Covet Autumn 2014

modern living with a prairie twist

DECORATE WITH PATTERN DRAMATIC WALLS AND COLOURFUL TABLESCAPES

+ S MART STORAGE FOR SMALL SPACES + SOUP RECIPES FROM THE GARDEN TO YOUR TABLE SIMPLE TIPS TO SAVE YOUR GARDEN SEEDS

200 Rebate

200 Rebate

when you purchase Duette or Silhouette Window Shadings with UltraGlide. †

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when you purchase Duette or Every qualifying purchase Silhouette Window Shadings helps a child in need get with UltraGlide. closer to their wish. †

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In the spirit of giving, we at Hunter Douglas have partnered with The Children’s Wish Foundation of Every qualifying purchase Canada create the magic of a wish. helps a child in to need get

closer to their wish.

In the spirit of giving, we at Hunter Douglas have partnered with The Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada to create the magic of a wish.

Dlux Design and Co 1580 Taylor Ave Winnipeg MB 204-504-4373 rosemary@dluxdesignandco.com

Blue Hills Interiors 444 Academy Rd Winnipeg MB 204-487-1151 inquiries@bluehillsdesign.ca

Blind Ambitions 895 Century St Winnipeg MB 204-982-4880

Blind Master 1743 Portage Ave Winnipeg MB 204-697-4857

blindambitions@mymts.net

blindmaster@shawbiz.ca

Design Manitoba 101-326 Wardlaw Ave Winnipeg MB 204-453-2390 cam_designmb@mymts.net www.designmanitoba.com

Effective September 1st until December 15th, 2014. † Purchase any combination of 4 Duette® or Silhouette® Window Shadings with UltraGlide® and receive a $200 rebate. Also, when you purchase any number of these additional shades, you’ll receive an extra $40 for each. Valid at participating retailers only. The rebate will be issued in the form of a Hunter Douglas Prepaid American Express® Gift Card. THE PROMOTION CARD is a trademark of The Hunt Group. All Rights Reserved. THE PROMOTION CARD is a Prepaid American Express® Card issued by Amex Bank of Canada. ® Used by Amex Bank of Canada under license from American Express.

Effective September 1st until December 15th, 2014.

† Purchase any combination of 4 Duette® or Silhouette® Window Shadings with UltraGlide® and receive a $200 rebate. Also, when you purchase any number of these additional shades, you’ll receive an extra $40 for each. Valid at participating retailers only. The rebate will be issued in the form of a Hunter Douglas Prepaid American Express® Gift Card. THE PROMOTION CARD is a trademark of The Hunt Group. All Rights Reserved. THE PROMOTION CARD is a Prepaid American Express® Card issued by Amex Bank of Canada. ® Used by Amex Bank of Canada under license from American Express.

6 CONTRIBUTORS The great friends and talents we have met along the way, that have given of themselves to make Covet.

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“ I would rather sit on a pumpkin, and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion.” ~Thoreau Henry David Thoreau

EDITOR’S PAGE

OUT AND ABOUT — Local businesses we would love you to know about.

8 BLUE HILLS DESIGN The garden room blooms into a lovely new design boutique.

10 FLATLANDERS An expansive flooring showroom boasting one of the largest collections in western Canada.

12 WE LOVE Items we have spotted here or there that we think you will love too.

STYLE DEFINED — A design lesson.

A period, style, or piece explained.

Liz West

9 ABODE

A peek inside Manitoba homes and cottages completed by local design talent or design-savvy homeowners.

30 MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE What you see isn’t what you get in this condo’s multi-purpose den.

36 BLACK MAGIC The art of darkness is realized in this modern build in traditional Tuxedo.

46 HAPPY HOSTS Unexpected pink infuses contemporary style in a traditional home.

GHOST RIDER A modern take on an old classic...boo!

COLLECTIONS — Admittedly, we like stuff. Here we showcase people and their stuff, and their knowledge of their stuff.

11 Collections Close to Home

GET CRAFTY— We can get into good craft projects, and love the satisfaction creating something brings.

16 GIVE YOUR HALLOWEEN DECOR THE MIDAS TOUCH Glimmery, glammy gourds.

PROFILE — Allow us to introduce you to the great, local design talent available in Winnipeg for you to tap into.

18 MONIQUE MILNE, MILNE WELL DRESSED HOMES

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! d e v o m We’ve : t a n e p now o aminmoore-mb.ca nj | be d r a v le u o b d el 2 5 -5 s cu r fi

Keep an eye on our Facebook page for more information about our grand opening!

p: 204.487.3666

ta b l e o f co n t e n ts

AUTUMN 2014 Sonny Abesamis

Bahia Taylor Editor in Chief Co-founder Leigh McKenzie Creative Director Co-founder Barbara Chabai Copy Editor Darren Grunerud Managing Editor Jim Taylor Props Coordinator Graphic Design Hinge Design www.hingedesign.ca Styling Envy Paint and Design www.benjaminmoore-mb.ca Owned and Published by: Covet Magazine For inquiries, please contact us at info@covetmagazine.ca 1811 Assiniboine Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba R3J 0A5 www.covetmagazine.ca info@covetmagazine.ca Cover Photography - Tara Craigon and Shandra Hees While every effort has been made to ensure that advertisements and articles appear correctly, Covet Magazine cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage caused directly or indirectly by the contents of this publication. All material is intended for informational purposes only. The views expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of its publisher or editor.

All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part prohibited without written permission from the publisher.

Typeset in Chronicle Roman and Whitney Printed in Canada Publications Mail Agreement No. 42575014 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to info@covetmagazine.ca

TIPS O’ THE TRADES — Expert advice. You didn’t solicit it but we’re giving it to you anyway.

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SO GOOD YOU’LL WANT TO GO TO BED EARLY Three bedrooms with big style on an IKEA sized budget.

CHALK PAINT – FAT IS THE NEW BLACK

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COVET TALKS — Yup, we’re chatterboxes... and you’re gonna love who we chat up.

22 CELEBRITY DESIGNER KIMBERLEY SELDON gives us the low down as she rolls through the ‘Peg.

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TOOLS Great kitchen tools for every Soup Nazi.

72 WORKING WITH AN INTERIOR DESIGNER Tips from the Professional Interior Designers Institute of Manitoba

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WELCOME BACK POTTER Local potters Lynne Mulvihill and Jenn McCurry get their hands dirty turning an old art form new again .

2 BY 4 LIFE Follow radio personality Dez Daniels and her family as she blogs her way through the start-to-finish journey of a new home build.

CHOW — Food, glorious food and everything to go with it.

DIG — Get outside and get gardening.

56 BOUNTIFUL HARVEST Ladle up hearty goodness by the bowl full.

PRAIRIE PALLETTE — A glimpse into the Winnipeg art community or profile of a great local artist.

66 SOPHIE LAVOIE

LIVING WELL — Reviews, ideas, a little form and a little function.

76 LAZY LEAVES

77 PRESTO CHANGE-O

78 YOUR SEED OR MINE?

80 WHERE TO FIND

82 DESIGN DILEMMA

64 GREAT DESIGN ON ANY BUDGET STARTS WITH A PLAN Hear what four local designers have to say on the matter.

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CONTRIBUTORS

y l e v i s u l c x E Exclusiveolnye for y r e v E for Everyone

110B LOWSON CRES. 110B LOWSON CRES. 110B LOWSON CRES. WINNIPEG, MANITOBA R3P 2H8 WINNIPEG, MANITOBA R3P 2H8 WINNIPEG, MANITOBA R3P 2H8 PH: 204.487.3767 FAX: 204.487.3717 PH: 204.487.3767 FAX: 204.487.3717 PH: FLATLANdERSFLOORING.COM 204.487.3767 FAX: 204.487.3717 FLATLANdERSFLOORING.COM FLATLANdERSFLOORING.COM

TOM BIMA ticoswinehouse.com BLISS STUDIOS bliss-studios.ca RYAN BOWMAN @ryanjbowman Samantha braun ecotones@mts.net BARB CHABAI bccreativehouse.com MARISA CURATOLO marisacuratolo.com DARREN GRUNERUD Man-about-town JENN MCCURRY AND LYNNE MULVIHILL IKEA ikea.ca MICHAEL ROBERTS dualityphot.com BRIAN JOHNSON gooddogphotography.ca STEPHEN LAMOUREUX adigroup.ca ARTHUR LIFFMANN benjaminmoore-mb.ca STEPHANIE MIDDAGH artfulowl.ca KIMBERLEY SELDON kimberleyseldon.com CAROL STANDIL carolstandil.wordpress.com SOPHIE LAVOIE sophielavoiefineart.com jim taylor Go-to Guy DEZ WENGROWICH twobyfourlife.com KASSIA WOLOSHYN benjaminmoore-mb.ca

e d i to r ' s pag e Covet is free, and if you'd like to receive a copy visit covetmagazine.ca to subscribe. You can view a digital version of this issue there, too.

See you soon!

As the summer season has come to pass and autumn rolls into full swing, it’s interesting to note that between the two of us we hold very different views on the matter. For one, fall only signifies the impending doom of winter. The snow and sleet and frost and cold weather are indeed on their way and Ned Stark is correct, “winter is coming!” For the other one of us, tights and scarves and woolly sweaters and boots are the trappings of the best of the four seasons. Despite our differences of opinion on the earth’s changing position with regard to the sun we can agree on a few good things. Soup, for instance, can make even the worst fall scrooge succumb to the season. Warm and delightful and home cooked, Chef Marisa Curatolo gives us the

season’s best soups for the soul. We can always agree on a new take on traditional and potters Lynne and Jen are no exception with their intelligent and beautiful designs turned right here in Winnipeg. We are of the same mind when it comes to gourds, the expert advice of gardener Sam Braun, and the importance of hiring a design professional. Most importantly, we see eye-to-eye on the greatness of Winnipeg and Manitoba. All of the exciting growth and beauty our province has to offer and the vast number of things to see and places to explore. Good design is all around us, in ways both big and small, be sure you venture out to take it all in this fall... even if you do have to don mittens and scarf!

UPCOMING EVENTS

• T he terrifying, murderous legend of the century-old Barn of Doom comes alive this month at Six Pines farm.

Over the years, the annual October Haunt has grown into a series of exciting interactive experiences, offering a variety of events ranging from family-friendly Fun

by Day, to terrifying ‘R’ rated Fear By Night. Do you dare? Until October 31st at Six Pines. Complete details including hours, dates and directions at www.sixpines.mb.ca/haunt or by calling 204.633.3326 • Fear comes to Fright at the Fort when an epidemic sweeps the grounds, claiming the lives of many of its inhabitants. Could it be tuberculosis claiming lives, or the mythical and terrifying Windigo wreaking havoc while making his rounds? Pay your respects to the deceased as you partake in Victorian mourning customs and a traditional funeral wake. But watch your back, because you could be the next victim. If you survive, finish your evening with a visit to the Thirsty Beaver Tavern, have a beer and pose for a picture with one of the freshly departed. Various dates between October 10th and 31st at Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site. Complete details including schedules and tickets at www.brownpapertickets.com or by calling 204.785.6050

• C anada’s newest national museum has opened right here in Winnipeg, and its architectural significance is already gaining international attention. Learn about the meaning behind the design of the Canadian Museum of Human Rights on a guided tour that will introduce you to the architect’s vision, the significance of the site, the engineering feats that went into the building’s construction, as well as unique features of the building materials and design. This 60-minute exploration does not include the Museum galleries, but includes a visit to the Israel Asper Tower of Hope. Ongoing at the Canadian Museum of Human Rights. Complete details including hours and ticket booking at www.humanrights.ca or by calling 204.289.2000 • What was it about Salvador Dalí that made him the complex paragon of modern art that he is remembered as today? Was it his accomplished draughtsmanship, his disturbing penchant for surreal juxtaposition, a combination of idiosyncratic personality and savvy selfpromotion, or some mixture of it all? Find out at Dali Up Close, until November 4th at the Winnipeg Art Gallery.

Complete details at dali.exhibits.wag.ca or by calling 204.786.6641

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out and about

BLUE HILLS DESIGN text RYAN BOWMAN photography COVET MAGAZINE

FIND IT: 442 Academy Road 204.487.1151 Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm www.bluehillsdesign.ca HISTORY: When Ryan Sudon launched his own design firm in 2012, he had no intention of getting into the retail side of things.

But when he got the opportunity to scoop up the space at 442 Academy Rd. (formerly The Garden Room), he couldn’t pass it up. “I was in here one day buying a few things for clients and the owner mentioned she was selling and that I should buy it,” says Sudon. “I went home and thought about it and realized I didn’t want to work out of my basement anymore.” The store, which opened in April 2014, is named after a set of hills behind the small town of Avonlea, Sask., where Sudon grew up.

THE SPACE: Given that Sudon has a master’s degree in architecture and experience as an interior designer, it’s no surprise that the rustic modern décor of Blue Hills Design is both functional and aesthetically appealing. With a look and feel that changes with the seasons (the fall display in the front window features a wreath of multi-coloured maple leaves and pumpkin decorations), the shop is always comfortable, warm and inviting. “It feels a lot like a home,” Sudon says. “It’s supposed to be a reflection of what I can do for my clients, and I think that comes across.” And in the heart of a neighbourhood

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teeming with specialty boutiques and trendy restaurants, his Academy Road location is perfect.

MENU: With everything from wallpaper and window coverings to birdhouses and lawn ornaments, Blue Hills Design carries a unique collection of products for both interior and exterior décor. Everywhere you look, hard-to-find product lines by Lollia, Thymes Studio, Lampe Berger and Cabana Coast are on display; Sudon will also be one of the only local shops carrying Patience Brewster products come Christmastime. Thanks to an everexpanding fabric library and an impressive apothecary section, Blue Hills is fast becoming a one-stop shop for anyone looking to spruce up their living space. As far as his design services go, Sudon likes to mix things up a bit. “I try not to repeat myself too much colour-wise or scheme-wise. To me it’s very important to focus on each individual client, so each space is different.”

WINNIPEG: Sudon may not have been born here, but Winnipeg has fast become his second home. Coming from a tiny Saskatchewan town with a population of less than 500, the big city could have been intimidating and overwhelming, but Sudon says it has been nothing but welcoming. “Winnipeg’s like a small town,” he says. “I find there’s a lot of support and client loyalty here.” That support and loyalty goes both ways; since opening his doors, Sudon has been a huge advocate of Winnipeg products, carrying scarves, birdhouses, upholstered furniture and artwork made by locals.

st y l e d e f i n e d

GHOST RIDER text ARTHUR LIFFMANN The evolution of design has always been determined by the progression of our history. Oftentimes, it’s determined by shifts in our politics (think of the shifts between the rationalism of Georgian design to the romanticism of the Victorian period), our geography (Britain’s relaxed Edwardian style versus the same period’s Art Deco heyday in France), or even our global economic reality – I mean, did you ever wonder how great Gatsby’s spaces looked after the stock market crashed in 1929?

But it can well be argued that few forces have propelled design forward more than the evolution of technology.

Whether it be the industrial revolution go the 18th and 19th centuries, the beginning of mass production home furnishings in the 1920s or the great surge of the use of moulded plastics in the 1960s, technological advancement has greatly impacted the design of the environments in which we live. And when technology, history and design savvy meet… well, hang on to your seat.

That is, if you can see your seat.

While it may seem hard to believe, it was only in 2002 when the Ghost Chair was first introduced – hard to believe, because in the decade that followed over 1.5 million were sold, making it the most widely sold ‘original design’ chair in the world. The transparent Louis armchair (a side chair version, dubbed the Victoria Ghost Chair, is also available), reaches back in time and recreates the classic Louis XV chair with modern flair and sensibility, making it one of the most daring designs in the world.

Designed by French design superstar

Phillipe Starck in partnership with Italian furniture maker Kartell, the Ghost Chair’s success is based on a perfect mix of familiarity, modernity, technology and accessibility – all balanced with a touch of humour and a dash of insouciance. The chair, if you’ll pardon the pun, is a mere shadow of its former self: the fluted legs, floral foliage and all the gilding stripped away to reveal the clean lines and curved oval back of the original chair. Starck and Kartell came together for the engineering of a modern masterpiece: it has been said that “…without the magicians of plastic at Kartell, the invention couldn’t have happened. The spirit of the chair, its accessibility and its stylish beauty all come from Starck.”

Made of injected polycarbonate in a single mould, the Ghost Chair is produced in both transparent or coloured translucent versions. The thin armrests and legs match the classic design of the original piece. But despite the crystalline and fragile appearance of the chair, it is remarkably sturdy – it performs as well as a wooden chair of the same type.

Additionally, the chair is designed to be recyclable – it can be disassembled and recycled quickly and easily.

The mix of traditional charm and cutting edge modernity allows the Ghost Chair to be used in practically any interior design application. Due to its transparency, it has a light and space– saving effect that lends and impression of spaciousness, making it a particularly good choice for smaller spaces. It’s silhouette and scale also allow it to function beautifully in a variety of ways

– it is equally at home as a desk chair, in a hallway or foyer, or grouped as a set around a dining table.

The Ghost Chair is stable and durable, and has been proven to deliver excellent shock, scratch and weather resistance.

It is also stackable – six chairs can be stored in the footprint of one chair, making them extremely popular for commercial use as well as for those seeking stylish extra seating that can be stored away when not in use between large gatherings.

And perhaps best of all, the Ghost Chair represents accessibility. Its designer, Philippe Starck has become widely known since the start of his career in the 1980s for his interior, product, industrial and architectural design work. And while his projects and designs include some mammoth commercial projects and clients – from the 1983 refurbish the French president’s private apartments at the Élysée, to huge international commercial hotel projects and partnerships with Baccaratt and other luxury brands, the designer has remained committed to making good design available to everyone. As he says of the Ghost Chair, “ it has a mix of materials and styles based on our shared memories. We all own this piece in a way. The chair is well balanced; I try to be balanced myself.” To that end, Ghost Chairs are easily available throughout the marketplace. Originals by Kartell are available from Kartell starting at around $450, while good quality reproductions can often be found in the marketplace for around $150, making this one very friendly ghost indeed.

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out and about

FLATLANDERS FLOORING text RYAN BOWMAN photography COVET MAGAZINE FIND IT: 110 B Lowson Cres.

204.487.3767 Monday-Friday 9am-6pm (Thursdays 9am-8pm); Saturday 10am-4pm www.flatlandersflooring.com HISTORY: After years of learning the ins and outs of the flooring industry, Justin Chudyk saw an opportunity to reinvent a marketplace that had become stale and redundant. “Through my traveling and my experience on the wholesale side of things, I realized there was a need for a new retail concept and how the product was shown and presented to the end user,” says Chudyk, who owns Flatlanders Flooring with his wife, Cristin. Nine years later, Flatlanders has become Winnipeg’s premier one-stop, full-service flooring shop, offering everything from supply to installation to service.

THE SPACE: When the Chudyks designed their store on the southern outskirts of the city, they wanted it to be more than just another flooring shop. Between the high ceilings, the minimalist, open concept design and the flood of natural light pouring through the oversized windows, the space feels more like an art gallery than a retail store. And unlike the other guys, who tend to display as much product as possible, Flatlanders takes a “less is more” approach to their inventory. It’s a concept Cristin says is geared toward making the customers feel more comfortable: “We really tried to create a more inviting experience where people can get excited about what they’re doing.”

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MENU: Browsing the bright showroom, it’s clear that Flatlanders Flooring values quality over quantity. Whether it’s their premium lines of hardwood or their endless selection of area rugs (one of the largest collections in Western Canada), every product on display is more than worthy of the space it takes up. “Flatlanders is our brand, and that’s the one we stand behind,” Justin says. “It’s an old cliché in the flooring world, but we don’t want you to stand on it if we can’t stand behind it.” And whether you’re looking to replace the flooring in your bathroom or renovate your entire home, the Chudyks’ no-commission, customer-centric approach is designed to educate instead of intimidate. “We really want people to understand what they’re buying,” Justin says. “In many cases, people don’t know exactly what they want, so we want to give them a better understanding of how it all works and what makes the most sense for their needs.”

WINNIPEG: Born and raised in Winnipeg, the Chudyks are firm believers in the local economy. “We’re extreme advocates of Winnipeg,” Justin says. “We do some business outside of Winnipeg and Manitoba, but this will always be our home and our main focus.” And while other retail companies may struggle to gain traction in the city’s sometimes-fickle marketplace, Justin says growing up here has helped him understand what Winnipeggers want. “I think we’ve managed to succeed because of our understanding that people here want value and the extended service that should come at no extra cost,” he says.

“So that’s what we offer.”

co l l ect i o n s

COLLECTIONS CLOSE TO HOME In my case, a passion for collecting is synonymous with a love of museums.

The origin of museums is fascinating in that in the 15th century museums were store houses for objects that were labeled “curiosities?” These objects often reflected different cultures from far away lands and acted as evidence from exploration and adventure. It was under this direction that museums were established as institutions based on the dissemination of knowledge through objects. There are so many amazing museums around the world, some large with comprehensive collections others with narrow focuses offering in depth examination of one specific subject.

From a collections perspective, what is truly remarkable are the narrow focus collections that offer new insight into a subject as well as the dedication required to make a collection relevant.

There are a few examples locally of interesting collections that may slip under our radar in terms of museum

experiences. One of my absolute favourite collections isn’t in a museum at all but is the doll collection on display in the lower level of the Centennial Concert Hall in Winnipeg. You have likely walked past it a hundred times as you dash up the stairs but it is such a lovely representation of dolls of the world in traditional costume. The travel involved in the acquisition makes these impressive and they are so reminiscent of the origins of museums that they make me smile.

Another favourite collection is found at Phillip’s Magical Paradise in the town of Giroux, Manitoba. This is a collection of tools of the trade used by magicians.

The museum itself was established as a dying wish by a Phillip who was taken by cancer as a child. His parents honoured this wish and magicians around the world have donated objects to contribute to the collection.

The Costume Museum of Canada is no longer a museum but rather a

collection. The intimacy of clothing and how our relationship to clothing has changed in such a short period of time is something to consider when admiring this collection. Although predominantly special occasion clothing, the collection has been amassed over decades and is taken care of by dedicated volunteers.

There are endless examples of intriguing collections but what makes them stand on their own in their ability inspire thought and trigger memory. Now that is the true test of a collection.

Our collections specialist Stephanie Middagh has spent the past 12 years being inspired by museum collections while working as a curator for various museums and galleries. Concurrent to her curatorial work, she took this inspiration to her sessional positions at the University of Manitoba where she continues to teach Introduction to Art and the History of Textiles.

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w e lov e

TO CELEBRATE THE SEASON, HUNT AND GATHER THESE FANTASTIC AUTUMNAL ACCESSORIES! Clockwise from above: Crocheted dishcloths add a handmade touch to kitchen textiles. The textured cloths are hardworking and sturdy, making them a sure household favourite.

These coffee mugs are reminiscent of the old-fashioned tin enamel mugs used by generations past. Made of stoneware, today’s version eliminates the extra-hot sides and handles of real tin mugs and are a great way to bring a touch of vintage decor to the table.

Add some flora and fauna with a beautiful wild-animal-and-colouredfoliage printed shower curtain. After all, who doesn’t need to welcome a little wildlife into the bathroom?

All items available at Envy Paint and Design Ltd.

Each guest can turn over a new leaf and lather up with individual soap leaves, an elegant indulgence for the powder room.

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Interior or exterior renovations, over and above your expectations.

Over & Above Custom Homes can help with your next renovation project.

overandaboveconstruction.com

Call us for your free estimate

204.999.5351

ulbs are of lighting o 80 per p to 25 nt bulbs. and are

old e for

CFLs) ctricity than

* Image Courtesy of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Colour temperature Colour temperature is measured in degrees Kelvin (K). Incandescent bulbs are usually 2700K. LED and CFL bulbs are available in a variety of colour temperatures from 2700K to 6000K, allowing you to customize the light for every space in your home.

2500K

3000K

WARM LIGHT

3500K

For warm ambient light, look for bulbs in the 2700K to 3000K range.

For task areas such as sewing rooms or woodworking stations, try cooler lights in the range of 3500K to 5000K.

4000K

4500K

5000K

5500K

COOL LIGHT

*Manitoba Hydro is a licensee of the Trademark and Official Mark.

* Image Courtesy of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

get crafty

GIVE YOUR HALLOWEEN DECOR THE MIDAS TOUCH Shimmery pumpkins, squash and gourds make for a sophisticated autumnal display. Simply use metallic spray paints in various colours to create these beautiful, no carve and long-lasting beauties.

1. Start with clean and dry pumpkins and gourds.

2. Spread them out so all sides are easily accessible.

3. Protect your work surface from overspray and work in a well ventilated area.

4. Apply a fine, even coat from 12�-18� away to avoid drips.

Reapply until desired opacity is achieved

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Showroom: 969 Fife Street, Winnipeg 204.586.2794 I www.yarrow.mb.ca

Whether your project is contemporary, rustic, or traditional, our window and door experts are here to collaborate with you from concept to completion.

www.marvin.com

www.rockymountainhardware.com

• Metal Clad Wood Windows • Fiberglass Windows • Fiberglass Entryways • Wood Entryways • Architectural Hardware • Professional Installation

www.karcher-design.com

p ro f i l e Coordinator Course and also studying with True Colour Expert Maria Killam. Monique is a member of the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) and a proud accredited member of the Canadian Decorators’ Association (CDECA).

Her love for design is apparent when you meet her. She pays great attention to detail and is a perfectionist in her work. Her positive outlook and passion is infectious.

“Hiring a decorator can be intimidating for some and part of what I do is to immediately put my clients at ease. I’m a great listener and understand how stressful it can be. Once my clients are at ease; then, the fun begins!”

PROfile is a chance to meet and get to know a local Winnipeg talent.

Covet has partnered with CDECA (Canadian Decorators' Association) to bring you the inside scoop on one of their members from the Central Prairie Chapter. To learn more about CDECA or for a list of CDECA decorators in your area, visit them at www.cdeca.com.

MILNE WELL DRESSED HOMES Monique Milne owner of Milne Well Dressed Homes is a certified interior decorator and home stager. Her goal is to help clients love their homes by creating functional and aesthetically pleasing spaces.

She is an honoured graduate of Interior Decorating with Thomson Education and also studied and obtained two home staging diplomas. Monique continued to study colour by taking the Dewey Color

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THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER WHEN DECORATING A ROOM: I don’t know if I can narrow it down to one thing. There are several design elements that go into decorating a room to get it right but if I “had” to pick just one thing then it would have to be furniture placement. So many people don’t realize that you do not have to line up all the furniture against all the walls and have a large wasted empty space in the middle of the room! If there’s one thing I teach a lot of in my design consultations it’s how to properly place your furniture to make it functional and beautiful.

MY FAVOURITE ROOM: My favourite room is the kitchen; it’s the heart of the home. Great memories are created here. One of my favourite memories is Christmas baking with my boys when they were little. To see their eyes light up and the excitement of decorating sugar cookies will forever be in my heart. Of course they would tire of it after frosting a few and I would be stuck working long into the night to finish them. One Christmas I realized they never ate the sugar cookies and I asked them why. Turns out they didn’t like sugar cookies, they just liked to decorate them! Well, my double batch cookies turned into half a batch after that.

ONE THING I WILL NEVER CHANGE: My laugh. For those who know me, they can attest I have a very ahem... shall we

say, unique laugh. My laugh is genuine; it’s never changed in all my years and I must say it used to get me into trouble sometimes in school! I’m told it’s the one personality trait of mine that is unforgettable.

I RELAX BY: It depends on my mood. Relaxing to me is vital for ensuring all around good health and well-being. We live in such a stressful society it’s sometimes hard to slow down and smell the roses. I make time every day to relax and sometimes that means curling up and reading a good book, watching a movie or catching a yoga class.

IF I WERE NOT WORKING AS A DESIGNER, I WOULD BE: This is a no-brainer, I would definitely be working as a personal shopper much to my husband’s dismay! If you were to look up the definition of a shopaholic you likely would find my picture there.

The old saying “Born to shop” was coined after me.

THE COLOUR THAT MEANS COMFORT TO ME: The colour that brings me most comfort is green. It is grounding and secure and in my opinion, the most nurturing colour on the planet. Green is the colour of nature; you find different shades and tints of green in the grass, the trees, the shrubs, it's everywhere! There’s a reason why people like going to the lake, they are in nature and it is a natural way of de-stressing and finding comfort.

THE COLOUR THAT MEANS COURAGE TO ME: Definitely purple it symbolizes power and courage. Historically speaking, purple was worn by royalty and leaders of powerful empires. The Purple Heart is you guessed it, purple. It is a mysterious colour and is associated with both nobility and spirituality. If you’re looking for a bold and comforting space, green and purple can be a very striking combination.

THE PATTERN I’M MOST FASCINATED WITH RIGHT NOW: There are so many beautiful patterns that it’s hard to pick a favorite because

I love so many of them. But I can definitely tell you one of my favourites is the quatrefoil pattern which translates to “four leaves.” I love the symmetrical shape of it and how it reminds me of a four-leaf clover. One clever way to use this pattern is by placing four quatrefoil shaped mirrors in a quatrefoil shape above a dresser. Now that’s an eyecatching focal point!

THREE THINGS I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT RIGHT NOW: My iPad, my iPhone and my computer.

What would we do without technology?

Without them, my job would be much harder. What did people do 25 years ago? These tools are my lifeline in my job, I use them to communicate, to design and to take and show pictures.

What would a decorator/designer do without Pinterest, Houzz and websites?

THIS FALL I’M MAKING THESE DESIGN CHANGES IN MY OWN SPACE: My children have moved on with their lives and have left my husband and I with two empty bedrooms to contend with. My number one priority is to get really organized and repurpose these rooms for my staging inventory. Right now it’s just one huge mess. It is amazing how the accessories accumulate, it’s like having my own accessory store!

MY FALL DECORATING SCHEME INCLUDES: I love the fall. The smells, the vivid colours, there’s nothing better than taking in the beautiful scenery and listening to the sound of the geese.

Part of my fall decorating scheme includes dressing up my entryway by adding outdoor pillows in fall colours on a bench, strategically placing gourds and pumpkins to continue the theme and hanging simple wreaths on my front doors. To keep the palette going I add container pots filled with chrysanthemums, dahlias or zinnias to complete the look.

whitespace. g rid. repetition. alig nment. you n oti c e de s i gn eve ry wh e re . we do too.

Hinge is a strategic branding and interactive design agency. We are passionate about culture, and how we can create conversations between our clients and their target audiences. We believe that style reflects who you are and what you do; and in today’s competitive marketplace, having a distinct style is an advantage that will help you stand apart from the crowd. A meaningful style is a powerful way to define your purpose, represent your values and effectively communicate your brand to customers.

Design thinking is crucial when approaching and solving business problems in a culture full of change. We’re honest, approachable, down to earth and would like to help.

h i n g e d es i g n .c a | 2 0 4 .9 9 7 .8 8 5 7

www.milnewelldressedhomes.ca/

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tips o' the trades

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Every can of chalk paint should come with a warning label: “CAUTION! Once you try this product, you will not be able to stop!” Chalk Paint is by far the very best paint for painting furniture. It is incredibly quick drying to a velvety, matte finish and requires no primer. The long and short of it is prep equals completing any required repairs, a light sand if necessary [generally not, but a test patch will tell you for sure] and cleaning all surfaces. That’s it, that’s all! One can beautifully transform furniture, frames and home decor items with ease and achieve a primitive, heavily distressed finish, a smooth contemporary finish or something wonderful in between. Chalk paint can be used to achieve single or multiple colour techniques with vintage charm, to reveal the grain in oak and to achieve old world patinated and antiqued looks. After revamping a piece in chalk paint you can protect it with the application of a wonderful, buttery soft furniture wax; available in natural for a clear, perfect and subtle sheen, and in dark for those projects where you want to achieve some patina and depth. For a more durable finish chalk paints can be protected with a water based polyurethane.

FAT Paint Company is available at Envy Paint and Design.

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KIMBERLY SELDON DESIGN BEING SURROUNDED BY INSPIRING DESIGN DAILY, HOW DO YOU DECIDE THE DESIGN DIRECTION FOR YOUR OWN HOME?

BALANCING YOUR MEDIA COMMITMENTS AND YOUR STUDIO, WHAT IS YOUR TYPICAL DAY LIKE?

I’m a cerebral designer. I use the architecture, setting and then preferences to make informed decisions—whether the project is for me or a client. I would make very different decisions for a beach house in Vancouver than a ranch house in Winnipeg, but I’d have fun doing either.

Typical? That doesn’t exist for me and I like it that way.

An ideal day looks like this:

1. Plan or die.

8am Yoga 10 am Cityline shoot 12 pm Lunch with client or supplier 2pm-5pm Client work 6 pm Dinner with the family

2. A change order is often an indication you didn’t do your work up front.

Of course, few days run like this!

WHEN DO YOU SPLURGE AND WHEN/WHERE DO YOU SAVE?

3. Beige isn’t a colour. It’s a way of life.

I splurge on artwork. I’ve always believed in supporting original thought. I will also splurge on travel. I’m not inclined to splurge on technology. There is such a thing as a TV that’s too large for the room and I think my music sounds great coming out of my little wireless speaker. My husband completely disagrees with the last two points.

COULD YOU GIVE US THREE DESIGN RULES OR MUST HAVES?

YOUR CAREER HAS GIVEN YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE DESIGN IN MANY DIFFERENT MEDIA. HOW HAVE THOSE EXPERIENCES INFLUENCED THE DESIGNER YOU ARE TO DAY? Every design professional should have an opportunity to style for a magazine. Seeing your work through the lens of the camera changes your perspective and improves the quality of the finished project.

WHAT IS SOME GREAT DESIGN ADVICE YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN?

WHAT ARE SOME STYLING TRICKS YOU USE REGULARLY? I look at a space through the lens of a camera. I also like to create rhythm through repetition. Using the same shape several times, or lining up like objects for impact.

When in doubt, go bigger. I think too often, designers get a great idea and then fear causes them to dial it back. Make a statement. Set the tone with a big idea.

WHAT TRENDS DO YOU PREDICT FOR 2015?

WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU GIVE OTHER ASPIRING DESIGNERS?

WHAT ARE YOU TIRED OF SEEING?

It’s 80% business and 20% creative. Any other formula and you are in serious trouble. Join www.businessofdesign.com and we can mentor you through the process.

Non-design professionals giving design advice. Theory is one thing, but having real experience, with real clients and real budgets and real timelines is something altogether different.

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Smart consumers will hire a design professional. They’ll save time and money and create an environment they will thrive in.

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COVET CARAVAN … m u d a n d sto n e

Welcome Back Potter Photography by WHITNEY ATKINSON AND MUD + STONE Written by BARBARA CHABAI

Mud + Stone’s one-of-a-kind pieces join the modern resurgence of handmade ceramics

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Photo Credit: Deer + Almond

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26 m e rto n roa d a n d ‌ p i n e r i d g e h o l low

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I thought clay must feel happy in the good potter’s hand.

Author Janet Fitch’s passage in White Oleander seems appropriate when admiring the ceramic art handcrafted by Lynne Mulvihill and Jennifer McCurry of Mud + Stone. You can’t help but think this clay must be proud to have been lovingly transformed into something so special.

Mud + Stone is part of a new generation of potters creating beautiful and functional ceramics valued by a new generation of buyers seeking to connect with inimitable pieces of art.

“I honestly believe that an appreciation for pottery is coming back as part of the local handcrafting movement,” says Mulvihill. “People are getting tired of visiting friends and seeing the same mass-produced items they have in their own home. They’re looking for a unique item that has a story, brings back

a memory, or most importantly, has a personal connection.”

Mulvihill, a designer with a degree in architecture, met McCurry, an artist with a diverse background including photography and silversmithing, while taking pottery classes at The Stoneware Gallery under master potters Valerie Metcalfe and Kathryne Koop. Sharing a mutual admiration for one another’s work, they struck up a friendship over a bottle of wine, eventually leading to the decision to team up as Mud + Stone.

“We were both new to pottery and getting serious about it. We knew that by joining forces, we could do so much more than if we went solo,” explains McCurry.

“By partnering, we get to collaborate on everything. We share ideas and we push each other to do better.”

Working separately in their home

studios furnished with electric kilns, McCurry and Mulvihill concentrate on creating mugs, pitchers, bowls, tealight holders, liqueur glasses and even clay earrings shaped from their own personal styles.

“As you’re building, you think of that person who will enjoy what you’ve made.

There’s a little bit of love in there that you just don’t get with a store-bought item,” says Mulvihill, whose favourite pieces are the ceramic bird feeders that have quickly gained popularity among Mud + Stone admirers, including the Tara Davis Studio Boutique on McDermot Avenue, which did an entire window display of the feeders in the spring.

“Each is one of a kind, and I like that a little careful engineering goes into designing each one,” she says. “Some are flat on top and to have them not sag in the kiln requires some architectural planning.”

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Recently, McCurry and Mulvihill were commissioned to design and create serving dishes and dinnerware for Deer + Almond, Chef Mandel Hitzer’s acclaimed Exchange District restaurant.

“Mandel is very supportive of the local creative community and well known for his collaborations with artists of all disciplines. When he was looking to enhance the food experience with artistic, handcrafted servingware, we were honoured to work with him,” says Mulvihill.

Although the Deer + Almond dishes were designed to be similar in size, each turned out slightly different thanks to a variety of clays, glazes and subtle patterns.

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“As much as you try to make each piece look the same, they never are because they are made by hand,” McCurry says. “Plus, once you put a piece in the kiln, it’s in the kiln’s hands.

You can never be 100 per cent sure of what will come out. Sometimes, you get exactly what you were imagining, at other times you get results even more beautiful. It can also reveal unique imperfections. I call those birthmarks.

And it’s those birthmarks that people fall in love with.”

Mud + Stone is available at Tara Davis Studio Boutique and Envy Paint & Design. Visit them online: http://mudandstonestudio.com

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This Page: A compact footprint needn’t compromise function - this mini A spectacular collection of vases displayed inwith the ling area and echoes the soundwave home office maximizes space by going vertical storage a pullpatterns of the wool rug,Open creating perfect harmony of texture down desktop.

Opposite: andaclosed storage options allow living to thein the otherwise subdued space. homeowners to display and hide items as required

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MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE A Transformative Home Office, Or A Guest Room In Disguise? design by FOR SPACE SAKE photography CORY ARONEC PHOTOGRAPHY

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“ There’s something very freeing about letting go of stuff… this move and this space has completely transformed how we live our lives. We love it!” ~The Homeowners

Clockwise from bottom left: When pivoted and locked into place, the back wall of the open shelving reveals a queen-size Murphy bed; modern bright white desk accessories work with the room’s aesthetic while keeping things organized; the well-designed guest bed includes convenient pull-out bedside tables. Opposite: The considered layout of the Clei cabinetry allows the natural light from the adjacent window to flood the space – remarkable, given the combined depth of the shelves and the Murphy bed hidden behind them.

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It’s an unnerving experience for many empty nesters: confronting the prospect of leaving their large suburban homes and taking up residence in a smaller house or, dare they even think it, a condominium. And why wouldn’t it be? Looking around, some see spacious rooms filled with memories of family gatherings; others see lush mature gardens, carefully tended and lovingly nurtured over decades. But what they all see is space… and the stuff filling up that space. And what they all dread is a lack of space to hold all that stuff. And while not all of them still have little Susie’s Brownies uniform or Rick’s old hockey trophies lurking in some spare closet, they’re all holding onto that spare closet tighter than Susie held on to her crafts badge in 1973.

So it might be surprising to learn that when the owners of this luxurious Waterfront Drive condominium first began to consider exchanging their beloved family house for a new life in the heart of downtown Winnipeg, one of the first things they embraced was the prospect of cleansing their lives of ‘all the stuff.’ Says the wife, “For forty years, we lived in a lovely house in East Kildonan – over three-thousand square feet, right on the river. And it was wonderful. But we were ready for something new.”

The couple, who together own and operate several successful Winnipeg businesses, were very familiar with the area. “Over the years, we watched it develop. Whether on our daily drives in to work, runs along the river or visiting the Forks, we always saw the area as a potential place to live,” says the husband. And when a comfortable unit overlooking the park and river came up for sale in a building they’d long admired, they made their move.

Logistics meant that a small den would need to multifunction on several levels in order to meet their needs. They sat down and discussed their list with designer Shauna Boychuk of For Space Sake. “And I thought, okay!” laughs Boychuk, recalling her clients’ wishes for the space. “Desk and storage for a dailyuse home office. Shelving for books and some display items.

A bed, as the room needed to double as a guest bedroom. And closet space, as the room didn’t have one, having originally been designed as a den. And all of this in a space measuring eightand-a-half by twelve feet!”

The designer immediately recognized the need to create a space with a dual personality. “In a space this size, the challenge was developing a plan that felt ‘full service’ no matter how it was being used: as an office, it needed to function as an office – being crammed into a tiny desk beside a queen size bed wouldn’t cut it. Conversely, the space needed to feel like a comfortable and private retreat when used as a guest room, without a desk and files pilled up all over the place.” Boychuk reworked the plans several times before coming up with an option that maximized the available footprint and matched the high quality and style of the rest of the clients’ home.

Utilizing transformable furniture units by Italian design company Clei, Boychuk was able to solve one of the fundamental challenges of the space – how to create spaces requiring depth in a space that lacked it, without blocking doorways or windows.

The first of the Clei units fits within inches between the window and a wall, and contains a fully functioning home office. A large hydraulic door folds down at its centre, creating a large worktop modern living with a pr airie t wist

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and revealing a contained area with shelving and office supplies.

Directly above and below are various closed units containing everything from the homeowners’ files to a full-sized printer and overstock office supplies. When closed, the office disappears into a simple clean wall of white cabinetry. “Closed storage is a huge key to successfully living in a smaller space,” says the wife, noting that sometimes she even forgets where she has things. “I’ll be looking for something and suddenly pop open a door to a space I didn’t remember was there,” she laughs.

But things get serious on the adjacent wall, where a large bank of open shelving delivers the abundant storage the clients requested. The dark, thick shelving provides a deep counterpoint to the banks of slick, white doors and is a perfect place for the clients’ collections of books and a few prized art objects. And even with a depth of two feet, the designer notes that the unit still feels light and airy. “In no way is the natural light from the window obstructed. That was an important consideration in making this all work,” says Boychuk.

But with one flick of a hidden switch, the true brilliance behind the entire installation becomes apparent. And we mean literally, for without a single bump or shudder, the entire wall effortlessly spins out and around, locking back into place flush with the wall to reveal a full sized queen Murphy bed. With one hand, the homeowners can simply pull the entire bed – also on hydraulics – and the entire space is transformed into a luxurious guest room. While hidden night tables slide out from underneath the mattress, Boychuk also installed a full-sized end table in front of the window that provides guests with drawer space. And on the other side of the bed, two full-height doors open to reveal the requested closet space, a perfect size for use by guests or simply for the homeowners’ off-season outerwear.

In the end, the systems were a perfect solution to the space and, says Boychuk, a pragmatic choice. “While the Clei system wasn’t inexpensive, we wouldn’t have been able to achieve these results without it. And when and if the homeowners move, they can choose to take the units with them, or leave them as an added-value to the unit. It’s really a win-win.” To this, the clients look at each other and laugh (“Good point… but we’re not going anywhere”), perhaps the best proof that transforming into condo life can be as easy as flicking a switch.

Top: Convenient bedside tables slide out from under the mattress when the Murphy bed is in use, saving floor space from bulkier end tables that would only receive occasional use; Bottom: the smart use of space allows the small room to function in several ways without feeling crowded.

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G E T TH I S LOOK

2.

1.

Hibernation Hibernationisis aa preparation preparation for for aamore more overt overtaction. action.

3.

— Ralph Ellison — Ralph Ellison 4.

6.

5.

7.

1. Spring Chair, available at Structube 2. JANSJO desk light, available from IKEA 3. Chilewich Miniweave area rug, available at For Space Sake 4. Design Ideas white desk accessories, available at For Space Sake 5. Worldly Goods green glass spheres, available at For Space Sake 6. Benjamin Moore Coventry Gray HC-169 7. Benjamin Moore Oxford White CC-30

HABITAT IN HARMONY WITH DESIGN | SAMANTHA BRAUN 204.223.6157 | ECOTONES@MTS.NET HABITAT IN HARMONY WITH DESIGN | SAMANTHA BRAUN

204.223.6157 | ECOTONES@MTS.NET

HABITAT IN HARMONY WITH DESIGN | SAMANTHA BRAUN 204.223.6157 | ECOTONES@MTS.NET HABITAT IN HARMONY WITH DESIGN | SAMANTHA BRAUN

204.223.6157 | ECOTONES@MTS.NET

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BL ACK

M AG I C A New Build in Old Tuxedo Proves That The Devil’s in the Details design by CIBINEL ARCHITECTS LTD photography MICHAEL ROBERTS

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Tall, Dark and Handsome: the expansive great room, enveloped entirely in black, is a study in contradictions – filled with treasures both costly and humble, it is at once dark and airy, moody and calm

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“ Don’t compromise. We’ve felt incredible satisfaction from realizing the vision of this house – everything is exactly how I knew it could be.” ~ The Homeowner

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When the new owners of a home in Winnipeg’s well– established Tuxedo area set out to create their dream home, they knew exactly what they were going to do. The older, two-storey house was in serious need of critical renovations, and the couple – a local businesswoman and her husband, a retired Olympian – had big plans for a complete overhaul, along with a major extension off the back. But as fate would have it, major structural damage to the foundation was discovered during the demolition of the back walls of the house… and 20 minutes later, after a nod from the husband, the entire original building was completely levelled. For many, this sudden change in direction would be a nightmare… but for these visionaries, it was an opportunity to raise something spectacular from the ashes.

From the onset, the reincarnated vision for the home was a space that was dramatic and curious. The owners, who share a common sense of taste and serious design chops, knew that they wanted to create something extraordinary… and resale value or the ‘right’ number of bathrooms wasn’t going to be a factor in their plans.

From the moment guests cross the threshold, they enter a space that challenges all preconceived notions of what airy, cozy and inviting can be. Swathed entirely in black, the walls, ceilings and floors of the house create a startling envelope for the spectacular collections and beautiful furnishings used throughout the space. But even more shocking is how right it all feels.

“Everything has an opposite – you can’t have good without bad, death without life, private without public,” says the husband, who for over two years worked closely with the builders to infuse the modern masterpiece with his distinctly unorthodox perspective. As if to underline the point of all the black, he adds, “And let’s face it – for six months of the year, it’s white outside. Who needs more white?”

It’s a question anyone who spends time in the space will ask themselves. At a relatively modest 3,200 square feet, the house feels and lives significantly larger, thanks to a well conceived open floor plan and soaring twelve and a half foot ceilings throughout. Entered through a tall and heavy, custom wooden front door, the double height foyer soars over twenty feet up to the ceiling. The grand scale, combined with floor–to–ceiling red velvet draperies covering half the walls (the rest, of course, are black), demonstrates both the theatrical and architectural tricks used throughout the home to manipulate the senses.

This page: Located off the foyer, the cozy den features classic design elements that are juxtaposed with the owners’ unique design approach: regular height ceilings are still painted black, and the traditional panelled walls are inset with flocked skull–pattern wallpaper. Opposite: Curated vignettes around the house, including this composition featuring an old trombone and a mummified bird under glass, speak to the owners’ esoteric tastes and confident sense of style; a luxurious velvet–covered canopy chair balances the volume of the foyer’s 20’ tall ceilings.

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Several steps down from the foyer is the great room. The lounge-like space features large and comfortable living and dining areas, a magnificently understated kitchen and sparkling bar area. Anchored by a massive sectional, the living area is oriented towards an oversized fireplace and media wall. In front of the fireplace sits a long, timeworn wooden bench whose back story perfectly illustrates the hundreds of stories that together infuse the house with a decorated patina: the bench, spanned by several steel bars and a dozen pairs of ancient handcuffs, for decades was used to hold criminals awaiting booking in the central downtown Los Angeles police station. “Over the years, some of the most notorious criminals on the twentieth century – Charles Manson, the Hillside Strangler – would have sat on that bench,” says the husband.

The sense of a reversed perspective continues upstairs, where some of the most private spaces in the house deliver the most dramatic public reaction. The principal bedroom, where neon crosses illuminated a bed sprayed with graffiti, is home to a spectacular custom dresser with a split personality. Created for the couple in California, the piece aggressively merges both modern and classic design elements with a sense of balance that, like elsewhere in the house, challenges notions of what constitutes good design. Adjoining the bedroom is an awe– inspiring closet — an 18-by-12 foot space covered by custom Top: Draped in black fur, the graffitied king size bed is just one of many pieces custom made for the principal bedroom; Left & Opposite: Everyone’s got some skeletons in the closet, but few haunt such opulent spaces as this chandelier–lit dressing room

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wallpapers and illuminated by a black crystal chandelier – that’s home to the wife’s own personal collections. And her husband’s clothes? “It’s a trade off. I have my collections all over the house, and she has hers in the closet. My clothes are in the basement,” he laughs.

It’s only in the daughter’s bedroom down the hall where white walls make an appearance in this house, but by pairing that white with vivid shots of fuchsia, silver and black, she demonstrates a shared sense of style with her parents. Not to mention a sense of theatrics: “We saw the wallpaper in a Nicki Minaj commercial for AT&T. It took a while to track that one down,” confesses her dad with a smile.

In the end, it’s an otherworldly experience… and for good reason.

“I feel like we travelled the world building this house, without leaving Winnipeg,” says the husband. “We sourced so many things from all over the world… but the final result feels exactly like home.”

Opposite: Anchored by the expansive fireplace, the lounge area offers ample space to relax with your favourite summer reading; This page: Red Dragon granite countertops paired with custom cherrywood cabinets create a chef's kitchen.

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GE T T H I S LO O K

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4.

5.

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6.

8.

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1. Devil Salt & Pepper shakers, available at Envy Paint & Design 2. Solid wood–panelled doors, available at Yarrow Sash & Door 3. Damask patterned flocked wallpapers, available at Envy Paint & Design 4. Skull patterned flocked wallpapers, available at Envy Paint & Design 5. Karastan Indescribable Black Velvet carpeting, available at Flatlanders 6. Preverco Laguna hardwood flooring, available at Flatlanders 7. Moooi Smoke dining chair, available at Kesay 8. Nadira canopy chair, available at Envy Paint & Design 9. Umbrella chandelier, available at Envy Paint & Design 10. Kravet Derring sectional sofa, available at Envy Paint & Design

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HAPPY HOSTS

Designing an elegant yet functional space for family entertaining design by ENVY PAINT AND DESIGN | photography BLISS PHOTOGRAPHY | text BARBARA CHABAI

This page: The crescent shape of the cottage mimics the shape of the bay.

The 122 stairs down to the water keep you in shape during the summer!

Opposite: An expansive deck atop the boathouse provides a perfect waterside area for entertaining, sunbathing and taking in the spectacular views of Clearwater Bay

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Opposite: A traditional mix of greys gets a contemporary spin with a sophisticated palette of pink and blue in this updated family home; This page: Playing with scale and pattern injects a current energy to the classic layout and symmetry of the formal dining room.

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Family was at the heart of redesigning the living space for one St. Andrews couple, having recently experienced a “generational handover” of the responsibilities that come with hosting special gatherings.

“With our parents downsizing and no longer having the room to entertain the whole family, my wife and I have taken over hosting holidays and other occasions in our home,” the homeowner says. “We wanted to be able to continue those traditions, to create a space that would accommodate all of our family birthdays, Christmases and Thanksgivings for years to come.”

When they purchased the Cape Cod-style home, built in 1992, they had every intention of making it their own.

“It was important for us to respect the integrity and the traditional charm of the original design,” he continues. “At the same time, we’re a thirty-something couple with a fiveyear old daughter, so we wanted to update it with a little more contemporary style.”

Having already refinished the floors and renovated the eat-in kitchen, the homeowners asked designer Bahia Taylor of Envy Paint & Design to complete their vision with a complementary subway-tile backsplash behind the stainless steel stove as well as provide custom window treatments for their spacious, lightfilled family room.

The collaboration then led to restyling the former dining room, which the homeowner admits wasn’t particularly well suited to raising a young child nor for entertaining. “We wanted to make better sense of it within a family environment,” he says.

“It’s wonderful to see a lovely, large dining room at a time when a lot of people have chosen to forego them for dens,” Taylor says. “Personally, I love a decorated dining room and believe it’s on its way to making a comeback.”

Clockwise from bottom left: Stately camelback dining chairs exemplify attention to detail: simple neutral linen fronts are complimented by moody gray leather backs with nailhead trim and metal details; forgoing a traditional tablecloth keeps the table setting feeling fresh and young, while letting the beauty of the wooden table shine through; a fun collection atop the sideboard entertains all generations gathered around the table. Opposite: The neutral palette extends to through to the family room and kitchen areas, enhancing the natural flow of the home.

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Beginning with the wallcovering, a bolder and more modern interpretation of a traditional pattern, Taylor created a monochromatic colour scheme – a dynamic layering of grey upon grey which is anything but flat and far from ordinary. After sourcing the centrepiece of the generously-sized room, a solid dining table and substantial yet functional chairs, focus went to choosing an accent colour that would offset the neutral, over-scaled furniture and bring levity to the room.

“We were toying around with the idea of a yellow accent when we came across this beautiful pink and grey carpet,” Taylor recalls. “The pink is so fresh yet not overly feminine. Instead, it comes across as playful and elegant.”

The homeowners were tickled with the whole idea. Pink also inspired the minimal but vibrant jewel-toned embellishments that punctuate the nearby seating area, creating a natural flow between rooms where party guests tend to circulate.

“Hot pink is completely unexpected to see in a home, but I think that’s what makes it such a great design choice,” the homeowner says. “Once again, it’s part of that balance, that fine line between traditional and contemporary.”

Another decision Taylor made was to utilize the space typically reserved for a china cabinet with a sideboard and a grand mirror with matching sconces.

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Opposite: The designer selected window coverings that offer her clients both the soft filter of sheers and the privacy of solid blinds; the deep colour of the window coverings work with the darker furnishings and balances the bright light and volume of the space.

This page: contemporary accents and white woodwork in the living and dining rooms keep the formal spaces from feeling stuffy.

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The gourmet kitchen was treated to a new tumbled stone backsplash which provides texture and warmth while subtly alluding to the brick chimney in the adjoining family room.

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“No matter how large and how tall a china cabinet might be, it would be dwarfed in a room with such high ceilings. There would still be so much space above that it would look like it never quite fit,” Taylor says. “On the other hand, the sideboard and decorative mirror are purposeful and suit this spot perfectly, plus they don’t diminish the wallcovering we wanted to showcase.”

She adds that homeowners with similarly-sized dining areas must not underestimate how much furniture such a generous space can hold. “The chairs should fit on the carpet, but the dining table also needs to fill the room proportionately, with light fixtures equally large yet low enough to illuminate the table.”

After putting the redesign to the test on several occasions, including hosting family dinner this past Thanksgiving, the homeowners say it’s once again fun to entertain knowing they have the ideal space to do it in.

“Overall, we think it’s been a fantastic collaboration. We vested our trust in Bahia, who’s grounded and a parent herself so she comes at everything with a functional take, then layers all the design elements in,” he says.

“More than anything, our home now represents the stage of life we’re at in taking over the entertaining. It has become the central meeting ground for our family.”

A mix of solid and mullioned glass fronts, substantial mouldings and classic finishes feels classic and contemporary in the polished kitchen.

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GET THIS LOO K 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

7.

1. Kravet Velvet upholstery, available at Envy Paint & Design 2. Gliteratti Wallpaper, available at Envy Paint & Design 3. Tumbled travertine tile, available at Envy Paint & Design 4. Nailhead trimmed mirror, available at Envy Paint & Design 5. Wool area rug, available at Envy Paint & Design 6. Hunter Douglas 3� Silhouette window coverings, available at Envy Paint & Design 7. Benjamin Moore Museum Piece CSP-40, available at Envy Paint & Design

6.

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Bountiful Harvest Savouring the Best of the Season’s Final Crop

recipes and food styling MARISA CURATOLO | photography BRIAN JOHNSON

Good taste and tasting good: everything looks and tastes delicious when cooked in well-seasoned pots and served with old silverware.

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Sweet meets savoury with this robust pumpkin and sweet potato soup, spiced with curry and sweetened with apples and honey.

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c h ow In large heavy saucepan, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook until golden; add garlic and continue to cook for 1 minute. Add curry paste and sweet potatoes and cook for another 10 minutes. Add white wine, pumpkin puree, apple sauce, chicken stock and honey. Bring to boil; simmer for 30 minutes or until sweet potatoes are tender. Puree soup with hand blender.

Return soup to saucepan; add cream and heat through. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with sour cream and fresh thyme. Serves 6.

BLACK BEAN AND RED PEPPER SOUP

The following recipes are a great way to use up the abundance of vegetables you have from your garden or from a neighbour or friend. Quick and easy, these recipes allow you to make them ahead of time and freeze. Perfect for the long, cold nights on the horizon.

Marisa Curatolo is a Paris-trained chef, food stylist and culinary instructor. She inspires cooks with her simple, easy recipes that are beautifully presented.

CURRIED PUMPKIN AND SWEET POTATO SOUP (pictured on the previous page)

3 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 onion, roughly chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 tablespoons curry paste 1 sweet potato, diced ¼ cup white wine 2 cups canned pumpkin puree ½ cup apple sauce 3 cups good quality chicken stock ¼ cup honey ¼ cup 35% cream Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste Sour cream, to garnish Fresh thyme, to garnish

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2 tablespoons canola oil 1 medium onion, finely chopped 1 red bell pepper, finely chopped 1 large carrot, peeled and chopped 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon ground cumin ½ teaspoon paprika ½ teaspoon salt 2 (15 ounce) cans cooked black beans 1 (14 ounce) can good quality chicken broth freshly ground pepper, to taste 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice Fresh corn, sliced tomatoes, feta cheese and parsley, to garnish Heat oil large pot over medium heat. add onion and cook 5 minutes. Add bell pepper, carrot, and garlic; cook 5 minutes or until tender. Mix in black beans and chicken broth. Bring soup to a boil.

Reduce heat to low. Simmer 20 minutes.

With hand held blender, puree half the soup until smooth. Garnish with corn, tomatoes, feta cheese and parsley.

Serves 4.

BAKED ONION SOUP (pictured on page 60) ¼ cup unsalted butter 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 medium onion, thinly sliced 1 shallot, finely chopped 1 leek, white parts only, finely sliced

½ cup dry sherry ½ cup dry white wine 4 cups good quality chicken stock 1 tablespoon coarse salt ½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper 8 slices French bread 2 cups shredded Gruyere cheese In large skillet, melt butter and olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook for 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low.

Add leeks and shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are very soft, 20 to 25 minutes. Add sherry, white wine, chicken stock, salt and pepper. Bring mixture to boil; lower to simmer and cook 10 minutes longer.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Place bread on parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake until bread is crispy, about 3 to 5 minutes; set aside. Divide soup among 6 ovenproof bowls. Place bread on top and sprinkle with cheese. Bake 15 to 20 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Serves 6.

LEEK AND POTATO SOUP (pictured on page 62) 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 large leek, white parts, chopped 4 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed ¼ cup dry white wine 5 cups homemade chicken stock Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme, plus more to garnish ¼ cup milk Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste Homemade croutons, recipe below, to garnish Chives, to garnish Freshly shaved Parmesan cheese, to garnish In large heavy saucepan, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add leeks and cook until golden, about 3 to 4 minutes.

Add potatoes and cook for another 10 minutes. Add white wine, chicken stock.

Bring to boil; simmer for 30 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Puree

A mix of spices and a bright splash of fresh lime give our Black Bean and Red Pepper soup a full and complex flavour.

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soup with hand blender.

Season with salt, pepper and thyme. Return soup to saucepan; add milk and heat through. Garnish with croutons, thyme and Parmesan. Serves 4.

GARLIC CROUTONS 1 loaf country bread ½ cup olive oil 6 cloves garlic, peeled For garlic croutons, place garlic and olive oil in small saucepan over low heat. Simmer 30 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes or until garlic is soft. Remove saucepan from heat and allow garlic to cool in oil.

Meanwhile, cut loaf into cubes. Heat garlic oil in large skillet pan over medium high heat. Add bread and toss. Cook croutons until golden and crisp, tuning often, about 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat.

SPELT CRACKERS Spelt flour is a popular whole grain flour. Spelt contains gluten and can be substituted where whole wheat is called for. It does not need to be kneaded for a long time and it's important not to over mix.

1 ½ cups ground spelt flour, plus more ½ teaspoon fine sea salt 1 ½ teaspoon dried dill 6 tablespoon unsalted butter: 4 tablespoons at room temperature and 2 tablespoons melted ½ cup yogurt Rich Gruyere buttermilk cheese on biscuits toasted french Scrumptious and bread is a decadent treat atop our Baked Soup or asparagus wrapped in prosciuttoOnion are both enjoyed simply on it’s own with a glass of wine. elegant and easy to prepare.

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Put flour into large mixing bowl and whisk in salt and dill. Beat in 4 tablespoons room temperature butter until flour resembles cornmeal in texture. Beat in yogurt until mixture forms thick dough.

Cover bowl and place in warm place in your kitchen for at least 8 hours or up to 12.

Position racks in lower third of oven.

Preheat oven to 450°F. Divide dough into four portions. Sprinkle work surface with flour and roll out each piece of dough to ₁⁄₁₆-inch thickness. With a pizza cutter or sharp knife cut dough into 1 ½ inch squares. Place squares on parchment lined baking sheets, about ½ inch apart.

Brush squares with melted butter and prick them with tines of a fork. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes, until crackers are slightly golden around edges. Cool on wire rack.

Store in airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

HERB CHEESE SPREAD 6 oz soft goat cheese, softened at room temperature 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 1 tsp chopped fresh thyme 2 teaspoon chopped parsley 2 teaspoon chopped chives In medium bowl, combine all ingredients. Combine well. Place in small crock or ramekin. Serve with spelt crackers. Serves 8.

Homemade spelt crackers with a hint of dill deliver a savoury, satisfying crunch, and pair beautifully with our Herb Cheese Spread.

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Leek and Potato soup is a hearty and traditional fall favourite; ours is topped with savoury homemade garlic croutons. For recipe see p. 58.

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pa i r i n g s

PRONOL PROSECCO

Brilliant straw yellow colour with fine lasting bubbles. Aromas of flowers, hay, and wild blossoms, this wine tastes like a romantic encounter might happen moments after the first sip.

KING RIDGE PINOT GRIS

Everyone in Winnipeg is drinking Pinot Grigio.

Don’t let the name fool you, Pinot Gris is Pinot Grigio. Pear lemon and kiwi notes will fill your nose and the flavours of peach and citrus will follow. This wine tastes like a carefree ride on swing-set.

SHINAS ESTATE GUILTY SHIRAZ

BOGLE ESSENTIAL RED

Do we like this wine?

Guilty as charged.

Cherry, vanilla, and peppery spice.

Full bodied and an extremely lush and well balanced mouth feel. Remember the first time you saw that awesome red sports car that you fell in love with? Guilty.

Zinfandel, Syrah, Cab Sauv, and Petite Sirah blended in perfect harmony showing big character, but still remaining approachable.

Boysenberries, cherry and vanilla come to mind. This wine is a muscle bound He-Man walking a cat on a leash.

BALLARD LANE PINOT NOIR

Garnet in colour and plums, straw, and a hint of perfume on the nose. The wine is medium bodied with mild tannins to firm up the mouth feel. It is the selfie that you finally got right.

The Winehouse, located in Kenaston Common, puts together Covet's pairings.

Their attention to detail and genuine interest will exceed your expectations. Pop in to try something special.

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ask a designer

GREAT DESIGN ON ANY BUDGET STARTSWITH A PLAN

by CAROL STANDIL

One of the best ways to make your design dollar go further is to avoid making expensive mistakes. And the easiest way to avoid making expensive mistakes is to create and follow a plan based on basic design principles.

Take time to define how you need your space to function and identify what items you will need. Then measure your space and create a floor plan that includes all of those items – to scale. You can draw it by hand on graph paper, or use a free online program such as Autodesk Homestyler. Make note of each item and its maximum size parameters, and take it with you when you shop.

As you develop your floor plan, make sure to pull your furniture away from the walls and leave enough space it to allow for comfortable movement and convenient use. Try to ensure that traffic in and out of the space can flow around your furniture groupings rather than cutting through them.

Keep scale and proportion in mind. For example, if your sofa is large and heavy, you will want to plan for end tables and lamps that have some weight to them, too.

It is also wise to plan the colour palette and decorating style before you start making purchases. This is often easiest when you find a jumping off point to inspire you. This might be a piece

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of artwork, a toss cushion, an area rug, or a photo of a space or palette that you love.

You can use a site such as Olioboard to create a mood board that will help you keep your design vision clear in your mind as you shop.

The mood board, along with your list of dimensions, becomes a powerful decision-making tool that can help boost your confidence and make shopping less stressful.

Find a coffee table that’s the right size and style but wrong colour? Look to your plan and consider whether a coat of paint, or some other change, would make it work with the rest of your scheme.

Let your plan guide you, and keep basic design principles in mind as you pull your finished space together, too. Little details such as hanging pictures and draperies at the right height help your room feel much more polished. !

Carol Standil is a certified interior decorator and colour specialist in Winnipeg with a passion for helping people surround themselves with good colour. She blogs about colour and design at carolstandil. wordpress.com. You can reach her at carol.standil@live.ca.

We asked designers: “What are your favourite tips for getting big style on a budget?”

ro o m s to l i f e Connie Epp So you want maximum style for minimum cash? Here are three tips for “designing” your budget: 1. Give that old dresser/table/cupboard new life with a fresh coat of dreamy paint (preferably sprayed) and add funky or classic hardware. Yes, we’ve all heard this before but most people still underestimate the “wow” factor of this transformation. Take the risk and love it! Protect the top with custom glass.

2. Hunt the shelves/catalogues for pieces you adore and then be patient. Yes, it’s hard to wait, but a sale will come!

3. Work around the “star” in the room. Choose inexpensive pieces with clean simple lines to compliment your focal attraction. One well chosen higher-end “soloist” with a supportive classic economical chorus, can make the room sing!

204.668.6697 www.roomstolife.ca connie_epp@hotmail.com

t i f fa n y s h e l d o n d e s i g n Tiffany Sheldon To get big style on a budget I suggest a mix of high and lowpriced pieces. For example, invest in a quality sofa in a timeless style and fabric as well as statement-making quality chairs, then mix in less expensive coffee and end tables, or revamp old ones with paint or stain.

Use down cushion forms and cover them with inexpensive covers – they make any sofa look much more luxurious.

Buy one piece of quality artwork and compliment with less expensive framed photography – either your own, from a friend or from a book.

If you can’t afford to invest in top quality window coverings search for some better quality curtain panels and a classic rod in a neutral colour or similar to the wall colour. www.tiffanysheldon.com

a b s o lu t e d eco r Lesli Trottier Many clients want to redecorate without a major investment.

I love these three “go to” options: 1. Paint – it’s amazing how a new color and a punch with a feature wall can positively change the feel of a room.

2. Frame a bathroom mirror or fireplace with a gorgeous tile.

While the tile may be costly per square foot, you need only a small amount to deliver the wow factor with a manageable price.

3. Rearrange your existing furniture, adding one new “focus” piece and some accents to update and refresh. Whether it’s a new light fixture, electric fireplace or area rug, add some coordinating toss cushions and/or art and you have a great new look!

204. 333.2963

ca ro l sta n d i l co lo u r & d e s i g n Carol Standil Colour is one of my favourite tools for getting maximum impact for minimum dollars.

If your furniture is mismatched or less than inspiring and you’re not ready to replace it, a strong wall colour can help add life to the room and take the focus off your furniture. Coloured walls help camouflage clutter better than white walls do, too!

Colour can give new life to dated wood cabinets or turn a tired thrift store find into a dazzling and unique focal point. Unify mismatched dining chairs with a single bold or sophisticated colour, or paint each a different colour for a truly eclectic look.

Ph: 204.226.1533 www.carolstandil.wordpress.com carol.standil@live.ca

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prairie pa l e t t e

Manitoba has a plethora of both emerging and established artists. In each issue, Prairie Palette will introduce you to some of the talented locals who share Manitoba with us, and demystify some of the intricacies of art and the art scene in the province. This issue, we are excited to introduce you to Sophie Lavoie.

Sophie Lavoie was born in Nova Scotia, and grew up intimately connected to its Atlantic coast. This upbringing plays a central role as an inspirational catalyst in her series of underwater seaweed paintings. Most recently she has called Winnipeg home, but this doesn't stop her from frequent trips to various coasts to find more inspiration for her work.

She believes subconsciously there is a connection with people and the sea, a primeval attraction, that we are drawn to it; that it calls to somewhere deep inside all of us. The discovery and exploration of the underwater world have awoken intense emotions in her since early childhood.

Sophie's work strives to communicate the spirit the underwater; the energy that resonates the language of the sea; unheard but deeply felt. She like to compare this ecosystem to a fetus, weightless in its mother’s womb... that the immersion in this underwater world serves as an open door to our most primitive memories.

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Using variety of media, watercolours, pastels and ink, she explore the subtle language of this underwater world; painting the dancing seaweeds, the play of light and shadow, of textures, and movement. A visual translation of our ancient home.

Following her inspiration, Sophie travelled this past winter to California to dive in the kelp ladders (a dream of hers) as well as plunging into the waters of British Columbia to swim the kelp forests off the west coast of Vancouver Island. In the summer, she went back to her original inspiration of the Atlantic to experience the turbulent waters of Nova Scotia at the tail end of summer storm Arthur.

Her work was most recently featured in The Power of 30, an exhibition celebrating MAWA’s (Mentoring Artists for Women’s Art) 30th anniversary in Winnipeg.

She is currently working on a new body of work for an upcoming exhibition next summer. sophielavoiefineart.com | sophielavoiefineart@gmail.com

FALL TERM2014

th r 6th, September 15 Decembe

AGES 2 TO 6 PRESCHOOL ART FOR 6 SCHOOL AGE ART 6-1

nching point Using art histor y as our lau tful Owl for a studio practice the Ar making fun. inspires creativity and art art Ho ot hoot, love artfulowl.ca T: 204.487.2012 create@artfulowl.ca 16-1700 Corydon Winnipeg, Manitoba R3N 0K5

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living well

So good you’ll want to go to bed early From coordinated bedroom sets to stand-alone statement pieces, IKEA has a great range of bedroom furniture and accessories to choose from.

Mattresses and pillows to suit the way you sleep, bedding to keep you warm and lighting for reading your favourite book. All the ingredients to create an affordable bedroom that’s just right for you.

A clean, fresh room that is at once contemporary and classic.

IKEA SHOPPING LIST: STRANDMON Wing chair, Svanby gray, $299.00 EKTORP Footstool, Blekinge white, $129.00 SVEIO Chest with 2 drawers, white, $149.00 STENKLÖVER, Duvet cover and pillowcase(s), white, gray, $34.99 BEKKESTUA Padded queen headboard, $249.00

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Solid pine and classic style come together in this bedroom.

IKEA SHOPPING LIST: HURDAL Nightstand, green, $99.00 STRANDKRYPA Duvet cover and pillowcase(s), $34.99 RANARP Work lamp, nickel plated, $39.99 HURDAL 3 drawer chest, light brown, $229.00

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living well

More and more people want to live sustainably. It’s about using bed linen made from cotton grown in a more responsible way, choosing furniture with wood that generates less waste, adding softness with rugs made from leftover material and saving energy with LED lighting.

IKEA SHOPPING LIST: JANSJÖ LED floor/read lamp, black, $29.99 NORDEN Bench, birch, $129.00 MANDAL Bed frame with storage, birch, white, $399.00 TÅNUM Rug, flatwoven, assorted colors, $6.99

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to o l s

e ss e n t i a l s fo r a good soup 2.

3.

1.

4.

1. A tea cup works but a long handled non-stick ladle works better and is much tidier.

2. Soup on the go! The .5L Crock-Pot Lunch Crock warms leftovers, soups, oatmeal and just about anything in amazing slow cooker fashion.

3. A large heavy pot that holds head to maintain steady simmers.

4. Presentation is a key ingredient in a successful meal and a soup tureen provides a beautiful backdrop for your culinary creations.

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pidim

SO UND FA M I L I A R ?

By STEPHEN LAMOUREUX The sectional didn’t look THAT big in the showroom. The one piece bathtub doesn’t fit through the bathroom door, should we take out part of the wall? How can we fold a king size mattress to fit up the stairs? The millwork is going to cost HOW much? Where did that colour come from?

For every project, whether it is a large renovation, a small remodel or simply purchasing new furniture – try to preplan everything. Take some time at the beginning of the project and determine what you are trying to achieve and be realistic.

Try to develop the complete concept and then work towards that so you eliminate impulse ideas and purchases that tend to be costly. Ideally you will make any and all mistakes on paper prior to starting your project as there it is easily fixed.

Unfortunately, this is probably the step that most people skip and it is one of the most important steps in the project.

Once you have the plan in place, make sure that the budget is reflected realistically - with the scope of work matching your budget. It is always easier to delay things or phase things at the planning stage, then trying to add something that is out of your scope or budget at the expense of the overall vision.

While everyone assumes that the W in Winnipeg also stands for Wholesale, remember that you get what you pay for and certain things you want to make sure are done right.

Finally, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Even if you are comfortable with your own design sense, getting another opinion can give you peace of mind and help you avoid costly purchases or the repainting of rooms. Interior Designers can assist in all aspects of the project and will work with you to

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whatever extent you request. There are a number of different ways that they can charge for their services – ask how when you are interviewing your design professional.

Remember, design professionals across Canada are required to meet the highest standards of education, examination and experience as set by their provincial association and government. As a member, they must carry liability insurance, participate in ongoing professional development and uphold a professional code of ethics and standards of practice.

Stephen Lamoureux is a Professional Interior Designer and owner of ADI group, an interior design studio in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He is the current President of the Professional Interior Designers Institute of Manitoba (PIDIM) and is a past Director for the Interior Designers of Canada (IDC). www.adigroup.ca The Professional Interior Designers Institute of Manitoba (PIDIM) is committed to enhancing the practice of Interior Design in Manitoba, and to educating the public about the benefits of interior design. As a professional body, its aim is to improve quality of life, and protect the health, safety and welfare of the public through the design of the interior environment. www.pidim.ca www.idcanada.org www.findinteriordesigner.org www.ncidq.org

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TWO-BY-FOUR LIFE

By DEZ DANIELS Full disclosure: this update was inspired by something I saw on Facebook. (Doesn’t that one out of 1,000 posts actually containing something inspiring make ALL that time we spend on it worthwhile? Ahem.) It was a post someone had shared from momastery.com, which is written by Glennon Doyle Melton, a former addict now blogging about her life and family.

After recently posting a picture of herself taken in her kitchen, Ms. Melton was apparently inundated with suggestions from people on how she could update her space and make it look better with “a little effort.” The post I read was essentially about how every single thing in her kitchen – the fridge, the faucet, even the floor – was a jumping off point for gratitude and joy, even though these things are easily lost in the shuffle of “not good enough.” It’s brilliant, and I highly recommend it if you are experiencing any level of “kitchen pity.” (or experiencing loathing of any other area of your home for that matter.)

One might think that for anyone fortunate enough to build a new home, or undertake an extensive renovation, the gratitude would come so much more easily. After all, it’s a fresh start: choose what you love, and create the space you’ve been dreaming of. But it’s been our experience that the sense of things not being good enough, or exactly the way you want them to be, can gobble you up just as quickly as if you had done nothing at all.

The examples, I’m embarrassed to admit, are almost endless.

Every single room in our home, which only celebrated its first birthday this past August, is ripe for picking apart. For the longest time (I’m even more embarrassed to admit), I agonized over the placement of the walk-in closet in the principal bedroom. Even typing and reading that sentence back now causes me to cringe. But from the time the drywall went up and I realized that the closet door directly faced the bedroom door, which looks right into our living room and subsequently, our kitchen window (our apologies to the neighbours, who may or may not have been exposed to certain things they can never unsee), I just couldn’t stop obsessing about it. It would have

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been SO easy to just face the door into the bedroom... why didn’t I think of that? What could we do to change it? Never mind that it houses more than enough clothes and shoes to keep me warm and comfortable. It wasn’t PERFECT anymore, and it kind of drove me bezonkers.

The flooring in our home was chosen to reflect the overall feeling we wanted to create, which is rustic, natural and a bit eclectic. They are rift oak, oiled rather than lacquered, and are positively stunning. Although I’ve been told they become “tougher” as they season over the course of a few years, those years will directly coincide with the maturation of the two young children I live with. Gouges and stains have a tendency to raise my blood pressure, and more than once, I have felt the pounding in my temples as I hissed at my husband, “Why the *^&$^ didn’t we put in tile?” How stupid. Not that I would WISH for long scratches in my brand new floor, but it’s true that when they are created by the life in little feet, it might be a good idea to appreciate what lies beyond the obvious.

I obsess about keeping things pristine and immaculate.

My husband’s obsessiveness, on the other hand, lives in his workmanship. As a tradesperson, he approaches every wee task with precise intentions. Before the build, he had some experience with tiling floors. But in working with the tile selected for one of the bathrooms, we discovered they were of different thicknesses.

The curse words invented as he attempted to adhere, and later grout, those uneven tiles still ring through the house to this day.

It looks a little wonky in places, it’s true, and he still can’t go in that room without a sense of failure. A hot bath, therefore, is a slippery slope from relaxing to stressed out. It’s easy to forget that the perfection lies in the words “hot” and “bath.” In the grand scheme of things, everything else is sort of irrelevant.

All the imperfections notwithstanding, I’m pretty excited that we’ll be sharing much of the finished product in the next issue of Covet! We are, as we speak, finishing and tweaking and touching up, gearing up for some juicy photos we hope you’ll enjoy. It’s been a privilege sharing our story with you!

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LAZY LEAVES text SAMANTHA BRAUN Leaves are not only fun to jump in and shove down your brother’s hoody (who didn’t do that at some point?!), but they are one of the best natural garden protectors Mother Nature ever invented. Granted, leaves on a lawn make a hot mess, but aiming that blower at your beds and covering them with a good layer of leaves not only cuts down on weeds germinating in late fall, but gives your perennials the protection they may need if we don’t get snow before it gets silly cold. As an added bonus (as if you even needed one beyond “she said skip the fall clean-up!”) you’ll collect all the neighbourhood ladybugs; your own spotted army ready to massacre poor unsuspecting aphids next year! Yes, you’ll have a lot of leaves to pull back or off your beds in the spring (if you have woodland plants, you can even skip that part normally too and call it “mulch”), but for fall… blow them on the beds, pour yourself a mulled something and enjoy a nice bonfire instead. You’re welcome (and thank you leaves and ladybugs!).

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PRESTO CHANGE-O I have to chuckle every time I see a sign “Mums for sale” (since a friend pointed out that it sounds a little creepy—who would sell their mums?!). So in honour of how much we actually love our mums, we do ours with a little twist of fall colour and a slight harvest vibe. Then, with a super simple swap out of planter accessories, we went from gobble-gobble to trick-or-treat in about 30 seconds and only a few bucks.

Done and done. Now where’s the pie and candy?

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YOUR SEED OR MINE? Know it or not, we had a pretty cool little screening here for one of Winnipeg’s own homegrown talents; Sean Kaminski and his film Open Sesame: The Story of Seeds as part of Organic Week. Needless to say I had a fewheads up — you should go see this” come through my inbox. And yup… they were right. Don’t get me wrong, I save my Martha Stewart Pumpkin seeds on a tissue in the kitchen like the next guy (or girl), and some of us grew up with grandmas who had the table or a workbench covered from one end to the other with fermenting jars, tissues, labels and envelopes. But it turns out this is actually a dying art—and we didn’t all learn you can save seeds? What? Who knew?

Well, I guess Sean and a few of his seed gurus.

Here’s the issue though (hold on, we’re gonna get all Mendelian for a sec, but bear with me); many of our crops and available seeds are Hybrids (enter modern agriculture circa 1930). With hybrids (in simple terms), the babies don’t look like the mamas and papas. If you save hybrid seed, you’ll often only get about 25% of the crop back with the traits from the hybrid parents, 75% will be back to the grannies and grandpas (Oh, how my genetics prof is cringing at that analogy, but close enough!). So that’s dandy for those selling seed, bad for anyone wanting to save their own. We also have the issue of GMO seeds, which cross pollinate with non-GMO seed contaminating the gene pool of non-GMO varieties, and then the babies are technically protected by patent. Nice. And not great if you want to save and grow your own seed for next year—or just don’t want GMO seed, or have a certified organic anything.

Ultimately the shift from saving to buying seed has led to a huge loss of diversity as time goes on (estimates run at over 400 lettuce varieties at the turn of the century to only about 30 now as just one example). What it boils down to is that heirloom, rare, and commercially ignored varieties may be the only strains left containing the genetic plasticity to fend off disease, climate change and just awesome hidden things that are not in the plane-Jane Romaine we pick up in the seed rack at the grocery store. (And we all watched Sean Connery in Medicine Man, so we know how that diversitymiracle thing works).

Some of you may have heard of set ups like Svalbard Global Seed Vault—sort of like a Noah’s ark of seed. But we have some here too—and they need our guerilla gardening help to build back the diversity we still have, and places to grow on open-pollinated varieties (the not-hybrids away

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from GMO crops). Look for organic and non-GMO and heirloom varieties when you plant, share with your friends or seed libraries, dig out any fabulous old varieties you know granny cherished and passed down, save your seeds and get in touch with these guys: www.seeds.ca.

SUPER SIMPLE SEED SAVING

Big, wet and floppy seeds (think pumpkins); lay mature seeds out on a tissue to dry then store in a paper envelope. (Tip: take a Sharpie and label right on the paper before you get distracted by pumpkin pie and mulled wine).

For tomatoes, let ferment in a slurry of seeds and water for a couple of days (unless you have a digestive system handy for them to pass through… yeah, this is a lot easier!))… then also slap on a tissue and dry.

Mints, asters and basically teeny-tiny seeds can often hang (or lay) to dry, then bash out the seeds into a bowl or table top, gently blow off the bits and pieces, and pop remaining seeds straight into an envelope.

Beans, peas and anything pods dry beautifully right on the old plants. Pop open at the end of the season or lay out a little longer. Just make sure they are completely dry before storing—and yes you can re-soak if you like and eat, just leave enough to re-plant!

Samantha Braun is a landscape ecologist and designer with over 15 years experience in the horticultural industry. Her company, Ecotones, specializes in creating Habitat in Harmony with Design.

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w h e r e to f i n d If you liked what you saw, check out our digital version at www.covetmagazine.ca for links to the product and talent featured in this issue. In addition, we are happy to help you source one of your “gotta haves” from within our pages. Simply visit us on Facebook at Covet Mag where you can post your query, and one of our team will reach out with the information... while you’re there, be sure to “like” us too!

Designers in this issue: Happy Hosts Envy Paint and Design Ltd. Designer: Bahia Taylor 204.487.3666 www.benjaminmoore-mb.ca

More Than Meets the Eye For Space Sake Designer: Shauna Boychuk 204.488.2633 www.forspacesake.com Black Magic Interior decor by homeowner Home Designed by Cibinel Architects Ltd

Thank you for taking the time to get this far!

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design dilemma Night Horizon 2134-10 Revere Pewter HC-172

Dear Covet, We have a wonderful two story home with a family room that is adjacent to our kitchen and every day table. As a family with small kids and as a couple who likes to entertain, we use this space all the time.

Our main issue with our family room is that given the odd shape and location of fireplace/window, we find that we have limited seating, storage and are forced to place the tv in a location that makes for difficult viewing. Please give us some suggestions that will improve the seating, viewing and storage options to make the space work better for our family!

Thank you, Layout Challenged

t h e s o lu t i o n

Do you have a design dilemma?

Send us your questions and some photographs to info@covetmagazine.ca for your opportunity to receive free design advice from the talented design team at Covet!

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Dear Layout Challenged, This room certainly provides some challenges given the angles and its long and narrow overall shape. Relocating the tv above the fireplace will unify the focal point in the room and will necessitate closing in the awkward niches. The addition of a rug will delineate the seating now focused around the tv and fireplace. Bookshelves for display and storage behind the seating area will add balance visually shorten the length of the room while creating some fantastic storage options for both grownups and little ones.

A couple of large, soft pouffes create a comfortable nook and play space for little residents and visitors alike.

Kassia Woloshyn and Bahia Taylor Envy Paint and Design Ltd.

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