OPEN CONCEPT

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Open concept is a popular style of home design, but is it right for every home? Here are a few things that we consider when evaluating whether to make a home more open:

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Lighting · Often opening up a floor plan can increase natural light making the home seem bright and airy. This can help with resale value in the future!

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Views · In properties like 6266 McGirr Rd, taking out a wall, or in this case, a fireplace can maximize a beautiful view! If a wall is blocking the views from your home, then it might be worth the investment to make the space more open. Maximizing a nice view could add value to your home when you’re ready to sell.

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Expenses · If you're hoping to remove a load-bearing wall to create an open-concept home, then be prepared for increased costs. This requires bringing in professionals to assess the situation and potentially add beams to redistribute the weight that the wall was holding.

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Noise levels · Sound travels further without walls between rooms. If the dishwasher is running during a Netflix marathon, this might be more of a nuisance in an open-concept home.

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Energy-efficiency · Heating and cooling costs can greatly increase in open-concept homes. It takes far more energy to control the temperature in a large space than it does in a few small spaces.

BATHROOM

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Bathroom renovations are the next big value add (second to the kitchen) when you’re flipping a home. Thoughtful choices can make these small rooms pack a big design punch without breaking your budget! Here are some features to consider when you’re renovating a bathroom for a home flip:

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Vanity · This is a smart place to splurge because the vanity is the natural focal point of the space. Create a unique vanity by pairing an antique dresser with a custom countertop and add a bit of glitz with a framed mirror to finish off the look.

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Lighting · The right lighting choices not only make the room look good, but will also make the people using the space look good! Think about the lighting placement when you’re picking out the fixtures!

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Tile · You can do so much with tile! Save on cost and create a cohesive look by using the same tile on the bathroom floor and the shower walls. Or, opt for a unique tile design to make a statement! For walk-in showers, consider bringing the tile to the ceiling, and include a shower niche for a handy place to put everyday items.

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Layout · Ask yourself if the current layout is the most functional use of the space. If something doesn’t make sense to you, then it likely won’t make sense to others. If there’s a better layout option, then consider using some of your budget to move pieces that feel out of place.

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Toilets · While a dual-flush toilet might seem like an upgrade that the next homeowners might appreciate, let’s be honest; a toilet does not sell a home. If there is nothing wrong with the existing toilet, then leave it and spend your money elsewhere.

CONTEMPORARY DESIGN 

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Using contemporary design style to guide your upgrade choices will never steer you wrong. This style is defined by subtle sophistication, clean lines, simplicity, and the deliberate use of texture.

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This design style has served us well and in this example on McGirr the contemporary design choices we made completely transformed this home!

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6266 McGirr Rd · Nanaimo, BC · In the first photo you’ll notice that we removed the sunken living room and made this space all one level. We used a new gas fireplace with a simple clean design to replace an outdated 3-sided brick encased fireplace, we removed a section of the wall to bring more light into the kitchen and breakfast nook, and we used luxury vinyl flooring to create clean lines.

In the kitchen, we upgraded to all new custom cabinetry, quartz countertops, high-end fixtures, and energy-efficient appliances. We added a large built-in island with seating and a wine chiller for the new owners to sit back and enjoy the gorgeous view. We also added a beautiful tile backsplash behind the oven and a new range hood to create a feature wall. 

In this last group of photos, you’ll see the exterior makeover! We replaced all the windows but opted to keep the exterior brick siding. Adding a fresh coat of paint brightened the exterior and, for a splash of colour, we added a new green door with a glass panel. On the back deck, we replaced the wood railing with new glass panels, which made the outdoor living space more cohesive with the rest of the home.

GLASS DOORS

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Glass naturally brings more light into a home. Look for opportunities where you can swap out old wood panel doors for glass doors, and look for places where a set of French doors could be more beneficial than having a small window!

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Here is an example of a home renovation we completed where replacing wood panel exterior doors and replacing rear-facing windows with French doors completely brightened up this home!

5961 Sealand Rd · The original exterior door was wood panel accompanied by a small sidelight. We chose a frosted glass panel door and an elongated sidelight, and instantly this brought more light into the home and created more interest in the exterior design. Frosted glass allows the light to come in while maintaining privacy for the homeowners.

The original dining area at the rear of the home had a small window and a wood panel door giving access to the back yard. We brought in more light by replacing both with a set of French doors! Look how much brighter this space is now!

CURB APPEAL

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Look for the least attractive house in a beautiful neighbourhood because there is often potential simply being hidden by an ugly exterior!

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Take a look at the exterior renovations we made to 2 North Nanaimo homes. By cleaning up the landscaping and swapping out key design elements you can significantly increase the value of a property.

1. 419 Sealion Place · The original home was hiding behind overgrown trees and plants, and what you could see of the exterior looked neglected. We worked with a landscape architect to make major modifications to this yard, and look what it did for the curb appeal!

We gave this house a fresh coat of paint, upgraded to energy-efficient windows, incorporated wood shingles at the peaks of the exterior to create dimension, replaced the deck railing with glass panels to bring more light into the home, added slate tile to frame in the garage and entranceway replaced the front door, repaved the driveway,

and we also added a patio in the front yard.

2. 5338 Fillinger Crescent · This is the featured home in our PRO TIP last week! The exterior of the Fillinger house was drab and uninspiring. We changed the colour of the exterior to bring it up to date; upgraded to energy-efficient windows; replaced the lackluster front entrance with a glass panel door and a sidelight to bring more natural light into the home; and we added some nice shrubs and flowering plants to add a pop of colour in the front yard.

KITCHEN REMODEL

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When we purchase a house to flip, the first thing we ask ourselves is, “how can we create value for the next owners?” and then we head straight for the kitchen! Look for smart changes that will make the most impact, and, often, the kitchen is a great space to invest your money. This house on Fillinger Crescent in North Nanaimo is a great example!

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The biggest change we made to this kitchen was reconfiguring the layout. Originally, this kitchen felt small and closed in, so we opened it up to maximize the utility of this space. We moved the sink and faucet underneath the front window to take advantage of the ocean view, closed in the small window on the side to add more upper cabinets, added more counter space, and used glass tile backsplash to create a beautiful feature wall. This was a complete custom remodel with all new cabinets, quartz countertops, high-end range hood, energy-efficient appliances and windows, and new luxury laminate flooring.

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Check back for more home renovation tips, and see how we transformed the rest of this house!