VictorEric Design Journal Our Latest News & Thoughts On The Design Industry

Being a bookworm is now greatly rewarded with a new $38 million library.

The new downtown library boasts five storeys, glass walls facing the north and south, 11,000 square feet of space for books and one of the largest early learning centres in the country (composed of 4,000 square feet).  The 100 computer terminals, community meeting rooms and rooftop garden are a few of the many features of the library.

The American Institute of Architects have also noticed the buiding design, giving the design award to Seattle architecture firm Miller Hull Partnership.

Visit Vancouver Community Library today on the southest corner of C Street and Evergreen Boulevard. 

For the full article:  http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/oct/27/vancouver-community-library-designers-receive-arch/

We know our parents and grandparents worked hard and saved hard for their retirement.  We can see it in their comfortable retirement and multiple mortgage-free homes.  However, young parents are finding that they are no where near progressing as well as the baby boomers, and they’re wondering why.

The boomers lived in a great time, where the housing market worked in their favour by increasing in value of 76 per cent over their adult lives.  Furthermore, boomers have put more pressue on political parties, bringing forth the Canada Pension plan and the Medical Care Act, ensuring that they will be taken care of in their senior years. 

On the flipside, young parents are faced with soaring housing prices.  They live in an economy with a national debt that has nearly tripled.  Their lack of involvement with political parties have led to policies still favouring the boomers.  So all in all, young parents are running households with smaller piggy banks.

For the full article: http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Struggles+next+generation/5457701/story.html

Ross Lovegrove is UK’s top-selling designer.  He has had his work exhibited all over the world, from the Axis Centre in Japan to the Museum of Modern Art in New York.  He makes his presence in Vancouver at IDSwest (Interior Design Show West) by opening the event with a key note speech.

IDSwest ran from September 29 to October 2, opening up design discussion with hundreds of retailers, manufacturers and interior designers.  Victoreric designers attended the event, soaking up the new trends and engaging in discussion for design inspiration and design solutions.

For the full article: www.theprovince.com/travel/Designing+dilemmas+discussed+IDSWest/5455631/story.html

Designer Jeff Smith does it again, bringing into fruition an amazing home in Victoria.  It’s not just one condo, but the design of two condos beautifully fused together, to form one home with views of the ocean east, south and west.

This opportunity came up when owners of a lumber brokerage business, Ken Neva and Faith Woo, presented him with an empty shell of 4,000 square feet to play with.  Having seen his earlier work, they were happy to give him free reign to design everything from wall placement, custom millwork, to selecting all furniture and artwork.

His Smith-ism philosphy is visible throughout.  He gives his clients an extra 30% to 50% of extra space, designing ample closet space so beautiful clothes and shoes don’t get cramped.  There are ’his’ and ‘hers’ walk-in dressing alcoves.  Space is uncluttered and clean, with everything cleverly hidden behind doors, even books.  To top things off, between the two condos is an extra ‘bonus’ room, accessed by slididng doors on each side, providing a reading retreat.

The potential of custom homes is limitless.  Jeff Smith demonstrates this beautifully.

Ask about a custom home today.  VictorEric is a key player in the custom home industry, specialising in premium custom homes.  They push the potential of each building site and encourage clients to extend their wish list, for an amazing and outstanding home.

For the full article: www.vancouversun.com/business/House+Beautiful+waterfront+paradise/5438008/story.html

With a non-existent housing bubble, low interest rates and price hikes restricted only to pockets of Canada, home owners are more than happy to take on more debt.  But is it too much debt?

The Finance Minister and Bank of Canada believe it is too much.  They’ve been keeping a close eye on the housing market and believe that even though there is no housing bubble in Canada, homeowners will end up drowning in their mortgage if interest rates rise.

The government continues to tighten mortgage rules, with the last one done in January.  However, a report issued by the International Monetary Fund has recommended that more needs to be done. 

Even though home owners are getting too comfortable, the firm of Victoreric never gets too comfortable.  They are always on their toes by keeping themselves updated with the latest needs of their Clients.

For the full article: www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/05/canada-economy-housing-idUSN1E79415J20111005

When a $3 million dollar house gets sold in British Columbia, there’s a good chance that a customer from Mainland China is pumping money into the Canadian economy.  However, this also means a spike in real estate prices, with as much as a 17% increase in housing prices.

A study released by Royal LePage shows that detached bungalows increased 17 per cent (three times the national average), standard two-storey homes increased 16.9 per cent (over three times the national average), and standard condos increased 5.1 per cent (double the national average).

So according to the real estate industry, there is no such thing as cheap Chinese. 

This also rings true with Victoreric, where high quality goes all the way, starting from the initial interactive consultation to the beautiful custom home standing before you.

For the full article: www.vancouverobserver.com/blogs/realestate/2011/10/05/asian-investors-continue-drive-home-prices-higher-vancouver-real-estate

For folks living in older homes and proudly preserving their historic neighbourhoods, there is now more of an incentive to do so. 

“Laneway Housing” is the idea of building new homes behind existing older homes, thus densifying and improving properties in one go.  To give people a better idea of what this looks and feels like, the Vancouver Heritage Foundation (VHF) has introduced the Laneway Housing Tour.  This year it involves opening eight laneway houses to the public, with bonus on-site project teams to answer any questions.  The tour is on Saturday October 1, from 12pm to 5pm.  

Due to popularity of this tour, tickets can be purchased online: http://vancouverheritagefoundation.org/projects/laneway.html

 Believe it or not, British Columbia is one of the very few provinces that is showing economic growth while others experience economic uncertainty. 

 In fact, the largest trade show for real estate called APEX Vancouver 2011 was recently held on September 23, where the public and professionals got the chance to meet with more than 3,000 buyers and investors.  More importantly, this event attracted overseas investors, in particular from Asia, British Columbia’s biggest customer in the real estate industry.

 With the real estate industry showing growth, so too is the firm of Victoreric.  The firm has compounded in growth, with new staff as well as new services.  While many firms concentrate only on design or construction of custom homes, Victoreric is one of the few firms to include both services in-house under one roof. 

 More often than not, when a separate design firm is buddied up with a separate builder, the grand vision of a high quality custom home is negatively compromised.  Here at Victoreric, high quality carries all the way from design through to construction.

 More importantly, Clients of Victoreric are taken through this whole process like a positive journey, where they not only enjoy the fruits of the journey, but also the journey itself.

-Linda

Vancouver has an arts and design culture that is of worldclass standards. Trade shows and events in the industry are neverending.

It’s time to book out your calendar for the Interior Design Show West from Thursday September 29 to Sunday October 2.  Make your way to the Vancouver Convention Centre West where you can feast your eyes on 110+ retailers, 30+ manufacturers and 75+ independent designers.  You have the choice of coming to the extravagant opening night (tickets $20), taking a whole bunch of friends after opening night (tickets $8 for groups of 10 or more) or enjoying your own company (tickets $15). 

For ticket purchasing and more information, visit the official website: http://idswest.com/

Canada’s housing market has been growing constantly the past few years and is finally becoming more sustainable as RBC Economics forecasted.

Economic events around the world, as well as the HST has taken a huge role in this change and it is expected that resales in Canada will increase only by 4.4% and 0.4%, while it will remain unchanged in 2012.

As higher interest rates are implemented, home prices are expected to decline compared to the previous 6 years, allowing first time home buyers to step into the real estate industry. Although provinces such as Quebec and BC are forecasted to decline in home resales, Alberta’s market is predicted to grow in the upcoming years. The prices of homes in the recent years have drove away locals to purchasing homes, luring foreigners to purchase in Canada. This transition makes homes more affordable and is an excellent opportunity for the younger generation to purchase their own property.

Read the full article: 

http://www.bchomesmag.com/news/11-07-27/RBC_Economics_Canadian_Home_Resale_Market_Forecast_Update_Still_Heading_Toward_Moderation.aspx