envy, the blog
Occasionally, when we are not preoccupied designing, creating, building or generally nerd-ing out over architecture and art, we will blog. Here you will find out what we are up to, be able to follow along on builds as they happen and sometimes we just find something really interesting we want to share with you.
Scroll down for some cool histories of previous adventures, read up on our current endeavours and feel free to comment or share as like.
Come join us on our adventures…
Driveways & Retaining Wall Prep
Preparations to shape the rear driveways provide a visual definition of the large remaining rear yard space.Retaining walls on the west unit ensure a comfortable walkway down the side yard.The poured driveways will be posted soon to properly showcase this terrific rear amenity space.
Eaves Troughs
Some of the final exterior details are also coming together now.Do you like the new Envy for sale sign?The eaves troughs are in the process of being installed and the new sidewalk has been poured by the city.Check back to see the landscaping plan to come together in the next several weeks.
Bamboo Delivery
A whole load of bamboo sheet goods were delivered today and this will be used to make kitchen, bathroom and various built in cabinets.Check back to see what the finished product ends up looking like... you won't be disappointed.
Concrete Floors
All levels of these homes feature poured concrete floors with integrated radiant heat lines. We prefer to highlight the natural beauty of them with a sealed concrete finish. This also provides a durable uniform surface that is intrinsically easy to clean (whether it is a spill, pet hair or basic dust bunnies) contributing to the terrific indoor air quality of these homes.First the original concrete pour has any cracks filled, then they are ground to a smooth and level. Finally a finish coat is applied and clear/mat sealed for a fabulously modern and efficient look.Now we are ready for base & case... so close now. Contact us if you think this might be the perfect next home for your family.
For Sale!
In the interest of choosing green products whenever possible and keeping waste to a minimum we elected to have our "for sale" signs cut from solid aluminum and keeping the message pretty basic to ensure we can use the same signs for all of our projects. These are still to be poweder-coated in Envy-green for higher visibility but we were too excited about them not to share!
Stairs Installed
Wow!The stairs are installed in these homes and the best work we can come up with for their presence and the light flowing through them is... wow!
Stair finishing
Solid fir stair risers and treads are prepped and clear coated with low-VOC paint onsite.Can't wait to see these beauties installed!
Eco-Living Home Tour
Envy Eco was pleased to have Haus 8+10 participate in this years Eco-Living home tour showcasing green building initiatives in Calgary. Principal David Wilson greeted the bus load of guests upon arrival, led a detailed and information packed hour long tour leaving attendees with plenty of options to consider for their current and future homes. It's fair to say that much fun was had learning about sustainable choices and initiatives on Saturday, June 8th.
Stair Parts
Yes, those rickety looking stairs in the pictures are just construction stairs.Yes, there will be some beautiful locally sourced solid Douglas Fir wood open riser stairs going in their place and the parts have arrived. Currently the fit is being tweaked by our craftsmen.
First Coat Paint
What a difference a coat of paint makes!Now finally the spaces are beginning to look like rooms and you can to envision yourself living here. After the first coats the walls are thoroughly inspected and any drywall/mud/tape inconsistencies are repaired to ensure the highest level of finish detail. (that's what those white & yellow patches are)
Floor Plans
If you have been following the Haus 8+10 blog then you have probably been wondering what the inside finished spaces are going to look like. Your patience served you well waiting to see the outside but are you that patient to see the inside? Ok, ok, we will give you a sneak peak at these basic these floor plans ... subject to change slightly to suit our pragmatic design choices, but you get the general idea
Mud & Tape
With mudding and taping of the drywall coming to an end it can only mean one thing... Paint!Painters coming in soon to start on the first coats of paint. (finish coats are always done nearer final completion to ensure minor dings & dents are repaired prior to move-in)
Taping Details
Featured below are some special waterproof bathroom drywall mudding & taping details and a window mud/tape detail. More visuals of full rooms to come.
Deck Capping
Classic, simple, modern and low-maintenance finishes are the pragmatic solution goals for everything Envy Eco does, whether the details are inside or outside. Here is a before and after example for Envy's the deck wall capping solution.
Evening Light
A little different evening light perspective of Haus 8+10. It's nice to see more than one side of this projects character.
Drywall is Almost Done
The drywall is so close to being finished now. Soon the mud and tape will get underway... and then comes the sanding aka; dust and more dust to come
Recyle Retrace
Remember some of the things we talked about salvaging or recycling from the original home?With our marketing program for these homes ramping up it reminded us of some of the interesting extra steps we took and thought we should share. Please note below;~ the beautiful black bricks on the original house (top-left), the bricks being pulled aside in demolition(bottom-right) and the bricks as a key feature in the new house now (left)~ the fir hardwood was stripped out of the original home, donated to and reused in another project (2nd-left)~ the majority of the sheet-metal (3rd & 4th-left) from the old heating and ventilation system was stripped outand then taken to the recycling depot for the grand profit of $127.35! (obviously it was not about the money)
Drywall is Underway
Sheet by sheet the drywall goes on the walls and then is secured to a unique framing system to the ceilings ... with the poured concrete interior floors and Hambro joist system there is no wood to just screw your drywall to.
Drywall Delivery
The arrival of numerous sheets of drywall is a welcome sight after months of rough-in work. Soon these interesting spaces will start to look like bright rooms.
