Full home renovation of a Burnaby single-family home completed over nine months. The project involved a complete structural rework of the main floor to create an open-concept layout, including steel beam installation to remove load-bearing walls, a full kitchen renovation, 4.5 bathroom renovations, new HVAC throughout, and structural repairs across the home. The scale and complexity of this project required careful sequencing — structural work, mechanical systems, and finish trades coordinated across an occupied neighbourhood site over a nine-month build. Every scope was managed under one process by Roka Projects, from engineer coordination and permit applications through to final finishes. Photography by Tracey Ayton Photography, interiors by JJ Interiors.

This article is posted here with the consent of the author. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy, position, view, or opinion of Crestron Electronics, Inc., or of any of its employees. Crestron Electronics is not responsible for, and does not verify the accuracy of, any of the information contained in this article. By Jeff Singer The “smart” revolution began several years ago with smartphones (a.k.a phones) and has extended in recent years to thermostats, doorbells, alarm systems, and kitchen appliances. Smart devices are so ubiquitous that the term “smart” is overused to the point that it is almost meaningless. Companies are eager to jump on the bandwagon and claim their products are “smart,” and consumers proudly claim they have a smart home because they have lighting control. Misconceptions about smart homes are prevalent and create confusion in the marketplace. This can have deleterious effects on businesses and underserve consumers. Here are seven of the most popular misconceptions about smart homes: 1. Apps are smart Apps are convenient and easy to use. Yes, it seems there’s an app for everything. People expect to be able to download an app and do just about anything. App developers and many companies do not disavow consumers of this myth. On the contrary, they promote this idea with carefully worded descriptions. The promise of having the world at your fingertips for $1.99 is very enticing. Although it sounds too good to be true, it is also too good to pass up for many people. This leads to undervaluing home control and disappointment when the apps don’t work, which undermines confidence in our industry. The fact is that apps are not smart. They do not control anything. They must connect to and communicate with a control system or cloud service that processes, prioritizes, and executes commands. That’s the real magic and what most people do not understand. 2. Smart devices work together With so many smart appliances and devices on the market today, it’s understandable that the average consumer might think that they actually communicate and work together. This is simply not the case. Smart devices are not that smart. They are designed and manufactured by different, often competing, companies. There are no national or industry standards governing these products. Even if they all operate using Wi-Fi® communications, that doesn’t mean they work together. Some companies promote a home control platform, which unites different devices from different companies – in theory. The platform is yet another third-party software totally dependent on other companies developing APIs and writing control modules for their hardware to run on that piece of software. The devices are not independently compatible. Also, when updates are made to either the hardware or the software, functionality may be affected for some period. That’s a nice way of saying the device or system won’t work and there’s no way of knowing for how long. 3. It’s a DIY project Which brings us to the next myth, which is that the average person can do it themselves. Unless you are a skilled professional, I would not advise taking on a smart home project. You want to make a light turn on and off with your Alexa® or Google Assistant™ virtual assistant software, go for it. A smart home takes much more planning and expertise. I have no problem changing a light bulb or hanging a light fixture in my dining room; however, I am not going to rewire my house. I may change the flush valve in my toilet, but I’m not going to replace the pipes in my house. You get it. Integrating devices and systems, establishing different zones, creating scenes, designing the UI with a balance between control, feedback, and simplicity – all takes experience and skill. 4. Need a programmer to make changes Early adopters may have experienced the pain of trying to make a simple change or update to their home control system. Years ago, if the cable provider changed the channel line-up, the homeowner would have to call the dealer or programmer to make an appointment for them to come out to the house to reprogram the system. The system wouldn’t work as expected until it was updated, which often took several days and beaucoup bucks. Not anymore. Technology has evolved so now it’s easy for system owners to change favorite channels, create scenes, rename buttons, update images, and more. While a professional is needed for the initial installation and setup, the system is easy to manage once it’s up and running. This makes life so much easier for both dealer and customer. 5. Tech becomes obsolete quickly Similar to updating the UI, updating firmware or hardware used to be a stressful process. A smart home should be intelligent enough to update itself. Apps don’t become obsolete. Updates are constantly pushed out from the cloud, making them better all the time. The same is true for a good smart home system. New features, functions, and device support gets added in the background consistently, so the system you installed (or purchased) yesterday gets better over time. Swapping out decorative elements, such as keypads, dimmers, and touch screens is also seamless. When a new device is added, all the settings are pulled down from the cloud and it just works. No system interruptions. No sunk costs. No imposing house calls. No surprise bills. 6. Lighting control saves energy and money Lighting control is one of the most popular smart systems, but it takes more than just one system to make a home smart. On the surface, it makes sense that if you dim the lights ten percent, then you save ten percent of energy costs. If the shades are raised during the day to take advantage of sunlight so the lights don’t need to be on (or at least not 100%), but that causes the room temperature to rise a few degrees, which triggers the air conditioner to run longer and more often, was energy usage (or cost) reduced? A smart home integrates all the various systems and technology to optimize comfort, convenience, safety, and sometimes energy. 7. Home technology is easy to hack Security is at the forefront of people’s minds these days. Personal identities are stolen; email accounts hacked; private photos publicized; and more. A smart home must outsmart those who don’t respect privacy. Crestron control systems adhere to the strictest security standards. The same Crestron control system that goes into a home is also installed in secure government and military facilities, global banking institutions, hospitals, and other mission critical applications. When installed correctly by a trained professional, a Crestron smart home is the gold standard for security, comfort, and convenience.

Earlier this summer I was called out to this job in the garden of a house in the city of Ely to inspect a freshly laid porcelain tiled patio with grout haze issues. The builder who had installed the patio hadn’t removed all the grout from the textured surface of the tile before it had dried. This was probably due to the hot weather which reduces drying times and has caught many tilers out. Multiple repeat visits by the builder trying followed who spent countless hours trying to remove the grout haze, unfortunately due to the textured surface of the tile he was unable to remove it and the patio was left looking awful. Like the builder we are increasingly finding modern grouts, which although more durable, are very difficult to remove. Fortunately belonging to the Tile Doctor network, I had already been made aware of this problem and was able to offer a solution. I arranged to pay the property a visit to demonstrate a potential solution and quote for resolving the issues. Even though the grout haze was indeed difficult to remove it wasn’t impossible if you know how. The demonstration came out well and relieved that they had finally found a solution to the problem booked me in to get the work carried out. On my return I started with the application of a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Grout Clean-Up. This product is ideal for removing grout haze or smears as they often referred to; however, being acidic we don’t recommend it for use on every surface so if your using it yourself do check the label first. I left it to soak in for ten minutes before being agitated with a black scrubbing pad fitted to a rotary buffer The weather was good, so it wasn’t a problem working outside and once all the grout smears were removed, I finished off by giving the whole patio a high-pressure rinse. I use a van mounted rinse/extraction system for this that applies warm water at high pressure onto the patio to dislodge dirt and then extracts the waste into a separate tank in the vehicle. It was an expensive investment but makes light work of jobs like this. It took around four to five cleans to complete the job, by the late afternoon the grout haze was gone, and the porcelain patio looked completely transformed. It was quite a warm day, so the patio soon dried allowing my client to use it later that day. I should mention that this variety of Porcelain tiles were not the micro porous type and therefore did not need to be sealed. Relieved the problem was finally resolved and happy with the result my client left the following feedback: Amazing service, they were able to provide us with a quote and demo before we agreed to work. We are so happy with the results we have as our patio slabs looked ruined to the eye but the Tile Doctor managed to get them looking brand new. Tom Conlon Cambridge Tile Doctor

Steven R Haning
Open concept kitchen - large contemporary u-shaped concrete floor and gray floor open concept kitchen idea in Portland with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, an island and gray countertops

Full home renovation of a Burnaby single-family home completed over nine months. The project involved a complete structural rework of the main floor to create an open-concept layout, including steel beam installation to remove load-bearing walls, a full kitchen renovation, 4.5 bathroom renovations, new HVAC throughout, and structural repairs across the home. The scale and complexity of this project required careful sequencing — structural work, mechanical systems, and finish trades coordinated across an occupied neighbourhood site over a nine-month build. Every scope was managed under one process by Roka Projects, from engineer coordination and permit applications through to final finishes. Photography by Tracey Ayton Photography, interiors by JJ Interiors.

These clients were in the second stage of renovating their stylish Tudor when we were approached to help formulate a final design plan for entertainment, technology integration and lighting design and control systems. Although the plan was to implement the final completion of these systems in stages, we needed to prepare the appropriate wiring to accomplish the end goals. We provided a lighting design plan for the areas under construction and some simple control solutions from Lutron and Universal Remote Control. Once the Family room was completed we brought in the BDI Novia A/V Cabinet in Coco stained Cherry. This excellent piece of A/V furniture was just large enough to house the entertainment system along with the homes WiFi router. The A/V system was built around a Denon AVR 3809Ci. Source components consisted of Comcast Cable HD DVR, Samsung Blu-Ray DVD player and an Apple TV. The Apple TV was the primarily used for playing the clients music and sharing their family pictures on the 50” Samsung LED TV. The Samsung Blu-Ray DVD player was designed with an internet application for Pandora Radio which is a great way to experience a wide variety of music by creating sets of personable radio stations. Listing to the entertainment system is a real joy with the Totem Tribe in-wall speakers. These sealed cabinet in-wall speakers are some of the best in the world for a very reasonable price. The Velodyne MiniVee 10 was used as the subwoofer. Panamax surge protection was incorporated for everything including the TV. The Universal Remote Control MX-980 was programmed to operate the primary entertainment system along with multiple audio zones for Kitchen, Dining, Patio, Master Bed & Bathroom through the Aton DLA6 zoned speaker selector and volume controller. Additional MX900 was used to support the master suite control within that area. A Lutron Graphic eye was used in the Dining room to manage all of the lighting scenes while the Family room was controlled via the MX-980 remote and RF replacement wall dimmers. This was a great balance of budget and appropriate user interface options. Client

This backyard patio design is inspired by our Eva, Antika and Villagio pavers. This project is the perfect example of how well our products mix together. Think outside of the box this season. Mix patterns, textures and colors the express your unique style! Check out our pavers for more inspiration! https://www.techo-bloc.com/shop/pavers/

Full home renovation of a Burnaby single-family home completed over nine months. The project involved a complete structural rework of the main floor to create an open-concept layout, including steel beam installation to remove load-bearing walls, a full kitchen renovation, 4.5 bathroom renovations, new HVAC throughout, and structural repairs across the home. The scale and complexity of this project required careful sequencing — structural work, mechanical systems, and finish trades coordinated across an occupied neighbourhood site over a nine-month build. Every scope was managed under one process by Roka Projects, from engineer coordination and permit applications through to final finishes. Photography by Tracey Ayton Photography, interiors by JJ Interiors.

This backyard patio design is inspired by our Travertina Raw patio slab. The Travertina Raw patio slab mimics the texture of natural travertine in a concrete material; making it a more durable option in harsher freeze-thaw climates. Pave luxurious poolsides, patios, walkways and backyards with this travertine stone alternative. This product line has enjoyed huge success and has now been improved with an ultra robust mix design, making it far more durable than the natural travertine stone alternative. Techo-Bloc has now extended the collection to a double-sided, structural retaining wall system, two wall caps and pool coping in order to fulfill customer demand for this luxurious product. https://www.techo-bloc.com/shop/slabs/travertina-raw-slab/

unknown/approval from original owner of property
Example of a mountain style bedroom design in Other

The tiles shown in the photographs below are classic distressed Black and White Italian Marble installed in the kitchen of a property in Bamber Bridge which is South of Preston. Some of the tiles had an issue with loose grout which I suspect was due to the suspended wooden floor and a small amount of movement had resulted in the grout cracking. Ideally more support would be needed under the floor to prevent this, in the meantime however I recommended removing the grout and replacing with a flexible grout product that could cope with the movement. The tiles also needed a clean, polish and reseal so it made sense to address the issue with the grout as part of the work. Working as a two-man team we started by cleaning the floor with a set of diamond burnishing pads starting with a coarse 400-grit, followed by 800 and 1500 grit. Water was used to lubricate the process and the floor was rinsed with water between pads with the fine slurry generated by the process extracted using a wet vacuum. These pads remove ingrained dirt and then slowly refine the appearance of the Marble building up its polished appearance in the process. The next step was to rake out all the grout which as discussed was compromised and needed replacing. We had to be very careful when removing the grout due to the electric heating mat under the floor, any damage to that would require ripping the floor up. With the old grout removed and the floor cleaned the floor was then grouted using Mapei Ultra-colour which is a flexible and fully waterproof grout more than suitable for this situation. Between us we managed to pack a lot into day one which was tough, however with the hardest tasks out of the way day two should be a lot easier. Day two started with an initial clean making sure to remove any excess grout smeared on the surface that can affect the look of the tile if not removed. This was followed by the application of the last of the set of burnishing pads which is a 3,000-grit pad that really brings up the polish on the marble. You only need a small amount of water sprayed onto the floor when applying this last pad so by late morning the floor was dry and ready for sealing. The customer wanted a better sheen appearance than they previously had, fortunately we find the Diamond burnishing pads do this well, they also tighten up the pores of the stone as well which means less sealer is needed. The floor was then sealed with Tile Doctor Colour Grow which is an impregnating sealer that improves colour and soaks into the stone occupying the pores and thereby preventing dirt from becoming ingrained. Once complete the floor looked great and the client was very happy. Sealers and Polish do wear down with use over time so before leaving I discussed our annual maintenance plan option which will ensure the appearance of the Marble floor always looks good. The plan involves returning once a year to further polish the floor with a high-grade burnishing pad and to add more sealer if required. We also discussed the use of Tile Doctor Stone Soap for regular cleaning, it is a pH neutral cleaner which is ideal for stone floors like Marble which are acid sensitive. Russell Taylor Lancashire Tile Doctor

Buying term papers from academic writing services and freelance writers is becoming a popular deal. Therefore, former and current professors are entering this industry to write papers for money more and more often. Such services as CourseworkService.com are becoming popular among students all over the world. An interesting fact is that they hire not only former graduates but also out-of-work academics. When professors find a compromise about cheating Jennifer Sunseri, a former assistant professor, lost her job in 2009. She has been looking for a job for almost three years. At long last, she had abandoned all hope of finding a new job and started working as an academic writing service creating papers for college students. Jenifer says, “I realize that it is legal, but highly unethical especially regarding the fact that I am a former professor. For me this is an equivalent of prostitution. But I have been living in a tight situation for years without an opportunity to visit a doctor or pay my bills. I am 53, and I have no kids to help me when I am out-of-work.” She has been a tutor in Texas Tech since 1998, where she established a Slavic folklore course. Jenifer didn’t have any publications during her working years at Texas Tech, so when the time has come to apply for a venture, she realized that she has no chances and left. She moved to her sister and her mom and now she is living in her studio apartment with her two cats. Sunseri was worried when she lost her job even though she has master’s degrees in Slavic linguistics and technical communications. “I thought that my educator’s and writer’s skills will be useful,” she said. “However, I was shocked at the quantity of applications for an instructor at the local college, as well as for the office manager, or an adjunct at the local institution. Even an effort to apply for a substitute teacher failed. I cannot believe that those who have academic background, experience and a degree are in less demand than those have not.” When Ph.D. and master’s degrees lose their magical power, people with academic background have no choice but to start their term paper writing career. Once professors become unemployed, one may say that they feel themselves like high school graduates looking for a part-time job. However, you will be surprised, but according to statistics sometimes those with high school or college diplomas are more welcome than people with higher education. The reason is that a lot of new job places in America were created at times of economic recovery and, therefore, they are low-paying and require specialists with lower skills. It turns to be that it is much easier to learn a less-educated worker and train him/her in a particular way suitable for a certain company or service than to teach a higher-educated worker all over again. In addition, higher educated job candidates are more selective about their choice. How to become a ghostwriter if you have been punishing others for paper cheating Jenifer was not fastidious. She was looking for a job that would correspond her skills and finally decided to try herself as an online editor. While searching for an editing job, she ran against term paper writing service. This company asked her to send examples of her works and complete a test task. She has been accepted as a ghostwriter. In fact, term paper writing services gladly accept people with higher education and offer them to write papers of all kinds for money. Jenifer says that her first assignments for sale included a 5-page paper on public debt, 10-page paper on linguistics, and an editing work of someone else’s 20-page paper. All these assignments brought her about $150. Jenifer reports that it is possible to turn a useful penny by writing academic papers. Jenifer realized that ghostwriting is a good source of income after she read an article about an anonymous academic writer who earned almost $70,000 a year writing papers for high school and college students. “Currently this business becomes more and more popular. During finals and midterms, we have a lot of work to do since there are a lot of students ready to pay for a custom paper and submit it as their own,” he says. “It is no wonder that students use writing services. I have seen a lot of their writings, and I realize why they are so desperate about writing their assignments. Some of them are unable to compose a grocery list without additional help. They really need it. We help them pass a course, that’s all.” Jenifer says that this work helped her be on form and develop her core skills like writing and researching all the time. She was unemployed for a long time and was afraid that her skills might become lower due to a lack of practice. However, at a writing company she never stops practicing. She claims that this is a hard work mostly because you have to be meet urgent deadlines. The other challenge was a paper that she couldn’t complete once. The problem was not in a lack of competency, but in ethics. She discovered that it was an order for a student from her former place of work, Tech University. She says that she felt weird about completing this work and refused to write it. “I became angry when I realized that I am going to serve a kid who is partying in Florida, while being a former faculty member of the university he is attending.” Currently, Jenifer is working as a Russian translator. However, she is not abandoning academic writing industry even though she feels a little awkward about helping students to cheat. It is not that bad that unemployable professors have an opportunity to earn for living being ghostwriters even though it is not very ethical. Ironically, a place of work like academic writing company that makes out-of-job educators feel that they are performing a crime assisting students in cheating seems to be the only place in the job market that values their experience in the sphere of education.

20 Fabulous Pool Designs Under 600 sq feet of Water Surface Area Custom pools are a much-desired amenity in Southern Nevada, however in accordance with the 2022 water use ordinance, new residential pools may NOT exceed 600 sq ft of water surface area. The square footage includes a total of the pool, spa, and any infinity-edge troughs where applicable. And, there is also a ban on independent water features. Paragon Pools’ VP & Chief Design Executive Joseph A Vassallo, CBP provides 20 pool designs under 600sq ft as an inspiration for homeowners. Excerpt from the SNWA website: Residential pool size limits Ongoing drought and climate change conditions continue to affect water levels in Lake Mead – Southern Nevada's primary water supply. As a result, the federal government declared a shortage on the Colorado River, reducing Southern Nevada's available water supply by 8.1 billion gallons, and additional reductions are expected in the coming years. To help manage these water supply constraints, the Southern Nevada Water Authority approved a resolution in July 2022 that supports a 600-square-foot surface area limit on new residential pools. The Las Vegas Valley Water District and other local jurisdictions approved this change shortly thereafter with rule and code changes. This measure will help reduce consumptive water use associated with evaporative water loss, targeting savings from the top 25 percent of new pools constructed.

As part of Valor Roofing’s Raise the Roof program, US Army Veteran, SGT George Welch received a free roof on his home in Edgewater, MD. SGT Welch is 73 years old and was an Army Military Policeman (31B), as well as a Gunner on a Helicopter Gunship. His platoon was involved in the Battle of Saigon in which they were trapped in an alleyway. Unfortunately, a few of his platoon members did not survive. “When we consider a Veteran for the Raise the Roof Program, it is important to not only establish a need, but to ensure we recognize the Veteran for their dedication to our country,” said Al Kincaid, Founder of Raise the Roof.“ SGT Welch exemplifies the bravery and heroism we have come to expect from our servicemen and women. Furthermore, SGT Welch deserves a roof that is sturdy and safe. His current home desperately needs something that we can provide. It is our duty as grateful Americans to do our part.” Living in Edgewater, Maryland for the last 41 years has been a blessing for SGT Welch, but more importantly, for the community that surrounds him. SGT Welch is a cancer survivor, but that doesn’t limit his ability to walk his beloved dogs and get his daily exercise in. This is wonderful news for the neighboring K-9’s, as they all have grown accustom to sneaking a dog treat from his pockets — purposefully — full of delicious snacks. “SGT Welch was flabbergasted when we arrived. Most Veterans are very humble and do not believe they deserve recognition for their service,” said Will Fisher, Program and Brand Manager at Valor, “After we saw his reaction, we took a moment to show respect. The last thing we wanted was to overwhelm him even more. That is just the type of guy he is; humble and prideful.” The Raise the Roof program was created by Valor Roofing to give back to service disabled veterans in need, especially Veterans of Foreign Wars such as WW2, Korean War and Vietnam War. Veteran recipients are nominated by their community through Valor Roofing’s radio partners 93.1 WPOC, 98.7 WMZQ, 105.7 The Fan, and 100.7 The Bay. With hundreds of applications to choose from, Valor Roofing selects four veterans a year, one per quarter, to receive a new roof. In less than three years, the program has donated 11 roofs, a value of $132,000. Through their partnership with Operation Second Chance and Flags of Valor (FOV), each recipient also receives a custom wooden flag, hand-built by veterans.

Located in the Sky Lofts building in Tribeca (once home to the most expensive apartment sale in NYC), our clients were ready to renovate and modernize their centerpiece kitchen. Due to the unique nature of loft renovations (high ceilings, columns, creative and skillful lighting applications, among other factors), Gallery’s expertise in loft spaces was vital to our clients. In addition to the loft particularities, it’s important in a kitchen of this size to ensure that all the elements have been laid out with purpose from a functional perspective and a design perspective. CENTERPIECE KITCHEN Color was an important design element in this kitchen. This is evident in the striking blues and grays of the marble countertops and backsplash, as well as the dark navy hue of the built-in cabinets. White lower cabinets create two-tone contrast, while glass cabinets and a long wood open shelf make the most of the available height. The built-in cabinets also include built-in appliances: an espresso maker, coffee machine, two side-by-side wine fridges, and even an integrated refrigerator paneled to match the cabinetry for an essentially seamless look. The cabinets are all push-to-open, eliminating knobs to complete the overall sleek, contemporary style. The marble backsplash is also book-matched, meaning the slabs of stone have been cut and polished to match each other, creating a mirroring effect that further contributes to the cohesive, contemporary aesthetic of this apartment. BUILDING CONSIDERATIONS Functional factors are another vital component to New York City apartment building renovations. In this particular project, we had to consider how to get large slabs of stone into the loft without having to cut them up. When working with slabs, and especially when the design is as sleek and contemporary as this one, it’s vital to eliminate seams as much as possible. Elevators and stairs are often not large enough to handle large slabs of stone, which means there are only two other options: cutting the stone and putting it back together on site (but this will create a seam, so it’s not always an option) or using a crane to bring it in through a window. Higher-end buildings tend to have more restrictions and management companies with stricter renovation guidelines – with good reason. A good relationship with the super and staff of the building is absolutely essential; effective communication with everyone involved will result in an ideal outcome for all parties. ARTFUL LOGISTICS Seemingly minor elements such as apartment protections are also just as crucial. While every renovation will require protections in hallways, common spaces, zip walls, and perhaps the floors, those protections are doubled when renovating in an apartment that’s currently occupied. In the case of this particular client, who owned a great deal of valuable artwork in addition to their furniture and other belongings, Gallery exacted their own form of art when putting the protections in place and maneuvering around them with skill. SOME HIGHLIGHTS - Unique marble slabs (Azul Macauba quartzite and Calacatta Diamond quartzite) for the countertops and backsplash - Book-matched backsplash - Gaggenau appliances - Glass cabinets with built-in lighting - Custom millwork for the cabinets

In this Manhattan pied-à-terre renovation, Gallery tackled the entire apartment. A true full renovation, we updated the kitchen, master bathroom, and powder room, installed new flooring throughout the entire space, and built the entertainment center in the living room. DESIGN DETAILS The clients wanted their pied-à-terre to have some modern touches, but not too sleek or contemporary. Since it combines a number of styles and elements, transitional turned out to be their ideal aesthetic. Whites, grays, and earthy tones carried this color theme throughout the apartment. One of the clients is an artist and wanted wall space to display their original work, visible in the dining area and powder room in the photos below. The entertainment center is another highlight, with its white mosaic brick tile accent wall and glass open shelves to display family photos on both sides. Instead of tiles, the new powder room walls received a textured concrete application, resulting in an almost industrial vibe. In the master bathroom renovation, glass mosaic tile accent walls bring a touch of personality to both the shower and a storage nook opposite the vanity. UNIQUELY-SHAPED ROOMS We specialize in adapting to every potential challenge, including uniquely-shaped rooms like the nearly-triangular kitchen in this Manhattan pied-à-terre renovation. It’s important to design an uncommonly-shaped space as practically as possible, including specs seemingly as small as sink positioning. Every little detail counts tenfold in a room that’s not rectangular! Other design details in the kitchen renovation include the classic combination of Shaker-style cabinets and quartz countertops, with a glass mosaic backsplash that matches the one used in the bathroom. VISIBILITY = TRUST Communication is always a core value at Gallery, but it’s even more vital when working with bi-coastal clients who were in another state throughout almost the entire process. We met with them once; everything else was done virtually thanks to JobTracker, our project management system. The client had complete visibility into the renovation, including all design renderings, scheduled installations, and daily progress videos and photos. Even though they were 3000 miles away, they had a direct line to everyone on the team at all times. SOME HIGHLIGHTS - Entertainment center designed and built to serve as focal point, with white brick mosaic accent wall and open shelves made of glass - Track lighting for ease of displaying art and to preserve ceiling height instead of the dropped ceiling that recessed lighting would necessitate - Deliberate consideration of space in the unusually-shaped, nearly triangular kitchen - Glass mosaic tile accent walls in the master bathroom with matching tile for the backsplash in the kitchen Thinking about renovating your bathroom? Contact us today to find out how you can benefit from our expertise in remodeling New York City bathrooms. As a design-and-build firm with a full-scale approach, we handle every single aspect of your home renovation from start to finish.

Located in the Sky Lofts building in Tribeca (once home to the most expensive apartment sale in NYC), our clients were ready to renovate and modernize their centerpiece kitchen. Due to the unique nature of loft renovations (high ceilings, columns, creative and skillful lighting applications, among other factors), Gallery’s expertise in loft spaces was vital to our clients. In addition to the loft particularities, it’s important in a kitchen of this size to ensure that all the elements have been laid out with purpose from a functional perspective and a design perspective. CENTERPIECE KITCHEN Color was an important design element in this kitchen. This is evident in the striking blues and grays of the marble countertops and backsplash, as well as the dark navy hue of the built-in cabinets. White lower cabinets create two-tone contrast, while glass cabinets and a long wood open shelf make the most of the available height. The built-in cabinets also include built-in appliances: an espresso maker, coffee machine, two side-by-side wine fridges, and even an integrated refrigerator paneled to match the cabinetry for an essentially seamless look. The cabinets are all push-to-open, eliminating knobs to complete the overall sleek, contemporary style. The marble backsplash is also book-matched, meaning the slabs of stone have been cut and polished to match each other, creating a mirroring effect that further contributes to the cohesive, contemporary aesthetic of this apartment. BUILDING CONSIDERATIONS Functional factors are another vital component to New York City apartment building renovations. In this particular project, we had to consider how to get large slabs of stone into the loft without having to cut them up. When working with slabs, and especially when the design is as sleek and contemporary as this one, it’s vital to eliminate seams as much as possible. Elevators and stairs are often not large enough to handle large slabs of stone, which means there are only two other options: cutting the stone and putting it back together on site (but this will create a seam, so it’s not always an option) or using a crane to bring it in through a window. Higher-end buildings tend to have more restrictions and management companies with stricter renovation guidelines – with good reason. A good relationship with the super and staff of the building is absolutely essential; effective communication with everyone involved will result in an ideal outcome for all parties. ARTFUL LOGISTICS Seemingly minor elements such as apartment protections are also just as crucial. While every renovation will require protections in hallways, common spaces, zip walls, and perhaps the floors, those protections are doubled when renovating in an apartment that’s currently occupied. In the case of this particular client, who owned a great deal of valuable artwork in addition to their furniture and other belongings, Gallery exacted their own form of art when putting the protections in place and maneuvering around them with skill. SOME HIGHLIGHTS - Unique marble slabs (Azul Macauba quartzite and Calacatta Diamond quartzite) for the countertops and backsplash - Book-matched backsplash - Gaggenau appliances - Glass cabinets with built-in lighting - Custom millwork for the cabinets

Spotlighted on 8/12/2014. Lumos LSX frameless solar panels installed in La Canada, CA as an EV solar carport. Photos courtesy of Newport Power Read the full spotlight: http://www.lumossolar.com/spotlights/la-canada-ca-ev-solar-carport/

Full home renovation of a Burnaby single-family home completed over nine months. The project involved a complete structural rework of the main floor to create an open-concept layout, including steel beam installation to remove load-bearing walls, a full kitchen renovation, 4.5 bathroom renovations, new HVAC throughout, and structural repairs across the home. The scale and complexity of this project required careful sequencing — structural work, mechanical systems, and finish trades coordinated across an occupied neighbourhood site over a nine-month build. Every scope was managed under one process by Roka Projects, from engineer coordination and permit applications through to final finishes. Photography by Tracey Ayton Photography, interiors by JJ Interiors.