February 7, 2012
Just a few weeks ago, a few members from our Boffo Building Inc. team (the construction arm of The Boffo Family of Companies) headed to Las Vegas, Nevada to take in the World of Concrete conference and exhibition.
Among the concrete and masonry tools, a few things stood out: (more…)
January 18, 2012
There are always exciting updates in our Boffo Family of Companies world. Whether office renovations, new community outreach initiatives, or recently announced projects, we’re always on the go. Our most recent update was profiled in the Vancouver Courier. Cheryl Rossi covered the announcement that local neighbourhood haunt, Astorino’s is closing its doors.
We are excited to announce that (more…)
January 6, 2012
According to Pe
ter Mitham, in a recent article in BC Business, Vancouverism can be traced back to 1986 when city planners made a conscious decision to encourage residential development in the downtown core. The result they hoped to achieve: Liveable Urban Communities.
Liveable Urban Communities, first defined by the New York Times, were “widely separated, slender towers interspersed with low-rise buildings, public spaces, small parks and pedestrian-friendly streetscapes and facades to minimize the impact of a high-density population.”
The result in downtown Vancouver is clear: grass boulevards and wide sidewalks, green spaces and, public amenities, townhouses on the ground floors and an ‘eyes on the street’ mentality. As the downtown Vancouver core continues to progress, Peter Mitham takes a look at how this model of Vancouverism is expanding into the suburbs. (more…)
December 28, 2011
Recently, a member from our Boffo Family of Companies took a quick research trip to the ‘City that Never Sleeps’ as it’s popularly known, but also known as “The City of Amazing Architecture and Design” (at least in our Boffo Family of Companies offices). New York. Amidst the brownstone row homes, the bustle of the financial district and the quiet elegance of Central Park, there is always a must visit for our team: The New York Design Center.
December 23, 2011
With the holiday season is full swing, we thought we’d take a look at some of the more creative ways to decorate your home for the holidays. With everyone together and a festive mood in the air, it only makes sense to add a few holiday touches to your home as well. Everything from ornaments, to wreaths, table settings to themed decorations, adding a personal touch to your holiday celebrations can make all the difference. December 8, 2011
In a two-part series, on November 24th and 29th, the Urban Development Institute, in combination with the Sauder School of Business at UBC, held the inaugural Design Advantage Workshop. A group of 25 creative and critical thinkers, all under the age of 40, gathered to take part in a process that combines analytical skills with creative brainstorming, to analyze the issue of affordability in the housing industry in British Columbia. We had two members from our Boffo Family of Companies team attend the workshop. They came away with the following insights:
November 24, 2011
For most people, purchasing a home is the greatest financial decision they will ever make. To finance your home it is likely for you to have to take out a mortgage. Because of the interest rate on mortgages and the decades-long repayment plan, it is not unusual to end up paying over a hundred thousand dollars more for your home then its original price tag.
The key to paying off your mortgage faster-and saving tens of thousands in interest-is to pay off as much of the principle as you can as fast as you can so it does not accrue interest.
What follows are some tips to help you pay off your mortgage faster:
November 18, 2011
At the Boffo Family of Companies, we are proud members of the Urban Development Institute of BC. This November, they are undertaking a new initiative as part of their Under 40 program – The Design Advantage Workshop. This workshop will focus on encouraging creative confidence, blending the best of both critical thinking and creative thinking strategies. This workshop offers the ability to produce tangible, tested results, framed by real world constraints, all presented around the framework of affordability in the development world. In essence, this workshop hopes to teach each individual how to have an impact on the world, to break away from the structure of every day life, and in the end, to come up with even better ideas than you would have ever thought possible.
We’re thrilled to have a few of our Boffo team members attending the event and look forward to posting updates upon the completion of the workshop.
For more information about The Design Advantage Workshop, check out the UDI BC website.
If you’re looking for real world feedback, check out the d.school at Stanford University – a trailblazer when it comes to blending the critical and analytical with the creative.
November 8, 2011
Just yesterday, two of our team members from the Boffo Family of Companies left on a two week trip to Uganda, Africa. Their trip forms part of our Boffo Foundation initiative, based on volunteering and giving the gift of time, not only in our own communities, but halfway across the world. While there, they will be working with the Watoto Organization. Watoto is a holistic care programme that was initiated as a response to the overwhelming number of orphaned children and vulnerable women in Africa, whose lives have been ravaged by war, poverty and disease – particularly HIV/AIDs. Our two team members will be actively involved as part of a Build Team, working on various infrastructure projects around the village (including the construction of various homes and classrooms for the children). In addition, they will get a chance to visit Baby Watoto , Living Hope and Project Gulu. Upon their return, their stories, photos, videos, memories and experiences will be shared. We are proud to support such an amazing organization and look forward to sharing some ‘Boffo’ experiences upon their return.
November 8, 2011
With more and more people living in apartments, condos, and townhomes as opposed to detached homes, figuring out how to maximize living space is more important than ever. These decorating tips will help create a home that is as stylish as it is functional. Not only will you luxuriate in your space, but your guests will be amazed at how large your home feels.
Color me Consistent. An important factor in making your home appear larger is to keep the color consistent throughout. Lighter colors also open up space. But this doesn’t mean you need to paint your entire home stark white. Instead choose tones that complement each other and blend easily. And remember, a steady color scheme doesn’t end with paint; draperies that are a shade lighter or darker than the walls create a subtle frame to the window without impeding the line of sight, while floors in a harmonizing shade also create the illusion of more space.