The Courtyard Connection Project challenged us to fit 2 houses on one property but still achieve privacy for both spaces. With a 900 square foot area for each house we were able to design a comfortable 2 bedroom, one bathroom, open concept living, dining, kitchen space with extra storage as well as a laundry closet and beautiful foyer area.
To manipulate the space square footage we implemented architectural elements, such as large windows, high ceilings and a large porch to enhance the space and create an airy open feeling.
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The tiny house trend has been in the design circuit for quite some time now, but recently we have had local clients come in to inquire about going tiny. Here in Trinidad and Tobago the idea of grandeur and "bigger is better" has influenced our minds as a definition of wealth, progress and prosperity. However, a slow change in perspective has been occurring due to the economic shortfalls experienced by persons from the highest income to the lowest.
Getting a quotation to build your home or for any project requires proper architectural drawings. This is the only way your contractor can accurately cost your project that would satisfy your borrowing institutions. Hence, we were inspired to write this article after encountering a client that came to us for a construction quotation to build her house. Although she had a set of drawings, they weren’t telling the entire story of the building, also it wasn’t even what she wanted!
We come across lots of clients that hire a designer to get drawings done but it lacks the information required to get a close to accurate construction estimate and does not reflect the client’s needs (somewhat cookie cutter designs). Hopefully we can arm persons with the necessary knowledge needed when engaging a designer for their home as the drawings are the manual required to build. Disclaimer: What I am about to outline is our design process here at KK Construction and Designs Ltd (KKCD) and therefore does not have to be the exact process of other designers, but it should give you a good indication of what to expect when engaging any designer. This is a question we get a lot from our clients on a daily basis. In 2018 it seems that prices for basic commodities are through the roof and sadly it’s the same in the construction sector. We don’t want to make our readers despondent, we just want to equip you with the actual cost associated with building your home. We hope this article can give an insight and better prepare you for the realities of building your home.
So, we have outlined all potential cost associated with building your home. To make it easier our case study describes building a three bedroom single story home (1400 sq. ft.) on one lot of land (5000 sq. ft.). See here for an example of some of our model homes. There are always challenges and surprises when working with a sloped site, but the final product and satisfying our clients’ needs makes it so worth the extra steps to get to the finish line. The client had a dream which we always make a reality. Their wish list included a modern home with great sight lines between spaces and a master retreat.
Starting a project from the design stages really allowed us to push the boundaries to fulfill their wish list. As both designers and contractors of this project, we were able to ensure that the client received everything that was presented in the designs. Living in a studio apartment or a small apartment usually means that the spaces will be small. This was the case with our kitchen. It was the tiniest kitchen imaginable with just one wall that fitted the fridge, stove, sink and limited counter space. Talk about cramped!
These tips are so easy that anybody with a free Saturday or two can completely renovate their kitchen space on a small budget. As our business expanded we were outgrowing our apartment office. We found a space that was currently used as a 2 Bedroom apartment and decided it was the perfect place to showcase our talents as designers to transform this out dated apartment into our new office space. Thankfully, we had the permission from the landlord to express our creativity. We therefore wanted to share with you how easy it is to convert any space into a functional, professional office space.
I’m sure we’ve all heard the expression, “the bigger the better” or how about, “the more the merrier”. While this may be applicable for some circumstances, when it comes to home ownership the construction costs tend to elevate exponentially. Unfortunately there are many occasions where clients come to us with their luxurious dream homes for construction costing and the chilling reality is realized when the actual cost is revealed unto them. In most cases, the client cannot qualify for such a big mortgage when going to a financial institution.
Making that initial decision to home ownership isn’t easy..... or cheap. While you could procrastinate and prolong the process, there comes a time when you really need to step out on your own and paddle your canoe through the ripple tides. The journey can be quite daunting and just a bit intimidating, but part of that is solely because you don’t know how to get started, what steps to take or who to talk to. Here are a few tips to get you on your way.
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