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, […]
If the architectural design of a custom home is a reflection of the owner’s personal tastes and aspirations, then the home’s outdoor living spaces are a nod to their love of nature, need for relaxation and sheer enjoyment of the many features of their surroundings. Because for many Canadian and American home owners—whether in northerly […]
David Small Designs has gained notoriety for a design approach called Natural Modern—an original school that reimagines post-modern architecture, creating distinctive custom homes that blend seamlessly with their surrounding environment. When asked to elaborate, we often explain our style as being ‘lifestyle-friendly modern.’ Why? A lifestyle-friendly modern home is personalized and aesthetically pleasing, while being […]
There are many components to personal identity. From our professions to our family structures—and dozens of characteristics in between—we define who we are by what we do and believe, but also where we live. The process of imagining and building a dream home is the ultimate expression of that individual identity. More than a structure, […]
Out of all of the areas where we’ve designed homes over the years, the six boroughs of Toronto offer some of the more challenging properties. But with great challenge, comes incredible opportunity, resulting in some truly noteworthy custom homes. A common quality of properties in and around Toronto is smaller, narrower lot sizes. Being in […]
When we say we work anywhere in the world, we mean it. On top of countless projects across Canada, our boundless geographical reach has afforded us several opportunities to work with clients across the United States, resulting in custom home designs in Castle Rock, Boulder, Chagrin Falls, Ann Arbor, Long Island, Austin, and San Jose. […]
Every now and again, we’re asked if the floor plans of our existing homes are for sale. At David Small Designs, all of our home designs are completely custom. While we love when someone is inspired by one of our designs, we’re happy to work that inspiration into their own custom design. Here are a […]
With an aging North American population, we’ve noticed an upward trend of clients looking to design homes that will accommodate their needs as they grow older. We’ve seen this referred to as “accessible design,” or an element of “aging-in-place,” but it’s most commonly known as universal design. In a broad sense, universal design is just […]
This before picture is all too familiar. When driving through suburban neighbourhoods across the GTA you are guaranteed to see a version of this 1970s 2-storey home. With craftsman architecture as the inspiration, this home was given a complete overhaul. Visit our Additions & Renovations portfolio for more before and after images of The Craftsman […]
We are thrilled to share that our Modern Oasis design is a finalist for Most Outstanding Custom Home over 5000 sq.ft. at this year’s Ontario Home Builders’ Association Awards of Distinction. Covington Estates was the builder for this project and Barb Poce the Interior Designer. Winners will be announced on September 28th at the OHBA […]
This week we celebrated the life of Bill Small, David’s father and mentor who passed on February 12th, 2015. Bill personified the phrase “live life to the fullest”. His multitude of accomplishments in his professional life (President of the CHBA & BILD, Chairman of the National Home Show) and personal life (licensed pilot, Director of […]
We had so much fun last year we had to do it again! On July 9th, Team DSD (aka Custom Homies) laced up our running shoes and hit the streets of Toronto for BILD’s 5th annual Race for Humanity. The ‘Amazing Race’-style challenge proved to be a bit harder than last year: 12 challenges, 4 […]
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