Vancouver Home - Autumn 2016 by Home In Canada | Design ▪ Architecture ▪ Landscape ▪ Lifestyle

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MIXED METAPHORS The layered art of Bratsa Bonifacho BATHROOM DESIGN TRENDS The newest fixtures and materials FAMILY-FRIENDLY HOMES Three houses designed

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EDITOR’S LETTER

WHAT IS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS we do after checking into a hotel room? After we’ve scoped out the amenities, that is. I reckon most of us unpack, stow our clothes in the closet and bureau drawers, and arrange our toiletries in the bathroom. We might also place a book and cell phone on the bedside table and a laptop or tablet on the desk. In short, we make ourselves at home. We may not consciously realize that we are staking out our space in a room with a neutral, generic decor, a room that has been occupied by a stream of strangers, a room that we will live in only temporarily. But that’s what we do. I believe that humans long for the comforts of home, even when they’re away from home. And they modify and transform the spaces they occupy to create that comfort. This issue is all about transformation that brings comfort. The homes we profile in this issue have been transformed through renovation and design to suit the people who own them. Jay and Grace Menning, whose Edgemont Village home is profiled in this issue, transformed their house radically when they realized it was not meeting the needs of their active family.

And builder Darren Werner transformed his family’s lifestyle by tearing down a home in that neighbourhood and rebuilding on a steep slope. Also in this issue, we visit designer Steven Sabados’s urban loft, which is in a former industrial building that has been transformed for housing. He shows us two of his favourite spaces, one inside the light-drenched interiors and the other on the patio outside. Steven, who this fall is co-hosting The Goods, a new program on CBC television, has found solace in his home since the untimely death of his partner, Chris Hyndman, in 2015. As we always do in our Autumn issue, we chronicle current design trends in bathrooms. Talk about transformation! The once-utilitarian bathroom is humble no more. Many of us are creating spa-like oases in our bathrooms, which soothe away the stresses of the workaday world. Creating a comfortable home often requires transformation. Whether you’ve bought a house that desperately needs renovation or you just want to upgrade the home you have, change is necessary. May you find inspiration on these pages for your own transformative journey.

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

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There are several ways you can stay in touch with us:

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CONTRIBUTORS

JULIE GEDEON Long-time writer and editor Julie Gedeon says she is fascinated by the way words often fuel the work of Bratsa Bonifacho. Many are embedded in the artist’s paintings. Julie, who profiled Bonifacho’s art for this issue, also marvels at how much Vancouver has changed since the artist first moved to the city in search of a sleepy, quiet place to call home. Julie also takes us to the east coast in her profile of the elegant Chester, Nova Scotia home of Bernardine and Tim Moore.

GILLIAN JACKSON Photographer Gillian Jackson has been photographing interiors and exteriors for many of Toronto’s top designers for more than 11 years. For this issue, Gillian photographed the loft of designer Steven Sabados. “Upon entry, I was struck by the windows, which are massive and provide such even natural lighting,” Gillian says. “I thought that for Steven, as an artist and designer, these creative conditions couldn’t be better. In juxtaposition to the materials used to create the loft, I found that the terrace seamlessly tied the indoors with the outdoors thanks to its multiple seating areas and lush greenery that create privacy and the perfect social gathering space.”

Volume 4, number 5, Autumn Issue 2016 Date of issue: October 2016

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Stephanie Whittaker

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ART DIRECTOR

OPERATIONS MANAGER

Mark Ruzayk

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ASSOCIATE EDITOR Phillipa Rispin PRODUCTION ARTIST Marieve Gagnon

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Wendy Loper ACCOUNTING Valentina Tarantchenko

SUSAN KELLY Such a little room, so many options. Contributor Susan Kelly asked local experts to provide their insights into the latest trends in showers, vanities, tiles – everything that goes into creating a stylish bathroom. It turns out Vancouverites are not timid about putting their own spin on making this private space a highly personal one. “Bathroom design has taken on bold new directions,” says Susan, a writer who specializes in style and decor. “There’s an exciting sophistication emerging.” Also in this issue, Susan turned the tables on designer Brian Gluckstein. “After all, he’s come into my house for years. I munch my morning toast off a plate he designed as I watch him on television,” she says. “Now I got to enter the private life of this eminent designer.”

EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Trudy Kerman

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2292-0870 Vancouver

Home Magazine Inc. 2016. ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS Diane Dollisen Carmen Lefebvre

CONTRIBUTORS Julie Gedeon

is strictly prohibited. Publication # 41959020

Susan Kelly PHOTOGRAPHY Artin Ahmadi Mark Hemmings Alexandra Hristova Gillian Jackson Colin Perry Ema Peter STYLISTS Diana Becker Alexandra Hristova Kim Jacobsen Lucia Sakhrani Vanessa Suppa

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CONTENTS

58 ON THE COVER

Designer Steven Sabados loves spending time in his studio and on his patio

WARM AND LUXURIOUS

Bathroom design continues to skew to spa-like sanctuaries

DECODING THE SYMBOLS

Vancouver artist Bratsa Bonifacho weaves intriguing messages into his work

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THIS JUST IN

A selection of new items for your home

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GLITTER AND GLOW

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104

EDITORâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S LETTER

AWARD-WINNING MAKEOVER An Edgemont Village home is given a new lease on life

HIS FAVOURITE SPACES Designer Steven Sabados loves spending time in his studio and on his patio

CUT THE CHAOS OF CLUTTER Well-organized closets offer freedom from mess

CAPE ESCAPE A Nova Scotia vacation home is a blissful getaway with wrap-around views

LUXURY WITHOUT THE HIGH COST New Brentwood condo community lures Vancouverites weary of soaring housing costs

HILLSIDE HAVEN A new home is skillfully built into a steep slope

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MULTIFACETED RETAILER Started in 1929, Jordans offers a gamut of products for the home

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SUNNY WAYS A home is designed to attract sunlight throughout the day

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70S TIME WARP A home built in the disco era is updated for today

70 FOR THE LOVE OF CHOCOLATE

ChocolaTas specializes in Belgian chocolates with unusual flavour combinations

EYE-CATCHING KITCHEN

A kitchen from Italy is turning heads at a Vancouver design store

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DESIGN

1. IN GOOD STANDING Sculpted by Richard Hutten for Skultuna, Nattlight candlesticks are made of silver-plated or highly polished brass. Minimal and elegant, this trio will look good with most styles of decor. ——— Inform Interiors 50 & 97 Water St., Vancouver 604-682-3868 www.informinteriors.com

2. CUSHY COMFORT The Aida C armchair is as flexible as it is elegant. Characterized by movable armrests to create optimal comfort, Aida C features foam cushions with an antiallergy goose-down layer. Made to order in Italy; lead time is 12–16 weeks. ——— Resource Furniture 861 Richards St., Vancouver 604-681-0104 www.resourcefurniture.ca

4. GOOD THINGS COME IN SMALL PACKAGES Introducing the Galley and Small Spaces Collection, new to SubZero and Wolf. It offers a flexible solution for high-rise living and small homes alike, yet delivers the food preservation and precise control you need to achieve delicious results. ——— Bradlee Distributors 13780 Bridgeport Rd., Vancouver 604-244-1744 ca.subzero-wolf.com

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3. LIGHT UP YOUR LIFE Banish the gloom of grey winter days with Stars In Flowers by Sheri Bakes. It’s executed in oil on canvas and measures 60" x 66". ——— Bau-Xi Gallery 3045 Granville St., Vancouver 604-733-7011 www.bau-xi.com

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1. HIGH STYLE, GREAT COMFORT Any bathroom will look good with the organic curves and thin rim of the free-standing Cape Cod bathtub. But looks aren’t everything; comfort counts, too. A particularly luxurious detail is the integrated headrest on the tub’s back slope. ——— Cantu Bathrooms and Hardware 8351 Ontario St., Vancouver 604-688-1252 www.cantubathrooms.com

2. QUIETLY SOPHISTICATED The Garbo lounge chair exudes the elegance of its namesake. Its functional and sophisticated design emphasizes shapes and soft lines that provide comfort and versatility. Available in a variety of fabric and leather finishes, it’s made to order in Italy; lead time is 12–16 weeks. ——— Resource Furniture 861 Richards St., Vancouver 604-681-0104 www.resourcefurniture.ca

3. DINING IN STYLE Shadow Play features clean lines, a relaxed taupe-gray finish and contemporary hand-forged metal designs in burnished silver leaf. The result is a sophisticated take on casual contemporary style. Also available with a glass top. ——— Paramount Furniture 5520 Minoru Blvd., Richmond 604-273-0155 www.paramountfurniture.ca

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4. SCULPTING WITH LIGHT This contemporary luminaire, Eclipse, is handcrafted in mirror-polished stainless steel in the Thierry Vidé Design atelier in Paris. It’s offered in two sizes and can also be used as a ceiling light. Available exclusively at the Vancouver showroom of Hugues Chevalier Paris. ——— Hugues Chevalier Paris 75 West 7th Ave., Vancouver 604-708-9701 www.hugueschevalier.com

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DESIGN

1. FLEX YOUR DESIGN MUSCLES Plush, innovative backrests can be rearranged to transform Flex from sofa to chaise to tête-à-tête seating, and even a free-standing bed, with ease. With no obvious front, back, right, or left components, this modular sofa can be arranged in a variety of configurations. Made to order in Italy; lead time is 12–16 weeks. ——— Resource Furniture 861 Richards St., Vancouver 604-681-0104 www.resourcefurniture.ca

2. SUIT YOURSELF The Endless modular sofa is available in a wide choice of terminal pieces, seat depths, and arm heights. Designed by Niels Bendtsen for Bendtsen, it’s highly configurable, so it will suit almost any space. ——— Inform Interiors 50 & 97 Water St., Vancouver 604-682-3868 www.informinteriors.com

4. CONTEMPORARY CURVE This limited edition of the award-winning Leolux Parabolica armchair was styled by Dutch artist Coen Blankwaard. It’s available in black leather and upholstered in black and white Parabels fabric that reflects 20 years of Blankwaard art. ——— Inspiration Furniture 1275 West 6th Ave., Vancouver 604-730-1275 www.inspirationfurniture.ca

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3. DEEP, PLUSH, COMFY Volta, a chair that swivels on its four inclined legs, is accompanied by a light footstool that transforms into a coffee table. It’s available in more than 1,000 fabrics, so it’s easy to find the perfect colour for your accent chair. Free delivery nationwide. ——— Eurostyle Furniture 514-807-3863 www.eurohousefurniture.com

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DESIGN

1. COLOURFUL CURVES Give your home a conversation piece. Josephine is a contemporary sofa that’s an elegant head-turner. Its curvaceous, padded back is both comfortable and aesthetically pleasing. Available in more than 1,000 fabric choices. Free delivery nationwide. ——— Eurostyle Furniture 514-807-3863 www.eurohousefurniture.com

2. CLASSY COCKTAILS Fumed eucalyptus veneers surround the solid, slightly angled bases of these cocktail tables. The gold mirror tops add an unexpected, fun touch. Two sizes are available, so feel free to mix and match. ——— Jordans Interiors 1470 West Broadway, Vancouver 604-733-1174 www.jordans.ca

4. NATURAL STONE, MODERNIZED Silestone by Cosentino introduces five new colours: Moonstone, Ocean Jasper, Kimbler Mist, Royal Reef, and Pietra (pictured). These surface options offer the most in-demand colour palettes with all the benefits of Silestone; it’s scratch-, stain- and heat-resistant. 25-year warranty. ——— Cosentino Centre Vancouver 8518 Glenlyon Pky., Unit 151, Burnaby 604-431-8568 ca.silestone.com

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3. GET THE GLOW This glowing column of light, Onde, is by Thierry Vidé Design Paris. Only 120 units were made, and it’s available exclusively in Canada at the Vancouver showroom of Hugues Chevalier Paris. ——— Hugues Chevalier Paris 75 West 7th Ave., Vancouver 604-708-9701 www.hugueschevalier.com

DESIGN

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1. SLEEP ON A BED OF FLOWERS Unfurl Wild Flower is a multifunctional sofa bed with a unique design for sitting, sleeping and napping. It comes in a vibrant flower print for those who dare to stand out. ——— Inspiration Furniture 1275 West 6th Ave., Vancouver 604-730-1275 www.inspirationfurniture.ca

2. DELIGHTFULLY DECONSTRUCTED With sleek, soft-touch black lacquered legs and a fuchsia-covered seat, the Karina chair has a deconstructed style that is whimsical yet thoroughly contemporary. ——— RodRozen Designs 1463 W. Pender St., Vancouver 604-558-4443 www.rodrozen.com

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3. BEATIFIC BATHING Slik Portfolio offers a collection of innovative baths, shower doors and high-quality acrylic bases that will make time spent bathing a sybaritic joy. Choose one of five finishes for the cast iron bathtub: gloss white, mirrored, copper (as shown), matte black, and brushed steel. ——— Cantu Bathrooms and Hardware 8351 Ontario St., Vancouver 604-688-1252 www.cantubathrooms.com

DESIGN

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BY PHILLIPA RISPIN // PHOTOGRAPHY: EMA PETER // STYLING: LUCIA SAKHRANI

Everything old is new again North Vancouver reno builds on the best of what was already there SMALL CHANGES CAN HAVE BIG EFFECTS. A recent renovation did not appreciably change many aspects of the main floor in this award-winning Edgemont Village house. The footprint stayed almost the same, the main-floor bedrooms and bathroom were simply spruced up. The family room was enlarged slightly by extending the bump-out of its bay window to the width of the room. But perhaps we’re being disingenuous, because there was some major change: the great room got a total makeover, and a second storey, which encompasses the master suite, was added. The story began when homeowners Jay Menning and his wife Grace realized that their house wasn’t quite right for them and their two children and all the gear that comes with an active lifestyle. They didn’t want radical change. “We liked the basic layout, but it was a little small for us, and it was fairly dated and in need of some face-lifting,” says Jay. •

“We liked the basic layout, but it was a little small for us, and it was fairly dated and in need of some face-lifting.”

The family room’s bay window (to the right of the entrance door) has been squared off on each side to add floor space. The front hall now rises two storeys to accommodate the staircase to the new master suite. The main mass of the suite is toward the back of the house.

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DESIGN VANCOUVER AUTUMN 2016

They were familiar with the work of Lucia one was those two things but also adding a Sakhrani, of Design Studio 8, so they ap- floor and putting a master suite upstairs. We proached her. “We came at it a little uncertain came to her with who we were and our active as to the scope that we wanted,” Jay says. “We lifestyle and also telling her that we really actually asked her to put together three scen- loved her style, her approach, and we kind of arios: one that was just a facelift, updating; let her run with it from there.” one that was a little more involved, changing Sakhrani recalls the original house as some walls and things like that; and the last “actually a pretty cool structure, but it wasn’t

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working for them. And they had a big loft space that was not usable.” The plan they eventually chose added a conservative 70 square feet to the main floor (by extending the bump-out in the family room) but a generous 533 square feet on the second floor. The roofline was also altered to improve the lines of the house, giving it a balanced look. •

The kitchen-dining area was formerly enclosed with half walls that made it seem small and dark. The renovation was recognized in 2016 with three awards: a Georgie and an Ovation in the Best Residential Renovation $500,000 - $799,000 category, and an Ovation for Residential Renovator of the Year: Large Volume.

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DESIGN VANCOUVER AUTUMN 2016

Naikoon Contracting was responsible for doing the renovation. The team, led by company president Joe Geluch and his “awesome” (Sakhrani’s word) site manager Sean Barr, radically redid the great room, which comprises kitchen, dining and living areas. The kitchen layout was changed to make a better workflow that also allows unimpeded sightlines to the living and dining areas. Along the back wall, skylights sloping from the ceiling to large windows have been

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removed and the ceiling has been pushed up to meet the generously windowed wall at a right angle. Rather low and somewhat oppressive wood panelling on the old kitchen structures and on the living area ceiling has been removed. Energy efficiency and sustainability were major aspects of this renovation. Overall, 95 per cent of construction waste was recycled. Several large trees were protected and retained, and a backyard trellis was designed

to encircle an existing fig tree. The treads on the stairs are all reclaimed timber as are large areas of the cedar-faced walls. “We recommended registering the project in the Built Green program, which we did, and that home was certified by Built Green as Gold for renovation,” Geluch says. “We increased the EnerGuide score from 68 to 80, which is quite a substantial upgrade to the energy efficiency of that home.” •

Various colourful touches add fun and verve to the interior. The bright orange chair in the living room (above) is at a corner desk that allows the children to do homework while being overseen from the kitchen. The space can be closed off with a sliding door. Likewise, the television on the fireplace wall can be hidden behind a sliding panel. In the best West Coast tradition, large windowed doors can be opened to make a smooth transition between indoors and out.

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Another feature of this home is a sense of playfulness. Of her clients, Sakhrani remarks that “they have a lot of energy and they’re fun and outgoing, and their space needed to be a reflection of who they were. It’s a modern space but it’s warm and fun. It’s not serious. It needed to be playful.” Thus the brightly coloured “Chiclet” backsplash in the kitchen,

the orange front door (the Mennings’ idea), the stylized tree wallpaper and the live-edge maple counter in the powder room. Even more fun are the hidden doors in the cedarclad wall of the entry hall, one of which is for the coat closet; the other opens the way to the family room. “We think that’s very cool,” says Jay. •

“This house does look like post-and-beam,” says Sakhrani of the exterior’s over-all aesthetic. “Vancouver modernism is always a big touchstone for me. If you look at the work of Arthur Erickson or Ron Thom – these guys are obviously very inspirational for a lot of the designers here. This house – I think that historically it’s suitable for Vancouver.”

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DESIGN VANCOUVER AUTUMN 2016

The Mennings have now had almost a year in their “new” old home. Jay and Grace are enjoying their private second-floor bedroom with its walk-in closet and ensuite bathroom. They’re also enjoying the benefits of far more functionality. Jay says that they’re surprised to realize that “it’s ended up with us decluttering so much because we have such a good area to keep all of our bikes, my son’s hockey

equipment, and all the other equipment. “We’ve ended up with a much more decluttered life, which decreases the stress level in your life so much, especially when you’re running from sporting activity to other activity. Just being decluttered and having spaces for all our stuff – it destresses that process.” In fact, says Jay of their renovated home, “It has exceeded our expectations.” •

The once-smooth exterior of the house now has siding with three sizes of board, stacked to varying depths for texture. (Opposite) The new master bathroom gives Jay and Grace the luxury of space, including a dual-sink vanity with plenty of storage and a walk-in shower.

“We’ve ended up with a much more decluttered life, which decreases the stress level in your life so much.”

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THE POWER OF SYMBOLS

Artist Bratsa Bonifacho uses abstract symbolism to convey profound concepts BY JULIE GEDEON

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Final Quark 2016, 48 " x 48", acrylic on canvas

ART VANCOUVER TRENDS 2016

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RETURN TO BABYLONIA, an exhibition by Bratsa Bonifacho at the Bau-Xi Gallery, reflects the Vancouver artist’s deep thinking and technical mastery of symbols to convey our cultural evolution. “It’s a complicated series that took a lot of patience because of all the different story elements that I had to bring together like the pieces of a huge puzzle,” Bonifacho says while visiting the gallery that has regularly shown his work since 1998. The artist’s preference for large canvases dates back to his youth in Belgrade, where he often risked his safety to paint rooftops and the sides of buildings. The current series though isn’t necessarily indicative of what he’ll do next. “He’s always moving forward in his art while maintaining that core quality you immediately recognize in his multi-layered abstractionism and the intense splashes of colour

that shouldn’t go well together but that he always makes work,” says Riko Nakasone, Bau-Xi Gallery’s curator. “He’s constantly surprising us with new directions in response to the horrors of war, our growing fascination and dependence on digital technology, increased government and corporate surveillance, or other concerns that compel him to paint for hours and hours.” In Bonifacho’s Vancouver home, a sign on the wall near his attic studio reads: “I don't want to talk about it. All my messages are in my paintings.” Viewers are offered clues about the themes in his titles and the words he often embeds in his paintings. He routinely paints between 10 and 16 hours a day. “When I get an idea, I jump out of bed and run half-naked up to my studio •

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“It’s a complicated series that took a lot of patience because of all the different story elements that I had to bring together like the pieces of a huge puzzle.”

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English Bay Sunset 2016, 36" x 36", acrylic on canvas

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DESIGN VANCOUVER AUTUMN 2016

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Magnolia Blossom 2016, 48" x 48", acrylic on canvas

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Bonjour Madame Blanche 2016, 36" x 36", acrylic on canvas

English Bay Sunset 2016, 36" x 36", acrylic on canvas

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Baobab 3 2016, 36" x 36", oil on canvas

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Lullaby In Wonderland 2016, 36" x 36", acrylic on canvas

ART VANCOUVER AUTUMN 2016

where I usually lose all track of time until I finish a painting,” Bonifacho says. “When I am frustrated about an issue or how to relate an idea, I tend to curse a lot until my wife asks what the hell I’m yelling about again.” Vancouver may have never been graced with Bonifacho’s artistic presence if, 42 years ago, the city had been the kind of bustling metropolis it is now. The painter chose Vancouver as his new home because of its former reputation as a sleepy town. “A businessman who loved my paintings said he would give me all the money I needed upfront if I produced at least 15 paintings for him to sell, but I couldn’t focus in Paris where my cousin and others were always having parties or inviting me to bars,” Bonifacho recalls. “So I asked two Englishmen at one party where the most boring place on Earth was, and one of them immediately said Vancouver.” Bonifacho completed his immigration papers the next day. “When I arrived, I bought a

large apartment overlooking English Bay in a brand-new building for $41,000. Can you believe it?” he says. “That’s where I started madly working.” His resulting productivity has substantially contributed to Vancouver’s art scene and he has inspired artists globally with his innovative approaches, technical prowess and, above all, passion. “He’s definitely the painter’s painter,” Nakasone says. To date, Bonifacho has sold more than 1,170 paintings worldwide after 56 solo exhibitions and hundreds of collaborative showings. Believing he was born an artist, he’s always more readily expressed his feelings in art rather than words. “When I ran out of paper, I drew on walls – driving my family crazy,” he recalls of his youth. At eight, he won a competition for the best child’s drawing in Belgrade, and repeated the feat as a teenager. His education includes a year at the Sumatovacka School of Art and a

Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Belgrade, as well as two years at the Atelier Kruger in Frankfurt where he learned Old Masters printing and restoration techniques. He also has a Bachelor of Architecture. In Europe, he made a living illustrating magazine articles. Always initially striking, his paintings beckon viewers to take a closer examination. “When you look at one intently, you’re rewarded with various symbols of his deep and often foreboding stream of consciousness about world politics and the environment, but also his frequently wry sense of humour,” Nakasone says. The Return to Babylonia exhibition, showcasing works by Bratsa Bonifacho, will take place at Bau Xi Gallery, 3045 Granville St., Vancouver from October 15 through 29. (For more information: 604-733-7011; info@bau-xi.com.) •

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DESIGN

WORK â&#x20AC;&#x2030;A ND PLAY Steven Sabados loves the beautiful simplicity of the spaces he uses most at home BY PHILLIPA RISPIN // PHOTOGRAPHY: GILLIAN JACKSON // STYLING: VANESSA SUPPA

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DESIGN VANCOUVER AUTUMN 2016

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DESIGN

YOU CAN TELL a lot about a person by which rooms he inhabits most when he’s at home. This past summer, Steven Sabados was most often to be found in his studio (which doubles as an office) or out on the patio. Both spaces, which he shared for eight years with Chris Hyndman – his partner in life and business until Chris’s untimely death in 2015 – are a haven for the designer and media personality. “The patio, I spend all my time out there,” Steven says. “It’s summer; why wouldn’t you – right? You don’t want to be indoors. And I’m working in the studio a lot, painting.” Like most visually oriented people, Steven hates clutter. This shows particularly in the studio, where a wall of storage units in the space keeps distractions out of sight. “There’s computers and printers and things – all that stuff is behind there – plus the thousands of fabric swatches and all sorts of design materials and colour charts and everything,” he says. “Once it’s all open, it becomes a whole resource library. It’s nice to know that it can be sealed off. It becomes neutral ground. It’s a very minimal space, and you can really focus on the task at hand and not be distracted.” Steven did a degree in fine art when he was young, but he hasn’t always had enough time to devote to painting. “I haven’t been doing as much of it over the past few years; I’ve been so busy,” he says. “I guess now that, in light of everything that has happened, I’ve sort of gone back to painting as a form of therapy, if you will. It’s my own inner therapy. I kind of get lost in my world, and I put my headphones on and sort of get lost in the work. It’s nice.” Contemplating the studio and his paintings, he says, “This is my own personal journey. It’s almost like a scrapbook for me.” Scrapbook is a concept mirrored in the large vision board full of notes, pictures, fabric swatches and other types of aides-mémoire, occupying a partial wall at one end of the studio. Steven spurns the contemporary practice of storing everything in a smartphone. “I used to literally carry a huge Day-Timer around with me, that I used to have little sticky notes and things in, so every day when I opened it up I would be ‘Oh, yes: that,’ ” he says. “I could go back and ‘remember that day?’ when I had a little idea about something. •

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A hotel in Thailand, with a fountain as a focal point, was the inspiration for the clean-lined decor of the well-appointed patio. “The whole outdoors is basically built around entertaining, so we can have great flow and lots of open space for people to mill around,” Steven says. “It faces east. You can see the lake from there, and the sunrise every day, which is beautiful.”

DESIGN VANCOUVER AUTUMN 2016

“I kind of get lost in my world, and I put my headphones on and sort of get lost in the work. It’s nice.”

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DESIGN

“Now you go into your phone, and go into your notes, and it’s all the same. I don’t know what the heck’s in there. It’s not visual for me; it’s just type.” Ergo the vision board, even though it comes perilously close to being the kind of cluttered object that Steven finds off-putting. “It’s nice that it’s contained in a big strong frame so, although there’s a ton of visual clutter going on, it’s contained,” he says. “It feels curated in a sense, even though it’s not. If I had that stuff sprawled all over the table, which when I’m working I do, I get overwhelmed and antsy because I don’t like clutter. I also lose things everywhere too. Out of sight, out of mind, and maybe it could have been a great idea, but it’s gone.”

One great idea that’s come, not gone, is The Goods, a new daytime show on CBC. Steven is one of four hosts of differing expertise who will explore among themselves and with guest experts how to live a healthy, happy and stylish life. “It’s fun that we’ll get to teach each other, and we can sort of have the journey with the viewer,” he says. “And our studio [which he did not design] is spectacular,” he adds with relish. Steven has also been busy with the launch of a website and a new line of items for the S&C home furnishings collection that he and Chris launched in 2007. Steven characterizes the new line’s furniture, area rugs, lighting, bed and bath textiles, and decorative items as reflecting both his taste for edgy accents as well as Chris’s penchant for classic style. •

“It’s fun that we’ll get to teach each other, and we can sort of have the journey with the viewer. And our studio is spectacular.”

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An arbour at one end of the patio shelters the dining area. The nuts-and-bolts section, with cooking equipment and controls for the lighting, sound and watering systems, is hidden behind a partial wall with mirrored French doors.

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Steven says he keeps the studio “quite minimal, in the sense that nothing is distracting.” But he loves the vision board: “I guess because I’m a visual person I need to see it; otherwise it just doesn’t happen. If it gets put in the file and the file ends up in a cabinet, then it’s gone.”

All this activity makes the 600-square-foot patio a welcome place when respite is needed. It’s large, running the width of the apartment, and is divided into several “pockets,” as Steven calls them: the main area, with seating and a fountain, that first greets visitors; places for lounging; a dining area; and, hidden behind a partial wall, the barbecue and other important but not necessarily decorative necessities (including electronic controls for the lighting) for gracious and comfortable outdoor living and entertaining. True to the tastes of Steven and Chris, the patio decor is relatively subdued, somewhat reminiscent of a hotel garden. “It’s not overwhelming with different types of plants in pots and things,” Steven says. “That was always Christopher’s vision: he’d like no more than three colours. Just grey, black and green – that’s it. Then you get the colour of the sky, blue, and there you go: four colours. “And he always liked the simplicity of not a lot of types of plants. We’d have two types of plants – just the hostas, just the ferns. And we’d have two cedars, so it was very minimal in that sense. Especially since you’re looking out over buildings and trees, and there’s a lot of visual clutter.” Steven concludes quietly, “Simplicity and repetition, I think, is the most calming.” •

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DESIGN VANCOUVER AUTUMN 2016

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HOW TO DITCH CLUTTER Well-planned closet space can create a tidy, streamlined home NO ONE LIKES CLUTTER, but sometimes, it accumulates in our homes. Careful planning and design of storage spaces can ensure that we live in clutter-free environments. Tara Blanchet, sales and design manager at California Closets, explains how to create an organized environment in your home through the design of ingenious storage spaces.

“If you can’t find a home for it, it’s probably because you don’t need it.”

Q: Tara, what advice do you have for homeowners who want to maximize the functionality of their spaces? A: It can be difficult to maximize a poorly designed space, and it can be stressful to have items around your home without spaces in which to store them. There are so many corners of our homes that become dumping grounds for articles and items because we just don’t know where else to put them. Our designers work specifically with custom storage and we take all areas of a home into account. When you are short of square footage, the solution often involves having many little spaces that equal one big whole. To maximize the functionality of a space, you need to start afresh and build something that works for you and your belongings. This way every square inch is taken into consideration and there is no wasted space and no awkward areas. Q: Clutter is a problem in many homes. How does having functional closets allow homeowners to mitigate clutter? A: “Everything has a home and everything in its home” is an old saying. Each item needs a place in which to live. If it doesn’t, you will move it around without knowing where it belongs. If you can’t find a home for it, it’s probably because you don’t need it. The other part of the equation is ensuring you know where that home is and making it easy for all family members to access it. Being organized takes a bit of time at the beginning but it subsequently gives you time. You’ll lose time moving things around because you don’t know where they go; you’ll save time not having to look for items. Our clients tell us that they have more time once their closets have been installed.

California Closets Vancouver 2421 Granville St., Vancouver 5049 Still Creek Ave., Burnaby www.californiaclosets.com 604-320-6575

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Q: How can homeowners change the function of existing spaces in their homes? A: We often work around existing units. We can incorporate existing pieces into our

designs either because they’re still functional or because they hold sentimental value. However, it’s best to start with a fresh slate. We can take an empty space and add storage room for each item. The before-and-after photos on our website show how non-renovated spaces may hold many items but are not functional. Boxes sit atop each other; objects are too high and out of reach; shelves are too short or too big. The “after” images illustrate how the same space functions so much better when it’s been designed for specific items and people. Q: Organizational experts suggest purging belongings to tackle clutter. How can a homeowner make difficult decisions on which items to purge? A: It’s different for everyone. We understand that many items hold sentimental value, so we work with clients individually if they need help. It should be a fun and cathartic experience; it shouldn’t be stressful. My mom and I laugh when I make her go through her closet and get rid of things from 20 years ago. A great way to start is to put items you think you may not need into a box. Label the box with the date and the contents. In six months, if you haven’t opened the box, take it to your nearest donation centre. Don’t open it. Don’t go through it again. Just drop it off. Q: How do I choose a style of closet that works with my home’s interior design? A: Our designers are experts at helping our clients choose the best design. Ultimately, form follows function. The closet needs to work for you and your items and also look beautiful; it should not be the other way around. Q: How do I choose a closet design that works with my lifestyle? A: We’ll look at your items and ask questions about your family and its needs and will design around those requirements. It’s not stressful. We do it for you, and its fun. •

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ChocolaTas specializes in high-quality Belgian chocolates in unusual flavour combinations BY SUSAN KELLY

CHOCOLATAS 101-31060 Peardonville Rd., Abbotsford ~ 604-504-5957 151-1689 Johnston St., Vancouver ~ 1-877-668-8932 www.chocolatas.com

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“Making custom chocolates for corporate or wedding gifts is one of our specialities.”

IT’S A GIVEN THAT WE EAT WITH OUR EYES. And chocolate lovers have much to feast their eyes upon at ChocolaTas, a company that specializes in fine Belgian chocolates. Row upon row of highly colourful treats create a visual buffet accented with tantalizing aromas. It all promises flavour sensations to come. “We think there’s an art to making fine chocolates,” says Veve Tas, who co-owns and operates the company with her husband Wim. Fourteen years ago, the couple came to Vancouver from Belgium, a country renowned for its chocolate, where Wim had honed his chocolatier skills. Veve, who handles the business side, likes to joke that chocolate is in their DNA. Their dream: to transplant the European chocolate-making tradition and bring it forward with luxurious and unique f lavour combinations. It was a pioneering approach at the time, Veve says. ChocolaTas was among the first in the area to go beyond plain chocolates or those with caramel and nut-based fillings.

Some of the early experiments have become signature items, such as ganaches infused with Earl Grey or Darjeeling teas or such exotic spice combinations as pepper and mango or tomato and basil. There are also limited-edition seasonal offerings according to the master chocolatier’s fancy. Today, ChocolaTas has two stores, one in Vancouver’s Granville Public Market and another plus a production facility in Abbotsford. A small selection of products also can be ordered online. Besides the legendary hand-crafted chocolates, the company also creates chocolate bars and rents chocolate fountains. “Making custom chocolates for corporate or wedding gifts is one of our specialities,” says Veve. ChocolaTas will emblazon a chocolate with a corporate logo or a wedding design, to be mixed with other luxury chocolates and offered in a box or mini goodie bag. It also takes on special projects. For instance, an art gallery commissioned Wim to create a bust of one of its

patrons. Working with the sculptor, it took many hours of painstaking work to carve a likeness out of chocolate. ChocolaTas uses only premium chocolate in its line and it incorporates, wherever possible, locally sourced, natural ingredients in its ganaches, truffles and pralines. It also offers dairyfree or vegan-friendly chocolates, and, of course, everything it makes is gluten-free. Appreciation is spreading outside the province. In 2015 Wim garnered awards for Top Artisanal Chocolatier and Most Gifted Chocolatier from the International Chocolate Salon in San Francisco. But the most gratifying praise is that which comes from loyal and satisfied customers. “When they come back from a European trip and tell us our chocolate is better than what they tasted over there, it’s very sweet to our ears,” says Veve. •

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Strong DESIGN Statements Homeowners are transforming their bathrooms into spectacular retreats

Photos courtesy of Kohler

BY SUSAN KELLY

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DESIGN VANCOUVER AUTUMN 2016

“I find people absolutely are more willing to take a risk and go all out to get that design edge.”

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THE BATHROOM: a private retreat in which we seek welcome sanctuary from the pressures of modern life. And as 2016 wanes, individual expression is on the upswing in bathroom design. No more generic Zen serenity; it’s all about going big and bold with personal design choices. A sense of drama pervades bathroom design now, says Marike Boersma, architectural specification representative for Cantu Bathrooms and Hardware in Vancouver. “I find people absolutely are more willing to take a risk and go all out to get that design edge,” she says. No longer is it enough to get one stunning chandelier; every component must have an element of specialness. Instead of ho-hum his-and-hers sinks in the master bath, how about one elongated trough sink. It’s still practical, yet the look is borrowed from upscale restaurants, especially with luxe wall-mounted taps. Or, now that a freestanding tub is de rigeur, those with non-traditional looks are trending in asymmetrical shapes that look like a modern sculpture. Boersma likes the limited-edition Couture from WetStyle. Its exterior is adorned with jewel-like facets that refract light, creating special effects around the tub. Heading into 2017, Vancouverites are also taking a bolder approach to bathroom colour schemes, she says. Some will experiment with deep saturated shades, especially navy blue. But the colour Boersma finds trending the strongest is arguably more a neutral: black. Cantu’s booth at a recent trade show displayed a monochrome bathroom display in which everything – from taps to tile to toilet – was black. “To me, a black bathroom could very well be the new, hip look,” she says. The less adventurous might prefer, say, black faucets, showerhead and towel bars against pale grey marble tile. Not everyone is onboard with bold hues in the bathroom. “We find that homeowners are still very much into shades of grey or white,” says Denise McIntosh, designer and principal at Genesis Kitchens & Design in Coquitlam. “Marble, whether the real thing or a porcelain •

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“To me, a black bathroom could very well be the new, hip look.”

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Photos courtesy of Kohler

DESIGN

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DESIGN VANCOUVER AUTUMN 2016

look-alike, is still very big in both tiles and vanity tops.” These serene hues are perfect for those who yearn for a calm, serene retreat. To further lessen any visual distraction, homeowners like a clear expanse of tile with as few grout lines as possible. Stone slabs, or one of the newest porcelain versions that might be as large as 10 by five feet, are ideal. They can be cut to size and used on the floors or for a shower surround.

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People are becoming more adventurous in the use of geometric patterned tiles, McIntosh says. On-trend now are dramatic black and white Escher-like patterns, candy-coloured hexagons or octagons, raised trapezoids rendered in bronze – the list goes on. “And you can go big with these, too,” she says, “like 24 inches square.” However, covering all the walls and the shower surround can create

an overpowering look. This designer recommends doing one impactful feature wall with patterned tiles. Or, keep the colour palette subdued and neutral and simply let some lightly raised surface tiles make the design statement. For faucets and accessories, trend forecasters long have predicted that gold, along with other warm metals such as brass and bronze, were on the upswing. Yet consumers in •

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DESIGN

Photo courtesy of Kohler

“Although it’s becoming less about the novelty factor of technology and more about integrating it in a way that makes people’s lives easier or better.”

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Canada resisted – until now. Gold finishes are hot for fall 2016, says Stephen Carrier, vice president of sales and product sourcing at Nortesco, a distributor of designer brands for bathrooms and kitchens. “It used to be you’d have to go to England to find a gold bathroom tap,” Carrier says. “Now, many North American manufacturers provide options.” Still, not everyone wants a 1980s-ish shiny gold, opting instead for a satin or brushed-finish

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version. Copper, which is being pushed in many design circles, is beginning to catch on in Vancouver, he says. And oiled bronze and raw brass with natural patinas that change over time are also on trend. Amidst all this pushing the envelope, Carrier sees a big trend emerging that is all about compromise. “While about 85 per cent of the Canadian market favours a contemporary chrome aesthetic, the transitional look is

gaining ground in the bathroom,” he says. In home decor, this well-entrenched approach lies somewhere between modern and traditional. When interpreted by fixture designers, transitional means borrowing gracefully arched shapes and rounded surfaces from the classic tradition but rendering them in a contemporary way. The Newform Class-X series of bathroom faucets shows how striking this approach can be in the right hands. •

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DESIGN

as chromatherapy lights, whirlpool or bubble massage. And no need to hire someone to play the Tibetan singing bowl: these tubs can emanate spa-therapy-like sound vibrations with music while you soak. Where people are prepared to go all out is in the shower, she finds, to recreate the health club or spa experience at home. Having a bench and rain-head shower is not enough; they want a fully immersive shower experience, complete with multiple heads, sprays and even steam. It does involve some planning, as the steam generator

must be installed in the wall and the shower area must be fully enclosed to keep the steam from escaping. Incorporating steam generators is less expensive than many think. “Customers can add components that appeal to all the senses in the shower,” says Yuen, “such as speakers for music, rain and chromatherapy panels.” Bathrooms are many things to many people, and there are so many ways to express that now. “They’re like the jewelry of a home, the hidden gem,” says Marike Boersma. Let it shine. •

Photos courtesy of Kohler

Old and new are blending elsewhere in the bath, says Agnes Yuen, who manages Emco’s The Ensuite showrooms in Vancouver and Burnaby. She points to two Kohler freestanding tubs, the Archer and Underscore models. In looks, they are throwbacks to the original footed versions but have some high-tech innovations embedded. “Although it’s becoming less about the novelty factor of technology and more about integrating it in a way that makes people’s lives easier or better,” she says. Both bathtubs unobtrusively incorporate such optional features

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PHOTOGRAPHER: FRED DONHAM | DESIGNER: NAR FINE CARPENTRY, INC.

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CAPE ESCAPE A home on a Nova Scotia peninsula is a blissful getaway with spectacular views BY JULIE GEDEON // PHOTOGRAPHY: MARK HEMMINGS // STYLING: KIM JACOBSEN

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The house is situated to take advantage of ocean views and to allow the structure to be sun-drenched from dawn to dusk. “We chose a Cape Cod style for the exterior with wood shakes to blend into the landscape as much as possible,” Bernardine says. The 12,000-square-foot home boasts seven bathrooms, seven bedrooms and two guesthouses.

“I investigated buying the property even though it wasn’t up for sale, and the owner eventually agreed.”

BERNARDINE AND TIM MOORE’S SEASIDE HOME in “It’s really been a labour of love for us,” says Chester, Nova Scotia is idyllically situated at Bernardine. “Tim always looked for ideas while the end of a peninsula that gives the couple travelling on business or vacation with me and oceanfront views on three sides to enjoy the had a new project slated for every summer.” When their kitchen required updating, they sun from dawn to dusk. “I have an affinity for being near water,” called upon Mary MacDougall, an interior deTim Moore says. “So I instantly fell in love signer who was based in Toronto for many years with these three and a half acres overlooking before returning to her Maritime roots. She and the Atlantic. I investigated buying the prop- Bernardine have been friends since university. erty even though it wasn’t up for sale, and the “The exterior of their cedar-shake-clad home owner eventually agreed.” and landscaped gardens all presented beautiful The couple has significantly expanded ly,” MacDougall says, “but I found the interior and embellished the originally modest Cape dark for a place on the ocean.” Cod-style abode they built in 1989 when they Bernardine welcomed her friend’s sughad two young boys. The result is an exquisite gestions to lighten up the house, but Tim • waterfront manor.

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Bernardine doesn’t know what she would do without the AGA stove that the couple bought almost 30 years ago. “The constant heat is not only great for cooking but warms up the kitchen wonderfully all winter,” she says. “It’s also nice to gather around it in the summer when there’s a cooler ocean breeze.”

initially opposed the approach. “I hated the idea of painting over wood, but have to admit that it transformed our home marvellously.” Light-coloured custom cabinetry replaced the cherry-stained cabinets and the new coffered ceiling was painted a light colour. “We also enlarged the window seating area to open up their spectacular view of the ocean,” MacDougall says. “And we further brightened up the space with various tints of yellow paint that Bernardine loved.” Likewise pleased, Tim finally agreed to have the foyer’s dark wainscotting and the home’s trim painted in white. “It made such a big difference in terms of lightening up their home and gave it the simple elegance of an established seaside residence,” MacDougall says. The home’s west wing has some family politics behind it. The wing came about when Bernardine decided to reclaim the almost one third of the dining room that Tim had occupied as office space for years. “It would have been easiest to convert an upstairs bedroom into an office, but I wanted my office to remain at ground level,” Tim says. So an office space was built •

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Tim couldn’t be happier with his cherrywood panelled office. He particularly likes the secret passage to the bathroom and the way a painting automatically lifts at the touch of another button to reveal a flat-screen TV.

“I LOVE IT. THERE’S EVEN A BUTTON THAT OPENS A PANEL TO AN OTHERWISE INCOGNITO BATHROOM.”

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Bernardine fell in love with the many hydrangeas bordering Lake Como during a vacation in Italy and now has blue and white blooms planted throughout her garden all summer.

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Several decks have been reinforced to overhang the cliff for better oceanfront views. All of the outdoor furniture and umbrellas are in neutral tones to make the landscaping the star attraction. All walkways are made of slate or granite.

“WE’VE MADE SO MANY GOOD MEMORIES OVER DINNER WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.”

perpendicular to the house, attached by a breezeway. MacDougall then created a courtyard at the front of the house that has since been paved with stones, reminding the owners of Italian-style courtyards. The designer indulged Tim’s preference by panelling the entire office in cherrywood. “It was only fair, given how much Tim had compromised,” she laughs. “Plus an office is an ideal space for this panel treatment.” “I love it,” Tim says. “There’s even a button that opens a panel to an otherwise incognito bathroom.” Once they had planned the office, it made sense to add an upstairs guestroom. “The structure balances out the east wing where we had built a gym, sauna, bathroom and a second-floor bedroom a few years earlier,” Tim says. •

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DESIGN

The silk drapes and other gold fabrics add just a hint of glamour to the bedroom decor, while the yellow in the reupholstered chairs and cushions echoes the bright yellows found in the kitchen.

“IT’S REALLY BEEN A LABOUR OF LOVE FOR US.”

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The couple adores the beauty and ease of the limestone wall tiles in their master bathroom.

Bernardine appreciates being able to comfortably seat 12 at the dinner table, as well as having a smaller table for when the couple entertains fewer guests. “We’ve made so many good memories over dinner with family and friends,” she says. While MacDougall didn’t dare touch the B.C. fir beams and wood ceiling that Tim adores in the family room, she did replace the brick surround on the living room fireplace with marble to add a touch more of the traditional elegance that Bernardine favours. MacDougall suggested reconfiguring the master bedroom quarters from a series of

small rooms into a more open space. “That allowed us to replace a tiny walk-in closet with a large one featuring a central island, as well as to create a larger and more luxurious bathroom space,” she says. The reconfiguration still left space for a seating area in the master bedroom beside a window that overlooks the ocean. “We reupholstered the sofa and chairs in a lighter floral pattern, which brightened up the room, coupled with the freshly painted white trim,” MacDougall says. The overall result for the Moores is an idyllic home in their idyllic location. •

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LIFESTYLE

LUXURY WITHOUT THE HIGH COST New Burnaby condo development lures Vancouverites who want more for their money

“Burnaby is the logical place to build more affordable housing compared with the downtown core.” MANY PEOPLE WOULD LIKE to live in Vancouver but can’t deal with the soaring real estate prices. Developers are touting Burnaby as the place to seek a new home, and there’s good reason for this: land and dwellings are less expensive; there are no rivers and thus no bridges to bottleneck traffic; the SkyTrain makes Vancouver easily accessible. “Burnaby is the logical place to build more affordable housing compared with the downtown core,” says Grant Murray, senior vice-president of sales at Concord Pacific Developments. The company, a notable presence in the Lower Mainland, is currently building another planned community in Burnaby: Hillside West, the inaugural phase of the company’s Concord Brentwood development.

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Hillside West’s motto is “Yaletown high style, new town liveability.” Style is a given. The two buildings, designed by James K. M. Cheng, are wrapped on each floor with continuous glazed balconies that provide a dynamic horizontal counterpoint against the verticality of the towers. Within each suite, stylish finishes include such touches as marble tile flooring in the bathroom and the laundry closet, engineered quartz countertops, polished chrome Grohe faucets, and integrated stainless steel Bosch appliances. Liveability within the suites is well taken care of with, for example, Blum soft-close hardware on kitchen cabinetry, and television and telephone jacks provided in every principal room. Liveability is also promoted within the

community as a whole. For instance, the two towers are connected to a two-level glass pavilion that houses the central concierge lobby and is fronted by a motor court so visitors can be driven directly to the entrance. Homeowners access the parking garage from the lobby by way of three dedicated elevators, thus reducing the wait time for elevators within each tower. Residents of all ages will appreciate the “tree-top living” setting for Hillside West. All residential levels are above the treeline and SkyTrain tracks and station, allowing unimpeded views of the generous green space around the courtyard below. Green doesn’t refer only to the setting. For instance, there are intelligent thermostats in each unit. Concord Pacific’s determination

LIFESTYLE VANCOUVER AUTUMN 2016

to promote eco-conscious living is perhaps best exemplified by the company’s approach to transportation. Every residential parking stall has an outlet for charging electric vehicles, residents can also use an electric-vehicle sharing service, and the complex is adjacent to a SkyTrain station. “Concord Pacific is building along SkyTrain lines because we believe public transit is the way of the future,” Murray says. Like most high-end condos, the Brentwood development includes such sought-after amenities as a gym, entertainment lounge, and roof terrace, and it also has such other amenities as a pet-grooming room. Integrated commercial space makes for convenient shopping. The development is also close to major shopping districts such as the revitalized

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Brentwood Town Centre, now known as The Amazing Brentwood. A school is also proposed to be built onsite – convenient for the families that are snapping up condos. But this is also a community that appeals to couples who are downsizing. “We’re looking at a lot of millennials, and our two-bedroom units are very popular for people wanting to retire,” says Murray. “We’ve got a good cross-section of people.” •

CONCORD BRENTWOOD Burnaby Presentation Centre 4750 Kingsway, Burnaby 604-435-1383 www.concordbrentwood.com

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DESIGN

NESTLED INTO THE HILL Creating an elevated ranch-style home allows builder to deal with the challenges of a slope BY SUSAN KELLY // PHOTOGRAPHY: ARTIN AHMADI

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Floor-to-ceiling windows create a seamless flow between the kitchen and dining areas and the backyard deck and pool. Landscaping provides privacy and eliminates the need for blinds or curtains. Dining table: Restoration Hardware; chandelier: custom-design by Garret Cord Werner Architecture & Interior Design.

NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION is often a slippery slope, filled with unforeseen obstacles that can arise. But the slope was literal with this 5,300-square-foot home in the Edgemont Village area of North Vancouver. “Once we tore down the existing house, city zoning meant we had to respect the current pitched grade,” says homeowner Darren Werner, the owner of Werner Construction. In making their home, the veteran builder and his wife put their heads together and came up with a wish list for Darren’s brother, Garret, who designed the house. Garret, principal at Garret Cord Werner Architects & Interior Designers, which is based in Seattle, devised a plan to reverse the layout of the home and to put most of the living area and bedrooms on one floor. The result is what Darren calls an “elevated ranch,” with the main floor raised off street level. It took some persuasion to get his brother to agree to the plan, says Garret, “but after Darren saw the photo-realist renderings, he was amazed.” The couple and their two teenage children enjoy a wide-open great room with the kitchen, living and dining rooms at one end of the house, and a wing with three bedrooms at the other. A fourth bedroom for guests is in the basement. “Darren was very specific about room sizes, the relationship of rooms to one another and the square footage,” says Garret. “We took that information and created the design that you see. •

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DESIGN

(This page - top) A view of the backyard was a design priority on the home’s main floor. (Bottom – left) The space between the living area and the bedroom wing is well-illuminated. The oil-finished clear cedar detail extends from the exterior to create continuity and design interest. (Bottom – right) A light well reveals a verdant backdrop for the dramatic main staircase.

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“Modern design can be so cold and sterile. I think we succeeded in making a warm and liveable house. This is very much a family home.”

Consider the home’s front entry on the lower level, an awkward spot at best. “We created a grand hallway that leads to a beautiful staircase up to the main level where all the living takes place,” says Garret. “It gives a sense of procession that is quite dramatic and filled with light.” The cantilevered staircase stands out thanks to backlighting from a light well that is filled with greenery. The subterranean garden also provides a source of natural light for the basement. So much so, the family can spend time there and not feel as if they’re in a basement, Garret says. “It’s important to bring light into a home, and to open it up to

view as much greenery as possible while still maintaining privacy — not always easy to do.” Carefully considered landscaping creates a privacy screen on the 9,000-square-foot lot, allowing for the use of floor-to-ceiling windows wherever possible on the main floor. Sliding doors in the back admit light and provide direct access to the swimming pool, one of the family’s must-haves. They particularly enjoy the seamless flow between indoor and outdoor spaces when entertaining. Effortless continuity was also the aim in the home’s overall design, a “natural contemporary” look. Darren’s wife, who loves to play

interior decorator for her own homes, was assisted in the choice of finishes by Garret. The completed look is a neutral backdrop with white and light-grey walls, engineered oak flooring in a light smoke-grey finish, and concrete-look porcelain tiles on the great room fireplace surround. For drama, the same clear cedar with an oiled finish that was used on the exterior was applied to the 13-foot ceiling in the great room. “Modern design can be so cold and sterile,” says Darren. “I think we succeeded in making a warm and liveable house. This is very much a family home.” •

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“We were hooked – it had everything we wanted”

Spectacular Waterfront Homes

Here’s what our residents are saying about the Cottages. “The setting is simply stunning, the cycling is gorgeous and safe, there are wonderful hikes to explore, and there are fish just waiting to be hooked. But what we have discovered while building at The Cottages, is the wonderful community – a caring“family” of homeowners, reminiscent of the small towns in the Maritimes where I grew up. It was the location and setting that brought us to The Cottages, but it is the vibrant and welcoming community that will keep us here.” Visit our website for more details including photo galleries, home plans, video tours and more homeowner testimonials about our gorgeous location and homes.

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Traditional Hot Tub

Infinity Edge Hot Tub

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LIFESTYLE

1. BLUE BEAUTY ——— Nothing accentuates a swanlike neck or an elegant shoulder line like a pair of drop earrings. These stunners feature sapphires and diamonds in 18-kt white gold.

——— Palladio www.palladiocanada.com

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rows of 140 ideal-cut diamonds

symbolize support and affection.

surely play a part, too.

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Palladio

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4. GLOW TO GO ———

5. GORGEOUS GREEN ———

The warm tones of this

These emerald drop

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earrings are a standout pair.

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go. An 18-kt white-gold chain

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cascading diamonds, set in 18-kt

a pendant of diamonds that are

white gold.

pavé-set in 18-kt white gold.

———

Brinkhaus Jewellers

www.Brinkhaus.com

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DESIGN

VIVA ESPAÑA

A Spanish-inspired kitchen from Italy is turning heads at a Vancouver design store BY JULIE GEDEON

Inform Interiors 50 Water St., Vancouver 604-682-3868 www.informinteriors.com

TALK ABOUT A SHOWSTOPPER! Passersby have been streaming into Inform Interiors to check out the latest Boffi kitchen featured in the window. “Our store is the first in Canada to display the Salinas line by renowned designer Patricia Urquiola, and it’s generating a lot of curiosity and excitement,” says Carissa Bruhaug, an Inform Interiors kitchen designer. Urquiola named the kitchen after the Spanish are lighter than they appear. The faux-metal town where her grandparents lived. The love finishes likewise possess a rustic appeal. that filled their kitchen served as inspiration. “Urquiola’s palette always ventures be “Aesthetically, it’s different from anything yond safe, neutral colours to defy trends,” else available,” Bruhaug says. “Its clean lines fit Bruhaug adds. modern design, but it also has an Old World Formed of lava stone, the exclusive countercharm that makes you immediately feel at tops have melted recycled glass poured over home. You can almost smell the herbs growing their surface in a subtle diamond pattern. “It’s and cooking in it.” not overly precious with sparkle,” Bruhaug says. The faux-concrete panels have the ap- “The slight reflection is a nod to vintage tiles.” pearance of gracefully aged stucco or stone A technical trough discreetly houses on aluminum-framed doors. The drawers plumbing and electrical f ixtures while

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“Urquiola’s palette always ventures beyond safe, neutral colours to defy trends.”

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providing easy access via metal panels secured with magnets. “The trough also supports the optional shelving,” Bruhaug says. “Frosted glass within the steel-framed shelves allows the led lighting to filter through each level for a beautiful wash of colour.” The Big Sink, as it’s officially called, is made of Zimbabwe granite that’s honed rather than polished for a tactile finish. Most people initially mistake the wood surface at one end of the island for an oversized cutting board. In fact, it’s a unique pull-out table. “A trigger mechanism has it slide out on

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a diagonal so that it cantilevers an edge of the island to seat four to six people,” Bruhaug says. “We opted for legs on some cabinetry because they make the kitchen less like millwork and more like enduring furniture,” she says. “There are different options and configurations but they always maintain the design’s integrity.” Bruhaug recommends Salinas as a freestanding island in a space with a simple back wall or surround. “Salinas is such a gem that you don’t want to overwhelm the space or take away from how special it is,” she says. •

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available available at at

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BRATSA BONIFACHO NEW PAINTINGS

BAU-XI GALLERY

3045 GRANVILLE ST VANCOUVER

BAU-XI.COM

Babylonia Two, oil on canvas, 82 x 77 inches

T. 604.733.7011

DESIGN

FROM THE GROUND UP Local business is built upon a solid foundation

JORDANS www.jordans.ca

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“Our rugs from Nepal can be made in about three months, but a traditional rug design takes about a year. It’s well worth the wait.”

JORDANS IS A MULTIFACETED STORE. Actually, it’s a misnomer to call Jordans a store; it’s a business with several divisions and several stores within each division. There are now 23 locations at which Jordans does business, 20 in British Columbia and three in Alberta. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves; let’s start at the beginning. Every enterprise must start with a good foundation, and Jordans began almost literally at the foundation, with floor coverings. Edwin Jordan-Knox founded the company in 1929, opening Jordans Rugs in Vancouver’s South Granville area. The store specialized in hand-knotted rugs from the Middle and Far East. As business flourished, locations were added and types of inventory expanded to include broadloom and then furniture and accessories. The company now sells to the public under five major brands. Jordans Floor Covering focuses on carpeting and such flooring as hardwood, laminates and tiles. Jordans

Flooring Outlet covers less expensive floor coverings that non-experts can easily install. And Jordans Rugs Unlimited sells those kinds of items that originally put the company on the map: fine-quality area rugs, which are exclusive to Jordans. But the company has also built further upon its foundation and now has two brands that specialize in home furnishings and accessories. Jordans Interiors is a high-end retail brand that Ken Reid, senior manager of marketing and merchandising, characterizes succinctly: “Quality is where it’s at.” The other brand is Jordans Home, a store for “a much younger demographic,” says Reid. “We sell fun furniture and accessories, lighting and art. We have unique items and artisanal products from around the world – for instance, hand-blown glass, really cool pool and foosball tables. We cover every room in the house.” Many items at any of the Jordans stores are unique or exclusive to the company. And

here’s something else almost exclusive in today’s market: despite its many locations, Jordans is not a franchise operation. It’s still family-owned. Styles might come and go, but the family still upholds Edwin Jordan-Knox’s principles. “Trends are ever-changing,” Reid says, “but at Jordans, people think quality.” This principle applies even when the pressure’s on – for instance, the time Jordans was asked to furnish an entire house within a month. Thanks to the company’s enormous inventory, the deadline was met. On the other hand, some delivery times are long. Hand-knotted rugs of quality are not churned out overnight. “It can be a year turnaround for a custom rug,” Reid says. “Our rugs from Nepal can be made in about three months, but a traditional rug design takes about a year. It’s well worth the wait.” •

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DESIGN

LET THERE BE LIGHT

A White Rock home is designed to welcome the sunshine BY PHILLIPA RISPIN // PHOTOGRAPHY AND STYLING: ALEXANDRA HRISTOVA

SUNSHINE IS SOMETIMES A COMMODITY in scarce supply in the Lower Mainland. This White Rock home has many things going for it. In addition to being as large as local building codes allow, it boasts a finished basement with a nanny suite, is in a family-oriented neighbourhood near restaurants, schools and the ocean, has a partial water view, and is designed according to the principles of feng shui. But possibly the best is how bright it is. “This house gets sunlight all day long,” says Alexandra Hristova, owner of A2H Interior Design. Hristova designed the house from the ground up, inside and out. “The whole concept revolves around light,” she says. “I’m big on light in my designs.” The light factor is increased by the several skylights that add illumination to the principal rooms. There’s a skylight over every fireplace, and the ceilings often rise 12 feet to it for a cathedral effect. There are also skylights on the upper floor. “I do a lot of skylights in my designs,” Hristova says. “Even when it rains, it doesn’t feel grey inside the space.”

The space is large: 5,600 square feet spread over three storeys, suitable for a busy family life. The three main bedrooms, each with ensuite bathroom, are upstairs, away from the bustle of the living areas. The layout of the upper floor features a clever array of rooms, each with bumpouts and recesses and multiple exterior walls for maximum-sized windows. “You can see the ocean from the second floor,” Hristova says. The upper storey has engineered hardwood floors, 7.5-inch-wide planks in a cooltoned medium brown. The planks, made of an eco-sustainable material that’s durable and scratch- and stain-resistant, feature a simple click-and-lock design. There is no off-gassing from glue. The master bedroom, as might be expected, includes an ensuite bathroom and a walk-in closet. Such luxurious-looking finishes as an engineered quartz vanity top, zebrawood on the cabinetry and large (36 inch by 24 inch) marble-look porcelain tiles lend the bathroom a luxurious •

[Opposite - top] From the street, the house with its two-car garage does not look particularly large, having a relatively low profile and moderate street frontage. Alexandra Hristova designed the building to stretch well back into the lot, giving it a generous footprint. [Opposite - bottom] Hristova designed the house with few uninterrupted continuous walls. Numerous bumpouts, ells and recesses create plenty of surface area for windows on all sides. The patio has a generous overhang for outdoor recreation and entertaining.

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“I do a lot of skylights in my designs. Even when it rains, it doesn’t feel grey inside the space.”

ambience. The bedroom’s recessed-tray ceiling with cove lighting is another lavish element. The open-plan main floor is laid out for family activity and entertainment space. Kitchen and living room meet at right angles at the dining area to reinforce the open feeling while keeping the living room somewhat isolated from kitchen clutter and noise. The living room features one of the three gas fireplaces in the home, with a skylight above. The kitchen, built by All Stain & Lacquer, is laid out to make best use of countertop and island surfaces. All the appliances are efficient models from Jenn-Air, including a powerful extractor fan over the cooktop. Like the other spaces on the main storey, the flooring is large-slab porcelain tile for good looks and easy care. A sense of continuity comes from the zebrawood-finished oak on the cabinetry, which is used in other rooms. A major feature of the kitchen is a wall of Eclipse doors that gives on to the covered patio. When the doors are open, there’s a seamless transition from inside to out. The kitchen ell terminates in a family room with its own fireplace, surmounted, of course,

by a skylight. The fireplace hearth is a low shelf extended along both flanking walls, with the space underneath closed in with sliding glass doors – an ideal spot for electronic equipment. The ground f loor includes two more rooms that share a full bathroom; each can be used as bedroom, study or office. Near the front door, a generously sized walk-in coat closet leads to a laundry room and powder room. The basement has its own little luxuries, including a wine cellar and wet bar, a gym, a bathroom with a steam shower, a sauna and a media room. The nanny suite has an outside entrance. The amenities continue outdoors. Besides the sheltered backyard patio, there’s a sitting area in a pergola farther down the yard. Gas pipelines have been roughed in for a freestanding firepit. Hristova has packed as many features as she can into this medium-sized property, including home automation, and she’s included the possibilities for the best natural feature of the location: sunlight. “I love the openness of this house,” she says. “I love the light quality.” •

Hristova created a sense of continuity by using specific materials in many places: zebrawood for the cabinetry, porcelain tiles throughout the main floor, engineered hardwood floors upstairs. In the kitchen, the warmth of the zebrawood is juxtaposed with the gloss of acrylic-finished cabinetry above the sink and pale engineered stone for the countertops and the island. Numerous windows and skylights, as well as such design elements as open risers on the staircase, contribute to the airy ambience of the interior.

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TIME WARP An outdated house is transformed for the 21st century

BY PHILLIPA RISPIN // PHOTOGRAPHY: COLIN PERRY // STYLING: DIANA BECKER

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“NOSTALGIA AIN’T WHAT IT USED TO BE,” the popular saying goes. And indeed it ain’t when one gets a first-hand sample of what one is supposedly nostalgic for. Take the house that originally stood on this plot in the Upper Lynn Valley area of Edgemont. It was a time warp of the 1970s, and it wasn’t a warp back to the fun part of that decade. The mixture of styles was jarring, the rooms were small, the decor depressing. The windowless basement office was a wood-panelled “dungeon,” in the words of prospective buyer Alan Moat. But the property was irresistible. “We bought the house because it was in a great location: right beside the mountain biking trails we ride, big private lot, on a quiet cul-de-sac, with other nearby families for our kids to play with,” says Alan’s wife Nicole Howell. “There’s a trail from the end of our street,” Alan adds. Once Alan and Nicole had possession, with much-appreciated help from Lynn Valley real estate agent Roland Lewis, they turned to architectural designer Murray Gilmour for a redesign. “We wanted a lot of light throughout, to have an open concept in the main living area, and to bring the feeling of the outside in,” Nicole says. “We wanted a simple, clean, West Coast Modern look to the space.” The property also had to be suitable for their two young children. In Alan’s words, it had to be “friendly, with lots of outdoor space, and a big play area downstairs was important.” “We knew the bones were decent, and so was the framing,” says Gilmour. “What we liked about the house was the orientation. The deck captured the sunlight and the views. The way it was actually sited was done quite well.” •

In this major renovation, the carport was closed in to become a garage-workshop. The canopy over the recessed front door was extended to reinforce the entrance’s presence. The rain chain, with its clean lines, was custom-ordered from Japan.

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Gilmour had the contractor, Warren Lightfoot, and his team from Terris Lightfoot Contracting strip the house down to the studs, demolish the rickety deck, and begin rebuilding. “We wanted that West Coast Modern look, and the roofline lent itself to that, so we kept a good portion of the roof,” Gilmour says. “We also kept the footprint.” Three important changes were made to the exterior of the house. “Most people don’t

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like to have their garage the first thing you see when you come to the house, but since [Alan and Nicole] are real avid mountain bikers and outdoor enthusiasts, they liked that,” says Gilmour. “We turned the covered carport into a garage/bike storage and workshop.” Gilmour says that the entrance of the original house was recessed and seemed remote from the road. In the new house, “we extended a covered entry beyond the garage so that you

had a nice approach and could see where you were going to the front door,” he says. “And there was only a driveway and no path, so we built a custom concrete stair extending from the [road] all the way down and connected that to the entrance.” • Strategically placed windows, such as the one used in place of a backsplash (below) maintain the connection to the landscape.

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The double-sided fireplace not only delineates the dining room (behind the left side of the fireplace) from the kitchen-living area, but it also provides storage space on both sides under the extended mantel.

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Perhaps the most noticeable difference in the new house was the fenestration: more windows, larger windows, skylights, huge folding windows that open to the decks to bring the outside in. At the side of the house, a light well was excavated and a window installed so that the “dungeon” is now a welcoming office. All those windows had to be carefully considered. The choice of products and installation was handled by Modern Classic Building

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Solutions. Upper Lynn Valley has very heavy weather patterns, says Michael Cairns, general manager of the company. “We needed to be sure all products met the most rigorous testing standards,” he says. “When somebody does an extensive reno, they’re not interested in something that lasts only a few years. And there are code restrictions. We have wind-pressure and water-ingress requirements, and in that area they’re about as high as they get in the Lower Mainland.” •

Alan considers the Eclipse doors in the living room to be key for opening the lounge area to the outdoors. Nicole loves the light and sense of space and the location: “The neighbourhood is great,” she says.

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There were also some demanding architectural elements, such as raked windows in the living room and garage. Because this was a renovation, the windows had to be custom-made. For instance, in the living room, “We had to measure those [raked windows] up after the framing was complete,” Cairns says. “It looks really symmetrical, but it turns out that those windows aren’t all symmetrical. The original framing from the house was off. We had to maintain the

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correct angle so that it would look consistent, had to change all the sizes up so they would fit the placement of the beams.” Those windows now let the sun shine in on a living area that is radically different from the original. “We opened it up,” Alan says. Interior walls came down, and the living room, kitchen, dining area and front entry are now all part of one big space. “In the living room, we exposed the ceiling,” Gilmour says. “We took the whole roof off.

The original ceiling was only eight feet; now it’s vaulted to 12 feet. The structural beams are exposed as a way to bring warmth in.” One of the most striking interior elements is the double-sided fireplace. “We wanted the chimney itself to define the dining room and the kitchen-living space,” Gilmour says. “We shrank it to the brick, removing side walls, and clad it in [split-face granite]. We also wanted additional storage and counter space.” •

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The original home was rundown, but Nicole and Alan bought it for the location and the view. “I love the three big trees in the back garden,” Alan says. “They give us some privacy. The privacy is amazing; there’s nobody looking over us.”

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“What we liked about the house was the orientation. The deck captured the sunlight and the views. The way it was actually sited was done quite well.”

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It was Gilmour’s idea to extend the mantel on each side of the chimney. He worked with Artemisia Metal Fabrication to produce a steel frame, topped in the same quartz as the kitchen countertop, which forms the mantel and provides storage space on both sides. On the same floor as the main living area are the master suite and the two children’s bedrooms and bathroom. The basement is now a genuine lower floor with a huge media

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and recreation room, a guest bedroom, a all our ideas for furniture by him and got his bathroom – and that ex-dungeon, now a input on everything from the rug to the lights, naturally lit office. In all, the house offers to the pillows on the couch. We were able to cre3,300 square feet of living space in the fairly ate the space and turn our vision into a reality, compact footprint of the original structure. which is now a house with everything we need.” The millwork throughout the home, de- “It totally suits our lifestyle,” says Alan. signed by Gilmour, is primarily vertical-grain “It’s great.” • oak and was executed by Fusion Woodwork. His influence is evident elsewhere, too: “Our An extended headboard in the master bedroom conceals a architect is also a designer,” says Nicole. “We ran walk-in closet and the master bathroom entrance.

DESIGN VANCOUVER AUTUMN 2016

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“We needed to be sure all products met the most rigorous testing standards. When somebody does an extensive reno, they’re not interested in something that lasts only a few years.”

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DESIGN VANCOUVER TRENDS 2015 BUYER’S GUIDE

TIME WARP Modern Classic Building Solutions modernclassicvancouver.com 604-558-1910 Murray Gilmour, Gilmour Design Studio www.gilmourdesignstudio.com 604-612-3439 Terris Lightfoot Contracting www.terrislightfoot.com 778-355-8315 Fusion Woodwork www.fusionwoodwork.com 604-986-8528 Artemisia Metal Fabrication Inc. www.artemisia.ca 604-562-4247 THE POWER OF SYMBOLS Bau-Xi Gallery www.bau-xi.com 604-733-7011 HOW TO DITCH CLUTTER California Closets Vancouver www.californiaclosets.com 604-320-6575 WORK AND PLAY Steven Sabados www.stevensabados.com FROM THE GROUND UP Jordans www.jordans.ca LUXURY WITHOUT THE HIGH COST Concord Brentwood www.concordbrentwood.com 604-435-1383 CAPE ESCAPE Mary MacDougall Interior Design 902-464-0465 EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW AGAIN Design Studio 8 www.ds8.ca 604-812-7871

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Naikoon Contracting Ltd. www.naikooncontracting.com 778-340-1566 Duke Custom Kitchens www.dukecustomkitchens.com 604-273-6575 LET THERE BE LIGHT A2H Interior Design www.a2hinteriordesign.com 604-910-6546 NESTLED INTO THE HILL Werner Construction www.wernerconstruction.com 604-649-2487

AD LIST VANCOUVER AUTUMN 2016

A2 H Design

Barrett Group Custom Builders

109 12

Best Builders

Bone Structure

Bosa Properties

Bradlee Distribution

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California Closets

Cantu Bathrooms

72 103

THE SWEET LIFE ChocolaTas www.chocolatas.com 1-877-668-8932

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STRONG DESIGN STATEMENTS Cantu www.cantubathrooms.com 604-688-1252 Emco / Ensuite www.emcoltd.com 604-872-3375 Nortesco www.nortesco.com 1-800-667-8372 Genesis Kitchens & Design www.genesiskitchens.ca 604-937-7336

Brinkhaus

Garret Cord Werner Architects & Interior Designers www.garretcordwerner.com 1-800-478-1956

VIVA ESPAÑA Inform Interiors www.informinteriors.com 604-682-3868

Bau-Xi Gallery

Casa Madera Coast Spas Lifestyles

Concord Pacific

Cosentino Covenant House

Euro-Line Appliances

Fama Living

Fireplace by Maxwell

2 130 127 4 33 25, 108 6 102 21, 23

Granite Transformations Hugues Chevalier iidex Inform Interiors Inspiration Furniture Jordans My House Design Build Osoyoos Cottages Palladio

Paramount Furniture

Resource Furniture

RodRozen Designs

Room8

Scavolini

Spencer Interiors

The Ensuite

Windowworks

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