- Gardens! Gardens! Gardens!

Host of The Canadian Gardener

mal A A OR A RE >

Seniors Day Friday '
Children Under A
Onilcre? Under 7 FREE

| HOME

IMPROVEMENT

House size up
over yesteryear

COOKIE-CUTTER HOMES that
families must cram into are a thing
‘of the past, says the Greater

& D Broil King Vancouver Home Builders‘

sia Association. Today’s homies offer a

zs variety of amenities and conve-
niences so that they fit families’
lifestyles.

Size is one of the most impor-
tant feature of homes today. The
median size of new homes has
increased from about 1,450 square
feet in the late 1960s and early

- Jerry Mathers of
“Leave It To Beaver”
. fame’

| Feb. 17-20

: KITCHEN & BATH
DEA ENTRE
presented by DuPont Corian

- EXPERTS SHOW you.

HOW TO S-T-R-E-T-C-H
YOUR RENOVATION

and win N by supporting British Columbia's ‘Ss

~ Children’ Ss Hospital Fund

Shell Busey
learn PowerSmart
Alenovation Techniques

Brian Minter
New Plant & Garduning
ideas for 1986

oe a a
of

NE S7 a, -On*

hae ES IDENTS OF THe 1 mSsiog
ont Hs

Canede Wong

David Tarrant
Vancouver's Own Certified Homemaster

SSION
ADMI $8.00-

$6.00
$4.00
00

Greater
avnes Vancouver

Home Builders’
ASSOCIATION

onan

February 17-25, 1996, B.C. Piace Stadium

HOTLINE — FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL 878-8998 |

May not be combined with any other olfer. Valid Monday - Friday only, A Southex Production

1970s to about 2,100 square feet
today.

Much of that increased space is
devoted to family living area —
particularly the kitchen/family
toom combination (great room),
one of the most prevalent trends in
both new and renovated homes.

The popularity of the kitchen
has surged over. the last few
decades as it’has moved from.a
room that was used almost solely
for cooking to one that is enjoyed
by the entire family for cooking, —
eating, gathering and socializing.
As homes have increase in size, the
size of kitchens has grown propor-
tionally.

The most popular kitchens today
are open to the dining area and
seating area. Light-and-airy ambi-
ence is the general theme of mod-
em kitchens and it is achieved with’
french doors, skylights and lots of’
windows that let in the sun and. a
view of the garden. a

Besides larger. living areas, ‘the
extra space in homes is being: used

for flexible, multi-purpose areas. A’
room over the gurage that becomes
a bedroom for an aging parent o
returning child,a dining 1oom with
built-in bookshelves that could

66 Families: are stay-

dence of this, just mor
*_ to rent a current

ideas in new. homes i is

“room in’ the.basement “wi

designed | to aiehon a fi

feet and storage for tools'and hobby
supplies, In areas-where’ basements
are not common, flex-space rooms...
may be found on the main floo

Technology. is ‘also ‘changing
homes. Offices are becoming com-
mon in ‘new homes. as ‘the easy
availability of high-tech equipment .
and growing commuting problems
entice more people to: work, from
home. . ,
Another result of the technology .
boom is the prevalence of. the
media room. Families are staying *
home more these days. They want
to be entertained. If you want evi-
dence of this, just try to rent a cur-
rent movie at a video outlet on the .
weekend, Many times the shelves ;
are bare. And, no longer satisfied
with just a TV and VCR, ‘con-
sumers are beginning to demand
full video and sound systems.

Whatever specific rooms. are
used for, the trend in homes is to .
space that suits each family’s needs
today and in the future.

For moré information on new
homes or renovation call. the
Greater Vancouver Home Builders’
Association Housing Hotline at
590-5256.

nr |