A lovely yard that started as a long bowling alley of lawn. We wanted to create a more human scale in the lounge area without building too many visual barriers. The overall effect is splashes of woodland across a contemporary canvas.

Beautiful contemporary LA cool reception room with gas fire, antique bronzed glass, feature concrete floating shelves, contrast yellow. Rich velvet tones, deep buttoned bespoke chesterfield inspired sofa. Bespoke leather studded bar stools with brass detailing. Antique 1960's Italian chairs in grey velvet. Industrial light fittings.

Stephani Buchman Photography
Example of a mid-sized trendy u-shaped porcelain tile eat-in kitchen design in Toronto with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, granite countertops, gray backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and a peninsula

Innovative design and smart planning create a lush, private outdoor space. This client’s outdoor courtyard came with a number of interesting challenges—including limited access, structural hurdles, and existing landscape design. The D. A. Dunlevy team built a custom ramp to create ingress from the street, allowing us to bring in all of the materials and plantings.The courtyard has been transformed into a private, tucked-away place for the owners to relax with morning coffee, escape with a good book, or provide an overflow area for visiting guests. The design remained sympathetic to existing architecture and landscaping, utilizing black granite stepping stones and other elements to create cohesion. Clean lines were established with a modern custom bench and stone planter wall. The greenery was chosen to create a simple and structured feel, using narrow European Hornbeam trees for an aerial hedge and adding in boxwoods, nandina, hellebores, and creeping Jenny to round out the verdant, calming effect.

This Italian-themed patio is complete with the requisite pizza oven and is accompanied by a cozy fireplace. This patio is a good example of what we call ‘Scope Creep’, in that the idea grew out of an adjacent award-winning garage project. The oven itself is imported from Italy and the stonework replicates those ubiquitous walls found in the Italian vineyards throughout the Tuscany area. The patio brings a welcoming focal point to the residence and has become a gathering place for guests and neighbors whenever the wood-burning pizza oven is fired up! A rustic fireplace is a perfect focal point for the patio on cool evenings for friends and family to sit and enjoy each other’s company, especially after a traditional multi-course authentic Italian meal.

How Planning Leads to Successful Construction Construction projects, whether small residential jobs or large commercial builds, require more than just skilled labor and high-quality materials. The foundation of a successful project lies in effective planning. Proper planning ensures efficiency, minimizes risks, and keeps the project within budget and on schedule. Here’s how thorough planning leads to successful construction: 1. Clear Project Scope and Objectives Defining the project scope early on helps prevent scope creep and miscommunication. Establishing clear goals, deliverables, and timelines ensures that everyone involved understands the expectations. This prevents delays and unnecessary changes during construction. 2. Accurate Budgeting and Cost Control A well-planned project includes a detailed cost estimation. This accounts for labor, materials, permits, and unexpected contingencies. Without proper budgeting, costs can spiral out of control, leading to financial strain and potential project failure. 3. Efficient Resource Management Proper planning helps allocate resources effectively, including manpower, equipment, and materials. Scheduling workers and ordering materials at the right time avoids delays caused by shortages or logistical issues. 4. Risk Identification and Mitigation Every construction project comes with risks—weather delays, supply chain issues, safety hazards, or regulatory compliance concerns. Planning ahead allows for risk assessment and the implementation of strategies to mitigate potential problems before they occur. 5. Compliance with Regulations and Permits Failing to secure the necessary permits or adhere to building codes can halt a project indefinitely. Planning ensures that all legal requirements are met in advance, avoiding costly fines and legal complications. 6. Seamless Communication and Coordination A structured plan includes clear communication protocols between contractors, architects, engineers, and clients. When everyone is on the same page, mistakes are reduced, and the workflow remains smooth. 7. Improved Project Scheduling A construction schedule outlines each phase of the project, from site preparation to finishing touches. A well-planned schedule helps keep tasks on track, prevents unnecessary delays, and ensures timely project completion. 8. Higher Quality Workmanship Planning allows for a structured approach to quality control. By setting benchmarks, conducting inspections, and using the right materials, projects meet industry standards and client expectations. 9. Better Client Satisfaction When a project is completed on time, within budget, and meets quality expectations, client satisfaction increases. A satisfied client is more likely to recommend your services and return for future projects. Conclusion In construction, planning isn’t just a step—it’s the backbone of success. From budgeting and resource management to compliance and scheduling, thorough planning prevents costly errors, improves efficiency, and ensures a high-quality outcome. Whether you're working on a small driveway installation or a large-scale commercial project, investing time in planning will always pay off in the long run. Do you need expert concrete construction services that prioritize planning and quality? Contact us today!

Extend season's greetings, Halloween style, with our ghoulishly graphic "Happy Hauntings" Door Mat. Any fellow ghosts or goblins that creep around your door will instantly know you're in the spirit for some frightful fun. Large "Happy Hauntings!" phrasing is complemented by a resident arachnid and dramatic web design. Web is highlighted with metallic silver thread and sweeps from front to back for added depth. A wickedly simple way to show your enthusiasm for Fright Night, anywhere around your lair – indoors or out.

Referred by our client across the street, this project was one for the books! It started out just as a laundry room, that then included the back garage entry, that migrated to the owner's suite, that then logically had to include the remaining powder that was located between the spaces. For the laundry we removed the second powder bath on the main level, as well as a closet and rearranged the layout so that the once tiny room was double in size with storage and a refrigerator. For the mudroom we removed the classic bifold closet and made it a built-in locker unit.​ We tied the two spaces together with a tiled floor and pocket door. For the powder we just did cosmetic updates, including a bold navy vanity and fun wallpaper.

Innovative design and smart planning create a lush, private outdoor space. This client’s outdoor courtyard came with a number of interesting challenges—including limited access, structural hurdles, and existing landscape design. The D. A. Dunlevy team built a custom ramp to create ingress from the street, allowing us to bring in all of the materials and plantings.The courtyard has been transformed into a private, tucked-away place for the owners to relax with morning coffee, escape with a good book, or provide an overflow area for visiting guests. The design remained sympathetic to existing architecture and landscaping, utilizing black granite stepping stones and other elements to create cohesion. Clean lines were established with a modern custom bench and stone planter wall. The greenery was chosen to create a simple and structured feel, using narrow European Hornbeam trees for an aerial hedge and adding in boxwoods, nandina, hellebores, and creeping Jenny to round out the verdant, calming effect.

Innovative design and smart planning create a lush, private outdoor space. This client’s outdoor courtyard came with a number of interesting challenges—including limited access, structural hurdles, and existing landscape design. The D. A. Dunlevy team built a custom ramp to create ingress from the street, allowing us to bring in all of the materials and plantings.The courtyard has been transformed into a private, tucked-away place for the owners to relax with morning coffee, escape with a good book, or provide an overflow area for visiting guests. The design remained sympathetic to existing architecture and landscaping, utilizing black granite stepping stones and other elements to create cohesion. Clean lines were established with a modern custom bench and stone planter wall. The greenery was chosen to create a simple and structured feel, using narrow European Hornbeam trees for an aerial hedge and adding in boxwoods, nandina, hellebores, and creeping Jenny to round out the verdant, calming effect.

The garden was a mess when I arrived to redesign it. Neglected chaos and an elderly couple who wanted a peaceful,place to relax in.
This is an example of a small traditional shade backyard landscaping in Surrey for summer.

This Italian-themed patio is complete with the requisite pizza oven and is accompanied by a cozy fireplace. This patio is a good example of what we call ‘Scope Creep’, in that the idea grew out of an adjacent award-winning garage project. The oven itself is imported from Italy and the stonework replicates those ubiquitous walls found in the Italian vineyards throughout the Tuscany area. The patio brings a welcoming focal point to the residence and has become a gathering place for guests and neighbors whenever the wood-burning pizza oven is fired up! A rustic fireplace is a perfect focal point for the patio on cool evenings for friends and family to sit and enjoy each other’s company, especially after a traditional multi-course authentic Italian meal.

Innovative design and smart planning create a lush, private outdoor space. This client’s outdoor courtyard came with a number of interesting challenges—including limited access, structural hurdles, and existing landscape design. The D. A. Dunlevy team built a custom ramp to create ingress from the street, allowing us to bring in all of the materials and plantings.The courtyard has been transformed into a private, tucked-away place for the owners to relax with morning coffee, escape with a good book, or provide an overflow area for visiting guests. The design remained sympathetic to existing architecture and landscaping, utilizing black granite stepping stones and other elements to create cohesion. Clean lines were established with a modern custom bench and stone planter wall. The greenery was chosen to create a simple and structured feel, using narrow European Hornbeam trees for an aerial hedge and adding in boxwoods, nandina, hellebores, and creeping Jenny to round out the verdant, calming effect.

Beautifully colored flagstone pieces were laid out with an intentional gap to allow the Creeping Thyme groundcover to navigate it's way and soften up the look and feel of this patio.