East Coast Living Winter2017

east coast

LIVING growing family, growing home

Inspiring home life in Atlantic Canada

WHEN THIS HALIFAX FAMILY OUTGREW THEIR HOME, THE ONLY CHOICE WAS TO EXPAND

WINTER 2017 | $4.95 eastcoastliving.ca

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contents

WINTER 2017

36 Keep critters out with these expert tips

Don’t let your favourite collectables collect dust–display them

FEATURES

THE LIST 12 Colour trends for 2018

From show-stopping to serene, this array of colours offer options for every room

14 Décor: Clutter-free collections

Display your treasures the right way to highlight any space

16 Projects: DIY: Rustic Mason jar

centrepiece

Make your own winter décor with this simple step-by-step project

18 Projects: Quick fix family room

These simple do-it-yourself ideas from the experts will transform your space without emptying your wallet

22 Cover Story: Growing family,

growing home

How a home extension helped Halifax family maximize their small space

30 Renovation:

Avoid reno disasters

Your dream-home renovation can turn into a nightmare—learn how to avoid it

36 In depth: Dealing with pests

As winter approaches, learn how to keep unwanted visitors out of your home

EATING IN 38 Libations: Grain to glass

Two

very different businesses share a slogan and an outlook on building community in Atlantic Canada

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44 Southwest Nova Scotia lobster

sandwich

Clara Harris created this beloved sandwich over 60 years ago, and now you can make it at home

DEPARTMENTS 6 Welcome home 46 Gardening: Seven succulents to

grow this winter

Brighten up darker days with these no-fuss houseplants

49 Buying guide 50 Last Look:

Humble Burdock Farms

Flower farmer and author Amanda Muis Brown finds innovative ways to share her botanicals year-round

Welcome

home

EGG FARMERS of NOVA SCOTIA EGG FARMERS of NOVA SCOTIA

Did you know...

In Nova Scotia, and all of Canada, you can trust that all eggs are always free of added steroids and hormones.

The Jenn ings famil y BTahyevN ieewwPcooumltbe fa ily 3rd, 4thC,ornwa ry Fam rm & 5th llgisenFarms s 9th & 10th eration e gg geeneratio farm rs n egg farmers

The DeLong family DeLong Farms g farmers 3rd generation eg

For delicious recipes and to meet more egg farming families, please visit:

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T

his season makes me think about the new year coming, and what stories to cover. That always means looking back on the last year to reflect on what stories inspired me, and which ones our readers returned to our website to read again and again.

One of our most popular stories of 2017 was “Hearth and soul” from our last winter issue. In that story, we visited a Newfoundland heritage home, lovingly cared for by Peggy Stewart and Jack Kivlichan. When we look at what makes a home an East Coast Living home, this one hits all the right buttons.

As a heritage home, it has a lot to tell us about how Atlantic Canadians before us built and used their homes. And how we use those homes today.

Like many older homes, this one was low on storage.

Stewart and Kivlichan shared with our readers the covert ways they added storage with bookshelves above the dormer windows and half-width doors in the narrow hallways to save space. Most of all, the couple’s love for their home shone through, and inspired many readers to email us about how they could see their own home in this story.

Another story you loved was “Set to impress” from our spring issue, about handmade ceramics for every day use. It’s tempting to want to reserve our finest pieces for special events, but the collectors in this piece remind us that every day is special with the right plates. As potter Joan Bruneau shared in the story: “Preparing and presenting an inspired meal elevates the everyday from banal to beautiful.”

In addition to inspiring our cooking, using “the good dishes” every day helps us appreciate the importance of the simple act of sharing a meal with our nearest and dearest. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to let your nicest piece shine for all to see.

The story that personally inspired me most this year was actually from 2016; “Winds of change” from the summer issue. This year, it received an honourable mention at the National Magazine Awards, an honour that’s not often extended to magazines on our side of the country.

It reminded me of how proud I am to work on a magazine that helps us share our region’s unique style and way of life here on the East Coast with you, and occasionally the rest of the country.

You’ll find these three stories, and many more in our digital archives at eastcoastliving.ca. I hope they’ll inspire you to start new projects. As for us, we have plenty of new ideas for 2018.

In our first issue of the year we’ll show you how to make, serve, and host a posh high tea; visit an eco-friendly Lockeport, N.S. home that will get you thinking about how to tread lightly on the planet; and look at unusual vegetables suited to East Coast gardens.

As with every issue of East Coast Living, we love hearing your feedback and suggestions for upcoming issues. Tell us about your homes, and favourite artisans and craftspeople and you might see them in our pages in 2018.

Photo: Bruce Murray/VisionFire

The Cox family rm Cox Bros. Poultry Fa egg on ti ra ne ge d 3r 2nd & farmers

Winter 2017

Kim Hart Macneill Email: ecl@metroguide.ca Twitter: EastCoastLiving Facebook: East Coast Living Magazine

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On our cover: An addition gives the Jamieson family more room to play in their Halifax home.

Photo by Aaron McKenzie Fraser (Elements of the cover image were digitally manipulated to accommodate the text.)

Publisher Patty Baxter Senior Editor Trevor J. Adams Editor Kim Hart Macneill

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2882 Gottingen Street Halifax, Nova Scotia B3K 3E2 Tel. 902-420-9943 Fax 902-422-4728 E-mail: publishers@metroguide.ca metroguidepublishing.ca eastcoastliving.ca To subscribe, contact Bonnie Marchand at bmarchand@metroguide.ca or 902-420-9943 or subscribe online: eastcoastliving.ca Canada: one year (four issues), $14.99+HST; U.S.A.: one year, $14.99 US. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent of the publisher.

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Volume 20, Number 4 Winter 2017 ISSN 1714-1834 East Coast Living is a member of:

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East Coast Living is a Metro Guide publication.

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FOOD AND DRINK

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Online eastcoastliving.ca

Find even more images from our cover home shoot, blogs posts, and more on eastcoastliving.ca.

Missed an issue? Discover back issues of East Coast Living on our website, plus additional recipes, stories, and sneak peeks into upcoming issues of East Coast Living.

Win on Facebook Check our Facebook page during December for this great winter contest.

Get into the holiday spirit with Rock Recipes Christmas by nationally known food blogger Barry Parsons. Parsons provides everything you need to prepare for the ultimate holiday season.

Enter for your chance to win at Facebook.com/EastCoastLiving.

Contest closes December 31, 2017.

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WINTER 2017

Photo: Nicola Davison

Meet our contributors

CAROL MATTHEWS “Seven succulents to grow this winter” Carol has been gardening for over 40 years and writing about it for more than half that time.

Her work has appeared in magazines, newspapers, online, and on the radio.

CASSANDRA BERNARD “Colour trends for 2018” Cassandra is a P.E.I.- based writer who contributes to G! Magazine and works at the Legislative Assembly of P.E.I. She holds a bachelor of arts in print journalism from UPEI. @cassandraheaven

SUZANNE RENT “Quick fix” Suzanne Rent is a Halifax-based writer and works in the non-profit sector. Her work has appeared in Halifax Magazine, Globe and Mail, Canadian Business, Lawyers Weekly, and more. She loves her daughter, Naomi, desserts, and storytelling.

CHRIS MUISE “Growing family, growing home” Chris Muise is a King’s College graduate and freelance writer working in Halifax, with a strong focus on community news. He’s also a cat lover and a big fan of transforming robots. @TheSilentG

HEATHER FEGAN “Dealing with pests” Heather Fegan is a freelance writer, book reviewer, and blogger based in Halifax. heatherfegan.com

KEN KELLY “Avoid reno disasters” Ken Kelley is a freelance writer and contributor to East Coast Living based in Moncton, N.B. @musicnerddotca

SARAH SAWLER “Clutter-free collections” Sarah is an award-winning journalist whose work has appeared in such publications as Halifax Magazine, Quill & Quire, Atlantic Business Magazine, and ParentsCanada. Nimbus Publishing released her first non-fiction book, 100 Things You Don’t Know About Nova Scotia, in April 2016.

KAREN PINCHIN “Grain to glass” A longtime freelance journalist and editor, Karen is a graduate of Carleton University and Vancouver’s Northwestern Culinary Academy. She writes for The Globe and Mail, The Walrus, and Good, and is CBC Radio One Fredericton’s food columnist.

AARON McKENZIE FRASER Photos “Growing family, growing home” and “Grain to glass” Aaron McKenzie Fraser is an editorial and commercial photographer with a solid portfolio of national and international magazine and advertising clients. He lives in a 170-year-old fishing house in Ketch Harbour, N.S. amfraser.com

OVER 3 MILLION READERS PUBLISHING ATLANTIC CANADA

FOR OVER 40 YEARS

SANDRA PHINNEY “Southwest Nova Scotia lobster sandwich” Sandra Phinney writes from her perch on the Tusket River outside of Yarmouth, N.S. She writes for numerous publications and is especially fond of celebrating Atlantic Canada and her people. sandraphinney.com

JENNIFER HENDERSON “Last Look” Jennifer Henderson is a freelance writer in Dartmouth, N.S. Since retiring from CBC News as a reporter, she has written for the online daily The Halifax Examiner, The Coast, and Atlantic Business Magazine.

902-420-9943 | publishers@metroguide.ca | metroguide.ca 2882 Gottingen Street, Halifax, NS B3K 3E2

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2018

colour trends

FOR

From standout to serene, this array of colours offer options for every room

BY CASSANDRA BERNARD

W

hether you want to give a familiar room a new look, add an accent wall, or inject colour with pillows and curtains, these major paint companies’ Colours of the Year offer a trendsetting place to start.

Caliente AF-290 Benjamin Moore This strong, radiant red is for decorating risk-takers. A signature colour for any modern space, Caliente makes a bold firstimpression on a glistening front door, and as a background for a rustic book-lined reading room. Pair it with deep greys and warm, weathered woods to inject energy.

Cast Iron Black 6173-83 Sico Take neutral to a whole new level. Cast Iron Black allows other décor items to stand out and be centre of attention against a dramatic backdrop. Black is often overlooked as a wall colour, but it has a refined quality that strengthens a space. Use it with woods and metals to create drama or pair with white for an eyepopping contrast.

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DÉCOR

Green Peace SC158-4 Beauti-Tone Craving calm? Bring nature into your home with this hue from the 2018 Simon Chang Model Home Trend Colour Collection. This blend of earthy camouflage and soft botanical greens is well suited to big doses, so go ahead and paint the entire bedroom or family room to create a soothing oasis.

In the Moment T18-15 Behr Paint Grounding and neutral, this cool hue is inspired by nature. Its blend of spruce blue, soft gray, and lush green is versatile and can be used inside and outside. Plus, it pairs well with traditional and modern décor styles. Pair it with deep browns or jewel tones for a formal look, or pastels for a light, coastal vibe.

Oceanside SW 6496 Sherwin-Williams This rich jeweled-tone colour balances blues and greens with a vintage, luxurious vibe. Combine it with bright pinks and yellows, or create a marine theme alongside lighter and darker blues.

This ocean-inspired look creates a welcoming statement in the entryway, but also works to promote creative thinking in a home office or reading nook.

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clutter-free collections

Display your treasures the right way to highlight any space

BY SARAH SAWLER

W

hether it’s a coin collection passed down from a grandparent, a complete run of Silver Age SpiderMan comics, or touristy shot glasses accumulated over 20 years of vacations, most of us have a collection. The trick is displaying it so it looks like a group of treasured objects and not clutter.

Interior designer Lyn Van Tassel of LVT Design and gallery manager Elizabeth Cook of Handworks Gallery in Saint John, N.B. have advice that can help.

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DÉCOR

CLOSE QUARTERS “A lot of times what I see as successful is something that’s contained, not a piece here and there,” she says. “They’re all in one spot and they almost look like a work of art.”

And it’s easy to put together a grouping; you just need some structure to pull it together. Cook has a few different ideas on how to make this work.

If you have empty wall space to fill, floating shelves are great for showing off pottery, vases or single pieces. She adds, “Don’t do this if you have cats.”

Curio cabinets, small, shallow cabinets featuring a lot of small compartments, offer another way to bring together small pieces. “[A curio cabinet is] almost like an apothecary’s chest, but for displaying knick knacks, little curiosities that people have collected,” says Cook. “That shell from that beach where you went on your honeymoon, or a tiny little salt shaker, or a Red Rose Tea figurine.”

Coffee tables and end tables are common display areas, but they’re also clutter magnets. If you go this route, keep them clear of paperwork, loose change, and other random items. Then, give your groupings definition by placing them on a simple serving tray or in a shallow, handcrafted bowl.

“A mirrored metal tray can add a little bit of color, and can actually make the area seem a little bit larger,” says Cook. “It will also help play the colors against each other.”

ODDS AND ENDS When it comes to choosing how many objects to display in a grouping, Cook suggests starting with a minimum of three.

“Everything is better in odd numbers,” she says. “It’s just human nature. Even though we want symmetry, we also need an asymmetrical balance, usually in threes or fives.”

When grouping more than five pieces together, vary sizes. Van Tassel says that figuring out how various heights should be arranged is fairly intuitive, as long as there’s a good balance of positive and negative space.

“The whole key is to not crowd them and not have them look like clutter,” says Van Tassel. “It’s like a painting, you have to have your focal spot.”

to be said about working with a home that’s extremely eclectic, where they’re world travelers and everything is relevant,” says Cook. “When you have that many colors everything goes.”

For a more minimalistic, streamlined approach, limit your display to three or four colors. “Usually it’s one focused color, an accent color, a neutral, and either a metal or a wood, whatever your hardware is,” says Cook. “Always stick with that rule.”

For the more daring collectors among us: “I like the idea of picking a theme and mixing a couple of collections,” she says. “Not being so rigid with what you’re putting up. Maybe you have a similar color theme but you mix your paintings with your pottery.” o

COLOUR THEORY Prefer to spread your collections around the room? Cook says it can be done, as long as the colours tie everything together.

“I’ve done a lot of art installations in a lot of different homes and there’s something

MAKE IT YOURS If you’re going to display a collection in your home, make sure it means something to you.

Here are Cook and Van Tassel’s tips on curating a meaningful collection.

• Accept that tastes change. If you fall out of love with a collection or an object, pass it on to a friend or family member who will really love it.

• If your collection outgrows the room, but you can’t cut back, group parts of the collection in other rooms. Find a different theme for each grouping to add variety.

• Refine your collection by trading items with your friends. This works particularly well for people who have joined monthly art or collectible subscription programs.

• Your entire collection doesn’t have to be out all the time. Rotating items in and out of storage reduces clutter, and gives you a chance to savour the items on display.

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rustic mason jar centrepiece

Make your own winter décor with this simple step-by-step project STORY AND PHOTOS

BY KIM HART MACNEILL

Y

ou feel the creativity when you walk into Front Porch Mercantile in Moncton, N.B. A multicoloured stairway leads upstairs and a chalkboard wall decorated with bright picture frames lists up-coming workshop classes. The shop’s main floor is full of home décor items, every paint colour imaginable, and artfully refinished furniture.

Lisa Casey and her husband, Tom Guitard, moved from Toronto to Moncton to run the shop in March 2017. For Casey, it was a dream come true when her friend Wendy Batten decided to franchise the location. “I love this,” she says. “I was always painting crazy flooring and refinishing furniture at the cottage.”

One of Casey’s favourite parts of owning the store is teaching classes in the bright upstairs workshop. A popular class this season is the Rustic Mason Jar Holiday Centrepiece workshop. Casey’s adapted the steps for East Coast Living—make a personalized centrepiece that shines all year.

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WINTER 2017

1.

4.

7.

PROJECTS

GATHER YOUR SUPPLIES

PAINT!

ARRANGE YOUR FOLIAGE

You need: 8-foot boards of knotty pine (4 inches by one inch), 12 two-inch nails, three 500-ml mason jars, three different colours of chalk-style paint, several feet of ribbon or jute, two 2- to 3-inch handles, plus 220-grit sandpaper, hammer, drill or screw driver, glue gun, and measuring tape.

You’ll also need twigs, foliage, leaves, and pinecones. What you put in your centrepiece depends on the look you want. We used faux foliage from a crafting store for a modern fall look, but you can use fresh winter greenery to bring the outside in.

Paint your box a solid colour for a simple look.

For a distressed look, coat the box thickly in a dark colour, let dry for 20 minutes, and apply a lighter colour. Let dry 20 more minutes, and then sand lightly with 220-grit sand paper to expose the darker coloured paint underneath.

Apply wax with a soft cloth to protect the paint and add a vintage look.

Paint your jars in a lighter colour, let dry 20 minutes, and distress with sandpaper across the textured type on the front of the jar and around the mouth. Apply wax with a soft cloth.

This step can seem daunting, but remember, you’re making something unique, and it may take a couple of tries to find the look you want.

When choosing foliage and twigs, select an array of sizes, with your longest pieces being about one and a half times the height of your jars. Arrange the shorter heavier pieces first, and then fill with thinner, taller pieces to add dimension. Trim as needed.

2.

8.

5.

ADMIRE YOUR HANDY WORK

CUT YOUR WOOD

GET A GRIP

The board yields enough wood to build two boxes. To build each box, you’ll need to cut your wood into three 10-inch pieces, and two 5.25inch pieces. Be precise with your measurements or your box may not fit together.

No saw? No problem. Ask the staff at your local hardware store to cut it for you.

Using a screwdriver or drill, fasten the handles to your box. The style of your handles will add character to your box. Try wrought iron-style handles for a vintage look or brushed metal for a contemporary look.

3.

6.

This piece works best in an open space. Try it on your mantle, a windowsill, or side table.

Arrange additional pinecones around it to complete the look.

Casey says a project like this can easily be customised to your personal style and home décor. For a year-round look, paint your jars and box in colours that compliment your décor, and avoid gluing any accents to the jars. This way you can swap out the foliage with the seasons. o

FEEDBACK

ARRANGE YOUR BOX ASSEMBLE YOUR BOX The two small pieces of wood will be the ends of your box. Mark holes near the corners of each, and hammer your nails half-way in before assembling your end pieces to the front and back of the box. This will make it easier to drive the nail all the way in.

Once your end pieces are nailed to the front and back of the box, forming a rectangle, mark two holes about a two centimetres apart, one centimetre from the bottom of the box. Hammer two nails half way in to each side, being careful not to hammer all the way through the end pieces yet.

Slip your base, the final long piece of wood, into the box and finish driving your nails.

Tie your jute or ribbon around the jar’s necks.

Glue pinecones or other accents to the front of the jars. When the glue is dry, place the jars in the box, smooth sides together, text facing out.

ecl@metroguide.ca eastcoastliving.ca

@EastCoastLiving East Coast Living Magazine

Make this project the perfect Christmas decoration by using reds, greens, and yellows, and use pine or spruce bows for foliage. Visit EastCoastLiving. ca to see a holiday version of this DIY project.

WINTER 2017

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quick fix:

family room

These simple do-it-yourself ideas from the experts will transform your space without emptying your wallet

BY SUZANNE RENT

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PROJECTS

BUY A SECTIONAL If you’re starting your family room with new furniture, Susan Snow, designer and owner of Moving Designz in Charlottetown suggests investing in a good sectional.

“Almost every family room I do, they want a sectional,” Snow says. “I think because the size fits a lot of rooms and it maximizes the space.”

Some sectionals include a sofa and a chaise, while others are more modular. Find one that fits the size and function of the room. As your home changes, you can keep the pieces together or rearrange them to suit your needs.

Fabric is important, too. Unlike a leather sectional, one made with a durable fabric, like cotton or synthetic microfiber, will absorb sounds in the room and contribute to the warm, cozy feeling of the space.

Cost: $1,200 and up Time: Several hours of shopping

HIDE THE ELECTRONICS Gone are the days when families wanted a room with large theatre-style seating and a huge screen.

Kim Jacobsen, interior designer and owner of Kim Jakobsen Design in Saint John, N.B., says families now want rooms that serve several purposes, from hanging out to entertaining. She says that means electronics go “incognito, which means hiding equipment and making the room beautifully simple.” There are a few tricks to accomplish this.

Put your TV in a cabinet with doors that hides all the cords. Purchase one with storage for games, puzzles, books, and toys.

TVs can go behind a two-way mirror or invest in a television that is complete with a frame and displays works of art when it’s not tuned to your favourite show (Samsung makes one). This way you can use the space as a TV room, but switch it over when you’re entertaining guests.

Cost: $2,000 and up Time: Several hours of shopping

PERSONALIZE WITH A MIX OF OLD AND NEW Jonathan Legate, owner of Jonathan Legate Interior Consultation in Halifax, has another word to describe the feeling family and entertainment rooms should exude: hygge, a Danish word that conveys coziness and well-being. “It’s a nesting kind of feeling,” Legate says. “It’s living with things that give us comfort. It’s a room to be together in, not distracted in.”

That means making your family room more personal. For example, Legate says he sees families incorporating antiques and family heirlooms into their family rooms.

Jacobsen sees the same trend and suggests mixing items from the past and present.

“Maybe it’s something that was handed down or something you really love,” she says.

“It gives [the room] more individuality.”

Dig family photos and awards out of the closet and put them in eye-catching frames the create a gallery wall. Drape well-loved quilts over the sofa (both personal and functional on chilly evenings) and find ways to incorporate some of your favourite décor items from other rooms into the room you use the most.

Cost: Free Time: Minutes to hours

WINTER 2017

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Legate says another way families can bring hygge to a family room is by using colours that make your family happy. While neutrals are still popular, Legate says they are not as cool. Warmer greys, for example, create warmth and comfort in a room. Collect paint swatches and poll your family on what colours make them happiest.

“Part of expressing yourself in a room is having the courage to pick a colour you like,” Legate says. (Check page 12 more about the of trendsetting colours of 2018).

Cost: $300 – $400 Time: One-or-two weekend project

PLAY WITH LIGHTING AND WINDOW TREATMENTS Lampshades can date your room, but a small investment can refresh your look. “Just by changing lampshades, you can change the way a space feels,” Legate says.

Snow suggests installing pot lights on a dimmer switch. That way, lights can be brighter for reading, but dimmed for when you’re entertaining or watching a movie.

For windows, she suggests swapping your blinds for curtains. “Curtains help keep a room cozy,” Snow says. “They prevent the heat from escaping, but keeps the cold from creeping in.”

Cost: $20 and up Time: Minutes to hours

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growing home

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COVER STORY

How a home extension helped this Halifax family maximize their small space

W

hen the Jamiesons, a young family just beginning their careers, found their Hydrostone home on Merkel Street nearly a decade ago, it met their needs so closely that they bought it the day they found it on the market.

The home, which dates back to the early 20th century, post-Halifax Explosion, was on the small side. But for two professionals (Rob is a Dalhousie engineering professor, and Terra a sector analyst with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada), it sufficed.

Until Milo showed up. That’s their son, and their first child, who is three years old today. Once the pitter-patter of little feet entered the picture, a lot of the small failings of their home started looking bigger and bigger.

“The house wasn’t insulated, and while it was a nice little house, we didn’t have a lot of room in our kitchen, we had maybe two drawers in the whole kitchen, not a lot of cabinet space,” says Terra. “Our closets were really small. We had to tilt our hangers to close the door. We didn’t have any storage in our bathroom...it just wasn’t a good use of space.”

The Jamiesons wrestled with the idea of finding a new home, but there was nothing on the market to their liking that wouldn’t require a ton of work after closing. At least, not any that also shared the same creature comforts that the Hydrostone community offered.

“It’s living in the North End. We know our neighbours, our neighbours are wonderful,” says Terra. “[Might as well] stay here and do it exactly the way we wanted to.”

Lucky for the Jamiesons, there was an architect in the family. Rob’s younger brother Chad specializes in modern design, and was quickly brought onto the renovation project to revitalize the old town house.

“I’m not sure I was brought into it, so much as I was assigned it,” Chad jokes.

The name of the game in reviving the Merkel Street home was to maximize space and storage, making the home as efficient and as child-friendly as possible. And the clock was ticking. As soon as they signed onto the project, the Jamiesons learned that baby number two, daughter Freya, was en route.

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Terrra says her décor features a mix from local vendors such as Attica Furnishings, Finer Things Antiques, Urban Cottage, The Independent Mercantile, Inkwell Modern Handmade Boutique, Renovators Resource, the former Hen House store, with a little Ikea thrown in for good measure.

“A family was on its way, a bigger family, and they needed room,” says Chad. “And to be able to be in the kitchen and see the kids.”

“The existing kitchen was in one back corner of the house, and the living room was in the opposite front corner of the house,” says Brian Mitchell, who was part of the project team with MRB Contracting, who were hired to implement Chad’s designs. “So it was pretty segregated there.”

What once must have been a cramped little cooking nook is opened up to the rest of the house, by taking out the back wall and connecting it to a new addition to the back of the home, trading out ample porch space for a children’s play area, complete with a small side bathroom for when the time for potty training comes.

“This house is way more child-proof now,” says Terra. “Now the kids are actually able to be a little more free-range on the main floor, because I can see them. We’ve removed a lot of dangerous obstacles.

The kitchen is pretty easy to childproof, because I can…put things out of their reach.”

“I’ve done a lot of kitchens, and the thing about kitchens is to make them…have so much storage that you don’t know what to do with it,” says Chad. “Pack it in as much as you can.”

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COVER STORY

The kitchen renovation opened up the work area. “We now have a beautiful, but much more functional space with efficient storage,” says Terra.

“That really tied together modern and traditional.”

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He replaced an entire wall of this kitchen with floor-to-ceiling flush cabinets. “A lot of kitchens are inefficient, the way that the storage happens. You’ll have lower cabinets, cabinets you have to bend over to get into down below, and then they’ll have upper cabinets, and they’re kind of too high.”

Taking that storage space out from below the countertops allowed that storage real estate to be put to use for the kids’ playthings.

“This allowed us to basically just open up from the other side,” says Chad. “The traditional upper and lower is not in this house.”

While the main event was the kitchen and adjacent play area, the renovation also added extra space to the upper floor—about half as much

THIS PAGE: The light fixtures in this open space are eclectic, but their metal bases ties them together thematically.

OPPOSITE: The wood theme from the kitchen carries over into the bathroom to create a cohesive space.

Terra recently won a design advice session from Hen House. She added a crafting/office area to the bedroom to keep her projects organized.

Daughter Freya’s room is a soothing green that creates a calming environment for sleep.

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as the downstairs section. That let the Jamiesons open up their master bath for more storage and even the laundry machines, and add a pocket of office/crafting space to their master bedroom.

“This is a game-changer...we can do laundry on the same floor that we make laundry,” says Terra. “Every part of our house has a utility to it.

There’s not a lot of wasted space.”

Some of the challenges of the project included not going over the 35% maximum allotment of building on the property. After the renovation, the Jamieson’s home is sitting at 34.9%, which means this is the only addition the home can accommodate. Plus, during the five months of extensive structural work, the Jamiesons lived out of a hotel room.

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WE ASKED ARCHITECT CHAD JAMIESON WHAT YOU SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE DECIDING ON A HOME ADDITION: BE REALISTIC ABOUT THE LENGTH OF YOUR PROJECT Kitchen and bathroom renovations can take a minimum of 3-4 months, an addition 6-8 months. Specially made materials like kitchen cabinets, plumbing fixtures, and windows are a few things that can take weeks to fabricate or order.

MAKE ALTERNATE LIVING ARRANGEMENTS “Doing dishes in the bathtub is fun for zero days,” says Chad, who suggests moving out if your addition involves the kitchen or bathroom. Consider this expense as part of your overall budget.

WEATHER “In Nova Scotia we build all year round but productivity is just not as high in the winter months,” says Chad. “If exterior work is involved, unexpected delays and costs are common.”

OBTAIN PERMITS EARLY It’s not uncommon for building permits to take months before approval. Carefully review your local by-law requirements at the very beginning of the project as this can often restrict or dictate the size and shape of an addition.

GET EXPERT ADVICE A real estate agent, banker, or appraiser can help you set an appropriate budget and scope for your addition. Don’t lose sight of the fact that you’re building to improve your quality of life. That might be more important than immediate resale value, especially if you plan to stay in your home long-term.

DON’T RUSH “Careful and detailed planning can minimize the risk of cost overruns,” says Chad.

“Being realistic about construction timelines is critical to managing stress.”

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But by all other accounts, this project couldn’t have gone more smoothly. Terra chalks that up to investing the extra 20 to 30% of her renovation budget in an architect and building team.

The forward planning that Chad’s designs provided, and the project manager’s meticulous tracking of every step of development (down to the exact number of nails used) helped to bring the project to fruition ahead of schedule and under budget.

Terra concedes that hiring a project manager added a substantial amount to the up-front cost of the renovation. “But if you’re doing a big, multi-faceted renovation like this was, having a project manager in place is worth every dollar,” she says. o

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avoid

reno disasters

Your dream-home renovation can turn into a nightmare—learn how to avoid it

BY KEN KELLEY

F

or Marcy Melanson and husband Mike, the decision to purchase and renovate a 100-year-old home in Moncton, N.B. proved to be an unending nightmare.

First they fired a plumber who insisted it would be perfectly fine to run pipes alongside the outside walls of the house (a bad idea with Moncton’s harsh winters), then they found lead paint in their basement. But the biggest challenge was still to come: the house needed a new roof.

“I began calling around to obtain estimates and found they were wildly varied,” Melanson says. “Some were as low as $4,000 to $5,000, while top-end quotes were coming in around $13,000.”

Since the contractor appeared to do a bang-up job with the roof, Melanson says they hired him for other projects inside the house.

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After agreeing on an hourly wage and a completion date, it didn’t take long before the couple saw things weren’t rolling smoothly.

“The contractor carried on and talked as if he knew what he was doing,” she says. “He told us he worked at Home Hardware and that he could buy the materials needed using his discount, which in turn would cost us less in the end. At the outset of the project, he was very conscientious and seemed to be working hard on the task at hand... We subsequently discovered this guy was essentially doing nothing all day, but would basically just do enough work to make it appear as though things were moving ahead and on schedule. By the time we fired him, we had been taken for upwards of $3,000.”

Whether you are looking at a complete overhaul or minor work, the notion of home renovations is enough to strike fear in the hearts

RENOVATION

of the strongest people. John Shepherd, an independent contractor in Moncton, suggests that regardless of the size of the renovation, there are a few key questions that can avert this disaster.

Always get a breakdown of costs in writing. It should include labour, materials, potential sub-contracts, permits, special orders, and taxes. “Customers can expect some quote variance between different companies, that’s natural, but by soliciting a number of quotes, you’re then able to weed out the higher-priced contractors,” says Shepherd.

Don’t simply take the lowest quote either. When you see a group of quotes clustered around the same figure, they’re likely to be the most realistic, and tell you what is a reasonable cost.

“It happens that unforeseen costs may arise during the renovation process, but any reputable contractor will keep his client informed every step of the way, and lay out in black and white precisely why deviating from the original quote is necessary,” says Shepherd.

While it is a lesson learned the hard way, Shepherd says reputable contractors will also have a list of references available. He tells clients to never take a contractor at his or her word; just because he claims he is able to do something doesn’t mean he is.

“Contractors should have a solid history of work behind them,” says Shepherd. “If they are as good as they are claiming, they shouldn’t mind a prospective client reaching out to some of their previous customers, whether by phone or an in-person visit.”

The Melansons were reluctant to discuss their concerns with the contractor once the work was underway. Shepherd says if something doesn’t feel right, trust your gut and get some answers immediately.

“Check in on the work being done every day, and if you’re unhappy with something, bring the work to a stop,” he says. “What a lot of homeowners don’t always take into consideration when they are having work done is the fact they are the boss.”

Another red flag the Melanson’s missed was the contractor’s requests for more money. Most reputable contractors will agree in writing to milestone 10-, 30-, 60-day payment dates, or a deposit for materials, before any work begins and stick to the agreement.

“I always recommend a significant portion of the funds be held until the job is done and the customer is satisfied with the work done,” says Shephard. “If a contractor is insisting on full payment up front or is not in a position to cover some of the expenses up front, that should be a red flag.”

While the Melansons continued undertaking various renovations throughout their house over the years that followed, an unwelcome reminder of the dismissed roofer would drop down on them.

“We had noticed our roof has been leaking around virtually every edge of the house, which we knew wasn’t right given the fact the roof wasn’t even five years old,” says Melanson. “ I was about six months pregnant at the time, and one night, I had part of our bedroom ceiling come crashing down on my face.”

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What a lot of homeowners don’t take into consideration when they are having work done is the fact they are the boss.

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When work isn’t done correctly and on time, chasing down the contractor can be hard. “If you’ve hired a contractor that is reputable and has a bit of a profile in the community, you always have the option of taking them to court if you can’t come to an agreement on how the situation can be resolved,” Shephard says. “The advantage of working with a big-name contractor is having the peace of mind that they have the manpower to get the job done, and the money to back up any failures they have. But if you are dealing with a contractor with no official office and their phone number changes every couple of weeks, you will more than likely be in for a significantly tougher challenge in remedying the situation.”

Riverview, N.B. resident Denise Auffrey’s renovation nightmare doesn’t feature a bad contractor, but instead a bad product.

A number of years ago, Auffrey needed to replace the roof on her Dutch-Colonial house. She had initially considered a metal roof, but her contractor recommended a then-new product, Building Products of Canada Corp.’s BP Organic Shingles, which boasted a 50-year warranty and double the thickness of a standard shingle.

“I thought to myself that if it had a 50-year warranty and I got 30 years out of it, I’d still probably come out ahead than if I went with a standard shingle,” says Auffrey. “The cost was higher, but I was supposed to be getting a roof that would last longer so it all should have balanced out.”

Within two years of installing the BP Shingles on the roof of her home, Auffrey noticed many of them had failed to bond to the roof and were curling around the edges. She renovated the attic prior to the installation of the new roof, so she felt confident ventilation was not to blame for the shingles not adhering to the roof. All signs pointed to the product being defective instead.

A class-action suit against the manufacturer confirmed Auffrey’s suspicions. Although the company denied any defects in its product, it reached a settlement with customers in 2012.

“I hold no ill will against the contractor that sold me and installed the BP product, as he obviously wasn’t aware it wasn’t a quality product,” Auffrey says. “In fact, he had it installed on his roof too, so I never felt like we had been taken by him or anything like that.”

The fiasco with BP allowed Auffrey to once again revisit the idea of a metal roof. After researching various contractors, and inquiring about the warranty offered by the product, a must in light of her previous experience, she hired a roofer.

“The contractor’s website looked great, but I didn’t ask the right questions before hiring them,” she says. “I assumed that a roof was a roof was a roof. I didn’t necessarily factor in the difference in materials – metal vs. shingles being used.”

Ryan McAllister is the owner of Riverview, N.B.’s McAllister’s Roofing. Given the varieties of roofing products available, he suggests customers be sure they are asking the right questions pertaining to their selection of materials, and whether the contractor is equipped for the job.

“The contractor should convey a good understanding of the roofing production in question,” McAllister says. “Just because a roofer has a wealth of experience with asphalt or fiberglass shingled roofs, does not mean they are knowledgeable with every other type of roofing.”

The process for installing a metal roof is different, he says, plus the contractor will require different tools for cutting and fastening.

“Initially, he estimated it would only take a couple of days, but it ended up taking closer to a week of full-time work,” Auffrey says. “The main part of the roof looks OK, but it is the

detail work, which I am admittedly obsessed with, that looked awful. There was nothing in the way of precision cuts; overall, it just looked really sloppy.”

Auffrey is working with the contractor to smooth out the detail work she is unhappy with, and plans to ask the right questions next time, if there is a next time.

“I wanted to go with a roofing product that I am going to be looking at for the next 40 years, ideally,” she says. “I don’t think it’s too much to be asking to be satisfied with the job itself. Whatever project we happen to take on next, I’m going to be asking a lot more in the way of questions.”o

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902 817 6007

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FIND THE RIGHT PEOPLE FOR THE JOB Whether you’re hiring a veteran home-reno company, or want to give the little guy in your area the job, finding a pro doesn’t need to be nerve racking.

Ask friends, co-workers, and family who they hire. In addition to noting the contractors people gush about, make a list of contractors to avoid.

But don’t take one glowing reference as a given.

When hiring any company, always check its Better Business Bureau rating. The BBB website (bbb.org/atlantic-provinces) gives accreditation to businesses that meet eight points related to respect for customers and fair business practices.

The site also lists complaints and customer reviews to help you find someone trustworthy.

The Canadian Homebuilders’ Association (chba.ca) offers a comprehensive database of professionals across Canada and Get it in Writing!, a guide covering contracts, permits, insurance, who not to hire, and lots more. It also offers a worksheet that will help you ask the right questions when it comes time to evaluate contractors.

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dealing with

pests As winter approaches, learn how to keep unwanted visitors out of your home

BY HEATHER FEGAN

I

nsect infestations in the kitchen, wildlife in the attic, or rodents in the basement–most homeowners will battle an invasion at some point. The best way to protect your home is to take precautions, but if it’s already too late, protect your biggest investment by addressing the problem quickly.

This time of year, the most common problem is rodents trying to get into the home, says Andrew Wheelock, owner of Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control and Truly Nolen Pest Control, with locations in Truro and Dartmouth, N.S. “Fall and winter is rodent season,” he says. “Temperatures dip and mice and rats seek shelter and seek vulnerabilities to get in. In spring, the issue is raccoons, squirrels, and birds looking for somewhere to have babies.”

Such vulnerabilities include loose siding, foundation gaps, corners where new additions meet, plumbing lines, utility spaces, even areas where new steps are built over old ones.

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Nearby construction can also send pests seeking safe haven. Sonia Lear, Orkin Canada’s Newfoundland branch manager, says she’s noticed an increase in the rodent populations during development of residential and commercial areas, which disrupt the rodents’ natural habitats. “The key is to prevent and avoid potential problems,” says Lear. “Be proactive rather than reactive.”

Lear recommends eliminating spots for animals to hide (like wood piles against the house), cleaning up dog feces, and storing garbage in sealed containers. When there is a problem, her best advice is to call in the professionals. “They will assess individual situations based on the type of home and location, and recommend a program to prevent pests, or offer various trapping solutions.”

Hands down, the best line of defense is rodent proofing. Wheelock explains this means putting up barriers in the form of sealants, wire, and mesh custom fit to the home. Pest management technician

IN DEPTH

Ben Legault, owner and operator of Legault Pest Management in Charlottetown, says you should seal any opening wider than a half a centimetre. “If a pencil fits, so can a mouse,” he says.

While physical barriers are the most natural (not to mention child- and pet-friendly) solution, they aren’t always possible.

Wheelock cites the example of shared walls and heating systems in townhouses, and inaccessible under-home crawl spaces.

Legault says homeowners on P.E.I. should also consider their foundations. “Back in the day, 100 years ago, foundations were made with island stone,” he says. “Rodents can dig through and under it. It’s a very soft stone. You can’t proof that and you don’t expect people to be able to change their foundation.”

If you see the telltale signs of unwanted visitors, scratching or scurrying noises and droppings, it’s time to act. Look under the kitchen sink, around your garbage can, and anywhere plumbing goes into the ground or basement.

To humanely remove mice from the home, one-way doors (exit systems) are placed over entry points. With food sources properly secured around your home, the mice are forced to exit in search of food. With all the entry points sealed, the mice are locked out.

“This does not mean instant results,” says Wheelock. “It will be 12 to 16 weeks until the problem is under control.”

There are baiting and trapping solutions as well. Legault says which you choose depends on the extent of the problem. With one or two rodents, homeowners can bait or trap the pests, and rodent proof to prevent the issue from recurring. “Bait stations are tamper proof so no pets, wildlife or children can access it,” says Legault. “It’s a poison [pests] ingest and within two to four days die. Traps are instant kill.”

If you have a larger problem, outdoor bait stations are a solution.

“That’s where they live, where they nest. You want to stop them before they get in.” Legault says live traps are an option, but chances are once you set a mouse free outside, he’s going to get in again.

“These rodents may look cute to some people, but the amount of destruction they can do, it’s something you want to eliminate,” he says. “They’ll chew through wires, creating a fire hazard. They can transmit diseases and contaminate food when crawling on food prep surfaces.”

Lear encourages homeowners to visit only reputable web sites if they are trying to go the DIY-route to tackle a rodent problem.

“There’s a lot on the internet,” says Lear. “Be sure to use products according to labels.”

Considering all manner of solutions, Wheelock says humanely removing mice with exit systems and sealing the home exterior to prevent re-entry is the most effective and economical method. “It’s a win-win-win. Outside is for mice and rats. Inside is for people.”

Legault agrees. “The main thing is to rodent proof your home. Nip the problem in the bud and get it under control.” o

5 EXPERT TIPS TO KEEP YOUR HOME PEST-FREE THIS WINTER: 1. Keep anything a rodent can hide or stay safe in away from the foundation.

2. Keep the sides of the house clean of vegetation and remove soil above the concrete line, which can soften wood.

3. Use copper mesh, foam sealant, or hardware cloth to block entry where cables and plumbing enters the house or where oil tank pipes were removed.

4. Paint a one metre band of clear, high-gloss paint around any pipes coming into your home. The band should start at least one metre from the ground. This will deter climbing.

5. Clean out clutter. Monitor under the sink and where food is kept for droppings. If there are attractions, pests will establish a path and keep coming back.

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grain to glass

Compass Distillers’ head distiller Ezra Edelstein

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LIBATIONS

Photo by Kim Hart Macneill

LEFT: Alan Stewart, farmer and owner of Horton Ridge Malt and Grain.

RIGHT: The view from above at Compass Distillers Agricola Street, Halifax location.

Two very different businesses share a slogan and an outlook on building community in Atlantic Canada

BY KAREN PINCHIN PHOTOS BY AARON McKENZIE FRASER

A

lan Stewart was looking over a field of healthy rye cover crops swaying in the breeze when he had one of his crazy ideas. Over 23 years of selling organic beef, fruit, berries, and vegetables at the Wolfville Farmers’ Market in Nova Scotia, he often experimented with new ways to keep his farm afloat. He brought ideas to his wife, Janice, who skeptically raised her eyebrows at the bad ones.

“After a couple of weeks I’d usually drop it,” says Stewart. But this time, he felt he was really on to something.

“I said to myself, ‘Boy, what if I just grew rye?’” Stewart recalls the moment four years ago. He ruled out producing bread flour and animal feed as too niche to keep a business afloat, leaving one last idea: growing rye for beer and whiskey. “You don’t make beer and whiskey directly from the grain. It has to be malted first,” he says. “Nobody was doing that here, so I thought I could open a malt house.” And Janice, the “important member of the family”, agreed it was worth a shot.

About two years later, an hour’s drive northwest of Halifax, three boyhood friends decided to open a distillery. And it was at this moment the paths of Horton Ridge Malt and Grain and Compass Distillers began to converge.

On the surface, the two projects are different. Horton Ridge grows and malts grain, brews beer and sells locally pickled eggs and jerky from its rural headquarters. Compass is a brand-new urban distillery, and storefront located in North End Halifax. But they’re bound by a common vision: of craft, community-building, commitment to using local labour, skills and materials whenever possible, and passing something meaningful onto the next generation. For both businesses, that vision isn’t just a marketing shtick; it’s a reason for existing in the first place.

The story of grain transformed into alcohol is a history of human settlement. But how these two businesses started, grew, found each other and what the future holds for them still holds a unique story of how easy

isn’t necessarily better. For Stewart in particular, that’s part of his vision for a healthier, more independent Atlantic Canadian economy.

Stewart is a sixth-generation Nova Scotian whose ancestor, John MacNeill Stewart, was pressed into military service on a British man o’ war in the early 1800s. He escaped by jumping overboard at Pictou Harbour and made his way to Grand Pré on Nova Scotia’s verdant north coast. His son started farming, and agriculture has been the family business ever since.

His grandfather and father worked on a typically diverse family farm with cows, chickens, grains, and an orchard, but when that farm burned down in the 1960s his father was forced to start from scratch.

“At the time, government wisdom was to stream people towards a particular commodity. He decided to get into the hog business,” says Stewart.

“That wasn’t a good thing.” Growing up, Stewart’s family was barely able to make ends meet in the business.

So Stewart studied engineering at Acadia University, where his father encouraged him to finish his degree and get a good job off the farm. But eventually, for reasons he doesn’t quite understand, he decided to buy into the family business. “The farm was dead when I got it. There were cattle on it but it wasn’t making any money,” says Stewart, who purchased the farm from his father in the 1980s. “As much as he didn’t want me to farm, deep down he was happy that I wanted to buy it. It was one of those bittersweet things.”

Dedicated to his new dream and with his family’s support, Stewart enrolled in the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre in Winnipeg in 2014. At the time it was the only course of its kind in North America. Stewart studied for an intensive two weeks, learning the science and process of malting and honing his business plan.

Then came the next hurdle: he needed a building. After all, craft-malting equipment isn’t something an aspiring malt-maker can simply buy online.

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“That’s when the engineering degree, plus a lifetime of always having to do stuff on my own came in handy,” says Stewart. Sitting at his computer, he designed his own building and much of the equipment inside.

For funding, Stewart and his family raised $390,000, mostly from family and friends in the Wolfville area using a community investment fund program, and the first batch of rye went into the kiln April 2016.

That same summer, Stewart got a call from Compass Distillers.

The giant copper contraption arrived on St. Patrick’s Day 2017. A flatbed truck carried it, still in pieces, to its new home at Compass Distillers.

Assembly was time-consuming, painstaking and required extreme attention to detail as head distiller Ezra Edelstein and his team fit the heavy and very expensive pieces together. At the end of the day Compass Distillers officially had its still.

The arrival of that critical piece of equipment had been a long time coming for Graham Collins, Josh Judah, and David LaGrand. The trio attended the same high school in Halifax in the 1970s and remained close.

Judah became a lawyer, he works for the Halifax Regional Municipality, while Collins became an electrical engineer. LaGrand was born in Michigan and returned to that state for university, eventually becoming a lawyer, businessman, minister, and politician.

Despite their different paths, LaGrand still visited Halifax regularly and the trio spent many evenings drinking craft spirits. Which is one reason why, two years ago, they decided to open a distillery. “I’ve always had an interest in quality beer,” says Collins. “And I drink more single malt than I can afford.”

Halifax, they reasoned, is big enough to support a craft distillery, and LaGrand already had experience running a distillery and bakery in

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LIBATIONS “It’s not just about making a buck,” agrees Collins. Although he does say Compass is aiming high, and eventually wants to sell top-shelf gin, spiced rum, vodka, and whiskey into both local and international markets.

“We have great local sourcing from Alan and many other suppliers. We have great people, we have the capacity to do it,” says Collins. “We don’t want to settle for something little.”

OPPOSITE: Compass Distiller’s massive still traveled from Louisville, Ky. to Halifax, N.S last winter.

BELOW: Grain spends four days on the malting floor at Horton Ridge, and is raked periodically to ensure oxygenation.

Photo by Kim Hart Macneill

his hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan. They hired award-winning American master distiller Jeffrey Alexander as a consultant, and started hunting for a building that would turn heads. They talked to a variety of local builders but nothing blew them away: that is, until EcoGreen Homes’ distinctive round tower design. “When we saw the diagrams and preliminary sketches we thought, yeah, get me some of that,” says Collins.

“We wanted to make a round building,” says company owner Ed Edelstein, who, along with architecture grad Nicole LeBlanc, based the circular concept around a brewing vat or grain silo, as well as a compass.

The concept was challenging, he says, because not only did the owners want a distillery, but also a retail store and tasting bar plus a small rentable residential unit where LaGrand will stay when visiting with his family.

The outcome is an ingeniously nestled tower with sly details throughout, including a main entryway oriented towards true north and 12 engraved diamond-shaped copper plates marking points of the compass, or rhumb lines, on the building’s outer plinth. The building is clad in dark natural slate from Vermont, and its interior wooden beams and details are Douglas fir from British Columbia.

When the Compass partners started their search for a head distiller, they conveniently already had a willing candidate in the building. Edelstein’s son and employee at the time, Ezra, holds a chemistry degree from Dalhousie and is a “bourbon and whiskey fanatic,” says Collins. Before EcoHouse was hired, the father and son considered opening their own distillery. The younger Edelstein trained under Alexander, and according to Collins, had both the palate and the personality to take on the job.

The project is certainly a “cosmic coincidence,” from almost every angle, says Ed Edelstein. He says hard work, supporting regional businesses and talent, and putting out top-grade product is a mindset uniting all their businesses.

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Photo by Kim Hart Macneill

In Stewart’s business, the work it takes to produce smaller-scale malt, that involves hand-raking sprouting rye daily, means a higher-quality but ultimately pricier product. That means many local breweries, touting the “local” vibe of their own products, have been sluggish to get on board. Still, Nova Scotia brewers Big Spruce Brewing and Tatamagouche Brewing are big supporters of the business and used Stewart’s organic malts since Horton Ridge opened, which Stewart credits for keeping his business afloat.

Grain-to-glass might seem like a buzzy catchphrase, but Stewart says, at its core, the efficiency and beauty of keeping production and labour close to home is the spirit of farming. To supply his storefront with pickled eggs, he trades spent grain and waste from the malting process with another farmer, a former high school classmate, who feeds it to the hens. It’s that kind of circular economy, like his relationship with Compass, that portends a possible optimistic future for Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada, says Stewart.

And while his own dream of making whiskey was thwarted by a fire marshal, if Stewart wanted to distill he would have needed millions of dollars-worth of fire suppression equipment, selling to Compass lets him live it vicariously. Meanwhile, his son Connor, 26, works in the business and helps brew beer, which they keep on tap alongside three rotating taps of breweries who use their malts. Stewart hopes his youngest son, 23-year-old Will, might eventually join this new, and old, family business.

Meanwhile, Collins, an avid sailor who flies a Nova Scotia flag, says that same kind of regional pride and bootstrapping is integral to his partners’ vision for Compass. “This is an opportunity to build something that will hopefully last past my lifetime and be good for the community,” he says. “There may be easier ways to make money, and less stressful, but this is a project I look forward to looking at and thinking, ‘I built that.’” o

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Thirsty?

Try these East Coast beers crafted with wares from Horton Ridge Malt and Grain

KITCHEN PARTY PALE ALE Big Spruce Brewing Nyanza, N.S. Jeremy White, owner and brewer at Big Spruce is one of Stewart’s biggest customers. This hoppy pale ale features hints of citrus and pine. It’s on the bitter side of the pale ale family, which means it will pair well with strong flavours like curry or fish dishes.

NORTH SHORE LAGER Tatamagouche Brewing Co. Tatamagouche, N.S. This German-style beer is light, approachable and easy drinking. It’s a perfect place to start for those who want to cultivate a taste for craft beer. Not too hoppy, but with a clean refreshing taste.

Pair it with grilled chicken or seafood, sushi, or light pasta dishes.

RYE’S UP PALE ALE Horton Ridge Malt and Grain Hortonville, N.S. Many beers rely on hops for their most noticeable flavours, but Horton Ridge’s beers understandably rely on the malts. For Stewart, it’s a great way to highlight his wares for brewery customers, but for beer drinkers it’s a great way to learn what flavours malt brings to the table.

This one offers a spicy rye flavour, and a rich, sweet finish.

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Something to look forward to this winter...

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Inspiring home life in Atlantic Canada

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make the famous

Photo: Family of Clara Harris

Southwest Nova Scotia lobster sandwich

Clara Harris created this beloved sandwich over 60 years ago

BY SANDRA PHINNEY

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EATING IN

including weddings, at the restaurant. Many of them supplied their own china, crystal, and silver and I have them to thank for teaching me the fine art of serving such elegant dinners.”

Joesy Pidborochynsk moved to Yarmouth from Alberta five and a half years ago. “That first time having a hot lobster sandwich was not only heaven, but an explosion of flavours,” she says. “The fresh lobster, the cream, and how it was seasoned were like nothing I’d ever tasted before. I’ve travelled and sampled many dishes but none have made such an impact. It was memorable. It was the memory of finally coming home.” o

Clara Harris’ Hot Lobster Sandwich The winter lobster-fishing season is on in Southwest Nova Scotia. Celebrate this traditional catch with a classic sandwich. If you’re out of season, you can substitute frozen lobster meat.

INGREDIENTS 2 cups (375 g) fresh or frozen lobster ¼ (57 g) cup butter 2 tsp (10 ml) white vinegar 2 cups (500 ml) light cream DIRECTIONS Sauté lobster in butter for one minute, stir in vinegar, stir in cream.

Season with salt and pepper.

Heat until hot.

Serve on toast.

Clara often said that the secret to making this sandwich was the vinegar because it enhances the flavour of the lobster, and it also helps thicken the cream.

Photo: Laura Muise

I

n 1951, Clara and Charles Harris bought an unused Second World War barracks building in Dayton, on the outskirts of Yarmouth, N.S., and opened The Sea Food. Its reputation for serving fresh seafood spread far and wide.

Eventually, the couple changed the name to Harris’ Seafood Restaurant although many people still referred to the now-closed diner by its original name.

After about five years in business, Clara decided to add her mother-inlaw’s recipe for creamed lobster to the menu. It didn’t sell. But as soon as they changed the name from “Creamed Lobster” to “Lobster Nova Scotia Style,” it became popular.

Clara recounted the story of how the sandwich got its name in her first cookbook, Life, Love and Lobsters: An Anecdotal Collection of Recipes from Harris’ Seafood Restaurant, self-published in 1974.

Gracie Grant was a local customer who often dined at the restaurant and always asked to have Clara’s creamed lobster on toast. She asked Clara one night why she didn’t put creamed lobster on toast on the menu. Clara replied that she wouldn’t know what to call it.

Grant said, “You have a cold lobster sandwich on the menu, why not call this a hot lobster sandwich?”

It didn’t take long for the Hot Lobster Sandwich to become a customer favourite; other restaurants added variations to their menus and now you’ll find the dish throughout Southwest Nova Scotia.

Another popular menu item was “You Hook’em We’ll Cook’em.” Sports fishermen would bring catches like trout, sea bass, and halibut to the restaurant for Clara to prepare.

One night, a gentleman asked her to come outside to see the catch he wanted for supper. He had a nearly 350 kg tuna in the back of a trailer. He didn’t expect her to cook the entire tuna, but he did want a tuna steak.

In Life Love and Lobsters, Clara wrote, “For 34 days in a row, people stood in line to have dinner, some waiting several hours, even with a reservation.”

In an average summer, she served 25,000 meals each month. “Once people learned we could cook” Clara wrote, “they booked most of their parties,

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seven succulents

to grow this winter Brighten up darker days with these no-fuss houseplants

BY CAROL MATTHEWS

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GARDENING

A

s winter nights grow longer, we Atlantic Canadians need something to brighten our lives.

A University of Washington study called Green Cities: Good Health suggests houseplants are the cure. Researchers found that “living plants improve mental health, attitude, productivity, and efficiency”, inside as well as outside. But when we already feel stressed and depressed, how can we add looking after plants to our to-do lists?

Once you buy them, succulents require little work. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, need only occasional watering, and even less fertilizing. Some require plenty of light, but many grow well in the light of the average home or office. And once winter is over you can put them outside.

General care for succulents during winter is minimal as it is their natural dormant period. Place your plant where it will receive the most light, but not direct afternoon sunlight; next to a window is ideal.

Water it thoroughly but only when it is almost dried out. Your pot must drain well, as more succulents die by too much water than neglect. Unglazed pots are ideal. Indoor succulents need more space to allow air to circulate and light to reach each leaf, so don’t group them too closely together.

Once frost season is over, you can move your succulent to a shady spot outside, and after a week or so moved to an area receiving morning sun. Succulents can sunburn if left in hot afternoon sun.

Fertilize three times during the summer with a 10-10-10 cactus fertilizer for optimum growth. Don’t put a tray underneath the plant, and only water during a drought.

As with most things, a little planning can make a lot of difference. Here are seven succulents to bring into your home or office that will survive to brighten those much too short winter days.

Sempervivum tectorum or Echeveria elegans (Hens and Chicks— two similar plants with the same common name) This plant commonly grows outside, or in living wreaths, but also does well as a houseplant. The fleshy leaves form a pretty rosette, and reproduce by growing smaller imitations of themselves.

The “chicks” can be planted in small pots of their own using well-draining cactus soil to increase your flock.

Sedum morganiunum (Burro’s tail) Each strand of blue-green leaves can grow 66 cm long and trail down, making it a good hanging basket plant. But those puffy leaves full of water can get heavy so make sure the pot is sturdy and the hook is secure.

WINTER 2017

Haworthia margaritifera (Pearl plant—so called because of the white bumps on the narrow green leaves). This is a slow grower and will stay relatively small. The sharp pointed leaves are a good contrast to many of the rounder leaves of other succulents.

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Crassula ovate (Jade plant) This used to be a common succulent in homes, and for good reason. It is easy to maintain, lasts for years, and grows over a metre tall and wide. In some countries it is given as a wedding present and can still be around on the 50th anniversary. This plant doesn’t require frequent repotting, and fertilizing once a year in the summer is often enough. Jade plants thrive with a summer vacation in filtered shade in your backyard. But if you leave them sitting in water you will have a weeping Jade plant whose roots will rot. Toxic to pets.

Schlumbergera truncata and Schlumbergera buckleyi (Thanksgiving Cactus and Christmas Cactus, respectively) The beautiful blooms of these familiar plants make them welcome on gloomy days.

Moving the plant to a new location can cause it to drop its buds, so choose its blooming spot right from the start. The secret to blooming is to move it outside to a shady spot during the summer. This allows new growth to harden up, which is required for flowering. The plant will usually bloom within two months of coming inside.

Its flowers come in a variety of colours including white, cream, pink, fuchsia, orange, and red.

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana (sometimes called Flaming katy, Christmas kalanchoe, and florist kalanchoe) You will often find these plants in supermarkets in December as florists force them into bloom for the Christmas season. They make a lovely gift as they bloom for months and come in a whole range of colours. Kalanchoe are susceptible to cold so place them somewhere out of drafts, with temperatures above 15 C. They can be placed outside in the summer, but will revert to their regular spring blooming period when you bring them inside.

Toxic to pets.

Sansevieria trifasciata (Snake plant) Named for its long, upright leaves that resemble snake skin, this plant will tolerate neglect.

Many a gardener has a story about a forgotten, dead-looking snake plant that miraculously revived with a little watering. You can leave the plant in the same pot for many years and what started out as three or four leaves will multiply into a thick clump. Toxic to pets.

With your home or office alive with a variety of carefree succulents, winter might not seem so long or dark this year.o

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BUYING GUIDE

Buying guide

Now that you’ve seen all the quality products and services available in Atlantic Canada, here’s a guide to help you access these products for your own home.

Advocate (p. 8) 902-455-2870 advocateprinting.com

Goose Lane Editions (p. 34-35) 506-450-4251 | 1-888-926-8377 gooselane.com

Thermador/BOSCH (p. 7) 1-800-567-3855 venmar.ca

Atlantic Lighting Studio (p. 21) 902-542-3431 atlanticlightingstudio.com

Jennifer’s of Nova Scotia (p. 34-35) 902-425-3119 jennifers.ns.ca

WB Fowler Industries (p. 40) 1-800-290-8510 wbfowler.com

Attica (p. 21) 902-423-2557 attica.ca

Kept Gifts & Housewares (p. 35) 902-469-5378 keptshop.ca

Beauti-tone (p. 3) Beautitone.ca

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Boxing Rock (p. 40) 902-494-9233 boxingrock.ca Cabinetworks Ltd. (p. 21) 1-888-249-6188 cabinetworks.ca Caesarstone (p. 2) 416-479-8400 caesarstone.ca Carrefour Atlantic Emporium (p. 34-35) 902-423-2940 carrefouratlantic.com Cedar Bay Grilling Company (p. 41) cedarbaygrilling.com Compact Appliances (p. 51) 1-800-561-7019 compactappliances.ca Egg Farmers of Nova Scotia (p. 6) nsegg.ca EnCom Alternative Energy (p. 20) 902-457-8799 encomgroup.com

Lake City Woodworkers (p. 5) 902-465-5000 lakecitywoodworkers.com Maritime Window (p. 27) 902-422-6290 cooltint.com Metro Home (p. 9) 902-894-5536 metropei.com Nimbus Publishing (p. 9) 902-455-4286 nimbus.ca Red Door Realty (p. 33) 902-425-2811 reddoorrealty.ca Seeview Blinds (p. 9) 902-422-1231 seeviewblinds.com Terra Verde (p. 27) 506-389-1898 terraverdehome.com

WINTER 2017

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LAST LOOK

Photo: Amanda Muis Brown

humble burdock farms

BY JENNIFER JO HENDERSON “Flowers are back!” says Amanda Muis Brown, a grin lighting up her sun-freckled face.

petals for pink, and yellow tansy combine and contrast in the wildflower potpourri.

Her loyal customers buy everything from fresh bouquets to dried potpourris from Humble Burdock Farms at weekly markets in Nova Scotia to decorate their homes.

“Potpourris add so much to your home so easily,” says Muis Brown.

“You’ve brought in nature and a beautiful smell.”

“When I started seven years ago,” she adds, “there was only a tiny handful of flower farmers in the province and now there’s a whole bushel basket.”

Muis Brown grows 150 varieties of flowers in greenhouses and fields on her family’s third-generation farm in the Annapolis Valley at Steam Mill, near Kentville, N.S. She is also a photographer and wrote her first book, From Seed to Centerpiece in the pre-dawn hours before work on the farm begins. It features 300 of her original photographs.

She wanted to give readers a “behind-the-scenes look” at how flowers grow and how to find joy and delight in “the natural world of bees and butterflies.”

Her father grows giant pumpkins competitively, and sister Michele works in a plant nursery. She started out selling his vegetables at markets, but quickly began cutting and selling flowers from her mother’s garden. When her mother insisted she plant her own, Humble Burdock Farms was born.

Muis Brown’s talent as a painter helps her design colourful bouquets incorporating greenery, feathers, leaves, and grasses.

Her custom bouquets are sought after by brides (she does some 30 weddings a year) and the farm also wholesales to florists.

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Humble Burdock potpourris are made the traditional way with real flowers, orris root, and essential oils to lock in the fragrance. She avoids synthetic scents found in most modern potpourris, which don’t last as long.

She mixes dried flowers with Epsom and sea salts to create bath teas to relax aching muscles. She even drew the whimsical labels for Queen Bee, containing bee pollen and rose petals, and Garden Party.

“I get bored easily,” she laughs, when asked about the wellspring of her creativity. “Sometimes the ideas come when I’m driving my truck to market on Saturday.” She is a regular at the Historic Farmers’ Market in Halifax and at the Wolfville Farmer’s Market.

Starting seeds during the cold East Coast spring is not for the faint of heart. In her book, Amanda recalls plenty of sleepless nights getting up to keep the woodstove going.

From June to October, Muis Brown is part of an enterprising group of Valley farmers whose subscribers sign up for weekly deliveries of vegetables, eggs, meat, and now flowers. She was among the first to sell a Floral CSA (short for Community Supported Agriculture) at $17 a bouquet.

She assembles bouquets in her rustic studio, a barn where swallows swoop and play. A riot of flowers cures on the greying walls. Once the scent of peonies has faded and the autumn’s sunflowers flame out, she assembles dried arrangements and wreaths.

Today, with Humble Burdock Farms and her family thriving, the choice to name the business after a common weed seems apt.

“The burdock is considered a pioneering weed,” says Muis Brown.

“Like dandelions, they go into infertile areas and they make the land fertile for more complicated plants to grow, such as trees. The humble burdock doesn’t show off what it does, but it plays such an important role.”o

Her work evokes a Victorian vibe, with a few bits of lace, porcelain, and antique accessories. Dried bachelor’s buttons for blue, rose

Humble Burdock Farms home and bath products are available at thehumbleburdock.com

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WINTER 2017

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