Caset

WESTERN LIVING

APRIL 2020

B.C. & ALBERTA L VOLUME 49 L NUMBER 3

Fresh Start

Gorgeous Renovations that Transform Houses into Dream Homes

WESTERNLIVING .CA // FRESH START

$5.99

APRIL 2020

Plus Your New Favourite Thai Recipes

PM 40065475

Designs that think outside the box.

NORBURN LIGHTING & BATH CENTRE 4600 EAST HASTINGS STREET | BURNABY, BC | (604) 299-0666 | WWW.NORBURN.COM

THE DUX® BED FROM SWEDEN

THE DUX® 8008 INNOVATION SPRINGS ETERNAL

Sleep plays a vital role in the body’s cycle of rejuvenating, healing, and growing. The DUX® Bed’s unique, customizable component system provides unrivaled ergonomic support to help you experience significantly higher quality sleep.

Our patented Pascal system of interchangeable cassettes allows you and your partner to individually customize each side of the bed for optimal support and comfort. Resolve to invest in your health. Visit a DUXIANA® store near you and discover why The DUX Bed is more than just a bed, it’s the first step to a better, healthier way of living.

DUXIANA VANCOUVER 2064 West 4th Avenue 604-222-2623 www.duxiana.ca

16 24 FOOD + TRAVEL

54

Bites

Recipes, wine and tech for info-hungry foodies.

Thai One On

Spice up your next dinner party with recipes from Chef Angus An's new cookbook, Maenam.

HOMES + DESIGN

16

Shopping + Openings

Our list of the West's freshest picks and places.

22

Flooring We Love Designs to cut a rug on.

24

Ones to Watch

Lock and Mortice brings sustainability to the world stage.

26

Great Spaces

A fresh palette and plenty of textures make every hour happy at Lulu Bar.

68

Dispatches

A secret conceptual art installation in New York and other things you didn't know you didn't know about.

45 FEATURES 28

Extremely Serene and Incredibly Fun

71

There's no place like home (especially when yours has a unicorn-inspired cocktail bar).

Here's the shopping, snacks, and sips that keep Seattle sleepless.

36

The Check-In

75

How to Craft a Cocktail at 30,000 Feet (and other Travel Hacks)

Our travel editor Neal McLennan tells all.

PLUS

82

Room to Grow

Falken Reynolds gives new life to a home near Vancouver's Van Dusen Gardens.

45

A Touch of Glam

Hazel and Brown Design creates an edgy (but kid-friendly) home for a family of four.

Trade Secrets

There's nothing boring about this all-grey bedroom by Andrea Rodman Interiors.

59

CONTENTS

“The owner told us she’d rather have a secret cocktail bar.”

–Paul Lavoie

28

Cover: Ema Peter; this page: Pebble Pendant: ANDlight; Lock and Mortice: Kyoko Fierro; Maenam: Darren Cheung; living room: Ema Peter

59

8 a p r i l 2 0 2 0 / westernliving.ca

Wester L Untitled-2

GREGOR SEATING SYSTEM— VINCENT VAN DUYSEN

Wester Living Untitled-2 1 CND_s GRE_019.indd 1

21/02/209:24 08:54 2/24/20 AM

#MolteniGroup

FLAGSHIP STORE: TORONTO 339 ADELAIDE STREET EAST MONTREAL CVC CHARLES VIRONE CONCEPT 361 RUE DE LIEGE OUEST VANCOUVER LIVING SPACE 1706 WEST 1ST AVENUE

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

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

westernliving.ca senior production manager Kristina Borys production support technician Ina Bowerbank production coordinator/ad design Nadine Gieseler digital ad/marketing coordinator Alexandra Day head office/sales inquiries web westernliving.ca tel 604-299-7311 email sales@canadawide.com

head office

director of sales Brianne Harper senior account executives Johnny Alviar, Matty Lambert, Anna Lee, Sandy Short, Sheri Stubel

address Suite 230, 4321 Still Creek Drive, Burnaby, B.C. V5C 6S7 tel 604-488-4865

u.s. sales representation, hayes media sales tel 602-432-4868 email lesley@hayesmediasales.com

national media sales representation

sales manager Jennifer Smith tel 604-377-7922 email jsmith@canadawide.com

european sales representation, s&r media

sales manager Sylvie Durlach tel +33 1 44 18 06 62 email srmedia@club-internet.fr

Suite 230, 4321 Still Creek Drive, Burnaby, B.C. V5C 6S7 tel 604-299-7311 fax 604-299-9188

chairman & ceo Peter Legge, OBC, LLD (HON) president Samantha Legge, MBA vp of hr/admin Joy Ginete-Cockle vp of finance Sonia Roxburgh, CPA, CGA vp of innovation and growth Jennifer Smith, CIMBS executive creative director Rick Thibert creative director Cathy Mullaly director of editorial Michael McCullough director of circulation Tracy McRitchie marketing lead Chris Hinton accounting Terri Mason, Eileen Gajowski circulation Katie Gajowski, Kelly Kalirai office manager/sales coordinator Lori North Executive Assistant to the CEO Charie Ginete-Ilon

PRIVACY POLICY From time to time, other organizations ask us if they may send some of our subscribers information about products and services that might be of interest. If you prefer that we not provide your name and address, please contact us at the address listed above.

You can review our complete Privacy Policy at westernliving.ca.

WESTERN LIVING MAGAZINE is published 9 times a year by Canada Wide Media Limited, Suite 230, 4321 Still Creek Drive, Burnaby, B.C. V5C 6S7. Phone 604-299-7311; fax 604-299-9188. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited. All reproduction requests must be made to COPIBEC (paper reproductions), 800-717-2022, or CEDROM-SNi (electronic reproductions), 800-563-5665. The publisher cannot be responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. This publication is indexed in the Canadian Magazine Index and the Canadian Periodical Index, and is available online in the Canadian Business & Current Affairs Database. ISSN 1920-0668 (British Columbia edition), ISSN 1920-065X (Alberta edition). Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement #40065475.

BC

EastIndia Carpets_2/3_Vert_2.indd 1

3/9/20 2:50 PM

Habitat_A

kitchens

Habitat_APR20_FP.indd 1

bathrooms

sofas

closets

furniture

doors

3/2/20 2:35 PM

EDITOR’S NOTE

q& A

THE WORLD FROM OUR LIVING ROOMS

Jacquie Moore, writer, " Extremely Serene and Incredibly Fun," page 28 Wherever you go, take public transit or rent a bike to get around — even the chattiest taxi driver can’t give you a sense of a city’s idiosyncracies from inside a car.

Follow Anicka on Instagram @aniqua

As I write this it’s early March, and Italy has just put 16 million into quarantine after cancelling the largest international design show of the year, in Milan. It’s a strange time that all of us are going through—I have no doubt that by the time this issue is printed, the weeks that have passed will have seen COVID-19 move further across this country and the world at a rampant pace. And while it’s challenging to parse out the fact from the mania (I feel fairly certain that most people won’t need the thousands of rolls of toilet paper they’re stockpiling, and proper handwashing is a skill that will carry us beyond this crisis), there’s no question that travel plans will shift over the coming months.

I do think we’ll be able to explore the world again, once tactics have (hopefully) quieted this virus’s march. And in the meantime, we’ll be able to occupy ourselves with one of my favourite hobbies: armchair travel, where we fantasize about the places still on our bucket list that we might visit in the years to come (Slovenia, Cambodia, Portugal and, yes, Italy, are all on mine). This issue, our travel editor, Neal McLennan, shares some of his favourite tricks from 10 years in that role for making the journey as excellent as the destination. From how to maximize your Aeroplan points to mastering the Google Flights grid, the tips in “How to Craft a Cocktail at 30,000 Feet (and Other Travel Hacks)” (page 75) are made for a little daydream.

From all of us at Western Living, may you and your loved ones stay safe and well during the wait for those daydreams to become reality—whether that’s weeks, months or years away. Here’s to a future of good health and good travel.

Eymeric Widling, photographer, "Extremely Serene and Incredibly Fun," page 28 Whenever I go on vacation, I write out an itinerary or guidebook on paper for myself that has maps, day plans, passes, and location highlights in chronological order. It’s my own personalized travel guide book, and it allows me to make the most of my time while avoiding the need for any electronics.

BEHIND THE SCENES

Photographer Eymeric Widling captures this glam renovation in Calgary, designed by the team at Paul Lavoie Interior Design. You're going to want to see the secret bar—the best transformation of a home office I've seen yet: turn to “Extremely Serene and Incredibly Fun,” page 28, for more.

VISIT

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

FOLLOW US ON

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

What’s your secret travel hack?

1 2 a p r i l 2 0 2 0 / westernliving.ca

TES 016

AN URBAN RARITY. A TREASURED EXISTENCE.

I C O N I C VA N C O U V E R V I E W S . E XC LU S I V E WAT E R F R O N T H O M E S .

AT T H E C R E S T O F FA L S E C R E E K , T H E P R E S T I G E O F L A N D M A R K A R C H I T E C T U R E , T H E C I T Y AT YO U R D O O R .

ARRIVING SPRING 2020

tesorobyconcert.com ®

This is not an offering for sale. Such offering may be made by Disclosure Statement only. January 2020 E.&O.E. ® Registered trademarks of Concert Properties Ltd., used under license where applicable.

TES 016_WesternLiving_Teaser_7.875x10.75_Feb28_FA.indd 1

2/28/20 4:31 PM

NEW CO L L E C T I O N

1348-C UNITED BLVD. COQUITLAM | 604.529.6868 1275 W 6 AVE. VANCOUVER | 604.730.1275 INSPIRATIONFURNITURE.CA

HOMES+DESIGN N E W & N O TA B L E • S H O P TA L K • F L O O R I N G W E L O V E • G L A M A N D G O R G E O U S I N C A L G A R Y • F A M I LY- F R I E N D LY R E N O

Reuse and Rethink

Eymeric Widling

For this renovation in Calgary, the team at Paul Lavoie Design gutted the space, but salvaged some of the furniture—like this table, which was given a great new set of legs. See the rest of the home on page 28.

westernliving.ca / a p r i l 2 0 2 0 1 5

HOMES + DESIGN • SHOPPING

Call Your Mother

Much like moms, this vase does it all.

Foscarini’s Madre lamp ($1,960) is inspired by ancient fertility vases, and acts as both a lamp and a vase—it’s heatproof and concave, ensuring your flowers won’t get fried. informinteriors.com

Flower Power

Get your floral style blooming with Cultivated by Christin Geall ($40). Geall hails from Victoria, and her crazy-thorough floral guide covers everything from foraging to photography. chapters.indigo.ca

Pillow Talk

NOTEWORTHY New in stores across the West.

Cozy up in Ethnicraft’s first textile collection, called Refined Layers.

Made with natural fibres like cotton, wool and linen, the 19 pillows (from $98) and five throw styles (from $422) are total softies. fullhousemodern.com

BY A LY S S A H I R O S E

One of Crate and Barrel’s living room staples gets a little more outdoorsy in the Tillie outdoor swivel chair ($2,199). Its Sunbrella acrylic fabric is resistant to stains and mildew and adds a pop of colour to your patio. crateandbarrel.ca

1 6 a p r i l 2 0 2 0 / westernliving.ca

Whole Grain

Embracing the live-edge table movement, the CB1 table ($28,900), designed by Kirk Van Ludwig from Victoria’s Autonomous Furniture, sports natural sides plus clear Lucite legs that make it look as though it’s floating. Each of these tables has a unique surface (this brand-new one is a Western maple that was air dried for more than a decade). switzercultcreative.com

CB1 Table: Jo-Ann RIchards

Fresh Chair

MINOTT

HOMES + DESIGN • SHOPPING

Editor's Pick

Rock On

Just like stones found in nature, no two lights in Andlight’s handblown Pebble series (from $845) are exactly the same. The pendants and ceiling/wall lights are irregular in shape, but emit a soft, even glow. andlight.ca

Fragment Geometric Bar $1,299, cb2.ca

There’s furniture you buy for the life you have, and furniture you buy for the life you want. CB2’s Fragment Geometric bar is the latter. Do I aspire to be the kind of person who hosts friends with effortless elegance (you better believe there’s cool jazz playing) and perfectly crafted cocktails served in cool vintage stemware? Am I actually the kind of person who only has two matching glasses and never remembers to make ice before people come over? My dream is that the right leatherand-mindi-wood cabinet will help me find that middle ground (or at least give me a place to stow those mismatched glasses in the meantime).

— STACEY McLACHLAN, Executive Editor For more editors’ picks visit westernliving.ca

Sound Off

As their name suggests, the Bingo, Bango and Bongo stools ($200 each) are here for a good time—they can be indoors or out, and their neutral tone fits in any space. You can buy these versatile double-walled earthenware stools separately, but it seems cruel to break up the family. eq3.com

Simple Math

Tala’s Voronoi II Set Suspension ($1,350) is inspired by (you guessed it) the Voronoi pattern, otherwise known as the segment-like design found in giraffe spots, turtle shells and dragonfly wings. The filament also mimics the Fibonacci sequence—bright in more ways than one. lightformshop.com

Keep the Change

Robot enthusiasts, take note: the Ella and Louis split queen/ twin sofa wall beds (from $14,395) are like your own personal transformer. This selfstanding system can be installed anywhere, and transitions from a sofa into two twin beds or one queen. resourcefurniture.com

AL

DI

AU LI

17 VA T.

1 8 a p r i l 2 0 2 0 / westernliving.ca

MINOTTI WESTERN LIVING (CDN) aprile 2020_Minotti 29/02/20 09:13 Pagina 1

ALEXANDER SEATING SYSTEM

|

RODOLFO DORDONI DESIGN

DISCOVER MORE AT MINOTTI.COM/ALEXANDER

AUTHORISED DEALER LIVINGSPACE 1706 WEST 1ST AVE (AT PINE) VANCOUVER BC CANADA V6J 0E4 T. 604 683 1116 - SHOP@LIVINGSPACE.COM

HOMES + DESIGN • SHOPPING

Hot new rooms we love.

Vancouver Arclinea Relaunch at Livingspace Cooking enthusiasts, rejoice: Livingspace’s Arclinea studio relaunched in January and it’s making us yearn for a kitchen upgrade. The luxury Italian kitchen designer has renovated to match the aesthetic of its Milan flagship store. Expect three different kitchen models and finishes as well as a state-of-the-art wok kitchen, laundry centre and mini appliance garage. Because who doesn’t want a garage for their toaster? livingspace.com

BY E L I A E S S E N

Richmond, B.C. Structube Move over Ikea—there’s a new affordable line of furniture in town. At 25,000 square feet, Richmond’s new Structube is the Montreal-based company’s first megastore in B.C. Expect more of their stylish and modern pieces, plus in-store pick-up options. structube.com

VICTORIA Merchant Quarters General Store If you’ve ever found yourself wishing you could find “root beered” beard shampoo and orca-shaped cribbage boards in the same spot, look no further. Victoria’s new Merchant Quarters General Store is an elegant homage to days of old with plenty of upscale clothes, knickknacks and whosits, all mindfully and ethically sourced. The store has a mix of Island creations, as well as big-name brands like Birkenstock, Free People and Ray-Ban overflowing from the ninefoot bookshelves that hug the towering cedar walls.

A surprisingly comprehensive collection of high-end eyewear is tucked away in an apothecary counter at the back. merchantquarters.com

Livingspace Arclinea: Lucas Finlay

OPENINGS

Est.1999 Family Owned

City Tile Ltd

604-298-6252 4330 Halifax St., Burnaby, BC V5C 3X5 info@citytileltd.ca citytileltd.com

CityTile-1/2h_bleed-WL.indd 1

Now Open

Over 20 years Ti

erience le exp

Port Coquitlam location: 778-948-9854 #1110-1579 Kingsway Ave, Port Coquitlam, BC The first tile distributor in the tri-cities.

1/20/20 12:47 PM

2:47 PM

BUY ONE GET ONE+ AND SAVE UP TO $5,199*!

PURCHASE ONE QUALIFYING OPTION + GET A FREE PRODUCT* PURCHASE A SECOND QUALIFYING OPTION + GET ANOTHER FREE PRODUCT* *Off MSRP. Some conditions apply. Ask for more details. Offer valid until December 31, 2020

Whether you’re just starting out or redesigning your entire kitchen, here’s your chance to inspire instead of aspire. From ranges and ovens to refrigerators and dishwashers, the Viking line offers outstanding power and features, with products to complement your style.

Visit a Trail Appliances showroom near you for information on the latest Viking appliances and promotions.

AVAILABLE AT TRAIL APPLIANCES VANCOUVER | RICHMOND | SURREY | COQUITLAM CLOVERDALE | VICTORIA | KELOWNA | ABBOTSFORD OLYMPIC VILLAGE | NANAIMO | NORTH VANCOUVER

trailappliances.com

HOMES + DESIGN • FLOORING WE LOVE

BY B A R B S L I G L

1 Viennese Waltz Channelling grand architecture and café culture, the Vienna rug (from $509)—by Montreal’s NCA Design and loomed in Turkey—brings together far-flung parts of the globe with old-school richness and modern-day understatement, as if in some exotic salon with a Klimt on the wall. gingerjarfurniture.com

1

2

GLOBAL THREAD

3 Forest Floor Botanic Green by Ege (price upon request) is made entirely from recycled materials—like yarn made from used fishing nets— and has “Cradle to Cradle” certification, meaning that after use it’ll be re-made again into another carpet. Its production is powered by wind energy, which you can almost feel as you walk across its leafy design. Bannercarpets.ca

3

Giving back Andrea Rodman

“One of my favourite things to warm up a space is to bring in extra-large area rugs on hardwood flooring. The new rug line that I am coveting right now is called Armadillo & Co. This company also donates with each rug purchase to help its own foundation in improving the lives of underprivileged communities around the globe.”

Andrea Rodman of Andrea Rodman Interiors; andrearodman.com Savannah carpet by Armadillo & Co., heminteriors.com

2 2 a p r i l 2 0 2 0 / westernliving.ca

4 Whimsical Wood The hand-tufted Ply rug by Spanish studio MUT Design for GAN (from $2,955) is inspired by the grainy layers and patterns of humble plywood. And, like with any piece of wood, the gradations are organic and expansive, capturing wonder and movement underfoot. livingspace.com 5 Writing on the Floor A collaboration between Pacific Rug Gallery and renowned Iranian-American fashion and jewellery designer Nima Behnoud, the handmade wool-and-silk Twin Passion rug ($2,500) evokes the flourish of Persian calligraphy. pacificruggallery.com 6 Wonderland Jaipur Rugs’ The Pink Building ($4,800)—designed by Italian designer Matteo Cibic—is imbued with classic architectonic details and the wonder of mid-16th-century Europe’s cabinets of curiosities—or Wunderkammer, as the collection is called. eastindia carpets.com

Andrea Rodman portrait: Carlo Ricci

Geographic inspiration — from a dappled glade to the city of Jaipur — brings a subtle sense of place to the floor.

designer’s pick

2 Coast Calling An all-natural sheep’s wool broadloom, the Hicks Bay is part of the new Compass Collection from Burritt Bros. (price upon request). Named after a landmark in New Zealand (where the wool is from) and designed in a random loop pile, its natural-and-nubby look is akin to a moody, pebbly shore. burrittfloors.com

4

5

6

HOMES + DESIGN • ONE TO WATCH

Solid Style

Show and Tell LOCK AND MORTICE, Vancouver furniture designer and manufacturer

2 4 a p r i l 2 0 2 0 / westernliving.ca

When Josiah Peters visited Salone Internazionale del Mobile di Milano (otherwise known as the Milan Furniture Fair) last April, he was amazed by the size of it. The colossal venue, the thousands of exhibitors and the diversity of designs were overwhelming—but not as overwhelming as the garbage. “How is it that people aren’t protesting, and appalled by, the sheer waste that we produce?” says Peters.

Peters, along with Lock and Mortice co-founders Rachel Peters and Ryan Tam, had already made an eco-conscious commitment when it came to designing and manufacturing their solid-wood furniture: they use a natural commercial-grade finish and have a minimal-waste policy in their manufacturing process, with all off-cuts recycled or given to woodshops at local schools. Now, it was time to bring that commitment to the international stage.

So when Vancouver’s Interior Design Show rolled around, Lock and Mortice revealed Portal, a zero-waste exhibition. Made of 98-percent recycled FSC-certified honeycomb paperboard, their sustainable display—and the furniture it held—­­­felt like entering another (greener) dimension. At the show’s end, the display was entirely recycled or repurposed. “Our goal was not just to showcase our own abilities, but to inspire others,” says Peters. “This is the design industry—we should be leading the charge when it comes to sustainability.”—Alyssa Hirose

Portrait: Kyoko Fierro

One of Lock and Mortice’s latest ventures is a collaboration with local design shop Provide.

The Provide series is a collection of simply sophisticated furniture made from solid white oak, such as the dining table pictured above.

BURRITT BROยง -- CARPET & FLOORS --

8385 Fraser Street

I

BurrittFloors.com

Quality Floor Covering For All Of Life's Big Steps

HOMES + DESIGN • GREAT SPACES Shelf Life

Textured elements and handmade materials warm up this cool Calgary bar.

When Calgary’s Concorde Group decided to close the doors of indie bar Local 510 in favour of a fresh new concept, big, bright changes were the first to-dos.

“The building had really good bones to work with,” says Kelly Morrison, principal of Frank Architecture, “but one of the major moves they wanted to do was to open up the front elevation of the building.” The 90-yearold-space had been occupied by a steady stream of bars for the last third of its life, and was a bank before those. The newest venture, Lulu Bar, was inspired by west coast Polynesia—and the dark, bunker-like space would not do.

After a thumbs up from a structural consultant, three 10-by-9-foot operable garage doors were installed on the east exterior wall. An extra window was added behind the bar area. Now Lulu was flooded with natural light—and to ensure the restaurant stayed bright but not chilly, Morrison focused on feel. “The space is quite small, and we couldn’t section it off to make it feel cozy,” she says. “So instead, we introduced materials that had more of a tactile nature.”

Case in point: the bar, which is constructed from clay tile, detailed with carved mahogany reeding and topped with a dark, earthy stone.

Behind it, imperfect handmade ceramic tiles laid with wide grout lines give the window area warmth. An eclectic furniture collection sourced from local vintage shops creates a welcoming seating area, and a new woodburning oven kickstarts the coziness. “When you walk in, you can see that fire, but you can smell it, too—so really, all your senses are at play,” says Morrison.

Behind the garage doors, the patio’s fourfoot walls were removed, providing the onceenclosed space with more fluidity. Inside

2 6 a p r i l 2 0 2 0 / westernliving.ca

and outside are always connected, through open doors on summer days and large windows on winter days. After sunset, a custom light by local lighting company Stock and Custom illuminates the bar area, and found lamps brighten up the entry lounge. It’s an eclectic mix that feels happenstance rather than matchy, with personal touches and textures that foster friendly vibes. “You feel like you’re not just walking into any restaurant—it almost feels like someone’s home, really,” says Morrison.—Alyssa Hirose

MORE INSPIRING SPACES Find more great rooms to inspire at westernliving.ca

Jamie Anholt

ALL THE FEELS

“The introduction of the shelves was part function, for sure, but part of it was to display mementos and objects that relate to the space and the concept,” says designer Kelly Morrison. Select bottles, books and foliage decorate the black steel shelves.

Sparkle and Shine

Designed for a client who entertains myriad friends and family, this Calgary home is a dual expression of elegant restraint and glittering exuberance: case in point, the custom silver ottoman.

2 8   a p r i l 2 0 2 0 / westernliving.ca

EXTREMELY SERENE AND INCREDIBLY FUN

A Calgary reno strikes a balance between elegant restraint and glittering exuberance—plus a few pleasingly placed unicorns. by Jacquie Moore // photographs by eymeric widling

E

verything you need to know about this homeowner’s idiosyncratic style can be found in a secret room that’s tucked off the front foyer.

Dubbed “The Unicorn,” the space was once a typical home office and, following its recent reno, intended as an extension to the laundry room. “The owner told us she’d rather have a secret cocktail bar,” says designer Paul Lavoie, who admits he had doubts about the room’s functionality, particularly given a more accessible bar in the dining room.

Still, the designers thoroughly infused the homeowner’s colourful personality into the tiny space: glamorous dark blue walls, leather, granite, gold accents and twisted, oversized silver-tusk pulls on the inside of the hidden door, all transporting visitors to a delightfully clandestine,

prohibition-era-Chicago speakeasy—overseen by a stuffed guitar-playing unicorn holding court on the sofa. It’s not only an unexpected treasure, but also frequently occupied.

The home itself, located in a gated community backing onto the Calgary Golf and Country Club, is a circa-1990 bungalow-condo with a fairly unremarkable front exterior identical to its attached neighbours, dominated by a garage. More than a year after moving into her renovated space, however, the homeowner—recently single and busy with friends, family and myriad activities and travel—says the interior still takes her breath away every time she walks in the door. Understandably. Designed by Lavoie and Geoff Repchinsky of Paul Lavoie Interior Design, the home is a dual expression of elegant restraint and glittering exuberance.

Doing the gutting and renovation on a faster-thantypical timeline while the owner was out of the country

westernliving.ca / a p r i l 2 0 2 0 2 9

HOMES + DESIGN • EXTREMELY SERENE AND INCREDIBLY FUN

Home Speakeasy

The “Unicorn”—a secret bar that’s tucked off the main foyer—was once a home office, pre-renovation.

3 0 a p r i l 2 0 2 0 / westernliving.ca

BEFORE

Before and After

The circa-1990 home (above) needed a solid refresh. The homeowner’s guiding instruction to the design team was “make it warm and calm, no grey, no white, and give me spaces to entertain my friends and family”—a directive perfectly illustrated in the roomy new kitchen.

westernliving.ca / a p r i l 2 0 2 0 3 1

HOMES + DESIGN • EXTREMELY SERENE AND INCREDIBLY FUN

Made for Her

The main floor master suite prioritizes square footage to the expansive dressing room (right) and master bath (below).

for a number of weeks, the designers were (quite happily) forced to restrict their choices of building materials and furniture-making to local suppliers. Sofas, chairs and shelves were made from scratch or, in the case of the dining room table, whose top was wanted but legs not, re-imagined and customized to the owner’s content. Sanguine in their approach to challenge, Lavoie and Repchinsky found inventive solutions to further limitations imposed by condo rules that disallowed changes to certain elements such as windows, some of which had bars over them or a fan on top. “We found ways to eliminate the look of those things with sheers and other textural elements,” says Lavoie.

The homeowner’s guiding instruction to the design team was “make it warm and calm, no grey, no white, and give me spaces to entertain my friends and family.” Charmed by her personal motto to “be the fountain, not the drain,” Lavoie and Repchinsky sought to express the homeowner’s need for an oasis in her busy life via a backdrop of classic wood, stone and relaxing sand and almond shades. That palette gave them a tranquil, tone-on-tone framework on which to

3 2 a p r i l 2 0 2 0 / westernliving.ca

93641_C

4735 Oxidian – NEW

Beautifully superior.

Designed by nature. Perfected through innovation.

Learn more at caesarstone.ca

93641_Caesarstone-FP-Western-Living-Oxidian_FINAL.indd 1

2020-02-21 1:11 PM

HOMES + DESIGN • EXTREMELY SERENE AND INCREDIBLY FUN

A Little R&R

The lower level is comprised of a personal gym (above), brightly lit wine cellar (right) and three guest bedrooms, one of which has its own personal fireplace (below).

layer interesting upholstery textures, chrome tile and an unusual glow thanks to 1930s-inspired lighting and mirrors.

The main-floor bedroom—there’s only one on this level—prioritizes the homeowner’s expansive wardrobe and wish for a dazzling space for bathing and grooming. The closet and open-plan bathroom are twice the size of the adjoining sleeping quarters. “I spend a lot of time in my closet and bathroom, which are so comfortable and humid,” says the homeowner, who insisted on a round bathtub. Repchinsky sourced a TV for the bedroom that the homeowner had seen at a Four Seasons in Greece; it becomes a mirror when not in use.

The basement, likewise, dovetails elegance with charisma. A full gym, brightly lit wine cellar and three earth-toned bedrooms comprise the level; most notable among these is a bedroom called “the round-up room.” Named in homage to Calgary’s Western heritage and reserved for family who visit during Stampede week, its irresistible custom-made, oversized day bed adds extra sleeping quarters to the room. On the wall is a small watercolour of a unicorn beside a framed quotation that speaks to a home designed with freedom and intentionality: “She created a life she loved.” Indeed.

3 4 a p r i l 2 0 2 0 / westernliving.ca

®

TOUR DU MONDE

DEDON COLLECTION AIIR DEDON COLLECTION MBRACE

by GamFratesi Design Design

by Sebastian Herkner www.dedon.us www.dedon.us

EXCEPTIONAL INDOOR & OUTDOOR FURNISHINGS

1855 Fir Street Armoury District Vancouver 604.736.8822 Mon - Sat 10 - 5:30 pm broughaminteriors.com

ROOM TO GROW The team at Falken Reynolds helps a family transition from close quarters to a 3,500-square-foot dream home—without the growing pains.

by Stacey M c Lachlan // photographs by ema peter

3 6 a p r i l 2 0 2 0 / westernliving.ca

W

Gathering Place

The house had a large attic, so the designers took out the ohso-’60s fluorescent ceiling light and raised the whole thing up four feet. A painting

by Scott Sueme pops on a gallery white wall. Seating options abound here: there’s the Montis Axel XL sectional, a square Linteloo Recess armchair, a ball-gloveshaped Catch chair

by Jaime Hayon and a Cassina ottoman.

“

Small,” it turns out, is relative.

For a young couple who loved city life, an 800-squarefoot condo in Vancouver was more than enough space. But once Melanie and Will welcomed a new baby into the mix, the cozy suite suddenly felt a little constrained. “Having to constantly reorganize our things to make space was tiring,” says Melanie. “We loved our apartment and our neighbourhood, but we had just outgrown it.”

It was time to spread out a little. With son Max (now a spirited four-year-old) in tow, they approached Vancouver design firm Falken Reynolds for help with their dream of upsizing.

A 3,500-square-foot family-owned property right near Vancouver’s beautiful Van Dusen Botanical Garden technically gave the team at Falken Reynolds the square footage they needed, but an awkward layout made the home feel even more cramped than Melanie and Will’s condo had. “It was a very unique space, but extremely

confusing,” laughs Melanie. “There were a lot of separations of the rooms with walls and although the layout had some interesting components, the house didn’t feel unified. There was no flow to it.”

The house had barely been touched since its construction in the late ’60s: the layout was segmented and choppy, and the living room featured wall-to-wall panelling and carpet (and a built-in pentagonal ceiling light). With the help of contractor Terris Lightfoot Contracting, Falken Reynolds’ principals Chad Falkenberg and Kelly Reynolds etched out a new open-concept floor plan; now the kitchen, living space and Max’s play area are unified, and stack-and-slide glass doors from Western Window Systems part for a 12-foot opening into the back deck.

There’s still a nod to the house’s history in the travertine fireplace that the designers kept as a centrepiece and textural inspiration. “It really was a starting point,” says Falkenberg. “With the wood panelling, it felt very heavy,

westernliving.ca / a p r i l 2 0 2 0 3 7

HOMES + DESIGN • ROOM TO GROW

BEFORE

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

After and Before

The original travertine fireplace stayed (before photo, top right), and the staircase wasn't movable (before photo, bottom right), but the designers added depth to the stair treads and worked with a fabricator to create elegant grey metal spindles, emphasizing the geometry of the space.

but in a different context, it feels fresh, like light wood.” They extended the tone and texture of the stone hearth into tall kitchen cabinetry (via custom-stained flat-cut white oak), and the hardwood floors pick up on the same hues. Fresh white walls keep the vibe modern and bright. “We both love contemporary design where things can be kept simple, but oftentimes that comes off cold and sterile,” says Will. “The house is none of that.”

During the design process, the Falken Reynolds team spent a lot of time deep-diving into the family’s needs, discovering solutions to problems they didn’t even know to anticipate. “We got an even bigger appreciation of the level of detail after the house was

complete,” says Melanie. "They proposed having a few key high-traffic areas with tiled walls, and we can really see how it makes sense now.” In Max’s bathroom, the designers placed the faucet and knobs on opposite sides to make bath time with a toddler easier.

Ultimately, the family’s wish list was pretty small. Melanie and Will love to entertain and wanted a kitchen where everyone could gather, so the design team installed a 12-foot island beneath a Rich Brilliant Willing Queue pendant and lined it with a quartet of Muuto Nerd counter stools. The light grey colour would make some nervous in a household with an active toddler (who loves doing laps around the island on his bike), but

CMY

K

the designers chose ultra-durable Formica laminate and Caesarstone for the cabinetry and countertop: stains, spills and scratches are near impossible. “It’s light and fresh, but Max-proof,” laughs Reynolds.

It’s also practically clutter-proof, thanks to some clever storage planning. There are deep cabinets underneath the island, and a custom wall of millwork by Munro Woodworking that hides what is essentially a giant appliance garage, with room for all of the family’s gadgets: the doors open up and slide into pockets to allow access to the toaster, microwave and blender. Matching panelling conceals the fridge, and hidden vertical finger pulls on all the cabinetry create a streamlined look.

3 8 a p r i l 2 0 2 0 / westernliving.ca

WLOutP

salenas3.pdf

1

2016-02-03

12:55 PM

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

WLOutPutAds.indd 24

2016-02-03 2:10 PM

HOMES + DESIGN • ROOM TO GROW

Think Small

Though the family’s square footage has changed, the designers took care to use a small-space mentality for the functionality of the kitchen. “Everything’s within a few steps instead of extending across the full room,” says Falkenberg. “We were thinking about a pivoting action.” From the stovetop, for example, the sink and a drawer full of cooking utensils are within easy reach.

B

4 0 a p r i l 2 0 2 0 / westernliving.ca

maisond'

RENOVATION & DESIGN by maison d’etre

BEFORE

111 West 5th Avenue Vancouver, BC V5Y 1H9 T: 604.484.4030

maisond'etreApril2020_WL2_FP.indd 1

maisondetre.ca

3/12/20 12:39 PM

HOMES + DESIGN • ROOM TO GROW

Master Plan

The master bedroom and bath were designed as quiet retreats. The former (above) is the only room that isn't a crisp white, but a warm Amulet amber shade from Benjamin Moore. The latter (right) features a skylight to bathe the shower in natural light.

4 2   a p r i l 2 0 2 0 / westernliving.ca

Play Time

The sofa in Max’s playroom (“It’s his area to spread out and play,” says Reynolds) is one of the only pieces the family brought from their condo; all the other furniture was added by the designers. In the Jack-and-Jill bathroom attached to Max’s room, Mutina Puzzle tile around the bath adds a pop of playfulness for kids and adults alike. “Everything just melds together to form our home,” says homeowner Will.

There’s even more storage in the mudroom that the family uses for their comings and goings. “It’s the ‘come-in-and-drop-everything’ spot,” says Reynolds. “It’s a place you have to be, not a place you want to be, so we wanted to make it as nice and practical as it could be.” Here, everything has a place—from the coat hooks to the drying closet. A narrow window above the Caesarstone counter allows natural light to flood in.

The staircase couldn’t be moved, but it also created a huge visual dead zone in the middle of the house. The Falken Reynolds team had to get creative to lighten things up.

“It was made up of four runs of steps, all different, because of the split-level design,” says Falkenberg. “It really was a little puzzle.” The

duo partnered with metalworker Drummond Industries to find a solution that aligned the geometry of the stairs. Treads were extended to be deeper, and light grey metal spindles were installed, allowing light to flow through.

Up the now-stylish staircase, a cozy master bedroom with an intentionally small footprint awaits. Melanie and Will didn’t want or need a lot of bedroom space: just something that felt like a cozy hideaway at the end of the day. “A lot of young families want their bedrooms to feel like an escape,” says Falkenberg. While the rest of the house is painted a crisp white, here the team used a warm Benjamin Moore Amulet amber colour, paired with Cloth Studio linens, grey wool carpeting and a dreamy print by

photographer Brit Gill to contrast the airy and bright common spaces.

Though the bedroom is simply designed, the master ensuite is a spa-like oasis. A luxe steam shower with fittings by Fantini offers another moment of calm, and features a skylight that bathes the space in natural light; wood-patterned Porcelanosa porcelain tile from Fontile lines a bench with a heated back wall.

With their condo days behind them, this Vancouver family is happily embracing living big—especially its littlest member. “Max is thrilled to have space to run around and have people over,” says Melanie with a smile. “One of his favourite things is to give his version of the house tour.”

westernliving.ca / a p r i l 2 0 2 0 4 3

A TOUCH OF GLAM by anicka quin // photographs by ema peter

The team at Hazel and Brown Design brings a little rock-star edge to a heritage home in Vancouver.

westernliving.ca / a p r i l 2 0 2 0   4 5

HOMES + DESIGN • A TOUCH OF GLAM Easy Living

The formal living room (left) features two glam velvet Jonathan Adler swivel barrel chairs and a distressed leather sofa from Restoration Hardware.

A discreet The Frame television from Samsung hangs on the wall.

The clients’ record collection is stylishly stored in a walnut credenza from Modshop.

Ground Swell

In the foyer (bottom left), Finkleman designed an inlay of marble in a graphic black and white pattern on the floor.

“It’s a large foyer, but it wasn’t big enough to have furniture,” says Finkleman. “It needed something to make it stand out when you come in.”

BEFORE

A

fter gutting their first condo and updating a previous house, designer Melanie Finkleman of Hazel and Brown Design took on a new home for this young family—and once you’re on house three, you’re clear on what will (and will not) work for a client. “They’re young, and he’s a musician,” says Finkleman. “We wanted to have a little edge, but to still reflect the home’s heritage.” The 100-plus-year-old home in Vancouver’s Shaughnessy neighbourhood had suffered a couple of mediocre renovations—much of the flooring was tiled, and the kitchen wasn’t organized to really capitalize on the views out the wall of windows in the back wall—so Finkleman’s team got to work bringing a thoughtful update to the space.

Black, white and brass accents ring throughout, paired with touches of warm, cognac-coloured leather and natural wood. It’s got just enough flash for a rock star (velvet armchairs, a pop portrait of Elvis), with the right balance of kid-friendly for this family of four. (Expect to find them on that comfy Montauk sofa on a Friday night.)

4 6 a p r i l 2 0 2 0 / westernliving.ca

HOMES + DESIGN • A TOUCH OF GLAM

Secret Spot

The cerused oak millwork in the family room is surprisingly stealthy: the tongue-and-groove panel behind the TV stores all of the audio-video components, including the wiring for the entire home.

Family-Friendly Design

Despite the glam and edgy feel to the design, the space is created to be kid-friendly for the couple’s fourand six-year-old daughters—nothing is too precious. The living room sofa is in a distressed leather, and the Montauk sectional in the family room is in an intentionally dark, easy-to-wear fabric (plus, a credenza tucks in behind to store the kids’ toys). “The girls will often sit on the carpet and eat their snacks at the coffee table,” says Finkleman.

4 8 a p r i l 2 0 2 0 / westernliving.ca

Cheers to That

While the homeowners wanted a more grownup living room separated from the family room, they wanted to make sure it was a space that was actually used. Cue the home bar. Wrapped in black leather with a leathered black marble counter and antiqued mirror on the backsplash, it’s a rock-and-roll element in the room—and the whole family loves it. “Even the kids hop up on the stools and hang out to watch the TV over the fireplace,” Finkleman laughs.

HOMES + DESIGN • A TOUCH OF GLAM

Kitchen Central

The kitchen was designed around a custom-made hood fan—its powder-coated black surface, glossy metal straps and exposed bolts are an eye-catching element in the room.

On the island, a hand-selected slab of marble is paired with a walnut butcher-block counter, complete with a cut-out to the compost bin underneath: any cuttings are slid right in. Warm caramel leather stools by Gubi provide a comfy spot for the kids to perch as the parents prep for dinner.

5 0 a p r i l 2 0 2 0 / westernliving.ca

BEFORE

Your life, organized!

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

ArbutusFurniture_2/3Vert_WL.indd 1

1/20/20 12:54 PM

SPONSORED REPORT

CABINETS REINCARNATED

Designed by Andrea Rodman, Photography by Jack Perry

VANCOUVER COMPANY KITRA OFFERS A GENIUS CABINET REFINISHING FIX THAT’S A WIN-WIN FOR THE PLANET AND YOUR POCKETBOOK

V

ancouver-based Kitra is turning cabinet refinishing on its head. The company, founded and operated by Vancouver entrepreneurs Anthony Pavlakovic and Todd Pretty, employs a model that is unique in the world and defies all preconceived notions of refurnished cabinets being sub-par.

“In 2017 we shook up the industry, pioneering a premier refinishing service using one of the world’s most advanced waterborne lacquers, proprietary equipment and our own innovative techniques,” Pavlakovic says. “It is the first of its kind to flawlessly refinish cabinetry using environmentally friendly, non-toxic lacquer, and it is the way of the future.”

The lacquer is manufactured in the United States using European self cross-linking acrylic resins. It has no hazardous pollutants, contains no formaldehyde, is non-flammable and conforms to the strictest health-based program requirements.

When Kitra was born, Pavlakovic and Pretty tried to partner with spray shops, but that quickly became a dead end.

Typical shops can’t work with Kitra’s waterborne lacquer because it isn’t compatible with their existing equipment, which is dedicated to solvent-based commercial lacquers and other coatings. To meet that challenge, Kitra opened its own shop in North Vancouver and provides part of the service using a mobile service vehicle. This is where the company’s truly innovative nature shines and where the team put the bulk of its efforts and investment.

Most importantly, Kitra’s offering provides an important environmental service. “Fifty to sixty percent of landfill is construction waste,” Pavlakovic says. “We believe cabinetry’s lifespan should be extended beyond the typical 15-20 years.”

During 14 years in business, Pavlakovic has developed a team of 22 skilled craftspeople who have developed a profound depth of knowledge and unique perspective on what truly is possible when it comes to fieldwork.

“We are the refinisher that industry professionals happily recommend because we do the finishing to strict, furniture industry standards,” Pavlakovic says. “No tricks, no compromises.”

In fact, they are so confident Kitra coatings will hold up to heat, grease and cleaning, they come with a 25-year warranty.

“I love to remind clients that the process is one new cabinets go through and that they will essentially be getting a brand new kitchen,” Pavlakovic says. “At the end, they say they can’t believe it, but it is absolutely true.”

For more information on Kitra please visit www.gokitra.com or keep up with Kitra’s projects and progress on Instagram @gokitra

“The process itself is relatively painless,” Pavlakovic says.

“A Kitra makeover is typically two-weeks with about four days at the home and maybe two days of actual kitchen non-use.”

Created by the Western Living advertising department in partnership with Kitra

Kitra_KitchenCabinetRefinishings.indd 2

3/12/20 9:20 AM

0 9:20 AM

FOOD+TRAVEL H O T N E W R E S TA U R A N T S • S E AT T L E R E D U X • T R AV E L L I K E A P R O

R ECI P E

Cheers to Spring

Courtesy of Nuba Restaurants

The sun hath returned, and that’s as good an excuse as any to raise a glass—especially one this pretty.

Beet juice gives this sumac gimlet from Vancouver’s Nuba a springy pink hue (and the vitamin C we need after a long winter), while the sumac itself brings a bright and beautiful tang to the infused gin. The result is a fresh and punchy cocktail just right for toasting a new start. Turn the page for Nuba’s recipe.

westernliving.ca / a p r i l 2 0 2 0 5 3

FOOD + TRAVEL • BITES

recipe

Nuba’s Sumac Gimlet 2 oz sumac-infused gin (see below) 3/4 oz lime juice 1/2 oz simple syrup or agave syrup 1/4 oz apple, beet and carrot juice (or just beet juice will work)

BITES Food news to chew on.

Put all ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake well. Double strain into chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a dehydrated lime slice.

Sumac gin Place one large tablespoon of ground sumac into a bottle of Tanqueray gin. Leave for 3 to 4 hours, or until gin turns pink. Filter out the sumac after 3-4 hours, with a coffee filter or a fine-meshed sieve.

GADGET It’s Personal Of course your stovetop should fry like a champ—but why shouldn’t it telegraph your personal style in the process? Deck out your Bertazzoni Heritage Series range with one of the brand’s new decor sets: jewellery-inspired knobs and finials in chic finishes like copper, gold and black nickel. From $660, ca.bertazzoni.com

events Whisky and Words

California Wine Fair Calgary Hudson Calgary April 2 Four hundred wines await (all from you-know-where) so you can finally determine which Golden State sip rules them all. safehavenfounda tion.ca/californiawinefair

Vancouver Performance Works 1218 Cartwright Street April 24 Drams from around the world (hello, Japan!) and a killer silent auction, all in support of the Vancouver Writers Fest’s youth outreach programs. whiskywords.ca

Chef Meets BC Grape Victoria Crystal Garden April 16 It’s the largest tasting of B.C. wine and food in the West, and the perfect excuse to raise a glass to Canada’s damn tasty goods. winebc.com

NEAL M c Lennan’S WINE PICK

The Most Honest Rosé in Town “I won’t lie, the 2019 vintage was a tough one.” Such began the most honest mail-out from a winery owner I’ve received in years. The author was Amulet’s Dwight Sick, who made his reputation making killer wines for Stag’s Hollow and went out on his own last year making, among other things, a true Rhône-style red that used grenache (a rarity in the Okanagan) to great effect. The toughness he recounted related to relentless September rains that wreaked havoc on grapes up and down the Valley. To add insult to injury, the 40 percent of his grapes that were in good shape were eaten by a family of three black bears that feasted like kings for a week. But you know what they say: when life gives you bears and rain, you make rosé.

That’s the other truism Dwight owns up to: while everyone talks about making serious rosé, a lot of the local pink wave comes from a hodgepodge of leftover grapes that didn’t have anywhere else to go (we’re looking at you, cabernet-malbec rosés).

But grenache (joined here by 27 percent syrah) is the prototypical Provençal grape for rosé, and the result is one hell of a crisp, copper-hued wine with crunchy stone fruit and some lovely pronounced savoury notes ($60/magnum). Not the goal he was aiming for, but one we’ll happily applaud.

5 4 a p r i l 2 0 2 0 / westernliving.ca

GOING... GOING... ALMOST GONE The Van Maren Group started construction of The Cottages on Osoyoos Lake in 2012. The vision was to create a one-of-a-kind retirement and vacation community of 285 homes with plenty of green space and resort style amenities, all connected by a beautiful private sandy beach on Osoyoos Lake.

If you’ve been following our progress, you’ll have to agree. We delivered!

Cottages site 2012

With our continued reputation for high-quality homes, as well as a focus on customization, it’s not surprising we’re 85% SOLD OUT! There are only 11 Meadow and 8 Lakefront lots remaining.

2020 may be your final opportunity to become part of this amazing community. We are currently offering several custom designed homes under construction. These homes are still at the stage where you can choose your own interior finishes to create your unique home and obtain early occupancy.

Cottages site 2019

ONLY 11 MEADOW HOMES & 8 LAKEFRONT HOMES REMAIN

ACT NOW FOR BEST SELECTION OF REMAINING HOMES There are plenty of great plans to choose from and we will be introducing a new floor plan in 2020 to add to the collection. We also have some great new exterior and interior colour schemes coming your way soon!

Please contact Jody Curnow at 1.855.742.5555 to arrange a private viewing or visit our website for a full tour.

Visit our Display Homes » 2450 Radio Tower Road, Oliver, BC See website for open hours.

1.855.742.5555 osoyooscottages.com

For a short time, we have one move-in ready home available. It’s not only move-in ready, we’re including all the furnishing and decorations!

FOOD + TRAVEL • BITES

openings

GO GO GADGET Carbo Load

Herald Street Brew Works

506 Herald St., Victoria Who The same people who brought Victoria the Drake and New West Steel and Oak. Why we’re excited New beer in the old part of town suggests something exciting is afoot—a rotating selection of collaborative small-batch brews and a warm, communityoriented space confirms it. heraldstreet.com

Bitter Sisters Brewing Company

510 Heritage Dr. SW, Calgary Who Jill and Tracy Johnson, sisters and previous owners of Calgary’s Atlantic Trap and Gill.

Why we’re excited A family-friendly brewery on Heritage Drive is just what the neighbourhood has been missing: bring the kids (and a growler) and cozy up around the tables and pinball machines to hide out from the snow. bittersisters.co

Fresh pasta isn’t hard to make (and in fact, all that kneading and cranking can be therapeutic after a hard day of sending passive-aggressive emails), but sometimes you get a hankering for some fresh tagliatelle and there’s no time for futzing around with resting dough and flour adjustments. Enter our favourite little pasta robot, the Philips Smart Pasta Maker Plus ($510): drop in the flour, it’ll tell you how much liquid you need, and then it mixes and extrudes fresh penne, fettuccine or six other shapes that will curb your carb craving post-haste. williams-sonoma.ca

Say Mercy

4298 Fraser St., Vancouver

Seaside Provisions

Who The team behind the award-winning Mackenzie Room.

Why we’re excited See above. Chef/owner Sean Reeve has consistently wowed at Mackenzie, so his take on American-barbecuemeets-Italian-rusticity—whatever that means— shouldn’t disappoint. saymercy.ca

125 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver Who We’ll shout out the ahi tuna here— a bigger draw than the newcomer chef.

Why we’re excited Sure, on paper, a “hotel seafood restaurant” doesn’t necessarily get the heart rate up, but Provisions is worth a second glance: the room is casual but buzzy, the seafood towers are practically toppling from the weight of oysters and ceviche and the tuna from the raw bar tastes like it was plucked mere moments ago from the harbour. seasideprovisions.com

Seaside Provisions

Say Mercy chef/owner Sean Reeve

Oca Pastificio

Who Greg Dilabio (first-time restaurateur and longtime La Quercia/L’Ufficio staffer) with former boss Adam Pegg.

Why we’re excited We’re not ready for this modern Italian wave to end: luckily, the gang at La Quercia isn’t either. The cozy 22-seat room on the Drive is set to feature four daily pastas (made in full view of the restaurant at the rolling station) plus risottos, salads and salumis. ocapastificio.com

Barbara

Field and Social

Who Chef/owner Patrick Hennessy, who has done stints at Chambar and Kissa Tanto in Vancouver and Eleven Madison Park in New York—we think he’s ready.

Why we’re excited The Chinatown spot features a design by Ply Architecture and millwork

by Union Wood Co., and, more importantly, a thoughtful-but-casual small-plates concept from an under-the-radar hustler.

Who The salad gurus behind a duo of fast-casual hot spots of the same name.

Why we’re excited The other two F&S locations made going out for salad something to look forward to, and this sleek, minimalist space will offer those same good-and-goodfor-you thrills. Meet you at the communal table for a tempeh-packed macro bowl. fieldandsocial.com

305 E Pender St., Vancouver

5 6 a p r i l 2 0 2 0 / westernliving.ca

18 E 5th Ave., Vancouver

Oca Pastificio

Sean Reeve: Katie Cross; Field and Social: Christine Pienaar

1260 Commercial Dr., Vancouver

Ever yday Diamonds

BQ8881 - Gan Eden TORONTO www.vicostone.ca

MONTRÉAL

VANCOUVER info@vicostone.ca

CALGARY

Thai One On Though most Canadian Thai restaurants stick to a familiar script of curries and pad thais, there’s a whole country of flavours to be explored—and Angus An does just that with his upcoming Maenam cookbook, named after his award-winning Vancouver room. Here, he shares a handful of the hyper-regional, ultra-flavourful dishes that embrace the beautiful balance of sour, sweet, salt and heat that makes Thai dishes so much more than the sum of their parts. recipes by Angus An // photographs by Darren Cheung

Stir-Fried Chanterelles and Baby Corn, see recipe on page 60

westernliving.ca / a p r i l 2 0 2 0 5 9

FOOD + TRAVEL • THAI ONE ON

Stir-Fried Chanterelles and Baby Corn SERVES 4 (SEE PHOTO ON PAGE 59)

Avoid dried chanterelle mushrooms, as they’ll release too much water once you rehydrate them. Using fresh baby corn is best, but if you must use canned, rinse for 30 minutes in cold water to release the brine flavour.

Garlic-chili paste 3 cloves garlic 3 to 5 red Thai bird’s eye chilies Pinch of coarse sea salt and white pepper 2 red chili peppers, deseeded and sliced

Stir-Fry

Chef Angus An

½ lb fresh chanterelle mushrooms ¼ lb fresh baby corn 2 stalks fresh green peppercorns 3 tbsp canola oil 2 tbsp garlic-chili paste (recipe follows) 4 to 6 tbsp fish sauce Small pinch of granulated sugar Small pinch of white pepper ½ cup fresh Thai basil leaves 1 tbsp julienned ginger 1 tbsp julienned grachai For the Garlic-Chili Paste: Using a mortar and pestle, pound the garlic, chilies, salt and white pepper into a paste. Add the red chili peppers to the mortar and lightly bruise them. Set the paste aside.

chef’s tip INTRIGUING INGREDIENTS Most of the more exotic ingredients in these recipes can be found at your local Asian supermarket—take a stroll through T&T or H Mart, or a specialty grocer near you. Need a substitution in a pinch?

Visit westernliving.ca/thai-cooking for suggestions.

TOOLS OF THE TRADE It’s a fact: you’re going to need a mortar and pestle.

Curry pastes and seasoning mixes just won’t turn out the same without this essential tool. Chef An recommends a stone one (not marble!) preferably 7 to 8 inches in diameter.

6 0 a p r i l 2 0 2 0 / westernliving.ca

For the Stir-Fry: Clean the mushrooms with a dry brush to remove any dirt stuck between their gills. If the cap is really dirty, use a slightly dampened dish towel to wipe off the dirt. Do not wash under water. Keep the mushrooms whole if they’re small, and tear the larger ones in half. Cut the baby corn in half lengthwise down the middle.

Preheat a wok to medium heat, add the oil, then add the mushrooms, green peppercorns, corn and garlic-chili paste and stir-fry together for 2 to 3 minutes. Season with fish sauce, sugar and white pepper. Finish by folding in the Thai basil, ginger, and grachai. The dish should have a mild taste with a hint of richness from the Thai basil, but not too much as it will overpower the delicate mushrooms.

SIMPLY PUT, WE JUST BUILD BETTER

@blackkshhomes | #blackkshhomes | #buildbetter

BLACKFISH HOMES is a multi-award winning, high-performance home builder and renovator.

While many build houses, we build healthy, sustainable homes. contact us to schedule a project consultation.

blackkshhomes.ca t. 604.980.0814 | info@blackkshhomes.ca

Prawn Cakes with Sweet Chili Sauce, see recipe on page 63

6 2   a p r i l 2 0 2 0 / westernliving.ca

Prawn Cakes SERVES 4 TO 6 (SEE PHOTO ON PAGE 60)

This recipe makes a great canapé or light appetizer.

Cakes 4 quarts canola oil 1 garlic clove 1 red Thai bird’s eye chili Pinch of coarse sea salt 1 lb hand-minced prawn meat ½ cup diced long beans 2 tbsp julienned makrut lime leaves 2 tbsp fish sauce ½ tsp white pepper ½ tsp granulated sugar

Sweet chili sauce ½ cup roughly chopped coriander roots or stems ½ cup whole garlic cloves Pinch of kosher salt 1 cup deseeded and chopped chili peppers 4 cups white vinegar 3 cups granulated sugar 4 cups water For Cakes: In a deep fryer or large heavy pot over medium-high heat, preheat the canola oil to 350°F. Using a mortar and pestle, pound the garlic, chili and salt into a fine paste. Transfer the paste to a medium-sized bowl together with the rest of the prawn cake ingredients.

WATERPROOF AND WATER REPELLENT OUTERWEAR

Using your hands, combine the ingredients thoroughly, then slap the mixture against the bowl until firm and sticky. Form the mixture into 16 to 20 balls, 1 to 1½ inches in diameter, or into 10 to 12 patties up to 2 inches wide and no more than 1 inch thick.

SAVE 35%

Test-fry one prawn cake in the fryer or pot, cooking it for about 2 minutes, until golden brown. The texture should be bouncy and lightly toothy. Depending on the size of your pot, fry them in one or two batches, then transfer to a plate lined with paper towel to drain any excess oil.

with Promo Code: STAYDRY www.dryframe.com

ETIME WA LIF R

Y NT RA

D

RA

ÉE

LIFETIME GA

In a large pot over medium-high heat, stir together the chili paste, vinegar, sugar, salt and water. Bring to a simmer. When the sauce reaches a temperature of 220°F, continue simmering for 5 more minutes. Remove from heat and let cool. Serve with cakes and store any remaining sauce in a lidded container in the fridge for up to 2 months.

LIM ITE

For Sweet Chili Sauce: Using a mortar and pestle, pound the coriander roots, garlic and salt into a coarse paste. Grind the chilies in a meat grinder, or pulse them in a food processor until the chili pepper bits are evenly sized to about 1/8 inch. Combine with the paste.

NT

I E À V I E LI M

IT

LIFETIME WARRANTY | FREE RETURNS | FREE SHIPPING $100+ SanmarDryframe_1/3sq.indd 1

2019-11-28 1:49 PM

FOOD + TRAVEL • THAI ONE ON

Green Papaya Salad, see recipe on page 65

6 4 a p r i l 2 0 2 0 / westernliving.ca

Pacific Art Stone

Affordable beauty for your home Green Papaya Salad SERVES 1, OR 2 TO 3 AS AN APPETIZER

The simplicity, robust flavours, sharpness and balance of this salad make it a perfect ambassador for Thai cuisine, and it highlights the full spectrum of Thai flavours: hot, sour, sweet and salty.

2 to 3 red Thai bird’s eye chilies 1 to 2 garlic cloves Pinch of coarse sea salt 2 tbsp palm sugar 2 tbsp dried prawns 1 tbsp roasted peanuts, skinned 1 tbsp tamarind water (see recipe below) 1 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice Fish sauce, to taste 1 cup shredded green papaya 1/8 cup sliced long beans, cut into 1-inch lengths 4 cherry tomatoes, halved 2 tbsp shredded carrot Using a mortar and pestle, pound the chilies and garlic together into a fine paste, using a pinch of salt as an abrasive. Add the palm sugar, dried prawns and roasted peanuts, and pound everything together until it becomes a coarse paste. Add the tamarind water, lime juice and fish sauce to complete the dressing, and stir with the pestle until fully incorporated.

Add the green papaya, long beans, cherry tomatoes and carrot and pound lightly to bruise and soften them so they can absorb the dressing, then toss to combine with the paste. Alternatively, if your mortar and pestle isn’t large enough to handle all the ingredients, you can use a pestle with a large mixing bowl for the vegetables. The finished salad should taste sour, salty, lightly sweet and hot.

Tamarind Water 1 14-ounce bag tamarind pulp 6 cups water Cut a brick of tamarind pulp into small pieces and soak overnight in water. The next day, use your hands to massage the water into the tamarind and loosen it up. Once the water is well saturated with tamarind, pass it through a strainer and keep only the tamarind water. Store it in the fridge for up to 1 week. Tamarind water goes rancid quickly, so don’t make too much at once.

Creating authentic stone veneer products and accessories to add value and beauty to our clients’ projects, whatever scale they may be, at an accessible price.

Showroom: 8585 123 Street, Surrey BC Hours: 8am – 4:30pm T: 604.590.5999

pacificartstone.com PacificArtStone-1/3sq.indd 1

2019-12-10 2:06 PM

FOOD + TRAVEL • THAI ONE ON

Scallop Ceviche SERVES 4

Buy scallops live and shuck them yourself to ensure utmost freshness. But if live scallops are unavailable, IQF (individually quick frozen) scallops from Hokkaido or Maine are also good.

Seafood nahm jim ¼ cup sliced galangal 5 green Thai bird’s eye chilies 2 red Thai bird’s eye chilies 8 cloves garlic ¼ cup chopped coriander root Pinch of kosher salt 2 red chili peppers, deseeded 1/3 cup granulated sugar 2/3 cup freshly squeezed lime juice ½ cup fish sauce Zest and juice of 1 makrut lime

Fried shallots ½ cup canola oil 2 tbsp thinly sliced shallots, about 1/16 inch thick

Assembly

Scallop Ceviche, see recipe, opposite

chef’s tip When picking out live scallops from your local fishmonger, choose the heavier ones with closed shells.

Scallops can vary in size, and picking the heavier ones increases your chances of finding ones with larger flesh (muscle). Test an open shell by squeezing it closed; it should bounce back and close by itself fairly quickly. If there’s no tension and the scallop doesn’t close its shell, that means it’s dead. Avoid dead shellfish at all costs and never buy dead shellfish that is “on sale.”

6 6 a p r i l 2 0 2 0 / westernliving.ca

4 to 8 large live bay or IQF scallops, with shells 2 to 4 tbsp seafood nahm jim 2 tbsp finely sliced lemongrass, to garnish 2 tbsp finely sliced fresh long-leaf coriander, to garnish 1 tbsp finely julienned makrut lime leaves, to garnish Few sprigs of fresh coriander, to garnish 2 to 4 tbsp cured salmon roe or sustainable caviar, to garnish (optional) Edible flowers, to garnish (optional) Fried shallots, to garnish For Seafood Nahm Jim: Place the hardest ingredients in the mortar first. Add a pinch of salt, pound and grind until ingredients are broken down. Slice the deseeded chili pepper flesh. Add to mortar and continue to pound.

Add sugar. Grind into the mixture to develop a find paste. Stir in the liquids and mix with paste until well incorporated. Let the dressing sit for 5 minutes before tasting and adjust to taste. Set aside.

For Fried Shallots: In a medium-sized pot, preheat the oil to about 330°F. Fry the shallots for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Toward the end of the cooking time, turn them over a few times and remove them from the oil when they’re light golden brown. Use two forks to spread them out evenly to cool on a wire rack lined with paper towel. This ensures that the shallots cool off and crisp up more quickly.

Set aside.

Lanefab Design-Build - Lanefab v3.1 - square - outlines.pdf

1

2/4/20

12:57 PM

Assembly: Clean the scallop shells with a brush to remove all sand and dirt. The shells will be used as presentation and serving pieces. Using a flexible palette knife, pry open the two shells slightly, wide enough to stick in your thumb. The tension from the shells might feel uncomfortable, but it will be brief. Insert the palette knife and scrape the inside of the top flat shell until you separate the flesh from the shell. Open the flat top completely and flex the palette knife while scraping the bottom bowl-shaped shell.

Once the flesh is completely dislodged from the shell, set it aside in a bowl on ice.

Scrape the inside of the shells clean and wash them thoroughly; reserve for serving.

To trim the scallop meat, remove the outer mantle and the liver (black piece), keeping the flesh (muscle) and the roe (orange piece).

For this recipe, only the muscle is needed; however, the roe is a tasty piece to incorporate into the ceviche should you feel adventurous.

Slice each scallop into four wedges. Place the scallop wedges back onto the shells and dress each with about ½ tablespoon nahm jim.

Garnish with lemongrass, long-leaf coriander, makrut lime leaves and coriander sprigs, and optional cured salmon roe and edible flowers.

Sprinkle the fried shallots on last for texture.

Serve immediately.

Excerpted from Maenam by Angus An. Copyright © 2020 Angus An. Photography by Darren Cheung.

Published by Appetite by Random House®, a division of Penguin Random House Canada Limited.

Reproduced by arrangement with the Publisher.

All rights reserved

Life is so much easier when you can find the things you want.

cosycloset.ca | 778.990.3739

Cosy Closet-1/3sq.indd 1

2019-12-09 11:33 AM

FOOD + TRAVEL • DISPATCHES

DISPATCHES

look

Essentials for Travel

Green Spot

The city may never sleep, but you have to eventually, so settle in at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge for a beautiful break from the grind.

The property is Brooklyn Bridge Park-adjacent, so before crashing soak up the views from the sustainably minded rooms (think organic cotton bedding, plants galore, filtered waterbottle fill stations, “ugly fruit” for snacking in the lobby, iPadoperated, energyefficient temperature control). 1hotels.com/ brooklyn-bridge

eat

Anti-Glitz

Ah Vegas, the city of Wayne Newton, the endless buffet and secret conceptual art installations.

Wait, what? While the first two may be well known, the hidden James Turrell installation on the secret fourth floor of the Louis Vuitton store at CityCentre is very much the purview of wellversed insiders. Titled Akhob, the 24-minute-long immersive light experience is limited to only six people per session, all of whom don surgical booties before entering a disorienting wash of colours in a futuristic white room that creates a sensory experience up there with hitting a five on a soft 16 at the blackjack table. The best part? Thanks to the largess of LVMH chair Bernard Arnault, it’s free—all you have to do is call ahead (702-7303150) to make an appointment (four to six weeks in advance is prudent, but sometimes there are cancellations). Free art? It may be the best bet in town.

Culinary Consulate

If you happen to be strolling in New York’s Flatiron district and are suddenly overcome with the warm glow of home, don’t worry: it’s entirely natural. Oceans, a sprawling new room on Park Avenue South, is the latest outpost from Vancouver’s Toptable Group and takes at least some of its inspiration from Blue Water Cafe, the company’s successful Yaletown seafood spot. It quietly opened late last fall, but a January visit saw the big room packed past 10 p.m. on a cold Wednesday night, so the locals must like what they’re offering. oceansnewyork.com

Akhob: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton; Oceans: Melissa Hom/Emily Andrews

sleep

6 8 a p r i l 2 0 2 0 / westernliving.ca

Evalina_

YO U A R E A L R E A DY B E AU T I F U L

Lightweight.

Long-lasting.

Blendable.

GLOW CHEEK AND LIP S TAIN

PA R A B E N - F R E E A N D C R U E LT Y- F R E E E VA L I N A B E A U T Y. C O M

Evalina_FP_WL_productads.indd 18

3/11/20 3:06 PM

abantu.com

Spring

the only excuse needed to spoil yourself CLIP-INS, TAPE-INS, HIDDEN HALOS, TOPPERS, PONYTAILS, BANGS, LACE-FRONT WIGS

THE SECOND-TAKE CITY Shaking off the routine with Seattle’s not-so-hidden gems. by Stacey M c Lachlan

It’s like the classic saying goes: give a man a fish, he’ll eat for a day; toss a man a fish, he’s at Pike Place Market yet again. Though the Emerald City is a frequent destination for Canadian West Coasters, sometimes it feels like we’ve done it all before. There’s nothing wrong with our usual routine—strolling through the market with a coffee, strolling through Olympic Sculpture Park with a second coffee, settling our coffee jitters with a warm pastry from Piroshky Piroshky and so on—but we’re ready to rediscover our border neighbour. And, as it turns out, there’s plenty to explore beyond the classic downtown offerings. In Ballard, casual-fine fare and design-minded boutiques await; a Pioneer Square storefront mixes vino with artful local goods; in Fremont, find the vintage haul of your dreams. Seattle contains multitudes: nice to meet you again, old friend.

2 SUPER DUPER The Pioneer Square shop 1 Fruitsuper features shelves peppered with Pacific Northwest-designed goods, but these aren’t “I Got Tossed like a Fish at Pike Place Market” tourist trinkets: rather, graphic, locally made loom-woven blankets from American illustrators, rough-hewn plant pots and screenprinted notebooks are the souvenirs of choice. All shopped out? Drop by anyway: the upper loft is the Foundry Vineyards wine bar.

DUE NORTH It’s worth a visit to the new 2 National Nordic Museum for the architecture alone: the 57,000-square-foot modernist building (designed in a collaboration between Seattle firm Mithun and celebrated Finnish architect Juhani Pallasmaa) is a stunner, all clean lines and glass. Inside, find a smartly curated peek into the lives of Seattle’s early Nordic settlers—this is Viking country, after all—and contemporary Danish photography.

3 fruitsuper: Krista Welch; Sawyer: Brooke Fitts

abantu.com

1

FOOD + TRAVEL • THE CHECK-IN

DASHING DINING Local-boy chef Mitch Mayers has been lauded for his work at the casual-chic 3 Sawyer, and it’s easy to see why: the menu he serves up in this airy, Scandinavian casual space is a very delicious melting pot of southwesternmeets-Asian-meets-rustic-French comfort food. Foie gras mousse is served with huckleberries and shiso; tostadas get the locavore treatment, stuffed with winter squash.

And if that sounds a little frou-frou for a casual weeknight meal, just pop in for the Sawyer take on a Dilly bar: cookie dough semifreddo, wrapped in a chocolate shell.

westernliving.ca / a p r i l 2 0 2 0 7 1

FOOD + TRAVEL • THE CHECK-IN

4

6 COZY UP Get the Puget Sound views without facing the whipping wind or staggering hills via your sleek waterfront suite at 6 the Kimpton Alexis Hotel— though you’ll likely be too busy with the Frette linen-draped king-size bed and dreamy walk-in shower to care about what the windows overlook. Downstairs, the cozy, brick-lined Bookstore Bar and Café awaits with confit duck fettucine, miso clams or just a stiff drink.

TIME TRAVEL Book a whole day to explore 4 Fremont Vintage Mall: between the vintage Danish cookware, well-edited racks of retro prints and tons of quirky clothing finds, the hours just disappear as you pore over the treasures. Whether you walk away with a mid-century-modern credenza or just some nostalgic warm-fuzzies, it’s time well spent.

8

TREASURE TROVE 5 Prism squeezes an impressive number of wonderful wares into its tiny storefront in the Ballard ’hood. (The all-too-accurate motto: “Gifts you buy for others, but keep for yourself.”) Look for handblown coloured-glass jugs from Hay, buttery lemon-yellow leather totes, pretty terrazzo incense holders, dangly earrings from local jewellery designers and fancy candles galore.

7 DIG IN

7 2 a p r i l 2 0 2 0 / westernliving.ca

GO DEEP Seek out 8 Deep Dive for a nightcap, hidden(ish) beneath the Amazon Spheres behind a discreetly marked door. It’s a pricey stop for a cocktail (at $22 U.S. for the “Fear Is the Mind Killer”—a wild concoction made of cereal-infused coconut cream, rum and sherry—this isn’t exactly a place for the budget-conscious lush), but the opportunity to step into the curio-filled space is worth a little splurge: Graham Baba Architects worked with artist Curtis Steiner to create the whimsically moody library-meets-speakeasy of Wes Anderson’s dreams.

Kimpton Alexis Hotel: Laure Joliet; Deep Dive: Haris Kenjar

At 7 Digs, you’ll find tables piled with on-trend Portuguese pottery alongside delightfully weird home accessories, like a trivet dish shaped like a human hand. The showroom has a solid furniture range, too, should you be looking to bring any bigger wares back over the border—think compact, modernist pieces from Gus* Modern and De La Espada.

Partners:

Sponsors: Applied Arts, .design, BCBusiness, Domtar, Glenmore, Hemlock Printers, Müns Grebäck, Mitchell Press, PangramPangram, Rick Etkin, Total Graphics Inc.

HOW TO CRAFT A COCKTAIL AT 30,000 FEET (AND OTHER TRAVEL HACKS) We happily spend most of our time in these pages telling you about wonderful places to visit, but we never cover the practical side of getting there, buying stuff and not getting ripped off while you try to relax.

Until now.

by Neal M c Lennan

Jennifer McCormick

SHOULD YOU PAY IN LOCAL CURRENCY? If you’ve travelled abroad in the past few years—even just to the U.S.—you’ve no doubt encountered the conundrum: you pay with a credit card and, when you look down at the terminal, it asks if you want to pay in the local currency or in Canadian dollars.

If you’re like us, you stare at it, vainly try to do some off-the-cuff math calculations, give up and then just randomly choose. For a while I’d alternate, with the vague idea that I was hedging my currency bets.

But unlike most puzzling

travel questions, this one has a very clear answer: Always. Pay. In. Local. Currency.

Here’s how the system—one that’s frankly a scam—works.

When the home currency is displayed, you’re essentially paying for a convenience service, namely seeing what your final cost will be in a currency you understand. But for that ease you’re being charged a “conversion fee”: usually 2.5 to 3 percent of the total. Worse, that amount is calculated on a rate that’s calculated by something called Dynamic Currency

Conversion (DCC) and that DCC rate is almost always worse by a percentage or two than the one your home bank will use. So now you’re getting charged close to 5 percent to pay in your home currency—definitely not worth it. To make matters worse, your credit card company will also charge you a foreign transaction fee, which is another 2.5 to 3 percent.

You’ll get dinged with that in both the local and home currency scenario, but you could avoid it by using the following cards, which have no foreign transaction fees related to them.

4 CARDS WITH NO FOREIGN TRANSACTION FEES 1 Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite 2 HSBC World Elite MasterCard 3 RBC Cathay Pacific Visa Platinum 4 Stack Prepaid MasterCard

westernliving.ca / a p r i l 2 0 2 0 7 5

FOOD + TRAVEL • TRAVEL HACKS

HOW TO MAXIMIZE YOUR AEROPLAN POINTS It’s been a bumpy few years for what’s essentially Canada’s only travel points system (sorry WestJet Rewards, you’re some ways from the big time). But with Aeroplan being bought and brought in-house by Air Canada, there’s finally a measure of stability.

Mind you, it’s still regarded by most world travellers as one of the worst, most punitive reward programs out there. But, it’s our terrible, punitive system, so here are a few key insiders’ tips on how to find the hidden hacks on this unwieldly program.

USE AEROPLAN, JUST DON’T FLY ON AIR CANADA

THE WATER BOTTLE YOU NEED So, by now you know how important it is to stay hydrated on a plane. And you probably know that cranking through plastic cups is unsatisfactory both for the planet and, given their tiny size, for your H2O consumption. The obvious choice is to have the attendants fill your own water bottle... but the water coming out of those pitchers isn’t the portrait of health. Enter the GeoPress, by Grayl ($120).

It’s made for serious hiking—it filters out almost everything—and while it may have been built for mountain streams, I sleep easier using it at 30,000 feet as well. grayl.com

SORRY, BUT YOU GOTTA ROCK THE EYE MASK 7 6 a p r i l 2 0 2 0 / westernliving.ca

Air Canada is part of the massive Star Alliance group, and while you can use your points on all the carriers, they don’t all charge you the same for that privilege. AC adds fuel or carrier surcharges to the tickets, which can bump up the cost by hundreds of dollars (even on a short-haul flight from Edmonton to Vancouver, the charges are around $170). But United, EgyptAir, Copa, Turkish Airlines, EVA Air and Swiss don’t hit you with those extra charges (though Lufthansa and All Nippon, like AC, do). When you search for a flight and there are several options presented, click on each to see what the taxes and fees are.

A recent search of Vancouver to Istanbul showed one route through Frankfurt on Lufthansa that had more than $900 in fees (plus 75,000 miles); another through Toronto on Turkish Airlines was closer to $150.

Sleep masks are a necessary evil: they look dorky and most of them smush your eyelashes against your face, but the option is the dentist office lighting you’ll get on most airlines (Boeing’s lovely Dreamliner and its ambient light excepted).

This number is tops among the pack: the space over the eyes is punched out so there’s no pressure on your face, it comes in cool colours and it’s machine washable. Plus, it’s under $20.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO ONLY USE THE WEBSITE You can use the United site, as it often gives a better cross-section of Star Alliance airlines (including the ones that don’t surcharge). The downside is that you can’t book your ticket on that site: you’ll need to make detailed notes of the flight you want, then call Aeroplan and book it over the phone the old-fashioned way. They charge you $30 for this, and the hold times for Aeroplan are legendarily often logner than an hour, but you can save a bundle and get the flight you want.

Bucky's 40 Blinks Sleep Mask, $18.52. amazon.ca

ONE-WAY IS YOUR FRIEND Examine both legs of the flight—if only one is good, think about booking one-way and paying separately for the other leg.

There’s no penalty on Aeroplan to book oneway either in miles or taxes—it’s simply half.

Visit our BRAND NEW SMART Showroom located in beautiful South Surrey MOVE ON UP Aeroplan rewards you for moving up classes.

Take this return flight to London from Canada: economy is 60,000 miles, premium economy is 75,000 and business is 110,000.

Now compare average fares if you were to buy those tickets: premium is routinely far more than double and business is almost always more than quadruple (a recent March search showed premium priced at six times economy and business almost 15 times). So, live a little.

GET TO KNOW GOOGLE FLIGHTS' DATE GRID By now you know that the first step to any trip is to log on to Google Flights. Punch in your dates and destination and let the algorithms do their magic. But one of the problems is the massive number of hits you’ll get. So, here’s how to make sure you’re dialled in to just the cream of your crop. Once you decide where you want to go and approximate your dates, check the box that limits your search to the number of stops you’ll consider, and then hit the “more” button and enter the maximum amount of time you’ll consider for the flight (“must be less than six hours,” for example). Then hit the date grid button and you’ll see which dates of travel will give you the cheapest flight. Invaluable.

100% LED Showroom Lifetime Warranty on ALL LED Light Bulbs we make light work.

112-3560 190 St Surrey | 604.576.8733 | designlighting.ca

FOOD + TRAVEL • TRAVEL HACKS

THE HONEST SUITCASE REVIEW

I’ve been travel editor at WL for more than a decade now, and it’s a job that has let me travel near and far, in luxury and... in the opposite of luxury. And through all that time my wife (she’s also a travel writer) and I have purchased a disproportionate number of suitcases.

Some broke, some were lost, many were upgraded, but together they have placed us in the unique position of being able to offer an increasingly rare insight—a review not based on a press release or a media gift but on our own money and thousands of kilometres of real-world testing.

THE SUITCASE Tumi Tegra-Lite 26-inch (MSRP $1,200) THE STORY I bought this on a killer sale at Nordstrom.

It was green Tegris (a carbon fibre-esque material) and at the time I wasn’t super interested, as I was deeply in love with Rimowa. But it was such a good deal— more than 50 percent off—so I bit.

THE VERDICT My fave bag. It has a sleeve that separates the compartments and allows a blazer or suit to be inserted inside—a game changer.

Keeps them wrinkle-free, and the size is perfect.

Weirdly, when I go to Europe they’re much more impressed with the Tumi than with the Rimowa.

THE SUITCASE Heys Durevole 26-inch ($170ish) THE STORY Simple. My wife frequently buys too much on vacation, and when that happens we do the Marshall’s shop of shame, where we buy a case that’s cheap and hopefully cheerful. A Heys helped us out of a jam on a trip to Scottsdale.

THE SUITCASE Rimowa Salsa Air 26 (MSRP $680) THE STORY Our first Rimowa was a big deal. The German company was the first to offer superior technology and a serious price tag to match. In fact, we bought the polycarbonate Air model partly because it was light but also because it was on the lower end of the price spectrum (roughly half the price of the full aluminum models). We’ve bought two of these and still use them.

THE VERDICT A truly wretched item. I say this partly because I’m still nursing a cut on my finger from where the shell cracked when the case was loaded with 41.4 pounds. Even before it disintegrated the wheels were terrible, never tracking straight. And the telescopic handle worked well about twice.

THE VERDICT A workhorse of a bag. Unbelievably light and versatile, if relatively bare bones inside. Last year the polycarbonate cracked in one corner, but the bag is still usable. If it had been less than five years old, Rimowa would have replaced it, but it was not and you can’t really fully repair cracked polycarbonate.

THE SUITCASE Globe-Trotter Safari 30-inch (about $3,350)

THE SUITCASE Bric’s Riccione 21-inch ($260)

THE STORY This British Heritage brand is the holy grail of high-end suitcases, with “entry” level models often triple Rimowa’s prices, notwithstanding that the technology is relatively unchanged since 1897. We call that antiquated. I bought this at an estate sale in Palm Springs.

THE STORY Italian-made Bric’s strives to be one of the big names, and while it is in Europe, over here they’ve never quite found that highend niche. The Bay sells some models, and they always seem to be on sale, which is positive. I bought mine from Barneys last year at their going-outof-business sale.

THE SUITCASE Herschel Highland Camo 23-inch ($190) THE STORY My kids bought these at a sample sale in New York, which, given that we’re from Vancouver, the brand’s home, seemed daft. They were only about $100 U.S. though, so I said caveat emptor.

THE VERDICT If you can find one on sale, this is a lovely bag. Sturdy, reliable, handsome. Might people mistake them for Rimowa knockoffs? Yes, but again, in Europe they have a very elevated persona.

THE VERDICT Oddly, these two carry-ons have turned out to be real unsung heroes. They’re always packed to the gills and are frequently checked, and they’ve performed like champs—even on the wheels, which are the usual culprits for cheap bags.

THE VERDICT It’s really heavy and was so pricey that I was afraid to use it. And, unlike the Tumi, inside it’s just one big box. For posers only, I fear.

7 8 a p r i l 2 0 2 0 / westernliving.ca

FOOD + TRAVEL • TRAVEL HACKS

by Grant Sceney, Fairmont Pacific Rim

Two drinks you can hack your way to are a couple of my favourites: a New York Sour and an Old Fashioned. For each, you just need one small foodsafe bottle, glass or plastic, that is less than 100 ml. (This could be a saved mini liquor bottle or something similar.)

For the Old Fashioned, fill your bottle with a simple syrup or maple syrup and a few dashes of bitters, then prepare some orange peels in a small sealable bag with a moist napkin (this will ensure they don’t dry out).

When the flight attendant comes by, ask for the whisky they have on offer and a cup of ice, then pour it in your cup with a small splash of your bitters syrup. Spritz the oils in the peel across the top, and voila! A delicious Old Fashioned.

For the New York sour, fill the small bottle with equal parts lemon juice and simple syrup. You can find small, three-piece cobbler shakers if you feel the need to shake the drink (it’s perfectly fine to travel with a cocktail shaker—I’ve done it many times); otherwise, stirring will suffice. Get the whisky from the flight attendant and ask for a glass of red wine as well. (If they are concerned about serving two drinks at once, it helps to ask for the red wine with a meal, and tell them whisky is for afterward.) Shake or stir the whisky with the sour mix, and serve on the rocks with a float of red wine. There you have it: a New York sour at 30,000 feet!

TORONTO-BOUND TRAVEL HACK

by Sebastien Le Goff, VP Service at Cactus Club Cafe

In Toronto, the Union Pearson Express train between Pearson and Union station is way faster and smoother than a taxi or a rideshare company. And it has wifi, so you can catch up on your email in comfort while zipping into the city. Also, there’s a self-serve ticket kiosk near the luggage carousel that’s never busy and it allows you to skip the long line near the train.

THE GREATEST AIRPORT RESTAURANT IN NORTH AMERICA

Twice I have almost missed connecting flights at Chicago O’Hare because I convinced myself that I had enough time to sneak in one of chef Rick Bayless’s sublime Mexican tortas at Tortas Frontera. You arrive and note that the line seems no longer than at the McDonald’s next door, but you quickly realize the “everything handmade” ethos of Bayless means that the line moves very, very slowly. But there’s an app for that. Pre-flight download the TF app, and as you deplane, place your order. It’ll be waiting when you get there—grab it and go.

8 0 a p r i l 2 0 2 0 / westernliving.ca

Union Pearson Express Train: Rick Radell

HOW TO MAKE A DRINK AT 30,000 FEET

THE LINE CREEPER IS THE LOWEST FORM OF TRAVELLER There was a time when the boarding of an airplane was not a shorter version of Mao’s Long March. That time was before airlines started charging their customers for checking luggage, turning a heretofore group of normal citizens into a conniving band of grifters trying to, in the words of a great comic, “tape a handle onto to a washing machine and call it carry on.” But those wizards pale in comparison to the increasingly common scourge known as the line creeper. Those individuals put the L in loiter as they mill about the line to board, never quite in it, never quite out but always prematurely there for the zone in which they’re in. Always avoiding eye contact and when pressed by a gate agent as to what zone is on their ticket, they’re always quick to profess ignorance not only to their zone, but to the entire zone system, which has been in place for five years. “Zone, er, hmm, I’m not sure. Where do I find that again?”

The result is that making one’s way to board the plane has become a human obstacle course, with “Sorry, are you in line?” and “Is this Zone 2?” the price that must be paid for the privilege of boarding in a manner that, at least in theory, is designed to maximize the efficient loading of the plane.

As a populace, we’ve faced worse. Culture Club's popularity, for example. But we persevered, and that gives me hope that the line creepers of the world will see the error of their cloggy ways and do that most rare of things: wait their goddamn turn.

Let us create something as unique as you

1457 Bellevue Avenue, West Vancouver | 604.925.8333 | STITTGEN.COM

StittgenFineJewellry_1/3square_WL_3.indd 1

3/2/20 2:59 PM

TRADE SECRETS

D E S I G N E D BY

Andrea Rodman, Andrea Rodman Interiors, Vancouver

The Look

GOING GREY

Layer on the monotone shades for a sophisticated master suite.

Ema Peter

Grey floors. Grey walls.

Grey furniture. And yet this bedroom in Vancouver’s Coal Harbour, designed by Andrea Rodman, is anything but monotonous. Here, the designer uses a variety of shades and textures to bring in depth and warmth: artist-designed wallpaper from Black Edition, a custom-designed upholstered bed in sumptuous velvet and luxe greige floor-to-ceiling drapery that frames the West Coast skies.

8 2   a p r i l 2 0 2 0 / westernliving.ca