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A new style of housing is coming to the Town of Comox, and Gower Design Group is embracing its arrival!

The decision by Comox Town Council to allow coach houses on most residential lots has opened the door to exciting development opportunities for Comox homeowners and home builders. Most Comox properties with a residential designation are eligible for coach houses (also known as garden suites and lane-way houses), and owners can go through a more simplified rezoning process that will cost $250 for a building permit.

Gower Design Group, a Vancouver Island based residential design firm located in the Comox Valley, has expanded its design portfolio with several new ideas for coach houses. One notable addition is named The Piercy (pictured), and it features a distinctive butterfly roof seen in many full-scale designs pioneered by Gower Design Group.

Company principal John Gower believes that coach homes offer many advantages, including:

• affordable shelter on land already purchased;
• low building costs;
• rental revenue for paying down a mortgage;
• versatile use as a guest cottage or an independent living space for family members;
• a convenient, low-cost option for people looking to downsize;
• lower heating and utility costs; and
• a reduced carbon footprint for a happier planet.

Gower Design Group’s coach houses feature ingenious use of storage space to ensure that your most treasured possessions are close at hand, while abundant windows, skylights, and vaulted ceilings infuse your living area with a sense of spaciousness. Glass patio doors with a walkout help connect the home’s interior to its surroundings.

“An open plan and efficient, multi-purpose space are integral components of any good coach-house design,” says Gower.

Having designed the first coach house approved for construction in Victoria, Gower Design Group has modified their portfolio of house plans to conform to building specifications outlined by the Town of Comox.

“Each plan can be customized to suit your personal needs and lot requirements,” states Gower. “Give us a call, and we’ll be happy to discuss options with you.”

For more information, contact Gower Design Group at 250.871.8765 (local), 1.877.366.2502 (toll-free), visit their website, or follow them on Facebook. You can also browse and order stock house plans via Gower Design Group's online catalogue.

Gower Design Group, a Vancouver Island based residential design firm located in the Comox Valley, believes that a well-designed home is more than just stylish rooms housed in a beautiful exterior. Rather, it should be a space in which your most important relationships take root, grow, and thrive. They've coined this approach to planning a new home “relationship-centred design.”

Design Integrity

Design integrity lies at the heart of relationship-centred design. After a client completes a detailed questionnaire, the Gower Design team considers both the structural and aesthetic integrity of the home: how its exterior and interior relate to one another; how it relates to its surroundings; and how it reflects the personality, preferences, and lifestyle of the people inside. None of this is possible without a designer-client relationship based on integrity.

“Our client’s needs are of paramount importance to us. We’re willing to take the time and care necessary to ensure that our clients are happy throughout the design process and with the finished product,” says John Gower, company principal. “We make sure that people end up with the home they want and need, nothing more or less.”

Affordability

Some clients are worried that their budget won’t be respected or that they’ll be up-sold and pushed into spending more money than their budget allows.

“Other clients are concerned that the designer will have a preconceived idea of what their home should look like or that they’ll be pushed beyond their comfort zone in a careless way,” says Gower. “That isn’t our approach. Design integrity begins with careful and respectful listening; we guarantee it.”

Client Satisfaction

Clients can attest to Gower Design Group's commitment to design integrity and client satisfaction.

“We’ve settled in very quickly, and we feel very relaxed and happy here. It feels like our home; everything is the way it should be,” says one satisfied client. “You designed an amazing, perfect house that nestles into the landscape and gives us endless opportunities to enjoy this special piece of the world. Thank you!”

Custom Homes and Stock House Plans

In addition to designing carefully tailored single-family custom homes and planning home renovations, Gower Design Group has an extensive portfolio of stock house plans available through BC Mountain Homes. These architecturally distinctive, pre-designed house plans can be modified to suit your needs and lifestyle. From modest to luxurious, each plan is crafted to provide you with a simple, comfortable, yet elegant home that fits your life beautifully. Whether you choose to build a custom home, modify a stock house plan, or renovate your current residence, Gower Design Group will create a living space that's a perfect fit for you, one that nourishes the spirit, the community, and the land.

For more information, call 250.871.8765 (local), 1.877.366.2502 (toll-free), visit their website, or follow them on Facebook. You can also browse and order stock house plans via Gower Design Group's online catalogue.