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It’s difficult to imagine now, but there was a time when it was a given that multiple generations of a family would live together, whether out of cultural tradition or to find financial efficiencies. While it’s not unheard of today, the trend in the post-war era steadily shifted towards individuals moving out of the family […]
One of the shared, longstanding complaints of both homeowners and their architectural designers—along with the contractor/builder community—are the costs and scheduling issues associated with obtaining residential building permits in most parts of Ontario. That problem was amplified during the coronavirus pandemic as municipal offices ran short-staffed, housing starts and renovation projects surged and demand for […]
Having a custom home designed to suit your (and your family’s) lifestyle needs is an important factor in creating a forever residence—a place to live, love and build lasting memories. A disjointed, dysfunctional dwelling only fosters a sense of disorganization and disconnectedness. Achieving this goal means crafting an interior design that defines spaces within the […]
When economic times are tough, it’s common for people to reconsider big-ticket items and future plans—including the design and eventual build of their custom home. That’s an entirely prudent financial approach, but it’s not always the best one if you plan to one day create your dream residence. Inflation is running high, and many key […]
There are few things more Canadian than the iconic images that capture our country’s rugged beauty from coast to coast. The Rockies, the prairies, the Canadian Shield and the picturesque shorelines of the Maritimes. Canada is forever defined by its landscapes. Similarly, if on a much smaller scale, custom homes can often be defined by […]
There’s something special about the unmistakable coherence of a well-designed custom home. From symmetry and massing to cladding and other architectural adornments, every design thought is well-considered and aligns with the owner’s vision for their dream home. When done right, a custom residence is a refined composition that should only be altered with the utmost […]
The most important honour for an architectural design firm specializing in custom homes is to watch our clients fall in love with a new space for the first time. To know that we can play a key role in creating homes where families can live, grow, and thrive is beyond satisfying—it’s what drives us to […]
There are times when you walk into a space and understand that it’s different. You may not be able to explain exactly why. But it’s clear that the interior design of that particular home is unique. It’s a singular reflection of the home owner’s personal style and identity. It feels like them. If we were […]
If you had the opportunity to design and build the custom home of your dreams, what would it look like? How would it function—and how would it enable you to live life to the fullest? It’s a question that David Small had pondered throughout his career. He had built homes for himself and his family, […]
As cities become denser and urban dwellers embrace the necessities of compact living, custom home designers will be encouraged to do more with less. Infill and new-build projects located on narrow lot properties will become increasingly common as city planners demand greater densification. But the needs of families won’t change. They’ll always require room to […]
As disciplines go, music and architecture share a great deal in common. Both require flow and harmony. They’re at their best when their creative energy is tempered by a degree of restraint; because sometimes doing less delivers far greater impact. Like writing a song or improvising on stage, success occurs when various talents are allowed […]
Canadian summers may be short-lived, but the draw of lakeside cottage living is one that makes it far easier to endure our seemingly endless, frigid winters. The chance to sit dockside, beverage of choice in hand, allowing the world’s worries to drift away is always alluring. So are the views in picturesque cottaging hotspots such […]
In developing the Natural Modern design ethos early in our firm’s history, we focused on the seamless integration of custom home architecture with the surrounding landscape. The goal was to create a school that was as distinctive as it was unmistakable. We’ve since employed it across a wide range of urban locales, but it was when […]
Every corner is an opportunity. In geometry it’s the point where two straight lines meet, creating an entirely new dynamic. Those lines can then diverge in different directions, but their intersection serves as a foundation for the journey that comes next. When a custom home is built on a corner lot, it takes pride of […]
Building a custom family home is about designing a space where you and your loved ones can grow together, build and share memories and live life to the fullest. The considerations that will inform that eventual architectural design are vast and varied, but one of the most important is budget. From materials to labour costs, […]
