#architectural design Archives - David Small Designs

Modern bungalow with wood garage door, light stone and metal cladding.

Design Showcase: Custom Homes in Toronto

December 19, 2017/in Design Showcase /by admin

Out of all of the areas where we’ve designed homes over the years, the six boroughs of Toronto offer some of the more challenging properties. But with great challenge, comes incredible opportunity, resulting in some truly noteworthy custom homes.

A common quality of properties in and around Toronto is smaller, narrower lot sizes. Being in such close proximity with neighbours, maximizing living space and privacy therefore become top design priorities. This modern home near Bloor West Village utilizes an open concept floor plan to achieve nearly 3,500 square feet of living space on its narrow city property. Windows are strategically placed at the front and rear of the home, and kept minimal at the sides to appease both the desire for privacy and certain building code requirements.

A key exception, however, to the more compact nature of Toronto properties are corner lots. While these lots typically enjoy more space than their neighbours, they can have more restrictive setback requirements and often share a property line with major streets. Home designs therefore need to adapt to the unique requirements of these properties. In the case of this traditional home in Etobicoke, the lot was tucked into the intersection of a busy major road and a winding side street. The positioning of the home was therefore oriented to block out the negative noise and views and direct focus to the best attribute of the property: a curved side yard lined with beautifully matured trees.

Regardless of shape and size, a common factor of many Toronto properties is their belonging to older, established neighbourhoods that are keen to preserve their heritage and character. Proposed infill designs must therefore be very respectful of nearby homes. This custom home in Etobicoke embraces the design conventions of a traditional family home, aligning it with the mature character of its neighbours, while also touting a timeless appeal through a unique blend of materials and more contemporary windows.

Visit our portfolio for more custom home designs in Toronto.

3d rendering of home with wood siding, stone retaining wall and wall sconce.

Coming to America: Our U.S. Home Designs

November 13, 2017/in Design Showcase /by admin

When we say we work anywhere in the world, we mean it. On top of countless projects across Canada, our boundless geographical reach has afforded us several opportunities to work with clients across the United States, resulting in custom home designs in Castle Rock, Boulder, Chagrin Falls, Ann Arbor, Long Island, Austin, and San Jose.

A project in the U.S. starts the same way as one five minutes from our office: with a thorough understanding of both the client’s wishes and the unique attributes of their property and neighbourhood. Before picking up a pencil, our design team meets the client, often in person, and travels to the property to gain a full appreciation of its environment. This sets us up to design a home that will ultimately be respectful of not only the client’s wants and needs, but also of the property and surrounding area.

Our U.S. clients also enjoy the benefit of a different, original perspective on their home design. While an architectural designer in California or Texas may have extensive knowledge and experience in their localities, our 20+ years of experience designing custom homes for clients all over Canada and the U.S. have equipped us with a unique style and sensibility that result in homes that not only fit in with their properties and neighbourhoods, but also maintain a nuance and character unlike anything else in the area.

Visit our portfolio for custom home designs in New York, Michigan, and Colorado.

This proposed home design in San Jose, CA is just 10 minutes away from Apple headquarters.

Everything’s bigger in Texas, including the views from this proposed hillside home design in Austin.

Traditional kitchen with breakfast bar, white countertop and tile backsplash.

A Home With Soul

February 22, 2014/in Design Showcase /by admin

In a meeting the other day, David described the process of designing a custom home as “creating a home with soul”.

We receive calls every week from potential clients who have been searching for a home, preferably a turn-key home, with the aesthetics that appeal to their design style and the layout the suits their lifestyle. They end up calling us once they realize that their ideal home isn’t easy to find.

There is obviously a convenience to buying a turn-key home versus a custom build, such as an earlier move in date and no permit process to deal with. In the end, the result can be a beautiful home, but it’s not a home that was designed with your lifestyle, design style and family in mind.

To embark on the custom home design process, patience is a requirement, but so is a sense of adventure. The process of designing your family home is exciting. From creating your wish list to seeing the first design concept to stepping into a home your ideas and inspirations created. With the right team in place, a team focused on creating a home that is a true reflection of you and your family, the result is a home with soul.

Below we’ve highlighted features of David Small designed homes that helped create the “soul” of the home.

Open concept living that is modern, while still being cozy and inviting
From the project The Coffee House.

Open concept kitchen with two islands, sinks and refrigerators. Ideal for a family who loves to entertain.
From the project The House Next Door.

A cozy basement with lots of natural light creates the ultimate family rec room.
From the project David’s House.

A double fireplace greets guest to create a warm welcome.
From the project Old Oakville.

A piano room designed to put a family heirloom on display.
From the project David’s House.

Mississauga house with metal roof, cupola and corner windows.

What is Transitional Design?

December 5, 2013/in Design Showcase /by admin

Transitional design is the middle ground between traditional and modern. It’s a balance of the sleek, stream-lined design associated with contemporary style and the warmth and timelessness appreciated in traditional design.

‘Copper Corner’, a custom home featured on our website, is a prime example of transitional design. It’s a marriage of clean lines with natural stone; large expanses of glass with leaded copper details; and sophistication with warmth.

Click here to view more images of ‘Copper Corner’

Another example of transitional design is ‘Vertically Challenged’, a project we designed in the late 90s. The exterior has traditional massing, but the clean lines, neutral colour scheme and lack of ornate detail conveys a modern appeal. The front façade even features a contemporary play on the traditional gable.

Often transitional design is associated with interior design and décor, and not with an architectural style. But in fact, a transitional exterior can be the optimal option for homeowners attracted to modern design, but not ready to stray too far from the comfort of traditional.

Copper Corner (Front)

Copper Corner (Rear)

Vertically Challenged (Front)

Vertically Challenged (Rear)

Black and white photos of traditional homes.

Celebrating 1000 Projects

February 12, 2013/in News /by admin

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.

Team members working with habitat for humanity.

DSD Builds a Home for Habitat for Humanity

June 9, 2012/in News /by admin

Last month the David Small Designs Team helped build a home for Habitat for Humanity Toronto. We all agreed that it was an extremely rewarding, exhausting and exhilarating experience.

We entered the day unsure of what to expect and left feeling like we accomplished something truly amazing. From laying flooring to cutting insulation to installing siding, we were each given a specific task and trusted to complete it. Thanks to the crew leaders and the fantastic group of regular volunteers for their guidance, patience and encouragement.

Habitat for Humanity is an inspirational organization. Their mission is to build affordable housing and promote homeownership as a means to breaking the cycle of poverty. With the foundation of a safe and affordable home, children do better in school, families flourish and neighbourhoods are revitalized.

We were warned prior to our build day that we might catch “habititus” after our first build. When the day was over we realized we had all the symptoms: an uncontrollable need to smile, the urge to constantly hold a hammer and the desire to keep building! We all can’t wait to do it again!

Here are some photos of the DSD Team on build day. For more photos visit the DSD Facebook Page.

The DSD Team excited to get to work!