Whether you plan to renovate an existing kitchen or invest in an incredible new kitchen, you will want the latest clever twists and innovative design. But, are you confused with what the latest looks and innovations entail? Well, the new trends entail renovation of the kitchen appliances, cabinets, and layouts. But again, what are the hottest kitchen designs and trends when it comes to looks? Below we detail everything you may need to know on the latest trends in kitchen designs for 2022.

Veined Marble

Using veined marble on the worktops, floors, or walls can make your kitchen look stylish and modern. Since marble is versatile and comes in various depths, colors, and styles, it perfectly suits your aesthetics.

Concealed Kitchen

This modern kitchen design involves concealing the cooking area, allowing you to focus on cooking. You can even improve the design by uniting the kitchen with the dining and living room and then concealing the cooking area at one end of the room.

This design scheme of a concealed kitchen is flexible enough to easily transition from the living room, dining room to the kitchen. The cooking area is invisible, with all the doors hidden or looking like decorative finishings on the walls. These doors feature fingerprint sensors that enhance smoother closing and opening.

Two-Tone Finishes

Two-tone finishes involve contrasting finishes on the kitchen floor, walls, worktops, and cabinets to create a desirable aesthetic. You may combine the island in appealing hues, brighter shades, deep dark units, or a softer dove grey hue with a darker grey shade.

You can still use the two-tone design scheme in the invisible parts of the kitchen, such as cupboard and drawer interiors, which require the same kind of finishing as the exterior finishes in the latest trends in kitchen design for 2022.

Downdraft Extractors

Extractor fans are one of the kitchen designs that is trending. The main advantage of the extractor fans is their ability to remove vapors and odors right from the hob and prevent them from permeating into the air. This extractor fan also works as a visual barrier in open-kitchen living spaces by placing it on the island. This integration of creativity makes the kitchen design look stylish and professional.

Tile Layouts

When putting the tiles when renovating your kitchen, you need to watch the tile layout and formation. Although the metro, oblong and classic tile shapes have been in use for years, the way you place them is what makes the difference. For instance, the simple linear arrangement, step ladder effect, and staggering bond layouts are the most sought-after formations.

Structures Simplicity

The Streamline kitchen trend is still gaining popularity. It’s a less-is-more approach that creates sweeping lines in a calming space. It involves identifying high-quality items and materials that generate functionality and strong lines at the forefront.

To better integrate these trending looks, you will need hidden storage and integrated appliances to prevent look disruption.

Smart Storage

This trending kitchen design focuses on decluttering the kitchen, especially if you have many items in the kitchen, such as cooking equipment and ingredients. The storage concealing declutters the kitchen, making it aesthetic.

Green Cabinetry

Although the bold dark has dominated the market for years, green kitchen cabinetry is now trending—the green kitchen trends in cabinetry and tiles primarily in forest green, sage, and emerald tones. Green is luxurious and dramatic, mainly if you use it in varying hues.

Statement Taps

When it comes to kitchen looks and innovations, statement taps are dominating. Equipping your kitchen with industrial-looking faucets with exciting features and unusual handles is an excellent way to compliment the space and draw the eyes.

You only need to streamline the looks by pairing with similar draw grips and cupboard finishes for consistent styling.

Final ThoughtsWith the 2022 trends in kitchen design starting to shine, you can renovate your kitchen to achieve professional styles while maximizing the space. You can even unite the living room, the dining room, and the kitchen to make the room large and light-filled. The above guide provides you with the innovations you can use to make your kitchen look new and latest in 2022.

Top 7 reasons to build a custom beautiful house. If you are thinking about moving into your very own home, the first thing you will need to address is whether to buy an existing house or to build a custom beautiful home. For many aspiring homeowners, the latter option is often the one that makes the most sense.

Your beautiful home should be a sanctuary for you and your family. It should be a place where you can head to after a long day at work and relax with your family. The best home not only has all the space and amenities you and your loved ones need but should also be a place where you feel comfortable as you make lifelong memories.

By choosing to build your own custom home, you will be able to get all that you want, just the way you actually want it.

For more information and reasons on why you should build your own custom home, read on below.

1. Express Yourself

As previously mentioned, choosing to build your own custom home puts you in the driver’s seat of getting everything you want just the way you want it. Building a new home gives you the opportunity to choose various aspects and elements of your new house, including cabinets, fixtures, and many more.

However, building a custom home means that you get to participate in the creation of a new home that is in line with your dreams and interests. Whether you want space for your family pet or a craft room to foster your family’s interests, you can have it all with a custom home.

2. A Home For The Present And The Future

One of the main reasons that most families move to new homes, leaving everything they have known and loved, comes in the form of growing space requirements. Simply put, a growing family is always in need of more space.

Building a custom home can help you avoid having to uproot your family to a new home in the near future. This is because with a custom build, you get to plan for your current needs, and also factor in any additional/unexpected changes and requirements for the future.

3. Choose Your Preferred Floor Plan

Building a custom home means that you get to choose your preferred floor plan. As such, after considering the specific space requirements of each of your family members, you can then settle for a layout that caters to everyone.

For instance, you can plan an open kitchen that is big enough to accommodate the entire family, add a large patio where you can all hang out, and even entertain guests, including an in-ground swimming pool and even a barbeque pit among others.

4. Eco-Friendly Living

Today’s homeowners are highly concerned about their environmental footprint. And, if you want to live an eco-friendly lifestyle, then it makes sense for you to consider building a custom home.

For starters, newly built homes are significantly more eco-friendly than their older counterparts due to the inclusion of energy-efficient appliances and the use of the latest energy-efficient building techniques in line with the most recent building codes. As a result, you will be able to enjoy lower energy costs when you start living in your new house.

It is also worth noting that you can make your new custom home more environmentally friendly by choosing to use eco-friendly building materials as well.

5. Get The Latest Tech

Technological advancements over the years have completely transformed family life at home. A custom build makes it possible for homeowners to add all sorts of tech in their new home; and with it, better manage their day-to-day family life. You can choose to add the latest security, entertainment, lighting systems, and much more, during the building of your custom home.

6. Build Where You Want

You can build a custom home just about anywhere you want. It is completely possible for you to build your home close to family, friends, preferred school districts and any other community you would like.

If you want to live closer to where you work so that you can enjoy shorter commutes to work, dining options and shopping establishments, it is also possible with a custom build.

7. Avoid Costly Repairs

A custom home helps you avoid costly repairs in two ways. To begin with, you will not have to conduct any repairs since you are moving into a new house that is built according to your exact preferences.

Furthermore, newly built houses are less likely to require costly repairs in the near future considering the fact that they are built using the latest high quality materials – which are likely to be more durable than older materials thanks to recent technological advancements in the building industry.

Conclusion

As you can see from the above, there are many reasons to build a custom home, over and above the fact that you get to live in a house with a brand new roof and walls.

The floor covers the largest surface in your home, and picking the best flooring for each room will make your space look fantastic, feel cozy, and prove easy to care for. When choosing flooring materials for your rooms, whether you’re looking to build your own custom home from the ground up or you want to make some updates to your home, there is a lot to weigh up.

Choosing the best floor type for different rooms in your home depends on many factors, including your household needs, budget, and personal taste. Each type of floor offers unique benefits, and determining which floor material will suit your home depends on where you intend to install it.

Popular flooring types include tile, vinyl, hardwood, and classic stone floors. But whichever type of floor you pick, it comes down to being clever in your choices. Your floor needs to stand up to daily use, so it’s vital it’s durable. It also has to be easy to care for as the floor sees a lot of footsteps and dirt and spills. And, of course, you don’t have to compromise on style – you need to love the look of your floor, too.

Learn more about different floor types for rooms and each floor material’s best attributes.

1. Carpet Flooring

Carpet flooring makes the surface warm and soft underfoot. Carpets are available in different colors and come in either pure wool, synthetic fibers, or a mix of both to suit every room (although there’re best for living rooms and bedrooms). Carpets are generally affordable, and wall-to-wall installations can make your space seem bigger.

Pros:

– Great for soundproofing
– Warm and soft on feet
– Multiple color options, designs, and materials
– Visually warms up any room

Cons:

– Accumulate dirt and grime
– Can stain
– Not suitable for homes with pets or allergy sufferers
– Shows wear pattern

2. Stylish Hardwood Flooring

One of the most traditional options but still super popular in homes everywhere for living rooms, stairs, and kitchen flooring not only because hardwood flooring is stunning and works well with a variety of design schemes – but also because wooden flooring is durable and versatile. Popular hardwood varieties include oak, cherry, maple, and walnut, and can be oiled or lacquered, depending on your preference.

Pros:

– Easy to update
– Many colors
– Versatile and can complement all types of interior decors
– Long-lasting
– Adds natural warmth to any space
– Cleaning is easy

Cons:

– Can be slippery (especially in the kitchen)
– Costly
– Can incur scratches, crapes, and dents in high traffic areas or if you have pets and young kids
– Not suitable for laundry rooms, basements, and bathrooms

3. Vinyl

Are you looking for a money-saving flooring option to give your rooms the look of a more expensive stone, parquet, or wood? If so, then vinyl flooring is your go-to. Composed of plastic, vinyl floors are available in different forms, including tile, plank, and sheet form. Vinyl is a great option for bathrooms and the kitchen as it is non-porous.

Pros:

– Affordable
– Durable
– Easy to maintain
– A wide variety of design choices is available
– DIY-friendly and easy to keep clean
– Fade and water-resistant
– Great for bathrooms, laundry rooms, kitchens, and basements

Cons:

– Not the finest option for forever homes
– Lower return on investment than other types of floors
– Can be a slippery surface

4. Tile

A tile floor is definitely one of the types of flooring you should check out for moisture-prone rooms like kitchens and bathrooms. Tiles are stylish, durable, and some of the most contemporary types of floors. Common choices for tile flooring include ceramic, stone, and porcelain, and all are highly resistant to damage. Are you considering installing tile flooring but want softness and warmth underfoot? You can always use area rugs, which can also help zone your rooms.

Pros:

– Durable and long-lasting
– Waterproof
– Available in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, styles, finishes, design patterns, and colors
– Tiles are super easy to clean
– Can add the punch to designs that are hard to achieve in other ways

Cons:

– Can be a slippery surface
– It can be expensive if you don’t shop around (it’s also expensive to change since they are permanent)
– Cold
– Hard to install (requires professional installation)

5. Laminate Flooring

Do you want an alternative to carpet flooring but can’t afford to install hardwood flooring or tiles? Laminate flooring – made from layers of high-density fiberboard with a photographic image of tile, wood, etc. – is an affordable flooring option for many property owners on a tight budget.

Pros:

– Ant-scratching properties
– Affordable
– Easy to install
– A great option for busy homes and suitable for all rooms that are not exposed to heavy moisture
– Many colors and styles are available
– Easy to clean

Cons:

– Chips easily
– Susceptible to moisture damage (not suitable for bathrooms)
– Cold (depending on the manufacturer) and does not feel or look like wood
– Could have a hollow sound underfoot
Floor types are not limited to the materials mentioned above. There are many other options like engineered wood flooring, cork, concrete, terrazzo, rubber, etc.

Renovating or building a home can be an exciting and overwhelming process, and you need to consider the flooring. The floor you pick needs to give your home a streamlined look and meet every room’s needs in regard to foot traffic, resistance to humidity, maintenance, and of course, style. A new floor can make or break the design scheme of your home, so your floor choice for each room should balance functionality and your personality.

Additions are a valuable option for property owners and do make a difference.

When you walk into a property for the first time, you will notice specific areas where space has been wasted. This happens and it is common to wonder whether or not changes can be made.

It’s better to think about making an addition that will deliver value and it starts by understanding the underlying benefits of doing so. Here are some of the most important advantages of doing addition in your house.

1. Increased Value

It all starts with the total value of your property and making sure it rises.

This includes assessing what type of addition is going to increase the value of the property immediately. Some house additions are not as useful while others can be life-changing.

This is why focusing on this specific aspect of the project is just as important as any other. Most property owners do think about this because a financial increase is going to add value to the asset over the long haul.

This can go a long way when it is time to sell the property due to the amount you will get.

2. Modernizes The Property

You are going to want to modernize the property to make it in sync with current requirements. This includes taking the time to assess all of your options and figuring out how to modernize the elements that are starting to show signs of aging.

A good addition will ensure the property is modernized and you use the available space better than it already was.

It is these subtle adjustments that make all the difference and ensure your asset continues to grow with each passing day. Looking into this is important and matters over the long haul.

3. Maximizes The Space

You will want to think about how space is maximized as that is a must when it comes to doing things the right way.

If you want to maximize the space available on your land, it is an addition that will get the job done. These are some of the more worthwhile investments a property owner can make due to how they are completed and the overall value that you get from them.

It is not just about the bottom line but also about the living quality that comes along with a change such as this.

4. Customization

You will always want to tailor aspects of the property and that is where your mind is going to go when it comes to finding a good fit.

A lot of people don’t know where to get started but will have a vision in mind. If that is something you can relate to then it is best to start here. The level of personalization that will come along with the addition is going to be a game-changer.

You will enjoy all that it has to offer and it will improve your quality of life too.

5. Future-Proofs The Asset

The asset is a part of your overall portfolio even if you live in it.

This means any way to upgrade the asset and make it future-proof does go a long way. Many property owners let the asset age and that is a mistake. You can make additions that are going to add value to the asset and make it stand out for the right reasons.

This is a common mistake and it is one you have to think about right away. If you don’t, the results aren’t going to be there and the asset will start to depreciate and require repairs. Additions are a simple way to improve the overall look and feel of the property.

6. Loads of Options

You are not going to be restricted when it comes to the options that are made available to you. Each situation is unique but the options that are going to be readily available can help personalize each aspect of the addition.

This is useful for those who want a specific look and want it done the right way.Final ThoughtsMost property owners walk into the property and don’t like specific parts of their house. This leads to settling, which is not always appealing when it comes to enjoying what the property has to offer. Due to this, more and more people are looking at the benefits of a house addition. The right type of addition can make all the difference in the world. It’s about understanding the advantages that come along with an addition and moving forward from there.

This is a valuable investment that will push the price of your property up when done the right way.

To learn more about what we can do for you, give the team a call and begin working on a new house addition as soon as possible.

Bentway Conservancy released a shortlist of teams for its Waterfront Reconnect design competition.

Firstly, The goal of the competition is to develop creative interventions. That result in a more welcoming and accessible experience of the York. Simcoe under-Gardiner intersections for pedestrians and cyclists.

And, after a successful open call for expressions of interest, six shortlisted teams made the cut:

York Street Intersection

Sans Façon + Zeidler (Calgary/Toronto)

Sans Façon is an art practice based in Calgary and Zeidler Architecture is based in Toronto with offices in Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, and Victoria.

This team sees a unique opportunity to instigate new relationships with these complex places. Reconsider cities, their multiple layers of histories. They are for, how residents enjoy them, and their equity of use.

LeuWebb Projects + DIALOG + Mulvey & Banani Lighting (Toronto)

LeuWebb Projects and DIALOG with Mulvey Banani Lighting propose a collaborative, exploration. Pairs experimentation with technical expertise, public realm experience. Design innovation to provide the grounds for unprecedented outcomes.

5468796 Architecture Inc. (Winnipeg)

Winnipeg-based 5468796 Architecture joins forces with collaborator Brandon Bergem of Office In Search Of. 5468796 is committed to creating socially, culturally, and environmentally relevant and responsible architecture.

Simcoe Street Intersection

O2 Planning & Design Inc. + Mulvey & Banani Lighting + ENTUITIVE (Calgary/Toronto)

O2 Planning & Design (O2) is a collaborative studio that integrates landscape architecture, ecology, urban design, and planning in a holistic practice to create highly valued places. Furthermore, O2 has teamed up with Entuitive for engineering and Mulvey & Banani for lighting expertise. Their team (based in Calgary and Toronto) brings enthusiasm and expertise in graphic art, wayfinding, landscape architecture, urban design, lighting design, and structural engineering.

Daily Tous Les Jours + SvN Architects + Planners + Latéral (Montreal/Toronto)

Daily Tous Les Jours, in collaboration with SvN Architects + Planners, and Latérale Conseil, will be closely considering both the needs and possibilities that the Simcoe St. site presents. They will examine life under the Gardiner, and how reimagining such spaces can lead to new relationships with our urban infrastructure, strengthening connections between people, nature, and communities.

SOCA + Tiffany Shaw-Collinge + SHEEP (Toronto/Edmonton)

The purposeful gathering of SOCA (Toronto), Tiffany Shaw-Collinge (Edmonton), and SHEEP (Toronto) will strengthen and build upon the intangible heritage (stories and meaning) surrounding the waterfront reconnect design competition.

Design firm Stantec engineered the redevelopment of British Columbia is 11 ha (28 acres) Brentwood Town Centre.

The project will take up around 46,452 m² (500,000 sf) of urban space and will be situated around a public plaza. The building includes office space, six levels of parking, and 418,064 m² (4.5 million sf) residential space.

Stantec served as the architect of record for the commercial work as well as for residential towers 1 and 2, and are the architects and mechanical engineers for tower 3. They also aim to provide sustainability and building performance consulting to support the LEED certification targets for the project (LEED core and shell, LEED for new construction, and LEED for neighborhood development), and their project technology team contributed a web-based request for information (RFI) dashboard based on the legacy RFI system used on the project.

This was one of the first projects to leverage collaboration for ‘revit,’ a new cloud-based technology from the autodesk and BIM360 teams. This innovative technology use landed the firm on the shortlist for CanBIM 2017’s BIM Awards for best design technology.

Introduction: smart building technology.

Increasingly, contractors and other parties in the construction industry are tapping into opportunities presented by information technology to improve building construction and operation & maintenance service offerings. The expanded use of information technology promises more efficient and cost-effective services as waste is eliminated and resources are allocated more productively. This trend impacts every stage of planning, construction and operation. These technological innovations often depend upon the collection and use of vast quantities of data.

One powerful technology is building information modelling (BIM). BIM permits various parties in the construction project, including engineers, architects, consultants, designers and trades, to input data into a centralized three-dimensional model automated to identify clash points (i.e., incompatible designs from different parties) and efficiency opportunities that could be created by selective re-design. BIM data can also be aggregated and analyzed to create valuable statistical models across multiple projects, demonstrating the most efficient and useful designs generally in a variety of climactic, geotechnical or other conditions.

Thus, BIM illustrates the multi-tiered nature of data value. In the first instance, value is created for execution of the individual project employing BIM. In the second tier, data collected and aggregated from BIM models of multiple projects across different applications and enterprises creates a valuable data set with higher predictive value than individual project data alone. This iterative process is driven by and depends upon the collection, aggregation, and analysis of accurate data.

Buildings enhanced by the collection and use of data are often referred to as “smart buildings”. Some of the data collected by smart buildings includes project inputs, trade and sub-trade performance, number of users, utility and other resource consumption, temperature and other building conditions, waste management and traffic management.

The legal factors that owners, contractors, consultants, suppliers and others should consider when implementing BIM and collecting the associated data include:

• assessing the value of data to prepare for contractual negotiations
• ensuring adequate rights to data and preserving value in such data by contractually controlling use rights
• protecting these assets from illicit third party access by use of appropriate data security safeguards, and
• managing regulatory risk.

The value of data

To properly assess the value of its data, an organization needs to spend time carefully mapping out the data it has and the data that it plans to collect, whether from its own sources or via acquisition from another party. How valuable is each source of data on its own? How valuable is the data when combined with data from other sources?

The value of data is often multiplied by combining it with other data. Organizations often obtain more data by adding to their native data set or by contributing data to a larger “pool” in return for access to aggregated data from that pool (e.g., industry-wide data analytics or AI applications). Organizations may also add data from technology providers or other vendors. Such data is usually subject to contractual and other obligations that need to be taken into account when deciding how the data will be used. Once aggregation has occurred in compliance with all contractual, security, and regulatory requirements, larger data sets offer significant competitive advantages and drive efficiencies and cost savings for current and future projects.

With an accurate assessment of the value of data both on its own and when pooled, an organization can make strategic decisions to grant use rights for its data set or to exploit such data in its own projects and activities.

Current and future data security measures

In parallel with an accurate valuation of their data, owners and contractors should carefully analyze current data security measures in place in their organization, as well as added measures that need to be included for future data and its anticipated uses. Organizations should determine where data resides on their systems and should ensure that the security controls in place are commensurate with the value and sensitivity of the data. Organizations should also consider requiring any proposed contractual party or service provider with whom the organization will share information to make the same investigations and disclose the results as part of contractual negotiations.

One risk area for particular scrutiny is the control systems that vendors have in place when such vendors are engaged to work with and extend the capabilities of the organization’s internal systems. As protection from certain of these risks, contracts should set out both a clear review process to ensure ongoing performance of security obligations, and a comprehensive system of remedies that will effectively protect the organization’s interests in the event of a breach.

A note on ‘ownership’ of data

References to data “ownership” are very common. However, the concept of ownership has some legal limits. A wide variety of data types is relevant to BIM and similar technologies, including input data, output data and insights derived from output data.

Input data includes “project data” that is inputted by engineers, architects, designers and other tradespeople. This data may be subject to ownership claims by the various contributing parties pursuant to their service contracts. The output data produced by the software technology has significant value over and above the value of isolated input data, and this value may be eroded by a successful claim of “ownership” by an input provider.

It is important to note, however, that data in the form of raw numeric figures is not intellectual property, and that therefore parties should carefully contract to protect their data rights. Clear contractual language should set out the use rights (and restrictions on use) that apply to the data. Agreements create no “free standing” intellectual property rights with respect to third parties; so any data distributions to third parties should be subject to contractual restrictions on use. Effective confidentiality provisions are especially important.

Regulatory considerations

Many applications such as BIM may collect little or no information about identifiable individuals. However, if the technology collects, stores or processes data containing personally identifiable information, there are important regulatory issues to consider. Recording movements of individuals through a building or their use of building systems, if connected with an identifiable individual, would constitute collection of personal information. Careful consideration should be given to, and specialized advice sought regarding, both internal and public facing data and privacy policies. Such policies and practices also will need to comply with applicable legislation on the collection and use of personal information.  

Conclusion

Widespread adoption of information technology systems and massive data collection is relatively new in the construction industry, but other industries have been engaged with these issues for some time. Osler’s professionals are experienced in advising clients concerning data collection in various industries and are available to assist construction industry participants in strategic uses of advanced building technology and data.