Projects

Whistler Home

Homeowner wished to renovate their existing 2 bedroom , 3 bathroom plus loft home  into a 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom (2 of them ensuites), more defined entry space and most of all a more open spacious living -dining-kitchen  interacting space to entertain family and friends for their Recreational Whistler home. 
With an existing overpowering large fireplace chimney, a sunken living room and a far too small kitchen it created a big design challenge within the existing space-plan  and its limitations.
The wish was to maintain the character of the exiting exterior home and architectural style and keeping some of the existing interior wood cladding, but improving energy efficiency , allover performance in addition to better interior flow and function.
The  very undefined Main Entry confused many “pizza deliveries “ thinking the concrete stairs  would lead to the main entry, which only lead to a former rental suite. Defining the Main entry and a more welcoming brighter entry was important.
Removing the large chimney was a difficult decision, but it opened up more design possibilities for Lower Floor entry, open living room embracing and featuring the existing high ceiling.
An addition to rear yard made it possible to relocate  the existing bedroom , adding another bedroom/ office , keeping the loft and flex-space and bathroom locations in place and redesign entry, kitchen , walk-in pantry and living room, renovating and upgrading all other spaces.



Blueridge, North Vancouver

The undertaking of a large home renovation resulted in a beautiful modern , bright and open living space, indoor and outdoor with new and better access to the backyard, which was quite neglected due to the difficulty of convenient access from  the Upper Living Floor to the rather shady backyard.
Empty Nesters , close to retirement , the homeowner decided for a renovation, which would accommodate aging-in-place and adding a secondary suite, possible to move in later, when less mobile, as well as a much better energy efficient house  renovated to 2018 BCBC.

Bellevue Ave - Condo Renovation

Empty-nest couple moving to dated 2-bed-2-bath waterfront condo wants:
Simple open sophistication.
More-functional kitchen and master-suite.
Better ventilation and lighting.
Full exploitation of views.
Layout for aging-in-place.

Result:
Creative design-details
Non-figure-book-match Anigre-veneer floor-to-ceiling kitchen-wall cabinets and underlit-floating bathroom cabinets.
Exotic-marble waterfall-edge island.
Pop-up downdraft and electrical preserve sightlines.
Proportional Anigre ceiling-drop with view-preserving recessed task-lighting.
LED-lit coffers around rooms allow aimable-dimmable lights without lowering ceiling and hiding  power blinds.
Dramatic three-sided gas-fireplace custom-made with CSA-approval for condo-limited 4-inch B-vent.  
Tile-flooring matched on decks for indoor-outdoor connection, with elegant inlay and new lighting.
New window-frame millwork.
Remote-access lighting and zone-control thermostat.
Master-Ensuite
custom-fabricated stainless-shower-tower and curved quartz tiling highlighting ( reviving ) exciting curved glass-block wall.
Accent-lit cabinet doubled storage, Quartz shelve match counters and radius-scribed shower-sill.
Large-marble tiles match small-tile slip-resistant shower-floor.
Biggest challenge:  Concrete condo limitations meant no access above or below. Relocated plumbing, electrical, and bath fixtures including curbless shower within creative cross-strapped ceilings and coffers, and using x-ray imaging for floors runs without damaging rebar.

Whistler Creekside Duplex

Don Stuart Architect , Ringmaster Construction Whistler and Sensitive Design collaborated on a new Built in Whistler Creekside. 1300 Sf per unit , 3 bedrooms w/ Ensuite Bathrooms, Living Room on Upper floor with view towards the mountain.

Rockridge-West Vancouver, B.C.

The client, both European, were looking for a modern touch to their rather traditional home, they like to entertain , a love for cooking and providing a comfortable space for their many guests, mostly visiting from Europe. A large interior renovation for kitchen and 4 bathrooms and various interior spaces and some exterior changes. Adding to the master-bedroom balcony for more unobstructed view without clashing modernism and traditional architecture. The same concept was brought into the interior renovation, where we combined modern design and technology within traditional environment. The clients are overwhelmingly happy and pleased with the outcome of this project.

Pandora

The existing home has come to its end-of-life and renovating was out of question in order to achieve modern standards, energy efficiency and an Age-In-Place friendly home.
Two brothers took the initiative to build a new home for their parents where they can enjoy their retirement with all the comfort to accommodate universal design and easy access. The new house design is also optimized for future value of space and flexibility, considering the rising costs of housing and hopefully investing in future benefits for their children and next generation, looking for affordable housing.

Meeting a budget was very important, but at the same time the clients wanted good quality where needed, modern technology and security systems.
A 4 Bedroom, 3 1/2 Bathroom house on a narrow and deep lot created challenges. The biggest one was to design the main floor for their parents needs with two bedrooms, easily accessible bathroom, laundry room, living and kitchen towards the backyard creating happy and bright spaces. A side ramp provides access for wheelchair either from the rear or the front in such a way that it becomes part of the landscape and visual attractive. The Upper floor has 2 Bedrooms, 2 Bathroom and open to below den. A sunken patio in the rear to access the basement independently maintains future opportunities for the basement use.



Age-In-Place New Home

Marine Drive, West Vancouver

Interior Renovation for a 3 bedroom Townhouse. The clients wish was to create a contemporary timeless environment. 
"WINNER @OVATION AWARDS 2019 FOR BEST BATHROOM UNDER 35K"
The Upper Main Floor with living and kitchen, opening up the space by removing  partitions and improving the functional spaces with a better more open floorspace. Large island, walnut build-ins and a "hidden door" to make the existing powder-room near the kitchen less obvious. Remodelling the fireplace to a 3-sided gas fireplace, being able to see it through the whole upper floor.
All bathrooms were renovated and updated, new wide blank oak-floors and glass railing  throughout the 3 levels to be able to bring more natural light through the dark staircases.

Townhouse, West Vancouver

Mountain Hwy

A recent Georgie Award Winner Gold for Best Home Renovation , Category 800K and over. 

In team work with Shakespeare Homes we overcame all the challenges the lot and the existing house with its  Zoning  and Streamside Restrictions were present to us.
Don't hesitate to asked questions, should you face a similar challenges on the North Shore as a homeowner, since we have plenty of those situations with the new Streamside Guidelines.


Horseshoe Bay

22 year old Horseshoe Bay Duplex with view to Mountains and Harbour got a complete makeover with a limited budget to meet. 
Kitchen, Bathrooms , Flooring, Doors, Fireplace , better Lighting and creating a secondary suite was on the wish  list.

Horseshoebay

Doran Rd

OVATION AWARD WINNER FOR BEST HOME RENOVATION-500- 699K
Hockey-focused family wants open, welcoming home that can host  their children’s teams.  
“Bright, magnificent, memorable and explicitly modern, inside and out. Massive, open entertaining space better connected to more-fully-utilized basement with new exercise, storage and wine rooms” was their words when they described to SENSITIVE DESIGN,  what they were looking for.
Moving to a different house was not an option. Municipal setback/top-of-bank regulations restricted a new home unless built further from the creek, if allowed at all.  Restrictions to protect streamside, existing big trees and already near max. FSR created a big challenge.
The clients are now ecstatic about their new home and dramatically increased functionality. We re-created a non-conforming home with modest addition ,
removed walls to create spacious kitchen-greatroom open to living-room, with window and ceiling treatments unifying the living areas and high ceilings with additional raised roof over kitchen
Rooms and enlarged windows designed to enhance connection with forest surroundings and play areas, while providing privacy. 
Some features are:
•	Unique quartz countertop extends under the KOLBE Windows- Eclipse system  connecting indoor and outdoor with serving bar between kitchen and Creekside deck. 
•	Large-format floor-tiles reflect scale of space, and link with exterior design.
•	Easy driveway access to sports-equipment-storage behind frosted-glass-panelled garage-style door.
•	New lighted-concrete staircase, built-in planters and oversize glass-panelled door create welcoming entrance.
•	New large wrap-around composite deck.
•	Sleek concrete-fibre siding panels paired with corrugated metal for contemporary low-maintenance elegance without high cost. Metal corrugated roof panels create continuity.


Doran Rd, North Vancouver

NORTHWOOD -WEST VANCOUVER, B.C.

Young Family moving to an 8,000-sq-ft compartmentalized and inefficient house design wishing for a more open-family-living, entertainment-friendly layout.
Seismic, technology, sustainability and finishings upgrade was on their priority list.
New storage, study, entertainment , pool-changing rooms and all bathrooms to be renovated; Above all — bring spectacular sweeping view inside.

Result
Some Creative Design Details:

27-feet of double-glazed Eclipse-folding-glass doors replaced walls with patio sliders. Taller, wider openings with ceiling-recessed motorized-blinds maximize viewscape and indoor-outdoor living.
Two individually-controlled TVs retract into floor below to maintain views and connection between spaces.
Great-room centred on dramatic three-sided gas fireplace. Porcelanosa-X-light-tile single-sheet sides precision-milled on-site.
New ceilings, coves, recessed lights, retractable-hose vacuum throughout.
5,300-square-feet engineered-Catalonia-scraped bleached-walnut flooring.
New accent light incorporates newly-ducted hidden extraction fan for cooking at kitchen-dining table.
Smart-home integration has multi-lingual controls, remote-enabled lighting, cameras and alarms, and distributed audio with new flush-mounted speakers throughout.
Waterflitration system thoughout the whole house
Large recreation room/Art studio on the lower with easy access to the exterior playground
Wineroom
Master-Ensuite features:
curbless steam-shower with linear drain under quartz bench that floats through custom-frameless-glass enclosure,
heated floor into the shower and 18-by-36-inch tiling extending seamlessly into shower,
The result of the renovation exceeded the clients expectation, the transparency between outdoor and indoor, open entertainment space, but also required privacy on the upper floor for the family to retrieve.



Northwood _View Point

Rosedale Garden Condo renovation

Macbeth Renovation

Ovation Award Winner 2013, Best Bathroom Renovation

Large Home Renovation, showing renovated Bathroom. For images go to:
www.sensitivedesign.com


Award-Winning Macbeth Renovation

Balmoral

 “A  renovation for long term for a young family of four, remodeling  all three levels with  an open  modern concept, better advantage of the views, elegant and memorable” was the description for what the client was looking for when they hired Sensitive Design , removing walls, opening up towards the view with large sliding doors, created a more functional kitchen, dining and family room and connecting  spaces, the Master-suite was reconfigured , creating a modern and bright spa like feeling inviting  nature without losing privacy, the former basement suite was repurposed with new garage entry-mud room, greater storage, home office and personal gym, all new windows and all over improved energy efficiency of the house as well adding/replacing energy efficient lighting  contributes to a better home, built to today building  standards.

In the Forrest

Clients wish was to create a more open and connected kitchen to the sunny front yard. The house, very close to forests and tall trees, it was important to bring more light and brightness into the space and maintaing pricacy.
The scope of renovation was a kitchen, deck extension to the front and bathroom renovations. The challange was to tie in the addition to existing rooflines and making it look like, as if there never was a renovation or addition and maximizing the allowable FSR within the zoning and setback regulations.

Emerald Chalet-Whistler

The clients wish to add living space and bedrooms to their Whistler Chalet, which served them well while their 3 boys were growing up and everybody in the family is an avid skier or snowboarder. Now all grown more space was need for their partners and spouses.
There was certainly some structural issues (see images), which needed serious attention and the biggest challenge for this planned addition was  the steep slope and accessibility, but fortunately the existing house was on solid bedrock.
It was difficult to capture the after renovation in pictures, therefore see the video attached


Headland Drive

Family of five adults required a more functional and modernized house, updating  bathrooms and kitchen to modern standards and technology as well as  improving family-gathering focal points and modernization of this kitchen’s interior, 
making it brighter, more open and better connected with family and great-room.
The husband, an amateur member of the “Chaîne-des-Rôtisseurs” chef’s association, wished for a masterchef kitchen. 
The home’s angular layout had to be accommodated and created challenges to design better workflow.

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Laneway House-Vancouver

The best recommendation is the one, which comes from a former happy client, in this case, we got recommended to  a relative living in Vancouver. The family was in desperate need of a renovation, because the house became unsafe and uninsurable. With the cost of housing rising, selling and moving was not an option. In addition they have two adult daughters, with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, who needed to be cared for longterm.
It was very fortunate that the existing house placement and the lot size gave us the opportunity to consider building a LWH (Laneway House), which would provide them with their need down the road and even potential rental income. The client’s budget was tight and the design for the LWH needed to be a low as we can build and kept simple in its design. It is essentially a Mini-House with all the same separate service requirements as for the main residence.
The process for obtaining a LWH Permit requires some patience with the City of Vancouver, but after 2 years of planing and building it is almost all done --EXCEPT the landscaping, but this will come eventually


Laneway House - Vancouver

Chalet Place

GEORGIE AWARD GOLD 2015 FOR " Best kitchen Renovation over 100K" 

The purpose was an updated interior with more continuity, openness, brightness and natural exposure.
A compartmentalized den and kitchen became a family area flowing into living and dining rooms. 
Careful arrangement around enlarged windows and skylights exploits existing surroundings so new room extends into the "west coast" like setting backyard



Vancouver Condo Reno- Yaletown

Meadfeild Court

Ovation Award Winner 2014 for Best Renovation , Category 500k- 788k

After a successful and lengthy variance application, we gave a rather plain and dull looking house, a new and contemporary look. With a front yard extension for a more functional masterbedroom/ensuite layout and an addition to the backyard for a wood working workshop on the lower floor and a sunny upper deck of the dining room.
The added vaulted ceiling gives the kitchen/great-room a spacious and a brighter feeling.
The interior stair was relocate for a better flow of the space.



 

Meadfeild Court, West Vancouver

Caulfeild  Townhouse -West Vancouver

The client was looking for “new face” to her townhouse. She lived with her late husband for over 20 years in her home and decided that a renovation  would be the best therapy to move on to a new chapter in her live.
Mainly an interior renovation and some necessary building maintenance. Completely gutted 3 bathrooms, kitchen and living room updates with new furniture respecting her collection of antiques and providing home for aging in place for years to come.


Portfolio

River Road

Panorama Drive

An old cottage house with a scenic view over Salmon Arm and Deep Cove, but in desperate need of repair due to leaking roof and other areas of need repair the client decided to undergo a large renovation and adding a floor to create a new master ensuite and adding more space to the two bedroom existing house. Streamline Protection Guidelines and nonconforming to the required side setback made it another challenge for Team Shakespeare Homes Ltd. and Sensitive Design. It is almost complete with just some Landscaping and painting the   exterior.

One of the biggest challenge was that we had to built the intier   East Exterior Wall in non combustable material and a 1 hour fire-rating for the new and existing structure. The existing house was just 1 meter away from the site setback. Building new was not an option and the zoning guidelines created further limitations for maximum building and  eave heights.

Beach Ave Condo

Redesigning a 900 sqft apartment, very organized, detailed attention to her personal needs and organized storage space for herself and son. A masterpiece of small spaces, all built-in millwork, relocating kitchen, turning a 1 bathroom, 1 bedroom / den unit into a 2 bathroom, 2 bedroom apartment, bringing in more light and air flow while working within the limitation of the heritage building with the existing window openings and building code.

Green Building Materials:

Wide plank hardwood floor: 8″ black walnut with natural oil finish
Voc free wall paint
Dual flash toilets
Energy efficient appliances
Heat generation gas fireplace

Cork House

A young family with two small children, not enough space or bedrooms and a very nonfunctional basement were very desperate to make changes. Most important was to create a master bedroom with ensuite and walk in closet, 2 bedrooms for the children and a family room, which could function as guest room and party room for Dad’s hockey fans with an adjacent mini bar combined into a laundry room and an added powder room. Having to move the master suite into the basement was the biggest challenge, not giving the parents the feeling of being disconnected from their children’s bedroom on the main floor.

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