Homes & Living April/May 2015

EDMONTON

april

$7.95 CAN

the

KITCHEN & BATH issue

VANCOUVER

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VANCOUVER ISLAND

+

CALGARY

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EDMONTON

⁄⁄

may 2015

Photo Michel Gibert. Special thanks: TASCHEN / Sculpture: Philippe Graul. *Conditions apply, ask your store for more details.

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Editor’s MESSAGE

Spring

is here - a new season bringing the time of year when homeowners, house hunters and design enthusiasts typically start looking for opportunities to breathe new life into key areas of our homes.

With this is mind, the team at Homes & Living proudly presents our annual Kitchen & Bath issue, chock full of features to help you cook up new ideas to nuance your haven of epicurean delights, or conjure the genie of design inspiration in your powder room.

Kitchens and bathrooms buzz with activity in the home, and they are rooms where design and technology can intersect to result in colourful enhancements to improve fun and functionality in our lives.

With the birth of new seasons in mind, Homes & Living recently introduced our premiere Edmonton edition, showcasing the best architecture, design and culture that reflects the authentic luxury prairie lifestyle. In conjunction with the successful launch of our award-winning Calgary edition last year, this season is a pivotal point for Homes & Living, as we demonstrate our commitment to expanding region-specific content in all of our markets.

Our top-notch collective of talented and inquisitive writers in Vancouver, Vancouver Island, Calgary, Edmonton and beyond consistently bring our valued readers the best possible read in the realms of architecture, home design, history, culture and cuisine.

Later this season, watch for the launch of our newly re-designed website, HLmagazine.com, which will feature complimentary brochure downloads, our Pro-Search – a handy go-to source guide where you can find top notch qualified professionals and H&L’s Ask a Pro, where you can get qualified advice free for the asking!

All my best,

Amanda Stutt, Managing Editor, Homes & Living editor@HLmagazine.com

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april ⁄ ⁄ may 2015

the KITCHEN & BATH issue

features

private oasis + greece + trending ideas + wallpaper

FAR OUT HOMES : PAPHOS,

BY NORA O’MALLEY

cyprus

FEATURE HOME : DOING THEIR own thing

BY JANICE STRONG

KITCHEN & BATH : trends IN WALLPAPER, POWDER ROOMS, COMPACT KITCHENS, CABINETS, TILES & LIGHTING

BY MARKELLA MILDENBERGER & JANICE STRONG

+ COVER PHOTO WALLPAPER Wthe red palette

Vanguard Hand Knotted Area Rug Collection 5055 Gateway Boulevard, Edmonton| 780.435.3794

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april ⁄ ⁄ may 2015

the KITCHEN & BATH issue

contents

architects + designers + celebrity + global vision EDITORS MESSAGE : SPRING IS

BY AMANDA STUTT

here

DESIGNER PROFILE : al BLACK

BY ROBERTA STALEY

ARCHITECT PROFILE : ernst VON MEIJENFELDT BY NORA O'MALLEY CELEBRITY PROFILE : olivia CHENG

BY LAURA GOLDSTEIN

EXPRESSIONS : treana PEAKE

BY LAURA GOLDSTEIN

Das kitchen.

Good, ja?

3743 – 99 Street • 780.434.0599 • euroluxkitchens.ca

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april ⁄ ⁄ may 2015

the KITCHEN & BATH issue

contents fabulous finds + travel + fast cars

ESCAPES : HOME away FROM HOME

BY CLAIRE NEWELL

FAST & LUXURIOUS : STUNNING RIDES

BY TONY WHITNEY

EPICURE : lotusland

BY GAIL JOHNSON

COMMUNITY CHARATERS

BY DANIELLE METCALFE-CHENAIL & MIRANDA POST

LOOK WHAT I FOUND : treasures

YOU DESIGNED YOUR DREAM KITCHEN. ¨ IT DESERVES YOUR DREAM KUHLSCHRANK. You insist on the best. Insist on Liebherr. Perfect food preservation and long-term freshness, energy efficiency, and silent operation in a sleek, contemporary design.

A Liebherr is not just a fridge. It’s the Kühlschrank that your dream kitchen deserves. liebherr-appliances.com

featured CONTRIBUTORS 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

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7.

8.

1 ⁄ ⁄ LAURA GOLDSTEIN has written features for Canadian House & Home, Style At Home, Chatelaine, National Post, Globe and Mail and more recently, Savour Gourmet and Western Living. She continues to combine her love for the arts, design, travel, retail, food, fascinating people and snooping through fabulous homes, as a never-ending source for articles.

2 ⁄ ⁄ NORA O'MALLEY is a bit of a globetrotter who, when pressed, would tell you that home is Calgary, Alberta. A freelance writer, Nora produces online content for Quiksilver and Roxy Australia and has contributed to The Surfer’s Path, Gripped The Climbing Magazine, WHERE, Canadian Rockies and MEC’s 40th Anniversary print catalogue. She has completed her first manuscript about learning to surf and seeing the world.

3 ⁄ ⁄ MIRANDA POST Miranda Post is a freelance travel and lifestyle writer based in Edmonton. Her love of the environment, design and local food has led to community gardens in Soweto, South Africa, modernist hotels in Southern California, and 100-mile foodie hotspots in the Comox Valley.

Miranda’s work has also appeared in the Vancouver Sun, The Tyee, Dazed

& Confused and Inside Vancouver.

4 ⁄ ⁄ CLAIRE NEWELL is the official travel consultant for Global BC and best-selling author of Travel Best Bets. She has written articles for Success, Professional Woman, Today’s Parent, Reader’s Digest and now she is Homes & Living magazine’s exclusive Escape writer. Claire's latest role is as co-host of the new travel series Operation: Vacation.

5 ⁄ ⁄ DANIELLE METCALFE-CHENAIL is is a writer and historian based in Edmonton. She is the author of For the Love of Flying (2009) and Polar Winds: A Century of Flying Canada’s North, to be released by Frontenac House later this year.

6//ROBERTA STALEY is the Vancouver-based editor of the Canadian Chemical News, a contributing editor at Corporate Knights magazine and an award-winning contributor to BCBusiness, Vancouver, CPA Magazine, ELLE Canada, AQ, UBC Law Magazine and The Georgia Straight. Staley has also reported from El Salvador, Afghanistan, Haiti, Cambodia, Colombia, New Zealand and Soweto, South Africa.

7 ⁄ ⁄ MARKELLA MILDENBERGER is the owner of a custom wallpaper and textile company and a freelance writer in design. In her spare time she is submersed in her art, writing and anything design related. She can often be found in English Bay catching the sunset or wandering the streets of Vancouver finding inspiration.

8 ⁄ ⁄ JANICE STRONG for more than 30 years, has been an award-winning writer and editor, her work has appeared in travel publications such as WHERE Victoria and Vancouver Island and Canadian Traveller, as well as travel trade publication CT. Her passion for travel and volunteering has led her to positions at the Commonwealth Games in Victoria and the Vancouver Olympics in 2010.

®

Founder & Publisher Robert Read Managing Editor Amanda Stutt Creative Director Anya Lewis Senior Graphic Designer Madison Hope

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FAR OUT HOMES GLOBAL + DESIGN + INNOVATION

BUILT ON A BANANA PLANTATION THE ‘GEORGE MICHAEL’ RESIDENCE

18

PROJECT ⁄ ⁄ GEORGE MICHAEL RESIDENCE LOCATION ⁄ ⁄ SEA CAVES - PAPHOS CYPRUS PROJECT STATUS ⁄ ⁄ COMPLETE 2013 ARCHITECTS ⁄ ⁄ VARDASTUDIO ARCHITECTS PHOTOGRAPHER ⁄ ⁄ CREATIVE PHOTO ROOM

TO

create the George Michael Residence, (no affiliation with the namesake pop superstar) Cyprian architect Andreas Vardas formed an awesome synergy with his client from the start. Requesting only an open plan, ample office space, and two ensuite bedrooms, the client essentially gave Vardas the green light to design a house on a big plot full of banana trees. And lucky for the architect, his first rendering was spot on. »

words nora o'malley

+ photos creative photo room

FAR OUT HOMES GLOBAL + DESIGN + INNOVATION

BELOW LEFT The pool is situated like a lake lapping against the breadth of the house. BELOW RIGHT The bedroom suites are outfitted with walk-in closets and fully-glassed bathrooms.

⁄⁄ + ⁄⁄ “After we showed him the first model, we decided that that was it. No changes – nothing,” said Vardas, the founder of Vardastudio, located in the coastal city of Paphos.

Within a couple of weeks the construction began, and over the next 11 months, Vardas, his client, and the contractors gathered at the site every Saturday morning at ten.

“It was like a ritual. Even if we didn’t have to do anything, we had to go there. It became a necessity,” Vardas said. »

FAR OUT HOMES GLOBAL + DESIGN + INNOVATION

FLOOR PLAN INDEX ⁄ ⁄ GROUND FLOOR 1. OFFICE 2.

SWIMMING POOL 3. TERRACE 4.

LIVING ROOM 5.

DINING ROOM 6. KITCHEN 7.

PANTRY 8. ENTRY 9. GARAGE UPPER FLOOR 10. UNCOVERED BALCONY 11.

BEDROOM ONE 12. ENSUITE 13.

BEDROOM TWO 14. ENSUITE

1 2 3 6

5

10 11

4

13

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9 8

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⁄⁄ + ⁄⁄

Their infectious enthusiasm for the project propelled them to build an open structure gleaming with natural materials and discernable nods to the surrounding banana plantation; multiple sliding doors and windows allow the trees to spill into the main living space, while the pool is situated like a lake lapping luxuriously against the breadth of the house.

To give the water its lake-like aesthetic, Vardas and his team tiled the pool with field grey slate; setting a precedent for new projects, as his clients tend to prefer the dramatic affect over your typical L.A. pool.

A pair of durable Iroko wood boxes hinged to the fair-faced concrete foundation also set the George Michael Residence apart from the mainstream.

FAR OUT HOMES GLOBAL + DESIGN + INNOVATION

⁄⁄ h ⁄⁄

RIGHT The open plan kitchen and dining area are minimal at the request of the client. It's the materials that stand out, the glass, wood and concrete.

“I’m obsessed with these things,” Vardas chuckles. “You can do whatever you want inside this environment.”

He outfitted the upper floor bedroom suites with walk-in closets and fully glassed bathrooms peering out towards either the Mediterranean Sea, the Troodos Mountains and environ plantation.

Materials like glass, white paint, and smooth Bangkirai wood for the deck were mindfully drafted in to offset the protective character of the concrete wall, floors, and ceilings.

On the ground floor, a glass corridor running along the back end of the pool to a library offers a place to work and a quiet retreat from the main living space. The builtin birch wood bookshelf was patterned in such a way to reflect the overarching jigsaw theme of the architects’ design.

The client, an accountant by trade, was so impressed by the final project that he made Vardas and his studio official guests – they have a key to the house and are welcome to use the pool whenever they want. h

DESIGNER PROFILE

CHAT + STYLE + GURU

REGENERATION : ABOVE THE BANK INTERIORS AL BLACK DESIGNS BATHROOMS THAT UPHOLD THE PRINCIPLES OF

elegance, TASTE & FUNCTION.

athrooms are places of mystery; they embody our primeval connection with water as well as our desire for privacy and reflection. Today, more than ever, bathrooms are being created as havens for such regeneration, utilizing materials like wood and marble that connect us to nature, says award-winning Edmonton interior designer Al Black of Above the Bank Interiors.

Thirty years ago, when Black first began his career, most homes were a modest 1,800 square feet.

Now, says Black, homes range from 5,000 to 20,000 square feet — a vast canvas for creative collaboration between homeowner and designer. Houses now have several bathrooms, the most important one being the en suite, which can stretch up to 600 square feet. One new trend is the water closet, a small, narrow room containing just a toilet. Hearkening to a bygone era when toilets first migrated indoors from the outdoor biffy, many homes now feature His and Hers water closets, Black says.

words roberta staley

+ photos cindy gannon

Good bones are the foundation of any great room and in bathrooms this means using marble, travertine or porcelain tile — usually from Italy and preferably lighter hued — for the floors and walls. “They are always timeless,” says Black, who stays away from trends like coloured tile — preferring bold paint and wall coverings. “If you use marble or travertine on the floor, then you can do anything on the walls and make it look really nice.”

Black just designed a French country estate house in Edmonton where the owners chose fawn-coloured travertine tile for the floor and hand-painted tile on the en suite walls. The room also features an elegant stand-alone tub with metal claw feet. A broad strip of mosaic tile in a floral carpet pattern is the pièce de résistance of this remarkable space, which also features glass-front custom-made cabinetry and marble countertops.

IF YOU USE MARBLE OR TRAVERTINE ON THE FLOOR, THEN YOU CAN DO ANYTHING ON THE WALLS AND MAKE IT LOOK REALLY NICE.

ABOVE This custom bathroom features pale marble countertops and travertine tile, complemented by dark-stained hardwood cabinetry

DESIGNER PROFILE

CHAT + STYLE + GURU

BLACK SAYS THE WOW FACTOR OF STAND ALONE TUBS IS BOOSTED WITH THE BRIGHTLY HUED SIDE TABLES FOR HOLDING CANDLES & A GLASS OF WINE

Black says that the “wow factor” of stand-alone tubs is boosted with brightly hued side tables for holding candles and a glass of wine. The addition of settees or big round ottomans, in addition to heated floors and towel racks are added luxuries.

Faucets, cabinet handles and towel bars come in a variety of finishes, with brushed brass emerging as this year’s la tendance parfaite, says Black, who scours North America and Europe to find the perfect home accoutrements for clients.

Another popular trend is the addition of a rustic focal point such as a sliding barn door to replace bathroom, den, office or closet doors. Beautifully weathered, these doors can be sourced from barns or old wood piles found in a local farmyard. Wood is increasingly popular not just for doors but entire walls, and can be used for the feature wall behind a bathroom vanity, Black says. Alternatively, wood can be replicated with tiles enriched with wood grain designs, he adds.

Other house bathrooms like the main floor powder room and downstairs rec room require different styling. The guests’ powder room should be dressed to impress, with “funky” faucets and lighting, candles, luxurious towels and a vessel sink for the vanity, says Black. Wallpaper has evolved and can be reminiscent of art, adding drama to this small but important room. And, when it’s time for a refresh, a change of wallpaper can often do the trick. Sometimes it just takes a new coat of paint to energize a room, and Black suggests considering this year’s Pantone coral red, also known as ‘marsala’.

The rec room, where the guys congregate to play video games or pool and watch hockey, features a more masculine bathroom, complete with a urinal. But masculine doesn’t mean boring. Downstairs bathrooms should also showcase beautiful tile and tasteful wallpaper, Black says. “I always want elegant and tasteful, but very functional.” h

LEFT stand alone soaker tub is the focal point of this luxury custom bathroom. ABOVE Al Black’s design features a dramatic blue creating a playful, yet elegant bathroom.

ARCHITECT PROFILE

CONCEPT + CUSTOMIZATION + CONSTRUCT

ERNST VON MEIJENFELDT FROM AMSTERDAM TO EDMONTON

p

with love

erhaps a telltale sign you are commissioning a great architect presents itself where he chooses to set up shop. For Ernst von Meijenfeldt, you’ll find him working under the vaulted roof of a repurposed historic building – the former St. Stephens Church.

“People have prayed here for nearly 100 years, so there’s a lot of good energy. It’s a very inspiring space,” Ernst says of his head office located in Edmonton’s Little Italy.

This convivial Dutch architect earned his stripes designing a repertoire of überefficient homes in Europe, but in 2003, he ventured across the Atlantic to settle down in Alberta.

“It’s a long story… Let’s just say I followed my heart,” he says.

The body of his work is largely influenced by Bauhaus style and the masters of modern architecture like SwissFrench Le Corbusier and German-American Mies van de Rohe. His ‘Caouette Residence’ for example, set on a generous lot on the North Saskatchewan River Valley, points towards a decidedly cubic and modernistic direction. »

words nora o'malley

+ photos merle prosofsky

⁄⁄ + ⁄⁄

ARCHITECT PROFILE

CONCEPT + CUSTOMIZATION + CONSTRUCT

“It’s almost the most Dutch residence I’ve designed here because it’s so cubic,” says Ernst. “But size-wise, it would never happen in the Netherlands unless you have multi-multi-multi millions of dollars,” he adds, pointing out the dramatic difference between the price of a square foot for property in Europe compared to Alberta.

Ernst, who won Holland’s Young Architect of the Year Award soon after graduating from the University of Delft in the late eighties, prides himself on being able to continually design houses that capitalize on space and natural light.

His ‘Shah Residence’ or the Urban Tree House as it was nicknamed, was constructed on a densely forested lot along the Mill Creek Ravine and presented a unique challenge for the architect to design a home that would overcome the darkness brought on by all the surrounding trees.

“The shape of the roof is so that is draws in the southern light deeply into the house. It’s a very light house because of that,” he describes.

And while Ernst is hesitant to call the beautiful Tree House a favourite: “I give a lot of heart to all my work, so I really can’t say…It’s like asking, do you have a favourite child?”

He does note, however, that the process of working with his clients is just as important as the final product itself.

“Most of our clients become our friends, which speaks a little about our approach,” Ernst says.

His firm, E3 Architecture Inc., a partnership between himself and American-Canadian Eugene Silva, is able to tackle a wide range of commercial and residential jobs thanks to the exceptionally complementary working-relationship between its founding partners.

While Ernst is at the front-end doing the design, Eugene is on the inside managing all the technical details and production issues. The pair officially joined forces in 2010 after collaborating on ‘The Enjoy Centre’, a magnanimous 220,000 square foot multi-use lifestyle facility and epicurean market located in St. Albert.

ABOVE Shah Residence at Mill Creek Ravine has tree views from every room.

⁄⁄ + ⁄⁄

I GIVE A LOT OF HEART TO ALL OF MY WORK, SO I REALLY CAN’T SAY...IT’S LIKE ASKING, DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE CHILD?

ABOVE Caouette Residence, Quesnell Heights.

ARCHITECT PROFILE

ABOVE Rear view of Caouette Residence, featuring two decks and a garden plot with expansive views.

CONCEPT + CUSTOMIZATION + CONSTRUCT

⁄⁄ h ⁄⁄ Nowadays, 53-year-old Ernst finds a steady flow of work, from large commercial projects to small interiors, streaming through his studio. The versatility of scale keeps his mind fresh, and Edmonton’s growing awareness for modern design means new clients often call in requesting their dream home be drawn by a reputable European hand. h

CELEBRITY PROFILE

SCOOP + STYLE + SPEAK

MARCO POLO ACTRESS Olivia Cheng AT HER ‘ home AWAY FROM HOME’

w

earing only a diaphanous silk robe, her provocative

Cheng, 35, wielding only a fork to eat a salad at interior design

foreplay is conveyed through a mesmerizing

award-winning Homer St. Café and Bar, one of her favourite

metaphorical dance; a spider spinning her web.

downtown Vancouver eateries, is articulate and spontaneous,

Her prey–three leering soldiers, sent by her corrupt brother

skills garnered, no doubt from conducting interviews herself

Chancellor Jia Sidao to attack her, are hypnotized by her

as a correspondent for Entertainment Tonight Canada.

sexual innuendo. And that’s when Mei Lin, prized Imperial

Now that the proverbial shoe is on the other foot, she

concubine, drops her robe and strikes. Throwing a large dagger

expounds on the grueling training at Pinewood Malaysia

disguised as a hairpin into the throat of one, she cartwheels

Studios, where the 13th-century Chinese court of Kublai Kahn

into martial-arts mode, a whirling Dervish, spearing the

was re-created with lavish and authentic detail.

second soldier, then, brandishing his sword, beheads the third.

“Believe me, no amount of jogging along the seawall could

“That’s what I love about playing Mei Lin,” laughs down-

prepare me for the intensity of our training!” she jokes. “We

to-earth Vancouver actress, Olivia Cheng, one of the stars of

were all individually trained for two months by amazing

Netflix’s $90 million dollar epic TV series, Marco Polo. The

stunt teams because all of us had to learn different fighting

series, written by John Fusco and produced by The Weinstein

styles. On one hand it was like going to a really cool summer

Company, was recently renewed for a second season.

camp in an outdoor dojo because they had to acclimatize us to

“She’s such a great character. She’s so fierce, so smart and

the incredible heat. Everything from strength conditioning,

tenacious and has so much inner strength. Her love for her

wushu marshal arts, high-wire work, sword training, practiced

daughter drives everything. That’s what drew me to the role in

with wood sticks, tai chi, and then stunt choreography. And

the first place,” Cheng confides.

I’m really proud to say that I did all my own stunts! It was just crazy.” »

⁄⁄ + ⁄⁄

words laura goldstein

+ photos tracey ayton

CELEBRITY PROFILE

SCOOP + STYLE + SPEAK

HER PARENTS ENCOURAGED HER TO PURSUE COMMERCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA BUT SHE WASN’T HAPPY THERE AND SWITCHED TO NAIT’S RADIO AND TELEVISION ARTS.

ABOVE Olivia Cheng at the Homer St. Café and Bar, one of her favourite Vancouver eateries.

⁄⁄ + ⁄⁄

Born in Edmonton to Cantonese-speaking immigrants,

Marco Polo is set in 13th-century China in the court

Cheng’s natural spunk, curiosity and determination

of the Song Dynasty’s Kublai Kahn. Cheng’s character

found a perfect outlet in acting classes and gymnastics,

Mei Lin is forced into spying as a double agent by her

and later in commercials. Her parents encouraged her

conniving brother, who holds Mei Lin’s young daughter

to pursue commerce at the University of Alberta but

hostage. A much deadlier precursor of the 19th

she wasn’t happy there and switched to NAIT’s Radio

century’s Mata Hari, Cheng’s character was actually

and Television Arts.

based on a real but unheralded concubine who helped

After graduating, she went on to a successful media

her ruthless brother rise to power.

career as a videographer then reporter at Global TV

“I did a lot of research–I read about the history

Lethbridge. “I was even considering becoming a war

and the conflict between the dynasties and watched

correspondent,” she admits. That’s when serendipity

documentaries, read about the sex trade and I learned

turned the tide and she was asked to open-audition for

so much about my own culture,” Cheng said. “I certainly

an AMC mini-series, starring and executive produced

knew about the concubine in Chinese history- both

by veteran actor Robert Duvall. Five young Chinese

celebrated like rock stars and reviled at the time. But

actresses were cast. Out of 100 auditioning, Duvall cast

to read about thousands of Chinese women who were

her in Broken Trail and it went on to win four Primetime

shuffled into this systemized institution of prostitution

Emmy Awards. That really ignited the acting bug for

and were traded like chattel, used like bargaining chips

Cheng and she moved to Vancouver, playing roles in

in wars, was an eye-opener.” h

USA’s Psych, Fox’s Fringe, CTV’s Flashpoint, The CW’s Arrow and Supernatural and CBC’s Arctic Air.

GETTING PERSONAL with OLIVIA CHENG

,,

⁄⁄ h ⁄⁄

AS A CHILD, YOU WANTED TO BE A MARVEL COMICS SUPER HERO. DOES THE CHARACTER OF MEI LIN SEEMS TO GET PRETTY CLOSE TO THAT WISH? Oh that’s so funny! Yes I loved the strength and magical powers of all those super heroes who were mostly guys. As Mei Lin, I got to fly around using high wires for some of my martial arts scenes so that was pretty close. Actually, for one really big scene when I confront the Imperial Family, I swung my sword and shattered a camera by mistake. It will end up in the ‘blooper’ reel!

THERE WAS A LOT OF CONTROVERSY OVER THE AMOUNT OF NUDITY IN THE SERIES. HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THAT, ESPECIALLY IN YOUR PIVITOL FIGHT SCENE? Before I said yes to the role, I had a conversation with creator John Fusco that I didn’t want to be exploited the way Mei Lin was as a character. Artistically and from reading about the period extensively, I understood that the nudity was to show the dehumanizing situations Mei Lin had to overcome. I was nervous at first but after a while the nudity became a sort of costume in itself.

WHAT DOES NETFLIX’S MARCO POLO EPIC MEAN TO YOU? The show really pushes boundaries because Hollywood has opened up the genre for English-speaking Asian actors to really dig their teeth into roles that are authentic and complex.

,,

“Homes & Living is one of the most successful magazine launches we’ve seen in the past decade.”

COAST TO COAST NEWSSTAND SERVICES, APRIL 2013

VANCOUVER

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the

KITCHEN & BATH issue

SEE THE

beauty OF GREAT DESIGN

We have the best selection of the finest designs, with six issues a year in four markets—Vancouver, Calgary, Vancouver Island and now Edmonton!

Subscribe to newsstands’ #1 home & design magazine, visit HLMAGAZINE.COM. HLMAGAZINE.COM | 1.800.MYHLMAG (694.5624) | Keep up with us! @MYHLMAG

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may 2015

HOMES & LIVING feature home

42

words janice strong

DOING THEIR OWN THING DESIGN INNOVATIONS IS BUSY SETTING TRENDS FOR HOME BUYERS IN EDMONTON

+ photos design innovations

“we don’t like to follow trends, we kind of like to do our own thing, and we like to create trends,” says Sean Burry, owner of Edmonton’s Design Innovations.

“We do what we like as designers and a lot of times people follow suit and it ends up becoming a trend.”

Like the company’s unusual outside family room concept, so often copied, it has almost become a standard in the city’s higher-end homes. The latest version from Design Innovations can be seen in their recently sold show home in Pinnacle Ridge Estates.

The three-season room boasts porcelain tile flooring, an eye-catching wood ceiling, stone gas fireplace with a fan to heat the air, a 40-inch television and real, not just ‘patio’, furniture. »

HOMES & LIVING feature home

ABOVE Dining area showcasing glassed river-facing walls.

⁄⁄ + ⁄⁄ LEFT A sleek, metal-runged staircase leads up to the entertainment loft BELOW This spacious kitchen is highlighted by a massive, marble-topped island.

“I think the first time we did that was about seven or eight years ago and people would go ‘What? I’ve never seen that before.’ Now it’s become a trend [and] lots of different builders are doing them,” Burry says.

Another trendsetter is sure to be the garage. “We kind of went over the top in the garage,” says Burry.

The 1,600-square-foot – yes 1,600 – oversized garage features multi-coloured Poly Aspartic garage flooring with a tile pattern, checker-plated foundations, beautiful wood cabinetry, a sound system, 60-inch television, heated floor, separate bathroom and even a doggy wash with a hand-held shower, for four-legged family members, or cleaning your boots, or….

In fact, Burry says it was the garage that “put it over the top” for the buyers – at least with him.

For whoever the family cook is, the kitchen is a just as enticing. The larger than average room is highlighted by a massive 12-foot by 52-inch island with prep sink and includes cabinets with decorative glass fronts that refract light; granite countertops; double-bowl under mounted sinks; huge gas range and oven; wall-mounted oven, microwave and warming drawer; 48-inch fridge; and a 40inch television.

“The greatroom/kitchen/eating area is probably my favourite part of the house,” says Burry. “I like the way the rooms interact with each other. It’s great for entertaining and visiting because it has a nice, warm feel to it.”

The en suite master bathroom also has a warm feel, with brown leathered granite counters, glass tile accents; doorless glass-paneled shower with rain shower head and separate slide bar shower; solar tube sky light into the shower; Ultra bath 40-jet air tub with heated back rest; double sinks; and make-up vanity.

HOMES & LIVING feature home

PROJECT ⁄ ⁄ PINNACLE RIDGE ESTATES LOCATION ⁄ ⁄ EDMONTON PROJECT STATUS ⁄ ⁄ COMPLETE BUILT BY ⁄ ⁄ DESIGN INNOVATIONS

⁄⁄ h ⁄⁄

ABOVE The dark cabinetry of the entertainment centre and dark leather furniture complement the pale stone fireplace and accent wall.

All told, the walkout bungalow runs to 5,487 square feet, including a 600-square-foot loft that has a 106-inch high definition projection home theatre, fully finished 2,380 square-foot basement with two bedrooms and two bathrooms and 2,507 square feet on the main floor with a master bedroom, two baths, an en suite and a powder room.

The house-wide features include automation of the sprinkler system, six zones of lighting, the SONOS sound system, the thermostat, and the Steamist steam bath shower that comes with built-in Bluetooth sound system.

The Hunter Douglas window coverings throughout the house can also be automated to open and close at different times as well as adjust the tilt of the blinds themselves.

Other notable technologies include a high-definition home theatre system in the family room; built-in Boston Acoustics wall and ceiling speakers, throughout the house; network wiring in all bedrooms, the study, loft and media centres including video, telephone and internet; and a monitored security system.

Burry says that his favourite architectural features are all the rooms across the back of the house. They are skewed to a 45-degree angle, which allows for almost double the window space of a standard room, and 180-degree views from the hillside lot.

“We’ve been building high-end homes for 25 years,” says Burry. “We built this one to showcase our talents and abilities. I think it is a very practical house to live in on a day-to-day basis because of how it flows.”

And the buyers must agree – they bought the house and all the furnishings, right down to the plants. h

the KITCHEN & BATH issue

48

REINVENTING WALLS AN UNEXPECTED

dash

OF SPLASH FOR ANY ROOM

Wallpaper has made a huge comeback in interior design trends. Long gone is the stuff from the era of paste-a-wall and hang. These new papers are water-activated, eco-friendly, and easy to install. For a bold statement try a design in a small-scale space like the powder room, or an accent wall in the kitchen.

These papers are safe to use all over the home and for added durability, you can even clear coat them. The powder room is the perfect place to experiment with big and bold style like these designs from Canadian wallpaper design company The Red Palette. Wow guests with arresting wallpaper that speaks volumes. The Red Palette designs each pattern and will collaborate to create custom wallpaper designs.

Trending colour for the powder room? Deep Purple Dahlias.

words markella mildenberger

+ photos the red palette

WALL flowers

1. SAPPHIRE MAGNOLIAS 2. RAW PINK FLOWERS 3. ELECTRIC BLUE HUMMINGBIRDS

the KITCHEN & BATH issue

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE ENSUITE TRENDS & IDEAS TO GIVE YOUR

w

hen I’m doing a space for clients, the powder rooms and en-suites are where they end up spending the money,” says Sandee Mann of CANTU Bathrooms & Hardware.

Especially the powder rooms, he notes, because that is where the guests will go. Pedestal stone sinks, no storage and decorative splashes of colour are de rigeur for the showcase spa.

And what is trending these days, whether it’s a powder room or full bathroom?

Wall mounted taps and toilets were first on Mann’s list. They are aesthetically pleasing, and create more visual space in a small room, he says. Plus, wall mounted toilets add up to nine inches to the floor space, while wall mounted faucets are cleaner and allow more space on the counter.

Speaking of faucets, chrome is the Number 1 finish among Mann’s clients. He is also seeing brushed nickel, which offers a more traditional look, an increase in polished nickel with its gold tones, matte black for a more masculine look and unlacquered brass in a throwback to the 1980s. Gold has been ‘in’ for a couple of years, he says, and he has seen a “little bit” of white. »

+ words janice strong

powder room A POP

A sweet ENSUITE

Left: Custom tile mosaic of Napoleon’s head from Homes & Living Calgary’s feature Home, built

by Rusch projects, designed by Shugarman Architecture.

51

the KITCHEN & BATH issue

RIGHT The narrow natural stone tiles of this feature wall are contrasted by a large 600x300 floor tile.

The roll top bath, from William Holland has a tin interior. These are the most comfortable brass or copper baths and only weigh about 45 kg, the average cast iron equivalent weighs around 160 kg. The chair, from Graham & Greene, is upholstered in a dramatic suzani fabric, creating a bright pop of colour for visual interest.

A sweet ENSUITE

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BOOK YOUR STAY TODAY. When it comes to tubs, sometimes it is essential to have a tub in the space, but not neccesarrily to use the tub in the space.

“When I ask my clients, probably 90 per cent never really use the tub,” he notes. Coloured tubs, like the blue or lime green ones seen in Fifty Shades of Grey are very on-point at the moment. CANTU has a red one in the showroom, says Mann, which would be a nice accent, or jewelry piece.

And what if you do want to take a bath? Air jetted tubs as opposed to whirlpool (think Jacuzzi) tubs are a great way to go. Because there is a vacuum underneath, they are a more sanitary tub, and great for occasional bathers. As for the tub itself, minerals mixed with resin are the material of choice. They are used in tubs that offer sleek lines and have the added advantage of keeping the water at temperature, and help create a spa atmosphere at home.

As for showers, a rain-head with a hand-shower is just about the only way to go. And those that want to up the stakes usually add a third element like a steam shower, body jets or a waterfall spout that create a massage function.

And finally, what colours are most popular?

Mann’s clientele are opting for the West coast, very clean and muted, choosing to let the “jewelry” pieces, like a sink, faucet or tub take centre stage.

“We’re not getting really dark because I think we’re already kind of gloomy [on the West Coast] with the rainy period,” he says. “We brighten up the bathroom and make it more spa-like.” h

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the KITCHEN & BATH issue

a sleek, bright white stand-

chic opulence

The designer wanted to create a strong statement in this bathroom whilst bringing a timeless opulence to the vast space. The key feature is the marble, hand-picked cuts of stunning Calacatta marble and crafted by British artisans, who book-matched the marble to perfection.

alone soaker tub creates the ultimate ergonomic effect while bathing, and makes for a beautiful colour contrast against the muted tones of the marble, making this the focal point in this bathroom.

the glassed-in water closet,

while not exactly providing privacy, adds a distinctive element of class while complementing the modern Calacatta marble tile.

chic opulence

the BATHROOM DESIGN SECTION

a plush purple tufted round

ottoman is surely fit for royalty.

Ottomans add an extra layer of opulence while serving both as a seat and providing extra space to stash lovely-scented bath oils and rich, luxurious body creams.

the KITCHEN & BATH issue

this magnificent,

elegant farmhouse A freestanding zinc bath on slate tiling has been installed directly in front of the window overlooking the courtyard of the this master room ensuite. A log-burning stove has been installed within the original fireplace; and the white-panelled custom-built wardrobes on either side of the fireplace create enough storage space

free-standing zinc soaker tub is the focal point of this master ensuite, and combines classic comfort with modern faucet design. The soft, brushed metal reflects the trend towards lighter spa colours this season.

a bright red velvet chair and

an end table serve up a blend of function and funky fashion. Accent furniture placed strategically in a room makes for an eclectic mix.

elegant farmhouse

the BATHROOM DESIGN SECTION

the old world charm of this rustic,

wood-burning stove nestled within the brick accent fireplace wall is juxtaposed against the bright white cabinetry and trim for a stunning effect.

the KITCHEN & BATH issue

LOOK WHAT I FOUND! a collection of treasures for your bathroom

1.

2.

1. METALLIC & MARBLE

2. SET IN STONE

This familiar Waterworks washstand has been enhanced with the stunning and practical addition of a luxurious marble shelf. The tubular legs and bars are joined with spherical joints, reminiscent of early, iconic French plumbing design.

The sculpted, honed Carrara marble Art Deco washstand is imposing and decadent, weighing close to 600 lbs. It is reminiscent of the luxurious marble fixtures found in the iconic European hotels of the 30s and 40s. A uniquely bold and intriguing statement.

Waterworks, available at Empire Kitchen & Bath empirekitchenandbath.com

Waterworks, available at Empire Kitchen & Bath empirekitchenandbath.com

look what I FOUND!

3.

4.

5.

3., 4. & 5. PER SE BASIN FAUCET & GOLD FLAKE & CRYSTAL KNOB Modern shapes and soft edges invite the touch of a hand.

Per Se marries hand-selected natural materials with jewel-like finishes to create exquisite works of art.

Kallista, available at the Ensuite Bath & Kitchen and Cantu Bathrooms & Hardware. cantubathrooms.com | emcobc.ca

Featuring MODLOFT Visit our store and website for our exclusive selections.

CHRISTOPHER CLAYTON FURNITURE & DESIGN HOUSE 10363-170 St. Edmonton, AB | P. 780.488.7001 | christopherclaytonfurniture.com

the KITCHEN & BATH issue

60

COMPACT kitchen

COMPACT KITCHEN: BIG LUXURY IN A SMALL PACKAGE SIZE ISN’T EVERYTHING WHEN IT COMES TO

stylish KITCHENS

they say

good things come in small packages and ‘small’ is definitely one of the trends in kitchens this year. Whether you have a condo or a full-size home, people are moving toward compact appliances, says Mark Eglinton, President of Euro-line Appliances West.

“Space and living arrangements are at an all-time premium,” he says. “It’s never been more expensive to live.”

Speaking of condo owners, he notes that installing fullsize appliances can cost “tens of thousands of dollars of living space.” The solution? Appliances in the 60-centimetre range, stacked in what he calls a “lifestyle, or luxury” tower. On the bottom a warming drawer, with a steam oven on top; above that comes a coffee maker, and the tower is topped with wine storage.

Euro-line has also partnered with a couple of European suppliers to create its unique “Kompakt Kitchen”, a full and complete kitchen that fits in a six-foot wide by seven-foot tall space. The entire installment comes in a pre-assembled flat pack and runs around $11,000. »

LEFT A modern kitchen with an abstract feature wall brings fun to an otherwise simple colour palette. Clean lines and modern fixtures mixed with mid-century furniture add character and charm to this space.

+ words janice strong

the KITCHEN & BATH issue

⁄⁄ h ⁄⁄

ON A GRANDER SCALE, THERE IS A GROWING TREND FOR THE TWO-KITCHEN HOME...

DOING THE MAJORITY OF THE COOKING IN THE SMALLER "SPICE" KITCHEN

ABOVE A small space can still be big on style as shown here. “Kompact” appliances save space, and add modern style to this sleek but cozy kitchen.

The kit comes with all necessary hardware, accessories, appliances, stone and cabinets including a five-inch deep Franke sink and an 18-inch deep compact dishwasher that mounts under it. There is also a Liebherr mini fridge, speed oven with micro wave and dry heat functions; a two-burner induction cooktop; integrated hood; and a storage drawer that pulls out to function as a table.

Not just for condos, these kits have been embraced by laneway home and in-home suite owners, and by the yachting community.

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the KITCHEN & BATH issue

70

cabinet ACCESSORIES

WHAT’S IN YOUR CABINET?

MAKING kitchens + bathrooms WORK SMARTER

abinets – they aren’t just for dishes and towels anymore. In kitchens, bathrooms and beyond, creating custom cabinets can clear counter space and spice up any room with a splash of colour and a dash of design.

In the kitchen, virtually any pantry item can be stored in a stylish cabinet if shelf space has become an issue.

In the bathroom, the seemingly endless array of beauty supplies for her or shaving/grooming supplies for him cluttering up space can be whisked into a wallmounted cabinet that can be easily installed.

LEFT This island certainly stands alone with these stunning aluminum glass doors.

This collection of decorative doors are available in different finishes and profiles.

What’s on the market?

‘Fresh and relaxed with a touch of glam’ is what’s trending this season at Kitchen Craft Cabinetry.

Custom cabinets can be built right into kitchen islands to create more work space for food preparation, and aesthetically-pleasing aluminum glass doors displaying crock pots and ceramic cookware add a cozy feel to any kitchen. Decorative doors are also available in inserts for a bolder statement.

Quality Cabinets Manufacturing Inc. features a range of wood veneers, available in a variety of wood species, maple, oak, and cherry to exotics like Paduk, Achi, and Opepe.

Redl Kitchen Studio specializes in custom cabinets for both kitchens and baths, and their designs range from classic to contemporary, available in finishes that suit nearly any taste.

The next time you’re thinking of adding furniture to a room or dreaming of ways to clear away clutter-consider the highly versatile and space-creating cabinet. h

the KITCHEN & BATH issue

the KITCHEN DESIGN SECTION

what’s COOKIN’ IN THE KITCHEN the best IN KITCHEN TRENDS

67

the KITCHEN & BATH issue an almost industrial-style

range hood floats above the cooktop unobtrusively defining the cooking space, while maintaining sightlines to the gorgeous views.

zen modern

A sleek blend of textures, colours and straight lines offers a calming, contemplative, space to sip your morning coffee and commune with the expansive views outside.

zen modern

the KITCHEN DESIGN SECTION

A mixture of heights

and finishes work in harmony on storage spaces that accommodate everything from cooking utensils to cleaning supplies.

A smooth blend

of dark and light wood finishes on the countertops creates a rich blend of textures while delineating eating and working areas.

Muted colours

complement nature’s work just outside the windows and shiny surfaces bounce natural light around, creating an almost meditative space.

the KITCHEN & BATH issue dark colours & a

vending-machine-like vibe draw the eye to the wine storage unit, and interior lighting and wooden shelves invite sampling.

cozy eclectic Combine industrial with contemporary, throw in a bit of seemingly do-it-yourself and a couple of found treasures, mix well and you’ve got a magically personal space that boasts form, function and pure style.

cozy eclectic

the KITCHEN DESIGN SECTION

true personal style

encompasses all things that represent the designer; art, plants – even a ceramic dog doorstop – are what make this one-of-a-kind mélange work.

the restoration/hardware

combo is the very latest in trends these days, creating a quirky touch to contrast with the industrial symmetry of the refrigerator.

recycling takes another turn

with the re-purposed wood caddy, cleverly combining functionality (it’s on wheels) with rustic charm.

the KITCHEN & BATH issue

clean contemporary Clean lines, warm tones and metallic accents come together to make a simple, yet sophisticated cooking, eating and entertaining room that is as inviting as it is elegant. Large floor to ceiling windows perfectly frame the surrounding natural canvas.

pronounced vertical lines, a reflective finish and understated handles create a backdrop that accommodates a good deal of storage while the light emanating from the layered shelf softens the look.

these inviting chairs eschew the

rigid dining table designs of the past; diners are cradled with comfort and the warm slate colour is the perfect complement to the cool white table.

clean contemporary

No. 1 on Newsstands the KITCHEN DESIGN SECTION

VANCOUVER

april

⁄⁄

may 2015

the

KITCHEN & BATH issue

enclosed oven serves as the focal centre piece of this cabinet wall, which provides functional space, with a perfect view of outdoor foliage.

VANCOUVER

+

VANCOUVER ISLAND

+

CALGARY

+

EDMONTON

Subscribe today to the most popular Home & Lifestyle magazine on newsstands.

visit HLmagazine.com

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EXPRESSIONS

EXCEPTIONAL + ARTIST + CREATIVE

GIVING FASHION A PURPOSE: obakki's AMBASSADOR TREANA PEAKE

waths of narrow jagged charcoal mountains bisect parched golden sand. A vibrant orange sunset melts into an indigo blue and mauve sky like a watercolour painting gone awry; grey vein-like tributaries branch endlessly into rust-dotted cattle herds.

This is the landscape of Namibia, visible from a small plane as photographed by Canadian philanthropist and clothing designer Treana Peake. It’s also part of her newest collection, Scarves For Water.

Digitally printing the textures captured in those photographs, Peake designed three exquisite modele scarves launched recently

by Anthropologie and sold in their stores and online across North America.

“The scarves are named after three villages in the Namib Desert for which we have already drilled to provide wells for clean, fresh, water," Explains Peake, the founder and creative director of the edgy, luxury women’s brand, Obakki.

During a tour of her new Gastown, Vancouver studio/factory in the midst of shipping the 2015 Spring/Summer Collection, it’s evident where her raison d’être lies: unlike most brands that endorse a charity to be socially conscious, the philanthropic Obakki Foundation actually drives Peak’s fashion collections. »

words laura goldstein

+ photos brian ceci and obakki foundation

⁄⁄ + ⁄⁄

EXPRESSIONS

EXCEPTIONAL + ARTIST + CREATIVE

WE’VE DRILLED OR REHABILITATED 700 WELLS AND BUILT 12 SCHOOLS IN TWO COUNTRIES WE TRAIN AND EMPOWER THE LOCALS WITH JOBS. IT’S THE WAY I GIVE FASHION A PURPOSE

⁄⁄ + ⁄⁄

ABOVE & LEFT Foundation founder and designer, Treana Peake has travelled to South Sudan and Cameroon 40 times with her small team to oversee drilling or rehabilitating 700 wells and building 12 schools.

The team trains and empowers the local people with jobs to provide fresh, clean water for their communities.

“Design is storytelling,” says Peake, “and I need to wrap myself around them by experiencing them first-hand.” For Peake as a child and later, for her own children, the old adage that ‘charity begins at home’ could not be more meaningful.

Those “stories” began when Peake was growing up poor in the small town of Hanna, Alberta and an anonymous donor would leave envelopes containing cheques and food baskets at her family’s door.

“To this day, I still don’t know who that was,” she admits.

That act of kindness left an indelible mark on Peake, years before she gave any thought to a career in the fashion industry. By 18 she began working with Military Officer Ed Smith, collecting clothes, books and toys then travelling to Romanian orphanages still devastated years later by Nicolae Ceausescu’s regime.

Peake is completely self-taught, and entered the fashion business by launching her first Collection in 2005 as a means to fund her humanitarian work. Married to her childhood

sweetheart, Nickelback guitarist, Ryan Peake and with two children, aged eight and 10, giving back is a family affair: they spent last Christmas at an orphanage in Cameroon.

In 2009, with $500,000 in seed money from Nickelback to create the charitable Obakki Foundation, Peake chose to focus on South Sudan, the poorest country in the world with tribal wars constantly fought over water and access to wells.

Travelling with a small passionate female team from Vancouver and always with a United Nations representative, it’s an incredibly risky adventure, as many villages are in conflict zones.

EXPRESSIONS

EXCEPTIONAL + ARTIST + CREATIVE

⁄⁄ h ⁄⁄

SCARVES FOR WATER ⁄ ⁄ OBAKKI FOUNDATION TREANA PEAKE DESIGNED THREE STUNNING SCARVES FOR SPRING 2015 BASED UPON DIGITAL IMAGES SHE SHOT FROM A SMALL PLANE FLYING OVER NAMIBIA, AFRICA. HER SCARVES FOR WATER ARE CARRIED EXCLUSIVELY BY ANTHROPOLOGIE STORES ACROSS NORTH AMERICA. 100% OF NET PROCEEDS GO DIRECTLY TO THE OBAKKI FOUNDATION TO BUILD WELLS IN SOUTH SUDAN AND CAMEROON.

“I try not to think about the danger and don’t tell my husband what I really see,” Peake confides down-playing the threat of being caught in any crossfire there.

“We’ve drilled or rehabilitated 700 wells and built 12 schools in two countries and just as important, we train and empower the local people with jobs,” explains Peake. “I’ve been to Sudan and now Cameroon 30 or 40 times and I can’t tell you how gratifying it is to see that people have access to fresh, clean water that we take so much for granted in the West. “It’s the way I give fashion a purpose, ” she says with a smile.

Every collection designed by Peake has pieces that are influenced by the colours and rugged textures of Sudan and Cameroon. “The Dinka people are really the last of the nomadic tribes and the largest in South Sudan,” says Peake.

“For the 2015 Spring/Summer Collection I was inspired by the naturally loose draped frayed sack cloth they wear; the way the women paint their arms in bright orange-red dyes; the striped sand dunes and even their textured mud dung huts.” Several of Peake’s photographs have also been digitally transferred onto T-shirts for Spring.

Obakki’s celebrity clientele includes Kate Hudson, Gwyneth Paltrow and Olivia Cheng, but to the humble Peake, who feels uncomfortable partying in the glam Hollywood scene: “This isn’t a fad or trend for me – 100 per cent of net profits go directly to the registered charity. But if stars grab the public’s attention by wearing Obakki and that generates great word-ofmouth, just think of all those wells and schools the Obakki Foundation can build.” h

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RELAX + REJUVENATE + REFRESH

A HOME away FROM HOME

TIPS FOR RENTING A VACATION VILLA

t

here is nothing quite like a vacation in a ‘home away from home’.

Not only do vacation villas provide amenities that you wouldn’t normally find at hotels like full kitchens and washers and dryers, they can be an excellent way to get the luxury of extra space and complete privacy.

Renting the right house or villa from a website can be risky.

‘Who’s seen them? Who’s actually been there?’ are important questions to ask before committing. So, whether you are renting a house in Maui or a luxury villa in Tuscany, there are few things to keep in mind you so can rest assured that you’ve chosen the right accommodation and will have a great experience. »

words claire newell

+ photos czp chalet zermatt peak ag

⁄⁄ + ⁄⁄

ABOVE The Zermatt Peak chalet masterbedroom and ensuite, where vacation rentals start at $5,000 per night.

TRAVEL

RELAX + REJUVENATE + REFRESH

claire’s LUXURY RENTAL RECOMMENDATIONS MAHATMA HOUSE SESEH, BALI $795 - $1,360 / night THE SPA HOUSE HOUT BAY, CAPE TOWN $1,300 - $1,950 / night SUNDOWN ON DISCOVERY BAY DISCOVERY BAY, JAMAICA $1,500 - $4,571 / night BEAUVALLON HEIGHTS ST-TROPEZ AREA, FRENCH RIVIERA $1,721 - $2,796 / night CHALET ZERMATT PEAK ZERMATT, SWITZERLAND $5,049 - $13,705 / night

luxury retreats

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ABOVE & LEFT The Spa House in Cape Town is an award-winning, 3-bedroom rental in secluded Hout Bay.

BOOK EARLY. If the destination is popular and you would like to travel during peak times, get started as soon as possible. As with most things, the best rentals tend to go first. So the sooner you can get started, the better options you’re likely to have.

BE AWARE OF MINIMUM-STAY REQUIREMENTS. For example, some renters require a typical four-to-seven-night minimum stay during peak dates. This is standard practice in popular beach and ski destinations.

BEWARE OF ANY LISTING THAT DOESN’T HAVE REVIEWS. Ask for references if reviews aren’t available and before leaving for your trip, get the name of a local contact or property manager to help you if any problems arise.

GET RENTAL RULES IN WRITING. By asking for all rules in advance, including check-in/out times, and cancellations, you can help avoid any last-minute surprises.

PAY ONLINE BY CREDIT CARD OR VIA SECURE SERVICES LIKE PAYPAL. It’s the safest option to protect your travel investment. If an owner requires you to send cash or use a wire transfer service, consider it a red flag and move on to another rental.

VISIT A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT WEBSITES. Some good sites to use for vacation rentals are HomeAway.com, FlipKey.com, and VRBO.com (Vacation Rental By Owner). I suggest that you read reviews for a single property on at least two different sites to get a clearer picture of what to expect. For higher end properties I recommend LuxuryRetreats.com which has a dedicated concierge team who will help personalize your villa rental experience – from chefs, massage therapists or yoga instructors to private wine tours or a world-renowned celebrity chef for a special event. Guests are only limited by their imaginations! h

COMING SOON! the new HLMAGAZINE.COM

This Spring, the NEW hlmagazine.com goes live. Come see the forest through the trees.

Showcasing Feature Home Slideshows, Web Exclusives, Tips for Home Building and Re-Using.

Using our Pro-Search, find the best local professionals for your project and download brochures from your favourite companies & brands!

the FAST & LUXURIOUS AUTO TRENDS AND TEST DRIVES

YOUR CHARIOT AWAITS

A

THE CRÈME DE LA CRÈME OF THE WORLD’S FINE AUTOMOBILES

s the frenzy of the winter auto show season winds down, it becomes a little easier to look back and contemplate which vehicles really stood out from the crowd. With Los Angeles, Detroit, Chicago, Montreal and Toronto behind us, buyers can wait expectantly until their particular favourite shows up at the dealership.

Of course, not all cars that glitter on the show displays actually end up making it to production, and others are still a year or two off. Even so, there’s lots to look forward to and with auto manufacturers reporting record sales just about everywhere, we can only assume that there’s even more excitement down the road. Competitive pressures dictate that prices for these new models are often hard to get as automakers wait until the last moment before announcing them.

words tony whitney

As far as the “green” segment goes, things seem to have quieted down, though there are some interesting products on the way and some of them are, surprisingly, in the high-performance market. In fact, the idea of a high-performance GT car with an electric motor or three to boost torque levels is very appealing indeed.

That’s exactly the route Acura has taken for its longawaited NSX replacement. Even the most well-heeled of drivers seems happy with enhanced fuel economy, even if gas is a little less expensive right now.

One of the most intriguing trends is the flurry of super-luxury SUVs under development. Bentley, Jaguar, Maserati and even stately Rolls-Royce are said to have models on the way to finally challenge the well-earned supremacy of the Range Rover. It’ll be an interesting market battle to observe, even if you’re not in the hunt for a premium off-roader. h

the FAST & LUXURIOUS

1

3

2

1 2016 ACURA NSX

2 2016

FORD GT

3 2016 BMW 6 SERIES

The NSX that reigned from 1989 until 2005 was always much admired and for several years, rumours about a replacement have been circulating. Now at last, it’s on the way and even more spectacular than ever.

As with the original car, bodywork is of aluminum but this time, more use has been made of lightweight composites. Power is supplied by a twin-turbo V-6 which employs three electric motors to create what Acura calls a “sport hybrid system.”

The 550-horsepower engine delivers power to all four wheels via a nine-speed transmission. The car was designed and engineered by a global team in the U.S., where it will be built. The slinky mid-engined NSX should be available by year’s end, but no price has been announced.

Ford’s last GT was modeled closely on the legendary GT40 race cars that dominated Le Mans in the 1960s. This latest GT, though, is taking a confident run at the serious supercar market. Like rivals from Ferrari, McLaren and Lamborghini, the GT uses mostly carbon fibre for its bodywork and the styling is nothing short of sensational. The doors swing upwards like some of its competitors and the interior is both contemporary and practical with digital electronic instrumentation, not unlike that of a current jet fighter. The mid-engined GT uses a 600-horsepower 3.5-litre V-6 EcoBoost and the power is kept under control by huge carbon ceramic brakes. This is the most exciting Ford for many years and will be sure to attract lots of showroom visitors– something every dealer is happy to have. The GT will be built at a new plant in Markham, Ontario, so this most welcome supercar has a little Canadian DNA in its makeup.

Top of the coupe/cabriolet line for BMW are the 6 Series models–sleek, elegant, highperformance automobiles that come in many versions. The recently shown 2016 range includes a two-door coupe and a two-door convertible, plus expected “M” super high performance variants. Also due to arrive is a four-door Grand Coupe, which should be a worthy contender for rivals like the Porsche Panamera and Mercedes CLS Class, not to mention Audi’s A7. Buyers can choose from three engines–a 315-horsepower inline six, a 445-horsepower V-8 and a 560-horsepower M V-8. All have BMW’s TwinPower turbo configurations. These new 6 Series BMWs are the latest in a long line of coupes that go back decades now. They have always been among the ultimate grand touring cars, capable of gobbling up considerable distances while maintaining the ultimate in comfort for occupants.

Price tag: Pricing to be announced.

Price tag: Pricing to be announced.

Price tag: Prices start at around $90,000.

the FAST & LUXURIOUS 5

4

4 ALPHA

ROMEO 4C

6

5 MERCEDES AMC C 63

ROYCE PHANTOM 6 ROLLS BESPOKE COLLECTION

After decades of absence, famed Italian automaker Alfa Romeo is re-entering the Canadian market to the delight of many fans of the historic nameplate. Although many classic Alfas linger on in the hands of enthusiasts, we haven’t seen a new model here since the 1980s. That’s all changing now thanks to the big merger between Chrysler and Fiat to create what’s now called FCA, or Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.

The 4C is a highly attractive and desirable sports coupe or convertible powered by a four-cylinder 1750 cc turbocharged engine developing a solid 237-horsepower. With its lightweight bodywork, power levels should provide a spiriting driving experience and Alfa Romeo is famed for agile, predictable handling. The nose is replete with the almost legendary Alfa Romeo grille that’s been around for many decades. Welcome back Alfa!

One of the most muscular sedans on the Canadian market, the 2015 Mercedes-AMG C 63 is described by its manufacturer as “a powerful high-performance athlete” and that about sums it up. Under the hood is a handassembled 4.0-litre biturbo V-8 developing a hefty 503-horsepower in optional S guise.

The car tops 100 km/h in just four seconds and top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h. Despite this impressive level of power, the C 63 is remarkably fuel-efficient with a combined rating of just 8.2-litres/100 km combined. Add to this track-developed handling and agility and you have a serious sports car in tastefully understated sedan bodywork. Sporty it may be, but the C 63 offers exceptionally high levels of comfort for day-long drives and Mercedes’ widely respected standard of quality is all part of the package.

You’ll have to go to Dubai to find one exactly like this, but the Rolls-Royce Maharaja Phantom Drophead Coupe is a fine example of what the respected British automaker can do for you if you decide to make a choice from the company’s Bespoke Collection. Cars in this range are built individually or in small numbers and are very special, even by Rolls-Royce standards. The Phantom is the company’s largest model and the Drophead the most exclusive. These cars combine silky V-12 power with unexcelled occupant comfort and though they are unarguably big, they handle surprisingly well, even on winding mountain roads.

The level of quality in the materials used for this opulent motorcar is astonishing and the Phantom is understandably expensive, especially so in Bespoke guise.

Price tag: Prices start at around $62,000.

Price tag: $76,600

Price tag: Prices not announced.

EPICURE CREATE + INDULGE + SAVOUR

LIVING THE DREAM

c

GOING EVEN FURTHER WEST TO

lotusland

hef Geoff Rogers’s career skyrocketed after he had a run on the third season of Top Chef Canada. The Calgary contender proved his chops

after training at some of his native city’s top spots – the Red Door Bistro, River Café, and Home Tasting Room among them. He went on to open his own restaurant, Market, which flourished.

The affable culinary maven could have kept riding that wave of spectacular success. But he’s not one to rest on his laurels. So, in the spring of 2013 he packed his bags and headed west.

“I felt I had accomplished everything I wanted to in Calgary,” Rogers says.

“Top Chef Canada had come out and Market was booming, but I was kind of getting lost in all the publicity. It was necessary for me to take a step back to take a giant step forward and find myself. Sometimes you just have to do these things as frightening as they may be,” he adds. “Even if there’s no safety net, you just have to do it.”

“I always wanted to live on the west coast. It’s called Lotusland for a reason. It’s so beautiful.”

After taking on the role of Chef de Cuisine at Vancouver’s Fable Restaurant – headed by another Top Chef Canada competitor, the talented Trevor Bird – Rogers joined Blacktail Restaurant and Lounge in the summer of 2014.

Situated in the heart of historic Gastown and featuring a warm, woodlandinspired design, Blacktail, which is open for lunch and dinner, puts the focus squarely on the best of B.C. As Executive Chef, Rogers has already made his mark; response has been overwhelmingly positive, with praise for his deft, innovative handling of local products, such as albacore tuna and Cache Creek natural beef.

“Our approach is to take the best ingredients we can get our hands on and apply techniques to enhance them,” says Rogers, pointing to his unique use of sous vide to prepare freshly shucked oysters. “We’ll use modernist techniques to enhance what we have without adulterating the flavours in any way.”

And yet some things are done the old-fashioned way; duck breast, for instance, is always cooked in a cast-iron pan from start to finish.

While his kitchen skills are unmistakable, there’s something simpler at the heart of his cooking.

“A friend of mine, who’s a home cook, summed it up best: cooking is caring,” Rogers says. “That’s exactly it. I use what I know how to do to make other people enjoy themselves. That’s pretty cool.” h

words gail johnson

+ photos jennifer grant

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tuna crudo 60 g

30 g

Albacore tuna loin, thinly sliced, seasoned with salt and pepper Pork belly, cubed bacon, or chicharron (Can be purchased at any reputable butcher or high end grocery store)

80 g 30 g 30 g 1 125 ml 65 ml

Tonnato sauce Tuna Capers Gherkins Hard boiled egg Grapeseed oil White wine vinegar

GARNISH Radishes Micro greens Salt and pepper

TO MAKE TONNATO SAUCE: [1] Cook the tuna in the oven till well done.

[2] In a food processor blend all ingredients except oil.

[3] Once smooth, drizzle the oil in while machine is running.

TO PLATE: [1] Swipe 15 ml of tonnato on plate.

[2] Place the seasoned tuna loin on the edge of your tonnato.

[3] Place the bacon or chicharron on top.

Garnish with thinly sliced radish, micro greens and a touch of ground pepper. enjoy!

COMMUNITY CHARACTER HISTORY + AUTHENTICITY + PRESERVATION

words miranda post

+ photos kurt bauschardt

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CELEBRATING THE CITY’S ICONIC LANDMARKS DOWNTOWN EDMONTON’S ROYAL DESTINATION: 100 WITH THE FAIRMONT HOTEL MACDONALD

ovelist Joan Didion once said, “Of course great hotels have always been social ideas, flawless mirrors to the particular societies they service.”

High on the north bank of the North Saskatchewan River, on the eastern lip of downtown Edmonton, The Fairmont Hotel Macdonald is a reflection of the time it was built: a grand hotel built to house railway men and royalty alike in an expanding capital city.

Its history and aesthetic reflect the boom/bust economy of Edmonton over the last century.

On May 15, 1915, the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway Hotel swung open its doors at the tail end of both an economic and population boom. From 1906 to 1915, the population of Edmonton nearly quadrupled–growing from 14,088 residents to 59,339. The city was at the heart of three new railroads: the Calgary and Edmonton Railroad, the Canadian Northern Railway and the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway.

According to former City of Edmonton Historian Laureate Shirley Lowe, “three major railways were bringing people and goods into the city at a great rate. Hotels were doing booming business.”

But, what set The Grand Trunk Pacific Railway Hotel was it’s construction. “[Many] hotels were built quickly to meet the demand.

Local materials were used, mostly brick and wood. The Mac was a significantly larger structure that sat majestically on the top of the riverbank. It was built in the style of the major railway hotels in Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto,” said Lowe.

Built in a 16th-century French Chateau style with turrets, a copper roof and a facade cut from Indiana limestone, it cost about $2.2 million to build and furnish what was then called the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway Hotel (about $35 million today). According to Lowe, that’s the same cost it took to construct the Alberta legislature buildings.

years

Another distinguishing feature of the Hotel MacDonald, which it was later christened after Canadian Prime Minister Sir John A. MacDonald, is its history of hosting royal guests.

“A hotel of this calibre allowed the city to host royalty in style,” said Lowe.

Prince Edward stayed there on one of his Canadian tours.

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth or ‘Queen Mum’ visited in 1939, with Queen Elizabeth staying 20 years later in 1959.

In 1999, the Fairmont Hotels group purchased the property. A number of elite suites were added on the top floor of the hotel, including the stunning 2,400-square-foot Queen Elizabeth II suite that has hosted Queen Elizabeth II during Alberta’s Royal Jubilee in 2005. Since then, the hotel has hosted dignitaries, rock’n’rollers and A-list celebrities alike including the Agha Khan, Oprah, the Rolling Stones, Celine Dion and former U.S. President Bill Clinton.

Today, the hotel still hosts as grand a party and serves as great a meal as it did over the past century. Its Sunday brunch is one of the best in the city, complete with fresh seafood, dessert table and plentiful mimosas. During summer months, the 16,000-square-foot Rudbeckia, Mandevilla and Cana Lilies filled garden and patio is one of the most popular spots because of its stunning views of the river valley.

“To this day, I look for the Macdonald Hotel in the sea of generic glass towers to ensure myself that I am looking at Edmonton’s downtown,” said Lowe.

Over the next few months, Fairmont Hotel Macdonald is organizing a number of special events and packages to celebrate its 100th anniversary. h

AROUND TOWN

EMILY MURPHY PARK

words danielle metcalfe-chenail

+ photos cezary kucharski

EMILY MURPHY PARK

AN inviting PARK GUARDED BY A FEARLESS FEMINIST

A

t the entrance to Emily Murphy Park, you will find a statue of its namesake keeping guard, wearing her signature outfit and, of course, her hat.

It is situated on the south bank of the North Saskatchewan River, and seems bigger than its 11 hectares with all the pathways connected to Kinsmen and William Hawrelak Parks.

In the winter, Edmontonians can be found tobogganing here, and during the summer months, they book picnic sites to gather with friends and family while the kids enjoy the playground. Many people have it as a backdrop in their special occasion photos, but just as many pass the statue without a second glance.

Emily Ferguson was born in 1868 to a prominent legal family in Ontario. She quickly became a selftaught expert on the law before marrying Arthur Murphy at 19 years old.

They moved to Edmonton in 1907, and increasingly, Murphy’s writing and public speaking tackled women and children’s rights. Like many suffragettes, she believed the way to improve society was to obtain the vote for women, and was active in the Federated Women’s Institute and Equal Franchise League.

In 1911, she successfully lobbied for the passing of the Dower Act, which protected a wife’s right to a onethird share of her husband’s property, and a few years later was appointed the first woman police magistrate in the British Empire.

She served for 17 years in Alberta’s courts, but it was the part she played as one of the Famous Five (along with Nellie McClung, Louise McKinney, Henrietta Edwards, and Irene Parlby) that earned her national recognition. Throughout the 1920s, the Five battled to have women declared legal ‘persons’ in Canada.

When they lost their case at the Supreme Court, they went to Great Britain - and won.

History has not celebrated all sides of Emily Murphy, however. Like many reformers of her day, she supported sterilizing women with “undesirable characteristics” and supported the 1928 provincial legislation to create a Eugenics Board. She also published the best-selling book, The Black Candle, decrying marijuana and immigrants under her pen name, Janey Canuck in 1922, and shortly after, Canada became one of the first countries to outlaw cannabis.

She was a complicated lady and definitely of her time, but next time you pass her park statue, maybe tip your own hat to the lady who helped make half the population ‘persons’. h

LOOK WHAT I FOUND! A Collection of Treasures For Your Home

1.

3.

2.

1. CLEAN CONTEMPORARY SOFA Clean, classic, chic and comfortable, this couch can blend seamlessly into virtually any home's enivironment.

Available at Roche Bobois

roche-bobois.com

2. MOD LAMP

3. BOULEVARD COCKTAIL TABLE

This unique, multi-faceted table lamp is sure to make a statement. A blend of comtemporary and classic design marries bulb and oval shapes. It is available in select colour schemes.

The Boulevard cocktail table combines three swivel top circles to create this unique piece. Crafted from exotic Mozambique and primavera veneers and accented by a touch of brushed brass.

Available at McElheran’s Fine Furniture

Available at Christopher Clayton Furniture & Design House

christopherclaytonfurniture.com

mcelherans.com

SOURCE INDEX

A handy GUIDE TO ALL THE PRODUCTS SEEN IN THE PHOTOS ON THE PAGES H&L MAGAZINE

EDITOR’S MESSAGE Page 8 Photography by Alex Waber, alexwaber.com hair and makeup by Carolyn Leanne Secord, on location at Trump International Hotel & Tower Vancouver FAR OUT HOMES: THE GEORGE MICHAEL RESIDENCE Pages 18-25 Architecture by Andreas Vardas, varastudio.com Photography by supplied by Creative Photo Room DESIGNER PROFILE: AL BLACK Pages 26-29 Photography by Cindy Gannon, cindygannon.com ARCHITECT PROFILE: ERNST VON MEIJENFELDT Pages 30-35 Photography provided by E3 Architecture, Merle Prosofsky, prosofsky.com and Marina Michaelides..

CELEBRITY PROFILE: OLIVIA CHENG Pages 36-40 Photography by Tracey Ayton, traceyaytonphotography.com FEATURE HOME: DOING THEIR OWN THING Pages 42-47 Photography byDesign Innovations, designinnovations.com. All suppliers are listed to the best of our knowledge as provided by Design Innovations: appliances by Coast Wholesale Appliances, coastappliances.com; ceramic/porcelain tile by Ames Tile & Stone amestile.com; stone by Blanchette Slate blanchetteslate.com; granite by Universal Stone universalstoneinc.ca; carpets by Ashley Fine Floors, ashleyfinefloors.com; cabinets by Kitchen Craft Edmonton kitchencraftedmonton.com; finishing by Glenora Lumber & BuildingSupplies, glenoralumber. ca; plumbing fixtures and light fixtures by Robinson Lighting & Bath Centre, robinsonlightingandbath.com; lighting fixtures by Park Lighting parklighting.ca; stair railings by Specialized Stair & Rail specializedstairs.ca.

KITCHEN & BATH SECTION Pages 48-73 Photography provided by The Red Palette, theredpalette.com, Euroline, euro-line-appliances. com, Cantu Bathrooms, cantubathrooms.com, Bradlee Distributors, bradlee.net, Kitchen Craft, kitchencraft. com, Ann Sacks, annsacks.com and LightForm, lightform.ca, Oliver Burns, oliverburns.com, photographer, Simon Upton. Anne Webster Design, annewebsterdesigns.com, photographer Paul RyanGoff. paulryan-goff.com. Stephen Fletcher Architects, stephen-fletcher.co.uk.

EXPRESSIONS: TREANA PEAKE Pages 74-78 Photography by Brian Ceci, brianceci.com and the Obakki Foundation, obakkifoundation.org.

ESCAPE: A HOME AWAY FROM HOME Pages 80-83 Photography provided by Chalet Zermatt Peak, chaletzermattpeak.com and Spa House Cape Town, luxuryretreats.com.

FAST & LUXURIOUS: YOUR CHARIOT AWAITS Pages 85-87 Photography supplied by Acura, BMW, Mercedes, Ford, Cadillac, Alpha Romeo and Rolls Royce.

EPICURE: BLACKTAIL CHEF GEOFF ROGERS Pages 88-89 Photography by Jennifer Grant.

COMMUNITY CHARACTERS Pages 90-93 Photography provided by Rick Horne via Flickr.

LOOKING forward

TO OUR june ⁄⁄ july ARCHITECTURE issue

Coming soon is Homes & Living's annual Architecture Issue, showcasing residential and cultural spaces designed by top architects in Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary and Edmonton! A special supplement puts the focus on the best builders in the business.

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FIND HOMES & LIVING AT THESE MAJOR NEWSSTANDS: Major airports, BC Ferries, Home Depot, Lowes, Chapters/Indigo Book Stores, Thrifty Foods, Save-On-Foods, Shoppers Drug Mart, London Drugs, Overwaitea Food Group, Loblaws Companies, Fairway Markets, Safeway, Quality Foods, 7-Eleven, Pharmasave, and more.

F O O D

I S

A R T. R E S P E C T

I T.

Superior food preservation.

Professional cooking performance.

Craftsmanship and technology without equal.

subzero-wolf.com