WESTERN LIVING // DEC 2018 Inside This Nordic Cool Whistler Getaway NORTHERN LIGHT // WESTERNLIVING.CA
Top Trends for 2019: Ceramic Wallpaper, Gorgeous Colour Go for Gold in Holiday Decor PLUS Paris on a Plate: Recipes from Beaucoup Bakery
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WINTER WONDER 24 // Trend Report 2019
Bold new tiles, rich paint colours, textured ceramics and more looks you’ll love for tomorrow’s top interiors.
32 // Nordic Cool
A Sophie Burke and Cedric Burgers–designed home in Whistler takes its cues from Scandinavian modernism.
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design 17 // One to Watch
Timothy Dyck uses traditional craftsmanship to make beautiful works of art.
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18 // Shopping
Sleek seating, stylish lighting and more home decor and furniture to add to your wish list.
20 // Openings
A pop-up makers’ market comes to Calgary, just in time for the holidays.
Cover: Ema Peter; Chocolate Hazelnut Raspberry Jam Financiers: Clinton Hussey
22 // Holiday Decor We Love
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These modern metallic ornaments and accessories are as good as gold.
travel 42 // The Check-In
Cool hotels, an impressive arts scene and—of course—food galore await in Berkeley.
food 44 // Paris on a Plate
Beaucoup Bakery’s Betty Hung gives your holiday cookie platter a French twist.
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plus 50 // Trade Secrets
A striking entryway lets the light in. westernliving.ca / d e c e m b e r
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WL // editor’s note
A VERY JOYEUX NOËL
Q& A This month we asked our contributors, What’s your go-to holiday cookie recipe? Amanda Ross, writer “Nordic Cool” page 32 Several years ago I came across a cranberry biscotti recipe from a 1998 copy of Bon Appétit and I’ve been riffing on it ever since (orange zest, an early2000s-brush with white chocolate). It’s actually an easy recipe, but you have to bake the biscotti twice, so it’s time-consuming but worth it—people are always surprised getting homemade biscotti (that is, when they make it out of the kitchen!).
Ema Peter, photographer “Nordic Cool” page 32 One of the go-to recipes that I watched my grandmother and mother do each Christmas was for traditional kourabia: Armenian shortbread cookies. They’re truly melt-in-your-mouth delicious. I always feel that making a recipe that has been done for so many generations carries a truly special meaning.
Behind the Scenes I spent three days at this year’s Cersaie exhibition in Bologna, Italy—840 exhibitors from around the world, and in particular, Italy, showcasing the latest in ceramic and porcelain tile. Safe to say, I loved this electric “marble” tile from Sicis. For more from the show, turn to page 24.
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anick a quin, editorial director anick a.quin@westernliving.ca 1 4 d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 8 / westernliving.ca
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Anicka Quin portrait: Evaan Kheraj; styling by Luisa Rino, makeup by Melanie Neufeld; outfit courtesy Holt Renfrew, holtrenfrew.com.
Follow Anicka on Instagram @aniqua
You can ask anyone who knows me well: I’m deeply involved in an ongoing love affair with France. For years I’ve talked about living there one day (wine, cheese, chocolate, croissants, chocolate croissants—what’s not to love?), but I’ve finally started getting a little more serious about it, studying French at Le Centre culturel de francophone in Vancouver and visiting the country as often as I can. My niece recently expressed to my sister that she knew someone who “basically lived in Paris, since Aunticka,” (as she calls me) “goes there all the time.” (To be fair, I’ve been twice in the past couple of years, so I’m not exactly laying claim to a pied-à-terre yet.) So when our food editor, Julia Dilworth, suggested we chat with local favourite Beaucoup Bakery about how they’d bring a little Paris to the holidays, of course she knew her audience. I’m not sure how many times in a row I shouted yes back at her. (And of course, that should have been oui.) As a result, for this issue, Beaucoup owner and chef Betty Hung shares her recipes for glittering gingerbread éclairs, strawberry pink peppercorn sablés, chocolate hazelnut raspberry jam financiers—all the kind of showpieces for a cookie platter that you’re meant to enjoy as much for the baking process as for how gorgeous they are. I’d like to think they bring a little of the Paris lifestyle to the making, too: sip a café crême, bring a few friends over and take your time. Whatever traditions you bring to your own holiday table this year, I wish you and yours the very best of the season. May it be filled with both the busyness that’s inevitable this time of year and those quieter times with friends that make it all worthwhile. Joyeux Noël, bonne année, merry Christmas!
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S H O P P I N G // T R E N D S // P E O P L E // S PA C E S // O P E N I N G S // I N T E L
one to watch
Iron Man Timothy Dyck, Ironworker, Vancouver
Timothy Dyck wipes beads of sweat from his forehead as he mounts an old piece of steel on a modified metal lathe. As the steel turns, its colour begins to change from black to yellow to orange and red. Tools scrape along the outside of the spinning metal, refining the object into a round shape. As Dyck dunks the metal vessel underwater, it reacts with a satisfying sizzle. Born and raised in Abbotsford, Dyck has forged himself a wellestablished career as a blacksmith, designer and craftsman since first experimenting with metalwork as a teenager. The repurposed steel in the iron bowls he’s making is sourced from old logging camps and mining companies in B.C.—a collection he calls his Relevant series. “To use this as a means to design and build for today while at the same time have a deep respect and for connection to our past—this is relevant design,” says Dyck.—Jessie Blair
Carlo Ricci
Feel the Heat “Craftsman work is something we’re needing in our massproduced society,” says Dyck. “I want to bring a piece of B.C. history into people’s homes.” See one of his modern axe designs on page 20.
westernliving.ca / d e c e m b e r
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WLDESIGN // shopping
by Rosemary Poole
Anicka’s Pick
How I Do What I Do
Wilson Key Ring by Craighill $18, shop.walrushome.com
Sometimes a simple design can be oh so satisfying. I recently picked up one of these Wilson key rings by Craighill for a friend, knowing he’d feel the same way. The strength of the brass wire keeps the keys tightly in place, and a small enamelled strip adds just a hint of decoration. Très Brooklyn, no?
From Kinfolk founder Nathan Williams comes The Eye ($36), a detailed look at the influences of the world’s top creatives and tastemakers, including Grace Coddington, Clare Waight Keller and Thom Browne. indigo.ca
Circle Gets the Square
For more of Anicka’s picks, visit westernliving.ca
Eschewing corners and convention, Gan’s Caleido area rug (from $3,237) plays with form, materials and texture. grshop.com
NOTEWORTHY New in stores across the West.
Stone Age Gather ’Round
New work from Edmonton’s Oliver Apt. plays with colour, joinery and fun. To wit: the Popsicle-stick-like Belgravia coat rack ($680), which is made of solid ash and available in six colours. oliverapt.com
Stack them, group them or just admire them: the Rock candleholder set by Tom Dixon just landed on our holiday shopping list (sold in sets of two: tealight holders, $149; medium-sized candleholders, $257; large, $405). informinteriors.com; kitinteriorobjects.com
New Nordic
With its solid oak construction and wool cushions, the Miskito chair by Skagerak ($2,500) offers refined occasional seating that folds up for easy transport inside and out—weather permitting, of course. oldfaithfulshop.com; thefjordstore.com
1 8 d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 8 / westernliving.ca
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WLDESIGN // shopping
Wood Reigns
Good Handling
Made from structured seagrass with a lid for stacking or concealing, EQ3’s Nomad baskets (small, $80; large, $130) are a smart update to the ubiquitous belly basket. eq3.com
Made from oak reclaimed from fallen trees in Vancouver, Turn Lights by Propellor Design ($1,150 each) appear to glow from within. propellor.ca
OPENINGS Hot new rooms we love.
B y D aniela B ecerril
Green Cuisine
Now available at Cook Culture, the Combekk Dutch oven ($350 to $400) is made from recycled cast iron and comes with or without a built-in thermometer. Available in black, concrete and green (as shown). shop.cookculture.com
CALGARY Market Spot The artisan market that gathers more than 35 Calgarian makers in one place is back just in time for this holiday season with not one but two downtown pop-up shops. Find curated selections of local handmade products (like Alberta beeswax beard oil from Washboard Soapery and Such, or Drool Pawtisserie’s gourmet dog treats) at Core Mall and at CrossIron Mills from now until December 31. marketspotyyc.com
At Your Service
Put the Sydney bar cart ($1,179) to work in the office, the kitchen or simply during happy hour—it aims to please. Available in a white-lacquered frame and oak or in black lacquer and walnut veneer, as shown. boconcept.com
WINNIPEG June Home Supply Mûr Lifestyle, an online store for modest and sophisticated kitchen, home and bath wares, is getting a bricks-and-mortar shop and a new name: June Home Supply. The husband-and-wife owners hand pick beautiful and functional goods from designers, artisans and small manufacturers from Canada and beyond for a refined and eclectic mix—think blownin-Manitoba glass straws and natural, undyed wool blankets from Mexico. junehomesupply.com
Maker’s Mark
Taking the handmade movement to the tool shed, Timothy Dyck, in collaboration with VSSL, has produced a limited edition of axes ($350) from his workshop in Abbotsford, B.C. The head is forged from hardened tool steel; the handle is contoured straight-grain hickory. timothydyck.com 2 0 d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 8 / westernliving.ca
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WLDESIGN // holiday decor we love
By barb sligl
ALL AGLOW
Hang Out
Showcase holiday cards and mementos on sparkly silver or gold chains ($15). The string-like display uses magnets and can be set up horizontally or vertically; either way, it’s a brilliant way to create a festive feature wall. cb2.com
Here’s to the soft glow of a holiday that eschews the standard red and green and embraces the shine of metallics: silver, brass and the glam factor of gold. Twinkle, Twinkle Golden Hour
The black-and-brass contrast of Ikea’s Snofsa table clock ($15) will bring a sleek-yet-subtle gleam and silent-night timing (no annoying tick-tock) to the fireplace mantel—and remind Santa to stay on schedule. ikea.ca
This Tiffany star ($340), which combines the softness of American walnut with the shine of sterling silver (on a signature-blue ribbon), is destined to become a beloved ornament for generations. Hang from a tree—or anywhere that could use an extra glint. tiffany.ca
Wild and Wonderful
A sculptural statement and unexpected bit of quirky glitz from Jonathan Adler, the Brass Talon bowl ($198 U.S.)—hand-cast from a clay model in Adler’s Soho studio—will reign over a tablescape and hold those persimmons with aplomb. jonathanadler.com
designer’s pick
Charlotte Fenton
Container Chic
Crate and Barrel’s Thompson canisters (from $40) are worthy of display as gold-and-marble repositories to stash all those holiday treats, whether shortbread cookies or candy canes. crateandbarrel.com
Glam, Squared
Channel some elusive Gwyneth allure with the champagne-gold finish of Cubo ($699). The stainless steel side table is part of the Goop x CB2 collection and brings a bit of celebrity glamour home for the holidays—as well as an additional entertaining surface. cb2.com
Serving it Right “This multi-use black-oak-and-brass square tray ($200) can be used anywhere, whether it’s serving up a round of festive cocktails or providing a luminous surface for a flickering candle display. I love mixing elegant metallics with natural materials like the tray’s oak edge to help achieve Form West’s signature look of laid-back luxury.” litchfieldtheshop.com Charlotte Fenton of Form West Interiors, Vancouver, formwestinteriors.com
2 2 d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 8 / westernliving.ca
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TREND REPORT 2019
A new year calls for a new look, so we tapped the West’s sharpest designers to forecast emerging styles, spotlight up-and-coming materials and reveal their wish list for a well-designed future. Here’s what’s trending for 2019. b y j u l i a d i lw o r t h
Next-Gen TILE At the annual Cersaie expo in Bologna, Italy, ceramic tile manufacturers and designers from all over the world descend to showcase the latest in technology and design. And it’s pretty astounding just how far the simple ceramic tile has come. New rolling presses mean that the size of a piece can be just about limitless, and printing advancements mean that almost any colour is doable. Here are a few of the trends we spotted (and for more, head to westernliving.ca).
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Ceramic Wallpaper Ornamenta’s Operae line, amestile.com
These elaborate floral- and jungle-print ceramic panels transform a surface. They’re oversized, so seams disappear. Stunning.
Feeling Rusty Oxidart from Ceramica Sant’agostino, fontile.com
With the appearance of well-weathered, oxidized Corten steel, these ceramic tiles add a touch of industrial edge to a space.
Dekorami from Ceramica Vogue, juliantile.com
These three-dimensional tiles add texture and a little play to wall treatments. 2 4 d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 8 / westernliving.ca
Shou Sugi Ban Tile The Yaki collection from Brand Viva, stone-tile.com
The Japanese method of charring wood to preserve it—so popular in West Coast architecture—makes its way into ceramic, though the range of colours is more flexible in this medium, of course.
Gutter Credit
3D Vision
The Designer Forecast
Blueprint
Behr This mid-tone blue—slightly warmer than denim, yet softer than navy—is a 2019 colour of the year that’s welcoming and homey. “Blue signifies authenticity, confidence and timelessness,” says Erika Woelfel, vice president of colour and creative services at Behr. “This universally appealing hue provides a steady stream of positivity and is poised to be an instant classic for years to come.”
Our panel of designers make their predictions for which palettes should take centre stage in 2019.
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Wulfenite
C2 Paint
“Burnt orange, terracotta—old brick colours. I love it on furniture and on the walls.” – Elena Del Bucchia,
Elena Del Bucchia Design, Calgary
Blue Pearl
Benjamin Moore
“It’s a happy colour that isn’t overpowering.”
The Future of COLOUR Paint brands consider their trends and respective colours of the year with the same earnest sense of responsibility the federal government reserves for raising interest rates. There are investigative teams, discussion panels, colour experts and more that come together on global market research to make sure the colour of the year is informed, substantive and revelatory. There’s no crystal ball: this is what’s coming to shelves, walls and furniture near you.
– Kendall Ansell, Kendall Ansell Interiors, Vancouver
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Going Deeper
PPG Paints
This luxurious shade of deep green pulls from the current interior-design obsession with plants and nature. “The dark green hue pulls our memories of natural environments to the surface to recreate the calming, invigorating euphoria we feel when in nature,” says Dee Schlotter, PPG senior colour marketing manager.
Nocturnal Grey Benjamin Moore
“I love deeper tones of bluey greys. They feel rich and add depth to a space.”
–Aly Velji, Alykhan Velji Designs, Calgary
Pelt
Farrow and Ball
“Colours we would love to see take off in 2019 are warm, rich hues and soft neutrals. Pelt (No. 254) is a colour that is saturated and bold yet composed.” Metropolitan
Benjamin Moore
–Jenny Martin, Jenny
Martin Design, Victoria
“Comforting, composed and effortlessly sophisticated, Metropolitan AF-690 exudes beauty and balance,” says Ellen O’Neill, Benjamin Moore’s director of strategic design intelligence. “It’s a colour in the neutral spectrum that references a contemplative state of mind and design. Neither arresting nor aggressive, this understated yet glamorous grey creates a soothing, impactful common ground.”
westernliving.ca / d e c e m b e r
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WL trend report 2019
Abstraction Vases
from $250, dahlhausart.com
“I was first introduced to Heather Braun-Dahl quite a few years ago, and these pieces really show her diversity. I love the graphic element of these pieces—they are quirky and fun.” –A.V.
Arhoj Summer Bowl $67, vanspecial.com
“The glazes and glaze application on these Danish beauties are one of a kind. Not only are they little works of art, but they’re also food safe and make a perfect addition to table settings.”–Angela Robinson, Angela Robinson
Design, Vancouver
Ceramic Wall Drawings
from $100 each, genevievedionne.com
“They’re great to stand alone or include in a gallery wall for an interesting switch in medium.”– Gillian Segal,
Gillian Segal Design, Vancouver
A Life CERAMIC There’s something powerful about a bowl or vase that’s been formed by human hands. Each vessel is thoughtfully laboured over and tended to from concept to execution and through rounds of firings and glazes. And it’s that handcrafted care and connection that make these pieces—uneven edges, imperfect shapes— precious experiments all. Here are a few designers’ favourites for 2019.
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Yoshiko Godo Porcelain Bowls from $60, pigeonholehomestore.com
“Years ago in Victoria, I purchased a bowl at a craft fair from Yoshiko Godo, and it has become one of my most beloved accessories and dishes. Their organic shape makes them perfect for stacking and accessorizing.”–A.R.
Llama Ceramic Planter $85, as-ceramics.com
“Maybe it’s the mom in me and reading Llama Llama Red Pajama , but I can never pass on a whimsical accessory! Anna-Lise’s llama ceramic pots are the cutest!”– E.D.B. 2 6 d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 8 / westernliving.ca
Waiting Behind the Tee No. 2 Sculpture Price on request, jocelynevareid.com
“Jocelyn Reid’s stuff is interesting and outside the box. Sculptural, whimsical conversation pieces.”– E.D.B.
Ceramic Spoons $16, kalika.ca
“Kalika Bowlby’s pieces are refreshing, versatile, trendy and eye-catching. She is also the 2018 WL Maker of the Year winner!”– E.D.B.
Caterina Roma Limoges Porcelain Plate $140, musacurated.com
“I am in love with these crystalline glazes—they remind me of X-rays of botanicals. They have such a gorgeous organic quality to them.”–A.V.
WL trend report 2019
Into the WOODS
Refined Hulk
Christophe Delcourt’s non-symmetrical Lob low table ($21,435) shows off chunky solid-wood legs in an eye-catching rounded shape. avenue-road.com
We’re so spoiled in Western Canada with our forests and national parks—it should be no surprise that we crave familiar natural materials inside our homes as well. For 2019, woods move to a decidedly darker palette and designs are thicker, even a bit—dare we say—“chunky.” In millwork, we’re seeing texture, delicate lines and expertly crafted detail.
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Pattern Play
One of Velji’s favourites, French white oak gets a stunning update in wire-brushed Montpellier parquet (from $14 per square foot) that’s textural, modern and versatile. divinefloor.com
Take It to the Wall
Ansell’s team is a big fan of the oh-so-’70s Milkwood veneer wallcovering ($11 per square foot). “We are in love! It totally transforms a space,” says Ansell. koroseal.com
Nothing but Cerused
“I am currently having a love affair with any type of cerused oak (a.k.a. limed oak) for furniture, millwork, flooring—basically anywhere!” says Segal (this photo: Jax cerused entryway cabinet, $899). “Cerusing is a particular treatment where a contrasting colour is rubbed into the pores of the wood, which highlights the graining pattern and creates drama.” cb2.com
Supersized Butcher Block
Interior project from Peter Ivens in Belgium. peterivens.be
“A chunky, thick-wood butcher block integrated into your counter space is not only aesthetically pleasing, but it’s also super-practical as a prep station for the chefs of the house!”– Angela Robinson 2 8 d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 8 / westernliving.ca
Finely Fluted
“Detailing wood doors with a fluted or V-groove design [like this 18th Century Neoclassical fluted leaner mirror, $2,195] creates a stunning blend of soft, natural graining and crisp lines, adding a textural element to the wood,” says Martin. restorationhardware.com
Turn up the LIGHTS No more installing a standard-issue corner lamp and calling it a day. The new wave of lighting design is filled with drama, risk-taking and bright spots on the horizon that illuminate outside the box.
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Viva Sculptural
“I think the Shape Up 3-piece chandelier ($10,225) adds a uniqueness to a space, and I think we’re moving away from single pendants,” says Velji. “It feels like a gorgeous customized sculpture.” rollandhill.com
Baby Brutalism
DelBucchia points to an emergence of ’70s brutalism colliding with modernism, as fabulously evidenced by the timeless fluted Lantern sconce ($4,460). apparatusstudio.com
Hand-forged 19K White Gold Tanzanite and Diamond Ring Mixed Metals
“Reflective services are the new sparkle,” says Ansell. Exhibit A: this tone-on-tone steel Flute LED 29-light pendant ($4,190).
2832 Granville Street, Vancouver 604.736.6016 | @mjjewellers mjjewellers.ca
et2online.com
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WL trend report 2019 Raw Heritage
Looks to WATCH
Del Becchia loves this organic-meetsindustrial space, designed by Project 22 Design in Vancouver.
“We’ve seen industrial brick walls in restaurants and old New York lofts, but I think we will see more of them in residential design, especially original, authentic ones.”
Designers share their top crushes for standout interiors that will launch the next big trends for the coming year.
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History Revisited
Velji is looking to this traditional-eclectic living room, designed by Kyla Bidgood of Bidgood and Co. in Victoria, as an inspiration for future designs.
Janis Nicolay
“If you’re lucky enough to live in a character house or building, addressing the beautiful mouldings and architectural details is key! Kyla and her team have chosen to modernize this heritage house by painting the mouldings, walls and ceiling out in white. This allows the shadows to do their job of showcasing the detailing in an elegant and subtle way. Another way they’ve incorporated modern elements into this home is through the artwork. The painting above the fireplace (by Vancouver artist Lauren Mycroft) is an unusual and stunning addition to a traditional room.”
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NORDIC COOL This light and bright home in Whistler is also deceptively futuristic: its passive design creates a home that’s as beautiful and sustainable as it is cozy. by amanda ross // photographs by ema peter
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histler has a reputation for being a laid-back, outdoorsy paradise heavy on Gore-Tex and river rock, light on cashmere and cutting-edge design—which might be partially true. But when interior designer Sophie Burke introduced architect Cedric Burgers to a certain eco- and modern-minded client of hers, the newly assembled team had one mandate: to create a home that would be mindful of the environment and über-contemporary, yet just as cozy as any other lumber-laden mountain home. The result? A refined take on the cabin: a clean, simple dwelling that’s simultaneously warm, high-tech and elegant. “Houses are all going to look like this in 10 to 15 years,” says Burgers, principal of Burgers Architecture and the architect on the project. “It’s incredibly energy-efficient and uses only 10 percent of the energy of a code-built house.” Made by BC Passive House, Canada’s first facility to prefabricate structures in line with the rigorous European Passive House Standard, the home has a functionality that renders conventional air conditioners and furnaces obsolete. The homeowners, deeply interested in renewable energies and passionate about cleaner living practices, wanted their mountain home to be a reflection of their commitment to these daily principles. As such, every minute detail had to be strategized and plotted long before the first hammer could fall. Passive houses are prefabricated off-site in Pemberton, B.C.—about a half hour northeast of Whistler—and then assembled on-site, so, unlike a conventional build, there’s no margin for error or a midway change of mind. First up, the siting would need to be carefully considered: the homeowners cherished the property’s view of Rainbow Mountain. (In fact, during the planning, westernliving.ca / d e c e m b e r
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WL HOMES // nordic cool
Layered Vision “The client was very open and committed to seeing the vision right through to the end,” says designer Sophie Burke. “She understood it was all in the details: from the baskets and the blankets to the candles and the pottery— without those layers, it might feel cold.”
Truly Local All hand-thrown ceramics—from vases to bowls—are by local ceramicist Janaki Larsen.
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the homeowner rented a 30-foot ladder to climb to the hypothetical second floor: “I want to see what I’m going to see out my bedroom window!” he told Burgers.) “It would have been so much easier to site the house facing Whistler and Blackcomb,” admits Burgers. To capture that view, the house required “a sort of twisting action” to turn it 45 degrees, which meant it would no longer sit at a right angle. “That was initially tough for me to wrap my head around because I love right angles,” laughs Burgers. “But in the end, it was the right thing to do.” Once the design was inked, the next steps fell into place seamlessly. In autumn, a hole was dug on the property and the foundation poured. As the snow began to fall, construction stopped on-site, but that momentum carried on behind the scenes at the BC Passive House warehouse. Come spring, two flatbed trucks arrived at the property with a crane to lift all those prefab panels into place; some 18-inch screws affixed them all together. “It’s a bit like putting together a gingerbread house,” explains Burgers. The resulting abode, while designed to rigorous specifications that ensure all parts fit together snugly, still feels very much a part of nature. Each strategically placed window was designed to frame perfect views, but there’s another benefit to those high-efficiency German windows, too. “The first thing you notice when you walk in is that it’s mausoleum-quiet,” says Burgers. There’s virtually no “leakage” in the house, he explains, thanks to the triple-paned wood windows, which also work to keep temperatures perfectly uniform throughout:
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WL HOMES // nordic cool
Clean Living The peaceful, light-filled interiors were created with nature in mind: there are no synthetic fibres, no plastic, no chemically laden products. “The recovery ventilation system—or lungs of the house—constantly replenishes the air with clean air so there’s no pollen or dust,” explains architect Cedric Burgers. “There is no difference in air quality outside or inside.”
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standing next to one of the windows is equally warm as standing in the middle of the room. Once the shell was complete, it was time to turn to the interiors. From the outset, the team at Sophie Burke Design began to conceive of an interior that would perfectly dovetail with the exterior’s darker palette, which features shou sugi ban, or Japanese burnt-wood cladding. Because the homeowners follow a clean-living ethos, everything would need to be as natural as possible inside as well—the result of which is an airy, light-filled space that feels all at once both Nordic and Zen, and contrasting harmoniously with the darker exterior. The calm, serenity-steeped interior was the result of preparation equally intense as the outside form had required. The homeowners requested that local and green materials be faithfully sourced and, when that wasn’t possible, they expected materials to come from ethically minded or fair-trade companies. “We worked for so many months trying to find the right wood that met this criteria, but we were also trying to avoid any local wood that would give us orange tones, like cedar,” says Sophie Burke. “We wanted something Nordic and whitewashed, but, being mindful of local materials, foreign white oak wasn’t right either.” The team, including senior designer Jennifer Millar of Sophie Burke Design and Leon Lebeniste Millwork, worked for months to achieve the winning look: local hemlock wood was carefully whitewashed after weeks of R&D trying to effect the perfect light stain. Now hemlock ceilings, cabinetry and
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WL HOMES // nordic cool
furniture all tie together in one seamless, sophisticated space that could easily be a home on the Coast, a Scandinavian cabin or a New York apartment. It’s far from the usual Whistler suspects. “When the interiors are clean and minimal, the details are key because you really notice them,” says Burke. One detail that was required was durability because of the family’s plethora of skis, snow boots and even bikes (one of the homeowners is an avid mountain biker). The marble counters hail from Vancouver Island, while other notable details follow a natural ethos—wood, linen and cotton fabrics, wool wallpaper and natural ceramics abound. They all work in concert to create a 3 8 d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 8 / westernliving.ca
peaceful, family-friendly getaway that’s warm and welcoming even on the coldest of winter days. There’s a yin and a yang to the home—a sense of balance with the darker shell that envelops a light and natural interior. “Sophie and Cedric tuned in very quickly to the different styles my husband and I are attracted to and did an amazing job of harmonizing them,” says the homeowner. “My husband prefers darker colours, metal, lots of glass and raw materials—which Cedric and his team reflected in the architecture; I dreamed of soft, light, natural colours and textures that felt like a calm, warm embrace, which Sophie and her team magically brought to life.”
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C O O K I E R E C I P E S Y O U ’ L L L O V E // B A K E L I K E A P R O // T H E B E S T O F B E R K E L E Y
“I usually make cookies that have a long shelf life, like shortbread, sablés and biscotti...then I can serve them for up to a week or two without having to worry about them going stale.” – BETTY HUNG,
Clinton Hussey
BEAUCOUP BAKERY
Cat Got Your Tongue? Lavender and rose add a floral touch to these Langues de Chat cookies. Recipe on page 49.
westernliving.ca / d e c e m b e r
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WLTRAVEL // the check-in
THE OTHER CITY BY THE BAY If Berkeley evokes only memories of Alice Waters and outtakes from The Graduate, it might be time to revisit. These days, there’s more to the city than Frisco-fleeing hippies. Updone historic hotels, mid-century architecture aplenty, achingly local restaurants (and cheese shops, and butchers, and candlestick makers), a revitalized downtown arts scene, craft breweries and distilleries, the second-densest botanical garden in America—this ain’t your Aunt Alice’s Berkeley.
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A reverence for its history (modern Berkeley dates back to the late 19th century) means hotels here get revamped, not replaced. Add in unending gentrification pressures from San Francisco, aggressively hip Oakland and the swath of unreality that is Silicon Valley, and the reboot of the storied Hotel Durant, five minutes from the UC Berkeley campus, makes perfect sense—as does the reboot’s theme as the 1 Graduate Hotel Berkeley, complete with a library wall of National Geographics and cute details like student ID cards for room keys. Similarly respectful, and just down the street, stands the 2 Berkeley City Club, a historic landmark built by local architect Julia Morgan (UC Berkeley class of 1894). Still a private club but no longer just for women, it has 38 members’ residences redone as hotel rooms, and the city’s finest indoor swimming pool.
Berkeley City Club pool: Trevor Johnson
WELCOME TO THE HOTELS CALIFORNIA
by john burns
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3 MARKS FOR PARTICIPATION UC Berkeley is the city’s heart (a related campus founded the modern town) and focus. Walk its leafy streets—or use the guest bikes if you’re staying at the Graduate—and you’re likely to encounter drum circles, student protests, campus tours for anxious parentals and a parade of hothouse high achievers en route to class—all within one block. Check the calendar: if you can swing a performance at the campus’s 3 Zellerbach Hall, do it. A recent performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony included a conductor talk about the composer’s radical anticipation of the Me Too movement—a very Berkeley moment.
BAMPFA: Elizabeth Daniels; UC Botanical Garden: Yoni Mayeri
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5 LOCALS ONLY
FREE YOUR MIND
Food is a big deal in Berkeley, as it is across the East Bay. Suppers might see you staying in (both Julia’s at the City Club and Henry’s in the Graduate are serious rooms with great bars), but make time for other area spots, like 5 Gather, a high-end locavorium with a shorts-and-sandals vibe (and clever cocktails like The Resistance!, a mezcal sour that nods to the Resistance Report by UC Berkeley prof and general shit disturber Robert Reich). In the morning, grab a coffee from Peet’s or eggs at égalité-minded La Note. And when the sun’s shining, there’s nothing like pizza and a house-brewed Quasar ale on the Jupiter patio.
You could take BART into San Fran, but you’ve got all you need right here. Want art? 6 BAMPFA (UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive) hosts engrossing visual art and film shows, with an extra sizzle monthly when Full hosts special programming the night of each full moon. Nature? 7 UC Botanical Garden is one of the most diverse gardens anywhere: 34 acres of the world’s plants (10,000 of them, organized by geography) a 10-minute Lyft from downtown. Music? Freight and Salvage has been hosting the greats since 1968. The blues go incandescent with a night of barrel-aged whiskies from local Mosswood Distillers.
THE ONE-MILE DIET Berkeley is home to many firsts: recycling started here in 1970, it hosts the country’s oldest still-running marijuana dispensary, and Alice Waters and friends revolutionized American cooking when she opened Chez Panisse in 1971. Learn all about the interconnections of food, social justice, community, sustainability and deliciousness on Edible Excursions’ Berkeley Gourmet Ghetto Tour, which walks you by (and sometimes takes you into for snacking) city stalwarts like Chez Panisse, 4 Saul’s Delicatessen, Alegio, Peet’s Coffee and Tea, and the über-hippie Cheese Board Collective.
YOU ARE HERE
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Still curious (and need to walk off that night at Chez Panisse)? Robert Johnson and Janet Byron’s Berkeley Walks is a 288-page treasure map of rambles featuring parks, monuments, residences and more. westernliving.ca / d e c e m b e r
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“I try to bake with good ingredients, like real butter and vanilla: the time and effort are the same as if you bake with artificial vanilla or margarine, but the results are way better.”
The Cut-Ups Candy canes, mistletoe or Santa’s boot: a seasonal cookie cutter ups the festive factor for these nutty Spiced Pecan Sablés. Recipe on page 49.
Pink Ladies These Strawberry Pink Peppercorn Viennese Sablé Wreaths eschew classic red and green for a pretty-in-pink look. Recipe on page 46.
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Paris on a Plate
recipes by Betty Hung // photographs by Clinton Hussey // styling by jennifer stamper
How do you ace a Christmas cookie platter? You take it slow. Sure, you can churn out chocolate chip cookies in your sleep, but it’s the holidays—finally there’s time for leisurely afternoons spent in the kitchen, losing yourself in the baking process alongside the friends and family you’ve put to work in a joyful assembly line. And French cookie recipes are the perfect match for this sort of savour-the-moment baking experience: patisserie classics like éclairs and sablés are challenging without being complicated, delicate without being fussy, and (most importantly) decidedly delicious. With the recent release of French Baking 101, author and Beaucoup Bakery owner Betty Hung has cemented her role as the West Coast queen of Parisian pastry—here, she shares the beautiful, buttery treats that will fill your kitchen with warmth this holiday season.
Silver and Gold These glittering Gingerbread Éclairs are as good as gold. Recipe on page 46.
WLFOOD // paris on a plate
Gingerbread Éclairs Strawberry Pink Peppercorn Viennese Sablé Wreaths
Makes 10 –12 éclairs
You can be creative and make éclairs in almost any flavour. I have infused the pastry cream here with the warm spices found in gingerbread. To garnish, crumble and sprinkle your favourite spiced holiday cookies before the glaze sets.
Choux paste ¼ cup water ¼ cup whole milk 1 tbsp granulated sugar ½ tsp salt 4 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature ½ cup all-purpose flour 2½ large eggs, well whisked
Gingerbread pastry cream 1¾ cups whole milk 2 tbsp + 1½ tbsp granulated sugar, divided ½ tsp ground cinnamon ½ tsp ground ginger ¼ tsp ground cloves 4 egg yolks 3 tbsp cornstarch Pinch of salt 2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
Glaze and garnish ½ cup white couverture chocolate, chopped ¼ cup whipping cream ¼ cup + 2 tbsp powdered sugar Seeds from ½ vanilla bean 1 to 2 ginger nut, Speculoos or gingerbread cookies Gold leaf (optional) To make the choux paste, place water, milk, sugar, salt and butter in a medium pot and simmer over medium heat for about 3 minutes. Pour in flour all at once, and vigorously stir with a wooden spoon to form a dough. Keep on medium heat and mix to dry out the dough (about 4 minutes). The texture should look like dry mashed potatoes. Take pot off heat and cool for 5 minutes. (This step is important because you are adding eggs next, and you don’t want them to scramble.) Add eggs in three additions, stirring thoroughly after each addition. The paste should be shiny after incorporating the eggs. Place paste in a piping bag fitted with a ½-inch round piping tip. Choux paste can be stored directly in the piping bag for up to 2 days in the fridge. Preheat oven to 400°F. Pipe 4- to 5-inch-long lines onto parchment-lined baking sheets, spaced 2 inches apart. Brush tops lightly with egg wash. Éclairs can be tricky to pipe into straight lines: when you pipe them, don’t apply too much pressure from the tip. Instead, move slowly and let the 4 6 d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 8 / westernliving.ca
Makes 24 cookies
paste land on the baking sheet. You can practise, then, after piping, scrape the paste back into your piping bag and start over. Bake for 5 minutes, then lower heat to 350°F and continue baking for 25 to 30 minutes more, rotating baking sheets halfway through, until éclairs are golden brown. Éclairs are done when hollow inside and walls aren’t too wet. Cool completely before filling. To make the filling, heat milk over medium heat in a small saucepan with spices and 2 tbsp of sugar. Simmer for about 3 minutes, then turn off heat, cover pot and let it steep while you prepare the egg portion of the recipe. In a medium bowl, whisk together egg yolks, remaining sugar, cornstarch and salt. Slowly pour in hot milk while continuing to whisk. Return mixture to pot, and turn heat down to medium-low. Keep whisking mixture for about 3 to 4 minutes to prevent it from burning. Pastry cream will start to thicken; when it starts to boil, it is ready. Take pot off heat, whisk in butter and strain cream into a clean bowl. It will be thick, so use a spatula to push it through the strainer. (This will remove any impurities, such as eggshells.) Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on surface of the pastry cream to prevent a skin from forming. Cool and store in fridge. Cream can be made up to 3 days in advance. For the vanilla glaze, melt chocolate and whipping cream over a double boiler, being careful not to overheat. When melted, whisk in powdered sugar and vanilla seeds. Glaze is best used at room temperature; if too warm, it will melt off the éclairs. Puncture three holes on the bottoms of the éclairs with a piping tip or a chopstick. Fill a piping bag with gingerbread pastry cream and, with a small piping tip (about ¼ inch), fill éclairs with pastry cream through the three openings. Clean the bottoms with your finger. Repeat with the rest of the éclairs. To glaze the éclairs, make sure glaze is at the right consistency; it shouldn’t be too runny or too stiff. Try a test éclair and decide if you need to heat up the glaze or cool it down. Once you get the right temperature, carefully dip the top of an éclair, letting the excess slowly drip off. Clean off sides of éclairs with your fingers if necessary. Repeat with the rest. Finally, decorate with crushed ginger or Speculoos cookies, and gold leaf if desired.
These cookies are buttery yet light in texture. You can pipe them into different shapes if you’d like. Here, I have done them in little festive wreaths topped with pink peppercorns. They add a wonderful citrus and peppery flavour without the heat of the black variety. The strawberry powdered sugar makes these cookies extra-fresh and fruity.
Cookies ½ cup + 1 tbsp unsalted butter, very soft (like mayonnaise) ½ cup powdered sugar ¼ tsp fine salt 1 large egg white (about 2 tbsp), room temperature ¾ cup + 2 tbsp all-purpose flour 2 tbsp strawberry powder (freeze-dried) 1 tbsp pink peppercorns
Garnish 1 tbsp powdered sugar 1 tbsp strawberry powder (freeze-dried) Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Place butter in bowl of a stand mixer bowl fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix butter on medium speed for about 30 seconds. Add in powdered sugar and salt, then mix on low speed for 2 minutes, until mixture is white and fluffy. Add in egg white and continue mixing on medium speed for 30 seconds. Scrape down sides of mixer bowl and mix for another minute. The mixture will look separated, but it will come together after the flour is added. Meanwhile, sift together flour and strawberry powder into a small bowl. Add flour mixture to butter mixture and mix on low speed until dough just comes together (about 20 seconds). Scrape down sides of bowl if necessary and mix for 20 more seconds. Fit a piping bag with a star piping tip with about a 1-cm opening. On each parchment paper, mark 12 1½-inch circles in a 3-by-4 pattern, each about 1 to 2 inches apart. Flip paper over and use the marks as guides for piping. Slowly pipe cookie dough onto each circle, letting dough lie down onto the baking sheet. Top each cookie with 3 or 4 pink peppercorns. Bake for 5 minutes, then lower temperature to 325°F and bake for another 10 to 12 minutes, until edges are slightly golden. Let cookies cool completely. Mix together powdered sugar and strawberry powder for garnish. Before serving, dust cookie tops with the strawberry powdered sugar.
“I think great baking comes from baking with your senses. What do you smell? What do you feel? Follow the recipe, but also be present and in the moment. Once you get the hang of it, that’s the difference between mediocre and good.”
French Kiss Beaucoup Bakery owner Betty Hung gives a West Coast warmth to classic Parisian recipes in her new cookbook, westernliving.ca / dBaking e c e m101. b e r 2 0 1 8 4 7 French
WLFOOD // paris on a plate
“Make cookie doughs ahead of time: they can freeze for up to a week wrapped, then you can quickly bake them into cookies as the holiday approaches.”
Best Bites Dense and chocolatey, these Chocolate Hazelnut Raspberry Jam Financiers are the pinnacle of holiday indulgence. (And we’re not complaining.) Recipe, opposite page.
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Chocolate Hazelnut Raspberry Jam Financiers Makes 10 3-by-2-inch rectangular cakes or 18–20 mini-muffin-sized cakes
Finanicers are traditionally made with almond flour and brown butter, but this recipes changes it up by replacing the almond with fragrant toasted hazelnuts. With the addition of cocoa powder and raspberry jam, these have turned into extra-decadent little treats!
Batter ¾ cup unsalted butter ⅓ cup + 1 tbsp hazelnuts, toasted and finely ground ⅓ cup + 1 tbsp cake flour, sifted 2 tbsp Dutch-processed cocoa powder, preferably Valrhona 1 tsp salt 5 large egg whites (⅔ cup), room temperature ½ cup granulated sugar 2 tbsp honey (a dark honey will stand up well to the nutty brown butter)
Topping 2 tbsp crushed hazelnuts ¼ cup good-quality raspberry jam Powdered sugar To make the brown butter, place butter in a saucepan over medium heat and swirl pan every minute or so; the butter will foam and separate. The key is to cook it until it becomes deep brown; it will be very aromatic. This process should take 8 to 9 minutes. Keep an eye on it; butter can burn easily. Set butter aside. (You should use it while in its liquid state or lukewarm. Some recipes suggest straining out the brown milk solids after you brown your butter, but I find they give these cakes a deeper flavour.) In a medium bowl, combine ground hazelnuts, cake flour, cocoa powder and salt. In another bowl, whisk together egg whites and sugar until frothy (about 1 to 2 minutes). Whisk in flour mixture, mixing only until batter comes together. Add liquid brown butter and honey and fold in with a spatula. Transfer batter to a container; cover and chill for at least 2 hours or overnight. When you are ready to fill the moulds, preheat oven to 450°F. Grease financier tins generously with softened butter, dust with flour and tap out the excess. Fill tins with batter until level; you can use an offset spatula to level off the tins. If you don’t have rectangular moulds, a mini-muffin pan works just as well. Grease and fill the cups the same way and decrease the baking time by 1 to 2 minutes. Place filled tins on a baking sheet. Fill a piping bag with raspberry jam, cut a small opening (about ¼ inch), and have crushed hazelnuts close by. Bake financiers for 7 to 8 minutes (the cakes should still be soft and runny in the centres). Carefully take out cakes and pipe a line (if using rectangular moulds) or a dollop (if using mini-muffin pans) of jam onto the centre of each cake. Sprinkle hazelnuts on top. Return baking sheets to oven and bake for 3 to 5 more minutes, until centres rise. While financiers are slightly warm, carefully unmould them and cool on a rack. Dust with powdered sugar before serving. They are best eaten the day they are baked.
Spiced Pecan Sablés Makes about 36 cookies
This recipe is a twist on the more typical almond sablés. I have used pecans in place of almonds and added spices, which makes this a great holiday cookie. Walnuts also work beautifully in this recipe. You can usually substitute nuts by weight in a simple recipe like this; however, keep in mind that different nuts have different fat contents. For example, walnuts and pecans are oilier than almonds and hazelnuts, so the nut you choose may affect the final result. 1 cup all-purpose flour ¾ cup pecans, toasted and finely crushed; reserve 2 tbsp for topping ¾ tsp ground cinnamon ¼ tsp ground nutmeg 1 tsp salt ⅔ cup unsalted butter, room temperature ½ cup + 2 tsp granulated sugar 2 tbsp whole egg, room temperature 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 tsp bourbon (optional) Egg wash (1 egg yolk whisked with 1 tbsp of water and a pinch of salt) Gold leaf for garnish (optional) In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, pecans, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Set aside until ready to use. In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, combine butter and sugar, beating on medium speed until mixture becomes pale (about 3 minutes). Add egg, vanilla and bourbon, and mix on medium speed for another 3 minutes until mixture is incorporated. Stop mixing, and scrape down sides of bowl with a spatula. Add dry ingredients and start mixer on low. Mix for about 30 seconds, just until there is no more dryness in the dough. If necessary, scrape down sides of bowl and mix on low for 10 more seconds. Take dough and shape into a square roughly 6 inches across. Wrap with plastic and let rest in the fridge for at least an hour or overnight.
Floral Langues de Chat Makes 40 to 45 cookies
Langue de chat means “cat’s tongue,” which is what these cookies resemble. This is a relatively simple recipe; the trick is to get the butter very soft so the ingredients can emulsify properly. Though some recipes don’t add almond flour, I find that it gives the cookies a wonderful flavour and tender texture. These are delicious plain, but the lavender and rose add a nice touch of colour and floral notes. 7 tbsp unsalted butter, very soft (like mayonnaise) ¾ cup + 1 tbsp powdered sugar, sifted ¼ cup almond flour ½ tsp vanilla extract 3 large egg whites (between ⅓ cup + 1 tbsp to ¾ cup), room temperature ⅓ cup + 3 tbsp cake flour, sifted ½ tsp salt 1 to 2 tbsp dried culinary lavender 1 to 2 tbsp dried culinary rose petals Preheat oven to 325°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. In the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, combine butter and powdered sugar at medium speed for 3 minutes until mixture is light and fluffy. Add in almond flour and continue mixing on medium speed for another 3 minutes.
When ready to roll out dough, preheat oven to 325°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Scrape down sides of bowl, then add egg whites in three additions, mixing on medium for 30 seconds after each addition until well combined. The mixture will look grainy but will come together when you add cake flour.
Divide dough into two pieces for easier rolling. Lightly dust your dough and work surface with flour. Start rolling dough from the centre to the edge, rotating dough 90 degrees after each roll and dusting with flour if necessary. Roll dough to about ¼ inch thick. Cut out rounds or festive cookie shapes of about 2 inches, and place about 1 inch apart on the baking sheets.
Take bowl off mixer stand and fold in cake flour with a spatula. You should mix until it’s just combined; the batter will be a thick paste. Prepare a piping bag with a 1-cm round tip. Pipe batter into 2-inch lines, spacing cookies at least an inch from each other. One sheet should fit 21 cookies in three rows of 7.
Lightly brush a layer of egg wash on the cookies, avoiding the edges, and sprinkle reserved pecans on top. If you wish, top cookies with gold leaf. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through, until edges and bottoms are golden brown. Cool before serving. Store in an airtight container for up to a week.
Top each cookie with lavender and/or rose petals. Bake for 23 to 25 minutes, rotating baking sheets halfway through, until edges and bottoms of the cookies are golden brown. Cool completely before serving. Store in an airtight container for up to a week.
westernliving.ca / d e c e m b e r
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WL // trade secrets
designed By
Curtis Krahn and Kevin Li, Synthesis Design, Vancouver
The Look
SUN-KISSED STAIRCASE
Here’s a bright idea: to let some warm southern light trickle into this northfacing North Shore entryway, designers Curtis Krahn and Kevin Li of Synthesis Design installed an opentread stairway with a custom laser-cut railing (designed by the homeowner) that allows light to flow through unobstructed to all three levels of the home. “We love southern exposure for the sun and its changing light qualities,” explains Krahn. “The movement of the sun’s path creates ever-changing, dynamic light patterns that flow from the walls and across the treads and the floor in the entryway.” All in all, a beautiful way to create a warm welcome.
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Ema Peter
Floating stairs and a dramatic cut-out banister let in the light.
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Vehicle shown solely for purposes of illustration and may not be equipped exactly as shown. *See Owner’s Manual for complete details on system operation and limitations. See your local Subaru dealer for details. Forester and Subaru are registered trademarks.