David Coulson Design Ltd.

After two decades of dreaming about a kitchen renovation, we finally took the plunge and enlisted David Coulson Design Ltd to transform the main floor and kitchen of our 1990s home in the spring of 2024. The results blew us away! Just recently, we hosted our first Thanksgiving dinner in the stunning new kitchen, and it was a great hit and a perfect fit for a large family gathering! David and Brigitte had a vision that far surpassed our wildest expectations. Collaborating with the entire team at David Coulson Design was an absolute pleasure; they were not only incredibly professional but also a pleasure to work with. We can’t wait to partner with them again for our next project!

We hired David Coulson Design Ltd to design and renovate a 1970s walkout out rancher. We had just purchased the home and the renos had to be done before we could move in. David and his crew were awesome to work with. It all started with design and David brought creative ideas and was always considering ease of ongoing maintenance. We love our new home and love showing it off to guests.

We hired David Coulson to design and renovate our 1947 mill cottage in the seaside community of Chemainus on Vancouver Island. Having spent our careers in the design and Art worlds, great design and excellent craftsmanship were of the utmost importance. David's designs and his talented crew surpassed our expectations. Now 11 years later, we still marvel at the great job that was done. Because of their efforts and attention to details our 1947 derelict cottage is now a show piece. We couldn’t be more pleased. The photos speak for themselves……

David built us a garage with an office last year. This was our fourth project with him! David is personable and creative in dealing with any project issues and has worked well with us over the years. We went through several revisions for the scope of work on the garage, which included landscaping and installing a hot tub. We also had to hire an arborist to ensure compliance with City permits for tree removal and protection. David was very good at navigating the permit process with the City. The foreman David assigned was excellent and had many good ideas that we incorporated into the project. We are very happy with the finished product!

I called on Dave Coulson for the 2nd time in the last 15 years to reno our house. The 1st reno me and my wife had been discussing for a couple of years, but could not find a plan that we liked. When Dave came to the house, in 15 minutes he had sketched out a design that we got excited about. Last year we wanted to update our kitchen and ensuite and trusted that Dave could deliver what we wanted. Despite all the current problems with supply chains, price uncertainty and trades shortages, the project was completed in a reasonable time. The finished project is finely crafted, beautiful and functional.

I am so pleased with the work David and his team did to transform an out-of-date home office into a functional and spacious room that is a joy to spend time in while getting computer work done. I was impressed with how design challenges were met with creativity and flexibility. I especially appreciated the shared goals of repurposing old cabinets we had already while choosing new environmentally-friendly materials that will last. And I can’t say enough about how all the people we interacted with were warm, responsive and professional in every way. I highly recommend David and his team.

David Coulson Design Ltd did an amazing job renovating our kitchen, fireplace and hardwood floors. We love the new space they created! We really appreciated that before we began the projected we received a design plan and a detail break down of the costs. The entire project was great from start to finish - they communicated throughout the project, were professional and stayed within budget. They also did an amazing job dealing with unexpected issues that came up. Special shout out to Brigitte (who was in constant contact and always there to answer our questions and keep us in the loop) and John (who designed the kitchen). We will definitely hire them again for our next project!

The rock work around our gas fireplace on the main floor was in bad condition. Rocks had fallen out and the mortar was crumbling. We wanted to have a flat gyprock wall installed around the fireplace. David found time in his busy schedule for our small project. His team were polite, punctual and informative and paid close attention to detail. We are very pleased with the results.

Thank you, DCD! Great human experience and artisan level product. Not the largest firm we spoke with but certainly the most focused.

We were new to the Cowichan Valley and bought a home built in the 90’s that needed significant updating. David came to the rescue, listened to what we were looking for and advised us on a path forward for our main floor. The sub-contractors were very professional, detailed and pleasant to work with! They often provided further recommendations on improving and fine tuning the renovations which we found very helpful. We are very happy with our main floor transformation provided by David and his team. We would highly recommend him to others looking to renovate their home! Thanks so much David! Alison and Jeff

David Coulson is a gem!! He stuck with me through thick and thin with his excellent team that he summoned to assist me. Whether it was getting a shower renovation quickly for an ill relative, dealing with geotechnical advice, paperwork with a municipality or septic information, David could call on the best and see the process through. Many many thanks, Carol

This was my second project with David Coulson Designs Ltd and it was satisfying and successful. I hired David and his team to do a home renovation in November 2021. The project was subjected to the expected post covid supply chain and skilled worker shortages. My project manager, Roger, was excellent, and tried to make these challenges as seamless as possible. Roger was totally responsive to all of my needs and requests in a timely manner. David generated a design for me, after a 1.5 hour tour of my home, His experience and innovative knowledge were immediately apparent. I received a detailed timeline and budget estimate which was amazingly accurate and super helpful for deciding how to plan my funds and time. The final product was exactly what I wanted and came in within the budget that I had specified. Roger was willing to change and expand the project on the fly, as the project demanded.

David Coulson and his highly skilled team of designers, trades and sub-trades transformed our recently purchased post and beam home into a magazine worthy modern farmhouse. This renovation and extension proved to be much more extensive than we originally thought but David and his team were always there with innovative solutions and beautiful designs to blend the original architecture with our current vision for the home. The result is stunning and is above and beyond anything we ever could have imagined. We are also so grateful for all the support David and his caring team (special shout-out to Brigitte :)) provided us throughout the renovation. We were not living locally at the time but their on-going communication with updates, photos and check-ins as well as always making themselves available for a call/email made the renovation process much less stressful for us. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend David Coulson Design to anyone looking for a high quality design team in the Cowichan Valley.

David helped us figure out what we could do to replace a wooden deck and walkway that was starting to rot. After reviewing a number of options, his suggestion to install a stamped concrete patio and walkway was approved as the superior alternative. David and his crew did a wonderful job producing a design and performing the necessary work to remove and ultimately replace the wooden structures. That includes making a significant alteration to the initial design mid-way through the preparation and forming for the concrete. The project included replacing the wooden front steps and porch with composite decking and metal railings. Given the timing of the project was during the late Covid period which has suffered from labour shortages and supply problems, David managed to pull it off and provide us with a beautiful brand-new patio which should give us pleasure for many years without the continued maintenance required by our old deck. It was clear to us that David and his staff have pride in the work they do, and it shows in the end product.

We had a half-built dock on our pond and a problem. If we connected the dock to the bank in the place that made the most sense, the dock faced away from the approach to the pond and we were not getting the look we had envisioned. We needed a the eye of a designer and artist, so we called in David Coulson. He turned the dock and added another arm to it. This gave us the connection point we needed and the view of the dock from the approach that we were looking for. On top of that, our vision for the gazebo on the dock was to reflect our old farmhouse. David mimicked the farmhouse dormers, the pillars and railings from the farmhouse deck so that the gazebo echoes and complements the house. We couldn’t be happier with the way it turned out. I would love to submit some gorgeous photos but I haven’t figured out how to do that yet.

David Coulson Design Ltd. built our forever home and what a successful project! They did the design, dealt with all permits, sourced all supplies and sub contractors. This job started right at the beginning of the pandemic and was completed by Christmas of the same year. We had no delays or supply issues. We are retirees and the house was built for us to grow into. No barriers to mobility. Such a thoughtful design. Our house is a legal duplex (a full house addition to an existing house). We live beside our daughter and the houses are joined seamlessly with 2 shared deck spaces. David's staff is wonderful to work with. Donna the designer is an amazing resource. Jim, a red seal carpenter and foreman of the build was professional, diligent, precise and very approachable. We couldn't be happier with our home. We are so delighted that David and his team quickly resolve any issues that have popped up since completion. Heartfelt thanks to the DCD team!

David Coulson Design Ltd did a wonderful job renovating a one-bedroom rental apartment for me this past year. What a pleasure to work with people who are so organized and conscientious, experienced and efficient! I have hired David Coulson in the past with stellar results, and it was no surprise that everything came together beautifully despite the various challenges we all were facing. The final outcome was beyond my expectations, as a dingy, dated space transformed into a bright, modern home--all within the budget clearly laid out right at the start. I highly recommend David Coulson for any construction or renovation project. He's a great guy with a great team by his side!

We hired David and his team to help us with a major renovation of our family home in Victoria. The house was old and hadn’t been updated for many years. It needed significant structural work and presented numerous challenges. David’s team provided us with a workable design that satisfied all our needs and was innovative in identifying solutions during the construction and renovation process. David worked hard to manage the budget and kept us apprised of any obstacles which might significantly affect the cost of the renovation. We had an excellent working relationship with David’s sub-trades who were extremely skilled and able to complete this difficult project despite the challenges posed by the pandemic. We are very pleased with the final result and couldn’t recommend David and his team more highly. Bob and Lorna Nikelski

We used David and his team to help design the renovation for our heritage home. We relied on David to produce the permit plans needed for the CVRD and to guide us through the permit application process. David's wealth of knowledge and experience has been invaluable, in particular, his expertise with the local permitting process.

Many thanks to Dave Coulson and his team for a first class maintenance upgrade on my 1910 Heritage House in Victoria With Dave's solid knowledge and heritage trade relationships he was able to steer the job through many challenges - a pandemic year with supply shortages, rising costs and a heat wave - still they finished a carpentry, masonry and gutter upgrade on the house to an excellent standard before the rains! Dave has years of experience in the industry and good working relationships which means if anyone is going to get a job finished, he will, because people want to come through for him. I always felt confident that I was getting the best advice and workmanship from Dave and his team. His tradespeople are top notch and also wonderful individuals to have on site - courteous, organized and committed to a high standard of workmanship. Dave was also exceedingly patient and supportive in helping me navigate my first Victoria Heritage Foundation's grant process. No easy feat as it involves some attention and knowledge to interpret their guidelines correctly, to have a successful upgrade to the Heritage Committee's standards. IF you're looking for a Heritage Contractor - you'd be lucky to get someone as nice, straight shooting and as experienced as Dave.

One of the best contractors who has performed professional advice & work for my home & property including perimeter drains & updating driveway drainage.

David and his team helped with the concept and design for our new kitchen extension. We sincerely appreciated the way he put our wishes and directions into an actual draft design plan and found that he was very attentive to the changes we requested along the way. We're excited to see the design come to life in the near future!

I am very pleased with the attention to detail and finish on what was a small job to upgrade a period kitchen in a heritage house. In the past, Coulson Design has done all the work on the restoration of my heritage house, exterior and interior and I would not hesitate in recommending them.

Recently I have hade two decks refurbished that included replacing the support posts and the full length support beams. This was not simple because the upper deck is about 20 ft above the ground. They also had to correct a slight sag in the middle of both decks. First they constructed temporary support pillars with 2 x 4’s and then they replaced the support posts then the beams on top of the posts. All this was done in a very efficient manner, and with high quality workmanship. Very professional work, start to finish! In addition some of the deck surface boards will be replaced. Also a stairway at the side of the house has been refurbished. Perfectly done. ALL WORK under Jim Robertson’s guidance and he pitches in too. VERY PLEASED WITH THE QUALITY WORK AND THE PRICE.

well supported by David Coulson Design beginning with clarification of needs and design, implementation, and completion of project. Professional, skilled craftsmen, knowledgeable of local resources and networks, timely, with excellent communication and teamwork throughout the process. Very satisfied with the process and end result of our remodel/addition to our home. Thank you very much!

David had completed a major renovation on the lower level of my house approximately 11 years ago. A leak developed in the crawl space this year and he managed to fit the repair into his schedule in fairly short order which decreased my stress level significantly. This small corner of my house has now been over-engineered and I expect it will not leak again for many, many years. As I remembered his guys were polite, professional and tidy.

Our introduction to David Coulson Design resulted from a web search for design consultants in the Duncan area. While our existing kitchen was reasonably modern, it had shortfalls in certain areas and we were looking for expert advice on how best to renovate. Unlike many companies offering design services DCD did not tie their design service to any subsequent construction work. The initial on-site visit by David and Donna was very congenial and full of ideas, resulting in some excellent design drawings and illustrations. Had we wished we could have taken these to any other contractor of our choice. However, DCD provided us with a detailed estimate of construction costs and timeline and our choice was to contract them for the entire project. Given the high demand for sub-contractors through the pandemic summer and fall of 2020, we believe our choice of DCD was well rewarded by both the excellent service that they provided and the timely coordination of all the sub-trades. The project was completed on budget and, while it was delayed by a month, this was entirely due to awaiting delivery of appliances. We are delighted with our new kitchen and the service provided by DCD in their initial design work and in driving the project through to completion.

After a successful and extensive 8 month renovation that transformed our waterfront property back in 2014, we called upon David Coulson Designs (DCD) once again. We have a self contained one bedroom guest suite that needed to be completely reimagined (new bath, kitchen, flooring, windows, ceiling, lighting etc). We TRUST and value the team at DCD so we called in David to take a look. Though a smaller scale project from the one we did 6 years ago, he was happy to take it on and offer his and his team's expertise and guidance to recreate this space. The team at DCD is respectful, innovative, hard working and committed to delivering a quality product. Bringing in the various sub trades was fast tracked since they work with DCD regularly and prioritize DCD’s projects so everything is more streamlined. It was also great to reconnect with his team members that were part of our 2014 renovation. As we all know, renovations can be a stressful and expensive endeavour but when you have a team that knows what they are doing with all the necessary contacts in place, it's a much easier experience with the end product reflective of the time, energy and investment put into it. Because of the success and quality of our first renovation, I’d never take any future renovations on without calling DCD first. L. Mihalchan

We love our beautiful new kitchen from David Coulson Designs! You can see it here as one of their projects - https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/bold-and-blue-pj-vj~6380247 David and Donna and the whole team are very professional and were easy to work with. They listened to what we wanted and provided plans and made adjustments as necessary - including extending various renovations to an adjoining dining room, living room and office. They incorporated our ideas and advised us on layout, materials and other choices making everything better with additional flair, consideration and experience. The David Coulson Design team and subcontractors who came to our home were polite and very skilled. They went to great lengths to get the big things - going right down to the studs, changing walls and doors - and getting the tiniest of details just right going above and beyond our expectations. All of this was done during the COVID-19 pandemic which they navigated adroitly while ensuring safety of the work team and our family by sealing off the work area from the rest of the house and many other safety protocols. The result is the most stunning and functionally useful kitchen that we have ever been in and we have relished using it.

We found David Coulson Design's team to be good communicators throughout a significant renovation. We were provided with a detailed budget which was only altered by our requested changes or additions. They work with a very professional group of trades and the few bumps we experienced were rectified without question by DCD. Their in-house carpenter, Christopher does meticulous work and is easy to get on the same page with. I would recommend this company to others.

DC Design is an inspiration in an industry that too often has a hard time thinking out of the box (pun intended). A full service building contractor that takes care of both the big and the little picture. I look forward to having him build my next house.

David Coulson Design Ltd. recently completed a major renovation of our basement, the second such project that they have done on our house. The aim of the recently completed renovation was to convert a large, unfinished space used mainly for storage into additional living space, including a bedroom, full bathroom, kitchen facilities, and a living/dining room area. The work was extensive because the cement floor first had to be lowered to make the area a livable height. This is turn necessitated the shoring up of the foundation of the house. Despite that most of the work took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, the work proceeded apace, with an occasional short delay now and then. David Coulson and his employees and associates were highly skilled and professional in their work and very responsive to our queries and ideas. We are extremely pleased with the final product. Pat and Linda Gregory

My sister and I embarked on a major project to design and build a new safe and stunning lakeside bungalow for our elderly parents. Quite simply, our vision could not have been realized without design-builder David Coulson and his 'best in class' team of professionals guiding us through the highs and lows of an intense one year journey from ground-breaking to occupancy permit. Responsive, customer-focused and committed to excellence, the David Coulson Design (DCD) team delivered our project on time, despite the impacts of COVID challenging the supply chain and sequencing of labour. My parents have been in their new home for just a couple of weeks now, and David remains personally committed to ensuring that they are safe and happy. If you are looking for experience, customer-focus, quality, professionalism and a genuine passion for design-build, then DCD is your choice!

Many years ago, we hired David Coulson Design to renovate our 100-year-old house, and every day since move-in, I marvel at the craftsmanship of that renovation. In addition, a relationship built on trust has flourished over the decade since. More recently, I have hired David Coulson's team to do maintenance projects, particularly taking care of the beautiful wood inside and outside the house. I cannot praise David and all his crew and sub-contractors highly enough. Their knowledge and dependability continue to impress me, and my confidence in them is unshakeable.

David did an amazing job on our house renovation and we are looking forward to dealing with him on our new house build in 2020. David has incredible “outside the box” ideas that are so innovative and cost effective. He really listens and comes up with marvellous solutions. Everyone on the Coulson team are a pleasure to work with!

Our home was needing some tender-loving care, and we searched and found David Coulson. We wanted to work with someone who has a good vision for a project like ours. As well, someone who has many years of experience and connections in the industry. We weren't interested in calling up independent contractors/businesses and getting price quotes and reading reviews. David and his staff made it really easy for us. He came out personally to see our home, kept the communication open and ongoing, and checked on the work consistently. Whether the office staff or his trades staff, they were all friendly and professional. Items worked on included: window replacement, all new blinds, deck repair and redesign, garage repair and other tidbits around the home. This past summer, I enjoyed sitting on the new deck and the home stayed cool during the summer from the new windows. I believe we will likely call David in the near future again for some more home improvements. Thank you to David and his team at David Coulson Design.

A big Thank you to David and his crew! They helped me realize what I had envisioned for my new kitchen. They were able to deal with all the quirks that come with renovating an older house and I am very happy with the result. I recommend David Coulson Design Ltd. if you are looking for a creative builder that has lots of experience and can tune into your ideas.

David Coulson Design created a custom cedar fence for our new home. The entire process was fantastic from start to finish - they communicated well throughout the project, were clean and professional and stayed within budget. They also did a creative job of working with the challenges of the land and created unique gates that look fabulous. Will definitely hire them again for our next project!

We hired David and his company help us to redesign our home in Victoria in contemplation of a major renovation which is to start next year. David met with us a number of times and walked us through the design process. We were impressed by his ability to listen to our needs but at the same time provide insightful and practical advice. His team performed admirably and and on budget and we are really pleased with the final design drawings and plans. We are looking forward to starting work on the project this coming summer with David's construction team.

David Coulson Design Ltd. constructed a 25 ft high viewing tower for the Somenos Marsh Wildlife Society in our Open Air Classroom along Highway 1, north of Duncan, B.C. The Coulson team did an amazing job; the final product is a thing of beauty. The quality of workmanship is exemplary. The care that his team took in the many details involved in this project was so impressive. The detailing and extra little bits are very high quality and artistic

We hired David Coulson to design and renovate our kitchen, add an ensuite bathroom and add a large garage to our 1971 house. Through the design process it became apparent to us that other areas linking to the newly renovated areas would also need to be redone to keep the updated "look" consistent throughout the house. As a result, the project's scope grew substantially, which ultimately led to gutting the whole inside of the house, redoing almost all the electrical and plumbing, creating a "bridge" from the front deck of the house onto a new rooftop deck above our new large garage, resurfacing the house exterior, redesigning the entrance to the house including reshaping/resurfacing the driveway and adding stone walls and accents, and designing/building some lovely decorative exterior wood panels and a matching gate. Right from our first discussion with David, he was always very accommodating, professional, knowledgeable and he was a real pleasure to deal with. David has a creative vision and designs and creates something that's unique and special. He must have acquired some grey hair when we were adding/changing the scope of our project, but he was always patient and made sure what we wanted was done. Whenever challenges arose, David was always very quick to resolve them. Problems uncovered from the original house build were fixed and made right. That's a real gift to a homeowner. David's onsite crew were very skilled, personable and accommodating - a big thank you to Roger, Chris and Bernie! And thank you to Donna for all her hard work! We wouldn't hesitate in recommending David and his team for any project you may have.

We hired David and team on a renovation project for my parents rancher in Ladysmith. They did an excellent job designing and completing the renovation. Great team, great work and great outcome. My parents are very happy and are now living in their new space including a beautifully renovated kitchen. We would certainly work with this team again. Thanks to David, Donna and Jim for their professional approach and great outcome !

David, Donna, and the whole crew at DCD did an incredible job renovating our old rancher, turning it into an up-to-date new home for our family. From the design phase right through construction and finishing, the quality of the work was top-notch. They have a genuine commitment to getting the job done right, without cutting corners, and it was great to know that not only were the surface details aesthetically pleasing, but also that the structural and technical elements hidden behind walls, floors and ceilings were done properly and made to last. We highly recommend this company!

Coulson Design provided great service for the renovation of our women's shelter in Duncan. David and Donna worked effectively with us to come up with an excellent plan for the reconfiguration of our staff and resident space, and we are more than happy with the new 'flow'. The quality of work of their tradespeople and contractors was very high, and where deficiencies were noticed, they were remedied immediately. As the renovations unfolded, we had multiple requests for changes to the plan, and each was met with patience and respect. As we continued to provide shelter and support for women and kids fleeing violence throughout the renovations, I was impressed how David and his crew worked with us to minimize the impact on our residents and staff. A special shout-out to Jim...throughout the whole time he worked on site, he was always sensitive to the surroundings and met our requests for flexibility with a smile. His eye for detail and construction and finishing skills are impeccable. David worked with us to keep the costs within budget, and even sought contributions from his local supplier so that we could have a beautiful granite counter top (shout out to Matrix Marble & Stone!). We absolutely love our renovated spaces! It is spacious, bright, and inviting. Kudos to Coulson Design for their good work, generosity and community spirit!

We recently purchased an older house on the island after moving from the mainland. It was very obvious the kitchen required a major renovation. We requested quotations from three different companies. All responded with a quote. We then reviewed each quote and looked into the history of each company with respect to previous customer's feed back, quality of work etc. One company stood out above the others. The owner David Coulson (DCD) definitely had an eye for the kitchen layout providing many recommendations while the others simply quoted on what we requested. After many discussions with David we arrived with an optimal design. It should be noted that DCD was not the low quote but had a solid relationship with the various trades involved, manpower to start the work immediately and assurances that once the work was started it would flow smoothly to completion. All trades used by DCD were very professional, courteous and thorough in their work. DCD's employees were very helpful throughout the renovation period and responded immediately to our requests. A big thank you to David, Donna, project coordinator, Roger, trades Supervisor, Bernie and Chris. It should be noted that the project was completed one week ahead of schedule. We are so happy with everyone's work that we are now continuing using DCD for a bathroom reno.,and driveway gate installation. I would highly recommend DCD to any person requiring renovations, large or small. Thank you DCD and staff. Robin and Josie

We retained David Coulson Design Ltd. to do a number of upgrades and renovations to our farm house on our hazel nut farm, which house is about 25 years old. David provided design advice for two decks removal and replacement, including provision of a pergola, lattice work and coverage over the barbecue area. New windows and doors, a new ducted heating system with heat pump as well as numerous electrical changes including house and yard lights were also done. A number of landscaping projects included grading, creation of new rock walls and new steps on three sides of the residence were also completed. Framing and completion of a mud room and attic access were provided and internally the majority of the house was painted. We found the work to be very professionally done, the design ideas provided were excellent, the contractors extremely accommodating and a pleasure to work with. The work was completed within the time lines specified in the scope of work and in accordance with the budget provided. The work quality was excellent and we are very satisfied with all work done.

My husband and I hired David Coulson to renovate our kitchen. It was a fairly big renovation which included bumping out 3 feet to widen the room and knocking out a wall between the existing kitchen and dining room. We had architectural drawings to work from but even so, as with most renovations, there were a few hiccups along the way. David was amazing at problem solving and fine tuning the plans creatively. For each problem he identified, he was able to make at least one alternate suggestion within a few minutes. He thinks on his feet and is unflappable. He has a great team of workers who were actually a pleasure to have around! Renovations to a house you are living in are by their very nature incredibly disruptive but I can honestly say that everything went as smoothly as possible. The various trades came as soon as they were called, and did their job quickly and professionally. The outcome was amazing! Our kitchen is gorgeous and I can't think of a single thing I would do differently. Thanks a whole bunch to David and his amazing team!

David and his team members are personable, efficient professionals and the result of the combined efforts, attention to details and communication, is that we do have a lovely little roof over our heads and are well pleased with the workmanship. Everyone did their best to meet deadlines and budget although there are some variables no one can control.

David Coulson and his team were very professional,timely and helpful. They didn’t have downtime for ‘other jobs’, they listened to direction and they were very helpful with information about work flow. I am very pleased with the outcome of work, design and job management done by Dave, Jim and the rest of the team.

We are thrilled with the end result of our kitchen renovation, it has completely transformed our home. The design was creative, utilized all possible space and options and showed great sensibility. It took twice the estimated time and the cost was 25% over budget, but a year in and we wouldn't change a thing.

David and his staff helped us create a beautiful serene lake house out of a rundown cabin. All of the staff were professional and helpful. We had a wonderful summer at the lake thanks to David and his crew.

Every once in a while, a community professional steps up as a true gentleman and David did just that for us at our non profit childcare centre. We needed some professional advice, building advice, and David volunteered his services to assist us out of our dilemma. It was just what we needed and we are very grateful for him for taking time from his very busy business practice to do so. Thank you from all of us at Growing Together.

We initially consulted with David Coulson of David Coulson Design Ltd in January 2016 to discuss a total home renovation. We worked for several months with his outstanding design team and construction began in May 2016. The renovations proceeded smoothly and in a timely fashion despite a few glitches encountered along the way. However his team dealt with each issue professionally and quickly and always found solutions. They were positive and upbeat to work with and there was never a question that was unanswered, despite how small it might be. The team was creative and innovative. They truly listened to what we wanted in a finished product and always worked to make sure we were pleased with how things were progressing. We were able to move back into our house in October 2016 and over the past few months finishing details have been completed. We absolutely would very highly recommend this group and could not have asked for a better result. David Coulson and his team have been absolutely outstanding to work with.

We have had, consecutively,four homes in Victoria.For three of those homes David Coulson has been our contractor.Since we are still friends over this long period, it's safe to say we have been satisfied with David and his talented crew.There have been many projects; I think that today our home reflects the care and the sensitivity that David Coulson Design Ltd. will and can deliver.

We hired David Coulson Design to renovate and build additions onto our rancher. Our objective was to get a suite designed for my Mum and a master suite designed for my husband and myself. As soon as I meet with David I knew we were going to hire him. He is very approachable and easy to talk with. The design David came up with was awesome even adding a new entrance way which is beautiful and the additions making a U shape in the back with a courtyard. This has been a huge project for us and his team has been amazing, right from the design to the building. All his employees are very professional and the team of carpenters we had were just awesome! The quality of work they produced is beautiful. We have 4 boys, ages 3-14, and my Mum living with us. These guys were so respectful of our situation and great with our kids. I have nothing but good words to say about the crew. They made this project fun and answered any questions we had. Just a great bunch of guys. We had a budget of roughly $115000 when we started. We discovered rot in the front and had the whole front redone which was not in the budget. We also had a post and beam entrance put in along with a cement walkway and steps that were not in our budget either. We also had a few more extras added on and we still came under budget!!! We were very impressed! We did have a hiccup in the plan, which I don't think you can tackle a reno without at least one, but David came out right away on a Saturday afternoon to fix it. I found this very professional, he really cares about his projects and his clients. With all of his knowledge and experience watching him work is quite impressive. The quality of the work is amazing. There are no short cuts taken which gives us piece of mind that our home has been quality built. I highly recommend this company. We have loved having them take this project on and can't wait to work with them in 2017 to finish phase 2 of our project.

I hired David to design and construct a deck with stairs and a timber frame roof. I chose this company because they advertise as BC Certified Green Builders and their style seemed a good fit for me. I have renovated 3 homes in the past and have a good idea of the challenges that renovating can present. The construction was done well but on the whole THIS PROJECT WAS A NIGHTMARE FOR ME FROM START TO FINISH. In the design process David passed my project off to a new and untested hire who had very little vision or creativity. I had to repeatedly contact David to get my ideas heard. In hindsight I should ended our collaboration at that point. Only one carpenter did the entire project and I found him very hard to work with. The company uses temporary day laborers that are unskilled and unsafe. I had to take one of them to the hospital after he fell from a scaffolding that he himself had put up. At no point in the project was any attention paid to doing the work in an environmentally friendly manner. I I do not recommend hiring this company

I was very happy working with David Coulson and his team. David was able to understand what I wanted and worked with me to get the exact results I was hoping for. The quality of the workmanship could not have been better and his entire team were a pleasure to deal with. They all went above and beyond to accommodate the other trades and my busy schedule. The extra effort in the final finishing detail was even more than I had hoped for. David updated a 20 year old build, matched the wood perfectly to add more cabinets, gave a face lift to the existing ones and created a more workable floor plan. I am looking forward to finishing the next project he is helping me with.

David, Don, Jane and the rest of the crew gave the main floor of our house a complete makeover. They took out 3 walls to create an open plan living room, kitchen and family room, added 2 large patio doors to the deck, a window above the sink, all new ceiling lights, and flooring. Every worker who came on site was a true professional while also demonstrating respectfulness and courtesy towards the homeowner. The quality of work was superb and we are very happy with the results.

David Coulson Design built the cabinets for my kitchen renovation. Daryl built and installed the cabinets which are beautiful in all aspects as well as very functional. Daryl is a very skilled cabinet maker and I would highly recommend his work. Donna who is a designer with David Coulson worked well with my designer Tricia Guiguet of Tricia Guiguet Interior Design.

We've hired David Coulson Design on 3 occasions, 2 major reno's and one smaller but equally important project. Each and every time we have engaged Dave's services, we have been thrilled with the outcome. Dave is very easy to work with, is an excellent designer, and is very responsive when there's any questions or discussions to be had. With David Coulson Design we have added a 2nd story to our house, turned an unusable exterior space into a great guest room/design studio, and turned a blank wall into a focal point for our dining room as a sit-in window seat with huge opening windows and storage underneath. Dave's pricing is reasonable, and his "green" practises is refreshing to work within.

It is time to tell you what a difference the new brick paths have made to a stroll in the garden. Such enjoyment.Everyone who visits is astonished at the feeling of peace and the air quality. The "brick" that David Coulson chose is a most pleasing colour and has the quality of seeming to have always been here.

My wife and I purchased a 1912 heritage-designated home in Victoria, B.C. It is all original, which is both a blessing and a curse. We need to make some updates to the house to make it more functional but we are determined to make sure that any changes are sympathetic and in keeping with the spirit of this wonderful home. We hired David Coulson Design to help us come up with an overall plan before we begin any work. It has been a great experience so far. David and his team are so creative and so understanding of what we want to accomplish. In particular, his designer, Donna, has been incredible. The trickiest part of the plan has been what to do with an 11 x 11 kitchen that has four doors leading into it, a large window, and the landing of the main staircase jutting into one corner. We've had a wonderful collaboration with David and Donna over the past little while and the exchange of ideas has produced something even better than we had hoped for. Donna just delivered our last set of drawings for the kitchen and she knocked it out of the park! Donna was great about listening and incorporating our ideas and has been super patient in making all our changes. We are practically vibrating with excitement over the end result of the drawings. They are perfect. It's EXACTLY what we wanted to accomplish: a much more useable layout that looks like it might have been original to the house. Now the hardest part will be waiting for the time when we can build this. Just having this plan and knowing that's the direction we're going to go is really, really cool. Thank you, David and Donna, for your amazing work on this. We are so pleased.

David Coulson was not the only designer/contractor we talked to about doing renovations to our house, but he was the only one who made a point of learning about our life style and preferences and considered the options that would complement the existing layout and structures in the house. He was very patient and helpful as we spent a couple of months discussing possible designs, particularly for our kitchen and one problematic small bathroom. What we appreciated from the on-set was the detailed description and costs for the work. We added some extras, but the work for the original design was within the budget. Once we had the framework confirmed, Jane, his assistant, took over to help us with the details. She pointed out some excellent options for faucets, toilets, shower doors, tile sizes and colours, paint colours, light fixtures, and the many other little things that we would never have considered. The work was done by a friendly and hard working group of specialists. Dan and Dave prepared the house for the new bathrooms and kitchen and it was immediately apparent that their experience enabled them to think quickly on their feet when the unexpected happened. Eric gave ideas about the layout of the tiles and completed the work efficiently and carefully. Larry recognized the required code for upgrading pipes and installed all of the pumping and fixtures. Adam did the electrical work and made any necessary modifications, even working through dinner to finish the project. Daryl discussed the details of the kitchen and bathroom cabinets and made all of them expertly to precise measurements. Andrew did an excellent job of re-finishing a well used hardwood floor. Chris (Nugget Glass) and Matrix Marble produced well crafted and finished products. Sarah finished the project with fresh paint throughout, and used her skills for such things as removing paint from a wood ceiling added some years ago. Don managed the project: he made sure that the materials were on site, the jobs were completed carefully and in proper sequence, and he also helped out as necessary. Any problems or minor changes were always dealt with quickly by David with very satisfactory results. We are really pleased with the final product and it meets our best expectations. We highly recommend David Coulson Design as a designer/contractor. Patrick and Linda Gregory

David and crew have completed 2 projects for us. The first, a garage was built in 2006. The latest was a timber framed patio cover. We have been completely satisfied with both and have received many compliments. have

I’ve had the good fortune of photographing a number of David’s projects. It’s always a treat for me to go through our pre-shoot walk-through and listen to David share his vision behind his design. I’m always so impressed with his thoughtfulness, attention to detail and remarkable depth of knowledge. You certainly get a sense for his passion for the work and his commitment to deliver for his customers. David and his team are consummate professionals … he’s simply a pleasure to work with! I’d most certainly recommend David Coulson Design for any renovation or custom build.

We hired DCD to design and complete an extensive renovation of our waterfront home. It involved an esthetic remodel to our vision of a West Coast theme as well as attention to comfortable and functional wheelchair access throughout. Communication during the eight month process was excellent and the entire team was great. The timeline and budget were adhered to but my wife and I changed the scope of the project a few months in that resulted in over-runs. The end product was exceptional and we would definitely recommend David’s services to friends. Scott and Leah Mihalchan

I have the opportunity to study a variety of David Coulson plans each year, from small renovations to newly constructed custom homes. As a sales and design rep for Pacific Truss I work frequently with David Coulson Design Ltd providing technical design and pricing, as well as supplying trusses and engineered wood products to their projects under construction. David Coulson Design respects and provides quality to their clients and solid structural integrity to their buildings. I'm very impressed by the application of timber in their designs. David Coulson plans use gorgeous wood and capture light in their spaces to produce projects that fit in naturally with their environments. With their application of wood, stone and colour it's as if the best of the site is mirrored in the project. I would choose David Coulson to design a space because I feel that the design team would capture the healing essences of the nature of the property, bringing it indoors, yet also provide luxury and comfort to my home. The team is wonderful to work with! I particularly enjoy working with Don Verge, project manager and estimator for David Coulson Design Inc. Don always has a smile. He is very organized and is very tactful and friendly while hustling me along to make sure that his pricing and projects stick to a tight schedule. I've communicated with builders, designers, and of course, David Coulson, in the company. Everyone I've dealt with is friendly, approachable and quick to respond to enquiries.

A good company with great designs and experience. I worked for him and still have a lot of respect for the way they do business.

David Coulson Design Ltd did an excellent job of finalizing design, coordinating ad executing a major home renovation project involving multiple trades. Work included building a 4-season sun-room, removal and complete remodeling of 2 bathrooms and a laundry room, installation of a high efficiency forced air furnace system including all required air ducting through an existing finished house, removal of all old water piping and complete re piping of the home hot and cold water system, removal of all old metal windows and installation of vinyl high efficiency windows. The coordination of the multiple trades to carry off this major renovation and the high quality of the tradesmen used made the finish project one that we are proud to show off to our neighbours and friends. They were very easy to work with and always had a positive "can do" attitude. One felt comfortable with his advise and thoughts. I would not hesitate to use this firm again on this type of complex renovation.

We love our reno ! The beauty of hiring Coulson is that his sub trades are there for him. No delays in the work. The crew show up as said. All work by the trades people were excellent. I give 4 out of 5 cause nothing is ever perfect! Coulson does enjoy creative projects and has an eye for such. Our old 1930's lathe and plaster home has a new kitchen, 2 W/C, deck and the entire top attic type second floor expanded out for a master bedroom and bath. Two years later and we are happy every day for this reno.

The whole process from Design to completion was exceptional! David's team gets top marks! Some adjectives to describe the experience: Respectful, Efficient, Clean, Easy to Talk to, Professional, Skillful, Knowledgeable, Helpful, Kept me up to date on all aspects, Timely , Honest, Trustworthy, Patient.. All in all I am grateful for the sustainable, warm, cozy,well-made home that has been designed for me to live in for the rest of my life! Kathleen Devlin

Coast Environmental (Active Industrial Waste Management) has been doing business with David Coulson Design for a number of years and have always had a good professional relationship. They provide quality workmanship whether your project is a new home structure or a renovation of your existing home.

We were very happy with the extensive interior and exterior renovation of our home. Cezar provided exciting and inspiring design options. Both David and Cezar incorporated our design ideas thoughtfully. David considered our specific wishes regarding the current and future use of our interior space. The collaboration with David was exciting. Our renovation was carried out within our stated budget and was completed in a timely manner. David's builders were fantastic. The contractors were all very considerate and professional. We continued to live with our four children in the house during the renovation. The contractors were all very safety conscious and cleaned up after each work day. We are loving our reinvented space and have encouraged our friends to collaborate with David Coulson in their own varied home building projects.

Our 1935 two storey stucco house with some timber detailing needed alot of TLC. At some point in time the whole exterior including frames, trim and soffits had been oversprayed with a plastic and grit coating. Much of it had started to peel requiring its complete removal by grinding and sanding. Rotting cills and trim needed repair before spot priming and two coats of paint. From our knowledge of David Coulson's work he was the logical choice to undertake the restoration. We are delighted with the result. The house looks lovely; high praise from friends and neighbours. The crew were friendly, courteous and responsive to requests. The jobsite was cleaned every day and on completion; windows all washed. We have no hesitation in recommending David Coulson Design for any new or renovation project.

I am very familiar with David's work. He designed and renovated a friends home, and it was nothing less than spectacular! We had David over to do some consultation and drawings for my home and I can't believe how David managed to capture what was in "my mind's eye". The thoughtfulness and detail that went into the design out shone what any other builder/ designer could come up with. David's friendliness and professionalism and his amazing crew are second to none. John & Margarita

I hired David to design a new house and oversee and assist in managing the entire construction process. David is very creative as a designer and understood and intrepreted our ideas beautifully. He is also extremely original in his use of materials and re-use of salvaged items and his environmentally friendly approach to construction and living styles. David's crew was also great in the execution of the project. I highly recommend David to anyone thinking of building or renovating. You will enjoy his personality as well as the collaborative process of creating something original.

My wife and I decided to modernize our top floor of our 1972 4 bdr home,we had a couple of friends help us get started. 3 wks into it I realized the job was more difficult then I had visioned as we wanted to go to an open floor plan.We had used David Coulson in 1995 for small reno in our basement and was very pleased with his work. I called David for a meeting about our project,he gave us an estimate and took over the project from that moment.Some of my thoughts about taking out our galley kitchen wall were wrong,as soon as David looked in my attic at the stick and truss system,he informed me that he could not sign off on it without fixing it right,the wall was not a load carrying wall and the ceiling could collapse.I am so glad I did not go it alone,an engineer from a local truss company was brought in and the project was on! We lived in our basement during the reno,and as was promised workers were on site working everyday at 8 am.We were kept informed of progress and changes that have to be made, as reno's can throw curve balls at you.we took out walls,mved windows,moved doorways,upgraded lights, plumbing,redid the bathroom,he even foud me some older stuco peices to cover the old openings.The reno was fantastic,everythingworked out great and we were thrilled.What he said he would do, he did from the moment he took over to the end. Thnx. Thomas and Sherri Boudreau

David Coulson has wonderful ideas and is very creative. We loved his ability to think "outside the box" to make things work. Some of his workers were extremely skilled ...however others were not which is frustrating when paying the hourly wages. It's been 10 years since we did our major reno and it still feels like new. We love our house.

I am the Curator of Emily Carr House, Victoria, B.C. which is a Canadian National and Provincial Historic Site Museum dedicated to the art, writings and life of this Canadian icon. We are strictly limited by National Standards and Guidelines and Provincial Heriatge Designation regarding all work that we do onsite. The BC provincial government Heritage Branch began contracting with David Coulson Design before our tenure here at Emily Carr House (over 16 years ago) and we have been very fortunate in continuing this relationship with so gifted, knowledgable and highly respected a consultant as Mr. Coulson, whose firm bears his name. We recommend him and his firm for skill, expertise, fiscal responsibility and most importantly -integrity. Mr. Coulson and the team he brings to any project are of the highest caliber and great problem solvers. It is a pleasure to write this review because it gives us the opportunity to let others know of this resource. To my personal knowledge, David Coulson Design is not limited to work in the heritage field but also, is known for award winning work in contemporary design and execution. We are always confident about deadlines, budget, skill and security when we have David Coulson Design as our contractor or project manager.

David's company remodeled our unfinished, underheight basement into a usable living space. The walkout basement was completely removed and the additional height gained by digging out beneath the existing structure. He designed our new space to incorporate interior stairs, a master suite including bathroom and walk through closet, and a media room. We are often away from home and the fact that David had an entire team to run the renovation and we didn't have to manage any of the subcontractors was an advantage. The construction team assigned was professional and respectful and the worksite was always clean and organized. Any issues uncovered were discussed with us and corrected before the renovation continued. The project was completed on time, although the final cost was above the original quote. We have now been living in the space for three years and have had no issues or complaints with any of the work that was done. We would not hesitate to recommend DCDL for any renovation project.

David did a complete redesign & renovation of our "70s" house. I was very impressed with the solutions he found to a couple of our design problems - a troublesome kitchen layout, and configuration of stairs to the lower floor- which we never would have figured out how to make workable. He was excellent at showing us where we could actually see some of the elements he was suggesting - everything from the fabulous kitchen of one of his nearly finished projects to the colour (used on a door of another project) which might have worked for ours. He and his staff always had a positive attitude and even when there were glitches, things worked out better than the original plan. Our renovation started with demolition right to the outside wall studs in January. I could see the nails holding the shingles on the roof. As reno's go in an older house, there were issues that were "uncovered" (carpenter ants to improper structural supports from previous owners' work). David had the right people on the scene, sometimes within hours, to deal with the issues. Things that I thought would be too troublesome or trivial to change (an awkward beam in the master bedroom, using the same size windows & increasing the number of them to really open up our view) were discussed & done with the result that the house is more open & beautiful than I could have imagined. I was impressed with how smoothly things went. Jane, David's job coordinator, was wonderful at making sure what was needed had been ordered & delivered on site exactly when it was needed for work to progress. She was also really helpful in helping with decisions on the smaller design elements that pull a look together. The tradespeople that David worked with were all excellent. The quality of work & peace of mind in knowing that things were being done right were invaluable. David's knowledge of the options in new & current techniques in building & design helped us achieve a comfortable, cosy, home which was exactly what I asked from him. I can truly say that I love my house . It has the exact comfortable feel that I wanted combined with modern elements and an Arts & Crafts flair. The best recommendation I can honestly give is that, yes, I would do it again!

We hired David Coulson and his team to transform our carport into a master bedroom, create a new front entry, and rejuvenate our deck. From the first time we met David Coulson, he stood out from the rest of the designers we had interviewed. He provided inspiration and solutions that took our aesthetic into account, and delivered a renovation that exceeded our expectations. His knowledge of local zoning laws and permit processes was expert. His crew, led by foreman Don Verge, were professional and respected our property. Although our budget did run over on this project, it was because Don and his crew found and fixed some structural issues on the property during the course of the renovation. They were never content to leave a problem unfixed, and I appreciate their commitment to safety. I would not hesitate to recommend David Coulson Design Ltd., and look forward to working with them again in the future.

David designed and built our front entryway / deck. We were more than pleased with the outcome - and so were several strangers who came down our driveway to ask about the work and tell us how beautiful it is. We have no hesitation in recommending David Coulson and his crew for design, construction and professionalism and will definitely use his services in the future. Frank & Dale Abeling

Three separate renovations...kitchen, 2 bathrooms upstairs, 1 bathroom downstairs between 2005 and 2012. All high quality. Very satisfied. Would recommend DCDL to others.

Creative. Great team. Reasonable prices. DAvid and his team reinvented a very tired early 70's deck for me and I was very pleased with the results. His team was polite and cleaned up after themselves, and his bill was exactly what he quoted it would be. You can trust him to do a good job. I have recommended his services to others.

David Coulson Design Ltd. is a Design/Build company that I do a lot of work with. They are fun, personable, creative, hard working, and create beautiful spaces. I highly recommend them for any type of project, big or small.