American government will impact all things in the construction industry. But fear not, we Canadians know how to adapt when things get…interesting.

We recognize that the political volatility in America will have an impact on supply chains here in Canada. With these trade tariffs imposed, we want to let you know that we will strengthen the sourcing and supplying of materials and products to avoid the impact of these tariffs.

WE LOVE LOCAL

Even before these trade tariffs were imposed, we were committed to sourcing products and materials locally here, in the lower mainland. It has always been at the heart of our design philosophy. However, these tariffs imposed underscore its importance more than ever. By focusing on Canadian-made products and partnering with Vancouver-based suppliers, we support local suppliers and manufacturers and significantly reduce the environmental impact associated with long-distance shipping.

FIRST AND FOREMOST - MADE IN CANADA!

PIVOT AND ADAPT

We've made a strategic decision to steer clear of American products wherever possible. We understand that rising costs can be challenging for homeowners and clients alike. That's why, in addition to our revised sourcing approach, we have a couple of different strategies to help reduce the impact of any price volatility with products, regardless of where they come from. Our team is ready to work with you to ensure your project remains affordable and exceptional.

OUR SOURCING ORDER

While our immediate focus is on local products to ensure stability and environmental responsibility, we will continue to maintain a global perspective with our sourcing. We remain committed to incorporating premium products from around the world. This balanced approach allows us to bring the best of international design into our projects while keeping a firm foundation in local first.

Here's how we're ensuring that every project reflects the best of what's available:

Local First: We partner with Vancouver-based and Canadian suppliers wherever possible, championing local artisans and manufacturers.
Global Quality: On select projects, we incorporate premium products from Europe and Asia, ensuring that quality and design remain the top priorities.
Business-Driven Decisions: Our sourcing strategy is guided by reliability. With the recent tariff challenges, avoiding American products is a pragmatic choice that benefits our homeowners and clients by using products with pricing that is more stable.
Environmental Impact: By sourcing locally, we also reduce the environmental impact associated with long-distance shipping. This aligns with our commitment to sustainability and responsible design practices.

OPTIONS

When choosing products for your project or renovation, we will always try to present you with materials and products that are either Canadian-made or not American-made. If a product comes from the USA, we will try to let you know in advance. That's not to say we will have a limited set of samples of materials to choose from. All of our products are still approved by the Canadian Standard Association, and that won't change.

THE NEW REALITY

Our decision to revisit and refine our sourcing strategy is driven purely by business needs—a response to today's challenging economic landscape, not a political statement. At Rodrozen Design + Build, our mission is to deliver beautifully crafted, sustainable interiors that stand the test of time. By sourcing materials that offer both environmental and market stability, we're empowering our homeowners and clients to invest confidently in their spaces.

Our Rodrozen Design + Build team will guide you through these dynamic times, ensuring that your renovation or construction project benefits from smart buying strategies and avoiding American-made products to ensure your budget remains on track.

Cool Home

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 18:59:58 GMT

COOL HOME!

Where Style Meets Comfort

Welcome to a world where style and climate converge. This blog post will help defrost everything about air conditioning units and how to include them in your design and build. So let's chill out from this summer heat and breeze through the basics of air conditioning units.

RENOVATING

If you are renovating your home with an existing air conditioning unit, things are more straightforward. We don't need to remove the main units from your home. Instead, we need to ensure that the ducting from the main unit in your home spreads throughout your home efficiently and into the right places.

Spaces that receive direct sun or heat should be prioritized. Spaces that generate heat, such as kitchens, and places where you need more exacting temperatures, such as bedrooms, should be vented with appropriately sized ducting.

It is possible to retrofit older single thermostat air conditioning units into room or zone-based cooling. Keep in mind that these will not be as effective as replacing the indoor unit with a newer multizone system.

An easier way to upgrade your air conditioning system is to install a smart thermostat to control your air conditioning. These systems detect your preferences throughout the day and year to maintain your temperature without your input over time.

GOOGLE NEST SMART THERMOMETER

DIFFUSING THE SITUATION

One way to reduce your air conditioning unit's visual and audible impact is by using newer, more modern vent diffusers. Diffusers sit between the end of your vent and the wall, spreading cool air around your home.

Slot diffusers are long and narrow and allow you to precisely control the direction of the air. Slot diffusers balance cost with their visual appeal. Recessed linear slot diffusers are recessed into the wall space and have the most minimalist look and appearance.

If cost is important to you, linear bar grilles and perforated face diffusers are considered more traditional. If you have LED pot lights in your home, round air diffusers are a great design option as they look and appear similar.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF DIFFUSERS

FRESH BREATH OF AIR

If you are renovating a space that does not have an existing air conditioning unit, our first recommendation is to get an air conditioning unit!

Aside from our warming summers, there is value in adding air conditioning to your home for resale, but primarily, adding a modern air conditioning unit will significantly increase the comfort in your home.

There are a couple of things to consider if you want to add air conditioning to your home or condo in Vancouver.

Firstly, you need space to install an external compressor unit in your home. The size of your compressor will depend on how much space you need to cool. Your external compressor unit will need to sit on a section of flooring. Typically you can't attach the external compressor to an outside wall of your building. It needs to be on a patio space.

EXTERNAL COMPRESSOR UNIT ON A PATIO

Most strata have bylaws to help guide homeowners on installing an external compressor, including an application process that considers external noise and power requirements.

Once you have your external compressor, you will require an indoor unit. The indoor unit takes the cooled liquid from the outside unit and blows it through a fan, circulating it throughout your home.

You will require space in your home, typically a utility room, to place the indoor unit with easy enough access to the outdoor compressor to run the piping between the two units. More modern indoor air conditioning units are often much smaller than previous generations. We can now install the indoor units into smaller spaces, such as drop ceilings.

Finally, you will need air ducting to allow the cooled air to be moved throughout your home and into different rooms or spaces where it is pushed through the diffusers we discussed earlier.

ENVIRONMENTALLY COOL

Modern air conditioning units have significantly improved energy efficiency and environmental friendliness. Modern units use less energy to cool the same space than older air conditioning units. Innovations like variable speed compressors and inverter technology allow these systems to adjust their output based on cooling demand. Additionally, the use of eco-friendly refrigerants helps minimize their environmental impact. Throw in an intelligent thermostat like we mentioned earlier, and you should notice a decrease in your hydro bill.

CLEARING THE AIR

Modern air conditioning units not only enhance the comfort and style of your home but also contribute to energy efficiency and environmental sustainability.

Ready to transform your living space? Contact us today to learn how we can include a new air conditioning system in your renovation that increases your comfort while keeping you cool.

Declutting Your Home

Thu, 09 May 2024 21:35:04 GMT

DECLUTTERING YOUR HOME

We are all guilty of having some degree of a cluttered home. Our ape-like brains cling to objects because they make us feel familiar and comfortable in our homes. Unless you are a true minimalist (see the Minimalist series on Netflix), we all have a home with clutter. This author included.

To achieve a beautiful home, it's important to declutter it to reveal and show your authentic home look and style.

ACCESS & GOALS

Firstly, you want to assess which areas in your home you want to prioritize. Is it your primary living space where you often use and move items around? Or are those low-use areas becoming your dumping ground and needing some decluttering?

Secondly, set goals for your decluttering. Do a room a day, or set a goal of throwing out x amount of clutter, i.e. select a box to fill with clutter to get rid of. We recommend starting small, like a bathroom and going from there. Keep it manageable.

METHODS OF CLUTTERING

There are several methods or techniques to declutter your home or room.

FOUR BOX METHOD

Grab four boxes and label them as 'KEEP,' 'DONATE,' 'THROW OUT,' and 'UNDECIDED.'

Place objects in the various boxes as you go, and hopefully, you should have more items that get moved out than kept.

A big part of decluttering involves a mental mindset change. You have to force yourself to ask yourself the hard question: Am I going to use this item or object in the short or medium term?

Use the cost or value of an item to help decide if it's worth keeping or not. If it's small and cheap, get rid of it. If it's expensive, keep it.

KON MARI METHOD ^TM

Developed by Marie Kondo, a Japanese organizing consultant, her method of decluttering involves using a simple concept of "does this item bring me happiness?" If so, keep it. If not, declutter it!

The method also gets you to ask yourself, does this item spark joy? And listen to your emotional brain when making these decisions.

THE ONE YEAR METHOD

This method is used by the author. Every year, go through your home and ask yourself this question. Have I used this item in the last year? If it's a no, then it goes. If it is an item that you really want to keep. Ask yourself, will you use it within the next 12 months? Then keep it. But be realistic: will you use it within the next 12 months?

After a year, do the process again. If you still have an item, you said you would use in the previous 12 months. Then it goes.

DECLUTTER WITH DESIGN IN MIND

Remember that decluttering also involves the visual aspect of having a clear interior design. You want to declutter to showcase your furniture and art. But you still want to ensure you have accessories and decorative items that add to your home rather than clutter. Don't forget to have a throw, but you don't need seven.

THE IKEA WAY SOLUTION

One method of "decluttering" is to store all your clutter away. This is not technically decluttering. Instead, it is storing your clutter in a way that allows you to put it out of sight. This works, but it's not solving the issue of having a cluttered house in the first place. And it only encourages you to bring clutter back out. Sure, you can go and get all Ikea'ed out with storage solutions, and if that's your jam, we won't criticize you. But try to keep the concept of actually decluttering the goal.

GREEN DISPOSAL

One person's trash is another person's treasure. Nowadays, we create so much waste, so it's essential to remember that when you declutter your home, you want to try to keep as much clutter out of the landfills as possible.

The first goal of all your clutter should be to find someone else who could continue to find some use for it. Take clutter that can still be used to your local second-hand or thrift stores. Utilise listing items for free on the marketplace, and you will be surprised by how many people will take stuff off you for free.

The second goal is to recycle items. Most of those toiletries can be emptied and put in the recycling.

CLUTTER OUT CLUTTER IN

Finally, ensure that after you have decluttered, you don't fall into the trap of bringing more clutter back into your home. Are you going to use this new item you are purchasing? Or will you swap out an item at home with this new item you bought?

If you need advice to help inspire you to declutter and have your home professionally staged by one of our interior designers, contact us to book an appointment today.

Five Most Popular Countertop Materials

Wed, 20 Mar 2024 22:25:49 GMT

Five Most Popular Countertop Materials

When choosing a material for your countertop in your kitchen, bathroom or laundry spaces, consider several things before slamming your dollars. Let's dive into the five most popular countertop options and which one we recommend.

QUARTZ – OUR RECCOMMENDATION

Quartz is an engineered stone surface. It combines 85-95% natural stones such as granite, marble, with the remainder of the stone made from polymer glues and pigments to give them their look or design.

Quartz brings the best of being made predominatly of luzurious stone, without the challenges that come with granite and marble. Quartz countertops are our recommendation for countertop options as they balance cost, durability, and design options together to create the best countertop surface.

The range of design options is almost endless with quartz, and many different styles are designed to replicate natural stones like granite and marble.

The installation process is more challenging than wood and laminate countertops but less challenging than natural stone countertops.

The most significant advantage of quartz countertops is that they are non-porous and do not require any sealing or ongoing maintenance. Overall, quartz countertops are much more durable than natural stones with less staining with food, far more heat resistant, and do not scratch with sharp objects.

Cost-wise, quartz is cheaper compared with other natural stones, but depending on how you want the stone finished or cut and your choice of design, the price can increase.

We use a wide range of quartz countertops in our design and builds from Cambria, Silestone and Dekton being the most common brands.

DESIGN CHOICES - Many

INSTALL - Expert

MAINTENANCE - No ongoing maintenance

COST - $$$

CONSIDERATIONS

- Although challenging to damage, it is not entirely heat-resistant

GRANITE

Granite is a durable natural stone countertop. Granite is a material that is extracted from the earth and then cut into slabs, where it is then polished in preparation for being sized for use. Granite countertops are luxurious and give a very high-end feel due to their unique and individual appearance, which cannot be replicated.

There is a wide range of design options with granite countertops. As these are natural stones, they are all unique and cannot be replicated precisely.

Installing granite countertops is challenging, and you want to use the experts here. These natural stones require more precise cutting before and during installation, and seams can sometimes be more visible once installed.

Unfortunately, granite is a porous stone. As such, ongoing sealing is required to protect it. If not, it can be easily stained, especially with lighter-coloured granite. Granite can fade if left in more direct sunlight over time.

Granite is definitely at the higher end of the cost due to its being a natural stone.

The good thing about granite is that it is scratch and heat-resistant stone.

DESIGN CHOICES – Some

INSTALL – Expert and challenging

MAINTENANCE – Needs ongoing maintenance

COST – $$$

CONSIDERATIONS

- Needs ongoing maintenance

- Expensive

MARBLE

Marble is also another natural stone countertop material. Compared to granite, marble forms these beautiful natural veins that make each slab unique. Marble exudes an elegant and sophisticated look.

A good range of marble choices is available, and each piece will be unique and cannot be replicated exactly.

Like granite, the installation process is challenging as granite is often very heavy. It also requires accurate measuring and cutting before installation.

Being a natural porous stone, marble requires proper sealing. Otherwise it will stain and absorb liquids and over time it will wear with use and show scratches easily. The one big advantage of marble is that it is very heat resistant.

Cost-wise, marble is at the higher end of countertop surfaces, with the rarer marble surfaces being the most expensive.

DESIGN CHOICES - Some

INSTALL – Expert and challenging

MAINTENANCE – Needs ongoing maintenance

COST – $$$$

CONSIDERATIONS

- Needs ongoing maintenance to prevent staining and absorbing liquids

- Does wear and scratch over time

- Most expensive

LAMINATE

Laminate countertops are the cheapest of the five countertop options here. These are made from several layers of wood, paper and resin. Laminate countertops are very affordable and easier to install than all the other options. They are versatile and can be used in various places throughout the house.

There are many different design options and finishes with laminate countertops. Laminate countertops are very easy to clean and relatively easy to maintain. You can often find a laminate countertop from big box home retailers.

The big downside to laminate countertops is that they are not scratch or heat-resistant. Damage will appear if you put a hot pot or pan on its surface. And don't even think about chopping knives on them.

DESIGN CHOICES – Very wide

INSTALL – Easy

MAINTENANCE – Little to none

COST – $

CONSIDERATIONS

- Not heat or scratch-proof

- Vulnerable to water

- Not suitable for under-mount sinks

WOOD

Wood is the perfect choice if you are looking for a more natural countertop option. Wood countertops look beautiful with their more natural look and bring a rustic and warm element to a home.

The design options for wood are limited to the variety and types of wood available. You can, however, choose a more natural finish, such as a single slab or with a natural edge finish or go with a more engineered design.

Wood countertops are usually more straightforward to install. However, some work is required before and during installation.

Wood countertops require ongoing maintenance with sealing and regular oiling as wood is porous and allows water to enter. You can always sand the wood back and reseal it if necessary.

Cost-wise, wood countertops are on the cheaper end of the various countertop options. However, there is some variability depending on the type of wood you choose.

Like laminate, wood countertops require regular maintaince, as it is susceptible to water due to its porus nature and can be damaged by heat and easily scratched by knives.

DESIGN CHOICES – More limited

INSTALL – Easy

MAINTENANCE – Needs care and maintinace

COST – $$

CONSIDERATIONS

- Not heat or scratch-proof

- Vulnerable to water

OTHER MATERIAL

We have not included every possible countertop surface type here. We have not gone into detail on these ones as we don't recommend them as much, and they are less common.

PORCELAIN

If you need a countertop surface that is the most durable, heat-resistant, stain and scratch-resistant. Then, porcelain is the best choice here for durability. But it comes at a high cost.

ACRYLIC

Acryrlic countertops are made from resins, minerals and colourings. This material can be moulded into whatever design shapes you would love. It's non-porous, so it doesn't require sealing. But it can still scratch and burn easily and can discolour over time.

COUNTER THAT!

There we go, the five most popular countertop materials and our overall recommendation, quartz! If you are after a new kitchen countertop surface, let us know, as we can help you make the best decision to get a countertop that lasts.

TVs And Sound In Interior Design

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 20:45:00 GMT

TVs AND SOUND IN INTERIOR DESIGN

It's the end of a long day. You sit down, ready to binge your favourite TV series. You turn on your TV and realize that something is off. Several visible cables are coming out from your TV, and it's off-putting.

When designing your TV and sound system in your home, there are several things you can do to ensure that your TV doesn't create an eye sore but, at the same time, gives you the thrill of the latest movie release. Let's dive into some tips and tricks to help you create a home theatre-like experience that is clean and designed for your home.

TV & SOUND TECHNOLOGY

Let's address the technology elephant in the room. Modern TV and sound technology change more often than a referee makes a wrong call on the ice. Who remembers 3D TVs, let alone curved TVs? But if you need some guidance, Best Buy have a good series of articles on the latest technology, and how to interpret it.

In summary, there are three main types of display technology: OLED, QLED and mini LED. Most people couldn't tell the difference even if they had all three types of TVs sitting in front of them. We are fans of OLED technology for its color reproduction, but this comes at a price.

You will ultimately buy based on price but remember to consider supported apps, the user interface, and remote control ease of use.

When it comes to sound systems, you can choose to use the built-in speakers from your TV, a sound bar system, or a more traditional home theatre amplifier and speakers. We recommend getting a dedicated sound system, sound bar, or traditional speakers rather than the tinny and underpowered TV speakers.

For help and advice on which ones to purchase, we recommend this article on sound bars and this article for traditional home theatre sound systems .

A traditional home theatre audio system. Do you want to see or hear your speakers?

A sound bar system is a great place to start, and adding on a subwoofer and surround sound speakers will create a sound experience worth the investment. If you want to go full send, a traditional home theatre audio system with an amplifier and multiple speakers is the best for power and quality. A traditional system comes with a more significant price tag and the visual aesthetics of more prominent speakers in your living area.

We love the middle ground of a sound bar system with a subwoofer and small 'bookshelf' surround sound speakers. These systems take up much less space, and their technology has advanced significantly in recent years, making them very capable for most homes and spaces.

LAYOUT & TV SIZE

Getting your TV in the right place is vital to your living space. There are two trains of thought depending on how you use your living space. One is to have the TV as the primary focal point, with the sofa and seating centred around it so that you are facing it directly.

The other way is to set up your living room where your TV is not the room's focus. The seating and chairs facing each other around a coffee table. Install your TV off to the side on a swivel bracket so that it can swing out from a wall and into place for viewing but then be pushed back so that it does not dominate the space.

As a general guide for the size of TV you choose, measure the distance between the TV's location and where you will sit to watch it and divide it in half. For example, if you sit 100" from your TV, a TV in the 50" size range would be suitable.

You want to avoid placing your TV in front of windows unless you have drapes or blinds, ideally with blackout lining material, especially if you watch TV during the day.

DESIGN THAT TV

From an interior design perspective, incorporating a TV into your home is an opportunity to create a focal point and enhance the ambiance of your space.

Again, there are two ways to create your TV focal point. One is to take a minimalist approach, and the other is more traditional.

The minimalist approach to designing your TV is to install it on a wall bracket with a sound bar immediately under it. The cable TV box is installed directly behind the TV in either a wall panel or niche. No cables are showing, and all the devices are connected wirelessly to your home Wi-Fi or via internal routing behind the wall.

You can see this example in our design and build on West Hastings Street in Vancouver.

Minimalist approach to TV and sound in interior design

Our little hot tip is that most modern cable TV boxes are a fraction of their former size. Chat with your TV provider and see if they can swap out your old TV box for a smaller modern one that can easily sit behind your TV and out of sight.

The other approach is a more traditional installation, where your TV sits on top or as part of the millwork or cabinet. With your sound system installed as part of the millwork, it compliments the millwork in its finishing. Here, the amplifier and other associated technology sit in the millwork-designed storage out of sight. Cables run through the wall, or the TV sits on the cabinet.

You can see this example with our West Cordova Street interior design.

A more traditional approach with millwork or a cabinet to hide sound equipment

CAMOUFLAGE YOUR TV

You can do several tricks to camouflage a TV or sound system in your home. You can discretely use a black or darker colour palette to help disguise your TV by blending it on your wall. Blending your TV on a dark or black wall can also help create a more immersive viewing experience like a movie theatre.

Design your TV with a dark wall to blend it into your home

Incorporate your TV and sound system into a gallery wall, bookcase, or shelving unit surrounded by art or books. Many brands offer 'art style' TVs with skinny bezels, and you can show art on your TV to further the look.

Another option is to hide your TV behind a sliding panel, sliding doors, or window curtains that extend to cover a wall.

If you are installing a TV on the wall, we recommend that you choose a TV with a relatively thin profile and utilize a low-profile bracket so that the TV sits as close as possible to the wall.

'Art style' TV's with their thin bezels and showcase art

Regarding hiding speakers, we recommend choosing speaker colours that closest match your chosen colour palette. Most speakers come in white, black, or wood finishes. You also want to hide all the cables for speakers in the walls so that these do not show.

Subwoofer speakers can be placed anywhere as their sound is far less directional. They can be hidden away in a corner under a seat or shelf.

CONCLUSION

As you can see, there are many ways to make your TV and sound system look good in your living room. You don't have to sacrifice style for entertainment or vice versa. You can create a living room that is both functional and beautiful, with a TV and sound system that enhances your viewing and listening experience.

Lucky for you, we can help you choose TVs for your style and needs and design them for your home. Have a chat with us today, and let's see what we can do for you.

Five Useful Online Interior Design Tools

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 19:22:10 GMT

FIVE USEFUL ONLINE TOOLS

The internet has many useful tools for seeking design inspiration for your design and build. In this blog post, we will share five interior design tools and how to use them.

These tools are free, and some are easier to use if you create an account, usually to save projects or ideas. Others are entirely free. None of these websites or businesses have paid us to recommend their tools.

MICROSOFT BING IMAGE CREATOR

LINK HERE - www.bing.com/images/create/

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has revolutionized many industries, and image generators are no exception. AI-powered image generators are taking the world by storm, providing interior designers with new tools to create stunning visuals.

These AI image tools can generate design images to inspire you, and we recommend this is a great place to start when you are seeking interior design.

One popular and free AI image generator is Microsoft Bing Image Creator. With this tool, you enter keywords to guide the AI generator in creating a desired inspirational interior design image.

For instance, if you're seeking inspiration for condo interior design with a West Coast style and an orange theme, you can enter these keywords and wait for the generator to create an inspiring image that matches your criteria.

Inspiring AI Image Generation

CLICK LINK HERE - www.pinterest.com

If you're looking for more traditional inspiration for your interior design, then Pinterest is a great place to start. Pinterest is a social media platform that allows you to search for and save images and photos of interior design to find something inspiring for your project.

With Pinterest, you can search for different interior design styles and themes by entering keywords such as "Rustic Living Room" or "Modern Bedroom." You can select from various pins and images matching your search criteria and save them to your account, called "pinning."

One great feature of Pinterest is that you can create a catalogue of saved photos to share with your interior designer. This makes communicating your design ideas and preferences easier with your designer. You can also create different boards for different rooms or design themes, making it easy to keep your ideas organized and easily accessible.

ADOBE COLOR

CLICK LINK HERE - https://color.adobe.com

Colour is vital to any design and build project, and experimenting with different colours is essential for interior design. Choosing the right colour combination can make or break a design, which is where a colour wheel comes in handy.

One of the best colour wheels out there is Adobe Color. This colour wheel is handy to help you identify different colour combinations using basic colour science. With Adobe Color, you can explore various colour harmonies, including complementary, monochromatic, triadic, and more.

Once you've selected your harmony, drag the primary colour around the colour wheel until you find your desired colour.

For instance, if you're looking for a deep blue colour, you can select blue from the colour wheel and drag it around until you find the right shade. Adobe Color will generate four other colours that complement your primary colour and help guide your design. These colours can be used for accents, furniture, and more, giving you a cohesive look throughout your design.

Adobe Colour

COLOR VISUALIZATION

Choosing the right color for your home can be challenging. Fortunately, tools are now available to help you visualize what a particular paint colour will look like in your home. One of these tools is Visualizecolor.com by PPG.

Visualize Color is an online tool that allows you to upload photos of your home and then apply different paint colours to your walls virtually.

Firstly, take photos of the spaces in your house you would like repainted. Take photos of each wall from different angles, capturing the natural light in the room.

Head over to the Visualizecolour.com website and upload your photos. Then select the paint colors you would like to 'paint' with. Apply the colours to the walls and surfaces you would like to 'paint' either manually or using the paint roller tool.

Once you have your photo, save it and create comparison photos of other colors you want to work with to see what you love the most.

Interior Designers can help you get the design you love and the budget you have.

PLANNER 5D

Planner 5D is a user-friendly 3D design tool that allows you to create a virtual model of your space. You can start by measuring your existing space and then creating a layout in Planner 5D or using the handy wizard function. Add all the design elements you would like to your space, including doors, windows, furniture, appliances, and decor, and customize them to your liking. You can also choose from various styles, including modern, contemporary, traditional, and more.

One of the best features of Planner 5D is the ability to create high-quality renders of your design. You can see your space's appearance from different angles and lighting conditions. This helps you get a realistic idea of your design before you commit to any changes.

Planner 5D also includes several AI tools to help you create designs from scratch. These are great at providing inspiration for your design. With AI-powered design tools, you can enter your preferences and let the tool generate a layout based on your input.

However, it is essential to remember that these tools cannot replace the advice and experience of an interior designer when designing your home.

CONCLUSION

So there we go. Five free online tools that can help you inspire your design. We hope these can help you create a home. When you have been inspired by your design, contact us, and let's talk about how to make it come to life in your home. Remember, designing your home should be a fun and exciting experience, and with the help of these online tools, you can make it a reality.

Contact us today to book a free consultation with one of our interior designers. Bring your inspiration and we can make it happen.

Top Reasons To Use An Interior Designer

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 18:30:00 GMT

TOP REASONS TO USE AN INTERIOR DESIGNER

Using an interior designer has many benefits for renovating or building your home or project. Whether you want to create a new look, improve the functionality, or increase the value of your space, an interior designer can help you achieve your goals. In this blog post, we will share our top reasons to use an interior designer for your home.

EXPERIENCE

An interior designer brings years of experience in transforming and creating spaces, providing valuable knowledge and expertise in all interior design and building areas. An interior designer can help you with everything from space planning and layout, to selecting materials and finishes, to coordinating with contractors and suppliers.

An interior designer can also help you obtain permits, follow building codes and regulations, and ensure safety and quality standards. By hiring an interior designer, you can benefit from their professional skills and experience and avoid common pitfalls and problems that may arise during the design and construction process.

Experience counts in Interior Design, we have 20 years of it!

FRESH AND UNEXPECTED IDEAS

Interior designers have fresh and unexpected ideas for transforming a space or creating a style for your home. Interior designers can surprise you with options and possibilities you didn't know were possible, such as innovative storage, lighting, or furniture placement. Interior designers can also help you with problem areas in your home. Fix issues that you find you have with your existing home.

Interior designers can also help you discover new styles, trends, and inspirations for your space, and create a design that reflects your personality and preferences. By hiring an interior designer, you can explore new ideas and perspectives and create a unique and original space.

AVOIDING COSTLY MISTAKES

Hiring an interior designer can help you avoid costly mistakes that result in spending more time and money than necessary. An interior designer can help you plan and budget your project and avoid overspending or underestimating the costs. An interior designer can also help you avoid ordering the wrong products, choosing the materials that won't suit you, or making bad decisions that may affect the functionality or aesthetics of your space. An interior designer can also help you prevent delays, errors, or conflicts during the design and construction. Hiring an interior designer can save time and money and ensure a smooth and successful project.

BUDGET

Interior designers can help you select products and materials that fit your budget, drawing on their knowledge of product prices and quality to create a design that works for you. An interior designer can help you find the best deals, discounts, and sources for your products and materials and negotiate with vendors and suppliers on your behalf. An interior designer can also help you prioritize your spending and allocate your budget to the most important aspects of your project. By hiring an interior designer, you can get the most value for your money and create a design that meets your needs and expectations.

Interior Designers can help you get the design you love and the budget you have.

DECISIONS AND QUESTIONS

Interior designers can answer your questions and guide you through your project's many decisions and choices. An interior designer can help you clarify your vision and goals and define the scope and requirements of your project. An interior designer can also help you select the best products and materials and advise you on the pros and cons of different options. An interior designer can also help you communicate your ideas and feedback and manage the communication with contractors and other parties involved in your project. An interior designer can also help you resolve any issues or challenges that may arise during the design and construction process. By hiring an interior designer, you can have a trusted partner and advisor and ensure confidence and satisfaction in your project.

TRANSFORM YOUR HOME

Interior designers can completely transform your home, from layout and millwork design to lighting, flooring, and decor, creating a space that reflects your style and preferences. An interior designer can help you create a comfortable, functional, and beautiful space and enhance the quality and enjoyment of your living environment. An interior designer can also help you increase your home's value and appeal, making it more attractive and desirable for potential buyers or renters. By hiring an interior designer, you can achieve your dream home and create a space you love and cherish.

CONCLUSION

Using an interior designer has many benefits for renovating or building your home or project. An interior designer can provide experience, fresh and unexpected ideas, help you avoid costly mistakes, budget, decisions, and questions, and transform your home.

If you are looking for an interior designer for your home renovation, build or project, we can help you. Rodrozen Design + Build is a full-service design and build company specializing in residential and commercial projects. We have a team of talented and experienced interior designers who can help you create your ideal space.

Contact us today to book a free consultation with one of our interior designers. Let us help you turn your vision into reality.

Kitsilano Penthouse

Fri, 03 Nov 2023 16:55:34 GMT

KITSILANO PENTHOUSE

One of the most rewarding aspects for interior designers is transforming spaces that have great potential but need expert guidance to make a design come to life.

That was the case with this stunning penthouse in downtown Vancouver, which we renovated from top to bottom to create a modern and luxurious living space. In this blog post, we will share with you some of the design choices and challenges that Derick Rodrozen, our lead designer, faced.

CLOSED DOOR, OPEN HOUSE

Our homeowners approached us looking for a side grade of their living from a house to condo living. Once they secured this top-floor penthouse condo, we set about taking the initial measurements and turning the dreams for our homeowners into a grand space.

This 90’s apartment building had a conventional closed layout, with separate kitchen, dining and living spaces. So just like the Berlin Wall, it had to come down!

Our lead designer, Derick, saw an opportunity to really capitalize on the glorious views this condo had. “They wanted a very modern open space, they love to cook and entertain and so we had to achieve all of this and more.”

The design brief also called for maintenance of the three bedrooms of this home, to allow our homeowners the ability to have family come and stay, in a place they could call home.

Derick’s primary concept was to create a focal centrepiece of the home with a full-length, oversized kitchen island. But to do it in a way that meant that no pantry was required to be designed into the layout.

The living space looking with the Vancouver mountain view to the north.

ISLAND TIME

The kitchen island was designed to have three primary purposes. Firstly it had to provide a more informal breakfast bar experience. Secondly, it had to provide cooking space, which this does with ample space. And finally provide an entertainment hub, especially with its proximity to the entrance space.

The long kitchen island certainly posed its fair share of challenges. Rose Madini, our senior Interior Designer, noted that the countertop stone in particular was difficult, “we had to section the stone into four pieces due to the sheer size of the kitchen island.” The team managed to seamlessly combine all four pieces into one cohesive 24-foot-long piece of countertop.

Not only this, but having all the elements of the designed millwork, the LED strip lighting, and the space required for storage in the kitchen island, made getting this focal piece of the home right from the start just a little bit more challenging. “We had different elements of design in this one location, wood flooring, glass, lighting, millwork, they all had to come together to create this cohesive design”.

The centre piece of the project - a 24 foot long kitchen island

LIVING SPACED OUT

The living space features multiple different spaces to provide a multifunctional home. A home office with a custom-designed desk sits out towards the balcony with prime views out over English Bay. The dining space with its modern LED chandelier sits adjacent to the entertainment space which features enough space to swing a grand piano.

The living space contains a full-width fireplace with a set of concrete vertical tiles that reach the ceiling and help center the TV above the fireplace. Finally, an entranceway was created next to the kitchen island with mud room space contained behind oversized millwork doors hidden behind the front door.

TWO POINT FIVE BATHROOMS

The home features two bathrooms and a large powder room located immediately off the living space. Each bathroom has its own distinct style and theme. An oversized circular mirror is the centrepiece of the powder space that is supplemented with a concrete finish wallpaper adding texture that compliments the wood counter finish.

The guest bathroom has soft tones of green as its theme, with a delicate green stoned flooring tile that extends up the shower wall with a hexagonal backsplash around the elevated bathtub.

Finally, the ensuite bathroom room features some of Derick’s signature style and flair, with LED strip lighting that is reflected in the polished tiling.

“The master bathroom features a full spa in such a typical condo bathroom space. I managed to fit a home sauna system as well as a full walk-in shower and a dual vanity powder space into this bathroom which I am very proud of.”

BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER

Finally, Derick and his team brought the home all together with a multi-zone air conditioning system that features per-room controls integrated with a smart home system that controls everything you need in a modern home, lighting, sound systems, remote-controlled blinds, everything a modern Vancouver penthouse needs.

What aspect is Derick most proud of? “The kitchen, and the length of the kitchen island. The kitchen is the heart of the home and you can feel this here.”

If having a home like this sounds like you, contact us today and Derick can provide you an obligation-free design consultation to see what is possible with your home.

Latest Design Trends

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 21:41:40 GMT

LATEST DESIGN TRENDS

Its time for an update on all things design trends in Canada. We had a scout around what our fellow designers are working and creating including our own projects to see the latest and greatest in interior design trends.

COMFORT IS KEY

After having spent a fair bit of time in our homes in recent years, we still want to maintain that cozy feeling our homes provide. To make us feel relaxed and comfortable.

This means choosing soft fabrics, warm colours, plush furniture, and natural elements.

Bouncle is a type of durable yarn that is making a bit of a comeback in furniture, pillows and throws. This textured material is unique for its nubby surface and is often made with wool, a naturally insulating and warm material.

CB2 Gwyneth Ivory Boucle Swivel Chair

EVERY COLOUR IS THE NEW BLACK

While neutral tones are still popular, many Canadians are embracing more vibrant and expressive colours in their interiors.

Pantone’s colour of the year for 2024 is apricot crush, a warm and nourishing hue that pairs well with beige, rust, and amber. Other trendy colours include sage green, navy blue, mustard yellow, and coral.

Going along with this, we are seeing less of the all-white kitchens being a trend going into 2024.

Apricot Crush...Colour Of The Year?

SUSTAIN SUSTAINABILITY

Sustainability is now more important than ever. More and more Canadians are becoming aware of the environmental impact of their choices and opting for eco-friendly and ethical products. This means choosing natural, organic, recycled, or upcycled materials, such as wood, bamboo, cork, hemp, cotton, or wool.

The added advantage is that we are seeing fewer and fewer products featuring volatile organic compounds, which is good for your health when living in your home. We believe in using renewable resources in our building products.

NOW WITH ADDED FUNCTIONALITY

With many of us working from home or spending more time indoors, you need spaces that are versatile and adaptable to your needs. This means choosing furniture that can serve multiple purposes, such as sofa beds, storage ottomans, nesting tables, or foldable desks. Items that can serve their function, and then can be moved or tucked away when not in use.

Given the ever-decreasing living spaces in modern condo homes in Vancouver, it is important to create zones within a room that can be used for different activities, such as working, relaxing, reading, or entertaining.

For example, an adaptable space can have a movable partition that can separate or connect two zones, a modular sofa that can be rearranged into different configurations, or a multifunctional wall that can display art, hold shelves, or hide a TV.

Is it a sofa? Is it a bed? Is it an art display? Is it a desk?

FEEL THAT TEXTURE

Texture is everything. To add interest and depth to their spaces, Canadians are mixing and matching different textures and patterns. This can include combining smooth and rough surfaces, such as marble and concrete, or layering rugs, cushions, blankets, and curtains with different prints and motifs. Geometric shapes, floral prints, animal prints, and abstract art are some of the popular choices for adding visual appeal.

Working with different textures and surfaces creates contrast, which helps with the overall individual theme of any home. Be careful not to overdo anything, you still want it to have cohesiveness. That's where having an interior designer can help guide you to make the right decisions.

Contact us today and we can come to your home and create the interior design that works for your wants and needs while also taking into account the latest design ideas and trends.

Meet Our Landscaping Artist

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 20:30:00 GMT

MEET OUR LANDSCAPING ARTIST - EOIN

Gardens and landscapes are often considered a secondary thought to any design and build. But we think it's equally important for any home to incorporate a garden and green spaces.

Luckily, we have our own landscape designer on our team, introducing Eoin (pronounced like 'Owen'). Eoin is very distinguishable for his very tall height and thick Northern Irish accent.

So, let's dig (pun fully intended) into the topic of landscaping and gardening with our very own landscaper artist, Eoin.

BACKGROUND

Eoin began his passion for all things plants growing up in the rolling Irish hills of Northern Ireland, planting vegetables, and fruits (and potatoes). Ultimately this transferred through to plants, flowers, trees and shrubs.

Eoin took possession of a one-acre garden plot where he designed, created and maintained a beautiful garden, while also learning more advanced methods of landscaping and design. It's fair to say gardens and landscaping is a passion for Eoin.

INFLUENCES

Taking influence from some of the top landscapers from Europe, Eoin is acutely aware of landscaping trends and wants to bring a more naturalistic landscaping approach with his projects here in Vancouver. He designs his layouts to allow the plants space and ability to naturally grow in their environment. “Landscaping can sometimes be too static, I would like to bring a bit of energy and movement into people’s gardens.”

PROCESS

Finding out the location of where a garden is, is the first step in the process. Knowing if a plant will be fully exposed or hidden behind other buildings is important, and having a good knowledge of plants that can adapt to these environments is vital, “particularly downtown where there are a lot of rooftop gardens and balconies. These can be quite harsh conditions for plants.” Eoin chooses plants according to all these conditions including the wide variety of weather we get here in Vancouver.

Eoin finds out from the homeowner or client what their wants or likes are with plants and chooses according to these. For some of our homeowners, they might not be in their home all year round, so Eoin takes this into consideration when deciding on what products to use. “We also select planters and containers that have self-watering capabilities, so that homeowners never need to worry if they go away for a while.”

“Homeowners' first words are ‘I want a low-maintenance garden.” Eoin tries to help clients understand that low-maintenance gardens don’t need to be static entities and that introducing a more adventurous style of gardening will help encourage homeowners to become more engaged with their gardens. Already Eoin has seen some of our homeowners become more engaged gardeners than they ever thought they would be.

The next step is to design a vision for what the landscape and garden will look like. Eoin works with our Interior Designers to decide on the layout and then incorporate these into our computer-aided design plans so that clients can visualize these before Eoin starts planting.

The final step is implementation. Eoin has a good understanding of all the various nurseries here in Vancouver and what they offer, to then go and purchase the right plant, at the right price, in the right condition before throwing a shovel in the ground and getting his fingers green.

ADVICE

Eoin has one piece of advice to help anyone who enjoys gardening. "Using compost is great for planting, but it only has the nutrient and nourishing value that only lasts a few weeks and is designed for top dressing. Next time you plant something in your garden, use lawn soil as it is more moisture retentive, it won’t dry out and has more long-term nutrients.

CONCLUSION

We hope to share with you some of Eoin’s designs and landscapes that he creates with you soon. If you are looking to add some landscaping to your home, then contact us today and Eoin can create a garden space that works for your lifestyle.

Deficiencies

Mon, 17 Jul 2023 18:00:00 GMT

DEFICIENCIES

When we finish your design and build project, we want everything to look and function perfectly. Although we work hard to exceed your expectations, sometimes we find some small issues.

We call these "deficiencies," no matter how hard we try to avoid them, they can occur after every design and build. We aim to ensure everything is right and meets your high standards, so you can relax and enjoy your home without any worries.

WHAT IS A DEFICIENCY?

deficiency

noun, plural de·fi·cien·cies.

the state of being deficient ; lack; incompleteness; insufficiency.

There is a fair amount of jargon to get your head around regarding design and builds. One term you may hear about is "deficiency." Deficiencies refer to any part of the project that is not fully completed.

Deficiencies can show up in all sorts of ways, and typically these are considered smaller items. No matter where they come from, fixing any deficiencies as soon as possible is essential so they don't become even bigger problems later on.

WHY DO DEFICIENCIES EXIST?

Deficiencies in the building industry can be frustrating for homeowners and builders alike. Despite our best efforts to create high-quality projects, issues can still arise after the fact. While we strive to be as detailed and thorough as possible, the nature of the industry means that some problems may only become apparent after homeowners have moved in.

Additionally, many factors can contribute to deficiencies, including poor application, material issues, lack of proper inspection and improperly designed materials.

REALISTIC

As professionals in the building industry, it's important, to be honest and transparent with our homeowners. While we always aim for the highest possible standard in every project, it's important to understand that there may be a very small amount of limitations and constraints that prevent us from achieving absolute perfection. Deficiencies are a natural part of any project.

MANAGING DEFICIENCIES ONCE YOU MOVE IN

Moving into a new home can be an exciting experience, but sometimes, deficiencies may only become apparent after you've settled in. This can be frustrating, but addressing these issues as soon as possible is important to ensure that your home is safe and comfortable for you and your family.

If you do notice any deficiencies, we ask you to create a list of them. We will work with you and our team to address these issues promptly and efficiently, so you can continue enjoying your new home without any worries. Our goal is to provide you with a safe and comfortable living space, and we take pride in our commitment to ensuring that your needs are met.

HOLD BACK OF FUNDS

Regarding the holdback of funds in relation to deficiencies, it's important to understand that there is no connection between the two under the BC Builders Lien Act. Deficiencies are simply areas that need to be addressed or fixed. The holdback of funds is a financial safeguard that is put in place during the construction process.

It's also important to note that there is a difference between deficiencies and a warranty. A warranty guarantees our building work, and our company typically provides a two-year warranty. Additionally, many products have their manufacturer's warranty valid when you design and build with us. While deficiencies and holdback of funds may seem related, they are two distinct aspects of the construction process that are important to understand.

CONCLUSION

We hope this helps you understand this complex topic of deficiencies in designing and building. With your help, we can ensure that your home exceeds your expectations by avoiding and then addressing deficiencies, creating the home of your dreams.

Top 10 Reasons To Renovate - Part 2

Mon, 19 Jun 2023 23:15:00 GMT

Top 10 Reasons To Renovate (#5 - #1)

Part two of our top 10 reasons to renovate your home, here are our top five reasons to renovate your home. Check out part one of our top reasons to renovate here.

QUIETER AND DRIER HOME

A renovation provides an opportunity to soundproof your home with modern drywall technology. We can renovate using sound barrier drywall technology and building with multiple layers of drywall to further reduce sound travel. In addition, flooring products and underlay can reduce sound from below. We can also build with soundproof insulation in the wall spaces, and acoustic panels can be used on walls to further diffuse sound within a room. Soundproofing your home will also help reduce noise complaints from neighbours around you.

Today’s renovations also incorporate modern moisture-resistant drywall, which repels water and vapour moisture. Moisture-resistant drywall doesn’t shrink when drying, unlike traditional drywall technology. Moisture-resistant drywall also helps keep your bathroom more durable in the long term by reducing mould growth.

ADAPT TO YOUR LIFESTYLE

Have you got some changes coming in your life? Are you downsizing or upsizing? Is the mother-in-law moving in permanently? Or are children on the way? A modern renovation can help adjust your home for you and your lifestyle. Whether adjusting your layout for a children’s bedroom or creating a bathroom that suits you better as you age. Renovating your home will help create the space to work better around your needs as your life changes.

SMARTER DESIGN OPTIONS

Today’s interior designers and builders have vast knowledge about how to design a home with existing space constraints. Especially with small condos in Vancouver, we can use space better than in the past. We can build thinner internal walls, create shelve space in walls, place your coffee machine on a special drawer that tucks away to occupy less kitchen countertop space and create a lifting Murphy bed to create more space. Do you have a weird space in your home that was previously unable to be used? Today’s designers have more creative solutions than ever before.

INCREASED VALUE

One of the primary reasons for renovating your home is the investment you put into the renovation provides you with a value increase to your home. In addition, you can renovate strategically to help improve your return on investment.

Focus on items with more visual appeal and appearance, such as the kitchens and bathrooms. If you can increase the amount of square footage or improve the space efficiency you already have. Consider adding decks, fire pits and pools if you can. If you want to increase the appeal to energy-conscious buyers, consider replacing your old appliances and lighting with energy-efficient options.

ENJOYMENT

Finally, our top reason for getting a renovation is the enjoyment of having a newly renovated home, yours to sit down, enjoy, relax and appreciate living in. This is your space to live in and to grow. Now is the time to take in all of the benefits we have listed here and many more we have not and combine them into the fact that this is your home now. Enjoy!

Did these reasons get you into the renovating mood? Then, talk with us today and let’s see what renovation we can do for you in your condo to turn it into your home.

Top 10 Reasons To Renovate - Part 1

Fri, 26 May 2023 21:00:00 GMT

Top 10 Reasons To Renovate (#10 - #6)

Why renovate your home? We can think of many good reasons why you should renovate. Here are five reasons why you should renovate your home. Whether it’s a condo, or a house, renovating can improve many aspects of your life.

We have broken down our top 10 reasons to renovate into two parts, keep an eye out for part two in June 2023.

MAKES YOUR HOME YOURS

Renovating your home finally allows you to make your home yours. Go from living in a place you purchased to living in a place that is your home, not someone else’s. You can put all the things you have wanted into your home that you have dreamed of having. You can style it according to what colours and materials that you love. You should have a place you are proud to call home, to invite friends and family over, a place you recognize as your home.

IMPROVED HEALTH

Renovating your home can have several health benefits. Firstly removing old mould from wet areas can help reduce respiratory problems. And on that topic, if you are renovating, add a modern, efficient air conditioning system with a HEPA filter which can remove up to 99.97% of airborne particles, including mould, dust and bacteria.

Newer building technology is healthier than previous generations of products. For example, we use non-toxic paints now as the norm, recycled denim insulation is healthier as it is free of harmful chemicals like traditional insulation, and many products have a natural or ecologically friendly alternative today.

Having a home with more natural light can improve your mental health. And, of course, showing off your new home to friends helps improve your social health.

TECHNOLOGY

For all you tech geeks out there, this is where renovating your home allows you to include all the advantages of a modern smart home system to your home. Wifi-enabled appliances, a fridge that can tell you what you need to add to the shopping list, blinds and lights that function simply by using voice commands, the options are endless.

When it comes to your home security, many systems, such as smart door locks and doorbell systems, allow you to answer anyone who knocks on your door even when you are not at home.

ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE HOMES

Building products today have less carbon footprint than previous home-building materials. For example, concrete today has less carbon release than in the past, and we are more conscious of how much concrete is used in buildings.

Appliance technology is more efficient than before. Smart home systems can help reduce the number of lights left on. LED lighting technology uses a fraction of the power of traditional filament bulbs. Homes can be built to use less water and to recycle water to reduce our impact on this natural resource.

Passive homes are a standard of energy-efficient building that uses little to no energy for heating and cooling by incorporating passive systems such as high-quality insulation and ventilation. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a certification process for recognizing passive home building and energy-efficient home designs.

REDUCED HOME MAINTENANCE

A home renovation can reduce your home maintenance requirements as you replace old building products that have met the end of their useful life. No more replacing and patching up parts of your home that are failing. Furthermore, suppose you have a problem with something in your home. In that case, a renovation allows you to identify and replace it before it becomes bigger and more expensive to replace.

Keep an eye out for the second part in this two part series being published here in June 2023.

What are some of your reasons for renovating your home? Then, contact us today and let’s see how we can turn that reason into reality.

Designing A Bedroom For The Perfect Sleep

Tue, 09 May 2023 23:15:00 GMT

DESIGNING A BEDROOM FOR A PERFECT SLEEP

Sleep is a significant problem for many people, and there is no shortage of advice on how to get a good night's sleep. For this blog post, we wanted to take a slightly more interior design angle on this topic. How can we design and build the perfect bedroom for the best night's sleep?

A QUIETER PLACE

Silence is critical to a good night's sleep. So how can we design a quiet room? If you are completing a renovation or new build, we can use soundproofing drywall in the walls and ceiling. We recently completed a project using multiple layers of soundproofing drywall to even further reduce sound. We can also install sound-dampening insulation into the wall space.

We can use soundproofing glue and soundproof floor under-layers to reduce noise from the floor below if you live in an apartment or have sound that comes from under your home.

If you are not renovating your home, you can still reduce your sound with rugs and floor mats. Using thick and heavy curtains in your bedroom also helps reduce the sound from outside windows.

DARK DAYS ARE COMING

The other key to a good night's sleep is darkness. Blackout curtains are the key to reducing the light in a bedroom, especially here in Vancouver, where plenty of light comes from the city at night. Curtains with blinds behind can help further reduce the amount of light coming in, but blackout curtains are the best way to stop light coming in. It also helps to have a bedroom door that seals tight, including on the floor, to reduce light leakage from other rooms.

COLOURS

Did you know that colour has a part to play in your mood? And without being consciously aware of it, the colour blue can help induce sleep. We wouldn't recommend going with bright baby blue. More of a muted blue. Blue has been proven to help calm the brain, evoking a relaxing environment for study or, in this case, sleep.

LET THERE BE (ORANGE) LIGHT

Everyday light bulbs work can come in a few different shades of 'white.' Light bulbs can range between blue, through what we consider white, and then into orange. Similar to how our sunrises are blue, the middle of the day is white, and the sunset is orange.

Your mobile devices are great at filling your eyes with blue light, which stops the release of melatonin which we need to sleep well. So one simple thing anyone can do is change your bedroom's light bulbs to orange-coloured bulbs. When you look at the side of the light bulb box, you are looking for a number of 4000k or below, or sometimes you might see a scale between blue and orange.

If you have a smart lighting system in your home, chances are you can customize your lights in various colours. For example, you want to set lights for the warmer, more orange tint at night to help induce sleep, much like when the sun sets.

A COOL BREEZE IS IN THE AIR

The optimal room temperature for sleep at night is around 18 degrees Celsius or 65 degrees Fahrenheit. So we won't get into an inter-relationship argument here about who is the hot or cold sleeper or who hogs the sheets the most. However, the temperature you sleep at has been well researched, and 18 degrees is optimal for your circadian rhythm to get the best night's sleep.

So how do we design and build a bedroom to support this, with air conditioning! And ideally, room zone controllable air conditioning systems so that your bedroom is monitored for an accurate temperature and airflow is delivered to your room directly.

SLEEPING BEAUTY

Building the perfect bedroom can be a dream come true, just like Sleeping Beauty's fairy tale ending. You can create a space that's both functional for sleep and magical. So go ahead and make your dreams come true with your perfect bedroom. Contact us today for an obligation-free design consultation with one of our designers.

Creating A Realistic Budget

Fri, 21 Apr 2023 20:59:01 GMT

CREATING A REALISTIC BUDGET

Money is often a primary factor influencing the size and scope of a renovation or new build project. Before starting your construction on any project, we develop a fixed-price budget so that you know exactly how much your project will cost.

Before we create a budget for your design and build, it's essential to know what to expect before we show you your budget. So with that in mind, here are three helpful tips to help you achieve a realistic budget. This will help keep your project realistic and achievable.

GROUNDWORK

We can't tell you how often people have approached us, asking for a complete home renovation, and we ask what their rough budget is, "I have $10,000" is the answer. We don't want to create any false hopes. Building and construction isn't a cheap exercise, it's an investment.

Find out how much it costs to renovate or build in Vancouver. Use the internet and do some research, Google search building costs, read blogs and ask AI chatbots. Typically rough costs are provided by either the type of room, i.e. bathroom or kitchen renovation, or by price per square foot.

It's hard for us to provide a cost for a renovation as each project is unique and has many variables. We give an answer to the question of 'how much will it cost' in this blog here.

Also, find out how much the costs are for items used in building or renovating. Go and visit a showroom in Vancouver. We would recommen d Robinson Lighting & Bath and Cantu Bathroom & Hardware as good starting points. Research how much drywall is, how much paint costs per square foot, how much that fancy spa bath costs, or how much a basic one costs.

Plenty of pricing guides and online calculators can help give you an idea of how much a particular room will cost. Also, if you know someone who has recently completed a renovation or build, ask them about their budget.

NEEDS, NECESSITIES AND NICETIES

It helps to understand your priorities regarding your design and build. This is also helpful for our designers before you even pick up the phone or email us . A valuable way of finding your priorities for any renovation or new build is to create a list of everything you need, want and would like to have in your home.

Think about all the things you use daily in your home. Most of these items will be the things you need in a home.

Then think about all the things you don't have that you want to have. For example, would you want a touch faucet in the kitchen or a bidet in the bathroom? You might be able to compromise on a few of these things if you had to.

Finally, think about everything you would like to have in your home. Would you like to have a pool? What about a wine cellar? What about a two-story car lifting elevator? These will most likely be the big ticket items, and chances are you can probably go without most of these things, but if they fit in your budget, then put them on the like list.

Before our initial design consultation, create this list so that you have a list of priorities for what we design. Our designers will also help you understand what items are reasonable to include based on your budget throughout our design process.

A PLAN FOR PLAN B

The final tip when creating a realistic budget is to add a 10% to 15% contingency. We do everything possible to stay within the budget, including creating fixed-price contracts for our designs and builds. You can read all about that in our blog on this topic.

Renovations are complicated, and sometimes projects incur unforeseen costs. Often we don't find out about challenges until we demolish and open up walls. Suddenly we find that the old electrical system might need updating for a modern home. We do everything we can to predict and avoid these challenges.

The other thing that often increases a project's budget is changes as we progress through the construction phase. It's normal for homeowners to change the design as we progress into the project, and most changes cost more money and add more time to complete. So we recommend adding a 10% to 15% buffer in your budget to ensure you can manage any cost overruns.

THE GRAND TOTAL

We hope this has helped you understand what to expect before we start discussing budgets for your design and build. If you have any questions about budgets, email us at info@rodrozen.com

Hanging Wall Art

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 18:40:30 GMT

HANGING WALL ART

Are you looking for a way to spice up your walls and showcase your personality? If so, you might consider hanging art or photographs on your walls. This is a great way to add colour, texture, and interest to your space and express your style and preferences. However, hanging art and photography on your walls can also be challenging.

Knowing how to choose the right size, style, or layout for your wall or how to create a cohesive and harmonious look can be challenging. This blog will give tips and examples on creating a stunning gallery wall that reflects your taste. Whether you want to go for a simple, elegant, or that eclectic look.

ART TO HANGING ART

Hanging art on your walls is not just a matter of personal preference but also a skill requiring planning. However, some general guidelines can help you hang your art at the perfect height, width, and space for your wall.

One of the most common rules is to hang your art at eye level, about 57 inches from the floor for most people. This allows for a comfortable and natural viewing experience for most people. However, this rule can vary depending on the height of your ceiling and if you have any furniture you need to hang art or photographs above.

For example, if you are hanging art above a sofa or a bed, you should leave space between the top of the furniture and the bottom of the frame, around 4 to 10 inches . You should also make sure that the art is proportional to the furniture. About two-thirds to three-quarters of its width is a general guide.

THEME & STYLE

One of the challenges of creating a gallery wall is to choose a theme of art that suits your space and your style. A theme can help create a cohesive and harmonious look for your wall. There are different ways to choose an art theme for your home.

One way is to select a colour theme and use pieces that complement or contrast that colour theme. You can see this in this home in Marinaside Crescent , where a series of colourful pastel art pieces with matching gold frames completes the theme along this wall.

Another popular theme is selecting a theme based on a subject, such as travel, nature or family. Then utilize other pieces that match or complement the chosen subject.

Add texture to your theme by combining different art forms, such as free-standing sculptural pieces. As seen in our Georgie Award-nominated project in West Cordova Street .

TEST & RE-TEST

Once your theme is nailed down (pun totally intended), you next want to test your layout. Again, there are a few different ways of doing this.

One method is to arrange your frames on the floor in front of the wall and experiment with different arrangements until you find one you like . You can then take a photo of the layout and use it as a reference when hanging your art. Another method is to trace the outlines of your frames on kraft paper or newspaper and cut them out. You can then tape the cutouts to the wall with painter's tape and move them around until you find the best layout from a size perspective.

A third method is to use a wall art visualizer app that allows you to upload a photo of your wall and a photo of your art and see how they will look together . Some apps also let you adjust the lighting, angle, and wall colour to create a realistic simulation .

One of the advantages of using an Interior Designer is that we can 'hang' all of your art and photographs in your design in our computer models and show you in a 3D walk through how your art will appear on the wall well before we even start knocking down doors.

HANGING OUT

When it comes to hanging your art, you want to ensure you have the right tools and fixing devices for your art. You can use nails, screws, or hooks that can be quickly hammered or screwed into the wall for light and small artwork .

For heavier and larger artwork, you may need anchors, toggles, or brackets to support more weight and secure your art to the wall . Make sure you have a level, measuring tape and a hammer. If you don't have a level, you can download apps that will do a good enough job on your phone.

Use a pencil to mark where you want to hang your pictures on your wall. Next, drive a nail or place a hook on the spot so it hangs about 1⁄4 inch from the wall. Next, set your wall art or photograph on the nail or hook and use your levelling device to ensure it is level. Repeat this process for each piece of art until you complete your gallery wall.

SIT BACK & ENJOY

We hope you have learnt a thing or two about hanging art. Although we can help you design and build your home, we can refresh your home as interior designers. And as part of our service, we can hang your art for you. Contact us today and tell us about your art and what you want to hang.

The Ultimate Kitchen Sink

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 01:00:00 GMT

THE ULTIMATE KITCHEN SINK

They say that you can throw everything out but the kitchen sink. But not if you are the ultimate master chef or a self-proclaimed home master chef.

Today, if you want to be your most creative in the kitchen, you need the tools and space to be your most creative. So that's where today we will throw the proverbial baby out with the bath water and introduce the ultimate in kitchen sinks, the Smart Station by Julien Home Refinements.

SMARTER THAN YOUR AVERAGE SINK

The heart of the kitchen is the sink. This is where food is cleaned and prepared for cooking, and once it is cooked, dishes are rinsed or washed. This is where food scraps end up, and we clean the kitchen.

From a design perspective, a Smart Station sink looks just stunning. The stainless steel finish gives an air of professionalism while adding a design flair that keeps it looking great even when it's full of dirty dishes.

Of course, you can include any kitchen faucet to go with a Smart Station, and there is no shortage of faucet options these days. Our favourites are the touch-sensor faucets that require a finger tap to turn them on and off. No more messy raw chicken liquids on leavers or handles!

PERSONALISATION & CUSTOMISE

Smart Station, single bowl sinks, come in a range from 12" all the way up to 60". Then you can decide if you want a single or double sink. Apart from the a la carte options, all Smart Station sinks are under-mount sinks, which means that the countertop goes over the top of the edge of the sink. This gives a clean finish to your Smart Station and provides a modern design.

Once you have decided on your sink size and configuration, it's time to get a little crazy. The accessories of the Smart Stations are where this sink stands out from the rest and gives the home chef or entertainer the added advantage.

You can add on custom-sized cutting boards, serving bins with bowls, trays, drying racks, serving bowls and colanders and a grid for the bottom to protect the stainless steel from cutlery scratches.

If that sounds too much, then Julien has made it easier by providing three configuration sets. The essential station covers the most popular accessories for the everyday home cook. For the cocktail maker, the bar station. The final set is the service station set, where all the accessories are included.

À LA CARTE

Just when you thought you could throw in everything, including the kitchen sink, Julien up the anti and created an À la Carte option. Here you can customize everything!

Want to add that farmhouse-style apron along the leading edge, done. Want to make it a top mount to protect more delicate countertops, done! Add a drain board, pop a built-in drawer for cleaning brushes and soap, done! This is really creating your ideal kitchen sink.

So if you are a budding master chef or just someone who would like an air of elegance with matching accessories to your kitchen. Get in contact with out team of designers today , and let's see what we can create in your new kitchen design and build.

Georgie Award Nominations 2023

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 22:19:25 GMT

GEORGIE AWARDS 2023 NOMINATIONS

We are proud as punch to announce that Rodrozen Design + Build are finalists in the 2023 Georgie Awards . This is certainly not our first foray into designing and building something beautiful and being recognized by our peers. The Georgie Awards are the premier BC design and construction awards that recognize the best of the best by a panel of judges who are impartial as to who the designers and builders are. So awards are given on merit of their challenges, how they were overcome and the end results.

We have been nominated for two of our stunning designs and builds this year. We would like to share a little bit about them before the awards are presented in May this year.

HARBOUR HAVEN

This condominium renovation is our art collector's dream home. We designed this home around our homeowner's love of art. We created a stunning hallway art gallery that features a showcase glass display of a rather unique sculpture for our homeowners.

A full hallway-length millwork with starphine ultra-clear glass and LED up lighting features space for artwork to be displayed on. As well as individually lit art for the wall space.

In the entranceway, we reconfigured the space to create an open laundry and mud room space. In addition, we built a custom-designed home theatre room featuring vertical wood millwork features and a custom-made sofa for enjoying the latest movies.

Our homeowner's entertaining requirements were exceeded by designing a wine and cocktail bar with LED lighting, custom wine glass holders, preparation space and soft-close wine racks.

We further expanded on the art display theme of this Vancouver renovation by creating an extensive millwork storage feature in the dining space. This includes a niche with LED lighting for the smaller art items to display and a precisely sized niche with wood trim for artwork to be located prominently over the oval dining table.

Finally, we create a kitchen for our homeowner's dream, a large countertop kitchen island, plenty of storage everywhere, a pull-out pantry and a disguised office space behind two slide-in pocket doors. You can see more of this condo renovation here.

NAUTICAL DREAMING

Our second of two nominations is a condo renovation that we completed in Yaletown, Vancouver. Overlooking the False Creek harbour area, this renovation features three bedrooms and two bathrooms to cater to a growing family's needs.

The most significant challenge this project involved was moving the kitchen from one side of the condo to the other. This involved creatively designing services to and from the kitchen from different parts of the house. We were pretty happy to have pulled this off, as the result is a beautiful open home condo where the kitchen is now included in the social flow of the home.

We moved the adjacent bedroom over to where the kitchen used to be and built an internal window into this bedroom to allow our homeowners to keep a close eye on their children.

Other layout changes included increasing space in the master bedroom to incorporate a long cupboard for clothing while adding a laundry space into the existing kitchen area for storage and an HVAC system for efficient cooling and heating.

Our design touches included a photo art gallery in the hallway with a panel that can be replaced with photographs when the homeowners desire new ones. If you would like to see more on this design and build please have a look here.

We are very fortunate enough that clients come to us and trust us to be able to create beautiful homes. We never design our homes to be award-winning. However, projects like these allow us to include them in our award submissions.

We are looking forward to May when the Georgie Awards take place, and we hope to be able to bring you news of the result once we know.

2023 Kitchen & Bathroom Trends

Wed, 18 Jan 2023 19:35:14 GMT

2023 KITCHEN & BATHROOM TRENDS

We are firing into the new year, and it's a great time to see what is in demand regarding the latest trends in interior design, specifically the kitchen and bathroom. We had a chat with Clay from DME Premium Fixture Solutions about the hot potatoes in these parts of the home. No puns were intended to be harmed in writing this blog.

MIXING IT UP

Regarding plumbing fixtures in kitchens, we are seeing more products that feature mixed finishes. This is often the case with kitchen faucets, mixing metals such as brass or bronze with silvers and matte finishes such as white and black. Going with single-material finishes is so 2022! Plus, these Baril faucets just look incredible.

As a general guide, you want to ensure you don't go crazy with mixed materials everywhere. You want to stick to roughly three different materials in your kitchen to ensure you keep a consistent design philosophy in mind.

You can also do the same in other kitchen areas, such as the countertop. It is possible to combine natural or artificial stones with more application-focused finishes, such as cutting board wood that contrasts nicely. This is great if you want to add more typical elements of the west coast look.

ALL THE FRILLS

Accessories designed to fit your kitchen sink help make cooking and food preparation worth your time and effort in the kitchen. Julien has a range called Essential Accessories that feature beautiful maple and walnut wood that stands out in your kitchen. Everything from cutting boards to serving bins to drying racks and presentation boards all adds functionality.

The good news is that even if you have an existing kitchen, provided your sink size is within a certain standard size range, they can work for you.

FLUSH IT - REAL GOOD!

Another accessory we see flushing through the industry is customized flush actuator plates, a fancy name for the button that flushes your toilet. Firstly, you need one of those beautiful yet handy wall-mounted toilets to get one of these. Then, you can look at customizing it with any number of plates that come in elegant designs.

Again those mixed materials come into play here, brass buttons with walnut base, chrome with concrete, and black chrome with pearl white. You can get very creative here with these faceplates from Geberit.

LET IT RAIN

A simple concept, take your typical shower head and spread it out over a more extensive "fall" area. The result is that you have more of a luxurious shower experience. These Baril shower heads produce something akin to a waterfall or being gently rained on.

Since the shower head uses a thin frame, they use a similar amount of water as a traditional shower head, ideally 2.5gpm or less. As a building company, we can help guide you as to which shower heads are energy and water efficient while still providing you with a luxurious shower experience.

SOMETHING ABOUT MARIE

Are you after the latest and most modern bathroom plumbing fixtures? Then Baril has a stunning new collaborative collection with Marie Saint Pierre , a fashion designer based in Montreal. Her bathroom fixtures artwork collection is unique and intrinsic within a modern and contemporary bathroom design. Her collection incorporates circular controls and uses mixed material concepts to produce these stunning bathroom faucets.

TRENDING IDEAS

Like all trends, some survive well into the future, like 70's music, while others less so. Whatever you incorporate into your design, it is essential that what you choose is timeless so that it lasts well beyond your use.

If you are eyeing up a new kitchen or bathroom, send us a message , and let's talk about what we can do to help you with your design and build.

Designing For Small Bathrooms

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 20:09:09 GMT

DESIGNING FOR SMALL BATHROOMS

Vancouver has no shortage of small bathrooms. Ever-rising condo buildings are resulting in smaller and smaller bathroom spaces. Several design ideas can be incorporated to maximize space when renovating a bathroom. We had a chat with Clay from DME Premium Fixture Solutions to hear what can be used to create creative design solutions in small bathrooms.

MAGIC TRICKS

There are several optical illusions that we can perform when designing a bathroom. It's almost like being a magician! Removing plumbing fixtures from the floor can reduce the amount of floor space occupied by these rather bulking objects. Doing this creates a sense of 'floating' plumbing fixtures, an optical illusion which creates a more significant impression of space.

The first of these bathroom fixtures we can 'float' is the toilet.

Using a in-wall toilet system , the water tank can be installed inside the wall with a full frame that supports the weight of the toilet seat and bowl. Geberit have a range of inwall system that are built into the framing of the bathroom. These in-wall systems can support the weight of a bowl up to 880lbs!

And once the tiling is completed, the bowl and toilet seat are 'hung' onto the in wall frame. This can reduce up to two square feet of space alone.

Wall-hung toilets have the added advantage of accessing the entire floor under the bowl, allowing for easier and more hygienic cleaning. Keep in mind that some in-wall systems must be installed over any existing drain locations. Drain locations are easier to move in a house but are often difficult to move in a multilevel apartment. There are always creative solutions to these challenges.

You can see an example of innovative solutions in our blog post on this dual-bathroom renovation.

FLOATING AWAY

The vanity is the next major plumbing fixture we can design creatively in small bathrooms. Laufen has a series of beautiful wall-hung vanities that come in various sizes depending on how much storage you need. These wall-hung vanities again create a floating sensation to the cabinets and vanity basin.

Like the in-wall toilet systems, these floating vanities take up no floor space, so cleaning is much easier under.

MIRROR MIRROR ON THE WALL

Storage is everything in a modern home. Unless you're a hardcore minimalist, everyone needs space to store bathroom items. An in-wall cabinet helps provide storage space in an area often underutilized, the wall space.

In-wall cabinets can reduce the visual essence of space while providing storage space. Sidler have several series of cabinets including their Sidelite cabinets, can be installed inside the wall space, and it features an uplift mirrored door, this way, it doesn't swing out into the bathroom, which takes up more…space!

Having a mirror in a bathroom might be obvious. But they also perform double duty in that the use of glass, mirrors and reflective surfaces in bathrooms all create depth. Going back to our magician helps create a visual sense of space, vital in small bathrooms.

Sidler cabinets can be mounted flush with the wall if you choose. However, to maximize space in small bathrooms, we recommend having them built into the walls, either 4" or 6".

These cabinets also feature electrical plugs inside the cabinets. This reduces the visual clutter around the vanity areas in bathrooms of plugs, chargers and accessories and keeps them tidy and hidden away in the cabinet.

NIC(H)E SPACE

The wall space features a lot when it comes to interior design for small bathrooms. A creative design solution we can utilize in our small bathrooms is a wall niche in the bathing area. Whether it's a walk-in shower or a free-standing tub. We can design these spaces perfectly on the wall, giving you room to store all your shower or bathing toiletries.

These wall niches are designed to a depth of four inches. They feature a slight slant on the base so that water naturally drains out, but not enough that everything tips over.

In our wall niche spaces, we often utilize LED strip lighting in these areas. This helps with lighting in general but also performs that visual trick we discussed above of creating a sense of depth.

You can see an example of a niche in our West 36th Avenue project here.

STANDING FREE

Installing a free-standing bathtub is another excellent way to reduce the sense of space in a bathroom. Compared to a built in bathtub, these tubs have visual space on either end of the tub, rather than a built in tub where the surround is built into the tiling.

BainUltra make a series of free-standing tubs that use a unique monocoque technology that creates even thinner walled bathtubs. This reduces the external size, but also increases the internal bathing size. You can also get these tubs in a version that allows you to sit more upright, reducing the required space.

And if you want to go all out, you can get these bathtubs with their ThermoMasseur® hydrothermal massage system.

LET THERE BE LIGHT

Finally, going light and bright when designing small bathrooms will always help create a sense of space. And this is a specialty of ours! We love featuring lots of bright lighting. We use LED lighting for the vast majority of our bathroom spaces, as they use much less power than traditional forms of lighting. They are also dimmable, so you can do so easily if you want to create a moody bathroom environment.

If you have a small bathroom in Vancouver that needs a redesign and renovation, chat with our design team today and let's create an expansive contemporary bathroom for you.

638 Beach Cresent Dual Bathroom Renovation

Wed, 16 Nov 2022 19:42:09 GMT

638 BEACH CRESCENT

DUAL BATHROOM RENOVATION

We were approached by the homeowners of this Yaletown condo, who had a modern condo, but their bathrooms lacked style and space for their needs. The idea was to renovate and create two distinct bathrooms that served individual purposes within their home.

Space efficiency and creating more area were a high priority in this design and build. Our homeowners wanted their bathrooms to match the contemporary feel of the rest of their beautiful condo. So let's dive into some of the details of their individual bathrooms.

MASTER BATHROOM

The overall theme of the master bathroom is to craft a spa-like experience. Reminiscent of Turkish Hammams and Japanese Onsens. We feature a full-height walk-in shower with a relaxing bench seat, a large shower head, a handheld shower head, and wall-mounted water heads.

Initially, we wanted to add a steamer, but after a few changes, we elected not to. However, space has been maintained to install a steamer in the future.

The other stand-out feature of this bathroom is the wall-mounted toilet. One of the challenges of installing a wall-mounted toilet is that the existing drainage location cannot be relocated, a common issue in condos. We build a box out from the wall with storage space above the toilet. We created strip LED lighting around the perimeter of the toilet to create a floating, detached look.

To create more space, we pushed the bathroom into the storage space in the entranceway. We ensured the right amount of space was altered to expand the bathroom while ensuring that the entranceway maintained space for storage and a bench seating area.

Again one of our signature design features is the extensive LED lighting. We designed four separate systems that are all dimmable to create different feelings and moods based on our homeowner's needs. When fully illuminated, the bathroom is white and bright. When dimmed, the bathroom is seductive and sensual.

LED LIGHTING

Our LED lighting designs are one of our signature features. We design lighting to achieve the utilitarian purpose of lighting a space and designing an aesthetically appealing space. These bathrooms are typical for a Rodrozen Design And Build in that we create different zones with dimmable lighting. The lights in this bathroom feature independent dimmable controls.

That way, the homeowners can craft their own mood for the bathroom space, set the dim setting, and then turn on and off the lights as required.

The master bathroom features six separate lighting controls. An example of three of the different lighting moods that can be created is exemplified in these photos below.

GUEST BATHROOM

Our homeowners wanted to create a surprising yet relaxing space that felt luxurious with a deep, dark and moody design palette. This bathroom also had to double as a powder room for the home.

We designed the layout around a full-length 62-inch spa tub with air jets and a heater for maintaining water temperature. This bathtub is big enough for two people! Our design challenge was to fit a 62-inch bathtub into a 59-inch space. We achieved this by taking a few inches on either side into the walls.

We used floating vanities to help reduce the floor print size of this tiny space. We also incorporated a wall-hung toilet into the existing floor-mount toilet drain locations, extending the toilet into the bathroom by ten inches.

To create this bathroom's dark look, we used an Xlight premium aged dark and Liem Dark times that feature plenty of gloss and polish to set the scene. This was further supplemented with a Cambria Dunmore countertop for the vanity.

The centrepiece of this bathroom is the mini art gallery above the wall-hung toilet. This custom glass-blown sculpture was built into the top of the wall-hung toilet in a glass showcase box with LED lighting to bring bold red and oranges into the space.

Like the master bathroom, we used an extensive array of LED strip lighting to create a sense of floating for the wall-hung toilet. The entire LED lighting is independently controlled with dimmable switches.

Finally, a four-inch niche above the bathtub helps provide storage for bathroom products and candle lighting to help boost this moody guest bathroom into what it is.

If you are looking for a small bathroom renovation for your condo or home, chat with us, and we can see what modern bathroom we can design and build for you.

To view the full project photos and video, have a look on our projects page here.

The Design Process

Mon, 29 Aug 2022 23:03:48 GMT

THE DESIGN PROCESS

Crafting beautiful homes and commercial projects is why we are Interior Designers. We get a kick out of working with new and existing spaces to develop inspirational designs that suit your needs. There is a process to designing a renovation or new home build. Like any project, it's all about effective planning. The designing phase of any design and build is the part that allows us to be creative while ensuring we have planned correctly for building success.

This blog will help explain how we work with you to create a design that will blow your socks off!

STEP ONE - CONSULTATION

Our first objective is to sit down and listen to you. You most likely have a bunch of ideas already, wants and needs, and this is where we want to hear what those are. We recommend jotting down ideas when they come to you so you can put them all on the table when you meet with us.

Sometimes it might feel like you have so many ideas and no concept of the finished project, and that's o.k. Our designers work by listening to you and formulating a project vision.

It's also essential to get to know who you are; it helps to know where you are in life and what life events may shape your needs now and in the future, for example, planning on having a family? Then we can look at making rooms easily convertible to a children's bedroom. Are you looking at downsizing? We can create intelligent storage solutions to fit all your household belongings.

It's also good to know what type of person you are. For example, do you enjoy socializing, we can build a wine or cocktail bar. Are you more of a study work? We can craft a small study nook or a libr ary if you want a quiet space.

STEP TWO - DRAFTING & LAYOUT

Once we have the information about your project and what we need to know about you, we can start creating proposed layouts.

As designers, we do what's called Space Planning, working with the existing or proposed space and balancing the proportions of what is important to you.

Typically we break down the spaces into four main types, socializing (lounge & kitchen), private (bedroom & bathrooms), working (office space) and storage (closets, shelves, general storage).

If you work from home, then we need to prioritize office space. If you love entertaining, we prioritize the lounge, kitchen and outdoor areas if available. If you like your private time, then quiet spaces for reading and relaxing are emphasized. We find a balance between these spaces while also increasing the proportion of space required for your needs.

We have a fair amount of experience creating modern contemporary designs, so we incorporate that experience into the proposed layouts. In addition, we have had plenty of clients talk to us about what works well and has not worked for them in their various homes.

We take measurements of your existing spaces, put them into our Computer-Aided Design (CAD) program and build a three-dimensional model of your area. We will then meet again and discuss the layout with you. Once you are happy with the proposed designs, we submit the drawings to your Strata for approval if required and to your City Hall for building permit processing.

STEP THREE - DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

The design development section of the process is the nitty gritty part, where we focus on the details. First, we develop a design palette based on what you love in all things colours, textures and patterns. And that includes everything from neutral design pallets to bold and vibrant ones.

We combine a range of selections from your fixtures, wall switches, lighting fixtures, doors, tiles, flooring, countertops, curtains, blinds, kitchen appliances and everything else based on your budget. You get to decide what ones you love, and we work with you to ensure your selections match the overall design theme.

Our design team is beavering away designing millwork packages, fireplace mantels, lighting designs, furniture layouts and sourcing some of the more unique aspects of your design.

STEP FOUR - VISULISATION

The final step in the process is combining all the details from step three and the layout from step one and producing stunning three-dimensional graphic renders of your build.

Our designers spend a lot of energy and time producing these stunning beautiful renders that utilize the latest graphics technology to give you an accurate visual representation of your design. The renders include details such as how natural and artificial light will appear in your completed project, the location of any artwork, the lighting designs and everything else visible in your design.

We sit with you and show you your design as a walkthrough. Our designers discuss details so that you understand what is going where and why. If you have any questions, we encourage you to ask. We can always make changes to the design even if initially you didn't think of a particular idea.

Once you love the final design, we assemble your budget after receiving quotes from our various supplier's trades and present this to you for approval.

Once approval has come back from city hall and or your strata, we can start the construction of your design.

CONCLUSION

When you are ready to get started with the design process, click on this link to book an obligation free with one of our designers today, who can co me to your place and discuss what ideas you have in mind.

Colour Theory In Interior Design

Tue, 09 Aug 2022 20:15:00 GMT

COLOUR THEORY IN INTERIOR DESIGN

There are reasons why particular colour palettes are better in interior design. To help explain this, we use the colour wheel. A colour wheel displays every colour that we can design with.

We use the Red, Yellow and Blue (RYB) colour wheel in interior design as this displays every conceivable colour that can be created by mixing paints.

The RYB colour wheel consists of primary colours (red, yellow, blue), secondary colours (such as green, orange and purple) and tertiary colours (everything else). Typically the warm colours (yellows through to reds) sit on the right side of the wheel and cool colours on the left (green through to purple).

Every colour has a conscious and unconscious effect on us from a psychological perspective, we feel happy or energetic with certain colours, while we might feel angry and repressed with others.

It's essential to select an appropriate colour palette, luckily that is where an Interior Designer comes in! They have the experience of using colour in different ways to translate your ideas into your design and build.

You can also explore colour selections at home with an online colour wheel. Here is an easy-to-use colour wheel that can help with design inspiration, you should experiment with different colour combinations.

Here we break down a few examples of colour palettes when it comes to interior design.

MONOCHROMATIC COLOUR PALETTES

Monochromatic colour palettes are one singular colour with all the different hues of that colour from lightest to darkest. If you love a particular colour or you want to keep things clean, but no less unique, this type of colour palette is best for you.

This kitchen design we built features the boldness of red and a few subtle hue variations of that red to produce this daring kitchen design. Don't be put off by this bold colour choice, you can also be sophisticated and understated with a monochromatic colour palette.

ANALOGOUS COLOUR PALETTES

Analogous colours is a palette style that pairs colours chosen close to your primary colour choice. Take orange, analogous colours to orange are red and yellow. This design of ours at Mango Medical Clinic features orange as a primary colour, with analogous colours of lime green and red.

Typically analogous colour schemes are best used by sticking to one side of the colour wheel, either the warm side or the cool side. As a general guide, you don't want to straddle colours that sit on either side of the colour wheel when working with this colour palette style. In this example we bent that rule and used green (cool) and reds (warm).

TRIADIC COLOUR PALETTES

Triadic colour palettes sit equally opposite each other in a triangular shape on the colour wheel. With triadic colours, we create three complementary colours to each other so they all match. All the colours are from opposite locations on the colour wheel in a triangle shape.

Typically the use of triadic colours results in contrasting and vibrant colour palettes. If you love getting creative with different colours, then a triadic colour pallet is an option for your design and build.

An example of this is a renovation we completed in early 2022. Orange is the primary colour, with complementary colours of blue and green.

COMPLEMENTARY COLOUR PALETTES

Complementary colour pallets are two colours that sit opposite each other on the colour wheel. An example we see every day of complementary colours is blue and orange, which we see during sunrises and sunsets.

Complementary colours often produce contrasting and vibrant colour palettes adding a real sense of pop to a design.

You can see complementary colours in this townhouse renovation that we designed and built on West 13th Avenue in Vancouver. The use of oranges and browns against blues of three different hues.

RULE OF THIRDS

Like most things, you have to find a balance in colour. When you create a colour palette, the eye prefers to observe a balance in a ratio of 60% 30% and 10%.

Typically your primary colour is used predominantly on a feature wall, your secondary colour is used in a sofa design, and a tertiary colour is in the pillows and throws.

The rule of thirds, like all rules, can be broken with the right approach.

CONCLUSION

There is so much to learn about colour and colour theory, we hope this is a good starting point if you are looking for inspiration. We plan to bring you more on this topic to help inspire you for your design and build. When you are ready, feel free to contact us, we offer an obligation-free consultation to help you get started.

Fixed Price Or Cost Plus?

Tue, 26 Jul 2022 18:49:52 GMT

Designing and building in the current market is certainly not without its risks. One of the biggest risks you have as clients is the moment you put that pen to paper and sign a construction contract!

There are two main types of contracts when it comes to building and construction.

A Fixed-Price contract, or
A Cost-Plus contract.

At Rodrozen Design and Build we recommend and predominantly use fixed price contracts as these bring so much certainty with your project to you as our client.

FIXED PRICE CONTRACT

We provide you with a fixed price for your project build before we start. And at the end of the project, you pay that price.

Once we have decided on the design of your project, we go out and source all the quotes from our various suppliers and contractors. We compile all these quotes, add our fee as builders and project managers and we give you a fixed price for your build.

Given the uncertainty in the markets, inflation, supply, and shipping challenges, we take on these financial liabilities so that you don’t.

We believe this provides you with so much more financial certainty as clients go into a build. Furthermore, if you need to secure financing, a fixed-price contract makes this so much easier.

COST PLUS CONTRACTS

Cost plus contracts involve the builder creating an approximate budget before the build, then adding a percentage of costs as builders, and at the end, you pay the cost of the build including any cost overruns.

In the end, if there are any u nexpected changes in prices, for example, a supplier has increased the price of a particular product during the build (which is common given the ever-increasing cost of building) then you as the client bear the cost of this.

CHANGES

The only constant is change rings true in the construction industry. Plans change as construction takes place, often our clients have new ideas or want to change a finishing as we progress. When this occurs, we get a new price for the change, we run it past you for approval, and then we go ahead, simple!

The same also applies to unexpected issues, for example, if a gas main needs moving that was not expected, we go through a similar process with you before we commence any changes.

TRANSPARENCY

A large amount of criticism is directed at fixed price contracts as they supposedly don’t show a complete breakdown of the costs involved in building. We complete a very detailed budget before we start building, and in this, we detail the full cost that you will pay for each item in your build. We also create a detailed work scope so that you know exactly what it is that we are going to do as builders.

We hear it time and time again, we have several homeowners who talk to us after their builds have finished, and they regret not using a fixed-price contract. The cost of their project went well over what they expected. Most building firms in Vancouver use Cost Plus contracts as they push the liability onto you. At Rodrozen Design and Build, we recommend and predominately use fixed price contracts, we take the responsibility of ensuring your project comes in on budget and on time.

WANT TO BUILD WITH A FIXED PRICE CONTRACT?

Contact us today to arrange an obligation-free consultation with one of our designers today who can talk to you, listen to your ideas, and get to know about your needs now and in the future, to design and build something that will last a lifetime.

Thrive Downtown Counselling Centre

Wed, 06 Jul 2022 22:53:06 GMT

THRIVE DOWNTOWN COUNSELLING

A few months ago we were approached by the owners and directors of Thrive Downtown Counselling Centre seeking a redesign of their existing therapy spaces. The brief was to design a series of unique spaces that they could utilize in the care of their clients.

Thrive Downtown Counselling specializes in unique forms of therapy and they wanted to convey bold and unique spaces to help guide their clients through this care. Without impinging on the existing layout of the building, they sought three individual designs that had their own distinct look and feel. And we are not talking about just a splash of paint here!

Our lead designer, Derick, took inspiration not specifically from interior design, but from the landscapes of the world. The Middle East, South America, and a European flair all radiate from these spaces. Taking design ideas for unorthodox places to craft transformative spaces.

JUNGLE ROOM

Starting with the most impressive room of them all, the Jungle Room. The idea was to uplift the space into the dense Brazilian rainforest with the use of a room-filling jungle print that spreads the entire height and width of the walls and surrounding windows.

Our green team of soft landscapers incorporated a mixture of living and artificial plants of varying heights to create a sense of depth and forest feel to this space. The mix of artificial and living plants ensured easy maintenance while sustaining a natural organic feel.

DESERT ROOM

The second space features a desert-inspired room pulled straight from a Laurence of Arabia film set. Featuring a soft backlit desert window covering that excelled in more direct light, spilling an orange hue into this space to create a dry ambiance.

We matched the Persian orange of the walls into the choice of the clinician's chairs to complete the character along with our designer's key feature of up lighting to craft shadows into the nook spaces to help extend the room and create a larger feeling of spac e.

BEACH ROOM

The third and final room theme provides a calm and relaxing beach space that helps restore the mind. Filled with gold, silver, and bronze of the wallpaper, art, and lighting fixtures, contrasted with the deep blues and soft grays of the rugs and seating arrangement. All with a soft and inviting beachscape window covering that again maximizes the soft lighting that comes from this side of the building.

We are very proud of this unique space and we are appreciative of our clients at Thrive Downtown Counselling who allowed us to be bold and design such unique spaces. The theme amongst our team when we completed this unique project was that we would like to personally spend time here relaxing in these distinct spaces!

If you have a therapy or clinical commercial space that needs a refreshed look or redesign of your space, whether you are after a Brazilian jungle, or a more contemporary medical space, contact us today at info@rodrozen.com or complete this form and tell us about your commercial design and build needs.

To browse this and other commercial projects click here to view our commercial portfolio.

How Much Will A Design & Build Cost?

Tue, 10 May 2022 21:57:37 GMT

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

The number one question we get asked 95% of the time when a new client contacts us is, how much will this cost?

And the answer is, it depends. It depends on so many variables that it's really hard for us to give you an idea of the cost upfront. And the last thing we want to do is give you a price upfront only to find out down the track that it pushes your budget till you are broke!

IT'S LIKE BUYING A CAR

When you walk into a car dealership, you can choose between a car that is second hand and costs you $15,000. Or you could buy that brand new red sports car that will cost you over $200,000. A design and build project is the same.

A 200 square meter kitchen renovation can cost $20,000 or $100,000. It depends on how expensive you want to go.

$15,000 Car Vs $200,000 Car - Both do a good job of getting you from point A to point B

THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAIL

The final cost will depend on so many variable factors. Factors that can increase or decrease the cost of your project include but are not limited to;

- The type of fixtures you choose

- The finishing materials

- The quality of the products used

- The size and space of your project

- What the conditions are like at the site before building, is it a new build, or an existing build.

- The accessibility of your project, are you building on a flat site with parking nearby, or on a remote island in BC?

PLANNING, PLANNING, PLANNING

The success of any construction project is detailed planning and preparation. And that is what we specialize in at Rodrozen Design + Build. We have been in the construction industry since 2002 and have extensive experience managing projects of all sizes. Our project coordinator and designers work together to ensure that your project comes to life. And the key to making it come to life is with a detailed plan.

REALISM

The final thing that we find helps the most for our clients, is having a realistic budget in mind. Sometimes this changes depending on how the ideas are created with our designers. But for the most part, it's useful to keep things realistic budget-wise and work from there. We also find it very useful from the get-go to know what budget you have in mind. That way we can work within your parameters.

READY TO GET STARTED? LET'S TALK!

One of our designers can come to you and your project and have a talk, with absolutely no obligation required. You can get a feel if we are the right fit for you and see if we can create your design and build project with your ideas in mind.

You can click here to contact us and arrange an obligation free consultation today .

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