Alair Magazine | Edition #3 by ALAIR Magazine

SPRING/SUMMER 2022

SPECIAL EDITION

BENROTH BURNDOWN

GLORIOUS IN GREEN BAY

BLOOM, THERE IT IS

A Story of Redemption in Regina, SK

Custom Home Designed to keep Art in Mind

Spring Planning & Gardening Guide

U NCOMPROMISING Q U A L I T Y. U NWAVERING SU PPO R T. Kohler’s family of brands offers a full portfolio of products in a wide range of styles and various price points. Two things that do not vary: the quality and support you can expect when you choose to partner with Kohler for your projects. Kohler’s commitment is complete satisfaction for you and your clients as you bring their visions to life. Receive special pricing and product specification support when you contact your dedicated representative.

KOHLER.com/TradeMembership 1-866-545-7776

COVER PHOTO: Built by: Alair Edmonton Design: Design Two Group Interior Design: Kyle & Co. Photography: Cheryl Silsbe

ABOUT THIS EDITION The Island. When you speak to the many wonderful people who make up our home office team, you may often hear them fondly refer to where they live and work as ‘The Island’. Vancouver Island, in fact, and where our headquarters are located in Nanaimo, British Columbia. Team Alair is reading this edition of Alair Magazine for the first time at our International Awards and Conference, hosted in Victoria, British Columbia at the famous Fairmont Empress Hotel. It is our first time gathering together as a team in such a significant group since 2019. The Island was selected to host this event that brings approximately 300 members of Team Alair together to re-connect and collaborate in person. Something that we have sorely missed over the last couple of years.

CONTRIBUTORS Publisher Adam McCaa Managing Editor Natalie Harper Map and Directory Design Chelsea Hamre Production Art Tracey Risser

Digital Manager Jason Clayton Contributors Kristina Matisic Matty O’Connell Matt Simpson Juliana Mitchell Byron Brooks Jen Vanderbeek Kara Murray Andrey Sokolov Whitney Brown Jacqueline Tyler Jessica Leavitt Natalie Harper Kayla Fagan Nicole Wicks Deon Towle Justin Thompson Nicole Selner

Having this team back together in person again is special, and we wanted this edition of Alair Magazine to focus on that team and showcase them, or celebrate their work through these stories and features. You’ll meet a few members of our “Home Team”, and you’ll get to explore local spots on an Island Time adventure with Team Neon (our two marketing coordinators who love to explore the outdoors when they aren’t working hard with the locations across North America). We feature a couple extra special recipes that allow us to fondly think of the people who inspired them, while we also pay homage to a culture and community currently in conflict. You will also be introduced to an adorable new member of the team, as he shares his happy tail of how he joined his fur-ever Alair family. Of course, we will take you to other places and projects across the Alair network and show you what we have been up to in our communities over the last few months, and bring you inside the many homes we have been creating and constructing across North America recently. We hope you enjoy the Spring/Summer edition, and look forward to celebrating something big with you in our Fall/Winter 2022 edition! Natalie Harper Managing Editor

Adam McCaa Publisher AL AIRHOMES.COM

24 TREND ALERT

12 NOTABLY NET ZERO Whitney Brown

TABLE OF

CONTENTS

LO C ATION SP OTLIGHT

ON ISLAND TIME 14 LIVING Nicole Wicks

P OINT OF VIE W

18 HOW TO GET VALUE OUT OF YOUR RENOVATION Jessica Leavitt

PROJEC T PROFILE

06 BENROTH BURNDOWN Matty O’Connell and Matt Simpson

PROJEC T PROFILE

TO A GREAT 10 ESCAPE OUTDOOR OASIS Kayla Fagan

TREND ALERT

21 PRETTY POWDER ROOMS

Kristina Matisic

COMMUNIT Y SP OTLIGHT

HAPPY TAIL 24 AJuliana Mitchell

32 SE A SONAL SP OTLIGHT

26 BLOOM, THERE IT IS Jacqueline Tyler

DESIGN FE AT URE

FROM CONFORMITY TO COMPELLING

Byron Brooks and Jen Vanderbeek

PROJEC T PROFILE

28 A LIFE CHANGING RENOVATION Kristina Matisic

PROJEC T MANAGER PROFILE

NASA TO NARI 32 FROM Whitney Brown

PROJEC T PIC TOR AL

IN 36 GLORIOUS GREEN BAY Nicole Selner

E XPERTISE SP OTLIGHT

ASK ALAIR

COMMUNIT Y SP OTLIGHT

45 ALAIR LOVES LOCAL, 2022 EDITION Jacqueline Tyler

TREND ALERT

46 MENTAL HEALTH IN THE HOME

50 TREND ALERT

54 STARTING A

COMMUNITY PANTRY Kristina Matisic

RECIPE

56 THE ‘ODE FASHIONED Justin Thompson and Jacqueline Tyler

PEOPLE SP OTLIGHT

59 THE HOME TEAM

Kara Murray

RECIPE

50 NOTHING BEETS

COMMUNIT Y SP OTLIGHT

MOM’S BORSCHT

LOVES LOCAL, 62 ALAIR SPECIAL FEATURE

AWARDS OVERVIE W

SUPPLIER SP OTLIGHT

Andrey Sokolov

52 ALAIR ACHIEVEMENTS

Jacqueline Tyler

64 CAMBRIA Sponsored Content

AL AIRHOMES.COM

BENROTH BURNDOWN

A story of Redemption

AL AIRHOMES.COM

Matty O’Connell and Matt Simpson Alair Regina had the incredible opportunity of rebuilding a home for a devastated family during an already tough year back in 2020. In December 2019, right before Christmas, the Benroth family had taken a vacation south. While enjoying their time away they received a devastating phone call. They received news that thieves had been squatting in their home during their week away. They proceeded to steal everything they owned over the course of a few days. To make matters even worse, the thieves burned their house to the ground. The Regina team, led by Project Manager Matt Simpson, along with their sub-trades, had the honour of helping the Benroths rebuild their home. Tell us a little bit about how you got connected with this unique rebuild project? Interestingly enough, the day they received this phone call when this fire happened I was down the street working on another home. The fire trucks started to go by so I decided to chase them. As I got closer and closer I could see the flames and smoke blazing. I approached the house and just sat there

and watched this house burn to the ground and I remember my heart just breaking for the family, not even knowing who they were at the time. It was right before Christmas, and I thought, “this family is going to lose everything.” Little did I know at that moment in time that this would be a project I would actually work on rebuilding in the future. Why did you feel compelled to want to help out and be part of this project? What a devastating feeling. I was just heartbroken for the family. I mean, it’s one thing to have your house broken into, but another to have literally everything valuable stolen from you. At that moment, I couldn’t imagine how they felt. I knew I wanted to ‘rally the troops’ if you will, and look at ways that we could help the Benroths rebuild better than before.

After you won the bid to rebuild the home, what was the response from trades as you started to build out the team of construction partners? I started to build the scope of work and send it to the trades. Trades that we’d worked with and trades that we hadn’t. Responses started to roll in that sounded a lot like “hey this is the house that we saw on the news, this is the one where the family lost everything.” The response was overwhelming and they wanted to be part of the project in the way of donating labour, materials, and much more. It was an opportunity for them to not just build a house, but to build a home. They knew that this project was different. Tell us some of the stories of how the construction partners stepped up?

What was the turnover day like for you and the team? The day we turned over the home to the Benroths, it was super emotional. Our team all welled up with tears as we entered for the first time with the family. The house was completely furnished and decorated with pictures of their family that they thought were lost. Wedding pictures, baby pictures, just memories that were brought back to life. It was like all those things that they once thought were all lost were all present again. In my over 30 years of experience in construction, I’ve never experienced anything like that day. I had to change the name of that day from a ‘turnover’ day to ‘a day of redemption’. They get to live in a way now knowing that what was once stolen has now been redeemed.

Amanda and the team at Homecoming Studios did an incredible job. The first thing they did in their design process was figuring out a tangible way of replacing lost memories for the family and incorporating the things they loved most in their old home. They were able to track down old photo files and bring them back to life and inject memories back into the furnishing of their home. Celtic Glass was one phone call I vividly remember. After receiving the scope of work he called me and just said “I’m donating all my time and materials, these are the types of projects I want to give back to and be part of.”

Alair would like to thank our construction partners who helped offset the costs of the Benroth rebuild. • Contour Cabinets

• Kasper Construction

• Celtic Glass

• Reflections Painting

• Homecoming Studios

• WJK Electric

AL AIRHOMES.COM

ESCAPE to a GREAT OUTDOOR OASIS

Waterfront Oasis, Alair Georgian Bay Designer/Architect: Madison Taylor Photographer: Kelly Moss Photography

Your outdoor living space can be functional and beautiful. A significant landscaping overhaul and new accessory building completely transformed this waterfront property in Tiny, ON. The multi-functional accessory building serves as a garden shed and an art studio overlooking the waterfront.

Kayla Fagan When the sun shines longer in the day, and the temperature increases, we look to spend more time in the great outdoors. For many of Alair’s clients, they don’t need to pack up and venture too far to get a great escape to an outdoor oasis. Many people are looking to have their backyards function as an extension to their interior living spaces. From outdoor kitchens to screened-in porches and rooftop patios, we are celebrating some of the great outdoor living spaces across the Alair network.

Modern Covered Deck, Alair Arlington Architect: Renz Architecture Photographer: Christy Kosnic

This modern covered deck design with a built-in fireplace features two sets of motorized screens, one for bugs and the other for privacy. Both retract into the eave to provide an open, yet shaded space — perfect for year-round use in Northern Virginia.

Coastal Views, Alair Savannah Architect: Shah Architecture Photographer: Coastal Elevated Productions

The various porches and firepits create a variety of spaces for entertaining with amazing views of the marsh from Dutch Island. The upstairs porches include a sitting and dining area, a TV perfect for baseball season, and a separate grilling porch for outdoor cooking. The firepit was a gift that Team Alair gifted to the homeowners after moving in.

Rooftop Patio, Alair Edmonton Photographer: Cheryl Silsbe Photography Architectural Designer: Design Two Group

Designed to maximize the 270-degree view of the stunning Edmonton River Valley, this rooftop patio is the ultimate entertainment space for spring and summer events.

Cozy Screened-In Porch, Alair Marietta Photographer: Barbara Brown Designer: Dale Contant, Partner, Alair Marietta

Love spending time outdoors—minus the bugs? A screened porch might be just what you need to enjoy time in the fresh air, bug-free! This all-season living space features a beautiful fireplace and outdoor TV, a dining area and wooden porch swings.

Southern Charm, Alair Savannah Photographer: Brent Ingersoll (sleeping porch) Katie McGee (first floor) Architect: Wiregrass Studios, Interior Designer: Winslett Watson

This perfectly Southern outdoor living space features a tabby fireplace and Savannah Grey brick details. If the weather is nice, you can even walk upstairs to the sleeping porch and wake up to the sunrise over the marsh.

Outdoor Kitchen, Alair Burnaby Photographer & Architectural Designer: Roman Taurbekov, Partner, Alair Burnaby

Outdoor kitchens make entertaining a breeze in the busy summer months. This backyard features a raised terrace and a large (over 700 sq ft) cedar timber pavilion with an outdoor kitchen, open fire pit, hot tub, ceiling fans and infrared heaters.

Custom Pool House, Alair Solon Architect: Joseph L. Myers, Architect, Inc., Photographer: Kevin G. Reeves Landscaper Architect: Cloonan Design Services, Inc.

Who needs a vacation when this is your backyard? This gorgeous custom pool house features an outdoor patio with a mounted TV, elegant white columns, and brick detailing. Inside includes an open concept kitchen and living area, complete with a fireplace for those cooler summer evenings. AL AIRHOMES.COM

BU ILD IN G TR END A LER T

Going Green

Notably Net Zero

Whitney Brown Photography by Lindsay Reid Photography When considering building a Net Zero home, assembling the right design-build team is key. Choosing the right builder to bring your vision to life is always important and building a Net Zero home is no small feat. This type of construction requires more research and a lot more oversight. This makes having the right team of experts at your side even more important. What is a Net Zero home? Simply put, a Net Zero home is a house that is able to produce, at minimum, the amount of energy it uses. Most energy is utilized to keep your home’s temperatures stabilized and comfortable. This is why in the design of a Net Zero home you will see more emphasis on the foundation, walls, roof, windows and doors. With classic styling in one of Winnipeg’s most desirable neighbourhoods, this North River Heights custom home built by Alair Winnipeg, was designed and constructed with Net Zero in mind, using multiple green building principles.

“Due to their energy performance, we often use fiberglass windows for our Net Zero, LEED, and PassivHaus homes. To minimize our carbon footprint, we also choose to source these locally through our Canada based market partner, Duxton Windows.” Curtis Moffat, Alair Winnipeg

The home features an ICF foundation, which helps to absorb and release thermal energy. Due to the extra insulation an ICF home provides, it requires less energy to cool and heat than traditional homes. This type of foundation is also moisture and mold resistant, which helps to provide better air quality. A tight building envelope is also extremely important. The exterior envelope of this North River Heights home was assembled with Halo Surround Science which provides a permanent long-term R-value and minimizes the energy loss from thermal bridging. In addition, Tri/Pane Low E & Argon Glass windows and doors were installed. Heat gain and loss are responsible for about 30% of residential energy use, making the material of the window, as well as its placement and size, extremely important.

Ask the Experts

Today’s engineering and high-performance materials make it more feasible than ever to design and build a Net Zero home. Incorporating green principles into your next custom home will lower your cost of ownership and create a healthier living environment for your family. Allowing you to live better for many years to come.

How important are sustainable features/green building features for comfort and also for resale— great insulation, solar, healthy products, etc.? My background is actually in Civil/Environmental Engineering, so this area is near and dear to me. This is absolutely increasing in importance in both the construction and design community and with clients as new products and processes are available to us.

Navin Sidhu Alair Edmonton

We are seeing an upsurge in clients requesting sustainable options for their builds, which also trickles over resale of course. We often work collaboratively with specialized consultants to ensure we are reaching key sustainability metrics for Net Zero and sustainable features when our clients request it. We have also seen an upswing in recent years for sure; and it’s great to see the community collectively working to reach higher levels of sustainability.

AL AIRHOMES.COM

LIVING ON ISLAND TIME Nicole Wicks Photography by Nicole Wicks and Deon Towle When most people talk about living on “Island Time” you picture a tropical beach with turquoise waters and maybe some rum punch drinks being served. But there is more to island living than just in the Caribbean, and I’d like to introduce you to one of the best islands to live in the world – Vancouver Island. As a local of Vancouver Island, I can honestly say there is no other place I would want to call home. Its stunning wild beauty leaves you in awe and the people’s friendly demeanor is unparalleled. Where else can you ski, surf, hike, shop till you drop, eat local west coast eats and brews, all within the same day? Not to mention it is Canada’s best weather hot spot (even though it rains more than we would like to admit). It is all a part of the west coast charm. Pack your raincoat and Wellies and let’s explore four key areas on the island.

Key Area #1 South Island City Life First stop on a fulfilling Island trip is British Columbia’s stunning and culturally vibrant capital city of Victoria. Get caffeinated at Discovery Coffee or Bear & Joey Café for a buzz with a Instagramable vibe. Shop vintage to brand name on the colorful Johnson Street in Downtown Victoria then grab a bite to eat at one of Victoria’s best eateries like Tapa Bar in the quaint Trounce Alley. Looking for culture and history? Try checking out Victoria’s legislative building or visiting the Royal BC Museum. If nature is more your thing, you will not be disappointed by Ogden Point’s jaw dropping mountain and ocean views or the colorful architecture of Victoria’s Fishman’s Warf.

Dallas Road, Victoria BC with Discovery Coffee Photo by Nicole Wicks

Johnson Street, Victoria BC Stock Image

Fishermans Wharf, Victoria BC Stock Image

Ogden Point, Victoria BC Stock Image

Trounce Alley & The Tapa Bar, Victoria BC Photo Courtesy of Tourism Victoria

Royal BC Museum, Victoria BC Photo Courtesy of Royal BC Museum

AL AIRHOMES.COM

Key Area #2 Mid Island Did you know Mid Island’s Cathedral Grove has some of the tallest and oldest trees in North America? The oldest being 800 years old! Take in some fresh air and hike among the ancient trees of the Great Bear Rainforest. Let your adventuresome spirit fly at Mount Washington Alpine Resort. Skiing, snowboarding, or for the un-coordinated, visit the Tube Park! Outdoor activities are not the only great part about Vancouver Island, Cowichan Valley has been called the “Napa of the North” because of its variety of west coast wineries & cideries. Try them all by booking a Cowichan Valley Wine Tour.

While Sails Brewery, Nanaimo BC – Photo Courtesy of White Sails Brewery

If you are more of a beer lover, there is an array of Breweries like Mount Arrowsmith Brewing Company in Parksville, Red Arrow Brewery in Duncan or you can grab a pint at White Sails Brewing in Nanaimo before visiting Alair’s Head Office located just two minutes away.

Mount Washington, BC, Photo by Nicole Wicks

Cowichan Valley Vineyards, Cowichan Valley BC Photo Courtesy of Tourism Victoria

Cathedral Grove, Port Alberni British Columbia Photo by Deon Towle

Merrdiale Cidery & Distillery, Cobble Hill BC, Photo by Nicole Wicks

Merrdiale Cidery & Distillery Cobble Hill BC Photo by Nicole Wicks

Key Area #3 West Coast Living Get in touch with your inner beach bum by visiting Tofino and Ucluelet on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. Once you drive past Port Alberni’s Sproat Lake and are on your way to the far west coast, a sense of calm flows over you as you know you are about to enter the no stress zone. Lush forests, sandy beaches, and friendly locals make this town unlike any other. Surf, hike, kayak, bear & whale watch, shop locally and experience all that this one-of-a-kind beach town has to offer.

Bear Watching in Tofino, British Columbia, Photo by Nicole Wicks

Chesterman Beach, Tofino, British Columbia, Stock Image

Fishing in Tofino BC, Photos by Nicole Wicks

Key Area #4 North Island Wilderness Go off the grid and breathe in the fresh air of the wild North Vancouver Island. From Campbell River to Port Hardy, you will be treated to excellent fishing, kayaking, hiking and camping. Visit the iconic Telegraph Cove, famous for its postcard waterfront setting, whale watching and rich history. My personal favorite, stay in the rustic log cabins at the Port Hardy RV Resort, then make a day trip out to Cape Scott Provincial Park, stopping at the Scarlet Ibis Pub in Holberg, then continuing onward to the remote San Josef Bay. I promise this will be a day to remember.

San Joseph Bay, Cape Scott Provincial Park, British Columbia Photos by Nicole Wicks

Century Sam Lake, Comox BC, Photo by Nicole Wicks

It is not hard to appreciate the natural beauty and diversity of this Island. Rule #1 if you appreciate the Island, the Island will pay you back with enough adventures to last a lifetime.

We cannot wait to share it with you! AL AIRHOMES.COM Telegraph Cove, Port McNeil BC Photos by Nicole Wicks

HOW TO GET VALUE OUT OF YOUR RENOVATION

Bathroom Before

By Jessica Leavitt For the last two years, we have all been spending more time in our homes. If you are anything like us, you’ve come up with a project or two that would turn your existing space into your dream home. From the bathroom that you wish had a soaking tub to the kitchen that could really be more functional with all that pandemic bread making you started. We understand, what kind of kitchen doesn’t have a designated shelf for the sourdough starter?!?!? Possibly, this pandemic has helped you re-evaluate your priorities, and with the option to work remotely you are moving to a new city better aligned with your priorities and lifestyle. Maybe when you arrived in said new city, the housing stock was lacking and you ended up looking at homes that required renovating.

If you are looking for a returnon-investment renovation, the spaces that usually have the most appeal in resale are bathrooms and kitchens.

AL AIRHOMES.COM

Bathroom Before

Ready to Renovate? The first thing you should do when you are contemplating a renovation is think about what’s most valuable to you. Take time to jot down the following:

2 3

Start with the end of the renovation in mind. Envision you and your family in the space; what it feels like and looks like, how it functions. Imagine walking into your home at the end of the day, after the renovation is completed, and write down the journey through the last hours of your day before bedtime. You could also do this from waking up to leaving the house as well. Take notice and write notes about your current space, what areas of the house feel good? Where do you find people congregating at a party? Where are you currently eating your meals? Is it in a formal dining room, or on the kitchen island? What is it about the current space that feels out of alignment? Where does clutter pile up? What spaces are under-utilized or worse, avoided? This exercise will help guide you to the things that are valuable to you when considering the space and functionality you are hoping to improve in the renovation. Prioritize these things. This will help the right contractor make sure you get the most value out of your renovation. Next, decide if the return-on-investment or the return on lifestyle is more important to you. The return on investment is perhaps a more traditional way of looking at a renovation. This is where you would want to look at the renovation as a pathway to see a financial return on the investment you are making.

If you are looking for a return-on-investment renovation, the spaces that usually have the most appeal in resale are bathrooms and kitchens. Of course, removing outdated wallpaper or paneling can be a low-cost way to make a big impact as well. We have also seen exterior improvements create a lasting return on investment through paint, a new front entry and landscaping. With bathrooms and kitchens, layout and functionality are important, storage space and finishes are also a vital consideration. A beautiful space that doesn’t work for you is never a good return-on-investment. Return on lifestyle is when we look at a renovation as a way to increase the fulfillment in the life you are living in your space, increasing functionality and joy while being less concerned about the return on investment, financially. Return on lifestyle is why people put pools in; there isn’t much financially gained but there is a lot of lifestyle gain to having a pool! No matter the size and scope of your renovation, we recommend working with an architect, draftsperson or designer to help you define the new floor plan you are creating. Their expertise in space planning will be helpful to achieve your priorities. The right contractor will also be a trusted advisor helping to provide guidance from a building perspective, material suggestions and even help determining what factors offer you the highest return on investment. And don’t forget to try to have fun through the process!

Pretty Powder Rooms

By Kristina Matisic

Just because it’s small, doesn’t mean it can’t be mighty. The powder room is the perfect place to experiment with color, materials and patterns that you may be reluctant to try elsewhere. This is the place to let your creativity shine! When designing yours, here are a few tips to keep in mind. Alair Decatur Photo: Marc Mauldin Design: Gordon Dunning

AL AIRHOMES.COM

Play with Proportion When dealing with really tight quarters, forgo the full-sized vanity. Focus on the real estate you do have, like the walls and floor. Black and white floor tiles, a red door and a bright wash of yellow paint amp up the style of this small space. Alair Delta Photo: Janis Nicolay Design: Madeleine Design Group

Black and White and Stylish All-Over

Warm with Wood Understated and elegant, this powder room keeps the palette relatively neutral. Warm wood tones are accented by simple black details like the flowerpot, mirror, and pendants. We love how the lighting mirrors the gold faucet and towel ring.

Alair Aurora Photo: Arnal Photography Design: Michelle Berwick Design

Alair Houston Photo: Jackie T., TK Images, Design: Mirador Group

Divide and Conquer

Split bathroom floor plans aren’t just for ensuites. Separating the toilet from the sink adds an element of privacy and the earth tones of this powder room give it a hotel-like vibe. Alair Forest Hills Architect: Heintzman Sanborn

Black and white is always a timeless combination. The herringbone tile, an above-counter sink and slim floating vanity all help create a sleek and modern aesthetic.

Clean and Simple When in doubt, stay true to your roots. This modern country home continued the farmhouse aesthetic into the powder room, adding a nautical rope mirror and painted nickel-gap plank walls.

Alair Chilliwack Photo: Carsten Arnold Photography Design: SuCasa

Break the Rules

All the Trimmings

Popular opinion has it that dark walls make a space look smaller. But when it comes to powder rooms, we say that dark hues can make things look luxurious and dramatic. Blue continues to be a top choice for cabinets and walls. Gold hardware helps create a rich tapestry.

An often overlooked design opportunity is the trim and baseboards. The deep mint green painted trim matches the wallpaper here, creating a lovely frame around the entire power room.

Alair Charlotte Photo: MB Productions of NC Design: KVID Interiors

Alair Savannah Architect: Shah Architecture, Design: Catherine Lovatt Photos: Coastal Elevated Productions

Tile One On Tile this striking doesn’t need to be relegated to the floor. The owner of this home really wanted a show-stopping detail for their powder room, so the team used bold, graphic cement tile on the sink wall. Retro accents and fixtures complete the space.

Alair Decatur Photo: Jeff Herr Design Wynter House Designs

Plan Your Escape For guests, the powder room is often a place for a quick, quiet retreat. (Been at a party and needed a breather? Then you know what we mean.) This powder room uses whimsical butterfly wallpaper and a threepaned mirror to create a meadow-like oasis. Alair Dallas Photo: Michael Wiltbank Design: Yates Desygn

Put it to Paper If you’re eager to experiment with wallpaper, the powder room is definitely the place. Whether you choose to focus on one feature wall or go all in, this adorable polka dot wallpaper makes this tiny space spot on, style-wise. Alair Forest Hills Photo: Jules Lee, Design: Meg Clair Ryley

AL AIRHOMES.COM

A Happy Tail Translated by Juliana Mitchell Photos by Emily Heidt (Heidt of Media) Hi everyone! My name is Alair (the dog – not to be confused with this magazine or the company that builds and renovates homes). You might be wondering who I am and how I got here. I’m here to tell you! My story begins at a place called an “animal shelter.” My friends at the City of Arlington Animal Shelter REALLY wanted to help me find my “furrever” home, so they snapped a quick picture of me (I made sure they got my good side) and named me the Pet of the Week on this thing called “social media”. That post created a lot of buzz from a bunch of humans at Alair Homes. They REALLY wanted to help my friends at the shelter find me a new home, 24

so they spread the word to their offices across the country to see if there was anyone who could help. I figured they spend their lives creating perfect homes for humans, and they had the best name in the world (mine!), so they would be perfect! There were so many humans at Alair who wanted to meet me and maybe give me a furrever home, but it was a couple of fine folks who work with Alair (the company) who happened to live close to where I was temporarily living who ended up rushing to come and meet me at the shelter. I charmed them with my playful personality and irresistible cuteness, of course, and I knew they were the perfect fit. They seemed to like me too, and before I knew it, I was on my way to their house. It was a dream come true - I had a family! The drive to my new home was so much fun, I even got to say hello to all the cars driving by. And get this – I

now have a big sister too. Her name is Bella, and she’s the best. She showed me the ropes around my new home and the best places to curl up for a quick snooze. She also taught me how to use the stairs because I hadn’t really seen them on my adventures before. Our favorite thing to do now is chase each other around the backyard and see what our neighbors are up to (the squirrels – their names are Chestnut and Squeaky, and they drive Bella and me squirrely for sure). I haven’t been here for long, but I am REALLY starting to like it here. OH, and guess what? Remember Alair Homes? They’re making me their first official mascot! I’m not sure what a mascot is, but my mom tells me that I’ll be the face of Alair, and I’m going to be helping other animals across North America. It makes me so happy knowing that I have a home with not only my family but with thousands of humans across Canada and the United States. They have made a pledge to help dogs just like me by creating gear made for just us pups to raise money for shelters across the country, including the one I came from. Who knew my journey to find my “furrever” home would help other pups just like me find theirs too.

Fast Facts on Alair The Dog If you could help Team Alair with their projects, what job would you do? I’d be a WOOFer, for sure. What is your favorite movie? Jurassic BARK or Paw Wars, I especially like when the large mail man says “Luke, I am your paw-ther”! What is your favorite snack? A pup-sicle, Pup-corn, or Woofles! Favorite Pastime: Raising the Woof!

I hope you will consider supporting my cause and help rescue other fur-babies like me. AL AIRHOMES.COM

Bloom, There it is.

Spring Planning & Gardening Guide Jacqueline Tyler Last Spring, Alair launched #AlairBlooms to help make our neighbourhoods more delightful, and bring forth colourful flowers that promote pollinator bee health. Flowers are an easy way to bring beauty into your living space, and extend the special spaces where you want to spend more time. With the help of Lisa Range, owner and founder of, “Feeding Our Roots,” a Calgary-based gardening education business, we are getting to the root of some of the best ways to plant and maintain a garden this summer, and how gardens can impact our world with wellness.

About Lisa: Lisa is an ardent promoter of local small businesses and food artisans. Her garden and workshops are built around the tenets of environmental sustainability. She has a Bachelor of Health Sciences from the University of Guelph, an MBA from the University of Calgary, and she completed her Master Gardener certification with the Calgary Horticultural Society in 2021. Lisa lives on an “urban homestead” in Renfrew, Calgary and is the mother of three young children, ages five, three, and 10 months’ old.

What inspired you to start “Feeding Our Roots”? I have always done this, I have a deep need to be imaginative. Before starting my business, I realised I was coaching so many people, but doing it for free. So, I found a way to keep doing what I was doing, but by offering it to more people. My workshops are essentially group-coaching and garden handholding. I do what I always do (plant a huge garden, starting indoors, from seed), and I show participants everything I’m doing. They just have to follow along! A large percentage of my students are actually repeat customers; they enjoy not having to go through the trial and error, and they enjoy being able to have someone else do the trouble-shooting; it allows them to focus on enjoying the product. You are a creative plant and flower artist, what inspires your artistry and creativity? Endless sources of inspiration, most importantly the natural world and other artists. I love following other creatives and have FAR MORE creative ideas than I have time to realize. The flowers and the food seen in photos on your Instagram that you use to make bouquets and culinary delights, are they all grown in your garden? YES! All the blooms I share on my page are grown in my inner-city backyard (we have a 50’x100’ lot). You can do an incredible amount in a relatively small space! All the vegetables and fruit are grown in my yard as well (with some exceptions). Can you share more about how your thoughts about why and how people can start their own vegetable or flower garden? We all need to get outside and connect with nature. I find that when the kids are crabby or fighting, or if we can’t seem to agree on what to do, it’s a reminder that we need to get outside. Kids naturally love helping in the kitchen and the garden, so we find things we can do together - it’s important for them to have sensory experiences as well. I love midsummer, when we can just come and go as we please, usually barefoot, graze in the garden, pick away at whatever needs doing without it feeling like it’s a chore. Most of the time, we all find something to peacefully putter away at. If you have something productive that you can do in your yard, all the better. What are some tips and tricks to keep in mind when starting and planting a garden? Spread out the work; make or follow a plan that allows you to do a little bit each week, instead of cramming the entire process into a few weeks.

Steps to manage and maintain your garden by season, by Lisa Note: this is based on a USDA Zone 4b Growing Zone. Look up great tips for your Zone online. April: Start most annuals indoors; may have sufficient light to do so without grow lights now. Begin hardening off cold-hardy seedlings. Direct sow cold-hardy crops once ground is workable (carrots, radishes). May/Early June: Harden off and plant seedlings into the garden. Direct sow frost-intolerant crops such as corn and beans once the soil has warmed. Early June: Move heat lovers such as melons and cucumbers into the garden. June-September: Enjoy the fruits of your labour! Graze, have garden parties, observe & take notes, weed, photograph, enjoy. September-October: Preserve the harvest, collect seeds for the following year.

What are some common mistakes when it comes to planting and gardening? Following gardening advice written by people who live in a completely different growing zone. What are your thoughts towards wildflowers, and how can someone incorporate them into a garden? YES. More wildflowers! Our pollinators thrive when people plant native wildflowers in their gardens. The best way to go about adding wildflowers to your garden is to seek out a local nursery, which specialises in native plants. Native perennial wildflowers can be tricky to start from seeds, so (local nurseries) tend to sustainably harvest wild seeds, germinate them, and sell plugs (seedlings). This gives you robust plants, which you can tastefully incorporate into your landscape. Be very careful that the plugs (seedlings) you are purchasing are from a reputable source and not treated with systemic, persistent insecticides. Unfortunately, a lot of nursery-raised plants are and this can actually harm pollinators. I love interplanting vegetables and flowers in all my spaces; I add veggies into my perennial garden and plant annual cut flowers amongst all my vegetables. This adds visual appeal and brings the pollinators to where you want them! Gardening MUST HAVES! Alair’s favourite gardening gloves: Dig It® Handwear & High5 ® gardening gloves with Pillow-top Protectors®. These colourful and well-designed gloves allow you to dig deep without damaging or getting debris and dirt under your nails. Get outside and stay protected in your sunny garden this season with SPOTMYUV™ Detection Stickers to measure the effectiveness of your sunscreen against damaging UVA & UVB sun rays. They start clear and turn purple when it’s time to reapply your sunscreen. Suncare is Self-Care.

AL AIRHOMES.COM

A life-changing Renovation By Kristina Matisic Photography by Janis Nicolay When Allison Woo and her husband hired Alair to renovate their new forever home, she had little idea how life changing the decision would be. Allison, her husband and their two children moved to Vancouver from Ontario to be closer to her family. They found a 47-year-old house in Coquitlam that checked a lot of the boxes: It was close to family, schools, and had a beautiful view. But the 2,500 square foot, 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom house was dark, dated and the layout impractical. “Downstairs had a bathroom, utility room, laundry room, all in one big open room. We wanted to define the space and add a guest bedroom. Upstairs, the kitchen was small and closed off from the living space and the bathrooms were small. We wanted to have a more open-concept living space and enlarge the bathrooms,” says Woo.

AL AIRHOMES.COM

Working with interior designer Jamie Banfield, Alair took down walls and moved the kitchen, creating an airy open floor plan.

Kitchen Before

A large kitchen island was installed featuring Caesarstone countertops, walnut cabinets and lots of storage. Stainless steel appliances, black lighting fixtures and dark accents pop against the white walls and cabinetry.

“ When the Alair Vancouver team got to work, they quickly learned that the scope of the project was going to be much bigger than expected.” “The previous owners added an addition out the back, which added a lot of space. But the challenge was that it hadn’t been permitted,” says Laura Quilty, who worked as the Project Manager during the initial phase of construction. “The foundation wasn’t done properly, and we practically had to start from scratch. Everything had to be brought up to current code. And when you’re talking structural changes, the costs can just skyrocket,” says Quilty. After an extensive planning process, everything had to be upgraded, from the foundation, to the point loads, to the beams. The home also had aluminum wiring and old plumbing that needed to be replaced. “One of the biggest challenges was cost,” says Woo. The planning process helped us immensely to understand the costs and gave us the opportunity to adjust the scope to bring down the budget before we began construction.”

One feature that really helped brighten up the space was the installation of two large kitchen windows.

During Construction

“By opening up the kitchen and living space, it brought the outside in with the huge windows and sightlines from the front of the house all the way to the back. The large kitchen area made it more functional for our family and to host our extended family,” says Woo.

The project not only completely transformed the home, it also ended up taking Woo’s career in an entirely new direction.

The open living plan and a wash of white paint brightened up the living room and made the most of the vaulted ceilings. The newly tiled fireplace and the walnut flooring serve to anchor the space. The bathrooms were completely redone. The ensuite features square, gray floor tiles, Quartz Caesarstone countertops and the same walnut cabinetry and black accents as seen in the kitchen, creating cohesion through the home. Downstairs, the team created a separate laundry room, bathroom, and mudroom and built two additional bedrooms. This gave the Woos ample room to host extended family and give them their own space.

“I had been working in healthcare IT for over 15 years and was open to changing industries. During one of our client calls, David (Babakaiff, Alair Regional Partner) made a comment that it was too bad I didn’t have a construction background, but he thought I’d be a good project manager. After the renovation was completed, I was hired!” Woo has now been working with Alair since September 2020, managing a number of projects, including the renovation of the Ronald McDonald House Playroom. She says the culture and support she found at Alair are her favorite parts of the job. As for her favorite parts of the house? “The kitchen and living space, the bathrooms, laundry room and the guest area downstairs. I guess that’s almost all of it!”

AL AIRHOMES.COM

PR OJEC T M A N AGER S P OTLI GHT

Kareena Gray

From NASA to NARI Whitney Brown, Photo by MB Productions If you do not know Kareena Gray, then maybe you should. Her bubbly personality and ability to quickly problem solve are the perfect combination to conquer any situation. Whether you encounter Kareena in the field, at a networking event, or serving in her community, there is no question that she is on a mission to help others live better. From NASA to NARI, there is not much Kareena Gray hasn’t conquered. Kareena started her career at Kennedy Space Center where she learned her critical problem solving skills and the value of teamwork. When she moved to North Carolina she began searching for something that gave her the same sense of purpose she found in launching satellites into space. When she landed on her first commercial job site she realized that construction was the perfect fit. Now over two decades later, Kareena is a leader and known expert in her field. She sits on the board of NARI Charlotte and was the recipient of the 2021 Project Manager of the year award. She has led her team to victory over and over again, receiving over a dozen project awards, as well as features in noteworthy publications like Charlotte Home Design & Decor and SouthPark Magazine.

“ When I transitioned into Commercial Building, my curiosity and passion grew with each project that I was privileged to be a part of. There is nothing like driving through up-town Charlotte and saying I played a small part in that.” Recently, Kareena was a guest on ProBuilder’s Women in Remodeling Podcast where she shared her love for teamwork and her passion for mentoring the next generation. When asked what advice she had for women looking to enter the industry she shared that she encourages them to seek out a mentor that will teach them and fight for their advancement. “Seek out someone who wants the best for you, who will encourage you and always push you to grow in your career.” Kareena also spends time mentoring trade students at The ROC Charlotte and speaks regularly at North Carolina Universities and networking events where she seeks to educate others on the importance of trade education. 32

Alair Locations CANADA

USA

Alberta

Ontario

Arizona

Ohio

86 Alair Calgary (x2)

41 Alair Aurora / Newmarket

53 Alair Chandler

66 Alair Hudson

21 Alair Camrose

36 Alair Barrie

54 Alair Gold Canyon

65 Alair Solon

20 Alair Central Edmonton

51 Alair Belleville

19 Alair Edmonton (x2)

38 Alair Bradford

California

South Carolina

60 Alair Leduc

30 Alair Collingwood

87 Alair Encinitas

80 Alair Charleston

15 Alair Parkland / Spruce Grove

42 Alair Forest Hill

16 Alair Red Deer

32 Alair Georgian Bay

18 Alair Sherwood Park

37 Alair Georgina

17 Alair St. Albert

28 Alair Grey Bruce 46 Alair Greater Toronto Area

British Columbia

56 Alair Hamilton

9 Alair Burnaby

31 Alair Huntsville

13 Alair Chilliwack

57 Alair Huron

3 Alair Cowichan

40 Alair King

8 Alair Delta

44 Alair Lawrence Park

14 Alair Kelowna

58 Alair Lorne Park

12 Alair Maple Ridge

48 Alair Mississauga

4 Alair Mill Bay

43 Alair North York

2 Alair Nanaimo (x2)

49 Alair Oakville

Alair North Vancouver Island

35 Alair Orillia 45 Alair Scarborough

11 Alair Surrey

47 Alair South Etobicoke

7 Alair Vancouver (x2)

34 Alair Springwater

Manitoba 25 Alair Brandon 26

Alair Winnipeg (x3)

Florida

78 Alair Greenville

84 Alair Bonita Springs

79 Alair Summerville

85 Alair Old Naples 81 Alair Orlando 83 Alair Sanibel 82 Alair South Tampa

Texas 59 Alair Dallas / Fort Worth (x5) 61 Alair Houston (x3) 55 Alair New Braunfels

Georgia

6 Alair Squamish / Whistler

5 Alair Victoria

77 Alair Clemson

75 Alair Decatur 74 Alair Marietta

Utah 52 Alair Salt Lake City

76 Alair Savannah (x2)

Iowa 63 Alair Des Moines

North Carolina

33 Alair Toronto

73 Alair Charlotte

29 Alair Waterloo

69 Alair High Country

Virginia 68 Alair Arlington 67 Alair Hunt Country

Wisconsin 64 Alair Green Bay

72 Alair Lake Norman

Saskatchewan 23 Alair Moose Jaw

71 Alair Lake Toxaway 70 Alair Lenoir / Hickory

24 Alair Regina (x3) 22 Alair Saskatoon

Welcoming 9 new partners in the last year: Steve Kendrick – Alair Charleston

David Balza – Alair Savannah

Scott Klippenstein – Alair Mill Bay

Matt Bowe – Alair Hunt Country

Kahle Steinmetz – Alair Encinitas

Byron Brooks – Alair Calgary

Joelle & Cole Lowry – Alair Dallas / Fort Worth

Sherry & Paul Zuch – Alair Dallas / Fort Worth

Bryan Phillips – Alair Houston

AL AIRHOMES.COM

17 19 15 18 20 60 21

86 23 24 1 2

6 9 12 13 7 8 11

122

Partners 93

Locations

States

Provinces

New Partners

32 30

34 36

35 37 38

39 40 41 25

42 4344 45 47 46 48 58 49

26 29

64 57

69 70 72 73

71 77

74 75 79 80

59 76

61 81 82 83 84 85

PROJ EC T PI C TO R A L

GLORIOUS in Green Bay

Custom Home Designed to Keep Art in Mind By Nicole Selner, Partner (Green Bay) Photography by Badger Skytography With a current vacation home, and a large home in Milwaukee, the clients were looking to relocate to Green Bay to be closer to family. They had amassed a number of travel treasures and pieces of art and wanted a means to showcase these in their Green Bay home. They also wanted to feel and be close to nature and have a home that allowed for enjoying outdoor spaces. The clients had an architect and interior designer on the team, and required a builder. When we met them, we understood they had experience in building before, and that planning up front and superior project management during the construction process would be paramount on this project.

AL AIRHOMES.COM

Gallery hallways with windows were abundant in this home to flood the space with natural light, and provide ample views to the tree-filled properly. It also provided great space for the collection of artwork the client wanted to display. Soaring ceilings with walls of windows give a sense of vibrance and connection with nature in the main living areas. Complete custom cabinetry used pieces from his travels, and was a main feature in the open concept kitchen where culinary dreams are made of. The orientation of the home and neighboring houses was a big consideration of the design to create a sense of privacy, even when enjoying the backyard oasis. A reflecting pond for peaceful days combined with an infinity pool, spa, and fire pit provide ample outdoor entertainment and living space to enjoy relaxing days and nights. Project Management: Andy Selner Interior Design: Melissa Couture Peterson, Designs of the Interior Architect: BAG Studio

“ I interviewed a number of builders before I selected Alair and I can honestly say how delighted I was with my selection. I was first impressed by Alair’s detailed planning process. Other builders bid on the job, promised an early start but did not demonstrate a process.” Gary James Pond, homeowner and Alair Green Bay client

AL AIRHOMES.COM

Ask ALAIR

A response roundup of frequently asked questions and hot topics in the design and construction community with advice and answers from some of our experts across the Alair network.

Meet the experts...

Simon Amesbury, Partner Alair Tampa

Derek Fredeen, Partner Alair Red Deer and Alair Bow Valley, Alberta

John Jardine Project Manager Alair Calgary, Alberta

Warren Koop, Partner Alair Winnipeg, Manitoba

Paul McGavigan, Partner Alair Edmonton Central

Sharayah Moffat, Partner Alair Winnipeg, Manitoba

Mike Peters, Partner Alair Brandon, Manitoba

Evelynn Ratcliffe, Partner Forest Hill, Lorne Park (Ontario)

The construction industry is facing unprecedented times due to an increase in construction demand while also facing supply-chain limitations, as well as delays primarily due to the pandemic. What are some of the common experiences you are facing, and how are you educating your clients on what they may expect, and how Alair can help them during this unprecedented time?

It helps to understand what is driving the limitations, so we keep a running list of all the macro and micro events worldwide impacting the industry. Everything from the pandemic to the freeze in Texas is on the list, each with a corresponding impact. This then helps clients make more informed decisions about what goes into their home, and where it comes from. It also encourages clients to make decisions early on in the process so we can provisionary order items to shorten the overall build time.

Alair’s process allows us to plan the project and order long lead material items well before we start construction. Once selections are approved by the customer our subcontractors are signed into an agreement to honor the price for that job. Our strong relationships we have built with our trades and suppliers offers us the opportunity to get an honest lead time and material options to choose from that will not hinder the schedule with longer lead times than anticipated to hit the targeted completion date. Proper communication and strong relationships are how we deal with building constraints in the industry. Having the right team in place allows us to get through any situation and finish with happy clients.

Evelynn Ratcliffe

Derek Fredeen

What do you believe the next 6 months looks like for the construction industry due to the current supply-chain delays, increased costs and even now goods produced in Ukraine that may be affected by the current conflict? Increasing and persistent communication will be required to get products and supplies in a timely manner or finding alternatives. Significant time will be spent solidifying supplier, market partner and trade relationships. We will also see traditional construction processes needing to be altered to accommodate late or missing items.

As Northern States and Canada emerge from the winter months, the supply chain demands will increase, leading to more shortages and longer leadin times. Thankfully our unique ability to collaborate helps us find alternatives - sources, manufacturers, products. Our planning process can help us adapt to the new scheduling critical path affects.

Warren Koop

Simon Amesbury

There are many unknows regarding the next 6 months, especially as we get into the busy construction season. Speaking directly with suppliers is the best way to predict or foresee potential delays. Paul McGavigan

What is the silver lining to the situation - how can Alair and our team of experts help navigate these times? Our front loaded, strategic planning process is the best way to help clients. It’s irresponsible and dangerous to start a construction project the “old way” where you design and build on the fly. No other builder has the depth of experience Alair does to navigate today’s climate.

Our ClientControlTM Process has been tested and proven during these times. It brings certainty and peace of mind to our clients. Sharayah Moffat

Evelynn Ratcliffe

What are some of the building and design trends you are excited about for the next year? Or what can we see more of in the houses/projects we help plan and construct? Hot dog roller grills installed in kitchens. A guy can dream. John Jardine

Moody browns and calming neutrals. Just ask Jake Arnold! Here in Winnipeg, we are passionate about bringing energy efficiency and thermal solutions to our clients to help them save in the long term.

Editors’ Note: We agree – more hot dog grills in our homes!

Sharayah Moffat

With delays or discontinued materials, we are starting to see more locally produced products that can help create jobs and new ideas.

I’m personally really excited about the increased use of natural light and the incorporation of the outside through elements like operable window walls.

Paul McGavigan

Evelynn Ratcliffe

AL AIRHOMES.COM

DE S IGN FE ATURE

From Conformity to Compelling A Wrinkle in Design Time Breathes Life Back into a 1970s Home

By Byron Brooks and Jen Vanderbeek Photography by Ema Peter

In her 1962 novel A Wrinkle in Time, Madeline L’Engle portrays a futuristic society on the imagined planet of Camazotz where uniformity and replication preclude every sense of originality or individual preference. Carbon-copy everything. Clothing styles. Codes of conduct. The size, colour and construction of houses. All identical. No deviation from the norm accepted.

AL AIRHOMES.COM

Many suburbs that were designed and built during the 1970s seemed to replicate Camazotz’s criteria. Decisions were made from a commodity-first approach to housing. Homes were selected from a small menu of eerily similar conscripted options, and were optimized for repetition and value. The main characters in A Wrinkle in Time resisted conformity, just as did a young family in Calgary, which is where our story begins. Russ and Vreni purchased one of those cookie-cutter 1970s-era split-level homes. Large lots, mature trees, and proximity to Vreni’s work drew them to their new neighbourhood. They were less inspired by the drab colouring, bland carpet throughout, and the home’s closed-in floor plan. The couple immediately began to consider modifications that would better suit their tastes and the needs of their active family.

The variety of surfaces and carefully crafted details bid closer inspection and exploration. One of the many notable features is the millwork used to create the home’s Think Room: a floor to ceiling ash wood screen and cleverly designed, nested barn doors close off a portion of the main living space for privacy, or to soften music practice.

The vision really started to come together when Russ and Vreni discovered the work of Vancouver design firm Falken Reynolds Interiors. Research of this firm through photo features in magazines and online led to a series of impactful visits with lead designers, Chad and Kelly. As the concept was developed, the team from Alair Calgary (formerly Brookwright and proudly welcomed to team Alair in 2021) was brought in to provide pre-construction services. Months of collaboration and working together have resulted in a beautifully transformed space, inside and out, that welcomes the senses in a fine balance of the trusted familiar and the compellingly unique.

The design evidences a well-considered layout that invites curiosity while encouraging a sense of innovation in its intent and function.

Originality crafted by means of simple materials, each carefully considered and positioned with particular intention by members of a trusting team helped to create success on this project.

What was once ‘just another house’ has become a distinct work of originality and non-conformity, and that’s something worth celebrating!

Thank you to the amazing artisans and craftspeople who collaborated to bring this masterpiece to life. Designer: Falken Reynolds Landscape Design: Baber Design Build Millwork: Sunview Custom Cabinets

#AlairLovesLocal 2022 Edition By Jacqueline Tyler

Alair Loves Local launched in February 2021 as a way for our teams to support their neighbourhood cafes and restaurants that were struggling due to pandemic closures and restrictions. This past February, the campaign returned, and most of our Alair locations participated showcasing their love of local by creating heART to spread amongst their communities.

Top HeART Moments: St Albert, Alberta partnered with Bread Love, a local bakery and gifted artisan bread to the community and hid gift cards for people to find and use to support the business. Oakville, Ontario and NE Ohio offices created giant wooden heARTs to tour around their towns promoting local restaurants. Lawrence Park in Ontario, built an outdoor ice rink and hosted a warmup station with hot chocolate and donuts for their neighbours. Collingwood, Ontario created goodie bags filled with gift cards and custom cookies to surprise their trades teams as they hand-delivered them with love. Vancouver and area, British Columbia, cheersed with beers at their local brewery. Many teams carried sparkly heart balloons and spotlight their local hangouts or market partners with selfies. Teams purchased gift cards and then secretly hung them in-and-around their communities sprinkling hints on Instagram on where to find themwe’re talking Valentines’ dangling from trees, envelopes being tucked within playgrounds and tied around park benches all for some lucky winners to enjoy their love of local by creating heART to spread amongst their communities.

Search #AlairLovesLocal on Instagram and follow the love. AL AIRHOMES.COM

Custom Pool House Alair Calgary

Mental Health in the Home By Kara Murray, Partner (Alair St. Albert)

It’s important to talk about mental health and wellness. As a parent, I am so happy to see how these conversations have increased in recent years, and the stigma around talking about mental health seems to be reducing. As a homebuilder and community leader, it’s important that we look at how our homes can help boost our mental health and wellness too– especially during uncertain times when we are being asked to spend more time in our homes. In an effort to have our homes help increase our mental health, I am sharing some trends we are seeing this year to help accomplish this. Over the last two years, we have been spending more time at home and less time engaging with others at school, work or play. But human beings, as innovative as we are, have manifested some solutions by designing a space in our homes dedicated to decompressing.

In-home Yoga Studio by Alair Edmonton. Photo by Merle Prosofsky

AL AIRHOMES.COM

Library

Music Rooms

While libraries aren’t a new concept, they are showing up more and not just as a study/ library type room, but also as reading nooks and designated spaces for curling up with a tea, a blanket and a great book. You can add a small side table next to a chaise lounge in a quieter area of the house or have a bookshelf with a builtin window seat overlooking the yard. Wherever you can relax and escape in a good book, that is the perfect place for your mini library.

Yehundi Menuhin, an American Violinist, is quoted as saying “Music is a therapy. It is a communication far more powerful than words, far more immediate, far more efficient.”

Library by Alair Edmonton for this Custom Acreage in Sherwood Park, Alberta. Photo by Merle Prosofsky

The rise of music rooms during this time shouldn’t be a surprise. Whether playing it or listening to it, music has a tremendous benefit on our psyche and is one of the most popular ways in which we relax and restore. The music room is a more updated version of using the garage for a jam session. Whether it is an alcove for playing your piano, or a small room with a music library and all the accompanying electronics, people are embracing a dedicated space for a musical retreat. If you want to really take it to the next level, you can soundproof the room and incorporate other elements to improve the acoustics.

Spa-like Spaces And last, but certainly not least, there is the home spa or massage rooms. Creating an oasis in your home for soothing away physical and mental tension, these also add an aesthetic look to your home. Think of massage tables, massaging chairs, aromatherapy, organic materials and natural lighting. Some people are choosing to upgrade their bathrooms, while others are creating separate spaces for massage and stretching.

Shakti Health Relaxation Room by Alair Sherwood Park. Photography by Karey Wood.

Shakti Health Massage Room by Alair Sherwood Park. Photography by Karey Wood.

These are only a few things that you will see a rise of in 2022 while people invest in their mental well-being and create spaces that facilitate that.

A primary ensuite retreat by Alair Edmonton. Photo by Cheryl Silsbe.

AL AIRHOMES.COM

Photo by Natalie Harper

Nothing Beets Mom’s Borscht Maria Sokolov’s Authentic Ukrainian Recipe

In times of turmoil, we tend to seek out anything that brings some comfort to the day. A classic homemade meal from Mom is often the key to that comfort. You might be asking us why we are featuring a hot soup recipe in our Spring/Summer edition of Alair Magazine. We have two good reasons. is good for the soul year-round, so don’t be 1 Soup afraid to sip or slurp it when the mood strikes you. have many people on the Alair Team, 2 We and in our network with Ukrainian roots, or with family still living in the country today. We hope we can all make this recipe, gather with people special to us, and share a special gesture in support of the people in Ukraine. Our Camrose, Alberta Partner, Andrey Sokolov is sharing his Mom’s authentic Ukrainian borscht recipe for all of us to enjoy. 50

Ingredients 4 litres of water (approximately 17 cups) 1 or 2 fresh beets cut into thin sticks 1 large piece or 2 smaller pieces of chicken or ribs (meat with bone-in preferred for flavour) ½ cup of rinsed red kidney beans 3 tablespoons of white vinegar 1 large or 1.5 medium carrots, sliced 1 diced green or yellow bell pepper 4 large tomatoes 3 diced potatoes

Instructions 1. Pour water into a large soup or stew pot 2. Place beans and meat into the pot and bring water to a boil

3. Once the water is boiling, add in the beets 4. Add vinegar and boil for 20 minutes 5. Add carrots and boil for another 30 minutes 6. Add bell pepper to pot and let simmer 7. While this is boiling, fry onions in a pan with

oil, margarine or butter until they start to turn transparent. Add garlic while frying (optional)

8. Once the onions are almost done add in 3 or 4 diced fresh tomatoes

9. Cook on medium heat for approximately 10 minutes, or until the onions and tomatoes form a paste

Approx 1 ¾ cups of fresh diced cabbage (or substitute with sauerkraut)

10. Once this paste is complete you

1 tablespoon of finely cut fresh dill

11. Add the potatoes and cabbage to the pot

1 bay leaf

12. Add the bay leaf and salt and pepper to taste

2 small diced onions

13. Let simmer another 15 minutes

1 tablespoon olive oil, butter or margarine

14. Remove bay leaf

3-4 cloves of garlic minced (optional) Sour cream (optional)

can add this directly to the pot

and let boil for approximately 15min

15. Add dill 16. Serve and top with a dollop of sour cream and fresh dill

ALAIR JUNIORS Andrey’s daughter, Rhya has been making Ukraine flag magnets in support of humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. Not only did she make them, she matched donations with her own money. Other local businesses stepped up to also match each dollar received including: • Alair Camrose • Point Forward Solutions • Glenda Strauss, REALTOR, ReMax Real Estate – Camrose Branch • Peeks N Creeks, Nordegg, Alberta

AL AIRHOMES.COM

ALAIR Achievements It takes a team of artisans and craftspeople who come together to design and build or renovate the custom homes we create. And when these homes are recognized or awarded, we want to share and celebrate with everyone who helped create these masterpieces from the homeowner to the designers to the trades. Congratulations to everyone across the AlairTM network for their work being recognized or awarded so far in 2022. Here are a few projects that have been celebrated so far this year. Alair Regina

Spotlight Awards

Regina & Region HBA Best New Home $1,000,000 - $1,499,999

Alair Edmonton

CHBA-Edmonton Region | The Floating Glass House Best Renovation $600,000 - $1 Million

Alair Decatur

NARI National CotY | Residential Interior $250,001 to $500,000, Myrtle Street Historic Home

Alair Dallas

NARI North Texas | Residential Detached Structure A Team Entry with Active Granite and Davis-Hawn Lumber

NARI North Texas | Residential Kitchen over $150,000

Award Status

City

Province/ State

Award Name

Award Governing Body

Project Awarded

Winner

Dallas

Texas

CotY North Texas

NARI North Texas

Residential Kitchen $60,001 to $100,000

Winner

Dallas

Texas

CotY North Texas

NARI North Texas

Residential Bath Under $25,000

Winner

Dallas

Texas

CotY North Texas

NARI North Texas

Entire House $250,000 to $500,000

Winner

Dallas

Texas

CotY Regional

NARI North Texas

Residential Bath Under $25,000

Winner

Dallas

Texas

CotY Regional

NARI North Texas

Residential Interior $250,001 to $500,000

Winner

Dallas

Texas

CotY National

NARI

Residential Bath Under $25,000

Winner

Dallas

Texas

CotY North Texas

NARI North Texas

Residential Landscape Design/ Outdoor Living $100,000 to $250,000

Winner

Edmonton

Alberta

Awards of Excellence

CHBA Edmonton Region

California Contemporary Best Infill 2,000 - 4,000 square feet

Winner

Edmonton

Alberta

Awards of Excellence

CHBA Edmonton Region

Grandview Heritage Best Renovation $150,000 - $300,000

Winner

Edmonton

Alberta

Awards of Excellence

CHBA Edmonton Region

The Floating Glass House Best Renovation $600,000 - $1 Million

Winner

Edmonton

Alberta

Awards of Excellence

CHBA Edmonton Region

Mid-century Parkview Best Renovation $300,000 - $600,000

Finalist

Edmonton

Alberta

Awards of Excellence

CHBA Edmonton Region

Strathcona County Homestead Best Single Family Home $500,000 - $600,000

Winner

Edmonton

Alberta

Awards of Excellence

CHBA Edmonton Region

Westmount Prairie Modern Best Infill Under 2,000 sq ft

Winner

Edmonton

Alberta

Awards of Excellence

CHBA Edmonton Region

Panoramic River Valley Modern Best Infill Over 4,000 sq ft

Finalist

Edmonton

Alberta

Awards of Excellence

CHBA Edmonton Region

Highlands Classic French Best Infill 2,000 - 4,000 sq ft

Georgie Awards

CHBA BC

Best condo renovation under $250,000

Finalist

Squamish/Whistler British Columbia

Finalist

Forest Hill/Toronto

Ontario

Reno Awards

BILD GTA

Best Renovation (no addition) under $250,000

Finalist

Forest Hill/Toronto

Ontario

Reno Awards

BILD GTA

Best Renovation (Addition) over $500,000

Finalist

Forest Hill/Toronto

Ontario

Reno Awards

BILD GTA

Best Renovation (Addition) over $500,000

Finalist

Forest Hill/Toronto

Ontario

Reno Awards

BILD GTA

Best Custom Home Kitchen

Finalist

Forest Hill/Toronto

Ontario

Reno Awards

BILD GTA

Best Custom Home Washroom

Winner

Decatur

Georgia

CotY Regional

NARI

Residential Interior $250,001 to $500,000 Myrtle Street Historic Home

Winner

Decatur

Georgia

CotY Regional

NARI

Winner

Decatur

Georgia

CotY Regional

NARI

Residential Exterior $50,000 to $100,000 Myrtle Street Historic Home Residential Interior Element under $30,000 Myrtle Street Historic Home

Winner

Decatur

Georgia

National CotY

NARI

Residential Interior $250,001 to $500,000, Myrtle Street Historic Home

Winner

Decatur

Georgia

National CotY

NARI

Residential Exterior $50,000 to $100,000 Myrtle Street Historic Home

Finalist

Regina

Saskatchewan

Master Awards

Regina & Region HBA

Home Builder of the Year

Winner

Regina

Saskatchewan

Master Awards

Regina & Region HBA

Renovator of the Year

Winner

Regina

Saskatchewan

Master Awards

Regina & Region HBA

Safety Award

Winner

Regina

Saskatchewan

Master Awards

Regina & Region HBA

New Home Kitchen

Winner

Regina

Saskatchewan

Master Awards

Regina & Region HBA

Room Renovation

Winner

Regina

Saskatchewan

Master Awards

Regina & Region HBA

Exterior Renovation

Winner

Regina

Saskatchewan

Master Awards

Regina & Region HBA

Whole Home Renovation

Winner

Regina

Saskatchewan

Master Awards

Regina & Region HBA

New Home Under $299,999

Winner

Regina

Saskatchewan

Master Awards

Regina & Region HBA

New Home $400,000 - $499,999

Winner

Regina

Saskatchewan

Master Awards

Regina & Region HBA

New Home $1,000,000 - $1,500,000

AL AIRHOMES.COM

Starting a Community Pantry Help fight food insecurity By Kristina Matisic According to Statistics Canada, during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in fall 2020, about 1 in 10 Canadians (9.6%) said they experienced food insecurity in their household because of financial constraints. In the same period, the USDA reported an estimated 1 in 8 Americans were food insecure, equating to over 38 million Americans, including almost 12 million children. Food insecurity is expected to increase as a result of the pandemic with job loss, inflation, increasing interest rates all expected to have a taxing effect on people across North America. One initiative that’s aimed at combating and destigmatizing food insecurity at the local level is the community pantry. Founded on the concept of mutual aid, pantries ascribe to the motto of, “Take what you need, leave what you can.” Mona Grenier volunteers with the Vancouver Community Fridge Project, monitoring and stocking pantries across the city. She has even parlayed her passion for pantries into a burgeoning TikTok career to help spread awareness. (Check her out at @interruptingchicken.) Alair first got involved when Grenier reached out, asking if we could help build doors for a pantry that was being ransacked by unwanted visitors - the local wildlife. In March, Alair Delta volunteered to build a new pantry for an East Vancouver Synagogue that was looking to bring one to their neighborhood.

“I got started when a community fridge and pantry opened up in my neighborhood. I would keep track of what foods were donated and pay attention to what types of foods users preferred and I would try and donate more of those things,” says Grenier. “There’s a mitzvah - a commandment - that is central to Judaism: Love the stranger. That’s the kind of vibe we want here in our neighborhood: a sense of belonging, mutual care, and a message of like hey, it doesn’t matter who you are, how much money you got in your pocket - you can drop by, pick something up, drop something off, and feel connected to other people,” says Duggan Cayer, head of Programs and Events at Or Shalom Synagogue.

If you’re interested in creating your own community pantry, here are a few tips to get you started. Where to build

How to stock it

There are two schools of thought: First, choose a space that’s visible, with lots of walk-through traffic so that neighbors know it’s there. Or, choose a location that’s a bit more tucked away, say in an alleyway, which can offer users more privacy.

Any food that’s unopened and isn’t expired can be donated. Ready-cooked meals like canned stews, soups and pastas go quickly as some people don’t have the ability to cook. And proteins are often a big hit. “Peanut butter, shelf-stable tofu, canned meats, canned beans, jerky strips, all go really quickly,” says Grenier. Non-food items can be popular, especially things like feminine hygiene products. They can be expensive to buy and they aren’t readily available at food banks. When in doubt, try different items and then check back to see what gets taken first. The only off-limits items are opened or expired foods, or anything that you wouldn’t consume yourself.

How to build We used standard plywood with exterior grade primer and paint to protect our pantry. An overhang with shingles can help shield it from inclement weather. And ensure it has legs, so that it isn’t sitting directly on the ground. Doors are a must in order to keep wildlife out. They should be transparent (we used plexiglass on ours) so that users can see what’s inside. We added a roller catch on the doors to help them stay closed. Accessibility is also key. The Americans with Disabilities Act says handles and catches should be from 34” to 48” off the ground for maximum accessibility. Grenier recommends decorating the pantry with bright colors and designs to make it feel more welcoming to users.

Spread the news Share the news about your new pantry on social media and invite locals to drop by and donate food. If there is a more formal community pantry organization in your area, be sure to inform them so they can include the pantry on their map. “Community pantries are not only a way to share food with neighbors, they foster a sense of mutual aid and giving back that preserves dignity and encourages the growth of real community. I wish there were a community pantry in every neighborhood,” says Grenier.

AL AIRHOMES.COM

The‘ode Fashioned A GREAT GIFT IDEA A pair of etched Cambria rocks glasses along with the Cambria “AS SEEN IN ELLE DECOR MAGAZINE” Large Board with Handles is a great gift for anyone looking to level-up their cocktail décor.

Justin Thompson and Jacqueline Tyler Photography by Natalie Harper The last decade brought forth a handcrafted cocktail boom where hotel lobbies became reimagined meeting places for enjoying classics like the bird-bath martini or sidecar. Speakeasy bars were re-found via secret passwords hidden on Instagram. All clues have led the curious cocktail connoisseur who values elite liquor offerings, back into spaces where one sip romances one back into yesterday. The Old-Fashioned, of course, has a great deal of history dating back far enough that it was considered an “old-fashioned” drink even in its pre-Prohibition heyday. According to Eater.com, “The Old Fashioned was an evolution of the Whiskey Cocktail, which was simply whiskey, sugar, bitters, and water, and was served as early as 1800 or so,” explains cocktail authority Robert Simonson, author of The Old-Fashioned: The Story of the World’s First Classic Cocktail, with Recipes and Lore. “When bartenders in the 1870s and 1880s began adding embellishments to their Whiskey Cocktails, some customers rebelled against the innovations, preferring the traditional version and thus ordering “old-fashioned whiskey cocktails” instead. “That name was eventually shortened to Old-Fashioned.”

Like a fine home built with love and care, so too should a timeless cocktail be created.

“My liking of the Old Fashioned was stirred on by the late Jamie Affleck as it was his favourite drink,” says Justin Thompson, Regional Partner, Alair Ontario and NE Ohio. “Every time I make it, and share my recipe, it’s a nod to him and everything he helped build with Alair.” The mixing and sharing of cocktails at home can also be a great way to gather with the people we want to share special memories with. “I so much enjoy the elegance of preparing classic cocktails over conversations in the kitchen with friends and family. There is a tradition to it, and I love the chance to showcase my affinity while creating a memorable experience for guests visiting our home.”

PRO TIP: If you have a smoker at home, play with ways to smoke the glass and/or the cocktail to give it a Rocky Mountain vibe.

Today, classics have been brought forth with a twist and made accessible to homeowners – especially during times of lockdown where many people kept the style of their Friday and Saturday nights alive turning to local companies for help offering at-home cocktail kits. These hand-prepared collections include perfectly prepared ingredients and glassware to become a master mixologist. As Alair celebrates 15 years, sharing the recipe of the Old-Fashioned is fitting, as over the years this cocktail has become the signature drink for Team Alair in many parts of North America. You may occasionally see us raising a glass on special occasions when we are able to gather together or we are celebrating new achievements together. And it usually involves a toast to someone very special to many of us at Alair.

AL AIRHOMES.COM

Make it at home, Justin Style 2 ounces of your favourite bourbon (or whisky/whiskey) 3/4 ounces of maple syrup (adjust based on desired sweetness). This replaces the traditional sugar syrup to make it more Canadiana 2 dashes orange bitters 2 dashes Angostura bitters 1 orange peel Cherries for garnish. My favourite are the Luxardo brand

Methodology 1. Add the maple syrup and bitters to a rocks glass and stir

2. Add a large cube or sphere of ice (Justin prefers the sphere as it’s easier to mix in the glass)

3. Add the bourbon over the ice and gently stir to combine

4. Express the oil of an orange peel over the glass,

gently kiss the rim of the glass with the peel, then drop the peel into the glass

5. Add a couple of cherries to the glass and ENJOY!

FUN FACT: The spelling of whisky/ whiskey varies around the world. In Canada, it’s Whisky, and in the United States it’s Whiskey.

The Home Team As AlairTM celebrates 15 years in business, we want to introduce you to a few of the folks who make up our home office team. There are many more people behind the scenes that make up our accounting, administrative services, operations, human resources, marketing and communications, information systems, legal services and management teams. These people are essential to helping the hundreds of Alair regional partners, location partners, project managers and administrators across North America, and what makes the Alair team special and unique.

Let’s meet a few members of the Alair Home Team and learn more about them. Heather Capper Jones

What’s Something People May Not Know About You? I love to experiment with campfire cooking and making different types of bread.

Michael Duncan

Who is your Favourite Superhero? My children are my favourite superheroes. They are two individuals that will be more than I could ever hope to be. What’s Your Guilty Pleasure? Peanut butter and banana sandwiches. Favourite Music? ‘Jon & Roy’ is my go-to. What’s Something People May Not Know About You? I have Skydived Twice, Victoria and Qualicum on VI.

Information Services 3+ Years

Nicole Wicks

What’s Your Guilty Pleasure? I love donuts, especially from “Goat on the Roof Market” in Coombs on Vancouver Island.

Favourite Music? The Tragically Hip.

Director of Operations 2 Years

Deon Towle

If You Were a Movie Star Who Would you be and Why? Definitely someone from Star Wars because the Force is with me. What is your animal and why? The Pacific Tree Frog. They are cute, small, love forest bathing and they talk a-lot, also I love them. Favourite Activity? Surfing and Skiing in the same day. What is your animal and why? Sea turtle. I like to vibe on my own through the ocean.

Marketing Coordinator 1.5 Years

What is the Best Trip You’ve Ever Taken? Spending two months living the dream while surfing in Indonesia. Or spending 19 days road-tripping across the American Mid-West.

Marketing Coordinator 1 Year AL AIRHOMES.COM

Kathryn Scott

Favourite Music? The Weeknd.

Stu Hopewell

Who is your Favourite Superhero? Cat woman, enough said! What is the Best Trip You’ve Ever Taken? Disneyland with my amazing children.

Favourite Activity? After work I enjoy staying fairly close to home, working on a project in the yard/garage. Who is your Favourite Superhero? The Hulk, because when you are having one of those days who wouldn’t want to smash some stuff up?!?!

Operations 4 Years

Jason Clayton

What is the Best Trip You’ve Ever Taken? 2016 we were lucky enough to travel to Africa and experience a real Safari, it was a life changing trip and would go back tomorrow.

Favourite Music? Ok so as this is a safe place .... Abba Dancing Queen is my all-time favourite! .

Chief Operations Officer 10 Years

Rachel Peace

What Is Something People May Not Know About You? I am a history nerd and I was once a paid-up member of an archeological club for a TV show in the UK! What are Three Words Used to Describe You in Highschool? Loyal, shy, studious .

What is your animal and why? River Otter. They don’t smell great, but they seem like they are always having a good time. Who is your Favourite Superhero? Spiderman all the way.

Marketing Director 2 Years

What’s Your Guilty Pleasure? Madonna’s Confessions on a Dance Floor Concert, 2005 Live recording. I’ve watched it like 5 times.

Human Resources Director, 1 Year

If You Were a Movie Star Who Would you be and Why? Wishful thinking, but I would like to be someone musical like Kristen Bell or Beanie Feldstein. Or a super funny genius like Mindy Kaling.

Navya Rayaprolu

Who is your Favourite Superhero? Scarlett Witch - the hand choreography is so fun! Also, she straight up created a whole new world. I love that for her.

Anna Fraser

What is the Best Trip You’ve Ever Taken? I took three months off after my big CPA exam to travel India. I went all over the country and I still feel like I barely scratched the surface on things to see and learn! Favourite Activity? CAMPING!! There are so many wicked places on the island. I love to slap my tiny home on the back of my truck and go exploring.

Accounting 1 Year

What’s Something People May Not Know About You? My hockey team was in the Guinness World Records for world’s longest female hockey game, back when I was young.

Accounting 5 Years

Keri Beckett

What are Three Words Used to Describe You in Highschool? Misfit, Shy and Bubbly.

Favourite Music? My Chemical Romance. What’s Something People May Not Know About You? I do weight training and can bench-press 125lbs and Romanian Deadlift 225lbs.

Damien Peters

What is the Best Trip You’ve Ever Taken? I did a one-week trip around Greece, staying in Delphi and Athens.

What is your animal and why? A good friend once told me that my Spirit Animal was a Peacock. I don’t disagree. Who is your Favourite Superhero? Black Panther, because his enemies’ strengths can actually make him stronger (via Vibranium, of course)!

Accounting 8 Years

What are Three Words Used to Describe You in Highschool? Attitude, Hair, Fashion-sense (all were unfortunate).

Director of Accounting Services, 1.5 Years

AL AIRHOMES.COM

#AlairLovesLocal, Special Feature By Jacqueline Tyler

As we watch the news of the current conflict in Ukraine, we know there are many people on our team and across our network of partners with loved ones in the country. Alair Loves Local, and celebrating and supporting locally owned businesses in the communtiies where we work and live, and in this special edition we want to shine a light on some local Ukrainian businesses across our Alair network. We honor their heritage as we highlight their authentic delicacies. May this list of restaurants and bakeries encourage you to go visit and learn more about their culture living within your communities.

Canada

Etobicoke Vatra Deli

Ontario

Try potato pancakes, crepes, and enjoy lots of other Eastern European dishes.

Toronto Heavenly Perogy @heavenlyperogyto Try the Heavenly Box, filled with oven-ready and ready-to-eat items for two to eight guests.

British Columbia Vancouver Ukrainian Village Features legendary traditional dishes using “Grandma’s recipes.”

New Westminster, Vancouver Photo courtesy of Heavenly Perogy, Toronto, Ontario.

Kozak Eatery Offers a variety of special-occasion breads such as korovay, kolach and paska made using only natural ingredients.

Future Bakery Ukrainian bread like Termopil Rye and Kyiv Rye, along with a selection of pastries is on the menu.

Baby Point Lounge Focuses on catering from borscht to knyshi to cabbage rolls - why not reserve lunch for the whole office and dedicate a lunch-and-learn to Ukraine.

Photo courtesy Kozak Eatery, New Westminster, British Columbia

Saskatchewan Saskatoon, Baba’s Homestyle Perogies Enjoy full perogie meals inside the restaurant or take frozen perogies to go.

Manitoba Winnipeg, Selvalas Sylvia Beck “Sevala” created Sevala’s - A taste of Ukraine in 1985 when she began selling perogies and cabbage rolls to friends, family, and neighbours.

Alberta St. Albert, Taste of Ukraine Serves all styles of traditional dishes as you can explore more exotic dishes representing various regions of Ukraine.

USA Arizona Mesa, All Pierogi Inspired by Grandma Anna’s magical kitchen & quaint Ukrainian village. They have been serving authentic Ukrainian food in Arizona since 2010.

Texas Amarillo, Kind Hope Bakery They bake to serve those affected by war and for orphans throughout Ukraine.

Houston, RIEL Inspiration for the menu is pulled from the culinary landscape of Texas’ gulf coast, Lachaine’s Ukrainian heritage and French-Canadian fare.

Riel Restaurant in Houston, Texas. Photo courtesy of Riel.

Florida Saint Petersburg, Pierogi Bar Makes fresh from scratch Ukrainian Authentic homemade pierogies following the old handmade recipe passed down from generation to generation. Photo courtesy of Taste of Ukraine, St. Albert, Alberta.

Calgary, Ukrainian Fine Foods Serves up delicious hot meals, as well offers a wide selection of frozen products to cook at home so you will always have a traditional meal available when you desire.

Naples, European Bakery Cafe Small quirky style unique restaurant serving authentic fresh homemade meals, prepared by a husband/wife team that love to make everyone feel at home.

#StandWithUkraine AL AIRHOMES.COM

Supplier Cambria Spotlight Sponsored Content Contributed by Cambria

Nothing Beats Cambria We are defined by our values, animated by our passion, committed to sustainability, and focused on our customers. Cambria is American made and family owned. Our products are made of the finest quartz. They are distinctively durable, nonabsorbent, and easy to maintain. We back them with robust service and support and a transferable Full Lifetime Warranty.

AL AIRHOMES.COM

Design Palette Cambria offers the broadest and most innovative quartz design palette in the industry. From timeless classics to cutting-edge contemporary, you’re sure to find the perfect selection to elegantly complement your style or décor.

What is Quartz? Quartz is one of the hardest minerals on Earth. Because of its strength and abundance, quartz is a popular and reliable choice for countertops. Quartz countertops are sometimes referred to as “engineered” or “man-made,” but quartz is in fact a natural stone. The amount of natural quartz in a slab depends on the quartz manufacturer. Cambria has the highest concentration of pure quartz to ensure strong, compact slabs.

Quartz Countertops VS Granite Quartz countertops are stronger than granite countertops. Quartz is an extremely hard mineral. Granite also absorbs liquids and stains, while quartz is completely nonabsorbent. Quartz countertops are maintenance free. Granite countertops need to be sealed and polished regularly. In addition, quartz can be fabricated for use in many unique applications that are not possible with granite or other stones.

Quartz Countertops VS Marble Quartz countertops are much more durable than marble countertops. Marble scratches and stains easily, while quartz countertops resist scratching and staining. Marble countertops require frequent maintenance, but quartz countertops never need to be sealed or polished. Unlike marble, quartz is nonabsorbent, so staining liquids and harmful bacteria are never absorbed. In addition, acidic foods like lemon can cause etching on marble countertops, which is never a concern with quartz.

Thank you for 15 years. To everyone on our team, to our design and market partners, to the trades, vendors and suppliers— we thank you for the expertise, artistry and craft you bring to the homes we build or renovate that beautify and enrich our communities. To the thousands of clients across North America, we thank you for welcoming us into your homes, and for allowing us to be part of constructing your special spaces. We look forward to celebrating 15 years over the rest of this year, and invite you to join us as many of our locations celebrate this, and other, momentous milestones. And, please stay tuned for the Fall/Winter edition of Alair Magazine for more on our 15th Anniversary Celebration and Showcase.

#DISCOVERALAIR

PEOPLE

PLACES

PROJECTS

PROGRESS