Tiny homes, garden suites, and smaller footprint homes are taking over our city as homeowners opt for less space, maintenance and cost in their homes. As residential designers, we know that creating a functional yet stylish living space can be a challenge, especially when designing for smaller spaces. However, with a little creativity and planning, it is possible to make the most of your smaller home. Here are some tips for downsizing and creating a smaller home with purpose.

First, consider creating multi-purpose spaces. For example, a guest room can also double as a home office by using a murphy bed and desk combo. A living room can also serve as a dining area by incorporating a table that can be easily stowed away or retracted in some way. By combining multiple functions into one space, you can maximize the use of your square footage.

Second, embrace multi-use furniture. Choose pieces that can serve more than one purpose, such as a sofa bed, murphy bed or storage ottoman. A coffee table with built-in storage is another great option. Look for furniture that is both stylish and practical to get the most out of your space.

Finally, make sure you have plenty of storage. This is essential when downsizing to a smaller home. Consider using vertical space with tall bookcases or shelving units. Opt for furniture with built-in storage, such as a bed with drawers underneath. And don’t forget about hidden storage options, such as under-stair storage or a storage bench.

Downsizing or living in a smaller space can be a challenge, but with the right approach and right design team behind you, it can also be an opportunity to create a functional and stylish living space. By creating multi-purpose spaces, embracing functional furniture, and maximizing your storage options, you can make the most of your smaller home!

Hiring a residential or interior designer is a crucial step in making your dream home or space a reality. However, finding the right fit can sometimes be a challenge. When you are making such a large investment, over the period of many months of work, you want to ensure that you and your designer are a good fit. Here are some tips for determining if a design firm is a good match for your project:

Look at their portfolio

A designer’s portfolio  will give you a good idea of their design style, aesthetic, and experience. Check if their previous projects align with your vision for your space. Make sure that your residential designer won’t re-create the same project over and over, and you trust that you will get something new, unique, and tailored to your taste and vision – not just the designer’s preferred style. 

Check their reviews

It’s always a good idea to read reviews and testimonials from previous clients to see if they were satisfied with the designer’s work, communication, and overall experience. Often, successful designers will be happy to provide references that you can speak to directly to ask questions as well.

Ask about their process

A good designer will have a clear process for working with clients, including how they gather information, present ideas, and handle revisions. They should also be able to share their process with you in a direct way that you understand. 

Consider their communication style

Communication is key when working with a residential designer. Make sure you feel comfortable with their communication style and that they are responsive to your needs. Ensure that they will communicate design intent in a way that works for you as well – whether that is through floorplans and mood boards, or detailed 3D renderings.

Discuss your budget

Be upfront about your budget and ask the designer how they typically work within different budget ranges. A good designer will be able to create a beautiful space within your budget  and also be clear about what is possible within the parameters of what you are willing to invest.

By considering these factors, you can feel confident in finding a residential designer who is the right fit for your project. If you have any questions about working with a design firm, feel free to reach out to our friendly team here.

Boss Design has been using 3D renderings as a communication tool for many years and we strongly believe that they are a useful and important tool when designing homes. 3D renderings have become an essential tool for many architects and designers in our modern world. Below are four reasons why we believe 3D renderings are an invaluable tool to residential design:

Improved visualization: 3D renderings offer a realistic view of the finished project, allowing our clients to visualize our design and ideas in a more tangible way. This helps in identifying design flaws, refining details, and making necessary changes at an early stage – which saves our clients money, headaches, and time. We like to mention to our clients that designing in 3D is similar to investing in insurance on something to guarantee a good result. It’s also incredibly useful to mock up multiple different color and material schemes. 

Effective communication: 3D renderings help in communicating the design intent to clients and stakeholders in a more effective manner. This is because 3D renderings show what it will actually look like in real life when it’s built and are easier to understand than 2D drawings. They can convey important design features and details that might be missed in 2D drawings.

Cost-effective: 3D renderings are a cost-effective alternative to dated physical models. They save time and money by allowing architects and designers to make changes to the design without having to create a new physical model each time. While the process to create 3D renderings is still time consuming, it still takes less time to build than the traditional physical models of the past.

Marketing tool: 3D renderings can be also used as a marketing tool to showcase designs to potential clients, investors, and stakeholders. Boss Design often works with builders to design new homes for sale. By creating these 3D renderings for these projects, we can help in creating a buzz around the project and generate interest even before the project is complete!

3D renderings have become an indispensable tool for architects and designers in the modern world. They allow us to share and communicate our design intent with homeowners, builders, and even the public! We love to update our skills and experiment with new platforms as the technology develops so we can be sure to create the best 3D renderings that showcase our talent, design skills, and vision.

Building a custom home is an exciting yet often overwhelming experience. There are so many decisions to be made, and that can be stressful when you’re trying to make the most of your budget and create a legacy home in the process. That’s why it’s so important to work with an experienced team of architectural and interior designers—a firm who can help you understand all the options available to you and guide you through the process of making these big decisions. 

But how do you get the best out of your design investment? What can you do as a client to ensure that the project runs smoothly? Below are three ways that you can get the most out of your investment with a design team.

Trust the experts

Our team has a combined industry experience of 100 years, and we use that knowledge and experience wisely to design unique and beautiful homes that are custom tailored to your needs. By investing in the right team, you will save money in the long run by making the right design decisions which will protect your investment for many years to come. We have worked with many talented builders throughout our years and are happy to recommend builders to you that we trust and have personally worked with so you can be sure that you’re investing properly in both design and execution. 

Know what you want

While we can design a custom home that is uniquely yours, we also need to have clear parameters and information about how to move forward with your project. Knowing your goals and budget is a great starting point. We will also ask you questions about your style, aesthetic, family needs, future plans, etc. When you have a clear direction of what this custom home needs to be, we can help take your ideas from dreams to reality.

Communicate with your team

Communication is key when designing a new home. There are so many decisions to be made and questions to answer and in order to keep the project moving forward, we need answers from you. It’s important that you are ready to make decisions as this will keep the project from being stalled. Finally, remember that no matter how much planning and communication goes into your project, there will always be unexpected challenges along the way; this is where good communication comes into play: when things get difficult!

Final Thoughts

Working with design experts is an exciting and enjoyable process and we are passionate about helping our clients create the homes of their dreams. If you are ready to dive into a custom home design project or have questions about how best to move forward, contact our team to discuss your project. 

WIN House provides a safe place and emergency services for women and children fleeing gender-based abuse. As a safe haven for victims, they connect and equip individuals with the support and hope they need to overcome an abusive situation.

They are in dire need of Household starter kits right now. Everything from utensils to baking sheets, cups, plates, coffee makers, and everything you might need to fill a new home. Most of these women are starting out with nothing. Due to the on-going pandemic, all items need to be brand new, or gift cards to grocery, gas, and toy stores are also gladly accepted. 

Our goal this year is to put together 25 hampers to be able to help out as many as possible. If you are looking for a great cause to support this year please look into the WIN house. If you would like to donate any items to add to the hampers that Boss Design is putting together please contact us and we can give you some more information.

step 1: budget

step 2: team

step 3: wish list

Once you have determined your budget, it is time to start interviewing Architectural Designers, Interior Designers, and Builders. It is important to seek out options and take an honest look at costs and expertise. It is about finding the best value, which is often not about the cheapest price. Selecting a good quality team is what will help make the process run smoothly.

Do I need an Architect or and Architectural Technologist?

Many do not realize that Architects & Architectural Technologists go through similar training. While both professions revolve around home and building design, there remain some skills that necessitate hiring one over the other. 

Buildings used for public assembly such as churches, community halls, schools, and Motels/Hotels that exceed allowable area exemptions of 300-500 square meters; and residential buildings with an occupancy of five dwellings or more requires a registered Architect. 

An Architectural Technologist can be sourced to design single family dwellings, duplexes, triplexes or quadruplexes.

What does an Architectural Technologist do?

An Architectural Technologist is responsible for translating design concepts into drawings and specifications. They can work alongside Architects or independently; depending on the overall scope of the design. They are experienced in working with up to date building codes and following bylaws.

So which one should you go with?

The majority of homes are designed by Architectural Technologists. Some truly unique projects or extravagantly large homes may require the services of an Architect. This is dependent on the scope and size of the design, and it’s best to speak with both to see where your home might fit best. 

At Boss Design we are an experienced firm of Architectural Technologists. We work as a team, bouncing ideas off of each other, bringing multiple perspectives and ideas; in turn yielding more ideas leading to a better design for our clients. All of our designs go through a two step review process to ensure accuracy before plans are released for permits and construction. 

Interior Designers are professionally trained in space planning in residential and commercial builds. If you crave beautifully crafted spaces, their skillset goes beyond the charm; most have received training in Architecture, Design, Construction, Building Codes, and Sustainability. 

Including an Interior Designer as part of your design team, will not only elevate your design but they are there to assist you in creating spaces in your home to fit your personality and carry a level of detail throughout your home to create a cohesive aesthetic. 

Working with your budget and lifestyle, a skilled Interior Designer will balance the details while still keeping their eye on the big picture. 

Some designers will be involved throughout the design process with your Architectural Designer, allowing for a more cohesive process and only one set of plans to follow. and more cost effective down the line. At Boss Design, we offer Interior Design packages dependent on the level of service you’re looking for. We are there for consultation, if you require simple direction and advice; or we can assist in picking out finishes and materials, and work closely with your builder to ensure your vision is translated into your home as expected.

Choosing the right builder to construct your home is as important as selecting the correct home design. Construction is a lengthy process, often taking up to a year or more to complete. Satisfaction with the final product  depends on selecting a builder you’re comfortable with and who has the qualifications to get the job done right and on budget. They will also be responsible for future warranty work, so this relationship needs to be one you are comfortable with. 

There are thousands of builders to choose from in North America. Each with their own unique specializations and market focus. Research the builders in your area through various methods such as the internet, friends and family, home builder associations, new home warranty programs and especially the builder’s former clients. Boss Design  works with a various group of builders we recommend. You can always contact the city/county they work in and ask the permitting and inspection divisions about their reputation. This should provide you with a clear understanding of who they are, the quality of the houses they build, and the after sale service that they offer. 

The construction or renovation of a home is a complex process. A builder will combine the expertise of up to 40 different skilled trades, and numerous product suppliers. While constructing your home, careful planning must ensure that the home meets or exceeds the context of the building code, development permits and inspections. When sitting down with a builder for the first time, ask a lot of questions.

Here is a list of some common questions that you can bring with you to ask:

How long has the company been in business? 

How are the builder fees calculated? 

How many homes do you build a year? 

Is building homes your full time profession? 

What type and size of home do you typically build? 

What is your after-sale service policy? 

How would a typical service issue be resolved? 

How do they handle change orders and associated costs?

What is the payment schedule during the build?

Can you provide a list of your former clients for references?

Who are the trades that will be working on my home? 

Are they affiliated with the new home warranty program?

When selecting a builder, choose the one you feel most comfortable with. A builder who is reputable, reliable and an effective communicator will often be a safe choice. The builder should view the satisfaction of the client as the main priority, if issues arise or changes need to occur during the build. 

A good builder will never make promises he cannot deliver. 

Completing dates, final pricing and payment schedules should always be put in writing. Builders warranty and after sale service programs should be clearly explained and noted in the contract. These programs can range in length and complexity, and should be included into the cost of the construction. A reputable builder will have an equally reputable warranty and service program.  

The costs of construction will vary between builders. Every builder has different rates and includes different things in their final price. Some will include large allowances for items such as finishing, flooring, lighting, appliances, cabinetry, landscaping…etc. If the final prices are above or below the allowances for an item, the clients will pay the difference or have it credited back to them. Other builders won’t provide a build price to a potential client until they have gone through the process of selecting all of the items they would like in their home. The builder will add all of these items together and add a percentage for their management fee and the final price is determined. 

Be apprehensive of a builder with a dramatically lower price when compared to the competition. They might not be honest about the costs involved to build the house, or their quality may be suspect. They may also require more money during the process of the build if they have understated the costs initially. However, don’t choose the builder with the highest price either unless their reputation with previous customers is impeccable. 

Designers, Contractors, and clients do not change their personality or communication style on a per project basis. It is imperative to have a rapport with the members of your design team. It cannot be overstated, you must feel a connection to ensure a positive working relationship throughout the entire process.

Step 3: Wish List 

Step 4: Custom Home Design

Step 1: Budget