Lifestyle Magazine November/December 2018

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018

HOME RENOS

INTERIORS

NEW HOMES

BEAUTY

FASHION

FOOD

TRAVEL

HEALTH

AUTO

SHOPPING

PURE JOY

PUT ON THOSE DANCING SHOES

DOWNTOWN DENIZEN FANSHAWE COLLEGE IN THE CORE

FESTIVE FUN

SHOP IN GRAND BEND, PORT STANLEY AND STRATFORD

all that glitters IN HOLIDAY FASHION

www.lifestylemagazineonline.com

Visit our showroom today

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contents N OV EM B ER | D EC EM B ER 201 8

Let us inspire you!

HOMESTYLE

10

17

Mad for metal

34

Winning big

39

Rental rehab

50

Coming up ACEs

Fill your home with shiny things

Dream Lottery homes

Complete overhaul saves family home

LHBA awards its best

BESTLIFE

39

10

At the core

44

Ecstatic expression

Fanshawe College feeds

Dance for joy

YOURSTYLE

23

Have yourself A shiny, sparkly holiday

TRAVELSTYLE

49

30

30

Go wild

49

Floral fun

In Costa Rica

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32 33 47 38 53 54

in Stratford in Port Stanley in Grand Bend

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Lifestyle 5

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON SHOP

This Holiday Season avoid long lines and crowded parking lots by doing your shopping in the idyllic towns and villages of Elgin County.

Shopping locally will save you time and give you the opportunity to purchase original, hand-crafted products while supporting small business.

Deck the halls with a ceramic art sculpture or stained glass window or choose an expertly framed piece of art from one of Elgin’s many galleries and studios.

The main streets of Elgin County’s towns and villages are the perfect places to pick up gifts that are truly one-of-a-kind and are sure to please everyone on your list.

A culinary gift is a perfect choice for that hard to buy for person. Help the chef in your life spice up their cooking with locally grown herbs or delicious jams, jellies and salad dressings.

Explore quaint boutiques for trendy clothing and jewellery pieces, select fine local wines, pick up handcrafted home décor pieces, fresh flowers, natural skin care products, hand-made pottery, homemade fudge, sweet local honey, artisan candles and more!

For those that prefer to be catered to, try a gift certificate to one of Elgin’s quality restaurants or bakeries that offer

Check out our website for unique Elgin County shopping ideas.

1-877-GO-ELGIN x168 www.elgintourist.com/shopping

everything from delightfully sweet treats to hearty country fare to fine dining opportunities – all using local ingredients.

A round of golf at one of Elgin’s many courses or tickets to a live theatre performance are always appreciated gifts.

Shop Elgin this holiday season and wow everyone on your list.

LIFESTYLE PUBLISHER Lana L. Breier EDITOR Jill Ellis-Worthington WRITERS Ellen Ashton-Haiste Clare Dear Jill Ellis-Worthington Mary Jansenberger Kathy Mueller Wayne Newton Kathy Rumleski Heather Toskan ACCOUNT MANAGERS Annette Gent 519-200-0283 annettegent537@gmail.com Lorraine Lukings 519-520-7676 lorrainelukings@hotmail.com Jan McGrath 519-243-2932 jm@lambtonshores.com Elaine Norris 519-702-5583 lifestyleelaine@hotmail.com Wilma Van Vaerenbergh 519-476-5571 lifestylewilma@gmail.com EDITORIAL & AD DESIGN Wendy Reid AD DESIGN Nancy Greenfield Bill McGrath PRODUCTION Nancy Greenfield PHOTOGRAPHY Richard Bain PRINTING Sportswood Printing WEB ARCHITECTURE Redding Design Inc. www.reddingdesigns.com

Lifestyle is published six times a year by 2251632 Ontario Inc. c.o.b. Lifestyle Magazine 108 Tuyll Street, Bayfield N0M 1G0 519-873-0989 lifestylemagazinepublishing@gmail.com Copies are distributed to selected homes, magazine stands and local businesses in London and area.

Canada Post Agreement #41277015 No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. The publisher accepts no responsibility for unsolicited material.

All rights reserved. Printed in Canada.

November/December 2018

Lifestyle 7

EDITOR’S

We’ll make your next home as original as you are Why settle for a run-of-the-mill custom home when you can have an entirely original one? With a planning process that starts with nothing more than your dreams and a blank sheet of paper, you can be sure your Riverstone Original Home will be every bit as unique and remarkable as you are.

We’ve been building original homes for well over 20 years now, and each one has been entirely different than the one before it.

And that’s exactly how it should be.

www.riverstoneoriginalhomes.com 519 . 666 . 3537 Mike Loyens • Travis Loyens

Photo credit: Richard Bain

BUILDING ORIGINAL HOMES FOR ORIGINAL PEOPLE

note

“Dance, when you’re broken open. Dance, if you’ve torn the bandage off.

Dance in the middle of the fighting. Dance in your blood.

Dance when you’re perfectly free.” - RUMI

D

ance has seemingly always been a part of my life. My parents enrolled me in lessons at the age of three because I was a freakishly tall child, and they feared that this would lead to being ungainly and clumsy. Well the height thing levelled off in my early teens but the thirst for dance never did.

While some people are reluctant to dance in public – witness those being pulled to the floor in front of the band at weddings and Bar Mitzvahs – I always think that they secretly must love to cut a rug when they are alone in the kitchen and a great song comes on the radio.

Our need to move to a beat is undeniable; people have been doing it as long as we’ve inhabited this planet – swirling and stomping around a ceremonial fire. No matter the continent, culture or country, archeologists have uncovered cave paintings of people dancing.

Dance is a human method for celebrating – the famous touchdown dances of the NFL; sorrowing – the book of Jeremiah in the Bible; courting – can anyone forget high school prom; milestones – a special dance for wedding and anniversary couples.

It’s wonderful to watch - after all Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did backwards and wearing a dress - but it’s even better to actually do.

The combination of jamming tunes playing loudly and a wide open space to

move in is one of my absolutely favourite things in the world as my dance habit has followed me into adulthood. I urge you to try it: put on the music and just dance, dance, dance – as Justin Timberlake dictates in one of his recent hits.

Dance is my preferred way to dispel stress; it’s a wonderful release. It’s also great exercise, cardio to a beat, and it’s a form of creative expression when we just let ourselves go and move as the music dictates. It’s a cathartic and clarifying activity, melding mind, body and spirit.

Whether you’re a bigger person or very slender, whether you’ll never see 40 again or haven’t quite made your second decade, whether you’re a toned athlete or just getting into a fitness routine – dance is for you. Just forget all inhibitions and move to the music – that’s dance.

If you’re already in love with dancing – to popular music – or doing a tap dance or jiving with your favourite partner – that’s wonderful. But if you’re a reluctant twinkle toes, I hope you change your mind after reading my story on page 44.

Whether you take formal lessons or just put on some tunes and shuffle across the kitchen floor, let the joy of dance transform your body, your mind and your spirit, especially at this frenetic time of year.

The Lifestyle team wishes you a joyful holiday season!

Jill Ellis-Worthington lifestyle.editor@writedoton.com

8 Lifestyle November/December 2018

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November/December 2018

Lifestyle 

bestlife

A DELICIOUS TWIST

By Jill Ellis-Worthington

THERE’S A NEW KID ON THE BLOCK IN THE DOWNTOWN DINING DISTRICT 10 Lifestyle November/December 2018

T

he term Chef’s Table traditionally means a table set aside in a high-end restaurant kitchen for the chef’s special guests to taste new and extraordinary dishes that he/she has created, often especially for this table. At Fanshawe College’s new downtown campus which houses the School of Information Technology and the School of Tourism, Hospitality and Culinary Arts, The Chef’s Table is a restaurant where students in the

The college, the city of London and Downtown London/ Mainstreet London have invested $66.2 million over the past three years reshaping one of the core`s oldest residents – Kingsmill`s Department Store.

More than one thousand Fanshawe College students have been hitting the downtown streets since the opening of the school’s latest iteration on Dundas Street in September.

The Chef’s Table features a café open from 7:30 a.m. to serve espresso, croissants and other breakfast and lunch goodies. The main restaurant will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Monday to Friday, serving lunch and dinner. According to James Smith, chair of the School of Tourism, Hospitality and Culinary Arts, students will be cooking and serving meals made from fresh, locally-sourced ingredients but with a decidedly international flavour flare, learning “all aspects of running a modern restaurant.”

tourism and culinary arts will be able to develop their skills in the kitchen and front of house. It replaces the respected Saffron’s that was the restaurant where students used to practise skills on Fanshawe College’s main campus on Oxford Street.

The college, the city of London and Downtown London/Mainstreet London have invested $66.2 million over the past three years reshaping one of the core`s oldest residents – Kingsmill`s Department Store – into a sleek, modern, high-tech learning hub. It`s 114,000 square feet of fully wired, completely equipped space, serving 1,600 students.

According to the college`s president, Peter Devlin, “I’m excited to see this building come to life and for Fanshawe students to have access to collaborative spaces, cutting edge technology and modern facilities.”

Those who frequented the store wouldn`t recognize it anymore, but there are nods to the past. A glass gallery encloses part of the pneumatic tube system used to send documents between departments during its retail iteration. The always popular staff-operated old-fashioned

elevator serves as the change room in the school store just inside the Carling Street entrance. A mural on the freight elevator door, starring long-time employee Wilf Hornick, and the original safe are housed in the basement.

But it’s some of the design touches that make this building stand out: the two-storey green wall in the Dundas Street entrance way, the open theatre area and the many collaborative learning areas in hallways and alcoves on all six floors of the building.

This is one of three Fanshawe facilities that bring students downtown. Across the street is the School of Digital and Performing Arts with more than 600 students; the Access Studies department on Richmond Street (in the Shoppers Drug Mart building) offers academic upgrading, literacy skills and community employment services and sees 500 students annually.

Culinary arts students will be using the Spriet Family Culinary Centre on the third floor with five kitchens: three savoury kitchens, a bake lab and a pastry lab. The Spriets 

November/December 2018

Lifestyle 11

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recipes SWEET POTATO FRITTER WITH CRANBERRY ORANGE CHUTNEY AND HONEY WHIPPED CHEVRE

CRANBERRY AND ORANGE CHUTNEY

SWEET POTATO FRITTER

INGREDIENTS

(yield, 12 fritters)

INGREDIENTS 250 g Sweet potato, roasted and peeled 1 tbs Thyme leaves, chopped 1 tsp Rosemary leaves, chopped 2 Green onions, sliced 1 Egg 1 ⁄4 tsp Nutmeg 1 ⁄4 tsp Cinnamon 1 tsp Salt 120 g Flour 2 tsp Baking powder METHOD 1. In a large mixing bowl, mash the sweet potato into a paste. Add the herbs, green onion, egg, spices and salt. Mix well.

2. Sift the flour and baking powder and incorporate into the sweet potato mixture.

3. With two spoons carefully drop 1 tbs of batter into a deep fryer.

Fry @ 350˚, rotating part way through cooking, cooking about three minutes on each side.

(yield 750 ml)

20 g Butter 100 g Onion, minced 1 clove Garlic, minced 2 tbs Ginger, grated Zest of 2 oranges 125 ml Orange juice 100 ml Cider vinegar 200 g Brown sugar 1 tbs Thyme leaves, chopped 100 g Orange segments, cut in half 450 g Cranberries, frozen 1 Cinnamon stick 1 ⁄8 Cloves, ground 1 ⁄2 tsp Kosher salt

RECIPES BY KYLE FEE An Ottawa Valley native, Kyle Fee is the dinner chef for The Chef’s Table at Fanshawe College.

Kyle loves the constant evolution in the hospitality industry and the never-ending cycle of learning and growth. He enjoys helping students and believes preparing something special for others is humbling and honest.

Kyle is an award-winning graduate from the Culinary Management program at Fleming College.

HONEY WHIPPED CHEVRE

METHOD

(yield 250 ml)

1. Heat butter in a medium sized pot, and sweat the onion, garlic and ginger until the onion begins looking slightly translucent.

INGREDIENTS

2. Add the remaining ingredients to the pot and simmer on medium low heat until most of the liquid has evaporated, leaving a syrupy consistency.

225 g Chevre, preferably C'est Bon 75 g Honey 1 ⁄8 tsp Cinnamon, ground METHOD 1. Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and whip with a whisk until light and airy. 

November/December 2018

Lifestyle 13

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A DELICIOUS TWIST ~ Continued from page 11

THE TREND IN APPLIANCE CLEANING

Holiday Arts Market SATURDAY NOVEMBER 10, 2018 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Pop up booth style market with over 20 crea�ve vendors

-Cash only event

Starting in January, Londoners will be able to take advantage of the state-of-the-art kitchens and labs by taking cooking, baking and mixology classes as part of Fanshawe College’s Continuing Education programs. Smith says that the college is ”pleased to be able to share these beautiful facilities” and recommends watching the college’s website for exact information about classes.

donated $500,000 to make this happen.

On the fourth floor, students will learn the proper construction of cocktails in the 24-station mixology lab.

Outside this space is a licensed patio.

In the second floor's lecture theatre-style demonstration kitchen, culinary students learn theory and receive their cooking instructions before heading into the kitchens.

The School of Tourism, Hospitality and Culinary Arts will be offering continuing education classes to Londoners who want to learn cooking, baking, mixology and the like in January. Check out their website for exact classes and times.

The Chef’s Table is open to the public Monday to Friday for lunch and dinner – from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

From the perspective of someone who’s been watching the project’s progress, Fred Kingsmill – the fourth generation to head the venerable department store that resided on Dundas Street for nearly a century and a half – he said he couldn’t be more pleased.

“I’ve gone through twice and saw every room. I can’t imagine any flaws at all. The staff and students are going to be very happy. The architects, Ellis-Don and all involved have excelled themselves," he says. n

● FOR MORE INFORMATION THE CHEF’S TABLE, FANSHAWE COLLEGE 130 Dundas Street www.fanshawec.ca (search The Chef's Table)

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Lifestyle 15

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November/December 2018

Lifestyle 17

Dance • Gymnastics • Figure Skating

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18 Lifestyle November/December 2018

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November/December 2018

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22 Lifestyle November/December 2018

yourstyle

E

nd your year on a gold streak or start the new one revved up in sequins.

To celebrate the holiday

season designers are offering glittery, glamourous options.

Bows, sequins and other embellishments take traditional looks up a notch and making them more feminine and stylish. Classic tuxedo pants or A-line dresses are being elevated to statement-piece status.

The use of contrasting colours – like black and white, black and silver or navy and gold – is hitting its stride this year.

So, embrace your colourful, playful side because trends are moving away from the monochromatic look, especially head-to-toe black.

Don’t be afraid to stand out this holiday party season and show your flashy side. 

glamour glitter AND

By Mary Jansenberger

Mix and match textures with this faux-leather textured bodice paired with a faux-fur trimmed cape. Add iridescent footwear and you’ll be on trend with this look from designer Joseph Ribkoff, available at Life Styles Women’s Wear.

INSET Create metal mayhem at the company party.

The sequined top from Derek Lamm, paired with Jennifer Behr earrings, is a show-stopper. Items available at Hangar9.

glitter

The past season’s romance with pink and blush tones continues in this rose suit and printed blouse by Dorothee Schumacher. Be smooth as satin in a blazer

by Marie Saint Pierre but warm as toast cuddled into the burgundy turtleneck by Wolford. The versatile pants are from Derek Lam. Booties

by Stuart Weitzman. Both handbags by Manurina.

Items available at Hangar9.

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24 Lifestyle November/December 2018

LEFT From designer Ellie Wilde and available at Juniper Dress Boutique, this playful organza dress’s A-line silhouette is trendy yet timeless.

ABOVE Do you dare? This festive duo of dresses – available at Juniper Dress Boutique – feature jewel necklines and sheer lace boned midriffs. The skirts are metallic embroidered lace over a sequin jersey slim skirt. 

GLAMOUR AND GLITTTER ~ Continued from page 24

glamour

Perfect for the feasting season, this forgiving Joseph Ribkoff dress provides camouflage for the waist area and is available at Life Styles Women's Wear.

Be red-carpet ready in a crimson evening dress from Terani Couture. It is a double-faced duchess satin ball gown with a three-dimensional embroidery top accented with matching crystals.

This stunner is available at Juniper Dress Boutique. 

From the Frank Lyman Collection and available at Life Styles Women’s Wear, this navy dress features split sleeves that add flare to your festive style.

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Lifestyle 25

GLAMOUR AND GLITTTER ~ Continued from page 25

428 Richmond Street, London, ON 519-601-9099 www.richmonddiamonds.ca richmonddiamonds@rogers.com

Holiday wear isn’t restricted to dresses. Designer Joseph Ribkoff brings the classic black pantsuit to a new level. The pants are modernized by double white lines on the outer seam, while the tie-sleeves of the tuxedo jacket make it feminine and playful.

Ramp it up with a bold statement necklace or broach. Available at Life Styles Women’s Wear. 

615 Richmond St., London 519.663-1143 2 Lifestyle November/December 2018

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MAGAZINE

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M Y T O P D R AW E R . C O M

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Lifestyle 27

GLAMOUR AND GLITTTER ~ Continued from page 26

Look good. Do good.

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WAREHOUSE 74 NOW OPEN IN LONDON If you thrill for the frills, this off-white blouse with a black contrast ruffle back could be your holiday party choice when paired with pants slit from hem to knee.

Designed by Joseph Ribkoff and available at Life Styles Women’s Wear. n

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Continental Hair offers a supportive approach

M

artin Luther once said that hair is a woman’s richest ornament. However, for some women it’s a source of anxiety and stress due to conditions beyond their control. About 30 per cent of females deal with thinning hair because of a medical condition or genetics and it can be traumatic.

“When you have hair loss, you are thinking about it from the moment you wake up. It can control your life,” says Candace Hamilton, manager of Continental Hair in Sarnia.

The wig and partial hair piece company was founded in Toronto and the Sarnia division opened more than a year ago and attracts clients from across Southwestern Ontario. “We are here to support a woman, whatever her journey has been.

Continental Hair is a safe, private and supportive environment for a woman to explore options in wigs or a partial hair piece called a postiche, which is a custom-made, daily-wear hair replacement product for those with thinning hair. It adds up to 20 per cent more volume and is worked in with a client’s natural hair, Hamilton explains.

Made from virgin European human hair it can be coloured, highlighted and styled. “It is so seamless and it’s lightweight. It just snaps in and off you go for the day,” she says.

Hamilton was a client who saw the difference Continental’s products made in women’s lives.

She lost much of her hair after a diagnosis of hypothyroidism, an endocrine system disorder.

Hamilton feels she has a kinship with her clients. “I can relate to these women because I had a journey of frustration and financial devastation trying to find a product that looked natural and was comfortable,” she says. “After I got

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Candace Hamilton (right) and Sara Portingale understand and help women with hair loss feel confident at Continental Hair in Sarnia, drawing clients from far and wide.

investment and last for three to five years, consideration is warranted before purchasing. They require care, so it’s best to have a follow-up visit after the client has her hair piece to learn how to care for it, Hamilton says.

The services at the shop include washing and setting, adding colour, highlights or styling. That’s where Hamilton’s right-hand woman Sara Portingale comes in. With 15 years’ experience as a hair stylist, Portingale knows how to make a women’s hair her crowning glory. “I focus on the consultation and guiding the client and Sara takes it from there with colour and style,” Hamilton says.

At the end of consultations, Hamilton receives a lot of hugs. “The women just feel more empowered.”

my first wig from Continental Hair, it was life changing.”

Continental Hair’s consultations are free and last up to two hours. Past the reception area, the doors are closed and controlled by staff. This is because of the difficulty some women have in showing their balding head. “A client can have a rush of panic during consultation because she will have to reveal her head,” Hamilton says.

A client is also encouraged to bring someone for support - a partner, friend, mother. Hamilton will talk about the products available and what will work best for each woman and then provide a quote. “I encourage them to think about the product because it is an investment and I don’t want them to take it lightly.”

Since these hair pieces are a monetary

|

CONTINENTAL HAIR

| 519-337-3699

|

www.continentalhair.com

travelstyle

SEEK THE

By Kathy Rumleski

heat

COSTA RICA – THE RICH COAST – OFFERS CULTURAL RICHES

Y

Hiking trails and hostels abound for travellers who want to get a little closer to nature.

30 Lifestyle November/December 2018

ou’ll hear the phrase everywhere when you visit Costa Rica and it sums up the country nicely - Pura Vida.

“It applies to all things great about Costa Rica,” says Ellison Travel and Tours advisor Karina Thompson. It translates as pure life but Thompson says it’s more than a slogan; it’s a way of being. “It’s love, life, simple things.

There’s something for everyone.”

The Central American country continues to be on the bucket list of many for its thrilling ziplining, wild whitewater rafting, jungles, volcanos, eco activities and beauty. “It's more

than just a beach destination. It's about getting out of the all-inclusive resort and exploring nature and culture,” says London travel specialist Michelle Whelan, with Uniglobe Premier.

If you like golf, there’s a local connection at the Buenas Golf Resort, which overlooks the Pacific Ocean and Osa Peninsula. “It's a resort developed by a Canadian team that builds quality condos for purchase and rental along with the golf resort,” Whelan says. “I've been involved in meetings with the team, including team members who are directly from London, as to how Canadians can purchase or rent a

condo in that area and have access to other amenities.”

Costa Rica is a great destination for both families and couples. Thompson says kids will love the animals and the many different species of birds.

Couples can relax at beautiful fivestar resorts as well as take excursions, enjoying both romance and adventure on their trip.

For those who want to experience more of the countryside, Thompson says many people backpack through Costa Rica. There are lots of hiking trails and hostels for people who want to get a little closer to nature, she says. Whelan recommends a guided tour on the trails so that you can take in all there is to see in the lush landscape. “There are local experts and they may also be trained expeditionists or zoologists. Often a local guide will spot animals that you can’t and help you get up close and personal,” Whelan says. From camping in the jungle to boutique hotels to renting a villa with a private chef, there’s an accommodation for everyone, she says.

Thompson suggests experiencing both the coffee and the chocolate in Costa Rica – and probably bringing some back home with you. Tours of chocolate farms and coffee plantations are highly recommended. Costa Rican coffee beans are considered among the best in the world due to the ideal coffee growing climate. The temperature only varies about 10 degrees throughout the year – which is good for the beans and the tourists.

While most people crave the heat during our cold Canadian winters, that is also when the cost to travel to Costa Rica is highest. The local rainy season is between April and November.

Thompson says she travelled to the country in September and was pleasantly surprised when it only rained at night. “The bonus of the rainy season is that everything is very green and lush, but it can also cause flooding in some areas.” n

● FOR MORE INFORMATION UNIGLOBE PREMIER Michelle Whalen • 519-670-8484 https://m.facebook.com/MichelleWhalenTravel ELLISON TRAVEL AND TOURS LTD. Karina Thompson 519-235-2000 • www.ettravel.com

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Lifestyle 31

find gifts galore in FESTIVAL CITY GETS FESTIVE

S

By Janis Wallace

tratford during the holidays is a magical place, with shops draped in cedar boughs tied up in red bows and snowflake lights atop lampposts. During the outdoor Christmas Market, November 24 to 25, free carriage rides add to the fairy tale feel. Merchants, music and Santa all set up in Market Square, and many downtown shops offer specials. Santa also rides in his Parade of Lights on November 25.

Looking for something local to enjoy the excitement of the season? Consider the Christmas Trail. For $30 (plus tax), you choose six vouchers from 25 ideas to check off your gift list. The trails can be purchased at Stratford Tourism daily November 1 to December 20.

Stratford

If holiday means food, choices are plentiful. Stratford Chefs School offers dinners and cooking classes. Events at The Bruce Restaurant are for all ages and range from gingerbread house decorating to a wine series or tea with Santa. On December 16, Revival House pairs scotch and Rheo Thompson chocolate, led by sommelier Steve Rae. Or check out the liqueurs at Junction 56 Distillery’s open house on December 8.

More than 100 area artisans offer jewellery, art and décor at the Rotary Club’s Christmas Craft Festival November 9, 5-8 p.m.; November 10, 9-5; and November 11, 10-4.

Admission $6.

Continue the magic at the winter lights display, November 16 to January 6. at Milt Dunnell Field in nearby St. Mary’s. n

● FOR MORE INFORMATION www.visitstratford.ca • www.stratfordchef.com • www.thebruce.ca • www.revival.house/events_calendar • www.junction56.ca

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find gifts galore in LAKESIDE MERRIMENT

by Janis Wallace

P

ort Stanley is a harbour of holiday fun from November 12 to December 31 as local businesses hold seasonal sales and events.

At the Port Stanley Festival Theatre, LINK Theatre presents A Really Retro Crooner Christmas on Saturday, December 8 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. The show evokes the television specials of Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra with songs and stories by Rick Kish and Conner Boa, backed up by the Croonettes and the Nevin Campbell Trio. “I love retro. I love crooners. I love Christmas,” said Kish. “The Croonettes have a vibe of really good harmony, and the cool of a

Port Stanley girl trio.” With their retro hairstyles, makeup and tight harmonies, they evoke the Andrews sisters. Act I is all the popular standard songs of celebration, songs of positive message for the light-hearted side. Act II is all Christmas.

The experience is unexpected for a lot of people.

It’s fresh, with a lot of improvised stories and reactions to each other.”

Santa also heads to the lakeshore on the Port Stanley Terminal Rail with treats for the children. He rides the rails November 24, 25, December 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23 with departures at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. n

● FOR MORE INFORMATION www.psft.ca • www.pstr.on.ca/events.htm

PortStanleyFestivalTheatre

“The Croonettes have a vibe of really good harmony, and the cool of a girl trio.” With their retro hairstyles, makeup and tight harmonies, they evoke the Andrews sisters.

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Lifestyle 33

homestyle

Live your dream LUXURIOUS LOTTERY HOMES RAISE HEALTHCARE DOLLARS

By Ellen Ashton-Haiste

34 Lifestyle November/December 2018

One of the luxury condos in Tricar’s Azure, London’s tallest residential tower with 29 floors overlooking the city core, and a Millstone home, showcasing an intriguing mix of modern architecture and classic finishes, are dreams available in the Dream Lottery this fall. 

"The uniquely stunning house in west London and the luxurious downtown

condo, with access to rooftop terrace views, are both spectacular.”

John MacFarlane, president and CEO of London Health Sciences Foundation

OPPOSITE PAGE Located in the city’s southwest quadrant, the Millstone Homes’ offering backs onto a ravine and stream. Its garage offers a second floor that can be used as private guest quarters, with its own bathroom. ABOVE Life as a downtowner is good when lottery winners enjoy the views from 29 floors in the air from London’s tallest residential building. LEFT Azure’s skyline floor’s recreational space includes a large balcony for barbecuing, dining and relaxing. Jennings Furniture and Design supplied furnishings and decor for the Azure condominium to stage it for the Dream Lottery.

"The uniquely stunning house in west London and the luxurious downtown condo, with access to rooftop terrace views, are both spectacular,” says John MacFarlane, president and CEO of London Health Sciences Foundation. “Since 1996, homes like these have helped raise $33.6 million through Dream Lottery - supporting specialized, complex and critical care for patients from across our region at London’s hospitals.” Dream Lottery is a joint venture of London Health Sciences Foundation, Children's Health Foundation and St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation.

Together they receive more than 1.5 million patient visits each year.

The Millstone offering is a three-bedroom, two-storey home, with a walk-out basement, backing onto a ravine and stream, in the new Silver Leaf subdivision off of Colonel Talbot Road, just south of Southdale Road.

A unique glass walkway leads from the main house to a bonus space above the garage, possibly a fourth bedroom or guest suite, with its own ensuite bathroom.

Lea Legg, co-designer with Angela Bobanovic, describes the home as “a collection of contrasts (and) an eclectic mix of styles, a little bit mid-century modern, a little bit traditional, a little bit contemporary.”

The exterior juxtaposes sleek black metal siding with the weathered look of tumbled 

November/December 2018

Lifestyle 35

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ON

LIVE YOUR DREAM ~ Continued from page 35

The Madison, a 1,615-square-foot Azure suite, is an open-concept

layout with two bedrooms plus a den and a generous-sized

balcony, affording panoramic downtown views.

stone. The interior theme, she says, is “casual luxury,” striking but also warm and welcoming at the same time.

Significant features on the open-concept main level include a 16-foot kitchen island that seats seven, a custom-designed steel fireplace and hand-stained herringbone flooring. All bedrooms feel spacious with vaulted ceilings. The master suite has a walk-through to the laundry room from the ensuite, a nod to additional accessibility.

The Madison, a 1,615-square-foot Azure suite, is an open-concept layout with two bedrooms plus a den and a generous-sized balcony, affording panoramic downtown views. Notable highlights include custom sliding barn doors to the den, a feature fireplace with surrounding tiles and bracketed by custom built-in cabinetry, custom mirrors in the main bathroom, additional crown moulding in the common living spaces and premium designer lighting throughout. The kitchen and bathrooms showcase Calcutta quartz countertops, including a waterfall countertop on the kitchen island. The master bedroom features a trimmed accent wall and the ensuite bathroom has custom mirrors and an extended vanity backsplash.

The Azure suites are enhanced by an extensive recreation and entertainment space on the 29th floor with an adjacent rooftop terrace offering open-air spaces for barbecuing, dining and relaxing. n

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Lifestyle 37

bizlife

Home and away Trouvelle supplies luxurious necessities

By Ellen Ashton-Haiste

U

nique and exquisite home décor items and travel accessories are what Marg McAlister and Lisa Ferguson are offering Londoners at Trouvelle, their new Richmond Row store.

“It’s all about that special find,” McAlister says. “We want our customers to find something here that they won’t find anywhere else.”

The business partners had discussed opening a destination store with luxury items for home and travel. Both inveterate travellers, they had learned how to travel in comfort and had also developed an eye for spotting treasures along the way. So when clothing retailer Hangar9, where Ferguson was employed and McAlister was a long-time client, moved to a new

downtown location, they seized the opportunity to lease adjacent space and opened Trouvelle in March of this year.

They carry brands not available elsewhere in London and source their products from around the globe. In some cases, they have items made specifically for the store. “We have pillows from the U.K. with animals on them that have been made for us,” McAlister says. “And, we had coasters made with maps of London on them, as examples.”

They also carry a limited inventory for each item, she says. “So you know, if you’re giving a gift, there probably aren’t a dozen others the same. As well, you know you’re finding something you don’t see everywhere.”

Trouvelle’s brands range from ceramics by potter and designer

TOP Trouvelle owners Marg McAlister (left) and Lisa Ferguson.

Jonathan Adler, stylish Nambé dinnerware that intermixes wood and metals and Melange whimsical items handknit by women in the Andes to TUMI lightweight nylon luggage, which McAlister says she and Ferguson are addicted to for convenient travel.

The combination of home décor and travel items make good bedfellows McAlister believes. “It just seems to round out the picture. You’re either at home or you’re travelling. You want to be comfortable at home and you should also be comfortable while you’re travelling. The right luggage and the right pieces make travel very easy.”

The store has hosted a number of special events with representatives from their various brands and has initiated a lecture series featuring interior decorators and designers. n

● FOR MORE INFORMATION • TROUVELLE • 620 Richmond Street • 519-601-7763 • www.trouvelle.ca 38 Lifestyle November/December 2018

homestyle

glam

FROM GUT TO

By Kathy Mueller

NEGLECTED RENTAL RENEWED AS FAMILY HOME

ABOVE The juxtaposition of sleek, super modern finishings in a century home creates a magazine-like quality for this kitchen in Mike and Andrea Nutall's Old North home.

B

lack cupboards, black countertops, black backsplash. This was the vision Andrea Nuttall had when she and her husband Mike started renovating the kitchen in their almost century-old home.

“Everyone says black was really horrible,” says Andrea. “But we wanted modern. We wanted black. And we told our designer to go for it.”  November/December 2018

Lifestyle 3

RIGHT Found treasure: 12-inch fir boards, discovered when the walls were taken down to the studs, were used to create a large one-of-a-kind dining table.

BELOW The space created by using a simple black and white scheme is highlighted with punches of colour provided by an eye-catching piece of wall art.

“I just wanted to do the kitchen. But if we’re going to do the kitchen, we have to change the layout to get into the family room.

And while we’re at it we kind of have to do the dining room because it’s connected to the kitchen.” ~ Andrea Nuttall

LEFT Form follows function in all parts of this ultra contemporary kitchen. The floating island provides ample work area while serving as an artistic and conversational centrepiece of the space. 

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FROM GUT TO GLAM ~ Continued from page 40

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A clean slate was provided to join spaces when the whole home was gutted and given a complete make over.

The result is a kitchen you would expect to see in a magazine. Spanning the entire width of their home in Old North, the kitchen is now triple its original footprint. But it is not all black. Convinced it might be too dark, the Nuttalls compromised and opted for the simplicity of a white subway tile backsplash. It complements black dovetailed soft-close drawers made of solid maple, black cupboards and black quartz countertops, all wrapped in teak.

A three-metre long floating island centres the space, featuring storage on one side and seating on the other.

“That island really feels more like a piece of furniture,” says Elias Polizoes, co-owner of The Wood Studio. It was the first time The Wood Studio had ever contemplated designing a floating island of that size. To ensure it would remain standing and not sag in the middle, “we did a trial run with a workbench at the shop and it worked,” says Polizoes. “We gave them a piece of functional art.”

A student rental for years before the Nuttalls took ownership, the house had been neglected and was the victim of many renovations. It needed to be gutted, taken down to the studs to achieve the intended result. “It was a very chopped up space, a very segregated space,” says Luke Oslizlo, co-owner of Details, Renovation & Design. “We opened it up to ensure every inch was utilized.” 

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Lifestyle 41

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42 Lifestyle November/December 2018

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FROM GUT TO GLAM ~ Continued from page 41

At triple its original size, the kitchen is large enough to house an oversized refrigerator and a designated coffee station to accommodate the homeowners' wishes.

The couple had their list of musthaves. For Andrea, it was what she calls the “world’s largest fridge.”

For Mike, who has a five-cups-perday coffee habit, it was a designated coffee bar. Storage was high on both of their lists. “We knew exactly what we wanted, in general,” says Mike.

“The house was dysfunctional,” added Andrea. “I just wanted to do the kitchen. But if we’re going to do the kitchen, we have to change the layout to get into the family room.

And while we’re at it we kind of have to do the dining room because it’s connected to the kitchen.”

Before they knew it, they were moving out and the demo crew was moving in.

There were some pleasant surprises along the way, including the discovery of 12-inch fir boards beneath the plaster. Paying homage to the history of the house, those boards were removed and sent to Miller and Co. Wood Studio, which created a stunning dining room table.

The Nuttalls and their seven-yearold son have now been living in their renovated, modern space for about half a year. And there are absolutely no regrets about choosing black cupboards and countertops. “They’re very easy to maintain,” says Andrea.

“With a little soapy water, they come clean and, believe me, I’m no domestic goddess!” n

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ALL NEW INVENTORY 1737 Richmond St - 519 660-0074 warehouse74.com November/December 2018

Lifestyle 43

yourstyle

dance , like no ones watching GET UP, GET MOVING, GET JOYFUL

By Jill Ellis-Worthington

“I feel more grounded, more alive, more aware of my body,” says 40-year-old Krista Patterson.

“I show up to ballet class feeling tired, depressed or in pain and leave feeling joyful, more peaceful and rid of all the pain in my body I came with.”

Having never taken dance classes before, Patterson knew she needed to exercise and looked to ballet class as a creative, yet physical outlet.

“I always wanted to take ballet as a child but wasn’t given the opportunity,” she explains.

Dealing with a difficult personal issues that included a separation and divorce, Patterson

44 Lifestyle November/December 2018

wanted a way to feel more joy in her life. After three years of contemporary dance and ballet classes, she feels that she’s found the physical, mental and emotional outlet that she was looking for.

Carly Archer, 28, is also a non-dancer. With a background in weightlifting and CrossFit training, the new mother wanted to get back into exercise after giving birth doing an activity that would be fun but not as challenging as some of her usual forms of exercise. She’s been taking hip hop lessons for three months and loves the mental challenge that learning a new routine each week

Dr Moore.pdf

10/30/11

12:52:07 PM

“I show up to ballet class feeling tired, depressed or in pain and

leave feeling joyful, more peaceful and rid of all the pain in my body I came with.” ~ Krista Patterson

provides, in addition to the physical demands of the class.

According to Statistics Canada, only 17 per cent of men and 14 per cent of women meet the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for exercise: adults between ages 18 to 64 should get 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity throughout the week Sometimes the usual gym routine can seem stale, running can be monotonous, swimming laps can be repetitive and stationary biking or using the treadmill can be downright boring. Why not shake things up by joining a tap, ballet, jazz or hip hop class to help reach your 150-minutes per week goal, up your enjoyment of exercise and generally feel more joy from movement?

Dorit Osher, 53, grew up in South Africa but now resides in London after several years as a professional ballet and contemporary dancer in England, Israel and Canada (Toronto and Vancouver).

Now a clinical psychotherapist, as well as a ballet teacher and passionate performer, her personal joy is helping others to realize their own strength and flexibility through ballet and contemporary dance classes.

Osher believes in an integrated approach to teaching dance, combining strength, breath and mindfulness.

“The joy of movement and musical expression,” are key components to what keeps her passionate about dance.

“Personal expression through dance infuses our emotional world; it instills a sense of our body as well as listening and being present.”

With five other dancers, Osher has formed a performance group, called Public Displays of Art, that has done pop-up performances at venues like Forest City Gallery and Covent Garden Market, as well as in public parks and green spaces. The group is planning another contemporary dance performance on December 1. Watch their website – www.publicdisplaysofart.ca – for location.

“We need to drop the judgment and move because anyone can dance. Each of us has a body and can move it,” says Osher. 

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Lifestyle 45

DANCE LIKE NO ONE'S WATCHING ~ Continued from page 45

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www.dermeffects.ca • 519.472.8686 4 Lifestyle November/December 2018

Shawna Kwan, 38, agrees and finds that many of the adults who take classes at her Lambeth studio, Elan Dance Arts (EDA), are initially hesitant because “they think they have to be dancers before they begin classes and walk in expecting to see others with model-perfect bodies, with perfect hair and makeup and clothes. But they always say, ‘I wish I’d done this sooner.’ after they start taking classes.”

Kwan started dancing at age 12 in her home town of Ottawa. Initially she was a competitive athlete and “got into dance, appreciating its expression as an art form.” She took jazz, tap, ballet. As a kinesiology student at Western University, she continued to dance and became the director of the school’s dance program.

Kwan loves hip hop dance because it works well with popular music. “It’s hard to do tap, jazz or ballet to songs on the radio. Hip hop teaches us to just move to any type of music. I love it.” Many of the adult students at EDA take hip hop for the same reasons.

“We attract a lot of non-dancers and people who danced as children and want that joy in their lives again. At the gym, there’s not a ton of mental stimulation when lifting weights or doing cardio. But with dance you’re learning new routines so it’s mentally stimulating. Dance is a happy release of physical and emotional energy,” Kwan says.

Stirling, 52, danced as a child and now loves the ballet classes she has taken for the past year and half.

A public health nurse, her job is sedentary so she was looking for a unique form of group fitness and remembered how much she loved dancing as a child and teen. “I enjoy tennis and my running group but wanted a more spiritual aspect and dance helps you go inside and connect with yourself in a holistic way.

You use your breath and mindfulness. You integrate mind, body and spirit when you dance,” she explains and that gives her real joy. n

● FOR MORE INFORMATION BEYOND BALLET

Dorit Osher • www.beyondmovement.org ELAN DANCE ARTS

Shawna Kwan • www.elandancearts.ca

find gifts galore in A GRAND TIME OF YEAR

By Janis Wallace

W

hat could be more in keeping with the season than a warm welcome into festive homes? The Grand Bend Area Holiday Home Tour provides that opportunity November 16, 6-9 p.m., November 17, 11-7, and November 18, noon to 4 p.m. Four houses and a church are decorated by designers and florists. Tickets $25. The church, built in 1927, shows off its recent renovations and a rare collection of nativity scenes. A large family home, the natural beauty of a vacation home, a timber frame home with cathedral ceiling, and a condominium perfect for entertaining are featured.

Start the tour Friday night, November 16 at 5:30, with Light Up Grand Bend Optimist Park.

Enjoy caroling, hot chocolate, cider and treats, and horse and carriage rides through Grand

Grand Bend

Bend. It’s so much fun, even Santa shows up.

He may also want to check out the special sales and events all weekend at local businesses. By mid-month, you’ll be ready to take a break from the rush and settle in at The Livery Theatre to watch Seriously Festive, a family Christmas cabaret. It’s directed by Jenna Ujiye and runs from December 13 to 15. Sip cider and sing along to your favourites. n

Festive fun kicks off on November 16 with Light Up Grand Bend and the Grand Bend Area Holiday Home Tour.

● FOR MORE INFORMATION www.grandbendholidayhometour.ca/tour-grand-bend-holiday-homes/ • www.thelivery.ca

GB Holiday Home Tour Ad 2018 August 9, 2018 9:14:09 PM

November/December 2018

Lifestyle 47

Grand Bend and Area

TAKE IN THE BEAUTY AND THE FUN!

48 Lifestyle November/December 2018

and more

travelstyle

Gateway to flowers

GRAND BEND DESTINATION BLOOMS WITH IDEAS

F

or all life’s special moments, The Garden Gate will design the ideal floral arrangement. If the occasion calls for a gift, chances are it can be found there as well.

“We try to be a one-stop shop,” owner Shannon Ryan says of her Grand Bend store. “We’re foremost a full-service flower shop. But I also have an obsession for home décor and trends. With giftware, I pick things that I’m passionate about.” That includes a diverse selection of décor items, candles, kitchen and bath products, plus a few specialty collections.

“We have a large selection of baby and children’s items, gifts and toys for infants and children up to 10 years old,” Ryan says. “I try to source gifts that are unique, not something you can pick up anywhere. I’ve got young kids so I know what moms are looking for, what moms are conscious of.”

She also carries a line of natural skin care and body products, produced in Ontario. Orillia-based Bee By The Sea creates products that primarily combine honey and sea buckthorn, both known for their healing qualities. “It’s a lovely line,” Ryan says.

And they offer custom-made wooden signs, popular as wedding or anniversary gifts or to put up at the cottage. These are

By Ellen Ashton-Haiste

ordered and take four to six weeks to come in.

Garden Gate’s décor follows the seasons and at this holiday time Ryan says the shop is transformed into a Christmas wonderland. This year, 11 individually themed Christmas trees showcase unique ornaments, complemented by other seasonal décor items such as snowmen.

A Christmas open house will herald the season the first weekend in November with sales and treats for customers. And Ryan says something special will be

offered each weekend during the rest of the month. They’re also participating in the Grand Bend Holiday Home Tour, November 16 to 18.

The Garden Gate, founded in 2007, recently moved to a new 3,000-squarefoot outlet on Main Street just east on the main intersection, with half of that space dedicated to retail. It’s a central and accessible location with ample parking, Ryan notes. n

● FOR MORE INFORMATION • THE GARDEN GATE GIFTS AND FLORALS • 55 Main Street East, Grand Bend • 519-238-1701 www.thegardengate.ca or www.grandbendflowers.com for 24-hour ordering online

November/December 2018

Lifestyle 4

homestyle

And the winner is

LHBA CELEBRATES EXCELLENCE-IN-BUILDING AWARDS

By Ellen-Ashton-Haiste

BUILDER OF THE YEAR Wastell Homes

RENOVATOR OF THE YEAR CCR Building and Remodeling Inc.

SUB-TRADE OF THE YEAR Sloan Stone Design

SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR Strik, Baldinelli Moniz Ltd. 50 Lifestyle November/December 2018

N

ew faces and fewer spaces combined to create another successful gala evening in October as the London Home Builder’s Association celebrated their Awards of Creative Excellence.

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

“We had some new entries and finalists and they did well, won some awards, which was great,” says association president Sue Wastell, of Wastell Homes. “And the turnout was so large we almost maxed our capacity.”

She was also delighted to see long-standing members honoured with Lifetime Achievement Awards: Garry Wastell, founder of Wastell Homes, and Bruce Baker, former president and partner with AGM, a planning, surveying and engineering firm. The Mowbray Sifton Award for outstanding contributions was presented to Millennium Construction’s Mark Vaandering. A new Community Service Award went to Habitat for Humanity.

Wastell was pleased to see recognition given to affordable rental housing builds, through the Ormah Gibson Recognitions.

These developments bring increased value to infill lands, provide award winning designs, and provide much-needed mixed income housing, fully integrated into surrounding neighbourhoods, Stephen Giustizia, CEO of London’s Housing Development Corporation, told the gala audience.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Bruce Baker, AGM Surveying - Engineering Garry Wastell, Wastell Homes

BUILDER OF THE YEAR Wastell Homes RENOVATOR OF THE YEAR CCR Building and Remodeling Inc.

MOWBRAY SIFTON AWARD Mark Vaandering, Millennium Construction and Design Inc. SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR Strik, Baldinelli Moniz Ltd. SUB-TRADE OF THE YEAR Sloan Stone Design COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD Habitat for Humanity - Heartland Ontario ENERQUALITY ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AWARD Sifton Properties Limited SALES ACHIEVEMENT Sue Wastell, Wastell Homes

NEW HOME AWARDS BEST NEW KITCHEN IN A HOME OVER $600,000 Crown Homes of London Project Partner: Woody’s Premium Cabinetry BEST NEW BATHROOM IN A HOME OVER $750,000 Sifton Properties Limited Project Partners: Paton Bros. Plumbing Limited; Woody’s Premium Cabinetry; Sacwal Flooring Centres 

BEST NEW EXTERIOR Reis Design and Build BEST NEW MULTI FAMILY HOME UP TO $450,000 The Tricar Group

BEST RENOVATED KITCHEN OVER $50,000 Duo Building Limited

BEST INDOOR LIVING SPACE Oke Woodsmith Building Systems Inc.

BEST RENOVATED BATHROOM UP TO $25,000 CCR Building and Remodeling Inc.

BEST KITCHEN CABINETRY GCW Custom Kitchens and Cabinetry Inc.

BEST RENOVATED BATHROOM OVER $25,000 CCR Building and Remodeling Inc.

BEST NEW SINGLE FAMILY HOME UP TO $600,000 Sifton Properties Limited

BEST RENOVATED EXTERIOR Oke Woodsmith Building Systems Inc. BEST RENOVATION UP TO $50,000 Clear Concept Design and Build Inc. Project Partner: Braam’s Custom Cabinets

BEST NEW SINGLE FAMILY HOME $600,000-$1,000,000 Harasym Developments Inc. BEST NEW SINGLE FAMILY HOME OVER $1,000,000 Reis Design and Build

BEST RENOVATION $50,000-$150,000 Brodco Construction Ltd. Project Partner: McKaskell Haindl in Association with Cardinal Fine Cabinetry

J.E. (JIM) KENNEDY PROJECT OF THE YEAR Sifton Properties Limited

BEST RENOVATION $150,000-$350,000 Melchers Construction Limited BEST RENOVATION OVER $350,000 Oke Woodsmith Building Systems Inc.

RENOVATION AWARDS BEST RENOVATED KITCHEN UP TO $50,000 Clear Concept Design and Build Inc. Project Partner: Braam’s Custom Cabinets

DESIGN AWARDS

BEST BATHROOM CABINETRY Casey’s Creative Kitchens Inc.

MARKETING AWARDS BEST PRINT CAMPAIGN The Tricar Group Project Partner: Orchard Design Studio BEST PROJECT BRANDING The Ironstone Building Company Project Partner: Orchard Design Studio BEST MERCHANDISED MODEL HOME Sifton Properties Limited BEST WEB PRESENCE Cardinal Fine Cabinetry Corporation BEST NEW SHOWROOM OR DESIGN CENTRE The Ironstone Building Company 

BEST OUTDOOR LIVING SPACE Melchers Construction Limited

Best GeneRAL RenoVAtoR/ContRACtoR CoVenAnt ConstRuCtIon

BEST GENERAL RENOVATOR/CONTRACTOR COVENANT CONSTRUCTION

Best GeneRAL RenoVAtoR/ ContRACtoR

CoVenAnt ConstRuCtIon

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November/December 2018

Lifestyle 51

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ACE AWARDS FINALISTS • Atchison Plumbing and Heating Limited • Braam’s Custom Cabinets • Brodco Construction Limited • Cardinal Fine Cabinetry Corporation • Casey’s Creative Kitchens Inc. • CCR Building and Remodeling Inc. • Clear Concept Design and Build Inc. • Crown Homes of London • Delange Homes • Design Matrix Inc. • Duo Building Limited • Dynamic Kitchens • Freeborn and Company • Fusion Homes • GCW Custom Kitchens and Cabinetry Inc. • Gentrac Building Corporation • Habitat for Humanity Heartland Ontario • Harasym Developments Inc. • Harasym/Wasko Developments • Hazzard Homes Limited • Jefferson Homes Limited • McKaskell Haindl in association with Cardinal Fine Cabinetry • Melchers Construction Limited • Oke Woodsmith Building Systems Inc. • Orchard Design Studio • Paton Bros. Plumbing Limited • Progressive Countertop Systems • Pym & Cooper Custom Homes Inc. • Quest Homes Inc. • Reis Design and Build • Rice Development Corp.

• SacWal Flooring Centres • Sifton Properties Limited • Sloan Stone Design • Strik Baldinelli Moniz Limited • The Ironstone Building Company • The Tricar Group • TRY Recycling Inc. • Wastell Homes • Woody’s Premium Cabinetry ● FOR MORE INFORMATION

MADE IN CANADA 52 Lifestyle November/December 2018

LONDON HOME BUILDERS’ ASSOCIATION ACE Awards • www.lhbaace.com

bizlife

Golden moments

Celebrating life for three and a half decades

Co-owner Loretta Gordon-Bock.

By Ellen Ashton-Haiste

F

or more than three decades, Gordons Gold Jewellers has been selling more than exquisite pieces of jewellery. “We sell a lifetime of celebrations,” says co-owner Loretta Gordon-Bock. The London store, celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, has established a clientele that make it a tradition to return to Gordons when celebrating special family occasions, says Gordon-Bock, who operates the business with her husband Duane Bock.

Customers come from London as well as across the country and even around the world for that special piece of jewellery to mark an engagement, an anniversary, birthday, birth of a baby and more, she says. “From original clients, back in the early days, we have children who have grown up

and become engaged and then grandchildren who have grown up and now are becoming engaged. It’s pretty amazing to watch the generations of family that come back and do business with us.”

Gordons Gold is a second-generation family business, founded by Gordon-Bock’s parents, John David and Evelyn Gordon. They opened their first store in Oakridge Mall and, when the shopping centre was demolished, moved to the new Oakridge Centre plaza on the same site at Oxford Street West and Hyde Park Road. It maintains a welcoming atmosphere with a baby grand piano as the focal point in the foyer and comfortable leather chairs to relax in, Gordon-Bock says.

The inventory includes a vast selection of diamonds, gemstones, silver collections, pearls, and more, from

well-recognized and sought-after brands and with a strong focus on engagement rings.

A service that sets the store apart is its in-house goldsmith shop.

“Customers appreciate that their heirlooms are not going to be shipped elsewhere but stored safely in our vaults and repaired right here on the premises,” Gordon-Bock says.

Other services include appraisals, restringing and engraving as well as valuing estate jewellery.

Another key to the store’s success, Gordon-Bock says, is the quality service provided by her staff. There are eight full-time employees, most with more than 10 years experience and some with as much as 20 years, resulting in a wealth of knowledge and ability to connect with customers. n

● FOR MORE INFORMATION • GORDONS GOLD JEWELLERS • 760 Hyde Park Road • 519-473-3988 • www.gordonsgold.ca November/December 2018

Lifestyle 53

bizlife

Get hands-on

TOP Hilary Alexander owns and operates Hensall Major Appliances with her husband Josh.

Hensall appliances cook up great design ideas in demo kitchens

By Ellen Ashton-Haiste

H

ensall Major Appliances has some unique attributes to set it apart from the competition and draw a clientele from across the county and beyond. If you’re looking to buy any GE appliance, it’s the place to visit. And, if you need repair assistance for any home appliance, regardless of the brand, it’s your go-to location.

The family business in this southern Huron County village is an exclusive GE appliance retailer that boasts its own in-house service technician, says Hilary Alexander, who operates it with her husband, Josh, who does the service work.

Selling only the GE brand has distinct benefits, Hilary says. “It gives us an advantage of price match guarantees.

And our showroom is fully stocked with display products. I can show more of one line versus a few of multiple lines. So we really have that specialized feel and we’re experts on this line.”

In fact, the store includes two working kitchens. “Customers can come in and turn on the stoves and the dishwashers, and the fridges are cold and lit up,” she says, adding that there is a live washer/dryer set on site as well.

Another plus that customers are appreciating is that the store carries all four of GE’s premium finishes - stainless steel, black stainless and the company’s exclusive new slate, available in regular slate, a warm, stone-inspired finish, and black slate, a dark matte ideal for contrast with bold colours. “The colours are definitely

a big selling point,” Hilary says.

The couple has operated the store for the past five years. Josh had been working as the service technician for the previous owner and they had discussed taking over if the opportunity presented itself. “It came up a lot sooner than we thought and we decided it was a good time and went ahead.”

They recently undertook a major renovation, an overall facelift with new kitchen areas. “Everything looks fresh and new.”

She says the business is doing well.

“We’re really busy. We cover up and down the lakeshore from Grand Bend to Goderich, over to Clinton, into Exeter, Lucan and Ilderton and everywhere in between.” n

● FOR MORE INFORMATION • HENSALL MAJOR APPLIANCES • 107 King Street, Hensall • 519-262-2728 • www.hensallmajorappliance.com 54 Lifestyle November/December 2018

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