…home with a view Only 10 chances remain to own a home with this kind of view in Bosa Properties’ Esprit development in Burnaby. Now, during Bosa’s Silver Lining Sale, buyers can purchase a home at prices that have been drastically reduced. ›› p.5
August 20, 2009
Housing market balanced: BCREA
Kitchens: the heart of the home
Although housing starts in Metro Vancouver were down in July, the B.C. housing market is exhibiting balanced conditions. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation says housing starts continued to trend lower in July, with foundations poured for 516 new homes, down 73 per cent from July 2008. “Developers have been taking a wait-andsee approach towards the multi-unit market,” says Robyn Adamache, CMHC senior market analyst. “Home building will remain modest until some of the inventory of “Record home sales... new and existing homes is sold off.” propelled But throughout B.C., the province the real estate market rebounding, says the into balanced isB.C. Real Estate conditions Association. After six consecutive last month.” months of rising home sales and declining inventories, the province moved into balanced conditions in July – for the first time since April 2008. “Record home sales in Metro Vancouver and Victoria propelled the province into balanced conditions last month,” says BCREA chief economist Cameron Muir. “While conditions in many interior markets are getting much better, their reliance on the struggling resource sector and a recent spate of forest fires have contributed to a more gradual pace of improvement.”
Much more than a place to cook or bake, kitchens are evolving TRICIA LESLIE “The pleasant hours of our life are all connected by a more or less tangible link, with some memory of the table.” – Charles Pierre Monselet (French author, 1825-1888) It’s a place where wonderful smells are born; a place where, for centuries, families and friends have gathered to share meals and conversation. It’s the room that often turns into the life of the party, as guests converge to chat, munch and trade stories.
The kitchen is a powerful part of any home, and often, the busiest. While creating delicious meals, snacks or baked goods is still a major part of what kitchens are about, homeowners want their cooking area to look appealing and chic, and still serve as a gathering place and, for some, as a workplace. “The great room, or open, concept is very popular, but more and more, we’re seeing space utilized for more than just kitchen uses,” says Pacific Rim Cabinets vice-president and general manager Richard Kaufmann. “Kitchens are becoming more multi-purpose. You might have a workspace for your laptop that can switch to a food preparation area or a cooking area... kitchens
are more multi-functional these days than just about food.” Flat-screen TVs that come built into the cupboard or countertop are becoming more common as well. Style-wise, Kaufmann says white kitchens (white cabinetry) are making a comeback, and contrast (dark countertops, light cabinetry or vice versa) is still hot. Space, storage and recycling are also big on homeowners’ minds, Kaufmann says, as homebuyers become more aware about conservation and waste disposal. At Nordstar Kitchens Ltd., quality assurance manager Blair Maundrell agrees. CONTINUED ON P.2
Before and after: Pacific Rim Cabinets vice-president and general manager Richard Kaufmann in the factory (left), where the cabinetry magic begins, and (right), a completed Pacific Rim kitchen.
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2 • New Local Home | August 20, 2009
White kitchens are making a comeback, like this one, completed by Pacific Rim Cabinets. The secondary sink in the island is another new kitchen trend that is gaining in popularity.
Off the front: “Sustainability is where kitchen manufacturers need to go. We have to be responsible stewards of
our environment, so kitchens aren’t just about aesthetics anymore. Function and style go hand-in-hand.” – Richard Kaufmann, Pacific Rim Cabinets
CONTINUED FROM P.1
“There’s a big push to maximize space,” he says, and adds he has noticed there is more “green” building happening, to incorporate improved energy efficiency and sustainability. Both Nordstar and Pacific Rim are involved in the cabinetry in several new home projects currently under construction in Metro Vancouver; both also do major renovations, based on the client’s needs. “Sustainability is where kitchen manufacturers need to go. We have to be responsible stewards of our environment, so kitchens aren’t just about A aesthetics anymore. Function and kitchen style go hand-in-hand,” Kaufmann to love says. While chocolate browns, charcoals and greys are showing up more and more as popular colours to see in kitchen cabinetry and flooring, Kaufmann and Maundrell note the choice is always up to the customer. Tight, linear, European-inspired kitchens are more and more trendy, Maundrell says, as are natural wood grains in the cabinetry, and wood veneers. Other top trends that are appearing in new kitchens, according to the National Kitchen Pacific Rim Cabinets kitchens (top row and bottom left photos) can be seen in new homes throughout Metro Vancouver. The recycling and Bath Association (an association with drawer is a popular feature. Bottom middle and right: new kitchens by Nordstar Kitchens feature a more linear, European look. chapters in Canada and the U.S.), include: n stainless steel counters n black-and-white kitchens (dramatic black and white colour schemes) n Resin panels (some backsplashes are now being made with fabric, mesh and bamboo, encased in a plastic panel) n tin ceilings n stone hearths in the kitchen n shoji screens (for privacy) n polished chrome faucets/accents (brushed nickel and oil-rubbed bronze are still hot) n more glass elements (backsplashes, etc.)
Another interesting trend, notes fixture and faucet giant Kohler, is to integrate secondary sinks and faucets into kitchens, to better prepare food and also, to help when entertaining guests. The bottom line, says Kaufmann, is the customer always comes first. “We’re extremely customer-oriented. We build the cabinets right, keeping affordability and the environment in mind... we listen, then we create the kitchen that they’ve dreamed of,” he says.
Due to a long history in Japan, sustainability, green cabinetry and healthy homes have been paramount in Pacific Rim’s corporate culture for years, Kaufmann notes. The business was the first in North America to obtain a F Four-Star rating for not using any formaldehyde in any of its products (formaldehyde is commonly used in wood composite products). This is a higher rating than E Zero in Europe. “All of us have a passion in what we do,”
Kaufmann says, and adds no one is more passionate than company president Bill Dewinitz. “They’re not just kitchens for people, they’re kitchens for families,” Kaufmann says, noting that one project will often lead to several more. “Nothing is more of a testament to our quality and to how seriously we take the craft than to do a kitchen for one couple, then for all of their children, their parents, and their grandchildren.”
What do you think? We want to know what you think about new homes in Metro Vancouver. • Are you a new homeowner? • Why do you like your new home? • Do you have a favourite builder? Why? • Are you purchasing a new home in the next 12 months? E-mail editor@newlocalhome.com
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New Local Home | August 20, 2009 • 3
4 • New Local Home | August 20, 2009
New Local Home | August 20, 2009 • 5
Tower above the rest
Chooseyour view at Esprit Only a select few homes remain in Bosa Properties’ Esprit towers in Burnaby Relax on the balcony and enjoy a latesummer sunset with views that show off the mountains, while the lights of the bustling city start to glitter all around. At Esprit, a Bosa Properties development in Burnaby, homeowners can live in a central Metro Vancouver location that is close to everything – shopping, business, entertainment, dining, recreation and parks, for example. Burnaby Lake and Deer Lake are within a short drive, while just down the street, there is HighGate Village (built by Bosa Properties), which is surrounded by 2.5 acres of green space. At HighGate, locals can do their banking, get that dental appointment out of the way, grab some fresh flowers, a bottle of wine, a cappucino and/or some fresh-baked bread – all within steps of each other. Nearby Metrotown offers plenty of shopping opportunities, and several movies play at Metropolis every day, while downtown Vancouver is a quick jaunt via SkyTrain. “The location is fantastic. You’re close to HighGate Village, close to Skytrain, close to downtown (Vancouver),” says Terra Shalaby, sales representative for Esprit. CONTINUED ON P.7
The living room of one of the homes available in Esprit I and II. Interiors feature high-quality finishings and cozy electric fireplaces.
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On Tour Squamish (1)Skye-Soleil-Aqua Presentation Centre, Unit 3, 1233 Main St., Squamish. 604-616-1215 (2)Furry Creek-Ocean Crest 415- Furry Creek Dr. 604-315-0172
Vancouver (3)Carrington 6101 Oak Street at 45th Ave. 604-266-6500 (4)Pacific UBC Westbrook Village. 604-221-8878 (5)Aura 5437 Willow Street & West 38th Ave. 604-264-6477
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(9)Levo 1170 Pinetree Way & Northern Ave. 604-464-5856 (10)The Foothills Burke Mountain, 3381 David Ave., Coquitlam 604-944-3188
Surrey (42)Augusta at Provinceton 18199 70th Ave, 778-571-1088 (43)Springfield Village 8678 156 Street. 604-591-1121 (44)Woods at Provinceton 70th & 180th Street. 604-574-7820 (45)The Highlands at Sullivan Ridge 60A Ave & 146th Street. 778-565-1865 (46)The Estates at Vistas West 16327 60th Ave. 778-574-1380 (47)Tate 18983-72A Avenue, Surrey (48)Vista’s west 6093 - 164 Street, Surrey. 778-571-1389
Delta
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(38)Trend 7445 Scott Road. 604-590-5483
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New Local Home | August 20, 2009 • 7
Silver Lining Sale offers reduced prices
Esprit: ‘There’s no bridge to worry about if you commute to Vancouver’ CONTINUED FROM P.5
“There’s no bridges to worry about if you commute to Vancouver.” Naturally, the views that come with such an impressive location are panoramic and breathtaking, especially from the sub-penthouse and penthouse levels of both highrise towers, which are called Esprit I and II. Bosa Properties is a well-respected builder that has been in the business for more than four decades, Shalaby notes, and adds that the level of quality is apparent in each home’s high-quality finishnow ings, from the designer selling composite-stone countertops to the natural woodgrain cabinetry to the wood door casings and baseboards. Large balconies and terraces give homeowners extra usable square footage for outdoor living, while interiors offer cozy electric fireplaces, lavish
Homes in Bosa Properties’ Esprit feature panoramic views, large terraces, spacious master bedrooms, gourmet kitchens and ensuite bathrooms intended to pamper. Only 10 homes remain for sale – at reduced prices – in the two concrete towers, which are centrally located in Burnaby.
ensuites and inspired kitchens. Both towers also offer residents a range of amenities, from fully equipped fitness centres to fireside lounges. While many of the 300-plus units in Esprit’s two towers are sold, 10 homes remain for sale, including a penthouse and two sub-penthouses. The others are two-bedroom-and-den, threebedroom (townhome), or villa-style layouts. Purchase prices range from $482,900 to more than $1 million (for a threebedroom penthouse). Now, during Bosa’s Silver Lining Sale, homebuyers can purchase homes for more than $100,000 less than originally advertised. “It’s nice to have available homes that are ready to move into,” Shalaby says. Visit bosaproperties.com for more information about Esprit homes or the Silver Lining Sale.
8 • New Local Home | August 20, 2009
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