Home In Canada - Montreal - Kitchen and Bath Trends 2019

MONTREAL

KITCHEN AND BATH

TRENDS ISLAND PARADISE Kitchens designed for social gatherings

RISE TO THE CHALLENGE Learn how to make your own bread

COOKING CLASSES

GOOD VIBES

Feng shui for home sales

SPACIOUS SPAS

Bathrooms transformed into soothing retreats $7.95

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Pro chefs share their culinary secrets

KITCHEN ACCESSORIES

DETECTING LATENT DEFECTS IN A HOUSE

EDITOR’S LETTER

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WE’VE ARRIVED! Welcome to the debut issue of Home in Canada - Montreal Edition.

As reported in our Winter issue, Montreal Home is being transformed into a vibrant new national publication. Because this is the Montreal edition of Home in Canada, we will continue to bring you all of the local and regional features you have come to love. As Home in Canada, we will extend our editorial reach much farther to give you engaging stories from across our country. From the Maritimes to the West Coast and everywhere in between, Home in Canada will profile the best of design in Canada.

We are also broadening the scope of our lifestyle features. A new element in this issue is a column by feng shui master Tracey MacKenzie. As we move into the spring real estate market, she says, it’s important for home sellers to know how to use the ancient Chinese principles of feng shui to make their homes appealing to would-be buyers. Tracey’s column is on page 78.

Have you considered baking your own bread? If so, you’ll enjoy Julie Gedeon’s feature about bread-making classes. These courses are the best way to learn about this ancient science, which is also an art. Having

There are several ways you can stay in touch with us: @homeincanada @athomeincanada @movatohome @movatohome

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baked a few loaves in my own kitchen that can best be described as yeast-filled cannon balls, I think it’s time I enrolled in a bread-making class, and I know my family will thank me.

This is our annual Kitchen and Bath Trends issue. As you’ll see from the beautiful kitchens in this issue, the trend toward making this room the centre of the home continues. Several of the kitchens profiled here were created after homeowners demolished walls that separated their kitchens from enclosed dining rooms to construct open-plan spaces for entertaining.

The bathrooms featured in this issue all have one thing in common: they are designed to be soothing sanctuaries. Some, such as the master bathroom designed for Calgary resident Aly Sumar, are spa-like, thanks to the addition of a steam bath, heated towel racks and atmospheric lighting.

What wonderful rooms we are creating to welcome us home at day’s end with a chat around the kitchen island or a soak in an elegant bathtub.

In the months ahead, we will have many more fascinating stories about innovative design across Canada to inspire and engage you. Welcome to Home in Canada.

STEPHANIE WHITTAKER Editor-in-Chief stephanie@movatohome.com

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DESIGN

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JEAN MONET Montreal stylist Jean Monet says he enjoyed working on this issue because “the kitchen is the essential part of a home or condo and is often a design masterpiece.” He adds that “The Beaconsfield kitchen I styled for this issue reflects strong attention to detail, and reinforces the concept of this room being the main focus of most homes.” Jean is an interior designer who has created many “masterpiece” kitchens for his clients.

JEAN BLAIS Montreal photographer Jean Blais began his career photographing for various Canadian interior design and fashion magazines. With two of his friends, he launched Manœuvres during the 1980s; this poster-sized magazine featured an eclectic mix of urban celebrities and creative personalities. Jean has worked in Montreal, London and New York. For this issue, he collaborated with stylist Jean Monet to showcase the Beaconsfield kitchen of Marina Bibikova and Dominic Parasuco.

JULIE GEDEON Writer/editor Julie Gedeon worked up an appetite while researching her stories about bread-making courses and cooking classes. She appreciated the cornucopia of options when it comes to learning kitchen skills. Julie was also reminded about the commitment required to keep a sourdough starter thriving and now wonders if she wants to be involved in that kind of “feed me” relationship. When Julie isn’t exploring food and decor, she’s writing about environmental issues or teaching others to convey their stories in her inviting writers’ kitchen.

PHILLIPA RISPIN Montreal writer-editor Phillipa Rispin had fun covering bathrooms in this issue. “One of them is a relaxed take on the ever-popular spa-like bathroom with a boutique hotel influence,” she says. “The other one (actually two bathrooms in the same house) is smart-looking while being personal and homey. The bathroom might be a small room, but it offers big decorating opportunities.”

WENDY HELFENBAUM Wendy Helfenbaum is a Montreal journalist and TV producer who covers real estate, architecture, design, DIY, travel and gardening; her work has appeared in many Canadian magazines.

For this issue, she enjoyed learning how designer Marie-France Elliott preserved the vintage charm of an Old Montreal loftstyle kitchen while integrating modern flair. “Marie-France creatively solved some structural challenges with high-tech solutions while incorporating the home’s pedigree,” says Wendy, who also showcased a basement bathroom remodel that made great use of every inch of space. “The homeowners incorporated high-end style on a budget, and designer Valérie De L’Étoile helped make the space versatile and welcoming,” Wendy says.

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Montreal Edition Volume 11, number 1, Kitchen and Bath Trends Issue 2019 Date of Issue: February, 2019 6100 TransCanada Highway Suite 100, Pointe-Claire Quebec H9R 1B9

Call 1-866-846-1640 athomeincanada.ca sales@movatohome.com

PUBLISHER Dr. Sharon Azrieli CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Stanley Kirsh

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Stephanie Whittaker ART DIRECTOR Randy Laybourne EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Carmen Lefebvre

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT & ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Neve Foltz CONTRIBUTORS Cheryl Cornacchia Julie Gedeon David Ghavitian Wendy Helfenbaum Elisabeth Kalbfuss Susan Kelly Tracey MacKenzie Phillipa Rispin Karen Seidman PHOTOGRAPHY Lori Andrews Tracey Ayton Jean Blais Guillaume Boily Sarah Dagenais Valérie De L’Étoile Melanie Elliott Drew Hadley Félix Michaud Colin Perry

STYLING Gatline Artis Elena Del Bucchia Marie-France Elliott Tanya McLean Jean Monet Negar Reihani Nichole Skladan Catlin Stothers

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Azrieli CONTROLLER Jenny Marques DIRECTOR OF SALES NATIONAL Kelly Chicoine ACCOUNTS EXECUTIVE Caroline Rho For sales inquiries, please email Kelly Chicoine: kelly@movatohome.com or Caroline Rho: caroline@movatohome.com

LEGAL DEPOSIT issn 1920-1370 Home In Canada magazine Inc. 2019. All rights reserved.

Any copying or reproduction of content without the written permission of Home In Canada magazine is strictly prohibited. Publication # 41959020

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CONTENTS

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18 ON THE COVER MAJOR DIY PROJECT

A Beaconsfield couple design and renovate their own kitchen

DESIGNING DUO

A homeowner and her friend combine their talents as designers to create a spectacular kitchen

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SEAMLESS SPACE

A bedroom in a Town of Mount Royal home is openly connected to its ensuite bathroom

60 SENSING COLOUR

Synesthesia influences the paintings of artist Eric J. Hughes

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CONTENTS

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EDITOR’S LETTER

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THIS JUST IN A selection of new items for your home

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FABULOUS FARMHOUSE DESIGN A Laval couple hire a designer and then work as their own general contractor

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BECOME A MAESTRO OF MEALS Cooking classes allow home cooks to up their culinary game

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GOOD VIBES FOR SALE Houses sell faster when their owners apply a few feng shui techniques

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NEW FITTINGS IN AN OLD BUILDING A loft in a mid-19th century Old Montreal building is given a contemporary minimalist kitchen

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REPURPOSED TEAK CABINET A bathroom redesign begins with an old wood vanity found on Craigslist

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GATHER ’ROUND THE DINNER TABLE Astrological influences boost the kitchen’s importance as the centre of the home

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MAKING SPACE A couple creates an open-plan ground floor in their former duplex in NDG

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MIXED USE A café restaurant in Plateau Mont Royal shares space with a handbag design atelier

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THE DOWNSIZING DILEMMA How to know when it’s time to move to a condo from a house

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FROM BLAND TO BEAUTIFUL Two bathrooms in a post-war home get a much-needed facelift

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RETURN CUSTOMERS Terrebonne residents with a new house hire the kitchen designers they used in the past

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BATH TIME This Longueuil bathroom was designed for the whole family, including a child who soaks in the tub with her toys

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EVERYTHING, INCLUDING THE KITCHEN SINK A guide to this year’s best kitchenware

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VIRTUAL DESIGN Fleurco’s new shower door is made to minimize cleaning time and maximize a stylish look

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THE BEST USE OF SPACE A modest-sized kitchen is reconfigured to feel larger

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HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT To prevent problems, home buyers can learn what to do about a house’s latent defects

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PRO-CALIBRE CUISINE A professional-style kitchen at home

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LOW MAINTENANCE AND HIGH SATISFACTION A La Prairie bathroom is thoughtfully renovated for a family with young children

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FABULOUS FEATURE WALLS A vast array of materials for kitchen backsplashes ensures both practicality and beauty

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BOUTIQUE HOTEL LOOK A Calgary bathroom is designed with luxurious amenities that recall those in top-quality hotels

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TASTEFUL DESIGN

A new Vancouver restaurant is designed to engage the senses

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96 WELCOME HOME

By removing the wall between their kitchen and dining room, a West Island couple create a new space that is the focus of their home

RISE TO THE CHALLENGE

Bread-making classes across Canada are becoming increasingly popular

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DESIGN

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T H IS JUST IN

PULL UP A STOOL AND RELAX Counter stools are an important part of a kitchen’s decor, and their impact on the overall design should not be underestimated. A colourful stool, such as the Barry model by Amisco, is sure to attract attention. Offered in a wide range of finishes.

Centre Design Réalité 1856 Boul. des Laurentides, Laval 514-990-0548 www.centredesignrealite.com

FOR A RELAXING SOAK The Madrigal freestanding bathtub from Fleurco’s Opus collection is made of high-quality acrylic sheet and boasts a white gloss finish. Body-hugging, its Victorian-inspired design is perfect for classic, Art Deco and contemporary decors. It has a clean-slotted overflow, a 10-year limited warranty, is easy to clean, and available in two sizes.

Fleurco Products Inc. 4575 Boul. Poirier, Montreal 514-326-2222 ~ 1-800-993-0033 www.fleurco.com

BLAST FROM THE PAST The Swan collection of retro-inspired kitchen essentials, with chrome-plated detailing, bestows a nostalgic touch on the kitchen. The collection includes a kettle, slow cooker, mug tree, towel pole, a set of three canisters, bread bin and two-slice and four-slice toasters. All items are available in red, black, grey and blue.

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DESIGN

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A MEETING PLACE A table is where people gather for different reasons: to discuss, agree, disagree, laugh and enjoy each other’s company. It’s this idea of mixing people, ideas and elements that lies at the core of Mezcla, a table created by Spanish designer Jaime Hayon. “The Spanish word for ‘mixture’ is ‘mezcla,’ “ explains Hayon. “For me, it captures the essence of different people coming together and diverse design elements together - in a series of tables where the materials, shapes and colours could meet and greet, so to speak.”

Available in various formats and finishes of marble, metal and wood.

Celadon Collection 170 Peel St., Montreal 514-932-3306 ~ 1-877-335-2366 www.celadoncollection.com

DAZZLING DIAMOND Add a touch of glamour and elegance to your bathroom with the Diamond line of bathroom accessories. Each piece features beaded details for a contemporary twist.

The collection includes a lotion dispenser, toothbrush holder, tumbler, soap dish and toilet brush holder.

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TAPPING INTO THE BEST The Vuelo faucet by Brizo is both decorative and functional.

Its shape is reminiscent of a beautiful swan, and its finish with two complementary materials creates visual interest to liven up any kitchen. Available at Centre Design Réalité.

Centre Design Réalité 1856 Boul. des Laurentides, Laval 514-990-0548 www.centredesignrealite.com

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DESIGN • HOME IN CANADA • KITCHEN & BATH 2019

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DOING IT THEMSELVES A Beaconsfield couple build their own kitchen in a DIY renovation that rivals a professional makeover

BY CHERYL CORNACCHIA PHOTOGRAPHY: JEAN BLAIS STYLING: JEAN MONET

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MARINA BIBIKOVA LOVES TO PLAY with light, textures and colours. She works as a design manager with her husband Dominic Parasuco, division director for the private label at Montreal-based fashion company Parasuco Jeans. So when it came time to renovate the couple’s Beaconsfield home into an open-concept space with a new contemporary kitchen as the hub, Marina wanted them to do it themselves. –>

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The couple demolished the walls separating the original kitchen from the adjacent living and dining rooms, to create the new open-concept space. Electricians and plumbers were called in to do the new wiring, plumbing and forced air vents that had to be relocated. But once that work was done, Marina rolled up her sleeves to work on the design.

“I’m not typical,” Marina says, recalling the eight-month-long renovation project that opened up the 1,100-square-foot main floor of the two-storey house and linked the new contemporary kitchen to the other rooms. “I live for it. I can see it all in my head before I even get started. I work on home renovations the same way as I design garments. You start by conceiving an idea, and then you build around it.”

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Although the house is relatively new – about 20 years old – the couple didn’t like the honey-coloured oak f looring and the fact that the kitchen was closed off, which was inconvenient for entertaining. Now, she says, when she is prepping for a meal or organizing the next course, she can chat easily with guests sitting at the dining room table or at the island. And there’s an easy flow from room to room. “I can see right from the kitchen to the front door now,” Marina says.

The couple had the cabinets – which are faced in oak and white laminate – manufactured in China and finished in Montreal.

The counters and top of the island are clad in porcelain that resembles marble. –>

Porcelain countertops that resemble marble, oak cabinetry, and refinished oak floorboards come together to create a modern-looking kitchen in grey-beige tones.

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The new floors were a do-it-yourself labour of love. Marina and Dominic visited several major f looring companies, but couldn’t find the exact greyish-taupe colour Marina wanted. They kept looking though, and eventually found an upstart company off the Montreal island that was able to create the custom colour Marina had envisioned.

The company taught the couple the various steps of the multi-layered staining process, and then provided all the products (six in all) so they could finish the oak cabinets to match the floor and the traditional dining room that was also to be refurbished. “It’s crazy, I know,” says Marina, reflecting on the floors that she and her husband finished in a 72-hour marathon.

The porcelain counters and island glisten in the luminescence of a striking custom-made light fixture.

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DESIGN • HOME IN CANADA • KITCHEN & BATH 2019

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A hip new kitchen meets a more formal dining area in the newly designed open-concept space.

But, she adds, she is very pleased with the outcome of the entire project. The end result is a one-of-a-kind designer kitchen.

Even the halogen-light fixtures hanging over the new kitchen island and the dining room table sport the same grey-taupe colour. They were custom-made from Marina’s sketches at a high-end lighting company based in Shanghai. Their metallic finish was developed to recall the kitchen’s colours.

Marina says she especially loves how there are various intensities of the same shade on the various woods.

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DESIGN • HOME IN CANADA • KITCHEN & BATH 2019

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DESIGNING DUO A homeowner and her friend combine their talents as designers to create a spectacular kitchen

BY PHILLIPA RISPIN PHOTOGRAPHY: KASSANDRA ARBOUR STYLING: VANESSA FERRO AND HALI GALLERNO

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A MAJOR HOME RENOVATION can be stressful, and can put a strain on any relationship. But what happens when two designers – a homeowner and her friend – work together on a project? Professional know-how and friendship prevailed in the case of this makeover in King Township.

Harmony and synergy are the watchwords for the combination of homeowner Vanessa Ferro and her friend Hali Gallerno, senior designer and project manager at Bloomsbury Fine Cabinetry, a family-owned company that specializes in handmade framed cabinetry.

Vanessa, the principal of Vanessa Ferro Design, worked with Gallerno on a project four

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years ago, so the two were confident that this collaboration would go equally smoothly.

“She’s much more detail-oriented than most of my clients,” says Gallerno. “I saw the home with Vanessa before they purchased it, and we were excited to get our hands on this kitchen. We saw great potential. For me, it was just helping to put it together to function. We bounce ideas off each other well. It was up to me to take those ideas and bring them to life.”

The house was built in the 1980s, and although it had never been renovated, it boasts 10-foot-high ceilings and good bones. Vanessa bought the house two years ago.

The home’s traditional exterior dictated the decor. The kitchen, spacious at 17.5 feet by 15 feet (excluding the breakfast area), boasts 10-foot-high ceilings. The walls are covered with minutely patterned wallpaper, and dark grout makes the white subway tiles behind the range stand out.

DESIGN • HOME IN CANADA • KITCHEN & BATH 2019

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“From the outside, it reminds you of a historic New England home,” she says. “I wanted to make the kitchen fit with the traditional bones of the home.”

When it came to choosing the decor, she says, the house left her with no choice. “There was only one way to go: very traditional. The house decided for me.”

As for the colour in the kitchen, Vanessa had no hesitation in deciding: “The first time I walked into it, I looked at the light streaming in through the large Gothic windows, and could picture only a powder-blue kitchen,” she says. “I wanted a black La Cornue range, and black and white details such as the vintage-look hexagonal tiles used on the floor.” –>

Sunlight streaming through Gothic-style windows in the breakfast area inspired

“There was only one way to go: very traditional.

The house decided for me.”

homeowner Vanessa Ferro to choose a soft blue as the main colour for the kitchen.

The La Cornue range and small hexagonal tiles on the floor are a perfect aesthetic fit with the old-style cabinetry.

–Vanessa Ferro

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“This kitchen was meant to look like a collection of beautiful things rather than completely new.”

–Hali Gallerno

Old-fashioned trim such as corbels, panelling and deep crown molding add a traditional ambience to the room.

Small apothecary-type drawers on the bottom of the towers flanking the range add interesting detail and function as one drawer. Cabinet interiors are a stained beech, which designer Hali Gallerno sees as a nice contrast to the soft blue exterior.

Gallerno suggested applying a stain as a base coat to the poplar cabinets before painting over it. Once the cabinets had been artfully distressed in just the right places, the warmth of the wood came through the paint colour.

Benjamin Moore’s Wedgewood Gray is used as the main cabinetry colour.

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Gallerno says that the kitchen’s style could be described as a combination of “English country manor meets Parisian bistro. This kitchen was meant to look like a collection of beautiful things rather than completely new.”

DESIGN • HOME IN CANADA • KITCHEN & BATH 2019

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A standout feature in the kitchen is the large black pantry cabinet, featuring doors inset with antiqued mirrors. The mirrors were the perfect inspiration for designing the home’s pantry to look like a piece of vintage furniture from a French brasserie.

The kitchen is arranged with the time-honoured work triangle of sink, range, and refrigerator, but there’s nothing old-time about the appliances except the look of the La Cornue range, which has a century-old aesthetic and modern-day technology. –>

As in the rest of the room, the handsome black pantry’s exposed hinges in antique brass give it an aged look.

This is complemented by additional finishing done by Bloomsbury Fine Cabinetry’s Barb Partridge, which gives the cabinetry a seemingly authentic, worn aspect.

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DESIGN • HOME IN CANADA • KITCHEN & BATH 2019

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“Every day, walking into this home, I feel a sense of calm and peacefulness.”

–Vanessa Ferro

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DESIGN • HOME IN CANADA • KITCHEN & BATH 2019

The island’s style is reminiscent of a traditional kitchen table. Three-inch turned legs on the seating side are a little more delicate than typical island posts, which tend to be chunkier.

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The other appliances and fixtures also suit the look of the room. The island showcases a large apron sink with a Waterstone faucet in an antique brass finish, and a matching pot-filler above the range. Fridge and freezer columns

by Miele are integrated into the cabinetry, as is the Miele dishwasher in the island. A Miele speed oven tucked under a countertop rounds out the appliance list.

The actual design and construction happened surprisingly fast. Planning took approximately two months, and installation and finishing about eight weeks. Vanessa chose Bloomsbury because she knew that the hand-crafted cabinetry would be of high

quality, showing great attention to detail.

“You’ll notice the little corbels under the crown molding that were cut and sanded by hand, or the decorative bead board on the ends of the island,” Gallerno says.

Vanessa also relied on Bloomsbury to keep on schedule, as the company did. “The kitchen was delivered on time and the installation team was great,” she says.

“I love it,” she adds. “That black cabinet is my favourite piece and when I look at my powder-blue kitchen cabinetry, I just smile.

Every day, walking into this home, I feel a sense of calm and peacefulness.”

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FABULOUS FARMHOUSE DESIGN A Laval couple hire a designer and act as their own general contractor on their bathroom reno

BY WENDY HELFENBAUM PHOTOGRAPHY AND STYLING: VALÉRIE DE L’ÉTOILE

I N T E R I O R D E S I G N E R VA L É R I E D E L’ÉTOILE faced a long list of must-haves when she took on a remodeling project in a 1960sera Laval bungalow. An unused portion of a large basement would be transformed into a bright, multi-functional space that maximized every inch and every dollar.

“The homeowners wanted this area to include a bathroom, a laundry room and a utility room,” explains De L’Étoile. “They also wanted an adjacent bonus space that matched their lifestyle and the modern farmhouse look featured in the rest of the home. Since their main bathroom couldn’t be enlarged, the homeowners wanted something warm and inviting because they planned to use this bathroom often and didn’t want it to feel like a basement.” –>

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First, De L’Étoile had to contend with a plethora of mechanical elements that needed to be grouped together more efficiently and then integrated into the overall design.

Where possible, ducts, pipes and the electrical panel were either moved or hidden behind custom-built white Shaker-style cabinetry to make best use of the space while providing more storage. In the bonus space outside the new bathroom, the designer added a banquette to provide extra seating that also hides plumbing elements.

“Now, this space can function for whatever they need – either as an office or a guest room,” she says.

Three oversized barn doors from Home Depot were modified and hung on a track system to hide the washer and dryer when not in use, along with the furnace and other mechanical elements tucked away on the other side.

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DESIGN • HOME IN CANADA • KITCHEN & BATH 2019

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To save costs, the homeowners acted as general contractor, coordinating the bidding process, the tradespeople and the shopping for materials, says De L’Étoile, who provided detailed 3D drawings and suggestions for the couple. Topping the list was an oversized shower featuring sleek sliding glass doors and both a rain showerhead and another adjustable one. –>

(Top) Clean white countertops offer the perfect spot on which to fold laundry, with space above to hang delicate items. (Bottom) Outside the new bathroom, designer Valérie De L’Étoile devised a clever way to hide away unsightly plumbing pipes and ducting below a bench. The large storage armoire conceals the home’s electrical panel while offering space to store towels and other supplies.

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The homeowners saved on some materials, including the vanity and countertops, purchased at IKEA, while splurging on such high-end finishings as the set of Raven shower faucets by Rubinet. A darker shade of grout modernizes the classic subway tile in the shower surround.

“The clients chose quality finishings, and they shopped around to find the best price point,” she adds.

The soft-grey lacquered cabinetry features a bevelled panel for a traditional but clean look, contrasting nicely with the dark oak laminate countertop. The white apronfront double sink is large enough to handwash items.

“We worked with materials that were budget-friendly, such as the subway tiles for the backsplash and shower, and the wood-look tiles for the heated floor, which we found at Éco Dépôt Céramique,” says De L’Étoile. “We sourced the vanity, countertops, cabinetry and some accessories from IKEA, and the sliding barn doors are from Home Depot, which we then modified to hide the furnace, water heater, washer and dryer.” –>

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A sculptural ebony faucet elevates the profile of the bathroom vanity, which features an apron-front sink found at IKEA. Heated walnut-coloured floor tiles add luxurious warmth to the space and contrast with the soft grey Bodbyn cabinetry.

After painting both the bathroom and adjacent bonus room a crisp white, De L’Étoile incorporated hits of black throughout the space to add dramatic flair, seen in the door hinges and knobs, the cabinetry hardware, the classic rectangular sconces with clear glass inserts, and the luxurious sculptural faucets for the sink and shower area. Pewter and wrought-iron accessories complete the modern farmhouse look the couple wanted.

“This is a beautiful bathroom that could easily be on the main floor,” says De L’Étoile.

“It has everything the clients needed in one place, and it was all done within a tight budget. I was happy to just guide them and then let them organize the rest so they could invest in the things that counted.”

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At our Firm, our primary goal is to convert real estate challenges into solutions for developers, landlords, and managers so that they can focus on optimizing and protecting their returns on investment.

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LIFESTYLE

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COOK LIKE A

PRO

Canadians are flocking to cooking classes to improve their culinary skills

BY JULIE GEDEON

Photo by Melissa Quantz courtesy of Nourish

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OKAY, I ADMIT IT: once I’m home, it’s difficult to get me back out. Of course, there are exceptions. The promise of good food is always an enticement. Learning something new is another. So, I’ve never regretted attending cooking classes.

“You learn the how and why that go unexplained in most recipes,” says Dan Cheung, the owner and co-founder of Nourish, a company that offers cooking classes in Vancouver.

“Things like how hot a frying oil should be or why it’s best to use a spoon to peel ginger.”

Knives pose another challenge. “Most people don’t know how to properly sharpen and use a knife, which is why a paramedic friend of mine sees more cuts than any other accident,” Cheung says. “We make knife skills a part of every class because they make cooking safer, faster and everything looks and tastes better when you know how to professionally dice an onion or julienne carrots.”

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Cheung and his wife, Abbey, opened Nourish after reading Michael Pollan’s best-selling book The Omnivore’s Dilemma, which helped them understand the strain that a typical North American diet puts on both human health and the environment.

“We show people how to prepare delicious, healthy meals that are mainly plant-based,” Cheung explains. “People have the option to add meat or another protein, but perhaps in a smaller quantity or less often, so it’s healthier and more sustainable for the planet.”

Starting with always-popular French and Italian cooking lessons, Nourish has since branched out to include Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and Middle Eastern cuisine based on student feedback. “If an ingredient is difficult to source, I find a replacement,” Cheung says.

Nourish also holds classes for children and their parents or grandparents. “I love that we’re reconnecting families with the art of cooking, instead of relying on fast or prepackaged food that can be full of salt and sugar,” he says. “The main goal is to have fun, which is the case judging from the smiles we see.” –>

Class photos by Erica Chan Still life photos by Melissa Quantz Courtesy of Nourish

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“Fun is number one,” says Marina Mellino, the owner and founder of the Spice Chica in Calgary. “I always break the ice with my humorous food adventures and within five minutes, everyone is laughing as they share their own good – and bad – food experiences at home or while travelling.”

Tricks of the trade are a main reason people turn out even on a blustery night. “For instance, I show people how to make my signature gnocchi with ricotta cheese with three simple ingredients and just one or two tools,” Mellino says.

Saffron, garlic and oregano transport her back to her childhood in Argentina, where she learned to cook from her Russian-Italian grandmother. Unable to find Nonna’s wonderful spice blends in Canada, Mellino has concocted her own – always experimenting to add inventive, healthful twists. “Beet powder, for instance, is great with olive oil and lemon for a salad dressing,” she says.

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The Italian-cooking classes fill quickly with people eager to prepare comfort food.

French cuisine remains the stalwart for learning classic techniques. Other food cultures are generating greater interest, too. “Our Mexican classes are popular because people want to know how to make tasty guacamole,” Mellino says. “And we make our tortillas from corn, which is great for anyone with a gluten intolerance.”

Empanada-making is another favourite activity. “We spend a lot of time learning how to make those wonderful folds so they stay closed,” Mellino says, adding that virtually every culture has some version of an empanada. Think samosas, pierogis, calzones, roti and Jamaican patties. –>

Photos courtesy of Spice Chica

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Toronto’s multicultural character also sparks a steady demand for lessons in international cuisine. A popular school is the Dish Cooking Studio, where owner Pam Pridham delights in sharing her passion for global cooking and travel. “It’s so much fun to discover something new and outside the North American palate,” she says.

Cooking lessons at Dish are complemented by a café where people can taste what they’d like to learn and can later purchase featured ingredients. “If you need lemongrass for a Thai dish or preserved lemons for Moroccan food, we have all that,” Pridham says. “If you don’t have time to make a reduction, we have that ready for you, too.”

Classes vary from the one called Own the Kitchen, in which students learn to make every aspect of a simple three-course meal, to skills classes that are more like chef school and provide the know-how for using a knife or making various pastas from scratch.

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Having fun while doing good is possible with the Pay It Forward classes. “You not only prepare comfort food for your group, but additional meals for a local shelter,” Pridham says.

Dish Cooking Studio simmers with new ideas, such as the Yoga + Brunch sessions taught by a yoga instructor with a flair for vegetarian fare, or the Cooking with Bourbon class. “We tend to offer the more exotic classes – Japanese, Argentinian, Balinese – on Friday nights as a great way to ‘travel’ without leaving the city,” Pridham adds.

“Food is fashion,” she says. “If you don’t keep up with trends, you quickly become outdated in this business. Dish has been around for more than 20 years because we know the classics but make a point of staying current.” –>

Photos courtesy of Dish Cooking Studio

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Ateliers & Saveurs is another cooking studio always thinking outside the pantry box.

Founded in Old Montreal, it offers cooking courses, wine tasting sessions, and cocktail lessons that have become so popular, they’ve led to the opening of schools in the city’s Plateau Mont Royal neighbourhood, Quebec City and soon Laval.

Classes for tapas, antipasti, or three-course meals that would impress any guest often have a waiting list. So do sessions that feature wine-tasting basics or mixology, such as the tequila three ways with complementing appetizers.

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“You not only learn the basic skills, but have a unique, fun experience,” says Nicolas Bernault, Atelier & Saveurs’s marketing director. “We enjoy a lot of repeat business with people returning to try new things each time.”

The new stuff might include preparing a “Bon Brunch” that begins with mimosas and features butternut squash soup, pancetta chips, and duck skewers with sautéed fingerling potatoes. Yum! “Our Midi Express, with a price starting at $20, is hugely popular,” Bernault adds. “You spend 30 minutes learning how to prepare a meal and then enjoy it as your lunch.”

Scheduled classes are currently in French only (what better way to improve language skills?), but English can be arranged for groups.

Now, I’m hungry...

Food photos courtesy of Atelier & Saveurs

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ART

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THE COLOURS OF THE SENSES Synesthesia is a key influence in the paintings of Quebec artist Eric J. Hughes

BY KAREN SEIDMAN

QUEBEC ARTIST ERIC J. HUGHES uses his synesthesia to explore colour, lines and texture in his art.

Hughes’s paintings depict rich, vibrant, electrifying colours – turquoises, reds, greens and yellows – that co-mingle in the glorious abstract designs he creates in the workshop attached to his Saint-Basile-le-Grand home in Quebec’s Richelieu Valley. “For me, colour is happiness,” he says. “When there’s colour, there’s a good feeling and that’s what I paint.”

Synesthesia, of which Hughes has a form, is a phenomenon in which the stimulation of one of the five human senses leads to the perception of the stimulus by another of the senses: seeing sound, for instance, or hearing colour. –>

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ART

Hughes uses music to guide his artistic creations. “I am inspired by music; it is a catalyst for me,” he says. “I use music to help me create art.” As such, music has become very much part of his artistic process and he listens to jazz and instrumental music while painting his abstract contemporary canvases.

Since his work ref lects his internal emotions, he calls his art “instinctive” – a kind of freestyle painting that has become his personal signature.

Hughes got his start in the art world early in life. He remembers winning a drawing contest when he was 11, which encouraged him to pursue what was quickly becoming a passion.

At the Cégep du Vieux Montréal, he studied graphic design and then opened a graphic design studio upon completing his studies.

Dragoncitronlime, Delirium series, 2006, acrylic on canvas, 54˝ x 36˝

Symphoniaque, Delirium series, 2005, acrylic on canvas, 30˝ x 60˝

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Osmose A et B (diptyque), Symbiose series, 2013, acrylic on canvas, (2 x) 30˝ x 24˝

Drakkar, Symbiose series, 2014, acrylic on canvas, 36˝ x 36˝

Mechanical, Symbiose series, 2013, acrylic on canvas, 48˝ x 60˝

There were frustrations, however, in doing graphic design jobs for businesses but not having the freedom to pursue his art in the way he really wanted to. So he started to paint and run the business concurrently.

Eventually, he got out of the graphic design business so he would be freer to follow his art ambitions. In 2000, he decided to go back to school, and took a studio art program at Bishop’s University. “I wanted to pursue art more seriously and that seemed to be a good way to do it,” Hughes says. That’s where he learned about various styles of art and where he discovered his own style, he adds.

He knew he wasn’t going to be a figurative artist. “You don’t usually recognize things in my paintings,” he says. “It’s all about internal emotions, free-f lowing thoughts. It’s like embarking on an adventure into the depths of my subconscious.” –>

Carolime, Symbiose series, 2014, acrylic on canvas, 24˝ x 48˝

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Butterfly Blues, Symbiose series (Génération II), 2018, Mixed media, 36˝ x 48˝

Hughes describes his art as exploration. The music that inspires him also helps him to see the vibrant colours that characterize much of his work. He mainly relies on acrylic paint, but sometimes incorporates collage into his work. The paintings sell for between $1,000 and $5,000, depending on the size.

Only his collection of drawings is more subdued and more figurative. But most of his collections, even as they have evolved over the years, share the same defining use of vivid colours and dynamic lines and swirls that seem to transport the viewer inside a kaleidoscope.

Carnival, Symbiose series (Génération II), 2018, Mixed media, 30˝ x 24˝

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Each of his collections represents a period in what Hughes calls his “visual exploration.”

And each has its own peculiarities. His Catharsis collection is geometric, whereas the Delirium collection is more lyrical. Another collection, called Symbiose, is a mélange of the styles of the two previous series of paintings, attesting to the artist’s natural evolution and pictorial research. –> Casino, Symbiose series (Génération II), 2018, Mixed media, 30˝ x 24˝

Brokencycle, Symbiose series (Génération II), 2018, Mixed media, 36˝ x 48˝

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ART

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Thalassa, Amalgam series , 2017, Mixed media, 30˝ x 30˝

NoX, Amalgam series, 2016, Mixed media, 36˝ x 12˝

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Hughes’s latest collection is called Introspection and his goal is to start selling it outside of Quebec and expand to Toronto, then New York and Europe.

In 2015, he was exhibiting alongside another artist, Patrice Dufour, and the two decided it could be interesting to meld their very different styles into unique pieces together. Their new collection, Amalgam, will be exhibited at l’Artoteque de Montréal from March 13 to 24, and Hughes is excited about their collaboration. “His style is more textural and organic, but it has been a real adventure painting together,” he says.

With a wife and two teenaged children, Hughes says one of the challenges of being an artist is to leave all the distractions of everyday life and focus on his craft. “Bravo to the people who have the courage to do that, to follow their passion,” he says.

To view Eric Hughes’s art, go to www.ericjhughes.com.

To view the works of the Hughes and Dufour collaboration, go to www.hughesetdufour.com

Introspection series, 2018, Mixed media, 17˝ x 11˝

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DESIGN

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DESIGN • HOME IN CANADA • KITCHEN & BATH 2019

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SEAMLESS FLOW This bedroom in a Town of Mount Royal home is openly connected to its ensuite bathroom

BY ELISABETH KALBFUSS PHOTOGRAPHY: DREW HADLEY STYLING: CATLIN STOTHERS

A NEW THIRD-FLOOR extension became the master suite for homeow ners who wanted the relaxed feel of their bedroom to extend into their bathroom - with no walls or doors to hide the view of their luxurious soaker tub.

Increasingly, homeowners are looking for an ensuite bathroom that feels semi-integrated into the master bedroom, says Catlin Stothers, principal designer of Catlin Stothers Design. “I think that the trend in boutique hotels to have the bathrooms exposed to the bedroom, often partitioned by clear glass, has influenced architects and designers to reconsider conventional master bathroom layouts as they relate to the bedroom,” Stothers says. –>

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The tub and feature wall behind it are elements in the bathroom that are most visible from the bedroom. Designer Catlin Stothers used walnut for the vanity and shelves to add warmth.

Bathtub: Caicos by Aquabrass; bathroom wall sconces: custom-designed by Lambert & Fils.

The tub and feature wall are open and visible from the bedroom. Partial walls on each side hide the shower on the left, the vanity on the right. The toilet is tucked in behind a pocket door, behind the shower.

Part of a larger renovation of the splitlevel house, done in collaboration with MVA Architecte, the combined bedroom/ bathroom has many of the same features and design elements as the rest of the home: wood floors in a matte, smokey-grey colour, white walls to showcase the owners’ art collection, charcoal and black accents, and a carefully considered amount of wood. The homeowners were keen to have their new space feel contemporary and less transitional than their previous decor; to be a little minimalist but not stark.

Getting that balance of wood features was key. “I’ve always been a big fan of the right amount of wood,” Stothers says. “If you take all the wood out, it’s missing something; no matter what material you might have, there’s an austerity to it that makes it not so inviting.” –>

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In the bedroom, built-in closet doors are as white as most of the walls, but one large charcoal wall frames the bed and sets off its acacia-wood headboard and frame and a side table. “We tried to keep the materials tone-ontone, blending into each other,” Stothers says.

For the bathroom wall that’s visible from the bedroom, Stothers’s clients debated about whether to continue the white-onwhite theme behind the tub, or turn it into a feature wall. Once they had rejected the white option, they went looking for

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something that would stand out, that they wouldn’t tire of, and that didn’t feel either too masculine or too feminine. Most of the mosaic patterns felt too feminine, she says.

Instead, they settled on a handmade tile in a pewter, gun-metal finish, similar in colour to the bedroom wall. Because the tiles are handmade, they have slight variations and a sense of movement. “Usually you don’t want that in a tile; you want them to be crisp and square. We felt that it was okay that they were slightly wobbly,” Stothers says. –>

The smokey-grey handmade tiles – Greenwich Acciato from Stone Tile – are similar in colour to the charcoal wall in the bedroom. Mosaic floor tiles in shower: Centura Tile.

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The bed and bath colours are carried through from the rest of the house: white walls to showcase the owners’ art, with charcoal-coloured accents. Bedroom light fixture: CB2.

The floating vanity is made of walnut, as are the shelves beside the tub that add extra storage for towels and supplies. “We used walnut to bring in warmth and have it feel more cozy and rich,” Stothers says.

Natural light comes from the architect’s inclusion of a skylight and a small, west-facing window above the vanity that lets in the endof-the-day sun.

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A combination of grey tones and wood are used in both the bedroom and bathroom. The charcoal wall contrasts with the acacia wood headboard and nightstand.

Once the room was finished, the designer brought in a small orange acrylic stool for the photographs. “It added a little kick,” she says.

Sometimes at the end of a renovation, clients run out of steam or money or both and aren’t always interested in choosing accent pieces.

I’d sent the homeowner a picture, and she was like, ‘whatever you think.’ But she loved it, and it stayed behind. It makes a big difference when you’re able to see things.”

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GOOD ENERGY FOR SALE

The ancient Chinese practice of feng shui can help make your home appealing to potential buyers

BY TRACEY MACKENZIE

WHY DO WE FEEL GOOD in one house but uncomfortable in another? Why do some places attract us while others repel? What makes one house sell faster than another?

These are all questions that I have been asked repeatedly, which can be answered through the ancient art of feng shui.

Developed in China more than 5,000 years ago, feng shui (pronounced fung shway), is one of the Five Arts of Chinese Metaphysics, and was originally called “kan yu.” Kan signified heaven and yu, the Earth. The relationship between humans and these two energies became the study known today as feng shui.

Literally translated, feng shui means “wind and water.” In ancient China, a site was considered auspicious if it was sheltered from the wind and could benefit from slow-moving water. A common usage of feng shui was its application vis-à-vis the dead. The ancient feng shui masters took great care in choosing grave sites because they believed that a badly chosen one would affect the prosperity of the deceased’s descendants.

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Feng shui has since evolved and is now used to locate auspicious sites for the construction of businesses or homes, and to harmonize the interiors of buildings.

It is also used to help sell houses. Applying a few simple feng shui remedies to your property could mean the difference between a quick sale or watching your house languish on the real estate market for months without so much as a nibble.

LIFESTYLE • HOME IN CANADA • KITCHEN & BATH 2019

Curb-appeal is as important in feng shui as it is in the real estate industry; however, in a feng shui practice, the main entrance is regarded as key. It’s considered the mouth of “chi,” which is the Chinese term for ubiquitous “life-force energy.” The chi entering your house through the main entrance is what determines how lucky your home will be.

The energy of the entrance should be “yang,” hence vibrant and filled with life. Yang chi, which is active and outward-seeking, is

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the masculine energy associated with the sun.

It’s uplifting, like sunshine. You’ll notice that you are always motivated to do things when the sun is shining. For a home, this translates into a clear pathway to the front door that is well-landscaped with flowers, has a clean, fresh-looking porch or landing, and a doorbell that works. If you do not have a walkway, one remedy is to flank your main entrance door with an urn filled with colourful flowers.

Yin energy, associated with the moon, is

considered feminine, impelling an inward focus and a sense of calm and balance. If the entrance is yin, it lacks energy. Yin is low energy, such as we experience during the darkness of the winter months. You’ll notice a drop in your energy during the winter. For a home, this translates into an entrance that is dark and lacking landscaping, or has overgrown vegetation, peeling paint, cobwebs and a broken doorbell. Basically, it’s unappealing to potential home buyers.

Good feng shui: yang energy. Flowers flank this home’s stairs; the veranda is

Bad feng shui: yin energy. Although the walkway on this house is curved, which is

clean and devoid of detritus; and there is greenery on both sides of the landing.

favourable, according to feng shui principles, the home does not look inviting. Pulling

The home is inviting.

the weeds, trimming the shrubs, and adding colourful flowers along the walkway would cheer this place up.

Go outside and observe your house while you stand in the street. What do you see? Is your entrance yin or yang? Would you consider buying your home?

The main entrance should be immediately identifiable. Moreover, it should not be obscured by vegetation. This is considered to be quite unlucky in feng shui, because it prevents the chi from making its way inside, which could lead to stagnant energy, resulting in financial loss, health problems and other misfortune. –>

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Photo: Tracey MacKenzie

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Bad feng shui: yin energy. What is behind the greenery, which appears to be

Bad feng shui: yin energy. Even a house that doesn’t have its main entrance door hidden

eating the house? Also, the entrance is totally obscured.

can be affected by a lack of energy. Almost every window on the main floor of this house has a tree or a shrub in front of it. Trimming the vegetation will make the house seem larger, rendering it brighter on the inside, which is attractive to potential buyers.

Once the exterior has been taken care of, you will need to look at the inside of your home.

When you open your main entrance door, where is the energy flowing? Visualize the energy as a wave of water. Is the water flowing unimpeded throughout your home or is it being stopped every few feet by clutter and too much furniture? Nothing makes a buyer run away faster than a cluttered home.

(Above) Bad feng shui: This dining room wall is decorated with plants, but it’s untidy and chaotic.

The plants are taking over the space.

(Middle) Good feng shui: By contrast, this dining room is decorated with plants that are displayed in an orderly fashion and occupy much less visual room. They are not overwhelming.

Bad feng shui: A tall tree strategically placed can fill a corner beautifully and can keep stagnant energy at bay, but a tropical forest indoors is a sure turnoff. Not only does it take up valuable space, it suffocates the energy and makes the room seem messy and small.

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Bold colours can also be a turnoff as they are too yang. If prospective buyers cannot visualize themselves or their furniture in your home, the house will not sell. The same goes for too many patterns or styles combined in one room.

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Bad feng shui: Too many competing design styles. The decor in this room is eclectic and visually busy, so is not buyer-friendly.

Good feng shui: neutral and cozy decor.

Keep the decor simple with one style. Better to be boring than brazen. Try to keep things neutral but not empty. You don’t want your home to look as if it’s uninhabited. Keep the living room uncluttered but add throw pillows and a knitted blanket to make it look and feel cozy.

Fresh flowers elevate the energy of a home.

And never underestimate the power of scent.

Spritz your rooms with a soft, fragrant linen spray prior to any visit from prospective buyers, or have a scented candle or two burning.

And remember, pets are good feng shui as long as you can’t smell them!

Good feng shui: kitty sleeping in the corner.

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DESIGN

MODERNIZING A HISTORIC

STRUCTURE

The kitchen in this mid-19 th century Old Montreal loft is given a minimalist contemporary design

BY WENDY HELFENBAUM PHOTOGRAPHY: MELANIE ELLIOTT STYLING: MARIE-FRANCE ELLIOTT

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TUCKED AWAY IN the heart of Old Montreal sits a well-preserved and award-winning Victorian building constructed in 1865.

Originally an upscale hardware store, the space was transformed into 30 loft-style condos in 2001. Fifteen years later, Cuisines Steam lead designer Marie-France Elliott was called upon to reimagine a new kitchen for two lofts that were being combined into a sprawling, light-filled space with bleached oak flooring throughout.

“The client was extremely detail-oriented with a discerning eye, so she was very involved in every stage of the design,” says Elliott. “She and her spouse entertain often, so it was important to have good flow. They also have three children and several grandchildren who visit often, so they wanted a functional yet welcoming layout.”

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Because the client knew exactly what she wanted, storage and work zones were carefully planned to maximize efficiency.

The loft’s original kitchen was much too cramped for the homeowners’ lifestyle, so a wall between that space and the old dining area was removed, allowing Elliott to expand toward the condo’s floor-to-ceiling arched windows.

Although situated in roughly the same spot, the new kitchen was re-oriented so that it stretches along the 20-foot brick wall, drawing attention to its texture and patina.

However, that lovely wall brought its own set of challenges, Elliott says.

“It was important to the client that the kitchen appear to be floating, which meant having strong support on that wall to hold the cabinetry, but because it’s a very old building,

To see the maximum amount of exposed brick, designer Marie-France Elliott proposed upper cabinetry crafted in black acrylic with no backs, making the entire structure appear to be floating against the wall.

that wall was not very solid structurally,” she adds. “Plus, to further emphasize the beautiful brick, the upper cabinets have no back, which made it even more difficult to have the proper support.”

To solve these issues, Elliott’s construction team incorporated tubes within the black framing of the cabinets. Beside the glass upper units, the stained wood shelving is framed by a black steel structure that hides the anchors required for the installation. –>

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A large glass insert brings sunlight into the windowless bedroom adjacent to the new kitchen.

Below, a wall of hard-working appliances and generous cabinetry house everything the homeowners need to entertain large groups.

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Another design conundrum involved a load-bearing wall with a large window overlooking the adjacent bedroom. “That glass is supported by several columns, which were important to the structure of that wall,” Elliott says. “But because that space also contains cabinetry, the refrigerator and freezer, plus the wall ovens, we had to incorporate and hide the columns so the whole area is balanced and sleek, with one continuous line.

It was a lot of work, but it was worth it.”

The oversized island features clean lines and offers storage on both sides, which was on the client’s must-have list.

“She knew exactly where she wanted to put everything, so all her appliances and dishes had a specific spot according to their measurements,” Elliott says. “If your kitchen is spectacular but your Vitamix doesn’t fit anywhere, it’s useless for your lifestyle. It’s important to have exactly what you need.”

White and beige acrylic lower cabinets have molded joints around the facade to ensure longevity and high performance. Above the island, an industrial horizontal light fixture hung from thin wire accentuates the 12-foot ceilings while providing illumination that works well for food preparation or working on a laptop, she says.

Doors that fold flat against the outside of the cabinets are the perfect space-saving solution along this load-bearing wall, which hides support columns along with several appliances and a lot of storage space.

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The Palladian-style floor-to-ceiling windows are original to the building, and their frames were treated to a fresh coat of black paint that contrasts with the bleached oak flooring and anchors them against the rugged stone and brick walls.

“It’s very modern and continues the kitchen’s floating feeling,” she says.

Elliott says there are many small details a casual observer might not see, such as how the floating table sits atop the island. “We found a way to integrate it so you can’t see the structure; the U-shaped legs turned out well, and depending on which angle you look at it, they look thicker or thinner,” she explains.

“I’m really proud of this space.”

The homeowner fell in love with this black Solna sculptural faucet by Brizo that has a and timeless industrial style. An extra-deep oversized Baïa stainless-steel sink is ideal for entertaining guests.

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TASTEFUL D E S I G N A new Vancouver restaurant is designed to engage the senses

BY SUSAN KELLY PHOTOGRAPHY: COLIN PERRY STYLING: NEGAR REIHANI

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THE DESIGN OF M8 RESTAURANT, a chic eatery on Vancouver’s Seawall, is more than a simple amuse-bouche, according to Negar Reihani, founder and principal designer at Space Harmony interior design studio in Vancouver. “I wanted to provide a visual feast, to not only build anticipation for the meal to come but give something for the eye to explore while waiting to be served or lingering over a digestif,” she says.

Owner and head chef Xin Mao wanted a decor that would be sophisticated enough to say fine dining, but laid-back enough so customers could enjoy the experience. Reihani, who was hired to oversee the design, was

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purposely theatrical in layering and juxtaposing various textures. There is a hint of an industrial look as hard surfaces are played against soft ones, cool tones against warm.

It sets the stage for the main attraction: the Asian-inspired menu. “I’m from the north of China, a region big on dumplings and noodles, but you won’t find any dishes typical of that cuisine on the menu,” Mao says. He also served up Italian-inspired dishes as co-owner of MoMa Contemporary Bistro in Richmond, and has worked under some of Vancouver’s top Italian chefs at Cincin Ristorante and Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill.

Interior designer Negar Reihani deftly used textures to extend seating options: wicker chairs at tables, plush velvet cushions on banquettes and leather bar stools.

Wicker chairs: Four Hands.

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“The colour and sparkle make a dark corner livelier and inviting, while the distressed finishes are elegant but not overly formal.”

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Though both ethnic influences are evident in the food he prepares, this chef does not like the term “fusion cuisine.”

“I do combine elements of Chinese and Italian cuisine, two of the oldest and finest in the world,” he says. “But I think what I do is more conceptual, more of a deconstruction.”

He also strives for an element of surprise and fun, using only in-season ingredients gathered from local farms or the small garden behind the restaurant. –>

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Reihani began by giving some of the restaurant’s original features an update. For some industrial edge, the off-white concrete floors were polished, and the high ceilings given a coat of black paint to minimize exposed ducts and pipes. The walls were softened with a velvety layer of Venetian plaster. When an imposing old-school cherrywood pub bar proved immovable, she gave it a chic makeover, cladding it in marble. The adjacent mammoth 23-foot-long banquette was also a permanent feature. But the black leather with which it was covered, an effect the designer described as “very dark and a little scary,” would go.

She reupholstered it in a rich and striking turquoise velvet in a variegated dye. On the wall above are panels of acid-washed mirror arranged to resemble a city skyline. “The

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colour and sparkle make a dark corner livelier and inviting, while the distressed finishes are elegant but not overly formal,” she says.

The designer also added a 13-foot-long table in the centre made entirely of live-edge mango wood. The table’s shape and elaborate veining give a sculptural effect while the natural finish adds warmth to the space. Seating up to 12, it encourages communal dining. It has proved a popular spot for locals who drop in as singles or couples for an opportunity to meet and mingle with their neighbours.

The chairs that surround it took a great deal of thought for Reihani. She weighed hundreds of options before deciding on contemporary wicker. They make just the right statement, she says: Asian and modern, casual and welcoming. –>

The imposing 23-foot-long banquette gets added drama with rich turquoise velvet upholstery. Acid-washed mirrors in various lengths form a cityscape feature overhead.

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If she had to choose a favourite finishing touch, it might be the highly original alabaster and brass light fixtures by Randy Zieber, a Vancouver artist turned lighting designer.

“Each of the stones is hand-carved and polished,” she says. “They are so original and add a warm, natural ambience.”

Customers’ most-requested spot when reserving is the small lounge area toward the front, Mao says. Tables are set up in front of a comfy cushion-topped bench from which diners enjoy the sea view beyond. On the wall behind them is one of his favourite elements of the restaurant’s design: a striking graphic panel that echoes a similar one on the ceiling over the bar area.

Mango-wood-topped tables and unique brass-and-alabaster chandeliers add warmth to the small lounge, a favourite spot for customers.

Chandeliers: Randy Zieber.

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An impactful graphic and touch of greenery overhead make the chic bar area infinitely inviting. Graphic design: Aimee Kang.

For these original creations, freelance graphic designer Aimee Kang rendered intricate drawings of classic Peking Opera characters on a black background, punctuating them with bright colour. One warrior’s spear is puckishly replaced with a vegetable stalk; for the other, spatulas take the place of swords.

Mao says it took a lot of back-and-forth communication to strike just the right note.

“In the end, I think the entire decor whets the customers’ appetites and lets them know they can expect something surprising when they eat here,” he says.

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WELCOME HOME

A Beaconsfield couple renovate their kitchen, making it a convivial space for their children when they visit

BY CHERYL CORNACCHIA PHOTOGRAPHY: DREW HADLEY STYLING: CATLIN STOTHERS

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EMPTY NESTERS Cynthia Killorn and her husband Matt wanted the five-bedroom Beaconsfield home in which they’d raised their family to be the kind of house that their three children, now grown and no longer living in Quebec, would enjoy when they came back to visit. Their backyard pool and garden had been landscaped a few years back to reflect that goal; the result was a great success. Now the time had come to do something about the outdated kitchen.

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Thirty years had passed since they had last renovated the kitchen, and that renovation had been modest. This time, Cynthia and Matt wanted the kitchen to be transformed into the hub of the house, a place to gather as well as relax. But Cynthia knew it would be a challenge.

“It was a very complicated space,” says Catlin Stothers, the interior designer whom the homeowners hired to help them. “There were a lot of restraints.” –>

A welcoming dining space was created by incorporating the home’s former dining room into a new, enlarged kitchen. A 14-foot-long banquette makes the space comfortable for large groups.

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For visual interest, pale-grey lacquered cabinets are paired with floor-to-ceiling Shinnoki cabinets and shelving on the opposite side of the room.

The kitchen was a narrow space and there is a staircase directly adjacent to it, making it impossible to punch out the wall in order to widen the room.

Using designer software and 3D modelling, Stothers, owner of the eponymously named Montreal firm Catlin Stothers Design, came up with a new layout that expanded the old kitchen to 255 square feet from 185. Since the family was using their formal dining room only once or twice a year, she suggested the removal of the wall at the end of the old kitchen, incorporating the dining room into the new space.

She also suggested that a former main-floor laundry room at the opposite end of the old kitchen be reduced in size and the extra floor space be made over into a bar/coffee station.

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And to open up the space even further, she recommended removing two of three small windows located across the back of the house and replacing them with one stunning 13-foot-wide horizontal window that traverses the entire space. The new window brings the beauty of the outside in, and accentuates the horizontal lines of the pale-grey lacquered custom cabinets along that wall. To give the space a totally new look, custom Shinnoki wood floor-to-ceiling cabinets were installed on the other side of the kitchen. Like the pale lacquered cabinets, they are equipped with touch latches. Says Stothers: “The idea was to nip and tuck everything, and to exploit the views they have to the backyard.” –>

The streamlined touch-latch cabinets are a shallow thirteen inches, making it easy to reach inside for dishes and glassware. The cabinetry was customized for the kitchen’s narrow dimensions.

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“The idea was to nip and tuck everything, and to exploit the views they have to the backyard.”

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Caesarstone countertops accentuate the kitchen’s neutral palette and add a little lustre to the new, contemporary space.

Finally, the designer suggested a modern-style table coupled with a 14-foot-long bench seat for the new dining area: something comfortable and easy for entertaining large groups.

Cynthia loved the idea. “I wanted simplicity, I wanted things to be easy,” she says. “We’re getting older. You get tired worrying about things. Like a glass being put down on my mother’s antique mahogany dining table.

It sounds corny but the new kitchen has changed our lives.”

She says her two daughters in Toronto and her son in Tampa Bay, Florida can’t get over what a “cool kitchen” she has. “They love coming home.”

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RECLAIMING MID-CENTURY DESIGN

A piece of vintage furniture is repurposed as a vanity in this East Vancouver bathroom

BY ELISABETH KALBFUSS PHOTOGRAPHY: TRACEY AYTON STYLING: TANYA MCLEAN AND NICHOLE SKLADAN

THE TEAK CABINET THAT popped up on Craigslist looked perfect, just the kind of piece the homeowners wanted to repurpose as a bathroom vanity for their East Vancouver home.

“It was on everyone’s wish list to find a vintage piece of mid-century furniture,” says Tanya McLean, owner and creative director of mango design co., who oversaw the redesign of the bathroom. “This would add some history and authentic style to the space while producing one less item.” –>

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Finding a mid-century cabinet to use as a vanity was a must for the homeowners. This piece was repaired and refinished, with a Duravit Vero sink and Kohler Purist wall-mount faucets with cross handles in brushed gold. Toilet: Kohler; wall sconce: George Kovacs for Minka.

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“The teak millwork and brushed gold details speak to their lifestyle and aesthetic.”

Once they had taken it home, however, it turned out to be less perfect than it looked: the sides and top were a thin veneer and couldn’t be refinished; the gables were edgetaped with a plastic laminate. To make it work, the carpenter had to replace the top and sides with solid teak, and add height to the legs. Then the whole piece was sanded, stained and sealed for water resistance. Finally, it was exactly what the homeowners had been seeking. Another large piece of teak was used to create a similar-style tub apron, also sealed for water and moisture resistance.

“Don’t think that converting an old piece of furniture is necessarily going to save you money,” McLean says. “Think of it as a cool, reclaimed statement piece.”

This guest bathroom is part of a larger basement renovation that included a new music studio, guest room and den. McLean’s clients were old friends, whom she describes as Mid-century Modern enthusiasts and musicians who love rock ’n’ roll. “The teak millwork and brushed gold details speak to their lifestyle and aesthetic,” she says, “While the brightness and lightness of the space provide serenity.” –>

mango design co. custom-designed the teak tub apron as a flat panel. It was crafted by the carpenter and sealed to be moisture-resistant.

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To make the bathroom larger and more functional, the designer extended the wall one foot into the hallway. Additional insulation was needed on the exterior wall to meet building code requirements, forcing the tub and toilet to shift. The bulkhead was right over the bath and limited the shower height; it couldn’t be moved, but it was reconfigured to be narrower and deeper to gain that much-needed height for the shower. The heat register that had been in the bulkhead was removed, replaced by in-floor heating. A pocket door was built into the new wall to create a feeling of extra space in the bathroom.

Wall subway tiles were laid in a 90-degree herringbone pattern to make the design look less traditional. A three-quarter-inch hexagonal tile was used on the floor, with a charcoal-coloured grout. Both tiles are matte white from Creekside Tile.

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McLean says she advises clients who want to repurpose a vanity to find it ahead of time, then design the space around it, since the dimensions of the piece will determine the size and positioning of the sink, as well as the faucet height.

“It’s not the first time we’ve done this and I’m sure it won’t be the last, but using found furniture as a vanity is not always the easiest process,” McLean says. “In the end, it looks fantastic and definitely has the character we were after.”

The tub is the Starck by Duravit with an integrated back rest; the shower system is Stillness by Kohler in brushed gold with Purist valve trim and tub spout. Designer Tanya McLean says choosing gold fixtures adds some unexpected rock ’n’ roll glamour to this basement guest bathroom. Shower curtain: Simons.

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GATHER ‘ROUND THE DINNER TABLE Astrological influences boost the kitchen’s importance as the centre of the home

BY SUSAN KELLY

TRENDS COME, TRENDS GO, but the kitchen remains the most important room in the home. Hang onto your spatulas, because in 2019, it is poised for a cosmic boost in significance.

I have observed the lunar nodes often coincide with decor trends that resonate deeply. (Technical stuff: The nodes are the two opposing points that mark the Moon’s orbit as it crosses the Sun’s path.) They provide clues as to collective karma and growth, and they underwent a sign shift last November.

And that takes us to the kitchen. For the next 18 months, the nodes embrace the two most family-oriented signs going: Cancer and

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Capricorn. Studies show the kitchen is where we spend the great majority of our waking hours chez nous. It’s where everyone comes together to share food and a laugh, talk about their day, do homework or fire off some emails.

This sign polarity also moves work-life balance to the front burner. For Capricorn, it’s all about what we strive for, the things we do to pay for the kitchen. Career, status and reputation are priorities, and can become an obsession, what with the planets Saturn and Pluto also in this sign. More concerned with rules than the heart, we miss out on a lot, such as skipping family dinners to meet work deadlines.

This is where Cancer, the aspirational end, comes in. Astrology lore says reaching for it at this time will bring not only emotional fulfilment, but soothe our souls as well. The wisest course may be to emulate people born under this sign, whose natural habitat is the kitchen, the steadily beating heart of the home. They instinctively know how important a bonding ritual such as sharing a meal is, and that everyone needs a place to come home to, where they feel rooted, safe and nurtured. If the real family is dysfunctional, they create a surrogate one of friends.

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To make like a Moon Child, try working a little astrological feng shui. Here are six kitchen trends for 2019 that can help inject that sign’s positive qualities into your decor: Show your roots: Since the sign of Cancer is all about ancestry, embrace the vintage trend. Give grandma’s sideboard, breadmaking bowl or another heirloom pride of place. Or frame some family photos or post them on the fridge. If you’re a little bit country, farmhouse chic might add the right homey touch.

• Cultivate the heart of a child: People born with this nodal polarity – such as Michelle Obama, Maria Montessori and Brad Pitt – have a natural affinity for children. Prioritize fun and whimsy. Liven up a white colour scheme with hits of colour, perhaps bright Crayola hues. Try them on accent walls, accessories, backsplash motifs; the possibilities are endless.

• Dining nooks: They’re back and are perfect for the sign of the Crab, which prefers being cozy in its shell to exposure to wide-open spaces at the kitchen counter. Besides, a table and chairs tucked in a corner encourage lingering over both food and conversation.

• White on white: This lunar-inspired neutral, beloved of the Moon Child, remains the most popular choice for kitchens. Avoid harsh, overly glossy finishes, though; go for softer shades. And don’t forget to add some textural interest and perhaps a sheen reminiscent of the pearls the sign favours.

• Round objects: Cancer is about softness and rounded shapes. Take the edge off linear cabinetry with decorative objects shaped like the night-sky orb, preferably with a silvery tone. Incorporate furniture and appliances with rounded corners. A retro-inspired refrigerator such as those made by Smeg would be ideal.

• Covet clutter: The Capricorn side of the nodes can draw us to minimalism, but to the point of becoming cold and austere. A growing number of studies say too much organization stifles the free flow of ideas and creativity. Aim for just enough mess to be relaxed without overdoing it.

What’s in store for you around the kitchen table in 2019? A sign-bysign roundup:

ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19) A banner year for career and finances is on hand. And yet there lurks a nagging doubt there should be something more. Round the kitchen table is where you just might find the answer.

LEO (JULY 23-AUGUST 22) Your ambitions are honed and ready for primetime. But attention must be paid to what’s going on backstage. The folks at the kitchen table can provide important insights, though not all will be sugar-coated.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20) It really is all about you in 2019. But all the growth is taking you way outside of your comfort zone. Head to the kitchen regularly to make your favourite treats or crafts. It will keep you anchored and connected.

VIRGO (AUGUST 23-SEPTEMBER 22) You’re going to need a bigger kitchen table or island. This is your year to view your life through a wider lens. And expanding your network can help you find a new passion or, if you’re eligible, a soul mate.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20) Love or money? You want both this year and are willing to put in the effort to achieve your heart’s desire. But exercise extra caution in January, June and September, when over-optimism can trip you up.

LIBRA (SEPTEMBER 23-OCTOBER 22) Home and family are a source of joy and challenge. Some relationships undergo major changes, and kitchen confabs help hash out any differences and achieve the harmony you seek.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22) Make the kitchen your power zone in 2019.

Rather than a place to hide, it is where your battle plans will be drawn up. Your best shield: a positive attitude in the face of rapid change.

SCORPIO (OCTOBER 23-NOVEMBER 21) Carve out a desk area in your kitchen. Because your agenda is filled with activities that involve learning, teaching and mentoring this year. Expand your mind, and new possibilities will follow.

S A G I T TA R I U S ( N O V E M B E R 2 2 DECEMBER 21) This is your year of living large, larger, largest.

Jupiter in your sign brings tons of opportunities in all areas of your life. Take it easy in January, June and September lest you go from frying pan to fire.

CAPRICORN (DECEMBER 22-JANUARY 19) All work and very little play make you a rather dull if wildly successful Goat in 2019.

No matter, because such simple pleasures as sharing meal preparation with the family bring the most joy.

AQUARIUS (JANUARY 20-FEBRUARY 18) You come into your own, playing a bigger role in your community and the wider society.

The kitchen takes on importance as a retreat for mindful activities, such as preparing only responsibly produced food.

PISCES (FEBRUARY 19-MARCH 20) If you’re looking for new love or to renew the spark, the kitchen is the place. Deep bonding can occur around the cutting board. Do check in often with the office, though, where you’re being considered for a bigger role.

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MAKING S PA C E A couple creates an open-plan ground floor in their former duplex in NDG

BY CHERYL CORNACCHIA PHOTOGRAPHY: GUILLAUME BOILY

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THE RENOVATION of Diane Bélanger’s detached cottage in Notre-Dame-de-Grace was similar to other projects of its kind: she and her husband wanted to open up the space to make entertaining family and friends easier and more fun. The cottage had already been renovated once, a decade ago, to convert it from an upstairs-downstairs duplex into a single-family home. The second renovation was now going to create a more open-concept plan on the lower of the two levels.

“We knew what we wanted; it wasn’t our first renovation,” says Diane. The first renovation of the 1940s duplex had situated

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the kitchen, den, living and dining rooms on the main floor, and the bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs. She says their hope for the new renovation was to improve the flow between the main-floor rooms, and to create a more modern, as well as welcoming ambience, in the space. “We are 26 when the family gathers,” says Diane. “We had been thinking of buying a cottage for many years but when we got around to looking seriously at it, we realized maybe the time had passed. The kids were older. We thought: ‘Why don’t we turn our home into that gathering place.’ ”

Honey-coloured oak floors in a herringbone pattern warm up the breakfast nook and offset the kitchen’s contrasting black, white and grey decor.

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Recognizing it was a complex project that would require removing load-bearing walls and reconfiguring the existing rooms, Diane and her husband, Paul-André Mathieu, sought expert help.

Montreal architect Michel Villeneuve, owner of MVA Architecte in Town of Mount Royal, oversaw the project. “It took nine months, from the design stage to permits to construction,” he recalls. “The most challenging part was replacing existing support walls with the fewest possible steel beams.” –>

Carrara marble gives the new kitchen island (above) a stated elegance. The island/prep area boasts a small recessed sink for added convenience (bottom, left).

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Who says a contemporary kitchen can’t have a farmhouse sink? Homeowner Diane Bélanger fell in love with the ribbed finish of this enamelled cast-iron apron sink from Kohler (above).

Villeneuve says steel beams were used to support the second floor. They were concealed in remaining walls so as not to clutter the main-floor space, which covers a total of 1,300 square feet.

“The den was much too small and there was a bathroom taking quite a bit of space,” he says. “And they wanted all the rooms open to the kitchen.”

The redesign made the kitchen larger and opened it up to a breakfast nook, formal dining room and living room and, in a second direction, to the den and a set of French doors that lead to the backyard garden.

The bathroom from the home’s previous incarnation as a duplex was demolished, which opened up additional space in what

became the new den. A new powder room was relocated to a less intrusive location off the breakfast nook. A new double-facing gas fireplace was installed in a new wall that separates the den and dining room, both of which are adjacent to the kitchen but accessed through separate entrances. The fireplace gives both the dining room and den their own charm. And new oak wood floors in a herring-bone pattern were installed throughout to unite the various rooms, an aim also achieved by the consistent use of high-contrast colours - white walls throughout, black accents (interior window frames, kitchen cabinetry, stove hood and accent walls) and Carrara marble (in both the kitchen and den). –>

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The one unlucky surprise was the asbestos that was found in some of the walls. Work on the project was halted, and a removal team was brought in to dispose of the hazardous waste.

“It’s like a brand-new home, now,” says Villeneuve. “It’s clean and modern-looking.”

He says Diane already had an obvious design sense and considerable decorating skills. “She was very hands-on. The idea was to accentuate her European-chic style with the new design.”

An eclectic mix of furniture, art and curios give the new living room its decidedly modern but cozy feel.

The fireplace is original to the home but was refaced with tiles to give it a more contemporary look.

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An accent wall and double-faced propane fireplace separates the formal dining room from an adjacent den and warms up both spaces.

Diane, a paralegal, takes Villeneuve’s comments as a compliment. When she was in high school, she says, her life’s dream was to become a designer. “It was 1982; there was a recession on. My father said people are losing their houses, how are they going to pay you (for design work)?”

Over the years, she says, she has kept her interest alive by decorating and renovating the family home. This second renovation project took her interest to another level; it has turned out, she says, like a dream come true.

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In Living Colour

Hip hop singer Gabriel L. B. Malenfant opens Pastel Rita, a café and workshop that is as colourful as he is

BY KAREN SEIDMAN PHOTOGRAPHY: FELIX MICHAUD

THERE WAS ONE THING that hip hop singer Gabriel L. B. Malenfant knew for sure when he set out to fulfill a lifelong dream of opening a café in Montreal’s Mile End neighbourhood: It wasn’t going to be another white, monotone, colourless place.

No way. Gabriel has created a colourful persona for himself on the hip hop scene as one half of the successful duo known as Radio Radio. He wanted his passion project, a café on St. Laurent Blvd. called Pastel Rita, to reflect that sensibility as well. –>

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“My band is colourful; we dress in f lashy, colourful, custom-made suits. And my wife’s handbag line is also colourful. It’s our identity and brand,” says Gabriel, a self-described “foodie” with an MBA in international business who was fed up with fast food after a year of touring and wanted to open a café. He did open it as a simple café but then he and his wife - Véronique Orban de Xivry, founder of the brand Bouquet, which specializes in purses and leather goods – decided to close temporarily for a renovation and re-open a bigger, more ambitious project that would combine both of their passions.

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The resulting hybrid space combines a café with a workshop-boutique. The couple hired APPAREIL Architecture to design overlapping spaces that would allow customers to view the artisan’s workshop while enjoying coffee or a drink and a light meal. “The idea was to combine their two interests in one space,” says Kim Pariseau, the architect and designer with APPAREIL who oversaw the project. “How to integrate both interests in a proper working environment was the challenge of the project.” –>

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The hybrid space created at Pastel Rita combines two passions. Hip hop star Gabriel L. B. Malenfant shares his love of food and great gathering spots; his wife, Véronique Orban de Xivry, runs her artisan leather goods workshop. It’s an unusual combination that works well for them.

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A challenge that Gabriel believes Pariseau achieved, and brilliantly. “We really nailed it,” he says. The white workshop area is glassed-in and a stark contrast to the multi-coloured restaurant areas which helped establish the name of the café: Pastel reflects the use of colour Gabriel so wanted and Rita is his 105-year-old grandmother – the inspiration for the restaurant as someone who “always had soup on the table for friends” and created the warm, convivial atmosphere the singer wanted to recreate.

It was a small space with large needs, and with the “mixed program,” as Pariseau describes it, she relied on all custom furniture

and lighting to ensure the right aesthetic was created and the space could be properly used to meet both needs.

Gabriel describes it as a combination of “contemporary and Acadian kitchen” architecture; an appropriate amalgamation, perhaps, of his roots and his current lifestyle.

Both the use of colour and several architectural details lend to the playful atmosphere of the boutique and café. A pastel-pink seating nook, created out of interconnecting banquettes, adds a touch of whimsy while establishing the owners’ strong connection to colour. “In the café, every single piece of furniture has colour,” says Pariseau. –>

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But it is perhaps the unique bar area of which Pariseau is most proud. Painted in glossy green, the custom bar and chairs pack a bold punch and are a focal point of the room – exactly what Gabriel was hoping for as the restaurant recently got a liquor license.

Behind the bar, a partition made of wood slats delineates the boutique section of the wall. The space is punctuated by large arches and it’s here where all the colours of the restaurant – the predominant pinks, greens and yellows – intermingle and unify the look of the space.

“The gold makes it glamorous, and at night it really stands out when you’re passing on the street,” says Pariseau. “The 3D effect is very striking.”

Gabriel wanted the café to reflect his colourful personality. The bar area is where all the colours – rich gold, pastel pink and bold green – merge and create a dramatic backdrop for the newly licensed bar. “It gives a creative atmosphere to it,” he says.

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Customers can have a glimpse of the work being created in Véronique’s workshop while sipping a coffee. Several architectural details act as displays for the handbag and accessory creations, which are prominently displayed in the large arch-shaped openings.

Gabriel is thrilled that the bar is the gathering place he wanted it to be. “Now we’re rebranding it as a night-life place,” he says, adding that they can also host parties and launches in the restaurant.

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He also acknowledges that this passion project is challenging. “It makes up for my lax lifestyle as a musician. Running a business is a lot of hard work,” he says. And sharing the space with his wife is, well, “not as romantic as I anticipated,” Gabriel says with a laugh.

With a new baby daughter, the couple is balancing their busy lives with childcare and discovering it’s not always easy – even with their home within easy walking distance of their workplace.

On the other hand, he is delighted with the great buzz the restaurant is getting, both

for its dazzling design and as a great gathering spot. Their popular Aperitivo nights on Thursdays and Fridays, in conjunction with the restaurant Montreal Plaza, are taking off and the menu is expanding and now includes soups, sandwiches, salads, tatakis and tartars.

Pastel Rita also now serves brunch.

“Sales are good, we’re getting busier and we’re getting more events,” says Gabriel. “I’m pretty stoked.”

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DOWNSIZE TO THE BEST SIZE

Moving to a condo from a single-family house requires deliberation and planning but it can be a welcome lifestyle change for downsizers

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IT IS A DECISION THAT ALL homeowners must eventually make: do I stay or do I go? They may have inhabited their beloved home for many years, but as empty nesters, discover that they are occupying more space than they need. But when is it time to downsize? And how is it done with as little upheaval as possible? Real estate broker Bunny Berke has encountered many homeowners who face the downsizing dilemma, and she has some advice for anyone facing this life-altering decision.

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Q U E S TI O N: Bunny, one concer n that downsizers have is monetary. Many have lived mortgage-free for years and wonder if they want to take on the financial responsibility of condo fees. To that end, even a large house may seem preferable. What advice would you proffer?

ANSWER: The move to a condo does not necessarily imply higher expenses. The trade could be less expensive or in fact a “wash.” In a large house, there can be costly expenses: exterior brickwork, foundation work, a roof.

Every residence carries with it a monetary commitment. A condo has condo fees.

Often, we discover that individuals need less space when they make the transition to a condo from a house. And downsizing to a condo allows for more freedom of lifestyle.

Condo owners can travel worry-free, knowing their living quarters are safe. They needn’t worry about such problems as leaky roofs or defective heating systems.

I am reminded of a situation I had in my own house in Westmount. I went to New York for a weekend and returned to a major flood in my basement caused by a water tank that had exploded. Apart from living in a cold house for many days, I lost a valuable and beautiful orchid collection.

Also, stairs become an issue at a certain point in our lives. The convenience of elevators is undeniable, and having a valet carry your groceries is very helpful.

Swimming pools and exercise rooms can be added bonuses.

Q: Homeowners who live in a house for decades usually have accumulated a lot of belongings.

That makes moving a major and stressful event.

What advice do you have for anyone who is overwhelmed by the prospect of paring down belongings to move to a smaller space?

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A: Paring down belongings is a cleansing process. As we get older, we notice that many items of clothing, memorabilia or furniture that we’ve accumulated have become redundant. Once the possibility of a move becomes a viable opportunity, it is a good idea to start paring down slowly. The thought of a complete purge for many is frightening. However, gradual purging can be a more comforting approach than the stress of a quick “divestment.”

We have recommended to our clients that they hire someone who specializes in clearing homes. They report that they’ve been happy with the process. –>

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“Living in a condo requires a period of adjustment.”

Q: Sometimes, one of the homeowners is ready to move while his or her partner/spouse is not and wants to stay put. How can couples deal with such disparity?

A: A good approach is to meet with a reliable real estate broker to discuss the exercise. If there is resistance from one party, identify the problem, concerns about space, financial worries … in short, discuss the resistance.

Ideally, couples should move while they are still able to enjoy their new living space rather than doing so because of health issues.

Q: The realization that it’s time to downsize often forces homeowners to evaluate how much renovation work needs to be done to make their home market-ready. Should they renovate if they’re planning to sell?

A: Some work should be done to make a home “market-ready.” It is also important to understand that certain costs will not be recuperated through a sale. One would not want to replace the roof, for example, so it’s a good idea to maintain it throughout the years.

Nor is it wise to renovate your kitchen before selling. Buyers like to make their own decisions for this very important room. It’s best to leave it as is and allow a prospective buyer to make the changes. It is important, however, to maintain a home. Paint regularly, and make sure operating systems are kept up-to-date by inspection and regular repair if required.

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Photo: Guillermo Castro

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Q: Should downsizers consider renting as a stepping stone toward condominium ownership?

If yes, would that not create the need for a second move?

A: This requires a case-by-case evaluation. For many homeowners, renting a condominium is a more comfortable step after selling a large home. Living in a condo requires a period of adjustment. For example, you can let your dog out into the garden at night in a house; in a condo, you have to walk your pet. Renting for many can be more reassuring as they adjust to the different lifestyle. They can take more time to search for their ideal purchase without feeling pressured to make a quick decision. Others may prefer one move into a purchased unit. If you’re undecided, it is best to weigh the benefits of both options.

Bunny Berke, Real Estate Broker bberkeprofusion@gmail.com 514-347-1928 www.profusionimmo.ca/courtier/bunny-berke/50177

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SOMETHING TO CROW ABOUT

The bathrooms in this veteran-era house get a creative face-lift

BY PHILLIPA RISPIN PHOTOGRAPHY: TRACEY AYTON STYLING: TANYA MCLEAN AND NICHOLE SKLADAN

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ABOUT THREE-QUARTERS of a century ago, this East Vancouver house was one of many built for veterans returning from the Second World War. The interior had been remodelled since then, but Christina and Nick, the current owners, were not happy with the bathroom on the main floor and the one on the second floor.

“The main-floor bathroom had a bathtub and shower,” says Christina. Upstairs, where the bedrooms are, “there was no shower. We would walk downstairs to shower.” Furthermore, the shower-less upstairs bathroom had two entries, one from the hallway and one, at an inconvenient angle, from the master bedroom. The decor of both rooms was bland.

The 63-square-foot second-floor bathroom features a striking tiled floor. Open shelves fill much of the space formerly used for a door to the master bedroom. The clawfoot tub that had been against the opposite wall was moved to the downstairs bathroom, leaving space for a handsome vanity. Tiles: C&S Tile Distributors.

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A capacious shower now occupies the space where the old vanity stood. The new walnut vanity, mirror and shelves were made to order by Custom Craft Cabinets and Millwork. Shower wall tiles: Daltile; shower floor tiles: Keystones by Daltile; Duluth knobs and Gilmore pulls: Restoration Hardware.

The upstairs bathroom with its two doors was inconvenient, Christina says: “The door from the master bedroom took up needed wall space, and the room was like the one downstairs: dull, boring, with uninspired cabinets from a big-box store.”

Christina and Nick had a few criteria for upstairs. They wanted a big shower with a bench so they could sit and bask in the steam.

They didn’t need a double sink, but the vanity had to have plenty of drawers. Downstairs simply had to become more attractive.

In terms of decor, they wanted a hint of the 1940s style without it being too clichéd. “It had to suit the vibe in the rest of the house, which is more natural,” Christina says. “We really like the outdoors.” She in particular likes to garden “for hours and hours.” She also loves feeding and observing the crows in the area; she reckons she’s now fed five generations of crows. –>

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This former veterans’ house is the last of its kind on the street, and Christina and Nick wanted to preserve the house much as it had been built. Thus, the size and shape of each bathroom could not be changed.

Interior designer Tanya McLean, owner of mango design co., relished the challenge.

“Both spaces were out-dated and uninspired, which did not suit the warm, comforting aesthetic in our client’s home,” she says. With the work of assistant designer Nichole Skladan and general contractor Blake Williams of Hillview Renovations, the two rooms were designed, completely gutted and rebuilt in about three months.

“We rarely have the ability to work so quickly and to find a general contractor available to do so as well,” McLean says.

“This was lucky!”

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The main-floor bathroom boasts a warm element in the site-finished fir flooring in a herringbone layout, stained to match the home’s existing hardwood. The mirror is circled in acacia, and the shelves were custom-made from reclaimed wood. Mirror: CB2; sink: Boulevard

by American Standard.

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One reason that mango design co. got the job, Christina says, is that “I liked Tanya’s philosophy of using natural products and environmentally appropriate products.”

She says that “when Tanya showed me the wallpaper I immediately knew that was the wallpaper that needed to be in there. We have a lot of trees on our property and a very lush garden, so the tree wallpaper brought the outside in.”

Functionality was the main challenge for McLean and her team. “For the upper-floor bathroom, we spent quite some time working with the layout to determine the best use of a tricky space,” she says. “The existing room had angles, two doorways, a window and an oddly placed toilet which couldn’t be moved without incurring additional expense. In the end, we proved that closing off the access door to the master bedroom would help greatly, as we could create a large shower along the wall and move the vanity near the window.”

The decor in both rooms now has a strong black-and-white emphasis and plenty of warm wood touches. The layouts make more sense, and showering is easy: “We don’t have to go up and down stairs anymore,” Christina says happily.

“A year or more later, I don’t think I’d do anything different,” she says. “There’s not one thing I would change. That’s interesting because I’m a person who likes to change things all the time, [but] in those two bathrooms I don’t ever think that.”

Wallpaper provides a strong design element that, combined with the herringbone floor and custommade wainscotting, gives the 38-square-foot mainfloor bathroom stylish impact. Wallpaper: Wood

by Cole and Son, New Contemporary 2; tub filler with hand shower: Riobel; wall sconce: Archie by Progress Lighting.

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RISE TO THE CHALLENGE Bread-making classes across Canada are becoming increasingly popular and are well worth the dough

BY JULIE GEDEON

FEW CULINARY EXPERIENCES surpass the sweet, somewhat malty aroma of freshly baked bread. The smell transports us back to childhood, when such homemade or bakery goodness made us salivate.

Food scientist Amalia Scannell and her team at University College Dublin have identified the nearly 20 volatile compounds that give bread its aromatic notes and prompt the “odour-cued memories” that make us nostalgic. Of course, there’s milk, butter and yeast, but also undercurrents of baked onions, grapefruit, cooked spaghetti, green olives, and even flint.

The overall scent is a strong trigger because our smelling faculties are closely linked to the parts of our brain that deal with memory and emotion. Plus, bread is such a childhood staple.

In a survey by the same UDC team, 89 per cent of 1,000 respondents said the aroma of bread made them happy – 63 per cent related that it evoked happy memories. No wonder folks are flocking to bread-making courses. –>

With her team at University College Dublin, Dr. Amalia Scannell, a food and sensory scientist, determined the smells that cue our memories in a study done for Ireland’s National Bread Week “Love your Loaf” campaign.

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Photos courtesy of Cook Culture

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Classes ranging from lunch-and-learn sessions to full-day workshops promptly sell out at the Depanneur in Toronto. “People increasingly appreciate the meditative qualities of working with their hands to create wonderful food,” says Leo Baduria, one of many artisans whom the Depanneur features in food-related events.

He became passionate about bread while living in Montreal where boulangeries abound. He later upped his skills at bakeries in France and Italy. The Depanneur’s lunchtime sessions demonstrate how to make focaccia, fougasse and other delicious flatbreads from scratch. “Everyone’s amazed that we make pizza Margherita and tarte flambée so fast and get to eat it right away,” says Baduria, whose workshops include artisanal bread and croissant classes.

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The full-day workshop covers everything from the flatbreads to baguettes and brioches.

“We show how to make and handle the different types of dough,” Baduria says. “Students practice folding, kneading and shaping to know how to gently help a dough to develop to its full potential.”

Baduria and his team share such tricks as how to make the epi cuts in a crust reminiscent of wheat spikes. Everyone is encouraged to subsequently post their home efforts on social media.

“Our students definitely gain a greater appreciation of what goes into making artisanal bread,” Baduria says. “They understand why a baker’s sourdough costs $8 when you can pick up commercial loaves for $2.” –> Photos by Leo Baduria, The Depanneur

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The ability to determine what goes into our food is part of what drives people to classes at Prairie Boy Bread in Toronto. “People are reassessing what they eat and how it’s made,” says co-owner Grant MacPherson, a former organic vegetable farmer now committed to wholesome baking. He uses only organic grain and flour grown and milled in Ontario from producers he personally knows.

MacPherson began giving courses two years ago in response to customer requests.

“I saw it as an opportunity to convey information and dispel myths,” says the former Winnipegger. “For instance, bleaching has nothing to do with a flour’s whiteness but the processes used to stabilize it.”

He says that the wild yeast and lactobacillus bacteria culture “we use is technically the same thing as a sourdough starter, but we take great pains to ensure it’s never ‘sour.’ ” Each class is shown steps that allow students to capitalize on time. “After we discuss the grains and other basic ingredients that should and shouldn’t be in bread, we shape the dough for a ‘country white,’ our most

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popular loaf, that was mixed earlier and proofed overnight,” MacPherson says. “About half-way through the class, this dough is done proofing and the students can bake it before they leave.”

Next, they learn to make a mother dough/ starter and can take a portion home to bake future loaves. “Then from a leaven that we already started to mix, we prepare a dough that everyone can also take home to bake the next day,” he adds.

The entire process is explained so that students can work backwards to know how long ahead of time they should start preparing a loaf for a special meal. Some of us might already be wondering if it’s worth all this effort.

“I always joke that my students learn from my class why it’s easier to pay me to bake their bread,” MacPherson says. “Even if people do it just this one time, they have a greater appreciation for artisanal food.”

For those who persevere, the reward is warm bread with a rich texture and superb flavour. “Fermented bread is also easier to digest and improves our microbiome health, making it easier to absorb the nutrients from other food.”

Nevertheless, that mother dough can be a handful. “Websites for sourdough enthusiasts constantly feature recipes for pancakes and muffins, because home bakers are constantly looking for ways to use excess starter,” MacPherson says. “We tell our students to email us for a bit of starter if they’re occasionally baking.” –>

Photos courtesy of Lainie Knox/Prairie Boy Bread

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Otherwise, it’s like owning a goldfish, warns Jed Grieve, the owner/founder of Cook Culture in Vancouver and Victoria. “You can’t go away for the weekend because it needs to be fed some flour regularly,” he explains.

If a starter is too cold in the fridge, the yeast falls dormant, he adds. Too warm, it becomes overactive.

Grieve learned to appreciate the art of baking from his mother who prepared loaves at home when she wasn’t creating pottery.

“Both look simple but take effort to master,” he says.

Cook Culture started out as a kitchenware store where classes were held so that people could discover how to use equipment to improve their preparation of locally grown food. “We’re geographically the largest culinary educator in British Columbia now, teaching more than 25,000 people a year to cook better,” he says.

The bread-making courses are in high demand. “People are embracing this challenge, because the bread is so delicious and healthy,” Grieve says.

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Cook Culture helps people to achieve success at home by explaining the tools of the trade. “For baguettes, a couche – a muslin cloth packed with flour – proofs dough beautifully,” Grieve says. “A ceramic breadloaf maker captures enough of a dough’s moisture in a standard electric oven to replicate the lovely crust but moist interior of a baker’s loaf.”

These expert bakers won’t lie: perfecting bread takes practice, but courses eliminate a lot of frustrating trial and error. Plus, they’re sliced up to be fun.

Photos courtesy of Cooks Culture

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A SHOW OF CONFIDENCE

Homeowners with a new house return to the kitchen-design company they used in the past

BY ELISABETH KALBFUSS PHOTOGRAPHY: SARAH DAGENAIS

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ÉMILIE SCHETAGNE STILL REMEMBERS the country-style kitchen she designed for homeowners in Terrebonne almost a dozen years ago. Fast forward a decade, and those same clients were back. They had bought a brand-new house and needed her to create a new kitchen they could love as much as they had the old one.

“It’s always very gratifying to have clients come back; it’s a great show of confidence,” says Schetagne, senior designer at Club Cuisine BCBG. The first kitchen she created for them had a classic design and was in a smaller home.

Their new home is larger, with an open-concept floor plan, bright and well-lit with windows along the wall that extends from the kitchen to the dining room. This time, the couple wanted a contemporary design to fit in with the style of their newly built home, and they were looking for more contemporary materials, too. –>

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When the homeowners went to see her, they didn’t go in empty-handed. “They did a lot of research,” Schetagne says, “They came with pictures and ideas that inspired them.”

It wasn’t just about creating a kitchen that looked pretty - they like to cook and have friends over - so it needed to be a warm and welcoming space in which to entertain, as well as functional. “They wanted a big bar counter next to the island so people could sit and have a glass of wine while they work in the kitchen,” Schetagne says.

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Made of walnut, the bar flanks the island, and both extend toward the dining and living areas, part of the home’s open-concept floor plan. Also important to the homeowners: having a wine fridge and small bar area, with a glass cabinet to display their stemware. It’s located just a few steps from both the seating bar and the dining room.

Around the corner from the wine fridge is another must-have feature for the homeowners: a walk-in pantry with shelves, more cabinetry and counter space to keep small appliances handy but out of sight. –>

Both homeowners cook and wanted a lot of counter space so they wouldn’t get in each other’s way. The matte white cabinetry is by Club Cuisine BCBG as is the island, which is made of maple, stained dark for contrast. The wall television is accented with a built-in frame.

Countertops: Woodlands (6338) by Caesarstone; floor and wall tiles: Céramiques Pavigrès; appliances: Corbeil Électroménagers.

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The kitchen is designed as both a workspace and a place in which to entertain. Designer Émilie Schetagne chose walnut as the material for the seating bar where guests can relax while their hosts cook. She used the same walnut for floating shelves on the back wall. Lighting fixtures: Royaume Luminaire.

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Since both homeowners like to cook, Schetagne made sure there would be enough workspace so they wouldn’t get in each other’s way. Large counters flank the cooktop on the far wall and there’s more work space on the island. Because that far wall is directly opposite the dining room, the designer installed a tile feature behind the

range hood: multi-hued hexagonal tiles between the cabinets and shelves. There are windows on that wall too, which limited the size of the cabinets. Schetagne added floating shelves below them, in the same walnut as the bar counter.

Overall, the space works well for these return customers.

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B AT H TIME This Longueuil bathroom was designed for the whole family, including a child who soaks in the tub with her toys

BY ELISABETH KALFBUSS PHOTOGRAPHY: SARAH DAGENAIS STYLING: GATLINE ARTIS

SOME FAMILIES CONGREGATE in the kitchen, while others like to chill in the family room; then there are those who, at the end of a long day, relax and catch up with each other in the bathroom.

That’s why Anne Scheffer made it clear to her designer that the family bath in her Longueuil home needed more than just a great tub and shower, it needed space for seating, too.

“It’s the first thing my designer asked me.

‘How much time do you spend in the bath?’ ” Anne says. With an eight-year-old who takes 30-minute baths every evening, the answer was lots of time. “We chill with a glass of wine, and wanted a place to sit and relax with her.” –>

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Homeowner Anne Scheffer loves the clean look of the white bathroom walls, and was eager to accent them with black elements. She chose black faucets and plumbing fixtures, as well as a black trim around the shower glass.

The solution was a two-foot-by-three-foot bench, and built-in storage for the toys that find their way into the tub, too. “She plays a lot in the bath. We didn’t want the Barbies and Shopkins all over.”

The new room, says designer Gatline Artis of Entre 4 Murs, is contemporary with a classic touch. “It looks a bit like a cocoon,” she says.

At 10 by 12 feet, it’s a comfortable space, but not especially large. In the old, pink 1980s bathroom, the bath and shower were combined, and it was important for her clients to separate them. To make it more practical, a

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ledge was added to the dividing wall, to hold a wine glass or a book. A niche was built in to add a little storage. “We didn’t want it to be too visible, though,” Artis says. “We gave them a lot of options, and did a lot of talking with them to make sure it would meet all their needs.”

The vanity was made to measure in walnut, and holds just one sink, an extra-wide one with two sets of faucets. “I’m very into wood and white,” says Anne. “I like the warmth of the wood and the white is very calming and clean.” –>

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The homeowners opted to have one large sink instead of two, but with double wall-mount faucets. The walnut vanity was made to measure by Olivier Giroux of Élément Bois. Counter: Caesarstone “Pure White.”

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The plumbing fixtures are black, another request by the homeowner, who loves that the designer also incorporated black accents into the floor tile pattern and used them to trim the shower glass. The glass installer, however, wasn’t convinced and kept trying to talk her out of it. “He thought it would be weird, but I said, ‘It’s not your design!’ I had to argue with him,” she says. “In the end, he liked it, too.”

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Designer Gatline Artis says classic black and white tile floors are popular again, and adds that this pattern gives the floor a classic-chic flair. The larger black tiles are Stonehenge, the smaller black and white ones are Opus spiral, all from Ciot.

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N E H KITC S T R O F M O C e cooks m o h r fo ol tools o c o t e A guid MACK ACEY

BY TR

ENZIE

TIMELESS TRIBUTE Perfect for Star Wars fans, the Star Wars Death Star kitchen timer works for as long as 60 minutes and emits a green super laser along with sound when the time runs out. It measures approximately five inches in diameter. Batteries included.

Available at Amazon www.amazon.ca

TRENDY TOASTER Inspired by traditional Sicilian design, this toaster from the Dolce & Gabbana and Smeg collection is adorned with iconography featuring various types of birds, roosters and sailboats. Colourful artwork, two extra-wide slots, and a removable stainless-steel crumb tray make this toaster both practical and pretty.

Available at The Bay www.thebay.com

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A CUT ABOVE THE REST This premium herb-scissors set by Chefast transforms the task of cutting herbs from tedious to terrific. Perfect for the budding chef, the set includes chopper/cutter shears with five stainless-steel blades, two bags, a safety cover and a cleaning comb. Packed in a stylish box.

Available at Amazon www.amazon.ca

GOLDEN PINEAPPLE Made of heavyweight 100-per-cent cotton, the Pineapple chef’s apron from Now Designs will soon become your favorite.

Woven on an oversized loom, this apron is six inches wider than the standard to ensure a perfect fit.

Available at Ares www.arescuisine.com

MONSTER MASH The Spaghetti Monster Colander by OTOTO with its two protruding eyeballs is sure to make children laugh while they help prepare dinner. Designed to hold the contents of one box of spaghetti, this colander is BPA-free and dishwasher-safe.

Available at Moorhead Glass Art. www.moorheadglassart.ca

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PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE The Ceramic Baker by Staub cookware is loved by professional chefs and home cooks alike for its exceptional performance and exquisite craftsmanship. Rooted in French culinary heritage, it prevents foods from drying out during the cooking process. The Baker also transitions from oven to table beautifully and is microwave-, freezer-,

HERB HOTEL

broiler-, and oven-safe up to 572 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Herb Saver by Prepara

Available at The Bay

keeps herbs fresh. With a refill-

www.thebay.com

able reservoir and removable cap, it fits handily into all standard refrigerator doors.

Dishwasher-safe and-BPA free.

Available at Amazon www.amazon.ca

BEST BREW A favorite of Oprah Winfrey, the Asobu Coldbrew insulated portable brewer combines coarse coffee grounds with cold water and a long steeping time to achieve lower acidity and a deep, naturally sweet taste. Both the mug and the brewer are compatible for hot coffee and tea. Stays cold for 24 hours and hot for 12 and has a leak-proof lid. Hand-wash.

Available at Chapters Indigo www.chapters.indigo.ca

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BREAKFAST IS SERVED The Oster Duraceramic titanium-infused griddle with warming tray and non-stick ceramic coating cooks up to 30 per cent faster than ordinary non-stick surfaces. PFOA-free (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PTFE-free (polytetrafluoroethylene), it ensures that breakfast is always served warm.

Exclusive to The Bay www.thebay.com

BAKED BRIE This French-country-inspired ceramic brie baker from Wildly Delicious bakes brie to perfection. Top with your favorite compote to indulge your senses. Oven-, microwave- and dishwasher-safe.

Available at Wildly Delicious ca.wildlydelicious.com

DON’T SPILL THE WINE This set of two crystal bottle stoppers by Indigo is an elegant way to reseal opened bottles of wine. Each stopper is topped by a faceted crystal sphere – one pink and one white – and has a silicone ring that creates an airtight seal. Each is four inches tall. Hand-wash.

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HANG IN THERE The bright-orange monkey peeler

by Boston Warehouse is sure to get everyone - including children – into peeling vegetables. Its ergonomic, non-slip handle is shaped like a monkey with upraised arms to add an element of fun to an otherwise mundane task. Dishwasher-safe.

Available at Amazon www.amazon.ca

NO MORE TEARS The onion/vegetable/fruit chopper from Mueller Austria reduces onion vapours to minimize your tears. It holds up to four cups or 1.2 litres, and is made of BPA-free, professional-grade ABS for superior break-resistance. Two ultra-sharp stainless-steel discs chop even hard vegetables with one easy motion. Dishwasher-safe.

Available at Amazon www.amazon.ca

CARAT CUBES This silicone ice cube tray with diamond-shaped compartments by TrueZoo is perfect for ice cubes, jelly shots, chocolates and much more. The compartments produce jewel-shaped ice to cool your celebratory drinks. Added bonus: they melt more slowly than traditional cubes.

Available at Amazon www.amazon.ca

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SPACE-SAVING STRAINER The silicone Snap ’N Strain strainer by Kitchen Gizmo has specially designed clips that fit around most pots and bowls. It’s easy to use, BPA-free, made of top-quality silicone, and dishwasher-safe.

Available at Amazon www.amazon.ca

TROPICAL TWIST This acacia and marble serving board by Danesco adds a tropical flair to a gathering. Add canapés and use as a centerpiece on the kitchen island or table. Serving board measures 13˝ X 7˝. Hand-wash.

Available at Ares www.arescuisine.com

NICE RICE Perfectly steamed rice is easy to achieve with the Ricardo Rice Cooker.

It has seven automatic functions to cook various kinds of rice (white, brown, sushi, basmati and pilaf) along with quinoa. It boasts a 10-cup uncooked-rice capacity (20-cup cooked) and an automatic shift to the warm setting once cooking is finished.

Available at Linen Chest www.linenchest.com

BAKERS’ BIBLE Redpath Sugar, a staple in Canadian kitchens since 1854, has published The Redpath Canadian Bake Book, which features more than 200 recipes for cakes, breads, desserts and more. Filled with advice and tips for stress-free baking.

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THE PERFECT BLEND The Delonghi Perfecta espresso and cappuccino machine in silver has a single-touch latte, cappuccino, Italian macchiato and hot-milk system. Among other features, there are five settings for coffee strength, and the 27-ounce milk container can produce steamed milk, frothed milk and plain hot milk.

The container may also be detached and refrigerated.

Available at Linen Chest www.linenchest.com

DIGITAL DIRECTION The digital kitchen/food scale by Greater Goods is ultra-slim and easy to clean. With touch-sensitive buttons, an easy-to-read, high-contrast LCD display and a weighing surface of six by six inches, it makes measuring easy.

A portion of all sales goes to the Global Orphan Project to care for children in need.

Available at Amazon www.amazon.ca

INNOVATIVE INFUSER The Breville Smart Tea Infuser kettle features various temperatures and strength settings that allow you to customize your tea. The stainless-steel tea basket is attached magnetically to the kettle and automatically lowers into the water when the ideal temperature is reached, rising at the right time to prevent over-steeping.

Available at Linen chest www.linenchest.com

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EDIBLE EMOJIS Children love the Smiley Face Pancake Pan from Gourmia, which produces happy-looking pancakes and makes breakfast fun. Made of die-cast aluminum with a double layer of non-stick coating, this pan requires little butter or oil and is PFOAfree (perfluorooctanoic acid). Return to room temperature and wash by hand.

Available at Home Depot Canada www.homedepot.ca

BUTTER BEWARE Cold butter? No problem. This innovative, heat-conducting, serrated-edge knife from That! is designed to soften cold butter quickly and easily using body heat. No electricity or batteries required, and it’s dishwasher safe.

Available at Uncommongoods www.uncommongoods.com

COLOURFUL KETTLES The late style icon Kate Spade transformed the ordinary kettle into a stylish statement piece for the stove. Made of enamel-coated steel, these kettles hold up to 2.5 quarts. Hand-wash.

Available at Linen Chest www.Linenchest.com K I TC

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VIRTUAL DESIGN

Fleurco’s new shower door is made to minimize cleaning time while maximizing a great industrial-style look

BY SUSAN KELLY

A VIRTUAL-GRID SHOWER DOOR may sound ephemeral, but it marks a very real innovation, says Samantha Bock, marketing director at Fleurco, a Montreal-based company that has designed and made shower doors for more than 50 years. “Our new Latitude line provides the very au courant look of a grid shower door with none of the inconvenience,” she says.

The design excitement over grid shower doors is going full steam in 2019. It’s a fresh new take, with most versions involving a web of solid-aluminum framing around glass.

Striking to the eye, but the numerous panes make cleaning labour-intensive. Plus, the frame’s many corners and ledges allow soap residue, mould and bacteria to accumulate.

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Fleurco’s Latitude virtual-grid shower doors, launching in early spring 2019, offer an ingenious solution. The illusion of a grid is created by silk-screening the image onto one thin pane of tempered glass, placing another one on top, and fusing them together. “That way, there is really only a solid pane of glass,” says Bock. “And because it is coated with our exclusive Microtek finish, water forms beads on the glass, which are easy to squeegee off.”

Like all Fleurco shower products, Latitude doors are easy to install. And it is possible to create various configurations. Ideas and specifications are on the company’s new website, www.fleurco.com.

Latitude virtual-grid shower doors are framed in solid aluminum with a special matte black coating. The 79-inch-tall panels slide open and closed along an unobtrusive hidden rolling track. A simple and sleek vertical handle keeps the look clean and contemporary. And each door is protected by the company’s 10-year limited warranty.

Fleurco’s new line is designed to add a distinctive accent to bathrooms with either classic or contemporary decor. The look of the virtual-grid shower doors is urban and edgy, yet slightly retro. Because of this, designers are also adding them to Art Deco-style bathrooms. And many also find that they complement bathrooms that have a modern-industrial look, coordinating beautifully with natural wood and marble accents.

To stylishly complete the look of a new virtual-grid shower door, Bock suggests pairing it with Fleurco’s Aurora shower base. Made of marble-resin, these durable bases have a natural-looking textured finish that emulates wood, slate or stone. “And it comes in a matte black colour that perfectly matches that of the Latitude shower doors,” she says.

Fleurco www.fleurco.com

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THE BEST USE OF SPACE A modest-sized kitchen is reconfigured to feel more spacious

BY CHERYL CORNACCHIA

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A SMALL HOUSE USUALLY means a small kitchen. The owners of a compact three-bedroom cottage in Lorraine, northeast of Montreal, wanted to turn their 147-squarefoot kitchen into something that felt more spacious and functional than what they had been living with since they bought the home in 2007.

To that end, designers at Centre Design Réalité, a one-stop kitchen and bathroom renovation centre in Laval, recommended that the couple, who are empty nesters easing

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into retirement, start by doing away with the existing kitchen peninsula that jutted out from the former cabinets. The problem with the peninsula was that it separated the long, narrow kitchen into two smaller separate spaces, neither of which worked very well. To give the 147 square feet a more open feel, the designers suggested the second entrance to the kitchen - a doorway, in effect - be opened from floor to ceiling. Doing so would provide enhanced sight lines to the dining room and front doorway. –>

The small, narrow kitchen punches above its size now that it has been elongated and made more functional.

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Custom cabinetry in cherry wood gives the kitchen a contemporary look. The open display cabinets were the clients’ special request.

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“They didn’t want a totally open-concept space; they still wanted separation between the rooms,” says Magaly Archibald, a Centre Design Réalité designer. Reconfiguring the long, narrow space into more of a galley-style kitchen was a compromise that worked, especially with the new contemporary cabinetry in cherry wood and white Similacquer, durable Dekton countertops, and new 12-by-24inch porcelain floor tiles. The new elements were in a neutral palette that was then accessorized with the addition of an eclectic mix of gold, silver, brass, stainless-steel and brushed-nickel in the plumbing and lighting fixtures, cabinet knobs and the Italian glass-mosaic backsplash.

A small but chic dining nook becomes a new favourite spot for morning coffee.

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Glass mosaic tiles. imported from Italy, create the glittering backsplash.

“They were pretty happy in the end,” says Archibald. The woman in the couple was especially pleased with the glittering backsplash, and her husband was over the moon with the new custom-made wine rack and liquor display cabinets that were built right into the kitchen cabinets.

Centre Design Réalité 1856 Boul. des Laurentides, Laval 514-990-0548 www.centredesignrealite.com

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REAL ESTATE

HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT

To prevent problems, home buyers can learn what they can do about a house’s latent defects

For most people, the purchase of a house tends to be the biggest financial commitment of their lives. And because there is so much at stake, home buyers want to get it right from the beginning. Potential problems lurk in homes that have hidden defects. We asked David Ghavitian, a Montreal lawyer who specializes in real estate law, to weigh in on what buyers need to know about latent defects.

QUESTION: David, what is a latent defect? The word “latent” suggests that the defect is either concealed or dormant. Is this correct?

ANSWER: Yes, but it implies more than that. A latent defect is generally defined as a fault in the property that could not have been discovered by a reasonably thorough inspection before the sale. Depending on the facts at hand, here is what to look out for when you’re delving deeper in such cases: • Whether the defect was apparent or not at the time of sale or was known to the buyer.

• Whether the defect is not due to normal wear and tear.

• Whether the defect results from misuse by the buyer.

• Whether or not the deed of sale stipulates that the property was sold “at buyer’s risk” and with no legal warranty.

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Q: Given the fact that latent defects are concealed, how can potential home buyers discover them before signing the deeds on a new house?

A: Great question! They can get a thorough inspection done by a certified expert and make sure that the declarations made by the seller ref lect the reality regarding the property’s condition. It can also be used as a way to extract leverage on the sellers prior to purchase because the buyer can use the cost of repairs to drive down the price.

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Q: Are these defects more widespread in older homes?

A: Not necessarily. The latency of these defects depends on the good faith of all the parties involved and their ability to faithfully communicate any and all issues that may affect the property. I’ve seen defects come from new construction all the way to flips done on recently renovated century-old homes and everything in between.

Q: What recourse does a home buyer have if the defects are discovered after the purchase is finalized?

A: It depends on the severity of the defects and the costs related to mitigating the damages.

It also depends on the personal situations of the affected buyers as they may not be so inclined to live in a house that may affect their well-being and that of their families. It can range from asking for damages related to fixing what needs to be repaired all the way to asking for the sale to be cancelled with full reimbursement.

Me. David Ghavitian www.davidghavitian.com

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PRO-CALIBRE CUISINE A professional-style kitchen at home

COOKING AS ENTERTAINMENT, cooking as passion, cooking as nurturance, cooking as meditation: there are many reasons we prepare food. For professionals and amateurs alike, having the right equipment is always important. Although much can be done with just fresh ingredients, a well-sharpened knife and a good-quality pan, it’s exciting to have access to professional-style techniques.

That possibility is a little closer with the advent of the Mia by Carlo Cracco kitchen.

It’s the result of a partnership between Italian design firm Scavolini and Milanese chef Carlo Cracco (perhaps you’ve seen him on the Netflix show The Final Table). Scavolini characterizes Mia by Carlo Cracco as a domestic interpretation of the professional kitchen, distinguished by a significant technological component.

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There are three major modules involved: a large preparation module that can stand as an island or be placed against a wall, wall panels that can accommodate shelves and hanging racks, and larder units. Some of the technology to make a home cook’s heart quicken includes a vacuum drawer with a marinating function, a food-warming lamp, and a professional-calibre extraction fan and hood in an overhead dishrack. –>

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The preparation module and appliances are clad with a sturdy and hard-wearing stainless-steel finish, with a five-centimetre-thick worktop. A cover can be slid over the washing area while cooking occurs, and vice versa.

At one end of the island is a snack area, distinguished by a three-centimetre-thick slab of Pietra D’Iseo engineered stone in a tone-on-tone warm grey called Ceppo. Larder cabinetry is available in several warm hues, with and without durable Stopsol glass doors.

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The over-all sleekness of the cabinetry design is emphasized by recessed handle grips conveniently positioned horizontally in the base units and vertically in the tall units. Base units are a comfortable 80 centimetres high, set on a seven-centimetre-high plinth.

Style and functionality: they’re two ingredients to satisfy the chef in anyone, professional and amateur alike.

Find a Scavolini dealer at: www.scavolini.design/Company/Search_dealers

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LOW MAINTENANCE AND HIGH SATISFACTION A La Prairie bathroom is thoughtfully renovated for a family with young children

BY ELISABETH KALBFUSS PHOTOGRAPHY: SARAH DAGENAIS

LUXURIOUS, SPA-LIKE, ELEGANT: Those are the qualities people usually aim for with a bathroom makeover. When they have an active toddler and another baby on the way, they add a few more adjectives to the list: practical and low-maintenance.

Homeowner Marilene Champigny learned that she was pregnant right around the time she and her partner were planning updates to their La Prairie home. She wanted to make sure the family bathroom would stand up to daily use by two adults and two children, and she gave interior designer Gatline Artis carte blanche to create a space that would be functional but wouldn’t sacrifice style. –>

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The wall-mount toilet became a must-have for the homeowners. To accommodate the plumbing for it, they built a partial wall under the window.

To achieve the look and warmth of wood panelling, but without the need for any special care, Artis chose wood-patterned porcelain wall tiles to place behind the tub and over the sinks. “You can splash it with water; it’s something with really easy maintenance,” says Artis, associate designer at Entre 4 Murs.

She used a contrasting white diamond-shaped tile behind the vanity and medicine cabinets and extended that into the shower, to create an impression of size. The floor tiles were carried up the far wall, some of them cut into smaller sizes.

White bathrooms with wood have become popular, Artis says. “Clients are looking for light and natural materials, touches of wood.

These are elements that are coming up, they’re very contemporary,” she says.

Marilene’s partner was able to do some of the renovation work himself on weekends, and those savings allowed them to splurge on fixtures. “We went with good quality materials,” Marilene says. “We know that kids can be very hard on a house.” There was one item in particular they fell in love with that hadn’t been on their original wish list: the wall-mounted toilet. “When we saw it, wow,” she says. “We think it adds something. We couldn’t go back to a regular toilet.”

The homeowner is impressed by how much storage was worked into the design, including the extra-long medicine cabinet and the deep vanity drawers. The countertop is Caesarstone (Colour: Raw Concrete).

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Using real wood panelling wouldn’t be practical in a family bathroom used by two young children, so designer Gatline Artis chose a faux-wood porcelain tile to achieve the same effect. It’s called Life Walnut and is from Céragrès.

It’s one of three wall tiles used in the design. The white diamond-shaped tile that carries into the shower, called Cubica Blanco, is from La Tuilerie, and the tile used on the back wall and floor is Back Silver, from Ciot.

To create space for the plumbing, the Entre 4 Murs designer suggested building a half wall under the window that also hides the pipes for the tub’s faucet.

There are two things that really impress Marilene about the redesign: its refined look, and how practical it is, especially when it comes to storage. “It’s very well thought out;

there’s some everywhere: the medicine cabinet, the large drawers, the cupboard in the corner,” she says, adding that there’s enough of it to hold all the towels and bathroom supplies they need. The ledge behind the sinks under the medicine cabinet is a great place to keep toothbrushes, she says, and it extends into the shower and can be used

there for other toiletries. There’s enough counter space to put down the hair dryer, and enough floor space for everyone to be in there at the same time.

“It’s great in the morning when we get ready,” she says. “We don’t trip over each other.”

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FUNCTIONAL AND FABULOUS FOCAL WALLS A vast array of materials for kitchen backsplashes ensures both practicality and beauty

KITCHEN BACKSPLASHES DO MORE than just protect walls from spatters. They can also create a design statement through the use of decorative elements.

And those elements now run the gamut from a variety of natural stone tiles to various man-made materials that embrace everything from porcelain and ceramic to stainless steel.

Kristina Panzera, vice-president of marketing and ceramic buyer at Ciot, a family-run business that imports and retails tiles, slabs and custom mosaics, is a keen observer of trends in backsplash materials. “We’re seeing everything on backsplashes,” she says. “From a single slab of natural stone or porcelain to every size and look in tiles.”

Marble continues to be au courant, she says, adding that because this venerable stone is porous and, therefore, vulnerable to stains, homeowners understand that it must be sealed. “You have to know your lifestyle and what you’re willing to live with,” Panzera says. “That first scratch is annoying, but eventually, marble acquires a natural patina.”

Another natural stone that is gaining in popularly is quartzite. Its appeal, she says, includes its low porousness, light colours, and a hardness that exceeds that of granite.

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Porcelain is a man-made tile that can be made to mimic the look of natural stone, notably marble. “I sometimes have to check it when I see it in a restaurant,” Panzera says.

The slabs are large, which can create a seamless look on a wall or floor.

Subway tiles have never gone out of style for backsplashes, she adds. These classic three-by-six-inch tiles originated more than a century ago as cladding for the New York City subway. Today’s most-popular version, says Panzera, is bevelled rather than flush.

“And we’re seeing a lot of reverse bevelling,” she adds.

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Homeowners also continue their love affair with metro tiles. Ceramic versions have eclipsed glass varieties. “We’re seeing generally less glass now,” she says. “The glass that we are seeing for backsplashes is small, often mixed with metal, and shaped like arabesques, hexagons or scales.”

About three years ago, three-dimensional tiles hit the market. “There was finally the machinery to produce them in Spain and Italy,” says Panzera. “Otherwise, they had to be hand-cut, which made them pricey.”

In the use of colour, she adds “people are more daring these days: pinks, peaches, mints, greens and blues are back. People tend to turn to colour after an economic downturn is over.”

Ciot also offers custom-made mosaic backsplashes, which are hand-crafted as unique projects in the company’s studio. Any material is available – natural stone, ceramic, glass, metal and porcelain – to create any shape and size, in any colour, to custom-fit a space. Design possibilities are many and can transform a kitchen backsplash into a work of art.

Looking ahead at the up-and-coming top picks, Panzera says, forecasts point toward many diverse designs that range from rustic and cozy to three-dimensional. Finishes will include shiny and matte, with colours that span the range: blues, reds, greens, pinks.

“In other words, consumers will have lots of choice and opportunities to be bold,” she says.

“We don’t see the same shifts in flooring,” Panzera adds. “The floor is a big surface so people are less willing to experiment there.”

Not so with a backsplash. “It’s a place where people aren’t afraid to experiment,” she says.

“It changes the whole look of a kitchen.”

Ciot www.ciot.com

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FULL STEAM AHEAD

A Calgary bathroom is designed with luxurious amenities that recall those in top-quality hotels

BY PHILLIPA RISPIN PHOTOGRAPHY: LORI ANDREWS STYLING: ELENA DEL BUCCHIA

A LY S U M A R TR AV E L S – a lot . Th i s hard-working banker has had the opportunity to stay in top-quality hotels, and he wanted similar low-key luxury in his new home in the Altadore neighbourhood of Calgary.

Aly asked his friend, interior designer Elena Del Bucchia, principal of elena del bucchia DESIGN, for help in getting exactly the look and feel he wanted. He had discovered this home in the process of being built, so he and Del Bucchia were able to design it almost from the drywall up before he moved in just over two years ago. –>

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Aly has a Google Home device in the bathroom. “It’s easy to turn on the radio, check the route to work while I’m shaving, and I use it to turn off and turn on the lights if I need to,” he says, adding “Because of the skylights, often I use only the undercabinet lighting, not the overheads.”

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Aly didn’t give Del Bucchia a lot of specifics when discussing the design of the ensuite master bathroom except that he wanted to feel as though he were in a luxurious hotel.

“I relied a lot on Elena to help with ideas,” he says. “We tore apart a lot of different concepts, but I did know I like a modern aesthetic.”

Says Del Bucchia, “I asked him ‘Is there a specific way you want your space to look, feel and function?’ and he said ‘Not really.

I trust you and you know what I like.’ He likes high-end things and referred to ‘subtle luxury.’ He recognizes craftsmanship and quality of materials.”

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In terms of colour, “he kept saying ‘I am not sure,’ ” Del Bucchia recounts. “But he always has a suit and tie on, so I said ‘I know you like suits and shoes; why don’t we refer to them? We’ll give the bathroom more masculine features – plaid and monochromatic – but it will feel like a spa.”

Aly, however, was very decided about the room’s function. In the space (10 feet wide and 20.5 feet long) he wanted a heated towel rack, natural light, and the water closet separated with a door. But the big thing was steam: he wanted a steam shower, and the builder accommodated with a large space. –>

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In the shower, Del Bucchia kept the room’s monochromatic colour scheme and then added a shower bench clad in oak-look tiles, which is a nod to the custom-made oak cabinetry in the room.

The floating vanity reinforces the European sauna look, with an undermount trough sink and wall-mounted faucets. The marble-look countertop is durable Dekton, which is practical and needs neither a stain nor sealing.

On the floor, 24-inch-square porcelain tiles that resemble concrete sit atop an underfloor heating system. Similar but smaller tiles are used on the shower floor.

To counter all the smooth surfaces in the room, Del Bucchia provided a natural sheepskin rug. To add more texture, “I suggested wallpaper, something he can also see in the mirror,” she says. “It has a soothing look of captivating clouds.”

In addition, an extra skylight was added to the bathroom.

While appreciating the room’s sleek, unfussy style, Aly finds it warm in both tone and temperature. “There’s lots of natural light,” he says. “I rarely need to turn on the lights.

“But my favourite aspect is the combination of steam shower, heated towels and heated tiles. Especially coming home from a long dog walk in the dead of winter. My first steam was amazing. It’s a place to let go of thoughts and unwind for the evening.”

Florina Varese tile (2˝ x 4˝) in Cenere, from Tierra Sol, gives a cool, subtle pattern to the shower floor. The walls here and in most of the room are covered in one-inch hexagonal tiles from the Contract Mosaic Mosaico series.

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Florina Varese tiles (24˝ x 24˝) also cover the bathroom floor.

The Ilusa tub is by Mirolin. The Natura Venere side table in cedar by Rival 1920, from Le Belle Arti, makes a warm connection with the cabinetry , which was custom-designed by elena del bucchia DESIGN and built by Marvel Cabinetry.

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BUYERS’ GUIDE

FABULOUS FARMHOUSE DESIGN Valérie De L’Étoile Interior Design www.valeriedeletoile.com 450-969-3456

MAKING SPACE MVA Architecte www.mvaarchitecte.com 514-842-0407

DESIGNING DUO Bloomsbury Fine Cabinetry www.bloomsburydesign.com 905-853-7700

LOW MAINTENANCE AND HIGH SATISFACTION Entre 4 Murs www.entrequatremurs.com 514-544-9900

HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT Me. David Ghavitian www.davidghavitian.com 514-882-2920

Vanessa Ferro Design www.vanessaferrodesign.com 416-953-5175

BATH TIME Entre 4 Murs www.entrequatremurs.com 514-544-9900 MODERNIZING A HISTORIC STRUCTURE Cuisines Steam www.cuisinesteam.ca 514-485-1991 A SHOW OF CONFIDENCE Club Cuisine BCBG www.clubcuisinebcbg.com 450-978-2582 IN LIVING COLOUR APPAREIL Architecture www.appareilarchitecture.com 438-875-6960 Pastel Rita www.pastelrita.com 514-398-0213 WELCOME HOME Catlin Stothers Design www.catlinstothersdesign.com 514-984-5122 SEAMLESS FLOW Catlin Stothers Design www.catlinstothersdesign.com 514-984-5122 MVA Architecte www.mvaarchitecte.com 514-842-0407 DOING IT THEMSELVES Ciot www.ciot.com Le Marché aux Fleurs du Village 480 Victoria Ave, St. Lambert 450-672-5554

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THE COLOURS OF THE SENSES Eric J. Hughes, Artist www.ericjhughes.com FULL STEAM AHEAD elena del bucchia DESIGN www.edbdesign.ca 403-605-2865 RISE TO THE CHALLENGE Cook Culture www.cookculture.com Prairie Boy Bread www.prairieboyfarms.wordpress.com 416-531-1211 The Depanneur www.thedepanneur.ca 416-828-1990 RECLAIMING MID-CENTURY DESIGN Mango Design Co. www.mangodesignco.ca 604-875-1730 FUNCTIONAL AND FABULOUS FOCAL WALLS Ciot www.ciot.com VIRTUAL DESIGN Fleurco www.fleurco.com TASTEFUL DESIGN Space Harmony www.spaceharmony.ca 604-500-0120 M8 www.m8yvr.com 604-620-9586

COOK LIKE A PRO Dish www.dishcookingstudio.com 416-920-5559 Ateliers & Saveurs www.ateliersetsaveurs.com 514-849-2866 Nourish Cooking School www.nourishvancouver.ca 604-222-8350 The Spice Chica www.thespicechica.com 403-667-9811 PRO-CALIBRE CUISINE Scavolini www.scavolinitoronto.com SOMETHING TO CROW ABOUT Mango Design Co. www.mangodesignco.ca 604-875-1730 Hillview Renovations blakes.box@gmail.com 604-780-0479 THE BEST USE OF SPACE Centre Design Réalité www.centredesignrealite.com 450-629-5757 ~ 514-990--548 DOWNSIZE TO THE BEST SIZE Bunny Berke, Real estate broker www.profusionimmo.ca/courtier/ bunny-berke/50177 514-347-1928

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David Ghavitian

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Fabricville

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Raymonde Aubry Design

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Stewart Museum

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NEXT ISSUE

Dust off the cobwebs; haul out the barbecue. It’s time to move outdoors again to enjoy Canada’s glorious spring weather. Let us show you how to make best use of your outdoor space and how to create the perfect outdoor room if that’s on your 2019 wish list. We’ll also have plenty of spectacular spring-ready indoor rooms to provide you with inspiration. Plus, we pay special tribute to internationally renowned artist Chaki. Don’t miss the spring issue of Home in Canada - Montreal.

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