Lifestyle Magazine Online May/June 2019

MAY/JUNE 2019

HOME RENOS

INTERIORS

NEW HOMES

SUBTLE, SOOTHING, SAND-FRIENDLY HOMEY SUMMER DÉCOR

BEAUTY

FASHION

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BE PLAYFUL THIS SUMMER REGIONAL THEATRES ARE READY

CLEAN CONSCIENCE TIPS FOR AN ECO-FRIENDLY SPRING SWEEP

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contents M AY

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HOMESTYLE

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Ready for summer

22

Décor al fresco

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Be a winner

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Spring sweep

Cozy cottage style

Creature-friendly accessories

Dream lottery houses

Enviro-concious cleaning

BESTLIFE

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10

Ready to play

15

Father knows best

Head to regional theatres

Honour him on the big day

YOURSTYLE

28

A marvelous makeover

44

Beach hair do care

Well-deserved spring pick-me-up Subtle looks for summer

TRAVELSTYLE

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34 42

Artfully yours

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Head to the coast

Creative in Port Stanley

Ireland calls Green as you’ve ever seen For music, art and more

AUTOSTYLE

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The Audi Q8 Elegance in an SUV

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May/June 2019

Lifestyle 5

Back To Where It All Started

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LIFESTYLE PUBLISHER Lana L. Breier EDITOR Jill Ellis-Worthington WRITERS Ellen Ashton-Haiste Lisa Brandt 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.

May/June 2019

Lifestyle 7

Lara Leitch, Photo Perfect – London

EDITOR’S note

BUILDING ORIGINAL HOMES FOR ORIGINAL PEOPLE 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.

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“The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.”

PABLO PICASSO

I

had a chance to do some travelling this winter and Austin, Texas was one of the stops. It holds a huge, well-attended music, digital and film festival called South By Southwest in March each year. Truthfully, it made me a bit homesick because one of the bands we got to see was Amaru Tribe from Australia. Their digeridoo meets salsa meets folk mix of upbeat sound was reminiscent of the great music we see at Sun Fest each year. I hope they make London a stop on their international travels bringing the fun vibe of the Land Down Under to the world.

Music in the streets – in Austin, in Nashville, in Memphis – adds to the cultural texture of cities, and, in the summer time, Londoners are lucky that we are able to experience this with the many festivals held in our parks.

Public art is also a big part of many U.S. cities, from large statues (one made of thousands of chrome-plated bikes formed together to suggest the shape of a bike sits along the shores of Lady Bird Lake in Austin) to murals painted over an entire wall of historic buildings in Galveston to traffic control boxes painted by local artists in Beaumont, Texas.

The latter is a smaller town in southeast Texas, with a population of just over 150,000. In early 2018, the city decided to work with local artists to paint the boxes that sit at intersections leading to downtown. Local artists submit sketches that are vetted for language and/or political issues and are given $100 to offset costs of materials.

Ironically, the idea came from a friend of a city councillor after a visit to Toronto.

These public art efforts reminded me of our colourful metal trees growing from the sidewalks of the Forest City, or the shiny rhino in front of Museum London

and our many wood sculptures that local carvers have fashioned from dead trees.

Wouldn’t painted hydro boxes be a nice addition to our city’s roster of public art? Our local talent bank could show off some of its work in a new way. The boxes in each of the neighbourhoods could be representative of the history or culture of the area, visually branding it. Downtown would be even more colourful with artful hydro boxes on its streets. The city would

again brand itself as a cultural leader.

Our citizen’s many contributions to the colourful fabric of the city make it a wonderful place to visit, and this hydro box project would be a distinctive addition to the painted Bell and Canada Post boxes that decorate our streets.

The Lifestyle Magazine team wishes you a bright spring and wonderful summer ahead.

Jill Ellis-Worthington lifestyle.editor@writedoton.com

Please see our Facebook page for more information on this subject: www.facebook.com/lifestylemagazineonline.

8 Lifestyle May/June 2019

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Lifestyle 9

summer theatre

travelstyle

LONDON & AREA

TREADING THE BOARDS Comedies, Canadian works and community building dominate regional theatre scene this summer

By Jill Ellis-Worthington

W

armer temperatures compel us to stop hibernating in front of the television and to hit the road to lakeside towns or inland villages to see live theatre.

Picking plays that boost attendance and tourism in summer-centric venues is one of the important facets to putting together a winning stage bill, according to Simon Joynes, artistic director of the Port Stanley Festival Theatre (PSFT). “Theatre is a big economic driver,” he explains. “We support our community by bringing 15 to 20,000 people to the village each summer.”

That responsibility is manifested in smart marketing, like putting on the

Norm Foster play Lunenburg for a long run in June. “Norm’s a big crowd pleaser. With a four-week run early in the season, we’re getting a lot of people into the community.”

Callandra Dendias, Victoria Playhouse Petrolia’s (VPP) program co-ordinator, agrees, saying the popularity of the big musical revues and comedies that the theatre is known for are proving so popular that their season has been extended on both ends, beginning earlier on April 30 and ending later on October 27. “Our expanded summer season and two Christmas shows are intended to help boost tourism in southwestern Ontario,” she adds.

Summer theatre is booming and attracting tourism to smaller Ontario towns. The Port Stanley Festival Theatre sits adjacent to the new Pat and Ali Shakir Patio.

It's part of the thriving business district, with shops and boutiques, along the village's Bridge Street.

1

3 2

10 Lifestyle May/June 2019

PORT STANLEY FESTIVAL THEATRE: 1 Giving up the Ghost 2 Like Father, Like Son? Sorry 3 The Wildest Town in Canada: Donnelly Songs and Stories VICTORIA PLAYHOUSE PETROLIA: 4 Dracula 5 Murder for Two BLYTH FESTIVAL THEATRE: 6 Cakewalk 7 In the Wake of Wettlaufer

8

“

HURON COUNTRY PLAYHOUSE: 8 Thoroughly Modern Millie 9 Rocky

9 The popularity of regional theatres is also boosting their international recognition, according to Alex Mustakas, artistic director for Drayton Theatres.

That organization’s success in premiering bigger productions has “put us at the top of the list for Broadway to assign rights. We were the first in the world to be granted the rights to do Mary Poppins,” he explains.

The regional theatres in southwestern Ontario prioritize Canadian works, with two of them – Port Stanley and Blyth – solely staging plays by Canadian

“We support our community by bringing 15 to 20,000 people to the village each summer.”

SIMON JOYNES, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, PORT STANLEY FESTIVAL THEATRE

authors, many of whom are local.

“We work with new writers to produce Canadian stories, stories about the place we live,” explains Gil Garrett, artistic director of Blyth Theatre.

He’s especially proud of two local works, Jumbo and In the Wake of Wettlauffer. The former tells the story of the world’s highest paid entertainer of his time – Jumbo the Elephant – and his final performance and death in St. Thomas. The latter is a “ripped from the headlines” work, says Garrett.

This real-life tragedy reflects the stories

of Elizabeth Wettlaufer’s victim’s families and is a sensitive, thoughtprovoking treatment that “starts the kinds of conversations we can’t have in the contemporary mediatized world,” according to Garrett.

To celebrate its 45th season, Blyth Festival Theatre is staging a repeat performance of Cakewalk, a play previously staged in 1984. “It’s the very fun story of a small town that holds a Canada Day cake baking contest and the five increasingly competitive women who enter it and 

5 4

7 6 May/June 2019

Lifestyle 11

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Huron Country Playhouse Thoroughly Modern Millie | June 5 to June 22 Glory | June 12 to June 22 Disney’s Newsies | June 27 to July 13 You’ll Get Used To It! The War Show | June 27 to July 13 Rocky: The Musical | July 18 to Aug 3 Twelve Angry Men | July 18 to Aug 3 Grease | Aug 8 to Aug 31 Jack and the Beanstalk: The Panto | Aug 8 to Aug 31 12 Lifestyle May/June 2019

Starring

Cindy ms Willia of Star

& Shirley” “Laverne as Mrs. Meers

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SUMMER THEATRE ~ Continued from page 11

PortStanley FestivalTheatre

Lunenburg

show sponsor

by Norm Foster

become quite cutthroat in their tactics. One even enters her daughter’s wedding cake without permission to do so,” says Garrett.

In its first run of the season, the PSFT is premiering the work of London playwright Jeff Culbert.

The Wildest Town in Canada: Donnelly Songs and Stories “is a concert of stories and spoken word,” says Joynes.

VPP is also celebrating national pride with its staging of the New Canadian Curling Club, by Stratford resident Mark Crawford, which had a “sold out run at its Blyth premiere.”

Adapted from Bram Stoker’s classic, a musical version Dracula will be playing at VPP this fall in the run up to Halloween.

Mustakas is excited to be bringing the Canadian premiere of Rocky to the Huron Country Playhouse in Grand Bend. He’s directing the production and calls it “challenging because it was written cinematically, with 14 scenes in act one.”

For the seven Drayton stages, Mustakas agrees that picking the summer’s roster of plays is complicated. He fulfills the mandate of summer theatre goers, with “a mix of big musicals, comedies and the occasional drama.”

He feels that Rocky will have wide appeal because it’s a story that nearly every one can relate to.

“It’s Rocky’s story but it’s also (Sylvester) Stallone’s story – he wrote it in three and a half days – of an underdog who became a champ.”

Huron Country Playhouse is not without its own Canadian flavour, featuring Glory, the true tale of the Preston Rivulettes and You’ll Get Used To It, The War Show. “We chose this one because of the 75th anniversary of D Day,” explains Mustakas.

It may be difficult to pick among the many offerings at southwestern Ontario’s regional theatres this summer but you’ll be richer for the experience. 

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Lifestyle 13

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BLYTH FESTIVAL THEATRE TRUE CONFESSIONS FROM THE NINTH CONCESSION FUND-RAISER May 23 to 25 JUMBO June 12 to August 10 CAKEWALK June 26 to August 10 THE TEAM ON THE HILL July 31 to September 5 IN THE WAKE OF WETTLAUFER August 7 to September 6 BED AND BREAKFAST September 11 to 28 SINK OR SWIM August 20 to 24 ROCKO AND NAKOTA August 27 to 31 TICKETS: www.blythfestival.com

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PORT STANLEY FESTIVAL THEATRE THE WILDEST TOWN IN CANADA: DONNELLY SONGS AND STORIES May 21 to 25 LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON? SORRY May 28 to June 1 LUNENBURG June 5 to 29 GIVING UP THE GHOST July 3 to 20 ED’S GARAGE July 24 to August 10 IT’S YOUR FUNERAL August 14 to September 7 TICKETS: www.psft.ca

VICTORIA PLAYHOUSE PETROLIA YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND, THE MUSIC OF CAROLE KING AND JAMES TAYLOR April 30 to May 18 SUMMER OF ‘69 June 4 to 23 MURDER FOR TWO July 2 to 21 THE NEW CANADIAN CURLING CLUB August 6 to 25 HOGAN’S HOEDOWN September 3 to 22 DRACULA October 15 to 27 TICKETS: www.thevpp.ca

14 Lifestyle May/June 2019

bestlife

BEST GIFT EVER

WHAT DO DADS REALLY WANT ON THEIR SPECIAL DAY?

By Wayne Newton

I

t’s the oldest tie in my closet, and I’ve never worn it. Handcrafted with horizontal lines of green blue, red and as a precursor to his brief Goth phase, black, this Bristol board tie has survived multiple Goodwill/landfill purges since the early 2000s when my second son proudly brought it home from Grade 1. It came with a song to the tune of Jingle Bells (D-a-d, D-a-d, I love to hold your hand, it feels so good, it feels so safe, you’re the best dad in the land).

In the almost 20 years since, many Father’s Day gifts have come (and gone).

Not sure why I’ve kept it, except it represents the pinnacle of fatherhood which – and I’m certain science has proven this – comes when your child is six.

Popular media has another opinion of modern fatherhood, though. I blame Homer Simpson and Peter Griffin, templates for a generation of father-child interaction. While children once grew up with Steven Douglas of My Three Sons, Howard Cunningham of Happy Days

Approximately 110 countries celebrate Father’s Day. The wish to spend time with children is universal. or James Anderson Sr. of Father Knows Best, my kids had a diet of dolts. Too often seen as a faded version of Mother’s Day, the third Sunday of June actually has a pretty cool history as a day to celebrate parental bonds. Approximately 110 countries celebrate Father’s Day. The North American version started in the early 1900s. Exactly by whom and when is the subject of many stories. One is that Lions Club member Harry C. Meek came up with the idea in 1915; the club named him Originator of Father’s Day. Unlike Mother’s Day, no one’s saying it was a Hallmark idea to sell greeting cards.

Since Father’s Day began, billions of dollars have been spent on gifts from appreciative children. The publication

Market Watch once compiled a list of the most popular categories, which included car accessories, shaving products, sports gear, power tools, electronic gadgets and, of course, neckties.

Those cliché gifts are all nice, and I’d never discourage my kids from giving them to me or your kids from splurging on you. Dads are, after all, worth it.

But the gifts that matter most – and the reason I’ve kept that tie – show an investment of time and personality.

Made-in-elementary school craft projects can’t go on forever, but time for dad can.

That’s why I think that what fathers from Howard Cunningham to Homer Simpson want most (but will never say) are Father’s Day gifts of time spent together, whether that means sharing a round of golf, a meal at a trendy new restaurant or a curated selection of craft beers. These are all gifts from the heart, like my son’s homemade tie and funny song.

After all, that’s what fatherhood is all about even when it isn’t the third Sunday of June. n

May/June 2019

Lifestyle 15

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CORRECTION

NOTICE

In the March/April 2019 issue of Lifestyle Magazine page 67 a misprint occurred.

The date for DermEffects Art Auction and Open House should have read May 9th, 2019 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM.

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Lifestyle Magazine regrets any inconvenience caused by this error.

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Lifestyle 19

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Lifestyle 21

homestyle

1

2

FUN, FANCIFUL,

free spirited

By Kathy Rumleski

YARD ART ADDS STYLE TO OUTDOOR LIVING SPACES A good word to describe summertime, with all of its potential, is whimsical and your yard can reflect that fanciful feeling with well-chosen pieces of art. 

22 Lifestyle May/June 2019

1 A collection of one-of-akind signs. Found items can be repurposed to add interest to the yard.

2 Handmade in London, these cheerful ceramic teacup bird feeders brighten up the garden.

3 Brighten up your landscape even before the flowers start to bloom with colourful items.

4 & 5 To attract bees and butterflies, add a butterfly puddler or bee oasis to your garden.

6 Garden statuary adds vertical visual interest in the yard.

7 Illuminate the garden with colourful glass, birdthemed solar-powered garden lights, handmade

by Kitras Art Glass.

yard art 1 3

8 FOLLOWING PAGE Some statuary and décor items add an exotic flavour to outdoor living spaces.

4

5 6 Whether you’re entertaining outdoors or spending quiet time alone, yard art can enhance the experience, says Janine Glover, manager of A&M Garden Centre in London. “Garden art can be made from all types of products, such as wood or metal, and is found in many different sizes and shapes and colours - from wind chimes to large sculptures,” she says.

“It could also be a vintage item you found at a local antique shop – an old garden gate, wind spinner or a beautiful water feature.

Use your imagination.” 

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O v e r

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Interior/ Exterior Painting Wood Finishing

8

A&M Garden Centre has lots of vintage signs to beautify your yard and garden. Combined with candles, flowers, antique watering cans and containers or other outdoor items that catch your eye, vintage art can help create a display that evokes fond memories of summers past.

Christine Buchanan, manager of Featherfields, The Bird and Garden Store in Hyde Park, says what you choose for your outdoor décor can be striking and wildlife friendly. “Our main focus is to keep it natural…for all creatures.”

Like A&M Garden Centre, Featherfields has one-of-a-kind outdoor art pieces. This season, the latter offers brightly coloured pottery teacup feeders for birds, handmade in London. And for the bees, the store has a handmade pottery bee water dish, called a bee oasis, which has ceramic flowers to allow bees to perch above water level. It provides fresh water for bees to help these necessary pollinators to increase flower production in your garden, Buchanan says.

Solar garden lights are popular choices that can bring beauty and ambience to your yard at night for evening gatherings or sitting under the stars. At Featherfields, the handblown glass solar stakes are in the shape of birds.

Other good yard art choices include artisanal urns, colourful benches, decorated garden stools, statues and lanterns. n ● FOR MORE INFORMATION A&M GARDEN CENTRE 4171 Colonel Talbot Road North 519-652-3539 • www.amgardencentre.ca FEATHERFIELDS 5-1570 Hyde Park Road 519-474-1165 • www.featherfields.com

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bizlife

Back to its roots

Coni-Marble Manufacturing returns to Thorndale

ABOVE Coni-Marble president Nick Huizenga (LEFT) and general manager Derrick Huizenga.

By Ellen Ashton-Haiste

F

or most of the last half-century, Thorndale has been home base for Coni-Marble Manufacturing.

While Nick Huizenga launched the business, first manufacturing synthetic marble bathroom fixtures in his East London double-car garage in 1969, it was just a few years later that a factory and showroom were built in the village 10 minutes northeast of London.

From the late 1990s, Coni-Marble also had a showroom in London, along with a factory where its Avian solid surface countertops were manufactured.

But this year, the company is celebrating its 50-year anniversary by returning to its roots, amalgamating production and sales in Thorndale with a new showroom built on the site of the production facility.

“It all started here and now we have

a beautiful 2,500-square-foot showroom and new offices,” says Derrick Huizenga.

Derrick and his brother, Craig, joined their father in the company fresh out of college. It’s now a three-generation business with Craig’s son, Nicholas, working in production. Derrick’s son Aaron, now in college, works summers and will eventually be an installer.

Coni-Marble has expanded its product offerings over the years. Solid surface countertops followed marble bathroom products. Then, in the early 2000s, when stone materials became more popular and affordable, Coni-Marble began fabricating quartz.

In about 2010, it introduced Neolith, a solid porcelain material. The advent of stone counter materials initially stole sales away from solid surface products,

like Avian, but Derrick says it’s now experiencing a resurgence.

“We still make our own and we’re probably one of only a few producers in Ontario, or even Canada, still making solid surface from scratch,” he says.

Derrick doesn’t foresee further expansion at this time although they are always watching style and colour trends for their custom-made products.

In fact, he says, with their longevity in the business, they’re noticing the cycle of styles and colours coming full circle with some from the ‘70s and ‘80s making a comeback.

He explains, “People are now going to the square sinks like those we used in the ‘70s and colours from that era like the greys and browns are venturing back into the popular palette.” n

● FOR MORE INFORMATION • CONI-MARBLE MANUFACTURING • 519-461-0100 • 99 Harrison Street, Thorndale • www.conimarble.ca May/June 2019

Lifestyle 27

yourstyle

“

My aunt, and the strongest woman I know, is Tammy Lynn Ferris! Tammy is a breast cancer survivor, and I don’t think anyone deserves a day of pampering and rejuvenation more than she does,” wrote Steph Ferris when nominating her choice in a makeover contest sponsored by Lifestyle Magazine, in conjunction with Salon Entrenous, Curiosities Gift Shop and Mugford Shoes.

Nominations were made via social media. 

beautiful strong and

INSPIRING OTHERS, MAKEOVER WINNER SHINES Story by Mary Jansenberger | Photography by Kamini Le Capelain

28 Lifestyle May/June 2019

1

2

1 Ferris’ hair has grown back with a curl, so she was unsure of how to style it.

2 Vriesinga combined beige/ white blonde highlights with a slightly darker base colour to add depth and enable a softer regrowth.

3 She used a round brush to smooth out Ferris’ hair while adding volume 4 Taylor encouraged Ferris to enhance her skincare routine with moisturising and exfoliating products. This ensures less makeup collects in fine lines and wrinkles in aging skin.

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After hair and makeup updates Ferris feels amazing in her new look. Her 100 per cent cotton washer/dryer safe sweater from Parkhurst, in a calm tone called ‘Natural’, complements her colouring.

Its fit and textured knit fabric flatter her figure. A scarf from Terra Organica, which is handmade and 100 per cent cotton, enhances her silhouette and pulls the outfit together. Ferris’ look is sophisticated enough for dinner out, but comfortable enough for a summer evening at the cottage.

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Lifestyle 29

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STRONG AND BEAUTIFUL ~ Continued from page 29

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Ferris’ necklace is from Canadian line K. Ross Creations which uses vintage buttons to make one-of-a-kind wearable art, from Curiosities Gift Shop.

All proceeds support:

Thank you to our sponsor:

Since December of 2017, Ferris (50) has undergone a lumpectomy, eight rounds of chemo therapy, a double mastectomy and reconstructive procedures. Her 18-year-old daughter Aliesha Arnot says that her mom always puts other people first, even during her illness and treatments. Arnot adds that her chemo-resultant hair loss was difficult because Ferris has always taken pride in her appearance.

According to Ferris, “When you are hit with a cancer diagnosis, you have no choice but to keep moving forward and embrace your ‘new normal.’”

Ferris’ confidence, strength, and sense of self are what make her beautiful and these qualities seem to have been enhanced during the last 18 months. She believes that we all have hidden capabilities buried deep within us that are brought to the surface when we face situations that seem insurmountable.

To begin the makeover process, Ferris visited Curiosities Gift Shop, where owner Jocelyn King and manager Leah Montoux consulted with  May/June 2019

Lifestyle 31

Copyright © 2015 Joseph Ribkoff Inc. All rights reserved. Any reproduction and/or use of the Joseph Ribkoff logo for commercial or promotional purposes is forbidden without the written authorization of Joseph Ribkoff Inc.

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STRONG AND BEAUTIFUL ~ Continued from page 31

“When you are hit with a cancer diagnosis, you have no choice but to keep moving forward and embrace your ‘new normal.’” her before choosing an outfit and accessories. Because Ferris loves jeans, and Curiosities has a wide selection to choose from, they chose a dark navy skinny jean for a dressier look.

Heidi Morgan-Rhea, manager of Mugford Shoes Westmount location, helped select a woven leather shoe, in soft pewter, that is chic and versatile.

Known as the Glam Squad, makeup artist Florencia Taylor and Salon Entrenous stylist Julie Vriesinga (2019 North American Makeup Artist of the Year and 2019 North American Hairstylist of the Year, respectively) completed Ferris’ look.

According to Taylor, “Tammy is already so beautiful, so this wasn’t a transformation. I just wanted to highlight her features.”

Vriesinga’s main challenge with Ferris’ hair was that it had grown back in uniform length, so her focus was reshaping and adding dimension. n

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Lifestyle 33

travelstyle

Through the eyes of a child GLASS IS HER PALETTE

By Kathy Rumleski

Artist Cheryl Garrett-Jenkins can still clearly see the face of an art teacher who let her use her imagination as a young girl to explore different media. That set her on a lifelong path of experimenting with different styles of art, as well as mixed media, which allow her to let that imagination go wherever it will take her. “(My teacher) was really good.

She didn’t stick you in a groove and say, ‘You have to follow this.’ She let you go with it. We did all kinds of things,” says Garrett-Jenkins, the owner of Rubyeyes Kraftwerks, a studio in Port Stanley, where she showcases her own art and that of other artists.

Garrett-Jenkins has a fascinating background, including working as a marine engineer and for the Coast Guard. Even while working on ships, she took the opportunity

to create art. Using scraps on board – old engine valves, bearing parts, valve covers and impellers – she made lamps and candlesticks.

But glass art has always been Garrett-Jenkins’ favourite medium because of the challenges working with glass have brought her over the last 30 years. “It didn’t always do what you wanted it to. You can’t force glass,” she says. “It has its own mind and it’s kind of rebellious.”

A piece that provided a challenge was a 48x48 three-dimensional glass panel that was commissioned.

A scene from the Caribbean Sea, it has several hues of lovely blue water, colourful sail boats and a traditional lighthouse. “That one was extremely challenging because of the size and three-dimensional parts. It was the biggest piece I’ve ever done,” she says.

Glass also allows her to combine other substances. “I’m trying to figure

TOP Entitled Blue Dreams, this stained glass room divider, measuring 48 inches by 48 inches, is a work commissioned in 2018.

INSET Cheryl Garrett-Jenkins at work in her Port Stanley studio.

out how to mix glass with my clay now. I’m always trying something different in the kiln just to see if it works.”

The result is each of Garrett-Jenkins’ clients receives a unique piece of art that’s never duplicated.

Now when she creates art for clients, Garret-Jenkins appreciates the same feeling of freedom she had as a child: to be free of any rigid instructions. “If they let me run with my imagination, it’s gratifying.” n

● FOR MORE INFORMATION • RUBYEYES KRAFTWERKS • 235 Colborne Street, Port Stanley • 519-782-7443 • Facebook: Rubyeyes Kraftwerks

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Lifestyle 35

homestyle

DREAMS for all lifestyles LUXURIOUS LOTTERY HOMES

By Ellen Ashton-Haiste

36 Lifestyle May/June 2019

D

iversity is the key for the three homes, in London and Grand Bend, up for grabs in this spring’s Dream Lottery. “From warm French Provincial, to chic industrial, to relaxing cottage getaway, the lottery is offering a home for every taste,” says Michelle Campbell, president and CEO of St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation. “Consistently offering remarkable Dream Homes like these has helped the lottery raise almost $35 million in support of specialized, complex and critical care

for patients from across our region.”

The lottery, started in 1996, is a joint venture of three hospital foundations supporting St. Joseph’s Health Care London, London Health Sciences Centre and Children’s Hospital at LHSC. In addition to caring for London-area residents, these teaching and research hospitals are referral centres providing specialized services in support of regional community hospitals.

The two London Dream Homes in Byron’s Wickerson Hills neighbourhood, constructed by Jefferson Homes, are

SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1996, THE DREAM LOTTERY has raised $35 million selling tickets for the chance to win prizes that include luxurious homes like those in this year’s lottery.

LEFT AND BOTTOM RIGHT A contemporary, loft-inspired home and a French chateauinspired home were built

by Jefferson Homes and are located in Byron’s Wickerson Hills development. Though very different in style, they are both welcoming family residences.

TOP RIGHT Nicholson Builders constructed this Craftsman-style bungalow in Grand Bend. The cottage feeling is enhanced by a large deck that accommodates outdoor living. All three have been appointed and decorated by Jillian Summers of Upstaging Limited.

“

Exposing all that lies beneath … proudly displaying the building

elements that many try to hide, mixing elements of raw, edgy style with the warm texture of wood and exposed brick.”

both two-storey family homes but showcase distinctly different styles.

The five-bedroom industrial-style home has a “rugged loft feel,” says project manager Jeff Fung. “It is open-concept with a large great room, featuring a 20foot ceiling and a fireplace with Venetian plaster for a cement look.”

Jillian Summers, president of Upstaging Limited and designer for all three Dream Homes, describes the interior as “exposing all that lies beneath … proudly displaying the building elements that many try to hide, mixing elements of

Jillian Summers, president of Upstaging Limited and designer for all three Dream Homes

raw, edgy style with the warm texture of wood and exposed brick.”

For décor items, Summers turned to Warehouse 74, which specializes in vintage-inspired industrial-style furnishings and accessories.

The house features a modern kitchen with a walk-in pantry and a finished basement. “The basement is often forgotten, so we really wanted to feature it as a place to get together, a party area,” Fung says. It includes a golf simulator and large recreation room with a bar, as well as a bedroom and bathroom.

The other Jefferson Homes offering is a four-bedroom home with an ambiance that Summers describes as “French country – warm, inviting and cozy, a space that says ‘welcome home’.” The style, she notes, dates back to the 18th century and is a reflection of homes in Provence in the south of France.

With a smaller footprint, this one is “a modest home that is still luxurious,” Fung says. Its more European-style elevation, with natural stone and block work, is a first-of-a-kind look for the Byron neighbourhood, he adds. 

May/June 2019

Lifestyle 37

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DREAMS ~ Continued from page 37

Summers calls the home “elegant yet comfortable,” mixing old with new.

Décor items are supplied by Accents Home Furniture, a retailer that combines the latest design trends with timeless classic styles.

It also features an open-concept kitchen and great room, as well as a finished basement, with a recreation room and walk-out to the backyard, Fung says.

The Grand Bend home, from Nicholson Builders, is a Craftsman-style bungalow, created with cottage inspired living in mind, says Summers, noting its weathered finishes, shiplap walls, natural-fibre rugs and neutral tones.

“It is sophistication meeting casual living,” she says.

One of its highlights, says Rod Nicholson, is an expansive rear deck and an adjacent covered deck, with peaked roof and two skylights, ideal for outdoor entertaining. The multi-level backyard features armour stone accents and a fire pit.

Inside, the main level includes an open-concept great room, with ledgerock fireplace. The kitchen features an island, stainless steel six-burner stove and a walk-in butler pantry.

A room off the main foyer can be an office/den or an additional bedroom.

The master bedroom ensuite has a soaker tub and tile shower plus a double vanity. The finished lower level has two additional bedrooms as well as a large recreation room with a mini bar.

Furnishings for this home are also from Accents Home Furniture.

The three homes are available for touring. n

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May/June 2019

Lifestyle 39

Experience

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autostyle

Hot wheels

AUDI Q8 COMBINES LUXURY COUPE ELEGANCE WITH SUV VERSATILITY

T

he Q8 is the new flagship of Audi’s utility vehicle lineup, featuring sporty dynamics, practical versatility and the premium trimmings that are synonymous with the brand. The five-seat Q8 is based on the same body structure as its three-row sister SUV, the Q7, but has a more aggressive, sedan-like look. It’s about 25 millimetres wider, the body overhang is 76 mm shorter and the roofline has been lowered 40 mm, tapering downward as it flows toward the rear – a design touch that gives the Q8 a sporty silhouette without compromising rear-seat headroom.

By sharing the same platform, including the Q7’s 2,995-mm wheelbase, this addition to the Audi lineup provides one of the most spacious interiors in the segment.

The cargo area is generous – with the rear seatbacks lowered, there’s 1,755 litres of cargo space, which exceeds its German competitors.

One of the notable features in the luxuriously appointed cabin is a new infotainment system. The Q8 is the first Audi SUV to be fitted with the system, which uses two screens

By Clare Dear

controlled by touch instead of a control knob and buttons. It includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto interfaces.

In addition to Audi’s legendary quattro all-wheel-drive system, the Q8 is equipped with new mild hybrid technology. The 48-volt primary electrical system incorporates two modules: a lithium-ion battery and a belt alternator starter. During braking, it can recover up to 12 kW of power and feed it back into the battery. This technology enables long coasting phases with the engine deactivated to help conserve fuel.

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May/June 2019

Lifestyle 41

travelstyle

Giants Causeway, an area of hexagonal basalt stones, created by ancient volcanic fissure eruption, in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

IRISH EYES ARE SMILING TRAVEL TO WHERE SPRING IS GREENER THAN GREEN

By Kathy Mueller

I

t’s springtime in southwestern Ontario, flowers are blooming, birds are singing and the grass is green. However, ask anyone who has ever travelled to Ireland and they will tell you: ‘You haven’t seen the colour green until you’ve seen the green of the Emerald Isle.’

“It just pops,” said Susan Eliuk, travel pro advisor with Travel Agents in Action in London.

Sitting further north than southwestern Ontario, it seems mystical that this island nation of about 4.8 million people could be covered in such lush green grasses and, of course, shamrocks.

Ocean currents bring warmer waters further north, and there is a lot of precipitation - about 225 days of rain a year in western parts of the country. All of that rain, combined with more moderate temperatures, is ideal for vegetation.

While the green rolling hillsides are beautiful, they are not the only star

42 Lifestyle May/June 2019

ABOVE Many claim that the Irish countryside is the greenest green on earth.

TOP INSET A stop at some of Ireland's famous pubs for a pint of Guinness is a must.

attraction of this magical land. There are the historical favourites to which tourists have been flocking for decades. Near the top of everyone’s list is the Blarney Castle with its infamous stone that has visitors bending over backwards to kiss it.

Legend has it that puckering up to this 1446 stone endows the kisser with the gift of the gab.

Belfast, the capital city of Northern Ireland, is home to Titanic Belfast. It tells the story of the doomed ocean liner, RMS Titanic, sitting on the site of the former shipyard where the Titanic – the largest ship of the times - was built.

Another must-see is the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Giant’s Causeway on the northern tip of Ireland with its 40,000 interlocking hexagonal basalt columns. It rivals the Cliffs of Moher in its majesty, which rise 214 metres above the sea in County Clare.

It’s a place that, when weather conditions are right, sea waters will be pushed up and over the cliffs, catching unsuspecting visitors off guard.

And of course, there are pubs dotting cities and villages across the country.

“You can’t go to Ireland and not take in one of the local pubs,” said Eliuk. “The

people of Ireland are so very warm and open. They are great story tellers and will talk with you as if they have known you for a very long time.”

In Dublin, the Temple Bar hosts a number of cultural institutions for daytime visiting. After dark, however, it becomes a high energy center for nightlife with tourists crowding into nightclubs, restaurants and any number of bars. That includes the ever-popular Temple Bar Pub where the music is lively and the whiskey and Guinness flow.

But what about some of the perhaps, lesser-known attractions?

“One thing people may not realize about Ireland is that it is a spectacular place to see the northern lights,” said Eliuk. “An old fortress in Donegal, the Grianan of Aileach, is a great spot for photographers to get some amazing shots.”

Not far from Dublin, but a little off the beaten track is the ‘Wonderful Barn,’ a corkscrew-shaped stone building built after a famine in the 1700s to create jobs and to act as a place to store grain should there be another famine.

“Ireland is one of our top European destinations,” said Gail Ducharme, a vacation manager with Ellison Travel and Tours. “Small group tours made up of friends or family are really trending right now.” With six to ten people in a group, a travel itinerary can be customized to suit a group’s particular interests. “They get a tour guide and bus to themselves. That provides flexibility to change the itinerary on the go, if they want to.”

One popular group tour has families tracing their own history. “A lot of Canadians have historical ties back to Ireland,” said Ducharme. “We build them a tour to help them find their family heritage with visits that include churches and graveyards.”

From bubble domes, to yurts; from world famous wool sweaters, to cooking classes and craft breweries; from Waterford crystal to the lively sounds of Celtic music, Ireland has something for everyone. Plan your itinerary ahead of time to soak up as much of this green land as possible.

Even so, chances are, you will return.

“One visit won’t do it all,” said Eliuk. n

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May/June 2019

Lifestyle 43

yourstyle

SWING SPRING into

A CHANGE OF COLOUR AND STYLE CAN PUT A SPRING IN YOUR STEP

By Mary Jansenberger

44 Lifestyle May/June 2019

A CHANGE OF SEASONS often brings on feelings of the need to change one’s look. As soon as beach weather hits, most of us want a new hairstyle that reflects our rejuvenated mood. But with so many new trends and products, where do you begin? Is the ‘ombre´’ look over?

What does ‘balayage’ mean? What products can hold texture but look natural? How do you try out bangs that won’t immediately be regretted?

ABOVE MUSHROOM BROWN • Stylist: Rachael • Model: Sarah

Rachael used a charcoal blonde balayage highlight on Sarah’s blunt lob (long bob) cut, creating a beautiful smoky, ashy look.

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Soft bangs can be very flattering and help conceal fine lines, while heavier block bangs tend to look fun and youthful.

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Lifestyle 45

SPRING IS IN THE HAIR.

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1

26/03/19 4:13 PM

SWING INTO SPRING ~ Continued from page 45

Bikas says that the trends for this season are centred around a ‘lived-in’ look.

Luckily, Maria Bikas and her team

of stylists at the Maria Bikas Salon have you covered. Bikas says that the trends for this season are centred around a ‘lived-in’ look. If you are a brunette, she suggests a smoky look using balayage, a method of applying highlights that results in a more natural appearance. Blondes are beautifully butter cream this season, wearing tones in the beige palette.

For the adventurous, soft pastels, such as pinks and blues, are very popular. Bikas’ tip for staying on trend with the more extreme colours is to give them an ‘acid washed’ effect.

When styling, think soft, less structured curls. PRO TIP: don’t start your curl right at the root or leave an inch or two uncurled at the ends.

Brush your curls out afterwards.

Bikas recommends Kevin Murphy’s Bedroom Hair (a texturizing spray) and Session Spray Flex (which offers a hold that doesn’t feel brittle or crispy). For enhanced volume try Kevin Murphy’s Anti-Gravity lotion.

Recently, many stars – like JLo and Arianna Grande – have been rocking sleek high ponytails on the red carpet. The key is to use the right products on sections that you don’t want to move, such as L’Oréal Professionnel’s Infinium Hairspray.

PRO TIP: wrap hair around the base of the ponytail to hide the elastic and keep the ponytail smooth and styled. Perhaps add some very loose curls for texture.

One of the most popular highfashion trends this season is visible bobby pins; they can mimic jewellery and add an elegant chicness. n

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● FOR MORE INFORMATION MARIA BIKAS SALON 1673 Richmond Street 519-850-8383 • www.mariabikassalon.com May/June 2019

Lifestyle 47

Grand Bend and Area

TAKE IN THE BEAUTY AND THE FUN!

519.238.6369 www.ironbarn.ca info@ironbarn.ca 17 Main St., Grand Bend N0M 1T0 Custom Fire Rings

48 Lifestyle May/June 2019

Metal Signs

Garden Art

More

On the road

travelstyle

ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND ENLIGHTENMENT ON THE WEST COAST

By Janis Wallace

MUSIC

Juno-winning Bedouin Soundclash brings their popular mix of reggae-tinged pop sound to the Bayfield Concert Series June 27. The band debuted in 2001 and has been a favourite ever since. After a hiatus, they re-emerged in 2017 with the release of Clock Work and six singles, including Salt Water, in 2018.

Formed in university, Bedouin Soundclash has four studio albums and several awards and nominations behind them.

They’ve appeared with Nine Inch Nails, Damian Marley and Ben Harper, to name a few. They’ve also collaborated with French Canadian singer Coeur de pirate and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. A new album is scheduled for 2019.

WHAT: Bayfield Concert Series: Bedouin Soundclash WHEN: June 28, 8:30 p.m.

WHERE: Bayfield Town Hall TICKETS: $50 through ticketscene.ca and Shopbike Coffee • bayfieldconcertseries.com

HERITAGE

More than 40 million people live along the Great Lakes, which contain a fifth of the planet’s freshwater. This area depends on the lakes for water consumption, transportation and recreation. An

exhibit produced by the Canadian Museum of Nature in collaboration with the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council looks at the ecosystems at a time of increased interest in their health. Canada’s Waterscapes comes to the Lambton Heritage Museum May 1 to September 30, offering interactive exhibits to inspire exploration and action to protect the lakes.

“We decided to bring this exhibit to the Lambton Heritage Museum because the content for the exhibit looks engaging and fun, and we have such an intimate connection to water in Lambton County,” says Dana Thorne, curator/supervisor. “It is a natural fit for us and our connection to Lake Huron and the St. Clair River.”

WHAT: Canada’s Waterscapes WHEN: May 1 to September 30 WHERE: Lambton Heritage Museum, Grand Bend • lambtonmuseums.ca • 519-243-2600

FILM

Bringing award-winning films to Forest began six years ago when Glen Starkey thought it would be a good use of the

LEFT JUNO-WINNING BEDOUIN SOUNDCLASH

Kiwanis Kineto Theatre. Today, the New Lambton Film and Food Festival is a popular four-day event that shines a light on Canadian and international films, as well as the food, culture and agri-food industry in the area. Ten films are shown, including Green Book, Collette, Stan and Ollie and Nothing Like a Dame. Three dinners, wine tastings and food pairings, artisans, arts, entertainment and education workshops round out the festival. A youth short film competition connects high school talent with TIFF professionals.

“It’s a training course,” says Starkey. “It covers developing a script, story line, acting, filming and editing. It’s intensive fun.”

WHAT: New Lambton Film Festival WHEN: May 23 to 26 WHERE: Kiwanis Kineto Theatre, 24, King St. West, Forest • forestfestivals.ca • 519-786-4879

May/June 2019

Lifestyle 49

LIVE • SHOP • DINE • EXPLORE

SUMMER IN

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Come discover an extraordinary array of unique products housed in our charming Wortley Village shop.

174 Wortley Road, London | 519.518.0252 | macKinlaymercantile.com info@mackinlaymercantile.com | www.facebook.com/Mackinlay-Mercantile 50 Lifestyle May/June 2019

MacKinlay Mercantile

LIVE • SHOP • DINE • EXPLORE

DANCING IN THE STREETS

Wortley Village hosts summer events

T

he village’s green and streets will be alive with music, classic cars, food and festivities during the summer months.

From old friends – like Gathering on the Green, staging its 38th rendition on June 1 – to newer entries – like the four-year-old Back to the Green Car Shows, to be held on June 18 and July 16 (with rain dates one week later), there are many opportunities to visit London’s favourite village.

Attracting 100 to 150 cars, the London East Lions Back to the Green Car Shows also offer grilled goodies, so you can check out classic autos while munching on hamburgers and hotdogs. It’s a guilt-free way to avoid

cooking on a hot day, as all proceeds go to the Lions club for its charitable work.

In its ninth year, the Wortley Village Jazz and Blues Fest will close down Wortley Road from Askin Street to Elmwood Avenue on August 18. Ten bands will play on five stages from 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. More than 5,000 people attended last year, bringing lawn chairs and enjoying visiting village shops and patio eateries.

It runs in conjunction with Gathering on the Green 2, which has become one of the area’s largest events, with over 150 vendors of local and handmade craft items.

● FOR MORE INFORMATION BACK TO THE GREEN CAR SHOWS www.facebook.com/carshowsbylionsclubs GATHERING ON THE GREEN www.gpbrown3.wixsite.com/oscogog WORTLEY VILLAGE JAZZ AND BLUES FESTIVAL www.wortleyjazzbluesfest.weebly.co

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May/June 2019

Lifestyle 51

homestyle

CLEAN

with kindness

By Lisa Brandt

UNDERTAKE AN ECO-FRIENDLY CLEAN SWEEP THIS SPRING

ABOVE Using natural products to tackle deep seasonal cleaning makes it better for you and for the environment, but some jobs are better farmed out. Oven Clean uses non-caustic products to take care of one of the most-hated spring cleaning chores to complement your eco-conscious approach.

52 Lifestyle May/June 2019

Springtime. There’s something about the budding flowers and rebirth of nature that lifts the spirits. That is, until someone mentions those dreaded two little words: spring cleaning.

Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be a loathsome chore. Tidying up, eliminating clutter and giving everything a good scrubbing makes a living space feel lighter. Whether you’re preparing to list your home for sale or just freshening it up for the season, there are ways to make it easier on yourself and the environment. You may already have everything you need to do the job well.

Getting the dirty jobs done doesn’t have to mean working in a cloud of chemicals. A squeeze of dish soap, lemon, baking soda and vinegar can tackle just about any cleaning job that’s been put off for a while.

Add a few Magic Erasers and some lint-free cloths and you’re good to go.

Cleaning vinegar is even stronger than the regular, white variety, but ordinary vinegar will also do. Mixed with water (the ratio depends on the toughness of the job ahead) vinegar will clean windows, mirrors and countertops. Used full strength, it will make a bathroom

ABOVE Decluttering drawers, cupboards and countertops is the first step in having a spring-fresh kitchen. Find everything you need for quick summer meal prep with pull-out organizers installed in hard-toreach cupboards by Gliding Shelf Solutions.

sparkle, right down to the toilet bowl.

Some spring cleaners add a few drops of lavender or another essential oil to leave a pleasing scent behind.

The grunge that builds up around faucets can’t stand up to a real lemon.

It will leave the taps shiny and the kitchen smelling great. It’s also touted as a great substitute for harsh bleach on laundry day. Brighten a stainless-steel sink by scrubbing it with baking soda.

For windows, one tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with one-quarter cup vinegar and two cups of warm water makes an eco-friendly and effective cleaner.

The microwave cleaning trick of zapping a bowl of lemon and water for three minutes apparently does work to loosen stuck-on food. But why not wipe down the inside of the microwave immediately after a pasta explosion?

Oh right – teenagers.

One peek inside an oven in need of attention is enough to make a person consider abandoning the eco-friendly approach in favour of harsh chemicals and nuclear weaponry. But even scrub-

bing with the arm strength of The Rock still won’t likely return the oven to its previous glory. Plus, it is good time management to get it professionally cleaned. Oven Clean uses non-caustic chemicals to get your stove back to a place before overflowing casseroles and other messy spills got baked on.

Oven Clean’s Tilda King says their environmentally-friendly process returns the appliance to showroom condition.

“Oven cleaning is one of the mosthated household chores. We’re done in less than two hours and you can be doing something else. And we do the entire oven, even racks and doors. No fumes.

No mess. And you can use the oven again immediately after we’re done.”

While we’re on about appliances, it’s amazing what can accumulate behind them. Drag them away from the wall and evict those dust bunnies and other critters before they reproduce as quickly as real bunnies do.

A big part of spring cleaning is decluttering and finding more efficient ways of running our lives. We’ve all reached back to the no-man’s land of a deep cupboard and discovered a package whose expiry date was three years past.

A well-organized kitchen reduces frustration, according to Dennis Beker of Gliding Shelf Solutions, whose company replaces regular cupboards with pull-out drawers that allow you to see everything, instead of only what’s at the front.

“For me to put the glides in, you have to take everything out. Then you will be more selective about what you’ll put back in there. It cuts down significantly on waste.”

Stiles – those thin, vertical boards between double cabinet doors – are all that stand in the way of you finding what you want quickly in a more organized, useful cabinet.

You will smile as brightly as the morning sun in springtime every time you open a drawer or an appliance and you can go easier on yourself and the environment this season. n

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May/June 2019

Lifestyle 53

bizlife

Making memories

Family travel is the way to go

By Ellen Ashton-Haiste “Remember when….”

These words begin many family conversations, recalling special times with parents and grandparents.

Creating such reminiscences is fueling a growing travel trend to family trips involving two or three generations.

“The biggest emphasis for multigenerational travel is making memories,” says Tena Reid, travel advisor with Ellison Travel and Tours.

It’s definitely something Ellison’s advisors are seeing more and more.

“For myself, there is at least one or two in every season,” Reid says. “I think it’s because grandparents today are healthier and looking for ways to spend special times with their families.”

Travel for all ages is also easier, she adds. “The world is becoming more accessible for people who have

mobility issues. If grandparents are using walkers or wheelchairs, we can make arrangements to accommodate that.”

The trips encompass a range of formats, from exploring regions of Europe to cruises, all-inclusive resort vacations or enjoying the attractions of Disney World.

“It can be anything, anywhere, whatever people want to do,” Reid says. “If you’ve thought about it, it’s out there.”

Ancestral tours are popular, she says.

People who have immigrated to Canada often want their children and grandchildren to experience their culture of origin. A family of Italian heritage recently spent two weeks exploring Tuscany, exploring from their base at a rented villa.

Ellison also arranged a trip for a 91-yearold veteran, who took his six children on a European battlefield tour.

Disney is a big draw, Reid says, and

ABOVE Cathy and Doug Ellison, owners of Ellison Travel and Tours.

boasts a whole department dedicated to arranging multigenerational trips.

Cruise ships are ferrying families around the globe. Disney and Royal Caribbean are two lines that cater to this type of travel, she says, mentioning a couple who have enjoyed three Disney cruises, one with each of their children and families.

Royal Caribbean’s Oasis class ships - virtually floating cities, says Reid – lend themselves to multiple ages. They feature quiet adult-only areas as well as kid-delighting lures, such as carousels, waterparks, multiple pools and age-friendly programs.

The cabin styles also accommodate family groups, she adds, citing one suite that sleeps 14, with four bedrooms and its own deck with hot tub and barbecue. n

● FOR MORE INFORMATION • ELLISON TRAVEL AND TOURS • Offices in Exeter and London • 800-265-7022 • www.ellisontravel.com 54 Lifestyle May/June 2019

bizlife

Beauty is everywhere

Where art, heritage and science meet ABOVE Dr. Wei Jing Loo owner of DermEffects.

By Ellen Ashton-Haiste

H

istoric churches and artistic passion are not elements that immediately come to mind when thinking about a dermatology clinic and research facility. But they are inextricably linked in Dr. Wei Jing Loo’s DermEffects clinic in London’s Hyde Park neighbourhood.

In 2012, when Loo began searching for a site to open a private practice clinic, she came across the former Hyde Park United Church, forced to close its doors in 2011 due to dwindling membership. She immediately fell in love with the century building.

“Having lived in the United Kingdom for 10 years, I love old buildings that have a history and beautiful architecture,” Loo says. “I could readily envision how to restore, refurbish and repurpose this one.”

The restoration was a massive project,

including an entire new roof and replacement of the belfry tower.

It was completed in three phases, beginning with the medical wing in the church’s rear extension. In this space, pews were repurposed as seating and the front door of the demolished adjacent church office was salvaged and reused to separate the reception area and the clinic rooms.

The cosmetic wing, completed in 2014, is located in the mid-section, the former choir room. Removal of a lowered ceiling revealed the original hundred-year-old tin ceiling, which, with considerable effort, was restored.

The final phase saw the sanctuary repurposed as a research wing, with original lights and oak ceiling preserved.

Among Loo’s favourite elements here are “ghost chairs,” impressions left on the wainscoting by the removed pews.

Rather than paint over them, she opted to leave them and invited community members to contribute quotes, poems and phrases that are stenciled above them.

In addition to a love of historic buildings, Loo has a passion for creating art and her watercolour and silk paintings, along with mixed media pieces incorporating a variety of recycled materials, adorn the walls.

“While I love medicine, art is my hobby. I use it as a way to give back to the community,” she says.

Such community support includes events like her second Art For Charity event May 9, for which she created 50 works to be sold to raise money for United Way, cancer care via Relay For Life and the Montessori Academy of London. n

● FOR MORE INFORMATION • DERMEFFECTS • 1560 Hyde Park Road • 519-472-8686 • www.dermeffects.ca May/June 2019

Lifestyle 55

Game on.

It’s called a living room for a reason. So, when friends gather round for game night, live it up. Pair a game board with a charcuterie board. Let the libations flow and the hilarity ensue. After all, game nights are just playdates for adults.

From expansive living areas, to solid construction and high-end finishes, Sifton focuses on craftsmanship, so you can focus on life.

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