February 2013 - David Small Designs

David’s passion for hockey is only a close second to his love of architecture. When designing his current family home, one of the determining factors during the lot selection process was, “is there room for a backyard rink?”

For the past 6 years, David has constructed a 30ft x 53ft skating rink in his backyard. Complete with sideboards, hockey nets, a homeboni (a homemade Zamboni) and a Toronto Maple Leafs logo at centre ice, it has become an integral part of his home. From skating with his family to shooting practice with his daughter to pickup games with friends, David was determined to select a lot and design a home that allowed him to enjoy his favourite winter pastimes.

The backyard rink has become a popular addition to backyards across the GTA (check out Bert’s Sports annual backyard rink contest). They definitely add some outdoor fun during the cold winter months, but they also require regular maintenance.

David spends several nights a week keeping his rink in top form…

…and keeping the logo up to TML standards…

…and don’t forget the homeboni – some PVC piping, a piece of canvas, a drill, a hose, and a little ingenuity, and you’ve got yourself a homemade Zamboni…

Incorporating your lifestyle and interests into the design of your home is the true essence of custom home design – the creation of a home that reflects you, your family and your passions in life. Whether you’re incorporating your love of cottage living or a prized car collection into the design of your home, David will work with you to find creative ways to implement elements that will make your home unique to you.

Today we signed on our 1000th project.

For the past 16 years David has been putting pencil to paper designing beautiful, functional custom homes; taking the ideas and inspirations of each client and turning them into a home that goes beyond their expectations. Today marks the 1000th time he will be doing this.

This milestone is more than just another project added to a list. It’s a reflection of 1000 clients who trusted David and our team with the design of their dream home; 1000 times our tremendous staff have turned a sketch into an intricate computerized drawing, 1000 times we’ve called a client to say, “we got your permit today!”, and 1000 times we’ve seen a drawing come to life.

This milestone celebrates our partners who have been with us since day one, individuals who have contributed to these 1000 projects either through their engineering expertise, knowledge of municipal bylaws or surveying skills.

This milestone recognizes that design matters. 1000 clients saw the value in creating something that goes beyond four walls and a roof. They saw value in creating a home that was visually impactful and mindful of its surroundings; that was designed with care, attention and thoughtfulness. They saw value in creating a home that was a true reflection of their lifestyle, design style and inspirations.

This milestone is a reflection of our gratitude to every person, company and client that has been a part of one or all of these 1000 projects. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. We look forward to working with you on project 1001.

The Backyard Rink

Celebrating 1000 Projects

Design Matters