SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 HOME RENOS INTERIORS NEW HOMES BEAUTY FASHION FOOD TRAVEL HEALTH AUTO SHOPPING www.lifestylemagazineonline.com Celebrating 23 years LUXHOMESCOUNTRY ESTATE LOFTS IN INISLANDTRAVELVANWALKCULTUREFASTINGISHEALTHEXETERINTERMITTENTFORYOU?THROUGHGOGHHOPPINGGREECE pack lightFASHION pack right
70964 BLUEWATER HWY 21, GRAND BEND WOODSMITH@OKEWOODSMITH.COM519.238.8893 WWW.OKEWOODSMITH.COMCALLNOWTOBOOKYOURCUSTOMBUILD OKE WOODSMITH When we build your dream home, we build it together! MADE TO MEASURE HOMES • BUILT FOR THE CENTURY CRAFTED METICULOUSLY WITH THE UTMOST CARE DISTINCTIVE CUSTOM HOMES AND COTTAGES
There are builders who build houses. There are architects and designers who design homes. Com bining both skill sets in one design/build company means a win-win for clients. This is the advantage offered by Oke Woodsmith Building Systems.
The three-bay garage has access to a basement storage area with outside double doors to bring items in from the backyard for added convenience.
Other distinctive features include ensuite bathrooms for all bedrooms and large tray ceilings to delineate the areas in the open-concept layout. Comfy built-in window seats and a hanging bench beneath the foyer window add to the homey ambiance.Okecredits
TOP The homeowners were seeking a modern esthetic with a comfortable feel. The open concept great room/kitchen area speaks to this desire. ABOVE The primary bedroom is spacious and features a large ensuite that will suit the couple as they age in place. SYSTEMS 70964 Bluewater Highway, Grand Bend 519-238-8893 www.okewoodsmith.com
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A main floor home office includes an extensive storage area along one wall, tucked out of sight behind barn doors.
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“Being the design builder, rather than working independently with a designer or architect, is an asset.”
RANDALL OKE
In addition to the family room, the finished basement contains a gym, an entertainment space with a pool table and a cozy bar built around a seating island. “The homeowners wanted a ‘conversation bar,’ where you can sit around it rath er than serving from behind it,” Oke says.
Those advantages are evident in many of the features show cased in an Oke Woodsmith home recently built in Exeter.
“Being the design builder, rather than working independently with a designer or architect, is an asset,” says company president Randall Oke. “We can act as a one-stop shop, offering all the services right through to helping with the product selections.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION • OKE WOODSMITH BUILDING
Oke and company designer Steve Poortinga consulted exten sively with the clients to create their ideal home. “We worked on a lot of designs to get the perfect one, and it evolved as we went along,” Oke says.
The four-bedroom, two-level home is set on a large lot backing onto the Ausable River, with access to a riverside path established by the local conservation authority. The home’s lower level has a walk-out to a ground-level patio and the rear yard beyond. This area has a central sitting area and fire pit. Above the patio, off the main-floor living room, a covered porch features drop-down screens that allow it to be closed-in when it’s chilly. The porch also accesses an outside deck with stairs to the lower patio.
FULL CIRCLE homestyle From design to completion, Oke Woodsmith is all in
•
By Ellen Ashton-Haiste
partnering with local businesses - including cabinetry by Stratford’s Woodecor and landscaping by Cobble Design in Zurich - for the ultimate success of the project.
September/October 2022 Lifestyle 7 519.238.8893 I WWW.OKEWOODSMITH.COM PUZZLED ABOUT YOUR NEW HOME? We see the whole picture. • Collect one puzzle piece in each issue (6) of Lifestyle Magazine in 2022 and assemble the puzzle. • Include your name, address, phone number, email address and mail to Oke Woodsmith Building Systems at 70964 Bluewater Hwy, Box 9, Grand Bend, ON N0M 1T0. • The first completed puzzle received by mail will be given A NICE HOLIDAY SURPRISE. If you miss an issue of Magazine,Lifestylegoto okewoodsmith.com to find the missing piece. TAKE PART IN OUR PUZZLE CHALLENGE PROUDLY OFFERING WINDOWS AND DOORS FROM THESE QUALITY MANUFACTURERS Owned and operated by Marv & Drew Stephenson www.corbelrenovation.com youExperiencecantrust! SPECIALISTS IN WINDOWS AND DOORS CALL FOR A FREE 519.521.6278QUOTE BACKED BY A LIFETIME WORKMANSHIP WARRANTY !
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Mike Loyens • Travis Loyens
P.S. Are you as excited as I am about the very cool interactive show of Vincent van Gogh’s works? What an opportunity! Don’t miss that story on page 10. “If you want to learn something, read about it. If you want to understand something, write about it. If you want to master something, teach it.”
unique and remarkable
EDITOR’S note
One of the things that I’ve loved about writing for newspapers and mag azines over the past three decades is that I get to interview such interesting people and learn so many fun/amazing/scary/valuable things. I agree with Yogi Bhajan and love that I really get to understand things when I write about them. In this issue, the health story is about intermittent fasting. Like you, I’ve heard a lot about this dieting method, and my husband and I briefly tried it. It was a challenge with our schedules, and, ultimately, we weren’t successful after doing it for a couple of months. Zero pounds lost. I dismissed it as a fad. Oh, I knew people who had great success, but we just didn’t ‘get it.’ But, as usual, all the people I interviewed about their experiences and the experts from whom I gathered information were so interesting and willing to share knowl edge, I really learned why and how it can work and why and how it’s not for someOverpeople.thepast year, I’ve been suc cessful at releasing all but 10 pounds to get to my goal. So maybe I’ll try it again to help me defeat this plateau now that I understand the ‘secrets’ and pitfalls much better. If this is something you’ve been considering, I hope the story on page 34 helps you understand it better, too.
Likewise, it was serendipitous tim ing as I was researching our fashion story in this issue, while the news was filled with horror stories about chaos at airports and lost luggage. I was thinking about my wardrobe for an upcoming two-week trip to Europe and knew I would need a lot of clothes for different types of weather and types of places we would be visiting. But then I started doing the interviews for a story on packing for travel (page 25) and talked to an expert on it. I suddenly could imagine arriving at the airport with just a carry-on bag. It seems to be better to have some clothes rather than no clothes when we land in Paris. When you decide to brave the travails of travel, will you take the carry-on only challenge, too?
YOGI BHAJAN Jill Ellis-Worthington lifestyle.editor@writedoton.com With a planning process that starts with nothing more than your dreams and a blank sheet of paper, you be sure your Riverstone every bit as 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.
8 Lifestyle September/October 2022 B UI L DIN G O R I G IN A L H O M ES F OR OR I G I N A L P EOP L E We’ ll make y o u r next h o me a s or i g ina l a s y o u a r e ww w. r i v e rs t o ne or i g ina l h o me s .c o m 519.666.3537 Why settle for a run-of-the-mill custom home when you can have an entirely original one?
Original Home will be
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LIFESTYLE PUBLI S HER Lana L. Breier EDITOR Jill Ellis-Worthington EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Ellen Ashton-Haiste WRITERS EllenClareAshton-HaisteDear Jill Ellis-WorthingtonJanisWallace ACCOUNT MANAGERS Annette Gent annettegent537@gmail.com519-200-0283 Lorraine Lukings lorrainelukings@hotmail.com519-520-7676 Jan McGrath jm@lambtonshores.com519-243-2932 EDITORIAL & AD DESIGN Wendy Reid AD DESIGN Nancy Greenfield Bill McGrath PRODUCTION Nancy Greenfield PHOTOGRAPHY BAIN IMAGES Richard Bain / Jesse Bellringer WEB ARCHITECTURE Redding Design Lifestylewww.reddingdesigns.comInc.ispublishedsixtimes a year by 2251632 Ontario Inc. c.o.b. Lifestyle Magazine 108 Tuyll Street, Bayfield N0M 1G0 Copieslifestylemagazinepublishing@gmail.com519-873-0989aredistributedtoselectedhomes,magazinestandsandlocalbusinessesinLondonandarea.CanadaPostAgreement#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. magazine September/October 2022 Lifestyle 9 contents SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER 2022 105 15 2049 HOMESTYLE 5 From concept to completion Builder does it all 15 All that glitters Metallic décor magic 40 Green acres Ample room in luxury digs 62 Lofty heights New apartments in Exeter CULTURELIFE 10 Go see van Gogh An immersive art experience TRAVELSTYLE 20 Going Greek Island hopping vacations 38 Feeling sporty New owner for Grand Bend biz YOURSTYLE 25 Travel light Tips for packing smart 34 All in the timing Dieting by the clock SPECIAL SECTIONS 43 Autostyle 49 Builder showcase BIZLIFE 31 Maria Bikas Salon 61 White Squirrel Golf Club 66 Janzen Insulation 67 Johnson Insurance 68 Crunican Orchards 69 Edwards & Sons Complete Property Maintenance 70 Realty Concierge
AN IMMERSIVE culturelife ART experience 10 Lifestyle September/October 2022
By Ellen Ashton-Haiste
Photographic images of Vincent van Gogh’s paintings, projected onto the walls and floors of the exhibit space, transport viewers in this immersive exhibition. Admission is timed allowing viewers space to experi ence the exhibit and interpret it with their senses.
September/October 2022 Lifestyle 11
PREMIEREONTARIOOFIMAGINEVANGOGH
sive Exhibition In Image Totale – created by artistic directors and pioneers in immersive exhibitions Annabelle Mauger and Julien Baron – has been wowing audiences since its launch by Encore Productions in Paris in 2017. It features more than 200 paintings by the Dutch artist, enhanced and projected onto the walls and floors of the exhibit space. Accom panied by a soundtrack of some of the world’s great classical music, it transports viewers into the heart of the artist and his works. The exhibition will have its Ontario pre miere on October 22 at 100 Kellogg Lane,
Most people thinking about touring an art exhibition envision walking through galleries while admiring framed works hang ing on the walls. But imagine stepping into one of those paintings and becoming part of it. While this might seem like a scene from a science fiction movie, it is essentially how patrons will experience the works of Vincent van Gogh at an exhibition coming to London thisImaginefall.
Van Gogh – The Original Immer
● FOR MORE INFORMATION • IMAGINE VAN GOGH • www.imagine-vangogh.com • 100 KELLOGG LANE • www.100kellogglane.com
The venue is ideally suited for this exhibition, says D.J. Williams, president at Jetset Event Management. “There are lots of high ceilings and rooms that have the 20,000 square feet we need for the show.” Williams attended the U.S. premiere of Imagine Van Gogh in Boston and calls the experience breathtaking.
The tour starts with a visit to an ‘education room’ where information is provided about Vincent van Gogh’s life, including his beliefs and his struggles. “You get a better under standing of the exhibition and who he was and what was going on in his world,” Williams says. “A lot of people don’t realize that Vincent van Gogh didn’t sell a painting while he was alive. But he’s kind of become the rock star cult artist of all time.”
Imagine Van Gogh will run until January 8, 2023; tickets will be priced from $44.07. Williams anticipates that it will be a major drawing card for people throughout the region. “Lon don is very rich in its artistic commu nity,” he says.
Admission to the exhibition is timed, allowing a limited number of people for each time slot. “They limit the number of people who can go in at a time so it’s not overwhelming,” he explains. “They want people to not feel like it’s ‘get in and get out.’ You have lots of space. It’s really a relaxing one-hour experience that you’ll never forget.”
12 Lifestyle September/October 2022
“Your senses are all on display at one time. Your mind opens up to so many things. But it’s so individual. No one is having the same experience; everyone will see it in a different way.”
More than 200 of the master’s paintings are featured in the Imagine Van Gogh display in the 20,000-square-foot exhibit space of 100 Kellogg Lane. London’s newest cultural and entertain ment hub. It will also launch the former cereal factory’s converted event spaces. “It’s a huge deal to have the exhibi tion,” says 100 Kellogg Lane special events coordinator Angela Rivard. “We’re growing our cultural scene here and this is a great way to contin ue that growth.”
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travelstyle 20 Lifestyle September/October 2022
TOP Santorini, Mykonos, Paros and Naxos are all part of the Cyclades group of Greek islands.
“Cruising is popular,” says Doug Ellison, chair and founder of Ellison Travel. “What do you want – romance or history – or do you just want a place to relax? If you want to see the islands, a cruise is best.” On shore, he recommends hiring a driver or taking public transit to be able to focus on the sights not the precarious roads or other drivers.
W
September/October 2022 Lifestyle 21
Naxos is the largest island; Paros is steeped in history and Mykonos and Santorini the most popular. Tourists often fly into Athens, on the mainland, and take ferries to the islands, or visit them as ports of call on cruises.
hen you see dazzling white buildings against the blue of sky and sea, you know you’re looking at one of the Greek Cyclades Islands. If you’re looking for a place to recharge and relax, this group of more than 200 islands in the southern Aegean Sea may be the ideal destination.
By Jill Ellis-Worthington
OPPOSITE PAGE LEFT The sun sets on the village of Oia on Santorini.
GOING GREEK
Once there, walk on the beaches or explore narrow streets, learn about the myths and history or dance away the night in the clubs. Each island is known for a specialty.
The distinct architecture and colours reflect the envi ronment and the past. One story describes the islanders painting their houses during Ottoman rule in the 16th century when they were not allowed to fly their flag. White also cools buildings in the summer.
Another story resonates today. During a cholera
ISLAND ADVENTURE BECKONS
22 Lifestyle September/October 2022
If you want a slower pace and no crowds, Naxos is in the centre of the Cyclades. “Naxos is not on a lot of cruise stops,” says Ruth Adams, Vision Travel. “It’s reasonably priced, has great beaches, the food is wonder ful, there is great hiking. It has a lot of pluses depending on the experience you are looking for.”
outbreak in 1938, a law ordered all houses in the Cyclades be whitewashed to help stop the spread because it contains limestone, a disinfectant. Whatever the reason, the contrast of blue and white results in an Insta gram-able view wherever you look. Spend some time in Athens if you want a big European city experience and visit Athena’s Parthenon at the Acropolis and the stadium of the first modern Olympics in 1896. Because they were island bound on a cruise, Karen Boyiakis – who visited with her family – didn’t expect to enjoy Athens as much as she did. “Learning the history of the cradle of democracy was wonderful.” After taking in these magnificent historical sites, it is time sail across the sea for an island adventure.
TOP A natural stone walkway from the Portara to village of Chora on Naxos. LEFT Greece’s famed white buildings sparkle in Parikia village on the island of Paros. CENTRE Amazing cuisine and people watching attract din ers to the beachside boardwalks on Mykonos.
NAXOS
RIGHT Historic windmills look over the town of Mykonos on Mykonos Island.
She says the ferry ride from Athens was a relaxing five hours. “When you come into the main port, the temple of Apollo is really Portarastriking.”is near a great marble door on the islet of Palatia where, according to myth, the Minoan princess Ariadne was abandoned by her lover Theseus after he killed the minotaur on Crete. “Watching the sun go down across the beaches was a favourite time: sitting in the restaurants all along the beaches, at the outdoor, open tables and watching the sun go down, drinking wine and eat ing seafood,” says Adams.
PAROS About eight kilometres west of Naxos, Paros is a pear-shaped island known for its white marble. History buffs will love its rich past. Paros sided with the Persia in both Greco-Persian wars. During the Crusades, the island was ruled by Venice, then conquered by the Ottomans in the 16th century and remained under their rule until the Greek War of Independence in the 19 th Todaycentury.itisknown for beaches and swimming. Gardeners will be in toxicated in the alleys by the scent of jasmine and bougainvillea. A lively club scene offers intoxica tion of a different kind at night.
September/October 2022 Lifestyle 23 the world is waiting ellisontravel.com Your local travel experts. Specializing in customized small groups, family holidays, honeymoons, luxury vacations and trips of a lifetime. 311 Main Street, Exeter, ON | 4 -1930 Hyde Park Road, London, ON 1-800-265-7022 Open 8:30 - 5:00pm, Monday - Friday TICO # 2392471
MYKONOS “Mykonos is called the party island,” says Doug Ellison, chair and founder of Ellison Travel. As well as its nude beaches and night life on one side, the other half of the island offers shops and restaurants. “The port is a typical town with white buildings and windmills,” says Ellison. “You
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SANTORINI Formed after a volcano erupted and collapsed, Santorini greets visitors with tall cliffs. You can ascend to the main town by cable car or donkey. “It’s a beautiful town with narrow streets,” says Ellison. “It’s a busy place.” Be prepared to walk single file. Real estate agent Ann De Bono took her family to the island, where they stayed at a village inn in Kamari. “A string of hotels with restaurants are across the street from the beach. It was quiet and pretty,” she says. “The little restaurants at each hotel where you sit at night, watching peo ple walk by, hearing the music, having dinner with the family is magical,” she says making this pastime a unanimous choice. “I also watched a lone fisherman pulling up nets as the sun rose.” She summed up the island expe rience as exactly how it looks.
ELLISON TRAVEL AND TOURS 4-1930 Hyde Park Road 519- 672-7020 • www.ellisontravel.com
FOR MORE INFORMATION GOING GREEK ~ Continued from page 23
can drive across the island in 45 minutes Boyiakismax.”agrees with Adams when she says, “People watching and enjoying the view of the water and sand, while eating and drinking, was my favourite.”
“The architecture, historic white buildings with tile roofs. Medi terranean blue everywhere and bougainvillea. Overturned fishing boats on beaches with nets. It’s authentic.”
VISION TRAVEL www.visiontravel.ca/ruthadams226-927-4061
LESS IS MORE WHEN IT’S TIME TO TRAVEL Planning your travel choices.whiteblackpacking.efficientschemearoundwardrobeacoloursetsantoneforBasicorfresharegreat
By Jill Ellis-Worthington
yourstyle
LIKEPACKAPRO
packablesunhat light and neutralsairy
Martha Macdonald (27) is also a long-time fan of Hangar9 and though she didn’t have the same self-imposed luggage restriction she was happy to have Ferguson’s help when packing for a 10-day autumn trip to Paris.
Afew years ago, when Martha Disney’s (58) husband chal lenged her to pack for a two-week trip in a carry-on bag she turned to Emily Ferguson at Hangar9, one of her favourite stores. For their many trips, she usually took large checked luggage, but Scott wanted to skip the baggage claim line.
RIGHT The Taifica dress from Marie Saint Pierre – dressed up with a crescent necklace, Dune pendant and a weave link necklace, all from David Dean – is worn with Nicholas Kirkwood Brasilia sandals. • Get triple duty by pairing it with a scarf and sneakers or flats and a hat.
26 Lifestyle September/October 2022
‘Capsule dressing’ is the method that Ferguson uses to help her clients, meaning that you should be able to make 36 outfits from just nine pieces. “The key point,” she explains, “is that three items in your wardrobe should work with three other items.”
ABOVE Kerri Rosenthal Sunny Daze quilted hat is both fun and practical.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT The ultimate in versatility, the multi-coloured Derek Lam 10 Crosby Katalina colour-blocked skirt and Sara Roka Asako85 skirt are chameleons. So many choices for pairing with tops and shoes, make them an ideal travel choice. • Be cool in this Derek Lam 10 Crosby Chaya halter crop. • Casadei’s Jelly thong sandal is pretty in pink. • Small and discrete, Dorothee Schumacher’s colourful chic Glasses Bag holds just the essentials. • A vibrant, versatile long-sleeved top can be layered with a tank or camisole for sun protection. • Mix and match with patterned separates like this Derek Lam 10 Crosby Belen Paperbag short and top. • Bright and cottony comfortable – wear the Frame Gathered Seam Dress with a Marc Cain two-tone leather tote bag and Max Mara Weekend Monica square scarf. ‘Capsule dressing’ consists of three items in your wardrobe that work with three other items. ~ HANGAR9 choose a schemecolour ~ Continued on page 29 PHOTOGRAPHSCOURTESYOFHANGAR9 September/October 2022 Lifestyle 27 EXCEPTIONALSAVINGS ON SALONPROFESSIONALPRODUCTS! CHECK OUT OUR RED HOT DEALS your best hair day guaranteed www.thebso.com 45 Oxford Street West • London 519.660.4545 PUBLICOPEN THETO 35 years Celebrating enjoy up to 70% OCT.SELECTED0ffITEMS28-31,2022 alinesfinelingerie.ca 519.631.2253 565 Talbot St., St. Thomas Bras • Swimsuits • Lounge & Cruisewear
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Limiting choices streamlines your travel wardrobe, saving time as well as space. When Ferguson packs for clients, she groups items for each outfit together making dressing quick and easy. Who needs to add the stress of figuring it out each day when you’re on vacation?
PACK LIKE A PRO ~ Continued from page 27 ● FOR MORE INFORMATION HANGAR9 620 Richmond Street 519-672-0073 • www.hangar9.ca With the current state of air travel con fusion, packing in carry-on luggage makes sense. To formulate your own capsule, Ferguson advises starting with one piece, either a jacket or shoes. “Choose pieces that can go from day to night with accessories, as they are light and can really change the look and elevate your outfit.” If you start with a jacket, pick eight items that will work with it. “Some of your essentials might be trousers and jeans, a two-piece set (top and skirt), a dress and two blouses.” Add a pair of dressier shoes and you have nine pieces from which to make outfits. Items chosen depend on your travel itinerary and personal preferences, addsMargaritaFerguson.Ibbott (57) is a travel blogger on downshiftingpro.com, who usually takes a carry-on bag and a large tote as the entirety of her luggage. Her packing list is similar, including one or two pairs of nylon cargo pants because they dry quickly and have lots of pockets. “They are great when you’re more active on a trip – hiking, biking or doing a segue tour,” she explains. Pockets make it easy to take essentials along – hand sanitizer, cash, hat – without a purse. A long scarf and a belt are must-takes for Ibbott. “You can dress up tops or dresses with a belt and scarf. It’s also great for wrap ping around yourself when the plane is cold.”
“Choose pieces that can go from day to night with accessories, as they are light and can really change the look and elevate your outfit.”
September/October 2022 Lifestyle 29
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At Maria Bikas Salon
I
WE ARE FAMILY
FOR MORE INFORMATION • MARIA BIKAS SALON • 1673 Richmond Street • 519-850-8383 • www.mariabikassalon.ca
The stylists at MBS all bring a wide variety of talents and skills to the salon. It starts at the front desk, where Athena, Emili, Tina, and Athanasia offer a warm welcome and strive to ensure each client leaves feeling pampered. Athena, Emily and Athanasia are also apprentices, working with the team to develop their own specialties. Master stylists and educators Anh, Romana, Lindsay and Rachael are among the guiding influences for these novices.
Senior stylists Melissa, Heidi (absent for the picture) and Madison offer ex pertise in colour and balayage with looks ranging from traditional to cutting edge. Kailee gets excited by creating fun styles for her clients, especially involving big hair changes. Andressa brings talents from Brazil, specializing in smoothing treatments, balayage and highlights. The combined talents of these MBS family members offer clients something for all tastes and preferences. “So come, celebrate and have fun with us,” Bikas encourages.
MARIA
BIKAS SALON bizlife
TOP Feeling like family are (l-r) Melissa, Tina, Kailee, Emili, Andressa, Emily, Rachael, Maria, Athanasia, Madison, Romana, Anh, Lindsay and Athena. INSET Salon owner Maria Bikas. “ We are a tight family, much more than just work colleagues.”
SALON OWNER MARIA BIKAS
September/October 2022 Lifestyle 31
f clients at Maria Bikas Salon sense a mood of camaraderie when visiting the shop, it’s not their imaginations at play. Staff members are truly connected, an atmosphere that owner Maria Bikas has fostered over the 15 years the north London business has been in operation. “We are a tight family, much more than just work colleagues,” Bikas says. They enjoy sharing their personal passions, including art and music appreciation, as well as a mutual love of pets. They enjoy getting together for off-the-clock activities, like this summer’s much-anticipated pickleball tournament, she says.
By Ellen Ashton-Haiste
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yourstyle 34 Lifestyle September/October 2022
Noelle Martin, instructor in the school of foods and nutritional sciences at Brescia University College, is a registered dietitian at Nourished Beginnings, a clinic special izing in nutrition for women and children. She describes intermittent fasting (IF) as a “pattern of eating where there are length ened portions of time when people go without eating at all or eating with very reduced calories.” She adds that the most common eating pattern is 16/8: 16 hours of fasting and eight hours of eating. This is the one that Shawna Kwan most often follows. She’s used intermit tent fasting to help control her weight off and on for five years. Kwan owns Elan Dance Arts, has two young daughters and prefers an active lifestyle that includes running, walking and biking. Because of her dance history, she’s had four knee surgeries and needs to “keep weight off myAlongknees.”with weight control, Kwan finds that she enjoys better mental clarity, less inflammation and budgetary benefits. “It has benefited my grocery budget by eating one less meal a day.” She also likes the flexibility of IF; on days when her schedule is off, she is able to shift her eating window to accommodate and still eat dinner with her daughters. When she’s too busy, Kwan doesn’t fol low an IF eating pattern and she doesn’t feel as well. But when she does, “I have less inflammation, sleep better because I don’t feel full at night and am able to rest easier. I wake up more excited to get up and be active in the morning.” These types of ancillary benefits are perks to many who follow an IF lifestyle. This was the case for Ann Wheatley, 61. Several years ago, she was experiencing an autoimmune disease, dermato myositis. After taking prescribed steroids for two months – that weren’t helping and were causing her to be “hungry and grouchy” –for this degenerative muscle disease that gave her an inflamed red rash on her head and hands, as well as trouble swallowing, Wheatley tried IF. She fasted one day per week. On that day, “I drank green tea and green smoothies, contain ing algae and chlorophyll, that just tasted awful,” she says. It was worth it though. “The fasting really made a huge difference; this disease went away in 10 months,” according to Wheatley. How does she explain it? “Fasting lets your gut settle down and your system settle down over time by fasting one day each week.” A nice side benefit was the 20 pounds that she lost. Carol Jane Clemens, 62, has been following an IF lifestyle for two and a half years and coaches “mature wom en” through her business, Carol Jane Wellness. Sometimes she follows an 18/6 pattern, others a 22/2. She often changes daily fasting patterns to weekly ones, with a five days on/two days off pattern.
September/October 2022 Lifestyle 35
Some choose a 16/8 pattern others an 18/6 or a 20/4 pattern; for some a schedule of five days on, two days off works better than four days on and three days off. No matter the eating/not eating pattern or schedule they follow, intermittent fasting works for some people. However, many nutritionists frown upon it as a method of weight loss.
Being mindful of when and how much we eat can have weight loss, energy and budgetary benefits. But nutrition experts are leery, as severely restrictive diets can have an adverse effects. Pros and cons of intermittent fasting.
TIMING EVERYTHINGIS
By Jill COULDEllis-WorthingtonA CLOCK-BASED DIET BE FOR YOU?
TIMING IS EVERYTHING ~ Continued from page 35 “Do it at different intervals,” say says, “because our bodies don’t just want one protocol.” She cautions, however, that general health, age and activity lev el have to be considered before trying a longer“Onefast.ofthe reasons that IF works well for mature women is that it fits their lifestyle. If I want to go for lunch with friends, I can adjust my schedule,” explains Clemens. She says that IF can result in weight loss because the “body is burning sugar when you’re eating and fat when you’re fasting.” And changing the eating/fasting pattern is “training the body to deplete energy and use it from where our fat lives.” Martin disagrees, explaining that there are several aspects of IF that can be harmful. One of those is that “the brain and nervous system need glucose and can’t run on fat.” She adds, “Fasting can affect me tabolism and the body reduces trust in you,” causing it to hold on to stores to hedge against when it is ‘starved’ again. “When we don’t have food for a period of time there will potentially by more cravings when we do eat. Also, when we do eat again the survival instinct is ‘you starved me, so I should accumulate more because you might starve me again.’”
On the positive side, Martin says that like many diets following IF makes “you conscious of eating fewer calories and being more conscious of the foods that go into the body.” Being more mindful of how much and when we eat can be beneficial to weight loss and generalAccordinghealth.to Martin, “If this is what makes you feel best and you understand the bigger picture, then you should do it.”
Tracy Rieger, who is the program coordinator for the nutrition and food service program at Fanshawe College, agrees that the IF diet can be harmful. “If your body doesn’t have access to glucose as a fuel source, it can start to break down muscle to use as fuel. Long term, this can cause damage to the kidneys, brain and heart tissue.”
● FOR MORE INFORMATION
CAROL www.caroljanewellness.com
JANE WELLNESS
NOURISHED BEGINNINGS www.nourishedbeginnings.ca 36 Lifestyle September/October 2022 Dr Moore.pdf 10/30/11 12:52:07 PM face lift/brow lift eyelid sclerotherapyinjectableBotox®tummybreastliposuctionsurgeryenhancementtuckfillersforspider veins specialty skin care products1055Fanshawe Park Road W., Suite 206
September/October 2022 Lifestyle 37
38 Lifestyle September/October 2022
New construction at Southwest Marine and Powersports along the Bluewater Highway in Grand Bend created excite ment even before it opened. A 60,000-square-foot facility was big news. “There was excitement in town,” says owner Jeff Kints. “It was extremely comforting to hear people say it was great for the community. Grand Bend is starting to evolve. It has potential to really be on the map. It’s pretty spectac ular. This brings people to my business as well as to the town.” Not only will they want to check out the huge new facility, but what’s inside: boats, bikes, powersports and all the services to keep them humming. Kints sees it as a destination, one that inspires an “awesome” response. One factor in building a bigger place was expanding brands and services to meet those needs.
Bigger space for bigger toys
SOUTHWEST MARINE EXPANDS WITH NEW OWNERSHIP
Another was merging the branch in Hensall, which required greater capacity than the existing space. Kints bought Southwest Marine and Powersports a year and a half ago. He sold his previous business in 2018 and retired in 2019. He knew the previous owner, Dave Gill, for about 35 years and decided to purchase Southwest as a wellrun, established business. “I bought it on a whim to have fun. It’s turned into a big project. I’m excited about everything.” The pandemic has influenced the way people think about time and how they want to spend it. “The lifestyle demand is pandemic related,” says Kints. The demand was good before, but the pandemic increased it. “People are realizing life is too short. There’s more to life than working.” Kints is seeing families buy boats instead of flying for travel. “They are staying closer to home base.” That home base is important to him and as a long-time philanthropist, he plans to incorporate an annual charity benefit for the new facility. “It will be a chance for everyone to come see the new building and the new products with a charity cause. Giving back to the com munity is Southwestimportant.”Marinesupplies ways to have fun, especially outdoors and as a family or group. Kints says whether on the water or in the bush, you can find a boat or a bike whatever your budget. “We cater to everyone, entry level to repeat customer, and from entry level to high end. Every customer is important no matter what they buy – a dirt bike for their grandson to a Criss Craft boat.”
bestlife
● FOR MORE INFORMATION • SOUTHWEST MARINE • 70672 Bluewater Highway North, Grand Bend • 519-238-2887 • www.southwestmap.com
By Janis Wallace
September/October 2022 Lifestyle 39 City selection with countr y ser vice 1-888-836-4478 519-262-2728 www.hensallmajorappliance .com Great Lakes Helicopter - Lifestyle Magazine Ad 2021 2021/03/22 - Monday 14:56:13 Our 26th year September 2 - 25 The Foremost Show and Sale for Representational Painters from Ontario at the Lambton Heritage Museum, Grand Bend A production of the Grand Bend Art Centre www.paintontario.com
homestyle COUNTRY LIFE
IN THE CITY
By Ellen Ashton-Haiste
At the end of a long and winding driveway, the natural stone entry opens to a spacious foyer leading to the kitchen and dining area.
LIVE IN THIS LUXURIOUS ESTATE
ABOVE (L-R) West Winds’ three-storey home was built in the mid-80s using bricks reclaimed from Detroit’s Olympia Stadium. • Water delights: a saltwater infinity pool and one of three ponds on the property. • Great views of the property are provided by oversized windows in many rooms.
40 Lifestyle September/October 2022
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he view from the decks that wrap around West Winds – an estate en compassing acres of lush lawns and pastureland, bordered by wood groves – conveys the impression of a secluded country retreat. But it is on Gainsbor ough Road just minutes from the city’s thriving Hyde Park community.
The conservatory offers panoramic vistas of the property through full-length windows on three sides. Across the foyer, a hallway leads to a library and the primary bedroom.
The comfy library features walls of dark cherry wood shelves with a rolling Putnam ladder to access
The 50-acre property includes 36 workable acres and four ponds connected by a balancing drainage system that prevents flooding. Its centrepiece is a three-storey home built in the mid-1980s using bricks reclaimed from Detroit’s Olympia Stadium, longtime home of the Red Wings hockey team.
Inside, the home has been extensively renovated to 21st-century standards. At the end of a long and winding driveway, the natural stone entry opens to a spacious foyer leading to the kitchen and dining area. The chef’s kitchen is anchored by a central mar ble-topped island. It features high-end appliances, Caesarstone quartz perimeter counters and 36-inch Italian porcelain tile flooring. The custom cabinets, as well as built-in shelving and cabinetry throughout, were constructed by London master carpenter Rick Carter. An adjacent Muskoka room overlooks the backyard pool and one of the ponds.
•
• The
September/October 2022 Lifestyle 41
• Cabinetry
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT The spacious foyer provides a gracious greeting for guests. Dine while enjoying the pastoral countryside. Relax in comfort in this room with a view. primary bedroom’s ensuite features an oversized Italian porcelain shower. in the chef’s kitchen was crafted by master carpenter Rick Carter.
•
www.johncrosbyproperties.com519-777-2659 the upper reaches. At its centre, a large custom-built walnut desk is a convenient workspace. Stretching along the east side of the home, the main-floor primary suite includes a wood-burning corner fireplace and large walk-in closet. It also accesses an outdoor deck above the backyard. The ensuite bathroom showcases an oversized Italian porcelain shower, plus a soaker tub and double basin vanity with granite countertop. The home’s upper level incor porates four additional bedrooms and a family bathroom. The lower level is designed for fun and relaxation with a gym and pool change room. The family room is dominated by a gas fire place, which is encased in a white and black-veined floor-to-ceiling quartzite surround. This room also has a full bar with a quartzite back splash matching the fireplace and an adjacent, temperature-controlled wine cellar. At the rear, the family room accesses a covered flagstone patio, extending to a hot tub and 20-by-40-foot saltwater infinity pool. Its waterfall faces a backyard pond large enough for canoeing from the rustic wood dock. Access to the three-car garage and a mudroom with cubby closet is provided here. The laundry room offers additional storage in a cedar-lined closet and cus tom-built laundry drawers. The homeowner notes that the property is enclosed by invisible pet fencing and that the lawn areas have in-ground irrigation. This estate is on the market for $4.5 million.
COUNTRY LIFE ~ Continued from page 41
● FOR MORE INFORMATION JOHN CROSBY Royal LePage Triland Realty
42 Lifestyle September/October 2022 432 Talbot St., Downtown St. Thomas • 519-631-0410 Open Mon - Fri 9-5:30 / Sat 9-5 • www.jenningsfurniture.com Your evenperfect...canhomebewhenlifeisn’t! Call now to book complimentaryahomedesignappointment. Soften a room with Custom Drapery. Jennings Furniture & Design Since 1885 Let Us Help You Create Your… BACKYARD OASIS • Hot Tubs • Pools & Saunas • Charcoal & Pellet Grills • Pizza Ovens • Outdoor Kitchens • Gazebos 754 Wharncliffe Rd. S., London 519-681-0249 • beachcomberlondon.com BeachcomBer London Let Us Help You Create Your… BACKYARD OASIS You Create Your… BACKYARD OASIS OASIS • Hot Tubs • Pools & Saunas • Charcoal & Pellet Grills • Pizza Ovens • Outdoor Kitchens • Gazebos 754 Wharncliffe Rd. S., London 519-681-0249 • beachcomberlondon.com BeachcomBer London
autos
By Clare Dear
2023
Soaring fuel prices at the pumps, as well as environmental concerns, are pushing consumers to explore alternative powertrains and automakers are responding. They are expanding their product lineups with more all-electric, plug-in and hybrid vehicles – from subcompact urban runabouts to large SUVs and pickup trucks.
u
autumn
porschelondon c om
autostyle PORSCHELONDONOF New ownership for Southwestern Ontario’s Porsche dealership
ondon and area’s dealer for one of North America’s most desired and iconic automotive brands, Porsche of London, has new ownership. Londoner Chris Leavens and Chris Pfaff (of Pfaff Auto Group) combined to bring the prestigious Porsche lineup to London. They opened a dealership on Oxford Street West before moving into a spar kling new building in December 2020 on Wharncliffe Road South among other automotive dealerships, including several premium brands. On May 1 of this year, however, the Porsche store was acquired by Auto Canada, a publically-traded company based out of Edmonton. While the ownership has changed, the London store’s management and staff remain the same, says general manager Steve“It’sRempel.business as usual,” Rempel adds. “We carry on and all staffing remains the same as before the ownership change. There was no turnover (after the change.)” He says Auto Canada recognizes and values employee retention and didn’t want to disrupt the good business rela tions the London team had built with its customers.“Thiswas a business decision, more or less. Everything stays the same from our side,” Rempel notes. As a result, consum ers won’t notice anything different when dealing with the store and its staff, nor are there any plans to change. “For our customers, there’s no change whatsoever. We’re still taking care of our customers in London, Windsor and surrounding areas.” Although the new store opened just as the COVID pandemic was starting to grip the world, the business has survived, although now, like most auto dealers, it’s facing inventory shortages. While customers continue to purchase Porsches, the wait time for their vehicle is longer. There’s new ownership of the dealer ship, but for its staff and customers, “it’s business as usual,” says Rempel.
● FOR MORE INFORMATION • LEAVENS VOLVO CARS LONDON • 1229 Wharncliffe Road South • 519-690-1600 • www.leavensvolvocarslondon.com
L
COROLLATOYOTACROSSHYBRID
oyota’s Corolla family is grow ing again with the introduction of the sporty new Corolla Cross Hybrid subcompact SUV later this year. The new Corolla Cross Hybrid, with its spacious and versatile design, is ideal for those seeking a vehicle equally at home in urban settings or rural adventures.
Toyota’s newest multimedia system delivers a range of enhanced connectivity and convenience features, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an added USB-C charge port, Cloud Navigation, Intelligent Assistant and Destination Assist.
● FOR MORE INFORMATION • NORTH LONDON TOYOTA • 1515 Rob Panzer Drive • 519-451-3880. • www.northlondontoyota.com
The Cross Hybrid features the fifth generation of Toyota’s Hybrid System, with 194 horsepower on tap to launch this vehicle to 100 km/h in 8.2 seconds while still delivering stellar fuel economy.
autostyle 2023
Toyota expands popular Corolla lineup
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The Cross Hybrid will be offered in two trim levels, the SE and XSE Sport, both built on Toyota’s high-strength TNGA-C platform that maximizes ride comfort, interior spaciousness and high-quality performance. An advanced electronic all-wheel-drive system that is new to the Corolla nameplate is standard on both trim levels.
The SE trim includes 17-inch alloy wheels, an eight-inch touchscreen, a sport-tuned suspension, LED head and tail lamps, smart key access, heated front seats, privacy glass, roof rails and paddle shifters plus standard blind-spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert. The sporty XSE grade adds standard 18-inch alloy wheels, premium LED headlamps, tail lamps and fog lamps, plus Softex-trimmed seats with a power driver’s seat. The Corolla Cross Hybrid sets itself apart from its gas-fuelled sibling with eye-catching details, including available two-tone paint options.
Also included as standard equipment is Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, which features a suite of active safety systems with im proved detection capability.
The Cross Hybrid is expected in Toyota showrooms in December, when other details, such as fuel consumption ratings and pricing, will be announced.
September/October 2022 Lifestyle 45
he third generation of BMW’s X1 premium compact sports activity vehicle has been given a complete makeover for 2023, including a growth spurt that made it longer, wider and taller. As a result, the new X1 offers more interior room for five passengers, making it the most spacious version offered since its introduction in 2009 as the entry model to BMW’s utility vehicle lineup.
autostyle 2023 BMW X1 Next-generation BMW X1 puts increased space to good use ● FOR MORE INFORMATION • LEAVENS VOLVO CARS LONDON • 1229 Wharncliffe Road South • 519-690-1600 • www.leavensvolvocarslondon.com
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The X1’s debut coincides with a milestone anniversary for the London region’s BMW dealer, BMW London. Bill Duffield opened the dealership 30 years ago and it remains an independent, family-run business, a rarity in the auto business today. The 2023 BMW X1 xDrive28i delivers modern versatility, as well as a suite of the latest safety and technology features as standard equipment. Advanced technologies, such as BMW’s assisted driving and parking systems, are now available as well. Based on a wheelbase that’s 22 millimetres longer, the additional cabin space provides a noticeable increase in shoulder and elbow room for the driver and front passenger. The rear seat folding backrests are configured in a 40/20/40 split. Track widths have also increased front and rear, benefitting handling composure and on-road agility. It’s powered by a revised 2.0-litre TwinPower Turbo four-cylinder engine that now generates 241 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine is mated to a new seven-speed dual clutch automatic transmission. The engine’s output is controlled by BMW’s xDrive system, which intelligently distributes power to all four wheels to maximize traction, agility and directional stability in all weather and road conditions. This powertrain can launch the X1 to100 km/h in just 6.4 seconds. The X1 xDrive28i, with a starting price of $44,990, is scheduled to arrive in dealer showrooms in the fourth quarter of this year.
46 Lifestyle September/October 2022
© 2021 Volvo Car Canada Ltd, 9130 Leslie St., Suite 101, Richmond Hill, ON L4B 0B9. Always remember to wear your seat belt.
he 2023 Volvo XC60 Recharge Plug-In Hybrid features a new and improved plug-in hybrid powertrain that significantly extends the elegant mid-size luxury SUV’s electric range while lowering CO2 emissions, increasing performance and improving driving dynamics. The hybrid powertrain upgrades bring the all-electric range on the XC60 up to an NRCAN estimated 58 kilometres on a single full charge while producing zero tailpipe emissions. This means the majority of average daily driving (typically 40 km) can be completed on electric power Improvementsalone.tothe all-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid powertrain include a new longer-range battery featuring a third layer of cells to increase nominal energy from 11.6 kWh to 18.8 kWh, a more potent front-mounted electric starter motor that drives the front wheels and a more powerful rear electric motor driving the rear wheels that delivers 143 horsepower. Overall, the additional electric power results in a total combined output of 455 hp and 523 ft.-lbs of torque. The gas-fuelled part of the hybrid powertrain is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with an electric supercharger and a turbocharger.Theextracapacity of the long-range battery is also useful in extreme weather conditions. On cold winter days or in summer’s scorching heat, drivers are able to pre-heat or pre-cool the cabin remotely, even when the car is not plugged in, while still maintaining all-electric driving range. In addition to the new powertrain, upgrades include the addition of one-pedal drive, which gives the driver the option of controlling both acceleration and deceleration with only the accelerator pedal. The 2023 XC60 Recharge extended range plug-in hybrid, with a base price of $82,200, is expected to be in dealer’s showrooms later this year but is available for reservation now online at leavensvolvocarslondon.com or volvocars.ca. 2022 Lifestyle 47
Meet the smarter 2023 Volvo XC60 Recharge Plug-In Hybrid. A dynamic drive with zero tailpipe emissions while in Pure Electric mode, for the best of both worlds. And with Google built in, you can enjoy a more thoughtful, connected, and streamlined driving experience. Start shopping for yours today, now conveniently available online.
Improved plug-in hybrid powertrain boosts XC60’s dynamics
autostyle 2023 VOLVO XC60
PLUG-INRECHARGEHYBRID
● FOR MORE INFORMATION • LEAVENS VOLVO CARS LONDON • 1229 Wharncliffe Road South • 519-690-1600 • www.leavensvolvocarslondon.com
LEAVENS VOLVO CARS LONDON 1229 Wharncliffe Road South, London, ON leavensvolvocarslondon.com519-690-1600
Contact Leavens Volvo Cars London to book a test drive. The Smarter SUV.
Awarded the 2022 TOP SAFETY PICK+ European models may be shown. Features, specifications and equipment may vary in Canada. Visit volvocars.ca for more information on Canadian models and features.
September/October
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2023VOLVO XC60 RECHARGE PLUG-IN HYBRID
The World’s Finest Fire Pit and Grill Indulge Yourself! www.CampfireNinja.com We make custom builds and renovations simple! We focus on high-end quality finishes, superior craftsmanship and customer service to ensure every project is organized and stress free. Let us create the home of your dreams! We are Cara Design & Build Jacquie & Stefano TRADITIONAL LUXURY MEETS MODERN DESIGN caradesignbuild.com 519.619.8241 48 Lifestyle September/October 2022
Builder Showcase SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER 2022 Now is a great time to buy a new home! The choice in builders, models and neighbourhoods has never been better. We offer you a glimpse of the latest options. THE BUILDERS: • DOMUS • DOUG TARRY • HAYHOE • IRONSTONE • OKE WOODSMITH • REMBRANDT • VRANIC • WESTHAVEN WESTHAVENPHOTO:HOMES September/October 2022 Lifestyle 49
50 Lifestyle September/October 2022 Now SelliNg CoNDoS www.portla ND i N g S . C a 519.870.1335 • 3 models to choose from – Bow, Port & Stern • 1250-1325 sq. ft. of living space on the main floor • Vaulted ceilings, gas fireplace, single or double garage • plus many more standard features!
Compass Point 52-unit condo minium development is taking shape at Domus Developments’ Port Stanley Landings. “We are excited to say the first homeowners have moved into this unique community,” says project developer Mike Mescia. “The second construction phase is well underway, and construction of the community pool is on the horizon.”Thehomes are themed with deep contrasting colours and materials, tying into the village’s lakeside character. Standard features include vaulted ceilings and gas fireplaces in the great rooms, tray ceilings in the primary bedrooms and oversized rear windows with transoms. These custom details provide an ambiance of space and breathability. Kitchens showcase solid surface counters and custom cabinets in a selection of styles and finishes. Main bathrooms have soaker tubs and primary bedroom ensuites have custom tile walk-in showers. Interiors also include engineered hardwood flooring, carpeting in bedrooms and porcelain tile in the foyer, kitchen, dining room and bathrooms. Lower levels, including roughed-in bathrooms and fullsize windows, may be finished as anExteriorsupgrade.feature stone on the front and a three-foot stone ledge with Hardie Board horizontal siding around the side and rear. Home owners enjoy covered front porches and rear paving-stone patios. Landings is nestled in the north east sector of this Lake Erie village, on East Street south of Dexter Line.
2022 BUILDER SHOWCASE
Domus Developments CONDOS COME TO PORT STANLEY LANDINGS
2022 BUILDER SHOWCASE
September/October 2022 Lifestyle 51 “ We don’t just build homes, we build relationships” • www.vranichomes.com • sales@vranichomes.com Outstanding Custom Homes Building in London and area’s most prestigious communities with attention to detail and craftsmanship.impeccable
Vranic Homes IT’S ALL IN THE NAME
Vranic Homes was a featured builder in the community’s first two phases and is again building oneand two-storey homes, ranging from 1,601 to 2,495 square feet. The open-concept plans include flexible options to open up the space or keep rooms divided, depending on the purchaser’s needs. “Although the plans appear similar, each custom home is different and designed with the homeowner’s specific needs in mind,” Vranic says. “There are options to upgrade and select specific features that showcase our range of abilities.”
A model home will be available for viewing soon.
John Vranic’s motto for his construction business states that he’s not just building homes but also relationships, and those relationships extend from clients to his crew and long-time contractors. So, as he sets out to build in the third phase of Ilderton’s Clear Skies neighbourhood, he’s celebrating those relationships. The dozen floor plans his company, Vranic Homes, will build in this phase are each named after contractors and team members. “We’re focused on appreciating the people who make these homes possible,” Vranic says. As examples, he cites the Salliss model, named for Salliss Plumbing owner Marty Salliss; The Fenlon, recognizing Golden Windows’ Nathan Fenlon and The Anicet, honouring Vranic’s own site supervisor Aniceto Pereira.
Westhaven Homes CITY LIVING IN NATURAL NEIGHBOURHOODS
The best of two worlds – all the amenities that come with city living set against a backdrop of pristine nature – describes two communities in which Westhaven Homes is currently building. Bayshore at Edgewater Estates is nestled along the Thames River in Kilworth on the western outskirts of London, just 20 minutes from the city core. The neighbourhood features 46 acres of open space including its own 10-acre lake. Walking trails give access to adjacent Komoka Provincial Park. North London’s Sunningdale Court, just minutes north of the Masonville and Hyde Park commercial corridors, borders Medway Valley and its heritage forest. This 235-acre natural environment – with sloping valleys, marshes and wooded areas – is ideal for hiking, cross-country skiing and watching wildlife. The community is also steps from the Sunningdale Golf and Country Club. Westhaven’s custom homes feature open-concept floor plans with high ceilings and sizeable windows affording scenic vistas. Great rooms are anchored by gas fireplaces. Chef-inspired kitchens showcase central islands and generous pantries. The bedrooms directly access full bathrooms. Interior designer Sue Jory is on hand to assist purchasers with their choices for design elements including colours, trim, lighting and plumbing fixtures. Home construction in both communities will commence this fall and lots are available for purchase. westhavenhomes@gmail.comwesthavenhomeslondon.com519-701-1260pride in sought communities with spacious lots, convenient amenities and green areas.
THE BEST LOCATIONS THE FINEST QUALITY HOMES LOCATIONS!TWOCUSTOMHOMESINGREAT
We take
after
choosing the most
2022 BUILDER SHOWCASE
52 Lifestyle September/October 2022
AWARD WINNING BUILDER Since 2010 Ironstone has won multiple awards as a member of the London Home Builders Association. ironstonecondos.com | ironstonebuilt.com | 226-777-9526 Shift - North London, ON 3-Storey Towns with floor to ceiling windows. Next-Level Living. READY-TO-GO HOMES Images are for illustrative purposes only. Actual product may vary. Contact the builder for details. The Grove - South London, ON Farmhouse-Inspired Contemporary Single Family Homes. QUICK POSSESSION Summerside Trail II - South London, ON Single-family homes in the heart of Summerside. ONTARIOLONDON
i s c o v e r a b u i l d e r f o c u s e d o n y o u L E A R N W H Y A F T E R 5 0 Y E A R S W E S T I L L L O V E W H A T W E D O w w w . r e m b r a n d t h o m e s . c a D
The community’s 78 condomini ums, built to Energy Star for New Home Standards, are comprised of bungalows, two-storey and multilevel homes. Some of these have walk-outs and additional decks to take advantage of the natural surroundings. They showcase seven different models with two or three bedrooms. End units – the Pine, Birch and Grandview models – are two-bedroom bungalows with the option of finished basements. Interi or multi-level and two-storey homes – the Westerdam, New Westerdam, Westerdam II and Baywood models – have three bedrooms with finished recreation rooms or, in the Bayview, a second-floor media room. The Westerdam model also features a side-entry layout.
The floor plans are open-concept designs with spacious rear decks off the main level. Kitchens feature quartz countertops, integrated counter lighting and cabinetry extending to the ceiling. An exten sive selection of styles and colours areStandardavailable.interior features include triple-glazed windows, oak railings with decorative metal spindles on the stairways. The luxury ensuite bathrooms are equipped with spa cious glass shower enclosures and free-standing tubs.
Rembrandt Homes LIVING IN A NATURE-RICH SETTING Rembrandt Homes’ newest neighbourhood is a harmonious blend of comfort and luxury, ideally situated in the natural greenery of northwest London. The Upper West community is located along the Thames River, bordering the Kains Woods Environmentally Significant Area. This protected natural sanc tuary spans 28 hectares of woods, meadows and wetlands, alive with wildlife, including numerous bird species. These can be explored via nearly six kilometres of hiking trails.
LUXURY
Outside, stone paver driveways access garages with insulated doors and door openers with WiFi technology. Lawn maintenance and snow removal services are provided through the condo organization.
Upper West is part of the Eagle Ridge subdivision at the intersec tion of Kains Road and Oxford Street West, a five-minute walk from Komoka Provincial Park and seven minutes by car to Highway 402. Shopping centres and schools are nearby. A variety of golf coursesincluding London Hunt and Country Club, Riverbend Golf Club, and FireRock Golf Club - are also close.
2022 BUILDER SHOWCASE
A model home is now available for viewing in the Upper West neighbourhood, as are the move-in ready models.
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AWARD WINNING HOMES SUSTAINABLE HOMES occupantcomfort indoorqualityair reductioncarbon resiliantclimateefficiencyenergy At home or on your phone, go to www.dougtarryhomes.com Renderings are artist’s concept. Prices, specifications and information subject to change without notice. E.O.E. experience home comfort and healthy living for your family DISCOVER THE DOUG TARRY DIFFERENCE
2022 BUILDER SHOWCASE
Doug Tarry Homes
A sustainable home and lifestyle aren’t just about saving on energy costs and reducing the carbon foot print. The concept encompasses three interconnected elements: people, planet and profit through a healthy economy, says Stefanie Coleman, Chief Sustainability Officer with Doug Tarry Homes. “We need all three of these to thrive for any single one to thrive.” All three are embodied in Tarry’s sustainable net zero-ready homes. While a net zero home generates as much energy as it consumes – through renewable features like solar panels – a net zero-ready home is built to function in exactly the same way but with the renewable features still to beDougadded.Tarry Homes moved to net zero-ready construction for all homes in 2019 and, to date, has built the most CHBA net zero-ready homes of any builder in Canada. “We took this step because we knew it was right for the environment and right for our customers,” Coleman says. “We care about our customers and their wellbeing. We take pride in building resilient homes that are healthy and environmentally con scious,” Doug Tarry says. “Our clients’ health is important to us, so we have taken measures to provide better indoor air quality.” He cites two exam ples: fresh air machines that provide a steady flow of fresh air into the home and using Graphenstone ZERO VOC paint to limit the number of harmful chemicals present in most homes.
Coleman knows the advantages of these homes first-hand. “I live in one and I absolutely love it.” She says the features that make them energy effi cient also make net zero-ready homes clean, quiet, comfortable and dura ble. Additional insulation, triple-pane windows and general air tightness promote healthier indoor air quality and reduce outside noise, creating a calm, quiet environment. Being well sealed also reduces dust, pollen, bugs and other contaminants from entering homes through small cracks and gaps. “I find my home doesn’t get as dusty as older homes I’ve lived in.”
Attention is also paid to water man agement and other technical details to ensure the homes are resilient in the face of increasing extreme weath er events. Other forward-thinking ele ments in Tarry homes include upsized electrical panels and rough-ins for electricThesevehicles.allimpact the home’s value, Coleman notes. As global building codes move toward reducing energy usage and environmental impacts, net zero-ready homes already meet those codes. “This helps to future-proof my investment,” she says. “My home is years ahead of its time.”
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BUILDING SUSTAINABILITY
OUR COMMUNITIES TILLSONBURG ST. THOMAS ST. THOMAS Your Local Award Winning Builder www.hayhoehomes.com
“It features a multitude of custom elements, such as our brick/stone sideboards and cabinet door display and storage units,” Gauthier says. “A huge working kitchen allows us to effectively display cabinetry and counter colour choices, as well as options like pull-out garbage, spice drawers and interior dividers.”
Across town, 49 Royal Dornoch, a picturesque location surrounded by trees in Shaw Valley, features semi-detached and attached two-storey townhomes. A sense of history sets the tone with exteriors exhibiting modern Tudor style.
Hayhoe Homes
2022 BUILDER SHOWCASE
Tillsonburg’s Northcrest Estates offers single-family homes and townhomes being built in the community’s second phase of construction. The town combines elements of rural and urban living with a comfortable pace of life and major retailers, community centres andHayhoerestaurants. hasalso opened a new selection studio in Tillsonburg, displaying myriad choices for its sin gle-family homes. “It’s a bright and neutral space where our purchasers can make interior and exterior se lections,” says design and market ing supervisor Shale Gauthier.
The studio is divided into separate rooms, each offering a specific com ponent for the design and décor.
The studio displays more than 175 light fixture options: wall-mounted or hanging from metal ceiling clouds. These are all fully wired and operational.
“Seeing items and finishes installed helps purchasers envision them in their own homes, as they are often overwhelmed by the prospect of selecting an entire house of colours, products and materials,” she says.
NEW HOME STYLES FOR
EVERYONE
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Mount Elgin Meadow Lands – in a quaint but growing community on Highway 19 south of Hwy 401, minutes north of Tillsonburg – is offering single family homes. Some are on lots backing onto a wooded area and some are wide enough to accommodate a three-car garage.
Variety is the watchword at Hayhoe Homes. Choose to live in one of four communities; choose from single-family or semi-de tached homes or townhomes. This developer is currently build ing in four southern Ontario com munities; Orchard Park Meadows is its newest St. Thomas neighbour hood, in the southwest sector at the intersection of Centennial Road and Southdale Line. Here upscale de tached homes, as well as townho mes and semi-detached, are being showcased. Some lots back onto a wooded area and the community accesses the city’s trail system.
Waterfront living is an aspiration for many homebuyers but building along lakes and rivers comes with its own set of challenges. It’s a good idea to consult with a builder who understands those challenges before purchasing, says Randall Oke, president of Oke Woodsmith Building Systems. “We’ve done it for 38 years and have run into most of the challenges,” says Oke, whose company has built and renovated numerous properties along the Lake Huron shoreline. Factors that can impact a build, or a renovation, include conservation issues related to floodplains or properties with creeks or ravines. Oke Woodsmith works with municipalities and conservation authorities to identify concerns and comes up with work-around plans.
“We’ve had projects where we had to move back from the water or use techniques like helical piles (foundation anchors) to support a house,” he says. “We’ve renovated cottages by lifting them and putting in a new foundation.”
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Oke Woodsmith Building Systems
CREATING LAKESIDE LIVING DREAMS
In some cases, adding to an existing home’s footprint isn’t possible. But Oke says renovating and maintenance are allowed, so there are always alternatives. Being a design/build company is an advantage here. “We had a client who wanted to tear down a cottage and build a new one but couldn’t because of space restrictions. We renovated the existing cottage and it worked out well.”
2022 BUILDER SHOWCASE
Golf buffs and food aficio nados may find White Squirrel Golf Club a go-to location this fall and win ter. The golf course and restaurant, on Highway 21 north of Grand Bend, is enhancing its offerings both on and off the fairways in an effort to move to the next level as a premier Huron County entertainment destination, says executive director DanWithMcLaughlin.therestaurant now opening year-round, the club is expanding its seating capacity for the cooler months. A large section of the main patio is being enclosed with the addition of a heater and fireplace. And the upper deck patio is adding a sliding glass wall so that area can also be closed in. “These will be great spaces that we can open longer into the season,” McLaughlin says.
FOOD AND FUN
With the restaurant now opening year-round, the club is expanding its seating capacity for the cooler months. WHITE SQUIRREL GOLF CLUB FOR MORE INFORMATION • WHITE SQUIRREL GOLF CLUB • 72538 Bluewater Highway 21 • Zurich • 519-236-4030 • www.whitesquirrelgolfclub.com bizlife WHITE SQUIRREL GOLF CLUB PATIO. September/October 2022 Lifestyle 61
YEAR-ROUND
The course itself has seen some major upgrades. This summer, a new driving range was added. The 18th hole was redesigned with a pond and relocation of a sand trap. “It’s a beautiful, picturesque finish now,” McLaughlin notes.
By Ellen Ashton-Haiste
Executive chef Tony Anderson and food and beverage manager Nick Attard have developed a new menu with plans for winter offerings that continue a focus on fresh and locally sourced meats and produce. They are also working on a special events menu for private parties and corporate functions. “They’ve done a great job and come up with some amazing menu items,” McLaughlin says. “We have delicious fancy meals and anything from wings to burgers, lots of appetizers and woodfired pizza, which is huge for us with our first-class pizza oven.” Live entertainment is offered on Wednes day, Friday and Saturday evenings.
White Squirrel Golf Club expands
A number of tee decks have been add ed, “giving a nice, elevated spot to shoot off,” he says. A network of cart paths, surfaced with gravel and recycled crushed stone, is gradually beingThedeveloped.clubhasalso hired a new golf pro Stuart Thain. He has been a PGA Canada member for more than 20 years and is looking forward to enhancing the user experience, for both adult and young golfers. He is developing a clinic schedule and junior programming, as well as providing lessons for groups and individuals.
he loft lifestyle is being embraced in Exeter by a diverse demographic, from young professionals to retirees, who are seeking to downsize or up grade existing living situations. West Market Lofts offers 62 luxury rental units in a four-storey building located in the town’s north end.
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UPSCALEAshton-HaisteAPARTMENTSOFFEREDINEXETER
By Ellen
LOFT LIVING
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Long granite islands divide living areas from kitchens, which feature five appliances and generous cupboard space. Stacked washer and dryer units are included with each apartment. Individual in-suite HVAC systems allow occupants to control their heating and air-conditioning. Many suites include two bathrooms with walk-in showers andOntubs.the fourth floor, two penthouse units have walk-out patios, in addition to balconies. This level also includes common amenity spaces: an expansive
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“Exeter has a low rental vacancy rate, and we saw a need for this type of upscale loft-style apartment building in the marketplace,” Knifton says. “Our customers include local professionals and others who have been commuting from places like London and Kitchener. We are also seeing interest from farmers who have sold their farms and don’t want to leave Huron County, as well as 55-plus seniors who have sold their homes and want a maintenance-free lifestyle.”Theone-, two- and three-bedroom suites are open concept with sealed laminate flooring and exposed ductwork in the nine-foot ceilings; they measure 10 feet in the penthouse units. Oversized floor-to-ceiling windows afford bird’seye views of Huron County. Exterior units have balconies, while interior suites benefit from a natural light shaft that extends through the building’s core.
“ Exeter has a low rental vacancy rate, and we saw a need for this type of upscale loft-style apartment building in the marketplace.”
Exterior units have balconies, while interior suites benefit from a natural light shaft that extends through the building’s core. Nearby McNaughton Park offers a trail system that links to South Huron Trail. It can be used in all seasons and winds through the scenic Ausable River Valley. “As developers we really like the Town of Exeter,” says John Knifton, managing partner with JK Development GP2 Ltd. Having launched a commercial complex there in 2019 – that includes Wendy’s, Pizza Hut, Pioneer Petroleum and On The Run Convenience – the company felt a neighbouring residential project would be welcomed.
JOHN KNIFTON, MANAGING PARTNER WITH JK DEVELOPMENT GP2 LTD.
A lounge with a kitchenette is an ideal place for residents to congregate and socialize. It can be used for small gatherings and family get-togethers.
In addition to being located near convenient business and shopping districts, the lofts are also close to nature, with several parks and plenty of green spaces scattered through the town. Nearby McNaughton Park offers a trail system that links to south Huron trail. It can be used in all seasons and winds through the scenic Ausable River Valley. The park’s scenic gardens, with seasonal floral and arboreal displays, is a perfect spot for relaxing.
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The loft lifestyle is being embraced by a diverse demographic, from young professionals to retirees, who are seeking to downsize or upgrade existing living situations. Nearby McNaughton Park offers scenic gardens, with seasonal floral and arboreal displays, a per fect spot for relaxing.
As a pet-friendly property, West Market Lofts has a separate enclosed outdoor space for furry friends. It is brightly lit at night and includes a designated poop-and-scoop area.
rooftop patio with barbecues; a work/conference room with full Wi-Fi; a fitness centre that will host morning fitness classes that are in the plans.
Knifton notes that the building is 100 per cent secure with fob-controlled entrances and exits. It also features the only heated underground parking garage in Exeter.
● FOR MORE INFORMATION • WEST MARKET LOFTS • 228 McConnell Street, Exeter 519-492-2112 or 888-873-3103 • www.westmarketlofts.com
September/October 2022 Lifestyle 65 warehouse74.com warehouse 74 2425 Oxford St. W London • 519.473.1723 • londonawnings.com 40 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE! LEADERS IN RETRACTABLE AWNING AND SOLAR SCREEN SYSTEMS
JAKE JANZEN
By Ellen Ashton-Haiste
Over more than a decade, Janzen Insulation has attracted an expanding customer base along the Lake Huron shoreline, from Goderich down to London.
Customerfeature.”serviceis
FOR MORE INFORMATION • JANZEN INSULATION • 9983 Port Franks Estates Drive, Port Franks • 519-243-2058 • www.janzeninsulation.com JANZEN INSULATION S
COMFORTEFFICIENCYAND
Janzen Insulation promotes both
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atisfaction and safety are priorities for Jake and Ben Janzen when it comes to customer service. The brothers are partners in Janzen Insulation, a company based in Port Franks that’s keeping area homes and businesses comfortable both winter and summer. After working in the industry for several years, the Janzens launched their own business in 2011. Over more than a decade, they have attracted an expanding customer base along the Lake Huron shoreline, from Goderich down to London. They are committed to giving customers the best products and services to insulate their spaces: attics, basements, crawlspaces and newly constructed homes. In addition to cellulose fibre and fiberglass, they use a polyurethane spray foam that’s the best on the market, Jake says. “We stay on top of that with the best quali ty foam we can get with the highest R-rating (the mea sure of effectiveness in preventing heat loss).” They also spray the foam with a fire-retardant paint and heat-reflective coating. “It’s approved in Ontario to spray over any foam,” he says. “It’s really good and a big safety something that sets Janzen Insulation apart. “We’re very thorough with our jobs,” Jake says, and they make sure to clean up after them selves. “Our staff is very good at housekeeping. We definitely aim to please.” Customer satisfaction is reflected in the amount of work they get. “We are very busy. People around here know what we do, and we have a lot of clients calling back.” In fact, much of their business is generated through word-of-mouth referrals. The brothers are also committed to helping their customers with affordability issues, advocating rebate programs that can help with home improvement costs and result in energy savings. The currently available Home Efficiency Rebate may generate up to $5,000 for furnaces, air sealing, new windows and doors, as well as insulation. “There’s a return on basically any thing to improve energy,” Jake says. “We encourage people to look into that, especially if they’re doing a lot of renovations.”
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DON JOHNSON DON JOHNSON
FOR MORE INFORMATION • DON JOHNSON INSURANCE • 99 Victoria Street, Thedford • 54 Ontario Street, Grand Bend • 519 296-4916 • www.lambtonmutual.com/agent/don-johnson-insurance-inc JOHNSON INSURANCE AT HOME IN HURON
Living in the area, raising their children and being part of the community is also important. Friendships are at the core of the customer service. “You definitely want to make sure you are providing them with the best quality and knowledge. We really value that relationship with customers. We have a great product line that we can match what we have to our customer’s needs.” Staying current with those needs is also important. Changing habits during the pandemic may have altered insurance needs. Johnson recommends reviewing your policies and tries to connect with customers to find out if they have any changes in their circum stances. He says many people renovated their kitchens, so they need to look at their home policy to be sure the new value is covered. For someone working from home, their auto policy may need to be adjusted to reflect reduced commuting. “It’s a thatcompanylocalconsiderscustomersmoreasneighboursthanpolicyholders.”
By Janis Wallace When Don Johnson changed careers 35 years ago, he didn’t change his care for his customers and his community. Pro viding the best service has been at the heart of Don Johnson Insur ance and a big part of its success. Based in Thedford, a second office in Grand Bend opened this year. “We had so many customers there, and Grand Bend is developing quickly. We wanted to better service our existing customers and grow as Grand Bend grows,” said Johnson. His son Jamie and daughter-in-law Lisa run the Grand Bend location. Both offices provide home, farm, business and auto insurance.Johnson’s values align with those of the insurance company he represents. Lambton Mutual, established in 1875, says it gets to know its customers by name not num ber. “It’s a local company that considers customers more as neighbours than policy holders,” says Johnson. In 1987, a Lambton Mutual board mem ber approached Johnson about becoming an agent. He saw it was a good opportu nity and a good fit. “We pride ourselves on looking after our customers. If we get a phone call, we get right back - usually within minutes. We try to give what they are asking for. It’s a local advantage.”
Second location for Don Johnson Insurance
By Ellen Ashton-Haiste
For more than 40 years, the onsite store has specialized in a wide variety of products from acrossenterprisestheregion. The Crunican brothers – (L-R) Philip, Alf and Peter – are growing more apples and serving more people at their roadside market.
MAKE A TRIP to the market
“People found us and had the time to come and see us. And things took off in ways we hadn’t anticipated.” As the trend continues, expansion has become necessary. “We’re growing more apples and we’ve had to expand our storage space,” he says. In the last 10 years, 15 to 16 acres of new young trees have been planted and are about to come into full production over the next year or two. “So, we definitely need more cooler space to store all these apples.”
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CRUNICAN ORCHARDS bizlife
PUT A STOP AT CRUNICAN’S ON YOUR AUTUMN TO-DO LIST
FOR MORE INFORMATION • CRUNICAN ORCHARDS • 23778 Richmond Street North • 519-666-0286 • www.crunicanorchards.com
The farm is north of London on Richmond Street North near Elginfield. It has continued to expand its produce since the first trees were planted by Crunican’s grandfather more than a century ago. It now offers more than 15 apple varieties, including Macintosh, Spy, Empire, Idared, Green and Red Delicious, Fuji, Mutsu, Ambrosia and Honeycrisp. This year they’re excited to add to the list a new late fall variety, called Crimson Crisp. They also grow squash and pump kins. They bring in peaches and plums from growers in the Blenheim area to sell at the roadside market. More than the fresh fruit and apple products are drawing a growing clien tele to the market. For more than 40 years, the onsite store has specialized in a wide variety of products from enterprises across the region. These range from Stonetown artisan cheese from St. Mary’s and Greaves jams and marmalade from Niagara-On-The-Lake to honey and maple syrup, pasta and sauces, dried beans, grains and seeds, plus many delectable snacks. “We’ve had tremendous support from the community wanting local goods and farm-to-table produce,” Crunican says.
There are more than apples ‘on the grow’ these days at Crunican Orchards. After two years thriving during a pandemic business is continuing to pick up, says Philip Crunican, who, with brothers Peter and Alf, operates the four-gen eration family farm and market. “Our business grew rapidly during COVID,” says Crunican, describing that develop ment as both surprising and welcome.
“Homeowners are seeing value in having something outside their back door that they can enjoy instead of having to travel,” Matt says. “The trend of doing major backyard renos hasn’t slowed down.” If anything, he says, the projects are growing in size and scope. “Everything is getting bigger – bigger patios, bigger decks. We’ve been able to take what we do and expand on it, offer it on a larger scale.” That scale ranges from bigger to massive. Two- to three-week jobs have grown to four to six weeks, with some taking a full season to complete. Matt cites a project, now in the second year of construction, which started with an in-ground pool and now encompasses a putting green, bocce ball court and life-size chessboard.
As with that project, the scope of the projects is also expanding, “We’re getting more into the building side and carpentry,” Matt says. “For example, we’re building full garages, in addition to the usual decks and fencing.”
EDWARDS & SONS FOR MORE INFORMATION • EDWARDS & SONS COMPLETE PROPERTY MAINTENANCE INC., • 1875 Wharncliffe Road South, Unit 4A 519-652-0826 • www.edwardsandsons.ca BIGGER REACH TOP the staff of Edwards & Sons. ABOVE Chris ( LEFT ) and Matt Edwards. September/October 2022 Lifestyle 69
“It’s nice that with all the big proj ects we’re doing that we’re still winning awards,” Matt says.
BIGGER PROJECTS
The range of services offered by the company includes decks, pergolas and fences, outdoor bars, water features such as ponds and fountains, landscape design and construction, and paving stone and retaining walls. They have done a few outdoor kitchens but say that trend seems to be tapering off somewhat. “People don’t want some thing they already have. They’re looking for something outside that they don’t have inside; that’s the feedback we’re getting,” Matt says.
Something that hasn’t changed is the award-winning quality that Edwards & Sons delivers. This year they received two Grand River Natural Stone ‘Grandie’ awards, one for lighting and the other for best use of natural stone. The awards, in several categories, are offered annual ly by the stone supplier.
“Homeowners
Atrend for homeowners to create outdoor living spaces, fueled by the COVID pan demic, is still evolving and generating business oppor tunities for Edwards & Sons Complete Property Maintenance say com pany owners Matt and Chris Edwards.
By Ellen Ashton-Haiste bizlife are seeing value in having something outside their back door that they can enjoy instead of having to travel.”
The brothers are also covering a grow ing service area, taking on more projects outside the London region. They have recently added a crew to work in the Guelph and Toronto areas.
FOR EDWARDS & SONS
Not all builders will have the same requirements, but his team includes specialists to provide a com prehensive range of services. Architectural designers are able to advise on plans and design elements to be competitive in the marketplace. Graphic artists can provide renderings for digital promotion. Market ing specialists can build websites and manage social media campaigns. Skilled photographers offer quality images and videos to promote units or model homes. Seasoned sales professionals can staff open houses or provide an onsite manager to transact sales and work with purchasers.
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Charania has been working independently with builders for a couple of years and now wants to expand his offerings. “I want to take it to a team concept with all members working together to make sure the builders’ needs are met. And we can uniquely tailor the services to each builder.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION • REALTY CONCIERGE • 380 Wellington Street• 647-243-674 • www.realtyconcierge.ca REALTY CONCIERGE
“We can partner with the builders to create a working relationship that is a win-win for everyone.”
Being a “one-stop shop package,” Realty Concierge can be more economical for builders and at the same time enhance their brands and their reputations, Charania says. Operating under eXp Realty, a cloudbased brokerage, the service has a global reach, draw ing buyers from 22 countries and growing, he adds. “It’s a different approach where we can provide more for the builders and give them a better bang for their buck.”
here’s a new partner on the scene for builders and developers across the London region. Realty Concierge is a team of real estate professionals poised to work with builders on developments from design stage to pre-sales and customer follow through after“It’smove-in.atotally new concept and unique in that it caters to the builders,” says Rahim Charania, a broker and certified builder who is spearheading the venture. Describing it as a “white glove service,” he says his team can provide a wealth of expertise from marketing, social media and advertising to working with buyers, thus allowing the builders to focus on what they do best – home construction. “We can partner with the builders to create a working rela tionship that is a win-win for everyone,” he says.
RAHIM CHARANIA
By Ellen Ashton-Haiste CHARANIARAHIM
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BESPOKE SERVICE FOR BUILDERS
Realty Concierge offers a wide range of services
bizlife
VALUE PROPOSITION. The Realty Concierge wants to partner with your reputable organization and be your first and last point of contact. Entrusting in The Realty Concierge team to presell units, you will be provided a designated project team lead from start to finish. Your project lead will work with your superintendent and follow-up through the warranty periods with clients to ensure they are provided with world class white glove service as we help you build your brand recognition and positive reputation in the Underindustry.theglobal eXp Real Estate brand (NASDAQ: EXPI), currently servicing 20 countries with over 82,000 agents around the globe, we offer the ability to leverage cloud-based technology with a worldwide reach of buyers to sell your next project.
Providing World Class White Glove Service, Rahim Charania, Broker, and Certified Builder The Charania Group eXp Realty Brokerage DEAR HOME BUILDER
WHY THE REALTY CONCIERGE?
ALL YOUR SERVICES IN ONE PLACE. The Realty Concierge takes a unique approach to Real Estate while working alongside the builder from architectural designed to physical boots on the ground, soaking in the building vision, sub sequently working with designers and graphic artist to craft stunning renderings for digital marketing, social media campaigns to the physical experience centres.
THE REALTY CONCIERGE
519.859.0133 info@realtyconcierge.ca www.realtyconcierge.ca 647.243.6742
LET’S TALK! We want to speak with you about current or future projects. The Realty Concierge wants to partner with you to build a long term successful working relationship. If you have already launched, please contact us to discuss access to your Broker Portal, Incentives and Sales Packages so we can sell start selling with you.
The Realty Concierge is built around convenience that allows the builder to do what they do best, transforming the landscape. Our team understands and appre ciates that Builders wear many hats before Buyers have a place to hang theirs! The Realty Concierge is a group of experienced real estate sales people/ brokers with building and sales backgrounds, that work exclusively with builders from design to pre-sales and customer follow through after move-in and during the warranty period.
WelcomingMILESTONEEVERY We’ve got you covered at each stage of life, as you welcome every milestone. Whether you’re searching for your first house, moving up to a larger home, or you’re downsizing, there is a Sifton neigbourhood guaranteed to meet your changing needs. Start building your dream home today! RENT | BUILD | LEASE | RETIRE BUILD with us Sifton.com
