Amenities, schools and major transportation routes are all nearby. So are parks, beaches,

nature trails, and the Nickomekl River. At Skylands in South Surrey, homeowners

can experience convenience and beauty at the same time. Dubbed the ‘unhouse,’ the

Equitas project offers new, single-family detached townhomes to buyers ›› p.4

August 13, 2009

KOLBY SOLINSKY

It’s kind of a funny thing, one that makes you roll your eyes and say, “Duh.”

Any new home you walk into is intriguing from the get-go, with firm sofas, chocolate brown wood walls, stainless steel appliances

and a mixture of a million sights and smells that toggle your senses.

It’s so appealing you often forget that what you’re standing on is just as crucial.

For in B.C., there’s a whole swath of car-pet, hardwood, tiling and laminate that bring a glossy feel from the floor to the roof. It has become a trend that has taken over almost every new home development in Greater Vancouver, as each one can display a unique and luxurious approach to groundwork.

“It’s interesting, because you’ve got people going with the chocolate browns, and then you’ve got people going for brush hand-scrape or a brushed oak, and you’ve got people going for rich, exotic woods, too,” says Peter Pocrnic, owner of Casa Madera Floors in Burnaby, highlighting the many choices home owners and home builders have to choose from.

Floors: give yourself happy feetChoosing your favourite flooring can be the hardest part

Finding your current floors dated? Find out what’s trendy in new local home projects ›› p.2

Hardwood, laminate and cork flooring is popular in several styles, says Casa Madera Hardwood Floors Inc.’s Peter Pocrnic. Tricia Leslie photo

July sees record-high home sales, REBGV reports

The highest-ever number of residential property sales were recorded in Greater Vancouver in July, says the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver.

Sales totalled 4,114 in the region, becom-ing the highest volume of sales ever recorded within the REBGV for that month, out pacing the 4,023 sales in July 2003 – the only year July sales exceeded the 4,000 mark.

Such a high sales volume helps home prices to continue to strengthen, says the REBGV. Since the beginning of the year, the benchmark price for all residential properties in Greater Vancouver has increased 9.2 per cent to $528,821 from $484,211, the REBGV says. Compared to July 2008, home prices are down by five per cent.

“Home sales this summer are seasonally higher than normal, which is due in large part to the price correction that has taken place in the last year and low interest rates,” REBGV president Scott Russell said.

“Although well-priced listings and lower- to mid-range-priced properties remain in the highest demand across Greater Vancou-ver, recent activity from first-time buyers is beginning to boost demand in the ‘move-up’ segment of the market.”

New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties declined in Greater Vancouver, down 17.4 per cent to 5,041 in July 2009 compared to July 2008, when 6,104 new units were listed. At 12,482, the total number of property listings on the Multiple Listing Service declined 5.8 per cent com-pared to last month and 34 per cent com-pared to July 2008.

“It is currently taking, on average, 48 days for a home to sell in the region. Today’s mar-ket activity differs by area and property type and it’s important to tap into local housing market expertise to understand why some properties are attracting multiple offers, while others are not moving,” Russell said.CONTINUED ON P.2

Pocrnic says that Casa Madera has current-ly been busy in the renovation market, where they have been able to apply their trademark (“The house of hardwood floors”) quite suc-cessfully.

The supplier specializes in all hardwood flooring, including cork and laminate.

He has found that preferences and trends seem to differ across the geographical land-scape of Greater Vancouver.

“If you go out to the ’burbs, you’ve got people looking for a country oak product,” he says. “In the urban area you’re looking at more chocolate brown maples.”

Pocrnic also highlights the increasing popu-larity of wide-plank engineered surfacing, a style that gives a slightly new look to hard-wood floors.

“As a colour, it’s different, it’s varied,” he says. “Wide-plank is about five inches wide. The traditional plank is three inches.”

Meanwhile, in the carpet business, the name of the game right now is “soft,” says Cathy Young, creative ser-vices director for Shaw Floors.

“Patterns are very popular, but still again (people) want a soft fibre,” she says. “We’re finding a lot of texture, layered patterns, but “soft” is really the key word today.”

Even though Young is speaking from Shaw’s head office in Dalton, Georgia – where south-ern drawls and freshly picked peaches repre-sent a different way of life than ours in B.C. – she echoes Pocrnic’s statement that hardwood trends are leaning towards a heritage-styled, farmhouse restoration.

“New floors that don’t look new and will live with you are very much in demand,” she

says of the style that is both stained and aged.Additionally, Michelle Guenther heads

Shaw’s Greater Vancouver distribution office, located in Port Moody, and has established one of the company’s finest sales markets.

That’s high praise coming from within a North American manufacturer whose

parent company is Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway. Guenther has seen tremendous progress, as well, in the laminate industry, specifically in Luminaire products. “It’s so close to a natural looking

wood that it’s very hard to tell it’s lami-nate,” she says.

Overall, people are seeing laminate as a perfectly viable alternative to the maintenance and shorter wearability of hardwood.

“Some people want to have a wood look, but they have dogs, grandkids, or kids,” she says, noting laminate can do away with some of the bumps and scrapes that hardwood can expose. “They want the look but they don’t want to pay the price if they have a young family and things like that.”

She also raves about the growing popular-ity of shag carpets, specifically the California Twist, that has become a dominant trend in Vancouver. It accommodates people’s prefer-ences for both a soft and stylish carpet.

“The patterned carpet is huge here, and the Twist is so soft. It used to be a shag and it used to be really long, and that look is coming back,” she says, noting what’s old is new again.

While Guenther is not yet convinced that hand-scraped hardwood surface is a defin-ing niche of the Vancouver floor market, she has seen a surge in popularity for greys and chocolate browns.

Recently, Guenther has been extremely busy, working with architects and developers around Metro Vancouver, including Cressey Development, Mosaic Homes, Wallmark Homes and Morningstar Homes.

It’s interesting to note, however, that the floors we stand on are truly holding us up as a North American leader among new home design.

Especially as our tastes are making the rounds all the way out to Dalton, Georgia.

2 • New Local Home | August 13, 2009

Publisher: Fiona Harris • 604-575-5822 • publisher@newlocalhome.comEditor: Tricia Leslie • 604-575-5346 • editor@newlocalhome.com Advertising Sales - Black Press National Sales • Adrian Saunders • 604-575-5812 • adrians@blackpress.caOnline Advertising • Nicole Hutchinson • 604-575-5826 • nhutchinson@blackpress.caDesigner: Brad Smith • bsmith@blackpress.ca

New Local Home is published once a week by Black Press Group Ltd. (Suite 309 - 5460 152 Street, Surrey, B.C. V3S 5J9) 350,000 copies are distributed free across Metro Vancouver. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited.

Off the front: “In the urban areas, you’re looking at more chocolate brown maples” – Peter Pocrnic

Chocolate brown is in at Aquilini’s Richards in Vancouver’s Yaletown.

At Polygon’s Altaire, light wood is chic.

Carpet continues to be popular in new homes, including Morningstar’s Belmont.

Tile floors, like these at Raicon’s Mor-gan Heights, are also a trendy choice.

Wood flooring that is ‘distressed’ to look lived in is hot (Cottages at Cultus above).

A mix of wood and carpet is always stylish (Wallmark’s Birchwood Estates, above).

Hardwood, such as the flooring in ParkLane’s South Port (above), remains popular in all colours.

HAPPY FEET

Peter Pocrnic specializes in all hardwood flooring, including cork and laminate. Shag carpet is making a comeback as well. Tricia Leslie photo

CONTINUED FROM P.1

New Local Home | August 13, 2009 • 3

4 • New Local Home | August 13, 2009

Have the house without the work

88th Ave.to H

wy

1

70th Ave.

68th Ave.

56th Ave.

Fraser Hwy

1A

10

17

6th S

t.

15

You walk the kids to Southridge School, then stop off at Morgan Crossing on the way back for a cappuccino and perhaps, some fresh flowers. Then you’re back home within 15 minutes, planning whether to head for a round of golf at Morgan Creek Golf Course, a visit to the beach, or a bike ride through the trails at South Surrey Athletic Park.

At Skylands, a new home develop-ment in South Surrey, homeowners are surrounded by all of nature’s beauty, yet still close to shopping, restaurants, entertainment and major transportation routes.

An Equitas project, Skylands is an enclave of three- and four-bedroom single-family detached townhomes that come with private yards, classic exteriors and modern interiors.

Billed as the “unhouse,” living at Skylands means residents can have all the house, without the yardwork and maintenance, says Equitas vice-

The living area of a Skylands home. Located in always-popular South Surrey, the Equitas project offers new, detached townhomes to buyers.

Live in a home that’s an ‘unhouse’Skylands offers detached, single-family townhomes

CONTINUED ON P.5

Live in sunny South Surrey community

Skylands an ‘alternative’ for buyers

Above, the spacious entry of a Skylands home and in the back yard, a patio table and chairs are ready for relaxation.

New Local Home | August 13, 2009 • 5

F i l e I n f o r m a t i o n

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specifically tried to position (Sky-lands) between the two home styles predominant there,” Evans says.

There are several single-family detached home projects in the area, but prices are usually higher for those, while other multi-family developments offer lower prices for the townhome/condo lifestyle, he explains.

“We’re attempting to fill the gap and provide an alternative. At Sky-lands, it’s a single-family home in a strata environment, but you’ve got your own four walls around you,” Evans says.

Located near both Grandview Corners Shopping Centre and the under-construction Morgan Cross-ing Lifestyle Centre, Skylands is also close the White Rock and Crescent beaches, the Nickomekl River (popular with kayakers), area parks and sports facilities, nearby golf courses, and close to the Peace Arch U.S. border crossing.

Featuring nine-foot ceilings on

CONTINUED FROM P.4

CONTINUED ON P.7

6 • New Local Home | August 13, 2009

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North Vancouver

West Vancouver

Burnaby

New Westminster

Squamish

Richmond

South Delta

Coquitlam

Port Moody

Port Coquitlam

Vancouver

Surrey

North Delta

LangleyCloverdale

Fort Langley

Pitt Meadows

Maple Ridge

South SurreyWhite Rock

(1)(2)

(6)

(4)

(20)

(22)

(21)

(5)

(7-8)

(3)

(37)

(36)

(35)

(38)(39)

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(11)

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(16)

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Squamish(1)Skye-Soleil-AquaPresentation Centre, Unit 3, 1233 Main St.,Squamish. 604-616-1215(2)Furry Creek-Ocean Crest415- Furry Creek Dr. 604-315-0172

Vancouver (3)Carrington6101 Oak Street at 45th Ave. 604-266-6500(4)Pacifi cUBC Westbrook Village. 604-221-8878(5)Aura5437 Willow Street & West 38th Ave. 604-264-6477

North Shore (6)Branches1111 E 27th Street. 604-988-8489

Burnaby(7)Jewel6130 WilsonAvenue at Beresford. 604-456-0688(8)Brentwood Gate-The Varley1960 Beta Ave. 604-205-7228

Coquitlam(9)Levo1170 Pinetree Way & Northern Ave. 604-464-5856(10)The FoothillsBurke Mountain, 3381 David Ave., Coquitlam604-944-3188(11)Tatton1240 Holtby, Coquitlam. 604-696-1502

(12)Whitetail Lane1357 Purcell Drive. 604-552-3003(13) Belmont1456 Avondale Street. 604-461-7113(14)Burke Mountain Heights3398 Don Moore Drive, Coquitlam. 778-285-6299(15)Sterling3412 Wilkie Avenue, Coquitlam. (16)Belmont Walk1442 Marguerite Street, Coquitlam. 604-464-4551(17)Larkin House1131 Pipeline Road Coquitlam. 604-552-1113

Port Coquitlam(18)Links2418 Avon Place, Port Coquitlam. 604-460-9907

Port Moody(19)Heritage Woods300 Panorama Place, Port Moody

Richmond(20)Alexandra GateCambie-Garden City. 604-279-8866(21)Centro7180 No.3 Road-Bennett. 604-270-8305(22)PradoNo.3 Road & Lansdowne. 604-276-8180

South Surrey-White Rock(23)Highland Park160th & 24th Ave. 604-542-8995(24)Glenmore at Morgan Heights161A St. & 24th Ave. 604-542-8863(25)The BrownstonesMorgan Heights. 604-538-9897(26)Wills Creek160th & 32nd Ave. 604-542-6200

(27)Kaleden2729-158th Street. 604-541-4246

(28)Nuvo15454 - 32 Avenue, South Surrey. 778-294-1201

(29)Morgan Heights26th Ave & 164th Street. 604-531-1111, 604-420-4200

(30)Cathedral Grove2738-158th Street. 604-541-7383

(31)Ocean Park2026-128th Street. 604-538-2345

Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows

(32)Falcon Hill23719 Kanaka Way. 604-466-5723

(33)Crest at Silver Ridge22850 Foreman Drive. 604-466-9278

(34)Solo11749 223rd Street. 604-467-0800

New Westminster(35)Victoria HillMcBride Ave. 604-523-0733

(36)Q at Westminster QuayRenaissance Square off Quayside Drive. 604-515-9112

(37)Red BoatEwen Ave & Furness St., Queensborough. 604-520-9890

Delta(38)Trend7445 Scott Road. 604-590-5483

(39)Cardinal Pointe10605 Delsom Crescent, Delta

Langley(40)Bedford Landing23015 Billy Brown Road. 604-888-2176(41)Seasons & Prelude at Milner Heights208th St & 72nd Ave. 604-539-9484

Surrey(42)Augusta at Provinceton18199 70th Ave, 778-571-1088(43)Springfi eld Village8678 156 Street. 604-591-1121(44)Woods at Provinceton70th & 180th Street. 604-574-7820(45)The Highlands at Sullivan Ridge60A Ave & 146th Street. 778-565-1865(46)The Estates at Vistas West16327 60th Ave. 778-574-1380(47)Tate18983-72A Avenue, Surrey(48)Vista’s west6093 - 164 Street, Surrey. 778-571-1389

On Tour

28th Ave.Ave28th Ave8t Ave

Skylands, an Equitas project in South Surrey, offer homebuyers single-family detached townhomes.

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Walk the kids to school at SkylandsNew Local Home | August 13 , 2009 • 7

the main floor and two-car, side-by-side garages, Skylands homes are designed with open, great room floor plans.

One floorplan even offers the master bedroom on the main floor, something Evans says homebuyers have been inter-ested in for awhile.

Gourmet kitchens feature shaker-style cabinetry and granite counters, while master ensuite bathrooms have soaker tubs and his and her sinks. Homeowners can choose between two striking colour schemes for inside, designed by award-winning BYU Design.

Many people who have already bought homes at Skylands come from the South Surrey area, Evans says, but also from Vancouver, Richmond and Burnaby, to name a few.

“One couple is moving from an apart-ment in Yaletown because they want more elbow room,” he notes.

Phase 5 is now selling, with homes starting from $589,900, including GST.

Visit the showhomes daily from noon to 5 p.m., except Thursdays and Fridays, at 15885 26th Ave., Surrey, or go to www.skylands.ca for more information.

CONTINUED FROM P.5

Variety of design, floorplans offered

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8 • New Local Home | August 13, 2009