Remodelling Your Home in Squamish and Whistler

Squamish and Whistler offer an unparalleled living experience that combines natural beauty, outdoor adventure, and vibrant coastal communities. From world-class outdoor recreational opportunities to a thriving arts and culture scene, Squamish and Whistler deliver a unique blend of urban amenities and access to pristine wilderness.

Sea to Sky Corridor residents can indulge in activities such as skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, hiking, rock climbing and paddleboarding, all within a short distance from their doorstep. These communities boast a strong sense of community spirit, hosting numerous festivals, events, and local gatherings that foster connections and an inclusive social scene.

Assuming that you love where you live, a remodel project offers you as a homeowner the opportunity to enhance your existing home’s functionality, increase the property value, create a personalized space, and address health and safety concerns, while adapting to changing family needs. With careful planning and execution, a remodel can transform that house into your dream home, tailored to the unique requirements and desires of its occupants.

Top reasons to consider remodelling your home

1. Reimagining your living spaces

A full home remodel allows you to enhance the functionality and efficiency of your living spaces. It enables you to break free from the constraints of existing layouts and design elements, giving you the creative freedom to envision your family’s ideal living environment. Outdated layouts can be reimagined, optimizing the flow and use of space to better suit the current needs and lifestyle of your family.

This is a good time to evaluate the way you use your home now, the way your needs have evolved over the past years, and future plans. Are you planning some additions to the family? Will grown children be moving out, or leaving for several years of university? Are you considering opening your home to elderly parents, or perhaps creating a suite for your grown-up children?

Are you thinking about creating an open-concept layout for better flow and socializing, incorporating dedicated workspaces or home offices, or designing storage solutions that maximize organization and efficiency?

Does your home feel disjointed or cluttered? A remodel offers the opportunity to transform your living spaces into a visually stunning and cohesive environment. You have a chance to fix any structural issues, update outdated features, or address deficiencies in the lighting, ventilation, or insulation.

2. Improving functionality and enjoyment, while increasing your property value

Remodelling allows you to create a personalized space that reflects your unique style and preferences. It can adapt your property to changing family needs. Whether it involves accommodating a growing family, creating multi-generational living spaces, modifying for accessibility and aging in place, or facilitating remote work and learning needs, a remodel allows you to future-proof your home and make it more functional for years to come.

By addressing maintenance and repair issues, updating to meet current design trends, and incorporating high-quality materials and finishes, you can significantly boost the market appeal and resale value of your home. A well-executed remodel can yield a solid return on investment, making it a smart financial move.

3. Making your home a healthier place to live

A remodel presents a valuable opportunity to address any health and safety concerns within the home. By replacing outdated electrical and plumbing systems, improving indoor air quality and incorporating safety features like fire alarms and security systems, you can ensure the well-being of your family.

It’s a good time to consider upgrading ventilation systems to improve indoor air quality, incorporating natural and non-toxic materials for flooring and finishes, and upgrading the insulation, windows and doors, while sealing the building envelope to prevent drafts, moisture and mould issues.

10 trending home remodelling projects

1. Open-concept living spaces

An open floor plan is a living space where at least two rooms with related functions, that ordinarily would be separate, are conjoined. Open floor plans have been a popular architectural trend for years. Open floor plans often involve some combination of kitchen, dining room, and living room; or all three to create a great room.

Open floor plans improve traffic flow and promote a sense of openness. Instead of interior load-bearing walls, heavy-duty beams carry the weight of the floor above. While it’s certainly more efficient to incorporate an open floor plan into the original building plans of a new building, some structures lend themselves very well to adding a beam or two retroactively.

The key advantage of open-concept living spaces is the enhanced socializing and connectivity it promotes. With the removal of walls and partitions, family members and guests can freely interact and engage in conversations across different areas of the home. Whether preparing a meal in the kitchen, entertaining guests in the living room, or enjoying a family dinner at the dining table, everyone remains connected and part of the shared experience.

A secondary benefit of open-concept living is the abundance of natural light. With fewer walls and partitions, natural light can flood the space, creating a brighter and more inviting atmosphere. Sunlight can reach further into the home, making the space feel more expansive and uplifting. Natural light not only contributes to a cheerful ambiance but also reduces your reliance on artificial lighting during the day, resulting in energy savings.

2. Home office or study spaces

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the demand for home offices and study spaces. The widespread adoption of remote work and distance learning prompted homeowners to rethink their living environments and prioritize the creation of dedicated work and study areas.

If your family works remotely, engages in remote learning, or lives at home while attending university instead of living on campus, having a designated home office or study space allows you and your family members to separate your work life from your personal life. These spaces provide a quiet and focused environment where concentration and productivity can thrive, free from the distractions and interruptions of busier areas in the home.

Advancements in technology have made it easier for you to work and study from home, with access to high-speed internet, video conferencing capabilities, and wi-fi for smart devices.

3. Outdoor living spaces

The trend for outdoor living spaces that connect with indoor spaces has gained significant traction in recent years. By creating a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor spaces, you can enjoy the best of both worlds, blurring the boundaries between the interior and exterior of your home.

Outdoor living spaces have become an integral part of home design, offering an extension of the interior while providing a place to relax, entertain, and connect with nature. Patios, decks, and outdoor kitchens let you create functional and comfortable outdoor retreats. These outdoor living spaces can be enhanced with features such as fire pits, pergolas, or swimming pools, adding value to your property while promoting a seamless indoor-outdoor lifestyle.

4. Energy-efficient upgrades and deep energy retrofits

A remodel presents an excellent opportunity for you to prioritize energy-efficient upgrades or even embark on a deep energy retrofit project. Focusing on energy efficiency during your remodel lets you not only reduce your environmental impact but also enjoy long-term savings on energy bills while enhancing the comfort and health benefits of your living spaces.

Upgrading the insulation in walls, floors, and roofs, and replacing old windows and doors with high-efficiency units helps to prevent heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer, thereby reducing the need for heating and cooling systems to work harder. Additionally, sealing air leaks and gaps in the building envelope helps to eliminate drafts and improve overall energy efficiency.

Replacing old, inefficient heating and cooling systems with high-efficiency alternatives, such as heat pumps or geothermal systems, and upgrading to energy-efficient lighting fixtures, smart thermostats, and water-saving fixtures can greatly reduce energy consumption. These upgrades will not only contribute to a greener home but also provide financial benefits.

A deep energy retrofit takes energy efficiency to the next level by taking a whole-house approach. It involves a comprehensive evaluation of your home’s energy performance, including the building envelope, HVAC systems, ventilation, and even renewable energy integration.

Deep energy retrofits typically include adding insulation, upgrading windows to energy-efficient options, installing solar panels, and improving the efficiency of heating, cooling, and ventilation systems. This holistic approach can significantly reduce your energy consumption, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and improve the overall comfort and indoor air quality of your home.

[Deep Energy Retrofit panel]

5. Smart home integration

Including smart technology in home remodels has become increasingly popular, offering homeowners a range of benefits and conveniences. These systems allow you to control various aspects of your home, including lighting, temperature, security, and entertainment, all from a central hub or through a smartphone application.

Smart lighting systems can be programmed to turn on and off at specific times or can be adjusted remotely, helping to save energy and enhance convenience. Smart thermostats enable you to regulate your home’s temperature remotely, ensuring optimal comfort while reducing energy consumption.

Smart technology can be integrated with voice-controlled assistants and virtual assistants. Devices such as Amazon Echo or Google Home can perform a variety of tasks through voice commands, such as playing music, answering questions, setting reminders, and controlling other smart devices.

Smart appliance upgrades are also gaining popularity during home remodels. These appliances, such as refrigerators, ovens, washers, and dryers, connect to the internet and can be controlled remotely or programmed to perform specific functions. A smart refrigerator can notify you of items running low or suggest recipes based on available ingredients. Smart ovens can be preheated remotely, and smart washers and dryers can send you notifications when a cycle is complete. These appliances not only offer convenience but also provide energy-saving features, such as load detection and efficient operation.

Smart security systems and surveillance cameras are commonly installed during a remodel to enhance home security. These systems can be accessed and monitored remotely, providing you with peace of mind and the ability to keep an eye on your property even when you’re away. Smart locks allow you to lock and unlock doors remotely or through biometric access, adding an extra layer of convenience and security.

6. Kitchen upgrades

Kitchen remodelling projects can greatly increase functionality, convenience, and enjoyment while helping to bring families closer together. One of the most popular projects is the addition of a kitchen island, which not only provides extra counter space but also serves as a central gathering spot for meal preparation, completing homework and casual dining. By incorporating seating around the island, families can enjoy quality time together while preparing and sharing meals, while engaging in meaningful conversations.

Adding ample storage solutions, such as pull-out pantry shelves or custom cabinetry, keeps the kitchen organized and accessible, making it easier for family members to find what they need.

Upgrading to quality Energy Star appliances, such as a double oven or a smart refrigerator, enhances convenience and efficiency in the kitchen, making meal preparation and cooking a lot more enjoyable. Energy Star appliances offer significant energy-saving advantages, making them a popular choice for environmentally conscious homeowners. If you purchase and install eligible ENERGY STAR® appliances, you may be eligible for appliance rebates through BC Hydro and FortisBC.

Over the past two years, kitchens have evolved to become the central hubs in many homes. To accommodate a larger kitchen table, and perhaps an island, additions have become a great way to extend the kitchen into a multipurpose space, serving as a place for meals, homework sessions, a work table where parents can join the kids with their laptops, and even casual family gatherings.

As discussed above, open-concept designs that connect the kitchen to adjacent living or dining areas promote seamless interaction and create a spacious, inclusive atmosphere where family members can connect while going about their daily activities.

According to the 2022 Remodeling Impact Report by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), a bathroom remodel can have a significant impact on your home’s value. The average cost recovery on kitchen remodels and renovations in was 67%, and the “joy score” was 9.8 (out of 10).

7. Bathroom upgrades

A well-designed bathroom remodel can optimize the layout so it better suits your needs. This may involve reconfiguring the space to maximize storage, adding additional counter space, or installing a walk-in shower or freestanding soaking tub for enhanced accessibility and comfort. Introducing double sinks or separate vanity areas promotes convenience and allows multiple family members to get ready simultaneously.

One way to gain more space may be by reconfiguring the existing floor plan. Incorporating smart storage solutions, such as built-in cabinets, recessed shelves, or a walk-in closet, can maximize the available space and help eliminate clutter.

If there simply isn’t enough space to create the bathroom you envision, you may have to borrow space from an adjacent room or closet, or even expand into unused areas such as an attic or under-utilized space in the master suite. Removing walls or repositioning fixtures can optimize the layout and sometimes create a more open and expansive feel. Another option is to consider a home addition, which can provide a way to create a larger master or main bathroom that meets specific preferences and needs.

According to the 2022 Remodeling Impact Report by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), a bathroom remodel can have a significant impact on your home’s value. The average cost recovery on bathroom remodels and renovations was 71%, and the “joy score” was 9.6 (out of 10).

8. Increasing your available space with additions

One of the hottest trends in home remodelling is adding extra space through room additions. Popular additions include expanding living areas, adding a home office, building a dedicated home gym or playroom, or creating a cozy guest suite. Room additions provide the opportunity to create functional and versatile spaces that address specific space requirements.

If you’re considering one or more additions to your home, there are three options to explore to expand your living space. The most popular option is a bump out, which involves extending a specific area of your home outward, typically by a few feet. This type of addition is often used to create extra square footage in a specific room, such as a kitchen or a bedroom. A bump-out can be an efficient and cost-effective way to add space without requiring major structural changes to the existing footprint of your home.

Another option is building out horizontally, which involves expanding your home’s footprint by adding rooms or expanding existing ones. This type of addition can be ideal if you have ample land available around your property. Building up, by adding a floor, is another popular option for increasing your living space. This type of addition involves adding an entirely new level to the home, either on top of an existing single-story structure or as an additional floor on a two-story home. Adding a floor allows for significant expansion in terms of square footage, providing ample space for additional bedrooms, bathrooms, home offices and living areas.

9. Extending living spaces with sunrooms or conservatories

Sunrooms or conservatories have seen a resurgence in popularity as homeowners choose to bring the beauty of the outdoors inside. These versatile spaces offer an abundance of natural light, creating a serene environment for relaxation, entertainment, or even indoor gardening.

Sunrooms can be seamlessly integrated into many existing floor plans, serving as an extension of living rooms, dining areas, or even kitchen spaces. With their ability to bridge the gap between indoor and outdoor living, sunrooms or conservatories can provide a smooth transition from the indoor space to the outdoors, and a tranquil retreat, while increasing the overall appeal and value of your home.

10. Converting basements or attics into functional spaces

As families grow and space becomes a premium, converting under-utilized areas such as basements or attics has become a hot remodelling trend.

One popular conversion is turning the attic into a comfortable and cozy bedroom. By adding insulation, windows, and proper ventilation, the attic can become a peaceful retreat, a reading room or an additional guest room. Attics can be converted into home offices or study spaces, offering a quiet and secluded area for focused work or studying. Attics also make fantastic playrooms, providing a designated space for children to enjoy their toys and pets, without messing up other areas of the home.

Transforming the basement into a family entertainment area, complete with a home theatre, gaming zone, and comfortable seating has become one of the top upgrades. Basements can also be converted into home gyms, offering a convenient and private workout space equipped with exercise equipment, mirrors, and cushion flooring. Another option is creating a basement apartment or guest suite, complete with a bedroom, bathroom, and kitchenette, which can serve as a separate living space for aging parents, college students, and guests or even a way to generate rental income.

Basements also make great home offices, craft rooms, or hobby spaces, providing a dedicated area for pursuing personal interests. With proper insulation, lighting, and ventilation, basements can be transformed into functional and welcoming rooms that maximize the usable space in your home.