The Grand Tour – or Two

Casa Mia driveway
At the grand entrance to Casa Mia

There are so many wonderful house tours every year in the lower mainland – from stylish new townhomes, to thoughtfully renovated Vancouver specials to lovingly restored heritage homes, I never tire of seeing different ways of approaching common problems: narrow hallways, an awkward kitchen layout,drafty bedrooms, how to accommodate multi-generational families – someone has an solution!  Plus, the interaction with owners and knowledgeable hosts means tours are way better than a magazine, even on a rainy day! And occasionally, a tour a includes a gem like Casa Mia!

Vancouver Specials – Special in All the Right Ways!

A few weeks ago, I spent the day touring “Vancouver Specials” – love ‘em or hate ‘em, th20160503_112623 Vcr Special Ticket 2016 smallis uniquely Vancouver home style has many variations, with its simple rectangular form and structural design.

The tour was organized by the Vancouver Heritage Foundation, who make a very good case for older homes from many eras being sustainable and worth keeping.

And yes, the ticket looks well worn, as I did a lot of visiting!