Not every major home project starts with a plan to move. Sometimes the right answer is to stay in a neighbourhood you love and transform the space around you. That’s exactly what this homeowner decided, and the result is a home that feels completely new while sitting on familiar ground.
The homeowner had wanted her dream kitchen for years. The space she had was small and dated, and no amount of updating within its existing footprint was going to give her what she envisioned. Our proposal was to move the exterior wall out a full ten feet, which opened up an entirely different scale of kitchen to work with. From there, we worked through the design with her to create the kitchen she had always wanted. The renovation extended throughout most of the home as well, with updated bathrooms, new flooring, refreshed trim, and paint throughout. We also added a covered deck off the back, accessible directly from the kitchen, so the space extends naturally outside when the weather allows.
We were working through the winter, which brought two complications. The first was groundwater. Digging the new foundation in wet conditions meant managing mud on an active site, keeping the work moving while maintaining a reasonably clean environment around a home someone was still living near. The second challenge appeared once excavation was underway: the home’s existing drainage system was largely blocked and not functioning as it should. We cleared everything out and added a drainage sump to properly collect debris going forward, protecting both the home and the city’s system. It was additional work the homeowner hadn’t anticipated, but it needed to be done, and we’re glad we found it when we did.
I chose Element Pacific for my renovation based on a recommendation of a homeowner’s previous experience on their project. From the beginning, their recommendations from a space and design perspective were invaluable and throughout the process, my vision was executed with the utmost professionalism. Each person individually brought their unique talent to the project. I was impressed and inspired by all the craftspeople – their knowledge, skill, competence and care. The precision finishing of all elements blends the old and new parts of my home seamlessly and the end results are better than I could have expected. I’m grateful to Element Pacific and their talented team for their expertise and knowledge of exactly what’s needed to turn a house into a home. They were a joy to work with.
Kathy Lehn, Abbotsford
Element Pacific Homes has been providing comprehensive custom home building, home renovation, and home addition services to homeowners living throughout the Fraser Valley since 2014. All of our custom home services are performed by our highly trained and experienced team members who will go above and beyond to bring your dream home to life.
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