The Okanagan is a fantastic place to live and do business. We’re fortunate to have enough variety in lifestyle, with the various cities offering different commercial opportunities. In Vernon, where we conduct most of our business, there’s a growing need for commercial space due to consumer demand. 

At the time of this writing, the Vernon real estate market is exploding with demand and supply is struggling to keep up. It’s an unprecedented imbalance. It applies to residential homes but also to commercial properties, which is our focus in this blog. 

At Brentwell Construction, planning a seamless commercial project is something we do proficiently. Though, it does take some strategic planning! In the following paragraphs, we’ll detail the key points of focus in forging a commercial project and the benefits of a well-designed space. 

It’s time to get Okanagan residents and business-people excited! 

Location, Location, Location

When considering a location, you need to step back and consider the type of commercial client you’re designing the property for in the first place. 

This task is more straightforward when it’s you intending to occupy the property. You know what business you’re in and who you want to serve, so you can safely move to the next step! 

If you intend to build and lease the building, it’s essential to know what kind of clientele you seek.

Are you targeting industrial clients needing an abundance of floor space and parking? Or, are you seeking retail clients needing comparatively smaller square footage and perhaps some meeting rooms? Whatever the case, you must know your audience well. 

Knowing who you intend to serve will determine your next steps, which concern zoning. Simply put, zoning bylaws are municipal regulations that determine how land, buildings and other structures are used. Researching zoning bylaws and their requirements will require a visit to your local regional district or city hall. Property can be rezoned from it’s original designation, but in such cases, it typically needs to align with the Official Community Plan. This can be a time-consuming step. It is most efficient to find property already zoned correctly.

Once you’ve got a clear idea of the areas of town with the zoning you require, you can move on to the next step.

Budget

There are some key considerations when determining your budget. It’s not easy, and the more flexibility you have in both budget and preference, the better. But these areas are a great place to start:

• What is the nature of the industry? 
• How important are aesthetics and curb appeal to the eventual customers?
• How many employees will be needed to run a suitable business in your space?
• Do you have any hard construction deadlines that require consideration?
• Do you have any back-up financing options in case you go over budget? 

First impressions matter, and to garner the respect you seek, you must cater to the intended customers. You can delve back into location considerations. For example, if 80% or more of your customers will be from Vernon, avoid looking too closely at Kelowna projects for inspiration. Those aren’t your people.

The more you’re able to connect with your customers before they reach for the front door, the more likely you’ll plan a reasonable budget.

Hire The Right Commercial Contractor 

Most well-established construction companies will have the resources and skills to carry out your project, no matter how unique. Some companies even advertise this way. They prefer to market to the broadest possible audience and catch at least a piece of each. But from your standpoint, is this really to your benefit?

We don’t believe so. At Brentwell Construction, we know what we’re great at and who we’re the best fit to serve. Our team and its collective goals revolve around these directives. We base our organizational structure upon knowing what our customers need and want, and positioning ourselves to respond accordingly.

During this process, confirm the contractor has internal systems and standard procedures in place. With so many moving parts on large construction projects, communication and accountability are essential. We also recommend confirming the company adheres to strict safety protocols, minimizing your risk during construction. 

You’ve gone this far in the planning process; now it’s time to be sure you’ve hired the right team for the job. We recommend the following steps in determining who you hire for your next commercial construction project:

• Ask the right questions, and more importantly, dare to ask the hard questions.
• Conduct due diligence and research company qualifications and project history. Do they have the portfolio demonstrating the expertise they claim?
• Do your homework. Ask around to any contacts you have, and perhaps reach out to former clients of the company you’re considering. 

The construction company right for you should never be afraid to answer the hard questions. They owe you this courtesy.

Conclusion: The Benefits of Choosing The Right Company For The Job

Yogi Berra once said, “if you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll end up someplace else.” 

There is an immense benefit to the above planning process when building a commercial space, including:

• Happy employees – Whether it’s your team occupying the space or someone else’s, you designed the space to foster their hard work. 
• Increased productivity – You took the extra time to design the build mindfully, increasing the chances of a more productive workplace for future tenants. 
• Budget adherence – With some extra foresight, you undoubtedly saved yourself many financial headaches that result from a lack thereof.
• Proud investment –  In designing the space you intended to, you now have an investment to be proud of!

To know exactly where you’re going is to make the result that much more gratifying.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this blog, and hope you’ll consider Brentwell Construction for your next commercial construction project in the Okanagan. 

At Brentwell, we work with a multitude of businesses at all stages of the commercial building process. Some get us involved before the first step above even begins! No matter your end goal, you can rest assured that we have the right team in place to get the job done right. We place a high priority on detailed planning and safety at every stage to ensure foresight and accountability. From renovations and expansions to complete new builds, we’re a commercial construction team you can trust. 

Give us a call today to find out how we can help.

Thanks for reading!

The home building industry is in a constant state of flux. Trends come and go like the seasons, revealing fresh ideas as tired styles fade away. At Brentwell Construction, understanding these trends provides context to our custom home builds. A new build represents a new beginning for clients, and they appreciate expert input into the design process. 

Okanagan custom homes are seeing an increase in the three design trends we will touch on in this blog, though these trends are also playing out on a national scale. We welcome the style and freshness of these trends in our quest to be the Okanagan’s best custom home builder.

Let’s get going!

Trend #1: Modern Farmhouse Styling

The “modern farmhouse” design trend is a combination of traditional and modern, and it’s taking off for many Vernon & Greater Okanagan home builders. 

Rooted in the rustic quality of past eras, the modern farmhouse trend strikes a balance between casual living and today’s more contemporary preferences. There’s no surprise this style is popular in the Okanagan, as we live for lifestyle. We work hard, play hard and desire our living environments to reflect this working-class sentiment. 
Modern farmhouse design incorporates natural elements with old-world charm, taking past utility and redefining its intended function. Beautiful wood grains are encouraged as if the past’s antique charm has come roaring back to life. This style creates nostalgia in a home’s shared spaces. 

The key to farmhouse styling is not to lean too heavily on either the past or the present. There must be a strategic combination of both. We frequently see executive clients growing tired of the contemporary style commonly seen in the new housing market today, welcoming the natural themes that exude warmth and comfort. 
The modern farmhouse may just be here to stay!

Trend 2: High-Performance Homes

Many of our clients are curious about incorporating high-performance elements in the design of their new custom homes. As an established Vernon home-builder, it will be interesting to see how this trend takes off!

High-performance homes used to be frequently known as “net-zero” homes, designed to be energy-efficient and thoughtful of new consumer preferences such as:

• Healthier living
• More comfort
• Reduced pollution
• More natural light
• Less noise
• And more!

Custom home builders, like ourselves, construct high-performance homes using various new-school building methods and advanced technologies that, in tandem, serve to accomplish the above goals. Construction methods can include polyurethane spray foam under the slab. This foam offers the highest R-Value per inch, and creates a super-sealed vapour barrier under a radiant slab. Other high-performing construction methods include super-sealing the building envelope, using highly insulated windows, implementing alternative energy sources like solar, and much more!

A common misconception about high-performance homes is that their increased construction cost will take many years to pay back. Not the case. Custom homes utilizing high-performance methods regularly realize energy savings within a matter of months. Another misconception is that unless you design a home to be fully “net-zero,” there’s no point. In reality, we regularly see clients selectively opt for high-performance elements for their custom home builds. 

High-Performance Homes are on-trend in Canada due to perceived energy savings and shifting consumer attitudes about climate change. We don’t expect this trend to lose momentum anytime soon. 

Trend #3: Multi-Functional Spaces

The COVID-19 pandemic may have been a year of hardship and stress, but it was also a year of unprecedented creativity. 

While this trend has been picking up steam for several years, it’s never been more relevant and applicable. As people packed up their workspaces and headed home to get work done, many realized that their home lacked functionality and practicality. Single-purpose rooms suddenly lacked a depth of purpose. 

One of the most common ways multi-functional spaces are being utilized today is combining the dining area and kitchen. This is commonly referred to as an “open concept” design. Traditionally, dining rooms were separate rooms away from the kitchen to encourage formal dining. As more and more busy families seek dynamic spaces, the open concept kitchen should only gain popularity moving forward.

Other neat multi-functional ideas include:

• Convertible bedrooms – Fold-down beds can create versatility for small spaces, freeing up living space during the day.
• Clever home-offices – Have some awkward space in your home without a purpose? An integrated office can usually be incorporated simply and without much free space.
• Master bedroom bathtub – This idea sounds strange, but with intelligent design, bathtubs can successfully be placed in master bedrooms without affecting the room’s flow.

We expect multi-functional spaces to continue trending. Utilizing spaces better can bring desired features within reach, instead of having to upgrade to a home with more square footage. As an Okanagan home builder, we’re consistently blown away by the creativity of our clients. They seek home’s that compliment their lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to bring their unique dreams to fruition.

Conclusion

The above trends signify an evolution in housing. The modern farmhouse trend represents a resurgence of old-world charm in combination with modern design principles. High-performance homes provide an answer to energy-efficient appetites and care for the planet. Multi-functional spaces are a downstream effect of our collective desire to get the very most out of our limited spaces. We’re excited to see how these trends further evolve, and we’re all ears to clients seeking to incorporate them into their custom home builds.

Brentwell Construction is a custom home builder based in Vernon, BC, serving the Greater Okanagan area. With attention to detail and adherence to innovation, Brentwell is committed to providing service and product excellence in the custom home building process.

We are thrilled to announce the launch of our brand new website! We desired to create a website that more accurately reflected our values and increased our ability to connect with our community. The new site is beautifully laid out, more interactive, and gives the public a greater ability to understand the various services that we so proudly offer. Below are some brief descriptions of our new pages as well as some existing ones that have undergone significant upgrades! Come take a look!

Who We Are

As always, we’re proud of our team! To our management team who continually elevate their managerial skill sets to our passionate labourers who actively carry out your construction vision, we’re excited to introduce you to everyone. We take a humanized approach to home and building construction and it starts with the team that forms the backbone of our business. 

Click here to find out who we are!

Projects

Having been one of the Okanagan’s premier choices for residential and commercial construction for many years now, we have a slew of past projects that we’re now able to share with you in detail! The projects on this collection of pages will show photos, a brief analysis of the process undergone, as well as testimonials from that particular client. We love sharing our work with others, but most importantly, this page will give you valuable insights into your very own building ideas!

Click here to view our projects page!

Custom Homes

Found within the projects section of the website, our Custom Homes page details the custom home process and how it relates to you. Your home is so much more than just a roof over your head. It is an expression of your authenticity and the lifestyle you forge. We work with you step-by-step to ensure your home is an accurate reflection of who you are. We take pride in simplifying the process to ensure that your opinions and needs are valued at every step. 

Check out our custom homes page here!

High-Performance Homes

High-performance homes, otherwise known as “net-zero” homes, are an increasingly popular build style. These homes prioritize energy-efficiency and overall liveability, with additional emphasis on natural light and natural heating and cooling. We aim to prove that building a high-performance home is within financial reach for the vast majority of people looking to build their very own home, not to mention the cost-saving benefits down the road.

Commercial Construction

We are proud to serve clients with commercial construction needs. We take an active approach to the process, helping you with permits, zoning information, and much more! There is a completely different approach to managing commercial projects and with that in mind, we’re excited to bring our expertise to the table to streamline this uniquely complex process for your benefit. 

Check out our commercial construction section here!

Blogs

We plan to keep regular content rolling via a dedicated blog section of our website. It is here that you can learn more about our projects, our ever-evolving industry, as well as the trends within it! It is our job to stay on top of the news that relates to your construction needs, and we take pride in being able to consistently share these insights with you.