Western Living March 2021 by Canada Wide Media

E B R AT I N

1971

2021

YEARS

Foodies of the Year! Our 14th Annual Celebration of the People Shaping the Way We Eat Today

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Dream Kitchens

Top Designer Tips for the Hottest Looks of 2021

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Trade Secrets

A grand entryway, dreamed up by Hella Design Studio, is all about the wall.

FEATURES 20

What ’s Cooking?

From sleek, classic cabinetry to whimsical wallpaper, these eight kitchens are designed to inspire.

Cozy sofas, luxurious linens and storage solutions to combat those #WFH blues.

Shopping

Into the Woods

Inside a dreamy Whistler cabin that celebrates both vintage and modern.

Laven Studio proves long-distance friendship makes for long-lasting design.

PLUS

Ones to Watch

Great Spaces

A Calgary financial firm turns old-school cool thanks to Reena Sotropa In House Design Group.

Way Back WL

An early-’90s kitchen with a serious case of cabinet fever.

FOOD

The 14th Annual Foodies of the Year

16 6 march

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westernliving.ca

The inspiring folks who truly made lemonade out of 2020’s very sour lemons.

B.C. & ALBERTA L VOLUME 50 L NUMBER 2

CONTENTS

COVER: Joel Klassen; This page: Hella Design / Westridge Homes: Michelle Johnson; Jenny Martin Kitchen: PlatinumHDstudios; cabin kitchen: Chris Rollett

HOMES + DESIGN

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THE ARMOURY DISTRICT welcomes SWITZERCULTCREATIVE to the neighbourhood

WESTERN LIVING editorial publisher Samantha Legge, MBA editorial director Anicka Quin art director Jenny Reed travel editor Neal McLennan assistant editor Alyssa Hirose editor at large Stacey McLachlan contributing editors Amanda Ross,

Nicole Sjöstedt, Barb Sligl, Julie Van Rosendaal city editors Karen Ashbee (Calgary), Julia Dilworth (Victoria) editorial intern Mariah Klein email mail@westernliving.ca

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chairman & ceo Peter Legge, OBC, LLD (HON) president Samantha Legge, MBA vp of hr/admin Joy Ginete-Cockle vp of finance Sonia Roxburgh, CPA, CGA executive creative director Rick Thibert creative director Cathy Mullaly director of circulation Tracy McRitchie marketing lead Chris Hinton accounting Terri Mason, Eileen Gajowski circulation Katie Gajowski, Kelly Kalirai office manager/sales coordinator Lori North executive assistant to the ceo Charie G. Ilon PRIVACY POLICY From time to time, other organizations ask us if they may send some of our subscribers information about products and services that might be of interest. If you prefer that we not provide your name and address, please contact us at the address listed above. You can review our complete Privacy Policy at westernliving.ca. WESTERN LIVING MAGAZINE is published 8 times a year by Canada Wide Media Limited, Suite

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EDITOR'S NOTE

q& A

This month we asked our contributors, What’s one feature you’d love to bring into your dream kitchen?

Follow Anicka on Instagram @aniqua

Not surprisingly, given the focus of this issue, I’ve been thinking a lot about the kitchen party lately. Remember those? They were that pre-pandemic phenomenon when, no matter what kind of party you planned—however comfy the sofa, however great the living room snack spread—there was that irresistible draw toward the room that everyone thinks of as the heart of the home. As I chatted with the designers of the kitchens we’re highlighting in this issue (“What’s Cooking,” page 20), nearly every one of them had the same refrain. These spaces were designed to be social: big islands (that are likely hosting a Zoom meeting or two these days), lots of space to circulate, and plenty of room to perch and chat while the cook preps the meal (or pours drinks for the gang). Designer Martine Ast’s inclusion of a coffee and drinks bar (page 30) is just begging for a cocktail night: it’s a nook in the room that’s complete with fridge and freezer drawers, along with space for glassware and a hard bar. And, for the morning types (or perhaps those ready to take the party into the midnight hours), there’s a great espresso machine, too. We haven’t stopped planning to host a crowd, even if we’ve spent the last year doing anything but. As I write this, we’re approaching the one-year anniversary of the moment the pandemic got real for many of us. For the editorial team at WL, mid-March 2020 was when we packed up our collective desks and pivoted to working remotely. I’ve never felt anything but lucky to be able to do so—I know how many folks put their health at risk to continue to deliver essential services for everyone—but man, do I miss the creative flow that comes from being in the same space with your team. For now, as we witness the vaccine rollout work its way across our communities, what’s getting me through is a laser-focused view to those days in the future when we can all gather again. And I promise you, I’ll be celebrating with a kitchen party for the ages.

There’s an unlimited budget for cabinet hardware in my dream kitchen! Hardware doesn’t have to be utilitarian and can even be a focal point: these Contemporary porcelain pulls (#2183) by Richelieu are works of art in their own right, but clock in at over $175 each—which quickly adds up. The knitted fabric pulls are even dreamier, but would get dirty and oily pretty quickly—that said, in my dream kitchen, there’s no dirt.

Joel Klassen, "What's Cooking?" page 20 My dream kitchen definitely has a pizza oven. I make Neapolitan pizza for my family several times each month, and often entertain large groups of people who are hungry for a good slice. Since this style requires extremely high heat (900˚F) to achieve the perfect crust, the easiest solution is to cook with fire outside. My friends and family love pizza even when it’s snowing or raining—so as the chef, I’d love to be cooking inside with a built-in pizza oven.

Designers Year2021 of the

ENTER TODAY! DEADLINE IS APRIL 2, 2021

anick a quin, editorial director anick a.quin@westernliving.ca

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westernliving.ca

VISIT

Anicka Quin portrait: Evaan Kheraj; styling by Luisa Rino, stylist assistant Araceli Ogrinc; makeup by Melanie Neufeld; outfit courtesy Holt Renfrew, holtrenfrew.com; photographed at the Polygon Gallery

KITCHEN DREAMS

Amanda Ross, "Getting Camp" page 37

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SPONSORED REPORT

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Langley’s newest home development captures quality, luxury, and a dream.

very great designer would relish in the chance to build his or her grand vision—a project to end all projects, something that will leave a legacy and last well into the future. This is Legacy on Park Avenue. The project was envisioned, designed and built by Erich Jaeger, a German builder-developer with more than 47 years’ experience and a lifetime of travel as his influence. “The building is a passion project,” says Ben Gauer, Director of Marketing and Sales for Royal LePage Ben Gauer and Associates. “The developer wanted to create one last project that spared no expense, was truly unique, and that would still be there 200 years from now. It is a legacy for himself and for the city of Langley.” Legacy on Park Avenue is a six-storey boutique building that comprises a collection of 69 two- and three-bedroom + den condominiums, ranging from 1,179 to 1,681 square feet. It is designed for people who adore luxury, appreciate quality, and want room to live fully in their spaces. “The developer could have twice as many units of a smaller size or created a larger footprint for the property,” Gauer says. “But he wanted to give residents ample and flexible indoor space, and he wanted lavish landscaping on the property.” The building’s unmistakable curved, illuminated exterior gently flows across the skyline, enveloping scenic balconies. The twostory glass encased lobby is punctuated by a welcoming fireplace, and a green wall art installation mimics a brook trickling through the forest, a nod to British Columbia’s incredible wilderness. Inside the residences, seven-foot and extra-wide solid core doors welcome residents home. Wide-plank engineered white oak flooring sprawls throughout the space, and floor-to-ceiling German engineered windows allow for abundant natural light. Jaeger insists that people will seldom understand the true value of their homes because it is what is behind the walls that really counts. Behind Legacy’s walls is a solid cross-laminated timber (CLT) structure that surpasses the BC Building Code,

and Canada’s first CLT firewall. Each unit features an engineered private heating and cooling system, and every wall is insulated and covered in 5/8-inch Type X fireguard drywall. Even when people said Jaeger’s plan was cost-prohibitive, he forged ahead with his eye on the future. “Profit was not the motivator for creating this project,” Gauer says. “The motivator was fulfilling a dream.” “In 100 or 200 years from now, I want people to say, ‘This guy did a great job’,” Jaeger says. “Legacy will still be standing solid and look like it was built yesterday.”

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TR AD E S ECR ETS D esign e d by B R E A N N A LU K AC SY a n d R E H A N N A H A RT U N G , H E L L A D E S I G N S T U D I O

The Look: Wonder Wall No one would ever dare complain about a home with soaring ceilings—but the fact is that a voluminous entryway can create a bit of an interior design challenge. In this modern Calgary home by architect Ellergodt Design and builder West Ridge Fine Homes, the twostorey ceilings and large windows maximize the views and leave interior designers Breanne Lukacsy and Rehanna Hartung of Hella Design Studio with room to play: “We had a lot of blank walls,” laughs Lukacsy. The two amped up the drama in the entryway, using architectural MDF slats from Sublime Finishing and concrete plaster to create texture, volume and visual interest. The layers of depth bring a warmth to the streamlined modern space, too. “It’s a bold first impression,” says Lukacsy.

Michelle Johnson

N E W & N O TA B L E • A W E L L - S U I T E D R E N O VAT I O N • K I T C H E N S Y O U ’ L L C O V E T

westernliving.ca / m a r c h

2021

HOMES + DESIGN SHOPPING Editor’s Pick Bath Bomb

How long is too long to stay in the bath? The Onyx freestanding bathtub ($6,525) has a built-in storage add-on for your soap, towel, snacks, drinks—so soak till you’re raisin-y. savemoreplumbing.com

Boostani’s sisal baskets from $69, boostani.com

Shape Shifter

Rain is fine when you’re indoors. Woven from wool from New Zealand and India, the Raining Circle rug (from $358) is made in a simple, subtle geometric pattern that looks at home in any space. shop.vanspecial.com

I moved house last summer, and I’m still putting the finishing touches on my new digs. Thanks to the countless chats I’ve had with local designers (job perk!) I know that incorporating lots of textures is a great way to make a space feel more comfortable—and comfort is certainly top of mind right now. Vancouver-based Boostani (that’s Swahili for garden) sells these sisal baskets in all sizes, to hold anything from office supplies to groceries to laundry. Some are woven locally and some are handmade by artisans in Kenya, but all are full of the tactile warmth I’m craving in these difficult times. —Alyssa hirose, Assistant Editor

For more editors’ picks visit westernliving.ca

Fold In

NOTEWORTHY

New in stores across the West. BY A LY S S A H I R O S E

Wood Work

The Espave executive desk ($10,000) has a presence almost as majestic as its history— the piece is crafted from an ethically harvested tree sourced from a freshwater lake in Panama. reduxwest.com

14 march

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westernliving.ca

Origami isn’t easy, but the end result sure looks effortless. So it’s fitting that the Origami vase (from $125) went through several (failed) iterations before achieving the final, delicate design that imitates two pieces of paper folded toward each other. informinteriors.com

Your Turn

The aptly named Big Big swivel armchair (from $4,658) from Norr11 will easily become the most fought-over chair in your household. It’s a reinterpretation of the classic Art Deco lounge chair and is made of four voluminous, fully upholstered shapes. spencerinteriors.com

Sweet Dreams

Vancouver sustainable homeware brand Takasa launched in March of last year (little did they know how much we’d need their cozy comforts). All of their products—like this cotton duvet cover (from $239)—are Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified and totally luxurious. takasa.co

Towel Time

Switching up your linen is an affordable way to give your space a whole new look, and these printed tea towels ($19) from Badger and Burke are perfectly playful. They’re designed in Vancouver and printed in India: 100-percent cotton and 100-percent adorable. muchandlittle.com

Hip Rotation

Say bye to your battle with clutter—the Giralot mini storage system ($2,180) is just about the cutest space-saver out there. The slender compartments rotate 180 degrees to reveal your belongings, and the larger office version has a slide-out desk surface, too. resourcefurniture.com

Your life, organized! Solutions for your home, office, and garage. arbutus.com • 604-734-1949

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HOMES + DESIGN ONE TO WATCH

Outdoors In

Karmen Whinfrey (left) and Golab Amini (below) wanted their studio name to connect to nature, and sounded out various tree, herb and flower names that were plentiful in the Northwest—they settled on Laven.

Go the Distance

GOLAB AMINI and KARMEN WHINFREY, industrial designers, Laven Studio

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westernliving.ca

around ideas, including Whinfrey was obvious: they’re ideal co-designers, each with different skills and perspectives (Amini’s the wood whiz, Whinfrey’s the metal master). Under the name Laven Studio, the pair created two collections of candleholders, one in white ash and the other in maple and brass. Honouring the integrity of the materials was top of mind; the wood grain is visible in both collections. “The grain adds more depth, and it ages better that way,” says Whinfrey. They’re keeping up their momentum, too—next up for Laven is furniture design. “I think for both of us, through 2020, staying creative and problem-solving through these projects was a lifesaver,” says Amini.—Alyssa Hirose

Whole Grain

Black-stained maple shines with brass accents in the Stacked collection (top right), and bleached white ash contrasts with geometric forms in the Conic collection (bottom right).

Sahel Eghbali and Steven Audia

Many of us have been navigating long-distance relationships during COVID-19, but designers Golab Amini and Karmen Whinfrey have been maintaining their remote partnership since before it was cool. The pair met while studying industrial design at Emily Carr University, and though Amini stayed in Vancouver and Whinfrey moved back to Seattle, they stayed fiercely in touch, determined to collaborate. “Our favourite thing to do is go on Instagram or Pinterest, find inspirations and send them to each other,” says Amini. Then Amini got a job at Provide, where owners David Keeler and his late partner Robert Quinnell were eager to see her designs. As they bounced

HOMES + DESIGN GREAT SPACES

SUIT UP

A Calgary financial firm gets dressed for success thanks to designer Reena Sotropa.

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2021 /

Photo Finish

“There’s nothing like large groups of original art to really perk things up,” says Sotropa. The artwork in this space was a serendipitous surprise—one of the new tenants moving into the space brought his art collection with him, and was happy to have it hung throughout the office.

of the Woodwork and blue-green chairs get to work. “For the colour scheme, we knew that navy blues and olive greens— basically sort of men’s suiting colours— were going to be a good direction to go in,” says Sotropa. The open kitchen had to double as a paper management area, so Sotropa designed a strong division to keep the coffee away from the photocopying. The kitchen’s cabinetry (white vs. muted green) and backsplashes (hexagonal

marble vs. walnut veneer) secured the separate—but connected—space. “We didn’t want it to feel intimidating or cold, and I think the finishes actually worked really hard to get us there,” says Sotropa. The final result is a space that’s stylish, comfortable and ready for business.—Alyssa Hirose

Find more inspiring spaces at westernliving.ca

Phil Crozier

High ceilings, polished concrete floors and plenty of natural light added up to a loft-like look in this Calgary financial office. But the firm’s owner was aiming for a more sophisticated space, so he brought in designer Reena Sotropa of Reena Sotropa In House Design Group. “The owner is a pretty young guy, and the building itself resembles a warehouse,” says Sotropa. “So he wanted to make sure that the interior kept that same industrial vibe, but didn’t get too funky—because a lot of his clients wouldn’t be comfortable with that.” The shell of a space needed to be transformed into something that finance folks would take seriously. So the designer set out to create a hybrid design: part industrial loft, part old-school gentlemen’s club. “We wanted to instill a little bit of an old world, time-worn feel,” says Sotropa. A difficult task in a new build, but they tackled it brick by brick—literally. Sotropa started by building feature walls of floor-to-ceiling brick, which felt foundational rather than tacked on. “We were able to warm up the industrial feel through finishes that had a patina,” the designer says. The bricks had rough, reclaimed-looking edges, metals were chosen for their texture and natural materials were incorporated whenever possible. Furnishings-wise, comfort was key: “We tried to give it as residential a feel as we could, just to combat the kind of coldness that a loft space can exude.” An olive-green sofa, cognac leather chairs and a custom walnut veneer desk by MR Construction cozy up the reception area. In the conference room, another custom solid walnut table from Calgary’s Out

westernliving.ca

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WHAT’S COOKING?

In this Whistler kitchen renovation from designer Denise Ashmore of Project 22 Design, the greenhouse-style window over the sink was preexisting, though the team updated the glass with black frames (left). “We find that blackframe windows disappear,” says Ashmore. “They recede back and you focus on the outside.” Next to the integrated refrigerators, Ashmore added one more shallow cabinet that goes from the ceiling to the counter, providing both counter space and more efficient storage. As a result, the team was able to eliminate the upper cabinets around the range.

Maybe our sourdough phase is behind us—but we’ve never stopped loving spending time in a gorgeous kitchen. And for 2021, kitchen design trends range from warm and woodsy to colourfully chic. by the editors

Elegant Details

To make the island feel more like a piece of furniture (right), Ashmore opted for recessed finger pulls rather than the matte black metal pulls seen on the perimeter cabinets, and included legs in the design.

20 march

2021 /

westernliving.ca

Janis Nicolay

Green House

Great Views

The dining table is designed by local makers Lock and Mortice; the Torii chairs are from Bensen, Vancouver designer Niels Bendtsen’s line. The lighting overhead was ceiling-mounted so as not to interfere with the view.

INDOOR-OUTDOOR DESIGNS CALL FOR MATTE FINISHES When designer Denise Ashmore of Project 22 Design was called in to renovate an early ’90s-era home on Alta Lake in Whistler, two things were immediately clear: one, you could barely see that great view over the lake if you spent any time in the kitchen and, two, that view would be a great informer of the materials she’d bring into the space. Her team took out an awkward peninsula and opened up the kitchen to the rest of the main floor (and, after a bifold retractable glass wall system was installed on the opposite wall, out to the lake, too). And then they opted for natural, matte finishes on all of the materials they selected for the space: a brushed finish on the smoked walnut millwork, soft limestone tile behind the stove and a honed surface on the black engineered quartz counter. “Whistler is such a natural environment—shiny doesn’t play well here,” says Ashmore. “The environment is such a strong player.”—Anicka Quin

westernliving.ca / m a r c h

2021

HOMES + DESIGN KITCHENS

Over the Moon

With such a large island, the scale of the overhead lights needed to be appropriate. The client wanted something bold yet simple: these Luna cord pendants from Schoolhouse straddled that line between, with gold details that tie in with the cabinet hardware.

22 march

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westernliving.ca

Tracey Ayton

MAKE THE ISLAND YOUR CANVAS Conventional wisdom in West Coast modernism is that saturated hues—all “hey, look at me”—tend to be the antithesis of clean lines and low-key living. But Vancouver interior designer Cara Hansen of Triple Dot Design Studio says the use of colour freed her from the usual design playbook: “You don’t often get to use colour so it’s really exciting to flex those design muscles.” Kitchens in Vancouver Specials like this one tend to be boxy and small, so Hansen removed walls to create a large great room punctuated by an 11-foot island. The Caesarstone counters in Fresh Concrete and cabinets in Benjamin Moore’s low-sheen Wickham Grey both skew neutral, while the island moves the colour needle in Benjamin Moore’s Light Pistachio. The pale mint tone sets the stage for high drama on the barstool side: when no tile “sparked joy,” the homeowner pivoted to colourful Summer Garden wallpaper by Milton and King. Durability issues be damned: the front side was clad in acrylic to protect it from dirt and scuffs. “Pick one thing that’s your focal point and keep everything else subdued and clean,” says Hansen.—Amanda Ross

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HOMES + DESIGN KITCHENS

Texture Time

Jenny Martin, principal of Jenny Martin Design, focused on clean lines for a seamless look in this coastal Victoria home— minimalist black pulls and smoked glass on the upper cabinets blend in with the stained white oak millwork, and the built-up concrete countertop and island give it a monolithic feel. But to keep the kitchen from looking boxy, she added lighting and decor that had a little more whimsy. “We mixed different forms and shapes to soften an otherwise rectilinear effect,” says the designer. Spherical pendant lights from Hinkley, curved brass backless barstools from Restoration Hardware and round pottery and ceramics give the space an artistic touch.—Alyssa Hirose

24 march

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westernliving.ca

PlatinumHDstudios

BRING A LITTLE SOFTNESS TO STRAIGHT LINES

The upper cabinets in this clean-lined kitchen have a v-groove panelling that brings extra depth to the dark oak. “The vertical texture added to the wood gives it a coastal feel,” says Martin.

Shine Factor

The backsplash features a mottled handmade tile installed vertically—rather than the classic subway pattern—bringing a little reflection and depth to the surface.

Joel Klassen

YOU CAN HAVE A WHITE KITCHEN—AND STILL LOVE COLOUR, TOO The love for white kitchens stays strong—but even within this enduring trend, there are plenty of ways to customize. This light and bright room was once a galley kitchen in a ’50s-era home in Calgary, and designers Aly Velji and Alison Connor from Alykhan Velji Designs were brought on board to create an open-concept layout for the main floor. The homeowner was keen to keep the original oak floors for the living area, so rather than try to colour-match them in the kitchen, the design team had a little fun with a playful black-and-white tile pattern. Consistent black accents throughout—the pendants, the hardware, the faucets—bring some grounding to the space, and while the perimeter Shaker cabinets are in classic white, the island has a little fun in a lovely sage green (Benjamin Moore’s Cushing Green). “For us, having an island as a feature has always been a big thing when it comes to designing kitchens,” says Velji. “Some people are just a bit wary of painting the whole kitchen in colour—this way it doesn’t feel overwhelming.”—A.Q. westernliving.ca / m a r c h

2021

HOMES + DESIGN KITCHENS Another Dimension

The team at Atmosphere brought in mirrored fronts for the upper cabinets for a little extra sparkle. The finish on the mirror contains a bit of dust and speckle, giving it extra depth and dimension—and making maintenance easier. The Shaker cabinets have a bevelled edge, which gives them a more elegant, defined look.

“Even though white kitchens are really popular and they always will be, we look for opportunities to deliver that light aesthetic people are looking for in a different way,” says Curtis Elmy of Saskatoon’s Atmosphere Interior Design. In this kitchen (part of a house they designed for the Saskatoon Hospital Home Lottery), the team at Atmosphere opted for a pale grey on the cabinets—Benjamin Moore’s Gray Owl above; a little darker on the lowers with Benjamin Moore’s Rainstorm—and injected white throughout with the marble backsplash, the Caesarstone counters and a pair of great oversized pendants from Visual Comfort. It’s a light and bright space full of interesting details, including that showstopper of a range hood custom made by Hammersmith in Calgary. The slightly curved shape provides great contrast to the square lines of the Shaker cabinets, and its two-tone design—natural stainless with antique brass strapping and rivets—provides a visual anchor to pair with the Colonial Bronze handles on the cabinets and the antique brass interiors of the pendant lights. —A.Q.

26 march

2021 /

Eymeric Widling

A BRIGHT KITCHEN ISN’T ALWAYS WHITE

westernliving.ca

WESTER

HOMES + DESIGN KITCHENS

Counter Offer

Designers Aly Velji and Katie Nelson of Alykhan Velji Design worked with Alloy Homes on this roomy Calgary kitchen, which feels all the airier thanks to the open-plan design overlooking the sunken living room adjacent. Open display shelving, built from the same rift-cut oak that’s used for the cabinetry, separates the two rooms without feeling heavy. “It’s a nod to that mid-century vibe that I love so much,” says Velji, “and it’s a great space to house books and decorative accessories.” The team also kept the room’s sightlines open by forgoing pendant lights over the island. “We wanted to keep the views into the kitchen unobstructed,” says Velji. “Adding in the slatted detail above the island in the same wood tone helps to draw the eye without being overwhelming.”—A.Q.

28 march

2021 /

westernliving.ca

Joel Klassen

THE CEILING CAN HOST A DESIGN ELEMENT, TOO

Instead of a tiled backsplash, the design team carried the Nova Grey granite countertop up behind the rangetop for a seamless look. Part of the pantry was designed to feel more like a built-in sideboard, opening up an opportunity for art above it.

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HOMES + DESIGN KITCHENS

Ast included the walnut on the island as a ribbed accent to bring in visual texture to the space. The counter is a natural stone quartzite called Renaissance; the stools are from Trica. The Crescent chairs from West Elm offer a perfect spot to grab a morning coffee or an evening glass of wine, and swivel to enjoy the view, too.

30 march

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westernliving.ca

CREATE A DEDICATED DRINKS STATION TO KEEP THE ISLAND TIDY This mid-century modern 1961 home in Calgary’s Bel-Aire neighbourhood had undergone all the wrong renovations—a country kitchen, drywall disguising a gorgeous barrel ceiling—until designer Martine Ast of Martine Ast Interiors came on board. She opened up a warren of tiny rooms and brought back the mid-century influence of its original design, creating a sense of airiness in the kitchen and opening up the living space to the pool in the backyard. The vintage vibe is enhanced with flat-cut walnut millwork in a rich, warm stain, paired with brushed-gold pulls from Banbury Lane. And Ast brought one of her signature kitchen treatments into the design itself: a dedicated beverage zone, which includes refrigerator and freezer drawers, a dishwasher drawer, plenty of storage for glassware—and, of course, a coffee station. “I always try to create this for clients,” she says. “There’s nothing worse than a mountain of glasses on your island.” This tidy little area keeps the mess hidden away, but there’s one more disguise here: that “cabinet” door to the right of the wine fridge is actually a secret passage to the mudroom, perfect for easy access to load in the groceries.—A.Q.

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HOMES + DESIGN KITCHENS

A half-dozen kids still live at home in this west-side Vancouver house, ranging in age from 10 to 19—so everyone chips in with the prep at dinnertime. That meant designer Juli Hodgson of Hodgson Design Associates was tasked with both smart space planning—lots of room for cooks of all ages to do work around the counter and island—and with finding durable materials to outfit the kitchen. The cabinets and counters are Kerlite porcelain in a black “Fossil” shade from Italian brand Modulnova—“they’re bulletproof,” says Hodgson. Miunn stools from Lapalma wrap around the white oak eating bar at the island, and the nearby roomy Artisan collection table from SwitzerCultCreative is outfitted with a lazy Susan to help serve the crowd. Both fridges are integrated behind white oak millwork, and the space feels clean and modern thanks to plenty of organized storage, including an appliance garage at the end of the perimeter counter.—A.Q.

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2021 /

Ground Central

Drawers at the end of the island provide balance to the overall design: a visual anchor to keep it from feeling like it’s floating, says Hodgson.

Ema Peter

WHEN IT’S A KITCHEN FOR A BIG FAMILY, MATERIALS MATTER

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GETTING CAMP

A Whistler log cabin gets a chic modern update, without losing its ’70s charm. by amanda ross // photographs by Chris Rollett

westernliving.ca / m a r c h

2021

HOMES + DESIGN GETTING CAMP Into the Woods

A white-oak, Kate Duncan-designed dining table features benches with white, painted legs. “It’s a cedar log house, but we introduced all new white oak because it holds colour better,” designer Lynn Gentile says. Natural light from a floor-to-ceiling window now floods the roomier kitchen. “It’s like the enchanted forest,” says Gentile. “You can now see the trees and all the beautiful light.”

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well-designed space has the power to evoke emotion, forge connection and transform your psychological well-being. So when Vancouverite Elsa Yamaoka first stumbled upon Camp Lifestyle and Coffee Co. in Whistler’s Function Junction, she immediately felt transported—back home. “I was looking at the items they sell and instantly felt connected to the store,” she says. “The tables where you can sit with your computer or read a book in a serene space is exactly how we interact as a family—I felt so at ease, grounded and happy!” Yamaoka promptly returned to her little log cabin nearby and, with a quick Google search, discovered that Camp’s owner, Lynn Gentile of Cabin Fever Interiors, was also its interior designer.

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FEEL GOOD INSIDE

Interior Design firm BEYOND BEIGE is taking advantage of the changes 2020 brought and is going within to inspire clients.

2020 was an impactful year. It challenged us to reflect and think bigger and more creatively, and in the interior design world, this is more important than ever. Vancouver’s Beyond Beige Interior Design (BBID), an interior design firm specializing in residential and commercial new builds and renovations, took advantage of everything good about 2020 and is infusing its brand with a fresh perspective. “2020 was an opportunity to think about what we wanted as the next chapter for our company,” says Reisa. “We wanted to be introspective and move forward into 2021 with what we learned, while still staying true to our roots.” This inspired BBID to investigate the intimate relationships people have with their surroundings. “We want to create dwellings as unique as the individuals living in them, not based on fleeting trends,” Reisa says. “Our motive and brand have always been ‘feel good inside’.” This play on words speaks to the Beyond Beige’s mission to make the design process playful, fresh, and stress-free and to achieve the ultimate aim of feeling good in one’s space. “We want to make sure that the process is fun and enjoyable,” Reisa says. “It isn’t just about getting the big ‘ta-da!’ moment at the end. It is about a journey where clients can reflect on their space and envision how they will feel working or living in it.” Beyond Beige is taking its own interiors to another level beginning with a renovation of its design studio and a relaunching of the company’s website. The firm has achieved multiple design awards and is committed to remaining one of the top professionals in the industry. Understanding that everyone lives differently in their homes, Beyond Beige is thoughtful of ensuring each space is deeply reflective of what drives or inspires the people who live there. “We are always trying to include a unique, interesting feature in each design, be that a fireplace, a piece of furniture, or a unique way of using a space,” Reisa says. As an example, the kitchen in the Queen’s Crown (pictured above) features a secret fry kitchen and a prominently featured,

custom-made hood fan. This lavish, custom new-build home in West Vancouver was created with luxury in mind—the kitchen features cabinet doors inlaid with gold accents. “The clients wanted traditional elements, but they also desired something more exciting and unique, so they wanted BBID to add dynamic ideas into this classic kitchen,” Reisa says. Beyond Beige is starting this fresh new year with a website revamp. Visit www.beyondbeige.com to see what can be. CONNECT AT: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beyondbeige Twitter: @Beyond_Beige Instagram: @beyond_beige

PHOTOS: The kitchen in the Queen’s Crown, a lavish custom home new build in North Vancouver, features a contemporary spin on a traditional aesthetic. Inlaid doors with gold accents, a secrete fry kitchen, and a custom hood fan bring opulence and charm to the space.

Created by the Western Living advertising department in partnership with Beyond Beige Interior Design

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HOMES + DESIGN GETTING CAMP

Piece by Piece

Creating the galley kitchen window resulted in some spare salvaged exterior logs. So furniture designer Brent Comber crafted a coffee table that the family now calls “the Yam Table.” A small, integrated ledge for displaying small pieces was set behind the light grey Togo sofa, and a wool carpet from Salari and a 100-year-old blanket from a mill in P.E.I. (available at Camp) add texture and warmth. “We try to source everything sustainably made in Canada or North America,” says Gentile.

Peak Comfort

The “Camp Cot” designed by Cabin Fever Interiors (also available at Camp) offers a quiet corner in the loft. “Basically, it’s a big pillow,” explains the designer. The wool-and-nylon hangout comes in kid-size or adult-size, and the pillow on it is named after a local mountain.

“I called Lynn and told her I was looking for a great space exactly like Camp that could bring us all together,” Yamaoka says. Since 2008, she and husband Scott—along with their three children, Anna, Zach and Misa (they refer to themselves as the “Yam family”)—enjoyed weekends at their circa-1979 Whistler cabin, but its footprint and tiny kitchen hampered their enjoyment somewhat. She yearned for spaces where they could all chat and collaborate together, but that would also allow them to spread out with some books or read quietly in a corner. That sense of togetherness is what first drew Gentile to the project. “This is the freakin’ cutest family of all time!” she says of the Yam clan, with Elsa (the “ball of fire”) at the heart. Although Gentile’s career started with designing high-profile commercial

40 march

2021 /

westernliving.ca

HOMES + DESIGN GETTING CAMP

Cabin Fever

The Yam family’s quaint Whistler cabin looks the same on the outside as it has since the year it was built, 1979. At a time when so many new cabins can look like nondescript boxes, designer Gentile appreciated the building’s old-school rustic charm, and aimed to bring that warm, rugged texture and classic cabin vibes into the interiors.

42 march

2021 /

westernliving.ca

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HOMES + DESIGN GETTING CAMP

Material Matters

Gentile’s first encounter with Michael Thomas Host of MTH Woodworks was at IDS Vancouver (and one of his pieces makes up the coffee table, shown here)—though you’ll often find him mountain biking Whistler in the summer. “He salvages wood and will even dredge stuff up from the bottom of lakes, clean it out and fill it with resin,” she says. The resins he uses are eco-friendly and non-toxic. Throughout the space, the team at Cabin Fever also wanted the millwork cabinetry to match the log walls. “I don’t like lots of different wood finishes,” explains Gentile. “We definitely want that continuum of materials throughout the house.”

Designing Moments

A grey Bertoia chair from Livingspace flanked by an MTH Woodworks side table invites quiet, contemplative reading.

44 march

2021 /

westernliving.ca

spaces in Toronto (including a stint with Yabu Pushelberg), she has spent the past 25 years in Whistler, trafficking in residential interiors. That’s given her the opportunity to connect more directly with the people who live in them—people like the Yamaokas. “You get to connect with your clients more when you do their personal spaces than when you do their store or their office,” she says. “There’s a real connection you get that’s gratifying.” The project also offered Gentile a chance to honour one of Whistler’s old cabins. “Log cabins are now being replaced by big boxes in concrete without a stitch of wood,” she says. “But you still want to feel like you’re in the mountains!” Along with her team—Lindsey Bolivar, Vanda Palkova, Holly Hathaway and Chelsea Ruzik—she set about updating the Yam family space with a warm and “chunky” West Coast modern vibe that preserved every ounce of the cabin’s charm.

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FOODIES of the year 2021 Well, it’s been a year, hasn’t it? The industry has been turned upside down by the pandemic, businesses have closed, jobs disappeared. But throughout it all, there were many bright lights, and here, in our 14th annual celebration of the best food folk in the West, we feel privileged to be able to shine the spotlight on a few worthy souls. Cheers to the Foodies of the Year. The community queen

Asha Wheeldon

Chef, Kula Foods, Vancouver It seems like every project is a passion project for Vancouverite Asha Wheeldon. Her love (and longing) for East African eats inspired her to launch Afrocentric food producer Kula Foods in 2018. Wheeldon’s devotion to sustainability ensured a plant-based menu and, last year, her commitment to community prompted a food-first pandemic pivot. She and her team introduced Family Share meals in March 2020, and continue to deliver affordable, family-style vegan dishes to homes across the city. And in June, she started a list of Black-owned businesses in Vancouver that snowballed into a directory of over 200 companies—it was shared thousands of times, and grew so big that Yelp picked it up. Going viral may be exciting, but for Wheeldon, it’s all about change. “BIPOC businesses were seen for the very first time,” she says. “It’s now something that is at the forefront in a lot of spaces. The impact is there, and that’s the whole point.” Kula Foods filled hearts (and tummies) when we needed it most.

westernliving.ca / m a r c h

2021

FOODIES of the year 2021 Andrew Jameson

q& A When we can travel again, where will be your first foodie vacation?

Sean Reeve

The first foodie vacation would probably end up being a quick trip with everything going on, so I would sneak off to Charleston for the weekend. But if I could manage a week, I’d love to explore the city of Marrakech.

What kitchen tool or gadget has been a godsend in the last year? It would be a tie between our pasta extruder and vacuum sealer. They were vital in our Staff Meal initiative. —Sean Reeve

The much-anticipated Southern-meetsItalian spot had just opened on Vancouver’s Fraser Street when COVID hit, but instead of retreating and licking their wounds, the Collective Hospitality team (which also owns the Mackenzie Room) responded by starting the Staff Meal program, which allowed industry people and first responders to access low-cost healthy meals via takeout (the program collected money for

48 march

2021 /

westernliving.ca

The samaritans

Antonio Cayonne, Andrew JameSon, Sean Reeve Owners, Say Mercy!, Vancouver

hard hit local food banks, too). The largesse struck a note—not only did restaurants like Dachi and Masayoshi sign up to join Staff Meal, Say Mercy! also became one of the first places where takeout created long (and properly spaced) lines of people itching for reasonably priced containers of deliciousness. Plus, Antonio Cayonne found time to star in a Hallmark movie—Christmas in Evergreen: Bells Are Ringing. We’re not even kidding.

Katie Cross

Antonio Cayonne

The dreamer

Jenny Kang Chef, Orchard, Calgary The South Korean native grew up on a farm outside Seoul and has worked at some of Calgary’s top rooms (Bow Valley Ranche and, most recently, Darren MacLean’s acclaimed Shokunin), but at the stunning new Sturgess Architecture-designed Orchard, she’s finally the star of the show (and part owner). Kang has been wowing crowds with her modern-Mediterranean-as-seen-through-a-panAsian-lens take on cooking. It was a year when everyone got used to restaurants closing, not opening, so Orchard— with its fresh approach and upbeat, playful vibe—was a tonic for a tired city heading into a dark winter.

The magnate-in-waiting

JuliuS Makarewicz

Chef Jenny Kang: Emily Exon

Founder & CEO, Nude Beverages, Vancouver Is it possible that Nude, that spirit juggernaut that’s seemingly everywhere in Western Canada, only launched in 2017? Luckily, founder Makarewicz is nothing if not persistent. The Powell River native, whose parents left Poland when it was under martial law, dropped out of university because he felt he had to get out in the world to learn. Makarewicz, who originally came to Vancouver to attend SFU, badgered the HR department at customer research firm Vision Critical Communications Inc. until they gave him a job in sales. But in 2015 he started working on a low-calorie, sugar-free, gluten-free vodka cooler. Launching Nude Vodka Soda in 2017, Makarewicz has created something of an empire in Nude Beverages, which has added low-cal versions of gin, tequila and iced tea mixed drinks to its portfolio. The company has now sold more than 60 million cans worth over $70 million across Canada and the U.S.—and employs some 30 people.

westernliving.ca / m a r c h

2021

FOODIES of the year 2021

The tuber Hero

J’Val ShuSter Owner, Devour Catering, Calgary Her catering business may have been reeling from the pandemic, but when J’Val Shuster heard that the Calgary Food Bank was in receipt of an unwieldy donation of 1,000 pounds of potatoes (destined for French fries that never were) she sprang into action. The Potato Project, as it came to be known, saw her company transform the raw material into healthy meals that could be frozen for the underprivileged. Handily, that initial monster shipment started a trend—by the end of December, Shuster and her company had turned over 20,000 pounds of potatoes into almost 16,000 packaged servings of potato soup, smashed potatoes and potatoes O’Brien for the community. You know what they say: when life gives you a tonne of potatoes...

The plan-hatchers

N�Quatqua FirSt Nation Fish Farmers, D’Arcy, B.C.

The Northern B.C. community may be isolated from any major population centre, but in the past few years the N’Quatqua First Nation has delivered its bounty—in the form of rainbow trout raised in its sustainable hatchery—to the finest restaurants in the region (like Fairmont Whistler’s Grill Room, where chef Derek Bendig was an early fan). But COVID brought the double whammy of declining restaurant orders and a foreboding sense of future food insecurity to a Nation keen to keep the pandemic at bay, so they “hatched” the idea of providing three free trout for every household in the community. The plan was a huge success, and many community members began to make the fish part of their ongoing food routine.

50 march

2021 /

westernliving.ca

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FOODIES of the year 2021

q& A What one ingredient will remind you of the pandemic in 10 years' time? Agro Roasters Coffee. There have been a lot of late nights and early mornings in the past year and we couldn’t have done it without good coffee.

What kitchen tool or gadget has been a godsend in the last year? Vitamix. I have lived off of smoothies for the last year.

When we can travel again, where will be your first foodie vacation? Probably Italy. I went while I was younger, but really want to go back. I was hoping to take my wife there after we were married in August, but clearly it never happened. —Alex Ploughman

From left to right: Craig Sheridan, Jillian Sheridan, Alex Ploughman and Jonathan Burke

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The Pivoters

Jonathan Burke, Alex Ploughman, Craig & Jillian Sheridan Principals, Legends Haul, Vancouver

Has there been a more-overused word than “pivot” in the last 12 months? But how else do you describe a growing Vancouver restaurant supply company, focused on local fare, that looked the carnage of COVID in the eye and reimagined itself in record time as a direct-to-consumer purveyor of goods, heretofore earmarked for chefs only? The free delivery (on orders over $75), the always-fair pricing and the unbeatable curated selection of foodstuffs have catapulted Legends Haul well past weathering the storm: the company doubled its staff, doubled its fleet and doubled its square footage since the pandemic began. And given that a key part of its inventory is ready-made foods from a broad selection of the region’s restaurants, the team is also helping the industry stay afloat—earning themselves the title of pivot champions.

52 march

2021 /

westernliving.ca

When you bite into a juicy steak or roast, you want to enjoy the highest quality beef. Canadian beef grades help ensure that your beef has been meticulously chosen to deliver a delicious experience every time. Here’s how to choose from Canada’s best – and some of the world’s finest – beef to inspire your inner chef and tantalize your taste buds.

FOODIES of the year 2021

The charmer

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Said Mdahoma Pastry Chef, Said the Pastry Nerd, Calgary If one person encapsulates some of the good things that happened during lockdown, it might be this Calgary-based French-Comorian (it’s ok, we had to look it up too—Comoros is a tiny island off Madagascar) doctor of neuroscience who got the baking bug and transformed that nascent passion into a series of videos on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram that are as popular as they are charming. Did he use this growing audience to catapult himself into the influencer sphere? Not a chance: watching Mdahoma dig into a tray of brownies he knows aren’t done because he can’t help himself was refreshingly cathartic, and he’s just the sort of foodie that helped us keep our collective chins up.

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The pioneers Vintners, Unsworth Vineyards, Mill Bay, B.C. One of the most momentous wine moments of the year arrived last summer when Barbara Banke and daughter Julia Jackson—majority owners in the California luxury behemoth Jackson Family Estates—announced that they were purchasing the well respected but comparatively miniscule production that is Unsworth near Duncan, B.C. There are few folks with more savvy in predicting what and where the next big thing will be than the Jackson clan, so if they’re putting up their own money to invest in the Island, trust us, the entire wine world is taking notice. It’s a fitting feather in the cap for the Turyk family, who built up production at Unsworth without sacrificing quality, and never abandoning the oddball grape varieties that are the Cowichan Valley’s calling card. Thankfully, they’ll be staying on to continue the dayto-day operations.

54 march

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westernliving.ca

Said Mdahoma: Ivana Skendrovic; Unsworth/Turyk Family: Sean Fenzl

The Turyk Family

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