Home: The Everwood by Shane Homes
Designer: Lyle Faas

Lyle Faas, Drafting and Design Manager with Shane Homes, started with Shane Homes 20 years ago, back when the company was only building about 40 to 60 homes a year. That’s quite a difference from what the popular home builder accomplishes now-a-days. Lyle’s interest in the home building industry started back when he was quite young. “Growing up, my father was a carpenter-type person who built our family home here in Calgary, way back in the late ‘50s,” says Lyle. “I went through school always drawing, and being good with my hands. However, I think I liked the thought of seeing my ideas built.” Lyle graduated from Sait in 1977 as an Architectural Technologist, and has been working in the industry ever since. With 23 years of recognition in the CRHBA, Lyle is probably one of  the local industry’s longest-standing members – not to mention most valuable resources.

One of Lyle’s favourite models is called the Everwood. Currently this home is listed as one of the top-ten models, and Lyle likes it because he says it shows a little bit of the variety in what Shane Homes does. He says that the creative process begins with finding out the lot widths available in order to maximize the house size. Lyle then starts sketching some ideas based on what area they are building in. “We develop four elevations for every home so we can suite every area that we may be building in,” says Lyle. “However, I start off with the design being fairly standard, and draw up an economical and competitive plan in order to keep costs down. This includes features such as a three-bedroom home with a room over the garage, which increases the square footage while keeping those costs down.” From there Lyle says that standard options based on market research popularity are then added. “The research answers questions like ‘What do people want or think they just can’t do without?’ and one of the more popular design features right now is to put the washer and dryer on the second floor,” says Lyle. “In the case of the Everwood, the separate laundry room is right off the second floor family room.”

According to Lyle, each of the four different elevations that are designed are done so in order to fit people’s budgets and also to co-ordinate with area architectural controls. As well, there are various options available throughout the home. In the case of the Everwood, there are three different ensuite options ranging from a standard bathroom all the way up to the deluxe ensuite that includes a large shower-stall and a luxurious corner soaker tub. As well buyers can choose a larger family room, or even change where the laundry room is located. Even the size of the nook and the type of rear access can be changed depending on preference. “In a show home we probably do an upgraded ensuite or kitchen in order to show what’s possible, but we sometimes offer a standard version of the design somewhere else in the city so consumers can see the differences,” says Lyle.

One of the ways he stays on top of the newest design trends is by taking a trip south to the States every year or so to see what’s happening in the industry there. In this way Lyle and Shane Homes are able to offer new and innovative floor plans and keep things fresh.Although Lyle is the Drafting and Design Manager with Shane Homes, he is quick to point out that it’s a total team effort. He says that all the designers take a look at the plan and even the sales, estimating, construction and service people give them feedback based on customer opinion.  NL