prairie style Archives - David Small Designs

Contemporary home with corner windows, copper siding and wood soffit.

David’s House is a CHBA Award Finalist

December 24, 2012/in News /by admin

“Nothing is so contagious as enthusiasm.”

– Samuel Taylor Coleridge

We can barely contain the enthusiasm that has been buzzing through the office this week. Not only are we still on a high from our recent BILD Associate Award, but we found out Monday morning that ‘David’s House’ is a finalist for the 2012 Canadian Home Builders’ Association’s National SAM Award for New Custom Home. These awards recognize the best in ingenuity and imagination in the home design and construction industry. With ‘David’s House’ being such a labour of love, it’s an honour to have it considered among the most unique projects of 2012 and to have the efforts of everyone involved in the project recognized.

2012 has been a fantastic year – new clients, new designs, new website and new recognitions. We are grateful for the new relationships we made this year, as well as for the loyal clients and partners who have been a part of the DSD team since the beginning. We look forward to what’s to come in 2013…

Thank you to everyone involved in taking this award-nominated home from conception to completion.

For more information about the 2012 National SAM Awards and to see a complete listing of finalists, visit www.chba.ca

Mississauga renovation with shingled windows, green shutters and white trim.

The Side Split Renovation

October 24, 2012/in News /by admin

The side split emerged in the 1950s. With the evolution of suburbia and the positive post-war economy came the demand for bigger, better homes. The solution was “splitting” the then common ranch-style home: the garage and bedrooms were on one side and the other side of the house held the main living area, half a storey above the garage level and half a story below the bedroom level. These multiple levels were obvious from the front elevation.

Credited with initially inventing the side split, acclaimed American architect Frank Lloyd Wright first featured a split design in his Prairie-style homes in the early 1900s. While the 1950s side split was a far cry from FLW’s design, a similar philosophy was employed: open living space with half floors dividing living and private areas. Popular into the 1960s, eventually the side split fizzled as homeowners began demanding more grandeur in home design.

The presence of side splits is still prominent in neighbourhoods across the GTA. However, these neighbourhoods that were new developments in the 1950s are now established neighbourhoods with beautiful mature trees and a pedestrian-friendly feel. Today these neighbourhoods are in high demand, unfortunately this style of design isn’t.

We meet with new clients every month who are considering a side split or already own one. They love the neighbourhood and the lot size, but usually aren’t happy with the exterior façade or interior layout. With the right design, even a dated side split can be renovated to match the vision and style of the client.

Accurately titled “The Side Split”, take a look at this side split renovation we showcase in our portfolio. It’s a great example of how architectural design can completely revive a dated design. While this renovation was strictly an exterior upgrade, there are numerous possibilities for renovating the interior of a side split.

If you’re interested in adding curb appeal to your side split or renovating the interior to better meet the needs and lifestyle of your family email info@davidsmalldesigns.com or call 905-271-9100.

Before

After

Falling water house in the United States.

Frank Lloyd Wright

September 19, 2012/in News /by admin

“The architect should strive continually to simplify; the ensemble of the rooms should then be carefully considered that comfort and utility may go hand in hand with beauty.” – Frank Lloyd Wright

In the world of architectural design, Frank Lloyd Wright is an icon. Noted as one of the greatest architects of the 20^th century, he was deemed the greatest American architect of all time by the American Institute of Architects.

He believed architectural design must be intimately tied to its surroundings, enhancing the beauty of its environment. To FLW, design went beyond the physical structure; it was about “nourishing the lives of those sheltered within” and creating “environments to inspire and offer repose to the inhabitants”. Visit the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation (www.franklloydwright.org) for more information on FLW’s life and work.

Frank Lloyd Wright has been a major inspiration to David throughout his career, as evident in the design of David’s House. Here is a selection of FLW’s designs that hang on the walls of our office, offering a daily dose of inspiration.

Taliesin West Image via Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation

Robie House Image via Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust

FLW’s Home and Studio Image via Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust

Fallingwater Image via Robert Ruschak, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy c/o ArchDaily

Posts

David’s House is a CHBA Award Finalist

The Side Split Renovation

Frank Lloyd Wright

Design Matters