Amenities, schools and major transportation routes are all nearby. So are parks, beaches, nature trails, and the Nickomekl River. At Skylands in South Surrey, homeowners can experience convenience and beauty at the same time. Dubbed the ‘unhouse,’ the Equitas project offers new, single-family detached townhomes to buyers ›› p.4
Finding your current floors dated? Find out what’s trendy in ›› p.2 new local home projects
August 13, 2009
July sees record-high home sales, REBGV reports
Hardwood, laminate and cork flooring is popular in several styles, says Casa Madera Hardwood Floors Inc.’s Peter Pocrnic.
Tricia Leslie photo
Floors: give yourself happy feet Choosing your favourite flooring can be the hardest part KOLBY SOLINSKY It’s kind of a funny thing, one that makes you roll your eyes and say, “Duh.” Any new home you walk into is intriguing from the get-go, with firm sofas, chocolate brown wood walls, stainless steel appliances
and a mixture of a million sights and smells that toggle your senses. It’s so appealing you often forget that what you’re standing on is just as crucial. For in B.C., there’s a whole swath of carpet, hardwood, tiling and laminate that bring a glossy feel from the floor to the roof. It has become a trend that has taken over almost every new home development in Greater Vancouver, as each one can display a unique and luxurious approach to groundwork.
“It’s interesting, because you’ve got people going with the chocolate browns, and then you’ve got people going for brush handscrape or a brushed oak, and you’ve got people going for rich, exotic woods, too,” says Peter Pocrnic, owner of Casa Madera Floors in Burnaby, highlighting the many choices home owners and home builders have to choose from.
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CONTINUED ON P.2
The highest-ever number of residential property sales were recorded in Greater Vancouver in July, says the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver. Sales totalled 4,114 in the region, becoming the highest volume of sales ever recorded within the REBGV for that month, out pacing the 4,023 sales in July 2003 – the only year July sales exceeded the 4,000 mark. Such a high sales volume helps home prices to continue to strengthen, says the REBGV. Since the beginning of the year, the benchmark price for all residential properties in Greater Vancouver has increased 9.2 per cent to $528,821 from $484,211, the REBGV says. Compared to July 2008, home prices are down by five per cent. “Home sales this summer are seasonally higher than normal, which is due in large part to the price correction that has taken place in the last year and low interest rates,” REBGV president Scott Russell said. “Although well-priced listings and lowerto mid-range-priced properties remain in the highest demand across Greater Vancouver, recent activity from first-time buyers is beginning to boost demand in the ‘move-up’ segment of the market.” New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties declined in Greater Vancouver, down 17.4 per cent to 5,041 in July 2009 compared to July 2008, when 6,104 new units were listed. At 12,482, the total number of property listings on the Multiple Listing Service declined 5.8 per cent compared to last month and 34 per cent compared to July 2008. “It is currently taking, on average, 48 days for a home to sell in the region. Today’s market activity differs by area and property type and it’s important to tap into local housing market expertise to understand why some properties are attracting multiple offers, while others are not moving,” Russell said.
2 • New Local Home | August 13, 2009
Chocolate brown is in at Aquilini’s Richards in Vancouver’s Yaletown.
At Polygon’s Altaire, light wood is chic.
Peter Pocrnic specializes in all hardwood flooring, including cork and laminate. Shag carpet is making a comeback as well.
Tricia Leslie photo
Off the front: “In the
Carpet continues to be popular in new homes, including Morningstar’s Belmont.
Tile floors, like these at Raicon’s Morgan Heights, are also a trendy choice.
Wood flooring that is ‘distressed’ to look lived in is hot (Cottages at Cultus above).
urban areas, you’re looking at more chocolate brown maples” – Peter Pocrnic CONTINUED FROM P.1
Pocrnic says that Casa Madera has currently been busy in the renovation market, where they have been able to apply their trademark (“The house of hardwood floors”) quite successfully. The supplier specializes in all hardwood flooring, including cork and laminate. He has found that preferences and trends seem to differ across the geographical landscape of Greater Vancouver. “If you go out to the ’burbs, you’ve got people looking for a country oak product,” he says. “In the urban area you’re looking at more Hardwood, such as the flooring in ParkLane’s South Port (above), remains popular in all colours. chocolate brown maples.” Pocrnic also highlights the increasing popu- says of the style that is both stained and aged. She also raves about the growing popularlarity of wide-plank engineered surfacing, a Additionally, Michelle Guenther heads ity of shag carpets, specifically the California style that gives a slightly new look to hardShaw’s Greater Vancouver distribution office, Twist, that has become a dominant trend in wood floors. located in Port Moody, and has established Vancouver. It accommodates people’s prefer“As a colour, it’s different, it’s varied,” he one of the company’s finest sales markets. ences for both a soft and stylish carpet. says. “Wide-plank is about five inches wide. That’s high praise coming from within a “The patterned carpet is huge here, and The traditional plank is three inches.” North American manufacturer whose the Twist is so soft. It used to be a shag and it Meanwhile, in the carpet business, parent company is Warren Buffett’s used to be really long, and that look is coming the name of the game right now is happy Berkshire Hathaway. Guenther has back,” she says, noting what’s old is new again. “soft,” says Cathy Young, creative serseen tremendous progress, as well, While Guenther is not yet convinced that feet vices director for Shaw Floors. in the laminate industry, specifically hand-scraped hardwood surface is a defin“Patterns are very popular, but still in Luminaire products. ing niche of the Vancouver floor market, she again (people) want a soft fibre,” she “It’s so close to a natural looking has seen a surge in popularity for greys and says. “We’re finding a lot of texture, layered wood that it’s very hard to tell it’s lamichocolate browns. patterns, but “soft” is really the key word nate,” she says. Recently, Guenther has been extremely today.” Overall, people are seeing laminate as a busy, working with architects and developers Even though Young is speaking from Shaw’s perfectly viable alternative to the maintenance around Metro Vancouver, including Cressey head office in Dalton, Georgia – where southand shorter wearability of hardwood. Development, Mosaic Homes, Wallmark ern drawls and freshly picked peaches repre“Some people want to have a wood look, Homes and Morningstar Homes. sent a different way of life than ours in B.C. – but they have dogs, grandkids, or kids,” she It’s interesting to note, however, that the she echoes Pocrnic’s statement that hardwood says, noting laminate can do away with some floors we stand on are truly holding us up as trends are leaning towards a heritage-styled, of the bumps and scrapes that hardwood can a North American leader among new home farmhouse restoration. expose. “They want the look but they don’t design. “New floors that don’t look new and will want to pay the price if they have a young Especially as our tastes are making the live with you are very much in demand,” she family and things like that.” rounds all the way out to Dalton, Georgia.
Publisher: Fiona Harris • 604-575-5822 • publisher@newlocalhome.com Editor: Tricia Leslie • 604-575-5346 • editor@newlocalhome.com Advertising Sales - Black Press National Sales • Adrian Saunders • 604-575-5812 • adrians@blackpress.ca Online Advertising • Nicole Hutchinson • 604-575-5826 • nhutchinson@blackpress.ca Designer: Brad Smith • bsmith@blackpress.ca
A mix of wood and carpet is always stylish (Wallmark’s Birchwood Estates, above).
New Local Home is published once a week by Black Press Group Ltd. (Suite 309 - 5460 152 Street, Surrey, B.C. V3S 5J9) 350,000 copies are distributed free across Metro Vancouver. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited.
New Local Home | August 13, 2009 • 3
4 • New Local Home | August 13, 2009
Have the house without the work
Live in a home that’s an ‘unhouse’ Skylands offers detached, single-family townhomes You walk the kids to Southridge School, then stop off at Morgan Crossing on the way back for a cappuccino and perhaps, some fresh flowers. Then you’re back home within 15 minutes, planning whether to head for a round of golf at Morgan Creek Golf Course, a visit to the beach, or a bike ride through the trails at South Surrey Athletic Park. At Skylands, a new home development in South Surrey, homeowners are surrounded by all of nature’s beauty, yet still close to shopping, restaurants, entertainment and major transportation routes. An Equitas project, Skylands is an enclave of three- and four-bedroom single-family detached townhomes that come with private yards, classic exteriors and modern interiors. Billed as the “unhouse,” living at Skylands means residents can have all the house, without the yardwork and maintenance, says Equitas vice-
to Hwy 1
CONTINUED ON P.5
88th Ave.
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The living area of a Skylands home. Located in always-popular South Surrey, the Equitas project offers new, detached townhomes to buyers.
New Local Home | August 13, 2009 • 5
Live in sunny South Surrey community
Skylands an ‘alternative’ for buyers CONTINUED FROM P.4
president James Evans. “In that neighbourhood, we specifically tried to position (Skylands) between the two home styles predominant there,” Evans says. There are several single-family detached home projects in the area, but prices are usually higher for those, while other multi-family developments offer lower prices for the townhome/condo lifestyle, he explains. “We’re attempting to fill the gap and provide an alternative. At Skylands, it’s a single-family home in a strata environment, but you’ve got your own four walls around you,” Evans says. Located near both Grandview Corners Shopping Centre and the under-construction Morgan Crossing Lifestyle Centre, Skylands is also close the White Rock and Crescent beaches, the Nickomekl River (popular with kayakers), area parks and sports facilities, nearby golf courses, and close to the Peace Arch U.S. border crossing. Featuring nine-foot ceilings on Above, the spacious entry of a Skylands home and in the back yard, a patio table and chairs are ready for relaxation.
CONTINUED HALF PAGE HORIZONTAL ADON P.7
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6 • New Local Home | August 13, 2009
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
Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows
Richmond
(23)Highland Park 160th & 24th Ave. 604-542-8995 (24)Glenmore at Morgan Heights 161A St. & 24th Ave. 604-542-8863 (25)The Brownstones Morgan Heights. 604-538-9897 (26)Wills Creek 160th & 32nd Ave. 604-542-6200
(9)Levo 1170 Pinetree Way & Northern Ave. 604-464-5856 (10)The Foothills Burke Mountain, 3381 David Ave., Coquitlam 604-944-3188 (11)Tatton 1240 Holtby, Coquitlam. 604-696-1502
Delta (38)Trend 7445 Scott Road. 604-590-5483 (39)Cardinal Pointe 10605 Delsom Crescent, Delta
Skylands, an Equitas project in South Surrey, offer homebuyers single-family detached townhomes.
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(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
Squamish West Vancouver
M a r i ne
Surrey
(35)Victoria Hill McBride Ave. 604-523-0733 (36)Q at Westminster Quay Renaissance Square off Quayside Drive. 604-515-9112 (37)Red Boat Ewen Ave & Furness St., Queensborough. 604-520-9890
South Surrey-White Rock
Coquitlam
(40)Bedford Landing 23015 Billy Brown Road. 604-888-2176 (41)Seasons & Prelude at Milner Heights 208th St & 72nd Ave. 604-539-9484
New Westminster
(20)Alexandra Gate Cambie-Garden City. 604-279-8866 (21)Centro 7180 No.3 Road-Bennett. 604-270-8305 (22)Prado No.3 Road & Lansdowne. 604-276-8180
(7)Jewel 6130 WilsonAvenue at Beresford. 604-456-0688 (8)Brentwood Gate-The Varley 1960 Beta Ave. 604-205-7228
Langley
(32)Falcon Hill 23719 Kanaka Way. 604-466-5723 (33)Crest at Silver Ridge 22850 Foreman Drive. 604-466-9278 (34)Solo 11749 223rd Street. 604-467-0800
(19)Heritage Woods 300 Panorama Place, Port Moody
Burnaby
«
Port Coquitlam
Port Moody
(6)Branches 1111 E 27th Street. 604-988-8489
(2)
(27)Kaleden 2729-158th Street. 604-541-4246 (28)Nuvo 15454 - 32 Avenue, South Surrey. 778-294-1201 (29)Morgan Heights 26th Ave & 164th Street. 604-531-1111, 604-420-4200 (30)Cathedral Grove 2738-158th Street. 604-541-7383 (31)Ocean Park 2026-128th Street. 604-538-2345
(18)Links 2418 Avon Place, Port Coquitlam. 604-460-9907
North Shore
(1)
(12)Whitetail Lane 1357 Purcell Drive. 604-552-3003 (13) Belmont 1456 Avondale Street. 604-461-7113 (14)Burke Mountain Heights 3398 Don Moore Drive, Coquitlam. 778-285-6299 (15)Sterling 3412 Wilkie Avenue, Coquitlam. (16)Belmont Walk 1442 Marguerite Street, Coquitlam. 604-464-4551 (17)Larkin House 1131 Pipeline Road Coquitlam. 604-552-1113
New Local Home | August 13 , 2009 • 7
Walk the kids to school at Skylands
Variety of design, floorplans offered CONTINUED FROM P.5
the main floor and two-car, side-by-side garages, Skylands homes are designed with open, great room floor plans. One floorplan even offers the master bedroom on the main floor, something Evans says homebuyers have been interested in for awhile. Gourmet kitchens feature shaker-style cabinetry and granite counters, while master ensuite bathrooms have soaker tubs and his and her sinks. Homeowners can choose between two striking colour schemes for inside, designed by awardwinning BYU Design. Many people who have already bought homes at Skylands come from the South Surrey area, Evans says, but also from Vancouver, Richmond and Burnaby, to name a few. “One couple is moving from an apartment in Yaletown because they want more elbow room,” he notes. Phase 5 is now selling, with homes starting from $589,900, including GST. Visit the showhomes daily from noon to 5 p.m., except Thursdays and Fridays, at 15885 26th Ave., Surrey, or go to www. skylands.ca for more information.
Skylands homes feature nine-foot ceilings and spacious, open living design. One floorplan offers the master bedroom on the main floor.
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8 • New Local Home | August 13, 2009
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