If you’ve ever come by an impressive-looking house and wanted to peek inside without being arrested, the 15th Annual Parade of Renovated Homes is for you.
The parade, put on by the Greater Vancouver Home Builders’ Association, will feature 16 homes renovated by nine companies. The public will be able to tour the houses and professional renovators will be onsite to field questions and offer advice.
Peter Simpson, CEO of the GVHBA, said the renovations range from about $70,000 to $525,000 — from modest to spectacular.
“It showcases leading-edge design, advance construction techniques, innovative building products and just what can be done with homes these days,” he said.
One cramped Kitsilano townhouse was transformed into an airy, free-flowing space by relocating the kitchen and adding larger windows to maximize a great view. Another 1920s home in Vancouver was transformed into a bed-and-breakfast, mixing contemporary design with what Simpson calls “an old-world feel.”
The remaining homes are scattered throughout the Lower Mainland, in Surrey, Port Coquitlam, Delta, New Westminster and the North Shore. To respect the privacy of the homeowners, the exact addresses will be posted on gvhba.org in early June.
According to the GVHBA, British Columbians will spend more than $7 billion on home renovations and improvement this year, with two-thirds of that in the Lower Mainland alone.
“People will be able to see how some of those dollars have been spent,” said Simpson.
About 700 to 1,000 people are expected to attend the parade, which takes place on June 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is by passport, which can be purchased for $10 at any home taking part in the parade, and children under 17 are free. Partial proceeds go toward a carpentry training program offered by Guilford Park and Frank Hurt schools in Surrey.
