Performance Review: Lumber Industry from 2019 - 2020

⅓ of the world’s boreal forest is accounted for by Canada, making it the world’s largest exporter of soft lumber before Russia surpassed its record in 2019. The fall in the industry’s performance is accounted for by the slow down of activity in the US housing market and the meager demand for NA lumber overseas in the same year. Considering that the US is one of the country’s major trading partners in the industry mentioned, the biggest lumber-based companies in BC were greatly affected. Lumber production in the area fell by 19%, and Canada’s lumber exports from Jan to Sept. 2019 decreased by 5% y-o-y. Fast forward to the first half of 2020, a boom in the US housing market was seen. Since activities in the housing market are highly correlated with the lumber industry, this could mean higher demand for the latter. Take a look at Figure 1 to see the rise in the lumber market from Dec 2019 to March 2020. Please click the photo to see it in full view. 

Production of lumber saw an upward trend from Dec 2019 to March of the following year, which increased production by 26%. However, when the pandemic hit North America in the same month, the anticipated growth for this industry was not attained as sales tumbled significantly. The production also went down from 5,009.2 cubic meters in March down to 3,496 cubic meters in April due to covid restrictions imposed to stop the disease transmission. The supposedly good start unexpectedly hit rock bottom levels that were even worse from the preceding year. In fact, CFI revealed that the impact was even worse during the first nine months of the year, where shipments were 10% lower than in the same period in 2019. Meanwhile, Q3 revealed a different scenario --demand in the lumber market spiked once more due to the ongoing home projects in the US that initially took place before the pandemic started, aside from the unprecedented domestic home sales in the last two months of 2020. The December report by Statistics Canada revealed that the lumber industry reported a record-breaking 8.3%($3.7B) increase in sales of wood products which contributed significantly to a 0.9% rise in the country’s manufacturing industry. The trend may sound good to the lumber operators in the US and Canada, but since they did not anticipate such a trend, supply chain problems arose, which led to skyrocketing prices of lumber in the same year. According to  Madison’s report, prices of lumber increased significantly in 2020 compared to the rise of its prices in the previous years, which is clearly presented by the chart below. Please click the photo to see it in full view. 

The increasing behavior of lumber prices continues in 2021. The June 2021 report by the New York Times revealed that lumber futures rose to a never-before-seen hike which peaked at more than $1,600 per thousand board feet in early May. This, however, tumbled eventually as demand for lumber of the do-it-yourself sector and the professional home building industry slowed down due to the rise in the price of lumber. At the same time, mills started to regain their normal level of production as restrictions ease down. 

Just like what happened in the US, lumber prices have reached unprecedented levels in Canada. According to Ian Dunn, president of Ontario Forest Industries Association (OFIA), the cost of lumber has risen by roughly 170% since November of last year. Based on Natural Resources Canada, two-by-four Eastern spruce-pine-fir were sold at $1,400 per thousand board feet in March, while another type of lumber with the same measurement, Western spruce-pine-fir, is sold at $1,200. The rise is mostly attributed to sawmill closures that started at the beginning and increased the demand for house renovations by around 40% in October, based on a real estate survey conducted by TD Bank. On top of this, since more consumers are becoming environment-conscious, demand for sustainable and energy-efficient products like wood was greatly impacted, according to Dunn. 

The cost of lumber to home construction in 2021

In Canada, this rise in the level of lumber prices contributed greatly to the rise in the cost of home renos, general contracting services, and consequently to the prices of houses. In March 2021, CHBA conducted a survey regarding the impact of lumber prices on construction costs, where they found out that the spike in the prices of lumber costs them an additional $10-20k, as indicated by almost 1/3 of their respondents. The survey also revealed how this issue on lumber prices resulted in delays in home completion. Respondents in Ontario reported the highest average delay, which is equivalent to seven weeks. While the survey found out that lumber isn't the only supply chain issue faced, the instability in lumber prices and related products is a major concern because it impacts the construction cost and home completions and causes delays in builders' pre-sales/or development. According to Halim, the economist in CHBA, "if the price of lumber goes up between the time of sale and the time of construction, builders will have to pay the difference." 

See the table below to better understand how lumber prices impacted the costs of housing construction in the country. 

A month after, the increase in the price of lumber added about $30,000 in additional costs to renovate a 2,500 square foot home, according to Dunn. In connection to this, Paul Jannke with Forest Economic Advisors (FEA) said that those who are going to build a deck this summer you will be paying three times more for your lumber than they would have two years ago. FEA also expects lumber prices to remain high throughout the summer until fall, and for Chris Black, co-owner of Century Mill Lumber in Stouffville, the rise in prices is here to stay. 

Things slightly improved fast forward to June. Based on the mid-summer 2021 update on softwood lumber prices and its market by Madison, lumber prices started to fall for two consecutive weeks. Price quotes became more reasonable, and sales volumes are getting back into shape. This, however, may still change, and price stability in the lumber market is unknown until the weather turns winter-like and construction takes some break this year.

Meanwhile, based on the updated analysis reported by Western Retail Lumber Association (WRLA), the price of lumber only accounts for about 4% of the total cost of building a new home. The heavier weight accounts for labor (50%), followed by HVAC, mechanical, and plumbing (22%). Considering this, we can conclude that lumber prices have little impact on the cost of house construction, but that doesn’t mean that we were spared from incurring higher costs. 

For the past two years, the lumber market experienced its fair share of difficulty, which impacted the construction industry and the homeowners accordingly. Based on statements made by the experts mentioned previously, this impact may last for some time and, worse, may remain unrecovered. With this in mind, homeowners looking forward to renovating this year should keep track of the behavior of lumber prices and reconsider their budget to prevent unnecessary disruption in getting their new homes done or renovated. 

Such may sound frustrating, especially if you don’t have a contract with the right home builder to efficiently use your resources to save money and time. Free yourself from such frustrations, hire the right contractor. 

This year's home renos are left with no choice but to pay for the cost of unstable lumber prices within the past two years.

Home has a particular area where dwellers often stay. That area is usually where one can feel relaxed, meditate, and feel good. 

It could be your bedroom, living room, dining room, or balcony. It could also be the mundane corner of your house that you could make fantastic by installing an accent wall where you can display your passion and personality. An accent wall can also help you create a peaceful atmosphere you’ll surely love. Here are some types of accent walls you can install for your single-family home in Tricity and Burnaby. 

This three-dimensional wall material is often rectangular and can be decorative and functional simultaneously. Aside from being a decorative cover-up, 3D wall panels could offer soundproofing and insulation. Homes with classic interiors can suit well with accent walls made out of 3D wall panels. Draw inspiration from sample 3D Wall Panels below from Vancouver Wood Carving Inc. 

Aside from 3D panels, wood wall panels can also make a beautiful accent wall. Shabby chic interiors, contemporary style, and retro designs are best paired with this type of accent wall. See accent walls from 3D Wood Panels - Burnaby and The Eco Floor Store - Surrey for more exciting ideas. 

Easy to apply and remove. With this type of accent wall, the wall can be easily transformed from one design to another--from rustic, wooden, cottagecore-inspired wallpaper to eco-friendly lush green or floral designs. 

Get the floral wallpaper above from Benjamin Moore.

If you want to tone down from accent walls with bold prints to one that imbues subtleness and elegance, you may try some Chinoiseries-designed wallpapers on a living room and bedroom from Griffin & Wong - Vancouver. 

Aside from wallpapers, murals can make wonderful accent walls too. Nature or famous world sceneries are often favored for murals, but trying abstract and optical illusion-based designs could work well. Check out the following designs by MUZE Wall Design & Painting - Vancouver.

Displaying a substantial piece can also turn a simple wall into a magnificent one. Studio G3 Glass from Port Coquitlam could be one of the most accessible providers of masterpieces for collectors who have a single-family home in Tricity and Burnaby.

Due to the plethora of styles and sizes available in the market, crafting accent walls out of tile is now more attainable. Turn that monotonous wall into an incredible focal point by simply adding a highly-recognizable backsplash along one wall that stretches to the ceiling. 

For those who are looking forward to showcasing their furniture collection, memorabilia, and other home decors, you may opt to build a showcase wall. Installing cabinet shelves is an excellent way to achieve this. Open shelving can work too–depending on your or your designers' resourcefulness and curiosity.

For some inspiration, see how California Closets Nashville's cabinet/murphy bed could turn into a classic statement wall. 

This type of accent wall is also possible in most entertainment rooms where you can showcase your collections, awards, and passion. Notice Beth Allen's accent wall showcasing some of her collection using a showcase wall/murphy bed. 

Accent walls are not just home furnishings. They are an integral part of one’s home that helps revitalize its owner or keep one’s appreciation of a passion or a subject alive. From the types of accent walls we have mentioned in this article, we hope that you were able to generate your accent wall version. 

What type of accent wall were you inspired to create for your single-family home in Tricity and Burnaby?

Will it be inspired by the 3D wall panels and wood walls? wallpaper and murals? tiles?, or showcase wall?

An accent wall can help you create a peaceful atmosphere you’ll definitely love. 

Build something you can literally look forward to during your spare time aside from your phone. 

4 Types of Accent Walls for Your Single Family Home 

"Is there a problem with my bathroom fan if it works non-stop? Especially if it does not depend on any button?"

If you live in British Columbia, particularly in the Tri-Cities, the answer is,

None, your exhaust fan works just fine.   

A continuous vent fan is a BC building code rule to ensure ventilation within your unit. It was a method chosen by the builder of the home. With in-floor hydronic heating, which you have in your unit, there isn't a direct method to draw fresh outside air (unlike furnaces that draw fresh air from outside directly and blow it to each room). 

You will notice a vent in the rooms (usually circular ones) that can control the amount of fresh air, and the bath fan is continuously on to draw stale and moist air out.

A continuous exhaust fan is part of the BC building code and is normal.

We at Lucullan have long avoided exhaust-based fans to handle moisture and air freshness. Instead, we use HRVs or ERVs to control the air mechanically. These devices manage the levels based on actual humidity and or temperature automatically. They both do a bit of mixing to ensure heat or energy is not wasted or on all the time. HRV unit itself heats the incoming air so that you're not paying to heat that air coming into the home. An ERV takes an extra step and manages the moisture as well.

Is there a problem with my bathroom fan if it works nonstop? Especially if it does not depend on any button? 

Whether it is a simple home appliance or not, we always want to make sure it functions properly.

Some minutes have passed since midnight and I was scrolling through my Facebook feed when I saw a post that hit me hard–the video of a man’s encounter with his younger self who used to dream about his college graduation four years ago. The man in his black toga smiled at his 2018 self while One Direction’s “just how fast the night changes” was played in the background. 

Things happened so fast, not just to the young man but to all of us. 

Adulting hits us really hard. Instead of celebrating simple successes, we celebrate significant milestones–a friend’s wedding, pregnancy, business or promotion, and many more. These celebrations often draw us to come together in one place where we hold parties and surprises. That “one place” could sometimes refer to a newly built condominium or nearby private resort that looks modern and clean. While decorated differently, these places seem to have some similarities; one of them is their blonde wood flooring. "Blonde wood floors" simply refers to light-colored wood floors. Nowadays, the usage of these type of wood floors are not only limited to condominiums and room resorts; a lot of custom homes constructed in the previous years were also built with blonde wood floorings too. This type of flooring is a popular pick among homeowners and interior designers because it has many advantages–which you may find suitable for your custom home too. To find out if it does, read on to know the 4 reasons why blonde wood flooring is good for your single family home. 

1. It makes custom home spaces appear bigger. 

The lighter end of the color spectrum helps create an illusion of a larger space. Since blonde is part of it, opting for wood flooring with this color can instantly make your custom home space appear bigger. Its impact will even be effective when you opt for larger planks.

Photo:  Layered Home & Living (Coquitlam)/IG

Photo: Layered Home & Living (Coquitlam)/IG

Whether you want your home to be embellished with a rustic style, chic, contemporary, Scandinavian, or farmhouse style, blonde wood flooring can match all of them effortlessly. It also fits well with custom homes with open floor plans too. The light and airy feeling that homeowners with open floor plans enjoy are heavily influenced by their blonde wood flooring. 

Blonde wood flooring also looks good with any paint color and different types of decoration because it works like a blank canvas. Depending on what you want to achieve for your custom home, a blonde wood flooring may bring a cooler vibe, especially when paired with blues and grays. Meanwhile, if you want your flooring to provide a warm and inviting atmosphere, match it with cream or earth-tone palettes.  

We always want to ensure our homes are always clean to make them look presentable and keep all our households safe and healthy. However, there will be times when you will get so busy preventing you from cleaning your house. This could be frustrating, especially when you see dust and dirt everywhere. To lower the chance of this problem from occurring, use blonde wood flooring in case you’re planning to build or renovate your custom home. Its light tone keeps dust and dirt from being seen by our naked eye. With blonde wood flooring, you won’t have to spend as much time mopping, dusting, and vacuuming your floors.

4. It can increase your home’s value. 

Blonde wood flooring can help increase a home’s value. Based on reports, hardwood floors can increase a home value by 3-5%. Others even say that hardwood yields as high as 75% as a return on investment. If you’re someone who plans to sell your house in the future or renovate it for selling purposes, installing hardwood floors, particularly blonde wood, can make your goal easier to achieve, especially now that they have been in demand. What’s more interesting is that some experts even believed that blonde wood flooring would thrive in the years to come.  

Blonde wood floorings do a lot. It makes your custom home spaces appear bigger, complements whatever home style you have in mind, keeps you from cleaning from time to time, and contributes a lot to increase your home’s value. Aside from these reasons, you can probably discover more. 

Enjoy all these benefits by replacing your current flooring with blonde wood if you don’t have one. It is cost-effective, especially when you want a brighter look for your custom home. It can also be done quickly and efficiently, depending on your home's size and the team you will be working with. Here are samples from us and our partner, Capella. 

Notice how every area, particularly the most complicated spaces, was done–evenly distributed, gap-free and smooth. When the client saw the finished work, they were delighted and commended our construction manager for doing the job fast and efficiently. 

Were you planning to give blonde wood flooring a chance to brighten up your single family home too? The right home builder/renovator can definitely do it for you. 

This type of flooring is a popular pick among homeowners and interior designers because it has many advantages–which you may find suitable for your custom home too. To find out if it does, read on to know the 4 reasons why a blonde wood flooring is good for your 

Blonde woods are back and they are probably back for good. 

4 reasons why blonde wood flooring is good for your custom home

Coquitlam is located in the warmest region in Canada. It is a place in British Columbia that is most famous for its beautiful outdoor views. IKEA, Westwood Plateau, and Mackin house are the prominent areas in Coquitlam that tourists visit. This city is known as one of the regions that complete the Metro Vancouver Tri-cities along with Port Moody and Port Coquitlam.

If you are someone who looks forward to migrating to Coquitlam because of work or personal reasons, learning about the information we previously mentioned about Coquitlam is not enough. There are still so many things that you need to consider to see if this place is good for you or not.

“Is the Covid transmission rate high in this Metro Vancouver area?”
“Is Coquitlam’s economy growing?”
“Is the crime rate high? ”

And there’s a lot more. Allow us to entail the list of statistics that you should know and consider before moving to Coquitlam, one of Metro Vancouver’s Tri-Cities. These statistics are categorized based on how they can impact your Physical well-being, Economic well-being, and mental well-being. 

Now that we’re living in a pandemic, this is one of the important statistics you should know about Coquitlam, the city’s Covid updates. These updates are mostly part of the tri-cities or British Columbia’s Covid report. See the graph below for the current covid-19 level in British Columbia as of December 20.

Based on a July 2021 report, the Tri-cities reached a near-zero Covid-19 positivity rate which is evidently seen in the graph that shows British Columbia's covid update above. However, fast forward to the last two months of 2021, another covid outbreak was reported, as seen above.

Here are some of the steps that have been taken by Coquitlam government against Covid: 

People ages five and up are required to wear masks in all public indoor spaces.

Encouraging their residents to remain informed about the current virus updates through an email subscription, following Coquitlam's social media accounts, downloading CoquitlamConnect mobile app, or signing up for PRC E-news. 

The government does more to prevent covid transmission from rising again. You may check them on Coquitlam's site. 

In this section, allow us to share Coquitlam's current economic situation and other statistics that could influence your economic well-being while living in the city. 

Based on the latest report published by Coquitlam, the city's population is about 150,000, and this year, it is estimated to be around 176,000. The population's behavior increases over time at 1.96% annually and is considered the tenth fastest-growing population in Canada. 

Knowing the behavior of one's population could be beneficial for someone who wants to move to Coquitlam for business purposes or career growth. If the population rises continuously, there could be a broader market available for certain businesses, particularly those selling essential commodities. A wider market could mean higher income, greater profit, and more ability for expansion that could create more jobs for others and stability for some. 

If Coquitlam's population grows at a well-planned rate, people who plan to stay in Coquitlam for good have more chances of experiencing that growth. Would you like to see that happen to yours too? 

For those who are interested in Coquitlam's demographics, the government has a very organized presentation of this information through Coquitlam's site. 

$93,837 is the average household income in Coquitlam for 2020. The median household income in 2015 was $74,484, 9.9% higher than it was five years ago. (Tri-cities news). It has been rising over the past years as well. This amount is considered good because the cost of living in Coquitlam is much lower than in Vancouver which means, higher purchasing power for Coquitlam residents. 

Debt per capita signifies how well the government manages its resources to ensure that while they can provide for the locals' welfare, they still have allocated funds to ensure that debts are paid properly so that citizens won't suffer from paying higher taxes in the future just to pay Coquitlam's financial burdens.

In the city's 2020 report, Coquitlam's debt per capita is lower than $100M from being close to $140M in 2016. From that year, it has seen a drop of about 35%. This means that the city's level of borrowing has seen progressive improvement for the past five years--a good indication of how well the current government allocates the city's resources.  

Investment growth and Business Environment

The level of investment in Coquitlam indicates the city's capability to create more jobs for its citizens. According to the British Columbia Economic Development Association (BCEDA), overall investment in public projects plus a significant investment in the private sector amounts to an average of $445M per year in building permit values for the past five years.

In terms of business statistics, there are over 7,000 licensed businesses that operate in Coquitlam. And since the pandemic,65% of transactions were done online. 

Whether you're a business owner or someone who looks forward to better opportunities as you build your Coquitlam home, these figures are definitely something you can look forward to. 

In considering a place where you want to stay for good, don't just consider your physical and economic benefits. Make sure that your mental well-being is being taken care of as well. Without peace of mind and joy, earning a higher wage and being fit physically are not enough. So, in this article, we've also included statistics for your mental well-being.

Statistics that could show how well and protected you are in Coquitlam are definitely one of the important statistics you need to consider for your mental health. 

The city allotted a big chunk of its budget to ensure Coquitlam's residents' safety.

For two consecutive years, 2019-2020, the Coquitlam government spent beyond $70M on Police, Fire & Other Protection. That sector has the highest budget allocation based on the city's annual budget report. 

As a result, residents who call the Police for service are down by 2,952 from 25,287 in 2019 to 22,335

Here are some more important data you need concerning your safety and protection in Coquitlam based on Numbeo*. 
Level of Crime at 16.08, in their index, this figure falls under the "very low" category. Some more figures in the "very low" category are the level of residents who worries that they could be mugged or rubbed(12.77), those who worry that their car would be stolen(18.19), those who worry about being attacked(17.36), and those who worry about being attacked because of their skin color, ethnicities, gender and religion(9.48), those who fear that violent crimes such as assault and armed robbery may happen(17.36) and lastly, those who worry about corruption and robbery at 16.95.  

*Based on the survey conducted by Numbeo. Results in other platforms may vary. 

The next information that we will present is the statistics that reveal the quality of life at Coquitlam, which is also important for your mental well-being. The next figures must be highly related to the level of safety and protection that Coquitlam residents experience in the city. 

According to reports, 98% of the residents considered the quality of their lives to be at "good" to "very good" levels. 72% of residents own their homes, and the level of individuals who hold a post-secondary degree, diploma, or certificate is 70%, which indicates how highly educated individuals are in the city. (Disclaimer: While the level of education can be of good measure, we don't limit the capacity of those who are not highly educated to live a life of high quality as well.). 

This is another statistic that you need to consider, especially with the current state of the pandemic when travel restrictions between borders are implemented from time to time. 

In 2020, Coquitlam restored 3,825 sq. meters of its natural areas, up by 160 sq. meters despite the pandemic. Six parks were upgraded, and three new parks were built. 

Here are parks and natural places you can visit in Coquitlam. 

Other natural areas you can visit in this Metro Vancouver region are Coquitlam Church Trail, Eagle Ridge Pool Grounds and Park, Inspiration Garden, Mundy Park, Pinecone Burke Provincial Park, Town Centre Park, Walton Park, Widgeon Valley National Wildlife Area, and Woodland Walk Trail.

Coquitlam also has other different shopping stops, food parks, and art centers for your varying needs. 

Coquitlam’s Centre (one of the largest shopping malls in British Columbia)

Koreatown, Como Lake Village, Pinetree Village, Westwood Plateau Village, Sunwood Square, Creekside Plaza, Austin Station, and many more. 

United Boulevard for those who wanted to get renovation supplies, furniture, lighting, and appliances. IKEA is one of the most famous brands found here. 

By the way, If you are fond of using electric vehicles (EVs) upon touring these places, there are over 15 EV charging ports over Coquitlam. 

We hope you had a good run-through of the important statistics that can help your physical, economic, and mental well-being before moving to Coquitlam. Have you found the figures good enough for your next home or property? We hope you do. 

Coquitlam is definitely one of the good places where you can build your home and settle for good. Check our blogs about other Metro Vancouver Tri-Cities if you want to consider more options. 

If you are someone who looks forward to migrating to Coquitlam because of work or personal reasons, learning about the information we previously mentioned about Coquitlam is not enough. 

It’s time to know more about the place of your future home. 

Is Coquitlam a good place to live? Check these statistics first. 

During construction, homeowners often focus on the details of their primary and secondary rooms, living room, kitchen, and comfort room--which is totally unquestionable because these are areas where they spend most of their time. However, notice that there are areas of the house that weren't mentioned. Those sections are the basement, attic, and utility/laundry room. Some homeowners tend to neglect the designs of these areas, particularly the basement and attic, because they rarely visit those places, and that's totally understandable. The laundry room, on the other hand, is different. For sure, every household spends a couple of time in this place. It might not be longer than the time spent in the living room or bedroom, but a significant amount of time is still spent there. Therefore, to make that time worthwhile, the laundry room must be installed with exciting pieces of art or decorated with creativity aside from just installing washing machines, hanging racks and open cabinets. Laundry rooms must not only be functional, but they must also be sleek and interesting at the same time. 

We understand that it might be pretty arbitrary, so we prepared eleven laundry room makeover inspirations for different types of spaces. Have a look at the designs before this year ends and see which one fits your space and taste perfectly. 

Chic and elegant. Any laundry area with this type of style brings out the kind of beauty that will definitely be loved and appreciated. To get started with this type of style, go all out with white and glossy materials. 

Any high-gloss material makes the laundry room easy to clean and imbibe a bigger room feel that lightens up the laundry burden so easily.

Get inspired by Toni Robert’s white laundry room below. 

Her fresh laundry space is completed with white cabinetries, an island countertop, a pendant lamp, and a glossy chequered flooring that produces a bright and inviting atmosphere. 

When you have limited space for your laundry, the best way to keep it interesting is to make it a little cozy. Bring in earth-toned furnishings and lighting that cast a classy hotel-like vibe. When you do this, you will not mind staying in your small laundry space all day. 

The two small laundry rooms above were outfitted with earth-toned cabinets and biophilic furnishings such as woven baskets and interior plants that contribute greatly to making the space feel soft and soothing. 

The colors of the sky and ocean are also a good way to keep your laundry room from being gloomy and uninteresting. The palette of teal, in particular, is one of the best options if you want to give it a go. 

The laundry room above from Arquitetura & Design is completed with teal cabinets with a very smart arrangement.  Some of these cabinets are filled with laundry baskets specifically placed for each family member to help keep track of their own laundry. 

In case you want to empower your households to do their laundry, adapting this design for your space could be a good start. 

Often, we want sleek and strong designs for office or bedroom spaces only, leaving the utility/laundry rooms with a much simpler look. What if.. we go beyond the norm and incorporate creativity in utility rooms as well? Doing so might help us get the same motivation we have whenever we stay at our home office or bedroom, even when we’re there doing the laundry.  

In this laundry room, ElevenFour used sextant patterned floorings to craft a sleek and strong style that is totally compelling. 

Prevent the utility room from being secluded and totally closed. If you have the option, nestle your laundry space by a window or door to make your laundry room feel more fresh and bright. You can also take advantage of the natural light that passes through in case you prefer to handwash particular clothes so you can easily spot small stains and brush them away from your valued jeans or shirt.

Designed by Atlanta Interior Designer, this laundry room imbues a strong statement of mixed modernism and country style. The open door and window bring tons of natural light in, revealing the beauty of the sage green cabinetry combination, dark copper faucet, and herringbone flooring. 

Photo: Atlanta Interior Designer (@houseliftdesign)/IG

Doing the laundry is sometimes unthinkable because it's tiring and could really be boring, even when you have the latest type of home appliance installed, such as the washer-dryer-type washing machine. Don't add any more loads to this burden by keeping things in your laundry room organized and pleasing to the eye. You can achieve it by installing lots of storage space to help you arrange your laundry supplies accordingly, making it easier for you to move around and be stress-free whenever you're doing the laundry. When things flow smoothly, less time is spent doing the laundry, and more time is spent on other things that make you feel happy. 

Earth-toned and white cabinets complement a cool stone floor in this laundry area by Audus St. Albans & Wokingham. 

If you have extra space, keep your laundry area and pressing station altogether. It saves a lot of time and energy, especially when you’ve washed heavy blankets and curtains because you can keep them directly to their rightful place without going to and fro around your home. 

A white accent laundry room with lots of space for pressed curtains, blankets and other applicable textiles.  

Photo: Trail Appliances BC (Coquitlam) /IG

Add variation to your laundry room’s look by including a mix of exposed and closed cabinetry where you can keep all your laundry essentials. Think about how you’ll use the space so that they are not just visually interesting but functional and efficient as well. 

This laundry room from  Audus St Albans & Wokingham features a mix of paseo verde closed cabinets, earth-toned open shelves, and a deluxe sink.

In this laundry room from Trail Appliances BC, the variation of open and close shelvings made from gorgeous natural woods and white hanging racks don’t just make the space organized and efficient, it also creates a soft, calming atmosphere everyone would love.

Transition your laundry room seamlessly into a mud room, music room, office room, or whatever else you want it to be when you’re doing the laundry. Decorating it with proper furniture that fits your desired transition doesn’t just make you creative–it also makes you productive, especially when you’re getting a lot of non-laundry tasks done in between loads. 

This laundry room’s white and gray geometric wallcoverings and black hexagonal tile floorings matched perfectly with the white cabinetries and washing machine–making it a perfect multifunctional laundry room inspiration, especially for those who wanna go with a modern farmhouse design.  

With this large and comfortable laundry space, anyone can switch and accomplish any two non-related, non-food tasks smoothly. 

Here’s another laundry room makeover inspiration you may want to see for yourself –an aesthetically pleasing laundry room that incorporates furnishings you usually find at glamorous stores and exclusive brands. 

Created by HomewarDesign, this classic and sophisticated laundry room setup includes mirrored cabinets with woven baskets beneath, white-tiled wall coverings on one side, chequered black and white tiles for its floorings, and a classic floral arrangement. 

Don’t limit your self-expression to your living room and master bedroom decoration. Bring them anywhere, especially in places you’ll find totally uninteresting, such as your laundry room. 

Experiment with the wall color, wall prints, furnishings, and floorings. Aim it to be one of the best rooms at home where you can freely stay without staring at the clock and minding the real reason why you’re there. 

This eclectic mix of blue wall covering and blue-and-white patterned floor tile feels posh in this fun and unique laundry space from Jessica Margot Design Official. 

One of the best ways to make your laundry day less tiresome is to allow yourself to be entertained by your pets. However, you need to keep in mind that it should be two-way, and your laundry space must be friendly and safe for them as well. If you’re considering this laundry room makeover inspiration, you may want to include custom dog housing, built-in feeding bowls, and pet-inspired wall decors. Don’t forget to make sure you’ll keep all your laundry supplies inside cabinetries that are out of reach to keep your pet (and your laundry supplies) safe and secured. 😁

This laundry room from Natasha Sawkins of @redcliffhouse_renovation featured a shower  for her dog. 

Photo: The Times & Sunday Times/Pinterest

The owner of this laundry room keeps the design minimal but what makes it different and unique is the inclusion of the pet's litter box.   

After seeing the 11 laundry room makeover inspiration, have you seen the laundry room design that fits your preference best? Will you go for a space that has a lot of storage? One with mixed cabinetry? A room that’s multifunctional or a white and glossy laundry room? Maybe you’re considering the other laundry room inspirations–the one with outdoor access, the small but cozy type, the eclectic, the one which is inspired by water, the sleek and strong, the classy and sophisticated, or the pet-friendly laundry space? Whichever design you choose, ensure that it won’t get mixed up with the functionalities of the other areas of your home. If you go with the one with outdoor access or the multifunctional laundry room, have your contractor assess the overall structure of your home first for safety and security purposes. 

And lastly, as much as possible, get the service of home builders around Coquitlam who can help you realize the laundry room design you’ve always wanted with your safety, security, and utmost satisfaction in mind.  

The laundry room, on the other hand, is different. For sure, every household spends a couple of time in this place. It might not be longer than the time spent in the living room or bedroom, but a significant amount of time is still spent there. Therefore, to make that time worthwhile, the laundry room must be installed with 

Your laundry room might no longer be your “most-hated” home space before this year ends. 

11 laundry room makeover inspirations to see before 2022 ends

The fireplace has been considered to be a vital part of one’s home. Historically, they were used for cooking and heating the water for laundry, but nowadays, the function of the fireplace is often limited to heating one’s home. 

Long before smartphones existed, the charm of a fireplace used to draw a lot of people closer to each other as they gathered around it to feel the heat it emitted. As soon as they sit all together around it, whatever happens during the day will not be left unsaid. While stories were shared, everyone who stayed will feel relaxed and mesmerized not only by the memories they shared but by the pleasant crackling sound of the burning logs that soothed the atmosphere. Upon looking back, families can’t help but relive how it became a safe haven for most of them.  Fireplaces used to be the heart of one’s home, and they can still be everyone’s favorite place today. See how you can make everyone at home gather again by redesigning your fireplace using the 9 modern industrial fireplace surrounds below.

Furniture made of wood always looks classic in one’s custom home but is it okay to incorporate them even in fireplaces? The answer is, 

As long as the model follows the provisions required by International Residential Code (IRC) which mainly talks about the space required between the fireplace and the combustibles.

Having this wooden modern industrial fireplace surround by Town and Country Luxury Fireplaces paired with a wooden hearth and decorative pieces of rustic-themed furnishings can definitely draw every household member’s attention. Set a schedule and invite them over a cup of tea, coffee, or a glass of wine with your favorite charticurie set, and have each one share a particular story or thought they would like to share with everyone else in the family. It could be thoughts about life, friendship, hobbies, school, work, or even business matters. Sharing such things could work out each one’s relationship making it deeper and ties, stronger.

Source: Town and Country Luxury Fireplaces/IG

Incorporating cabinets on your modern industrial fireplace cladding can give it a stunning look no one would expect.

The fireplace surround and cladding by Joseph Kasbar and Urban Fireplaces from Coquitlam reveal how carefully planned open shelvings can provide essence and substance to plain living room structures. 

Source: Josep Kasbar/IG (left); Urban Fireplaces (Coquitlam) /IG

Wallpaper is another great option to level up your modern industrial fireplace’s surround and cladding. You’ll have a lot of designs to choose from, and they can be replaced easily without spending a lot. Upon applying the wallpaper, just make sure to overlap them by at least 1/8" of the expected size because the wall may expand or contract over time, causing the wallpaper to shrink a little.

The geometric wallpaper pattern design for the fireplace cladding above is definitely a great addition to the cozy living room. 

If you think the first three options don’t fit your preference because of safety reasons, you may always go with fire-resistant modern industrial fireplace surround and cladding such as bricks, stones, and the like. These types of wall surround tend to be long-lasting and can be preserved over long periods of time. An example of this would be the d’Artagnan’s chimney from the castle of Castelmore, the home of the famous musketeer, Charles d’Artagnan. Those who have read Alexander Dumas’ novel, “The Three Musketeers” must have been familiar with d’Artagnan because his story is the inspiration behind the novel. Have a quick look at this real-life musketeer’s fireplace below.

A trip back in time: The traditional fireplaces of south-western France

Even after centuries, bricks and stones still have their beauty that could add more charm even to a modern industrial fireplace.

The overall look of this living room is fantastic and the bricks surrounding the modern industrial fireplace made it very striking and unique. 

The development of the Modern Industrial Fireplace paved the way for concrete to be an excellent addition to this list. With the right paint color and setup, simple concrete can make your fireplace surround look awesome.

Designed by Urban Fireplaces, the white(left) and gray(right) concrete cladding of the modern industrial fireplaces above made the home even sleeker and inviting, making it a perfect spot for family gatherings.

Whether it be a countertop, flooring, or walls, premium stones such as marble and granite always bring these home features to a higher level of luxury. Incorporating them into your fireplace surround could result in the same thing. If you feel like gathering your household together with a more hotel-like feel, having them on your fireplace spot may help you achieve that vibe.

The white marble fireplace surround above levels up the living room of this luxury home making the space extra inviting. 

Log compartments attached to a modern industrial fireplace cladding are eccentric. I’ve never two with the same version. Each has its feature, even if all logs look the same. Having that kind of unique feeling could definitely keep everyone looking for that vibe making every family member gather together every once in a while.

The dried and neat logs filled the log compartments of the modern industrial fireplace cladding above by Urban Fireplaces. If you’re from the Burnaby, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody, the nearest place where you can buy logs is at  Infinity Firewood Sales & Delivery or Firewood Vancouver. 

TIP: If you aim to use this style as inspiration, always ensure that the logs are fully dry, clean, insect, and mold-free.

Shiplap is a type of wooden board in the form of horizontal planks commonly seen as the exterior siding of the construction residences, barns, sheds, and outbuildings. It can also be seen in home interiors–as walls, flooring, ceiling, and fireplace claddings.

The modern industrial fireplace above by Madison Alcaz is painted white, while the mantel seems to have retained its original color creating a totally different and interesting fireplace look. 

Whether you opt for a plain fireplace surround or a decorative one, tiles are definitely a great choice. They have a wide range of color options, designs, shapes, and materials that could help you maximize the design of your fireplace so it could bring that ultimate comfort your family member craves every time they go home.

The tiled fireplace surround has bold geometric patterns that are carried down to the hearth creating a striking statement everyone would not doubt to take a 2nd glance at as it helps them warm themselves during the frigid winter season. 

Burnaby and Tri-Cities area homes a lot of tile suppliers that can help you get the best pieces of tile for your modern industrial fireplace surrounds. City Tile branches from Port Coquitlam and Burnaby offer a wide variety of tiles, which can help you get the best if you decide to cover your fireplace wall with decorative tiles.

Began reliving the memories by making your fireplace space everyone’s favorite spot again. Renovate it to incorporate your desire to bring your family together every once in a while. Desire it to be a beautiful place where you can continue creating memories and building stronger family ties no one could ever break.

Fireplaces used to be the heart of one’s home, and they can still be everyone’s favorite place today. 

Good fireplace surround can protect someone but the best ones can make one’s fireplace’ stay lovelier and more memorable. 

9 Modern Industrial Fireplace Surrounds and Cladding

In 2021, the Canadian Home Builders' Association (CHBA) noticed another trend in homes all over houses in Canada--the appearance of painted wooden cabinets. Kitchen cabinets are no longer limited to steel and neutral colors. More homeowners from Vancouver, Tricity, and Canada as a whole have become open to the idea of painting and repainting kitchen cabinets with unusual kitchen colors because it saves them from the high cost of pulling a full kitchen revamp. However, note that, unless it is done correctly, painting kitchen cabinets may incur a higher cost. To prevent this from happening, Lucullan properties have prepared a step-by-step process on how to paint kitchen cabinets. It is always good to be prepared and knowledgeable by learning how professionals do it, so without further ado, here are the steps you need to know how to paint kitchen cabinets properly. 

Step 1: Inspect your kitchen cabinet’s condition.

Can your kitchen cabinet accommodate a makeover? The answer to this question will be known once you have taken out everything inside it and inspected each part of it. 

How’s its condition? Is it warped, chipped, or damaged? If so, painting it might not be the best choice for your kitchen revamp plan.

Avoid the mistake of failing to recognize the condition of your kitchen cabinet and save money. Have your kitchen cabinet painted only if it can accommodate the makeover you have in mind.  

Step 2: Prepare your surrounding, materials, and the cabinet 

If the cabinet is in good shape, the next step is to prepare everything that you will use–the place, materials, and of course, the kitchen cabinet. 

Place
Protect your kitchen floor and everything else in your kitchen. Tape a drop cloth or use a newspaper or another protector over the countertops and the surrounding work area before painting. 

Materials
Use the best materials available. Select the equipment that you are most knowledgeable with. For most non-professional painters, using a spray gun is highly recommended because utilizing a paintbrush on a cabinet usually leaves unwanted brush marks behind. If you still prefer a paintbrush, get a premium Sherwin-Williams nylon or polyester brush. 
In terms of paints and primer, we recommend purchasing directly from any Sherwin-Williams store if you’re from Coquitlam, Burnaby, or Port Coquitlam. The brand also partnered with some stores in Port Coquitlam, Vancouver, and more regions in Canada.  

Cabinet
Pull out the cabinets carefully and remove the doors off of the hinges. Don’t forget to label each kitchen cabinet that has been taken out, so you know where to return them.
Once the cabinets are taken out, clean them gently with a grease remover. Use a damp sponge to wipe the cabinets and let them dry for a while. 

Before fully starting the painting process, ensure that the cabinets are not too smooth or glossy by sanding them with a 100-220 grit sandpaper. Making the cabinet a little rough can make the application of primer smoother. 

Before priming, vacuum the cabinet and the whole workspace to ensure that no dust will settle in the paint or primer. 

The first step to priming your kitchen cabinets is knowing what type of primer will you apply. For wooden cabinets, Sherwin William recommends Extreme Bond Primer because this product provides exceptional adhesion needed to provide the proper foundation for any finish. 

As we stated a while ago, sanding is vital in ensuring the smoothness of the final coating. That is the reason why sanding will be done until the final coating. 

To start the second round of sanding, ensure that the primer is completely dry. Sand all surfaces using 220-grit paper or sanding block. Focus on areas that may have drips or pools until the surface is as even as possible so you can smoothly paint your kitchen cabinets. Once done, don’t forget the last step in sanding, and that is ensuring that no dust will settle in the paint by using a vacuum cleaner or a damp cloth. 

Once the cabinet is cleaned and dried after sanding. prepare the materials you’ve gotten and apply the first coat of paint using your preferred equipment carefully. Upon painting cabinet doors or other similar large surfaces, you may opt to use a foam or microfiber paint roller instead of a brush or spray gun to save time. If you’re using a brush, apply in a thin layer and let dry for about 8 to 12 hours before proceeding to the next step. 

The way this is done is just the same as steps 3 and 5. 

The way this is done is also the same as step 6. Just like how you did every step with complete care and excellence, do this step with an equal goal–complete and smooth coverage for all surfaces. 

Step 9: Drying and reinstalling the kitchen cabinets back 

Dry your paint for at least 24 hours or longer. The longer, the better to ensure durability and easier reinstallation. Once your kitchen cabinets are fully dry, don’t forget to put back the hardware you initially took out. Make sure you clean the area where you will reinstall your kitchen cabinets. Install the kitchen cabinets carefully and test their stability to ensure everyone’s safety. Then clean the whole kitchen afterward. 

Repainting kitchen cabinets require knowledge, skill, and patience to ensure the success of your kitchen revamp plan. If you think you’re not yet ready for this but you want to spruce up your tired kitchen with freshly painted cabinets, we highly recommend seeking painting service providers. 

Getting professional help might be a little costly but this is better if you’re not that confident yet. The service of professional painters often costs around $1,000 and this might get higher or lower depending on the size of your kitchen, the location of your home, and other factors. If you’re from Coquitlam, Burnaby, Port Coquitlam, and Port Moody, asking for the help of certified single-family home constructors from the area will provide you with higher quality painted cabinets due to their connection with credible painters with proven expertise and access to professional-grade products. 

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