Niche Magazine

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where you belong

Building the Best:

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TOMMIE 2010 GOLD WINNERS

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Visit our Award Winning Show Homes Today Located in the Heart of Old Glenmore, walking distance to the lake and cultural district.

Bridges at Glenview Pond is comprised of 34 single family homes with 27 of these homes backing directly onto a private park with 2 ponds and a creek. The homes are custom designed to compliment each client’s unique desires and lifestyle with the exterior architecture mimicking the heritage homes of the past.

In 2010, the Final Phase of Bridges at Glenview Pond was awarded a total of 14 prestigious Tommie Awards.

2 Gold Tommie Awards in the New Home 2000 - 2999 sq.ft. category for “Excellence in Single Family Detached Home” and for “Excellence in Master Suite Design.”

3 Silver Grand Tommies were garnered for “Residential Development of the Year,” “Single Family Home Builder of the Year” and “Home of the Year.”

In addition, we were recognized with 9 Silver Finalist Tommie Awards.

GLENVIEW

GORDON

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CLIFTON

Open Daily Noon - 5:00pm

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1358 Glenview Avenue Kelowna, BC

2 2 5 NICHE 0.763.7209

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inside DEPARTMENTS

FEATURES

32 APPS

This retailer understands outdoor kitchens.

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35 PROFILE

Kelowna professional helps envision dream homes.

2010 TOMMIE GOLD WINNERS

36 COMPANY

Hands-on approach builds award-winning homes.

38 PRODUCT

Niche and CHBA-CO salute the winning recipients.

Solid cabinet company in a competitive marketplace.

40 SPECIALIST

Home inspectors face new challenges.

42 IMPRESSIONS

Quartz and granite give countertops a rich look.

44 ECOLIFE

Geothermal energy becomes more popular for Okanagan homes.

46 CONTRACTOR

Children inspire company owner’s commitment.

5 1 PAPERWORK

COLUMNS

7 FROM CHBA-CO

Executive officer Tammy Jackson celebrates Tommies 2010.

27 DIG

News and developments from CHBA-CO members.

29 EXPERTS

Designing a solid builder-buyer contract.

52 HERITAGE

Fintry—the visionary estate of J. C. Dun-Waters.

57 DESIGN

Classic flooring and window treatments add spring flair.

Questions for home professionals.

48 VIEW

Buying a brand new home: It has its advantages.

D E S I G N

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where you belong

Building the Best:

TOMMIE 2010 GOLD WINNERS

Cover: Villa Gran Sasso, by Quiniscoe Homes Ltd., was voted Home of the Year in the 2010 Tommies.

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Photo: Courtesy of Quiniscoe Homes Ltd.

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58 CHBA-CO DIRECTORY

Your guide to all the members of the Canadian Home Builders Association of the Central Okanagan.

62 SPECIAL PROMOTION

Articles showcasing the services and products of some of our advertisers.

from the editor’s desk where you belong

Publisher

Craig N. Brown

Assoc. Publisher Chytra Brown Editor

Dona Sturmanis

Art Director

Donna Szelest

Senior Writer Rand Zacharias Contributors

Dorothy Brotherton CHBA Staff Tammy Jackson Special Promotion Section written by Rand Zacharias and Deanna Merrick Photographers Jason Babakaiff

Rand Zacharias Unless specially credited, all photos were submitted or taken by staff.

Director of Sales

Roy Kunicky Don Jack Arlene Paulsen

Account Managers

Administration Joanne Clarke

Niche Magazine is published in conjunction with Canadian Home Builders Association of the Central Okanagan.

P.O. Box 102, 215 Louie Drive, Westbank, BC V4T 3G2 T. 778-755-5727 F. 778-755-5728 www.prospermediagroup.ca NICHE Magazine is published in Westbank, BC by Prosper Media Group Inc. ©2010 All rights reserved.The views expressed in NICHE are those of the respective contributors and not necessarily those of the publisher or staff.

PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 41835528. RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO: 101B - 1979 OLD OKANAGAN HWY., WESTBANK, BC V4T 3A4.

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have to admit that the Tommie 2010 Gold Gala at the Delta Grand Okanagan Resort the night of February 12 was one of the best parties I have been to in a long time!

During the pre-event reception, the room quickly filled with CHBA-CO members and guests, all grandly decked out in evening gowns, tuxes and suits. I enjoyed chatting with, among many others, CHBA-CO president Kevin Bounds, CHBA-BC president Vicki Gerrits and CHBA-BC CEO MJ Whitemarsh.

After much camaraderie, everyone adjourned to dinner in the ball room. We enjoyed an elegant gourmet repast, accompanied by wines from Jackson-Triggs and Prospect Winery.

I had the pleasure of sharing my dinner table with Craig Brown and his wife Chytra, principals of Prosper Media Group, Inc,, the company that publishes Niche.

Also there were senior writer Rand Zacharias and Tammy Meyers and Tessa Wynn from the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, which recently recognized Prosper as Rising Star of the Year.

The masters of ceremony for the 2010 Tommie Gold awards presentation were Andy James and Tamara Joel from EZ Rock. Without a doubt, the opening dance by the Company B Dancers, performing a construction-related number, was a huge hit.

As winners in different categories received their Tommie trophies, the program went smoothly and was very entertaining. It was a sophisticated, dazzling and welltimed audio-visual and stage presentation.

At mid-point, an auction was conducted by talented Mike Odenbach of Western Star Auctions of items ranging from a custom-made queen headboard from Van Gogh Designs to a $5,000 cabinetry package courtesy of Cucina Del Re Cabinetry, with a portion of the proceeds going to Habitat for Humanity.

I was honoured to be at this special awards night, which showcased the best of what the members of CHBA-CO have to offer. The talent and quality shown by these distinguished professionals is truly worth the accolades they received and a testament to their achievements.

Terry Heinrich of Distinctive Developments was the chair of this gala Tommie 2010 event. And ever-present that evening was the vivacious ball-gowned CHBA-CO executive officer Tammy Jackson, who with executive assistant Kim Riopelle and many others, put in countless hours to make it all possible.

Enjoy our special Tommie Gold feature that lists all the winners and photographically highlights some of their projects.

You will also appreciate our regular Niche columns and departments that offer you excellent and timely profiles, information and advice for every home owner.

Niche is proud to be the official publication of CHBA-CO....the folks at Prosper Media Group, Inc., this magazine’s publisher, can hardly wait until the Tommies next year.

Printed in Canada.

Dona Sturmanis Editor N NICHE

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Tommie: THE SYMBOL of Homebuilding Excellence

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elcome to the TOMMIE 2010 Gold issue of Niche! For 19 years, the Canadian Home Builders’ Association of the Central Okanagan has had the privilege of being able to showcase the ‘best of the best’ at the 2010 Tommie Gold Gala night. This year, as always, the entries from builders, developers, renovators, suppliers, trade contractors and other professionals in the home building industry were absolutely exceptional. Each entry was judged by a panel of impartial judges from across the country and the winners announced at a black tie gala!

The Tommie Gold Gala took place February 12 with over 400 guests from the building industry. It was a night of glitz, glamour and above all, a celebration of achievement.

Consumers, too, greatly benefit from the Tommie awards program. As builders achieve excellence, the standard of construction rises. Architects look for solutions to satisfy their customer needs and designers choose agreeable and appealing responses to lifestyle choices. When a prospective new home buyer chooses an award-winning Tommie builder, they are ensured a high level of excellence and professionalism. A Tommie award winner means building industry standards have been met and exceeded, and that they will receive the quality of service and product that they deserve for their investment in the future.

Tammy Jackson Executive Officer, CHBA-CO N

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The evening would not be possible without the support of our sponsors!

Titanium

Terasen The Daily Courier

Gold

Pulse Group Noran Printing Ltd. Travelers Colonial Countertops Cambria Silk FM BC Housing Home Owner Protection Office Castanet.net Melcor Developments Coast Wholesale Appliances OK Builders Supply SW Audio Visual Norelco Cabinets

Silver

Stanley Black & Decker | Hardware & Home Improvement Group Gienow Windows & Doors Grant Thornton LLP DuPont Building Innovations

Bronze

Falcon Ladder and Scaffolding

Patronage

BC Construction Safety Alliance Photos BY Jason Babakaiff

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tommies 2010

gold

by CHBA-CO STAFF

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Excellence in Creative Affordable Housing Philip MacDonald Architect Inc. for WillowbridgeCanadian Mental Health Association Willowbridge is a supportive/transitional housing program for individuals on limited incomes who are at risk of homelessness.

Located near an important gateway intersection to downtown Kelowna, this LEED Gold certified building focuses on environmental sustainability. This carefullyplanned and scaled building integrates comfortably with the street. Tenants are provided with a large double volume communal lounge, kitchen, dining and patio area. Innovative and functional. Congratulations to Philip MacDonald Architect Inc. For Willowbridge – associate partners Bentsen Developments, BC Housing and Sawchuk Developments.

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Excellence in Landscape Design $50-100,000 -Single Family (New or Renovation) GroundSense Landscaping for Thompson Gardens The Thompson Gardens in Kamloops welcomes the most discerning guests. In the garden, over 100 species of plants, islands of grass and the piece de resistance..an elaborate water feature with dramatic drops. Congratulations to GroundSense Landscaping for creating this luxurious garden right on the riverfront.

Excellence in Landscape Design under $50,000-Single Family (New or Renovation) Ground Sense Landscaping for Hillside Getaway This hillside getaway in Kamloops involved a massive excavation to transform a steeply sloped yard into multiple tiered areas for outdoor enjoyment. A patio, grassy area, hammock, pergola and stream have been created by Ground Sense Landscaping to suit the homeowners’ pleasure in spending time outdoors. Unique elements and drought tolerant plantings are all integrated in this award-winning landscape project.

Excellence in Website Design Quiniscoe Homes Ltd. for Quiniscoe Homes Quiniscoe.ca – the Tommie Gold winner for website design. Aasman Design has put together a website featuring easy navigation and an extensive photo gallery of Quiniscoe’s custom-built homes.

Current clients have their own personal login to access anytime from anywhere in the world. All documentation, contracts, plans and construction reports available 24-7. A simple, straightforward approach for a custom builder of one-of-a-kind homes. A website where a picture is worth a thousand words.

Excellence in Single Family Detached Home 3,000 sq. ft. & over Wine Country Homes for Ponds Showhome The Ponds Showhome by Wine Country Homes is all about the Okanagan lifestyle- and connecting indoors to the outdoors. A Tuscan wine country theme of warm colours, natural wood and stone make this 4,500 square foot home consistent throughout.

From an outdoor tasting terrace to energy-efficient considerations – the Ponds Showhome has it all.

Associate partners: Mullins Drafting and Design, Mullins Design and Ginette Interiors – Colleen Hayko.

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Excellence in Kitchen Design under $50,000 - New Home Quiniscoe Homes for Stealth Like the entire house, this Quiniscoe Homes kitchen located in Panorama is open, bright and uncomplicated. Horizontal grain fir cabinets and rich-lit countertops are warm to the touch. A huge window above the sink where the deer often look in. A kitchen built for cooking with many details considered... from laundry, to recycling to serving many guests indoors and outdoors.

Associate partner – Sitelines Architecture.

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Excellence in Single Detached Home 2,001-2,999 Square Feet Valux Homes Ltd. – Bridges Showhome The Bridges Showhome by Valux Homes is a traditional two-storey craftsman style home at Bridges in Glenview Pond.

The open floor plan home maximizes the living space. A butler’s pantry, a private courtyard kitchen, a geothermal heating cooling system and access to a private park off the backyard...just some of the features of the Bridges Showhome.

Associate Partner – Newell Design Studio.

Excellence in AdvertisingIndividual Ad Rohit Communities – Copper Point Resort – Roughin’ It

Excellence in Semi-Detached or Town-Home Development Okanagan Sustain Homes for LEED Infill Okanagan Sustain Homes presents the LEED Infill, a public educational model for sustainable infill in Vernon. This LEED platinum certified project increased the usable square footage by 400% with only 170% increase in the overall footprint. The key– sustainability, adaptability, and continuity with the existing neighbourhood.

The home blends with surrounding heritage architecture while making a bold statement of modernity. Associate partners - Hugh j. Bitz Architect and Into the Woods.

Rohit Communities ad for Copper Point Resort titled ‘Roughin’ it..utilizes the concept of ‘Life at the Cabin’ with ‘none of the fuss’. Simple, clean, easy to read- the ad’s catch phrase plants the seed that Copper Point is different and truly a unique product in the marketplace. The ad is consistent with the overall campaign and was photographed in the Invermere area.

Excellence in Sales Centre Design Sopa Square for Sopa Square The Discovery Centre at Sopa Square displays select lifestyle images, quotes, a scale model and a dream station allowing visitors to explore all floor plans and views. Visitors can enter the vignette of the living spaces, to experience for themselves the European inspired interiors showcasing standard and upgraded finishes. Associate partners – Adrian Design and Dreamlife Design.

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Excellence in Residential Renovations under $250,000 Gord Turner Renovations for the Cosar Residence Congratulations to Gord Turner Renovations for the Cosar Residence. For replacing outdated finishes and remedying the awkward use of space. Great care was taken to address the physical limitations of the client while incorporating many ‘green’ advances in energy efficiency. The result – a modern design with a respect for the homes traditional structural elements. Associate partner – Habitat Interiors.

Excellence in Interior Design in a Custom Residence - New Home or Renovation George Schluessel Real Estate Investments Ltd. for Schluessel Residence, White Spirit Every aspect of this 10,000 square foot home is breathtaking and intentionally designed around the massive cedar logs that 27 semitrailers delivered from Williams Lake. From custom-carved doors, to a hand-laid glass pebble stream, to an old world stone turret- every detail of this home is truly unique. Associate partner: Procura Real Estate Services Ltd. and Cucina Del Re Cabinetry.

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Excellence in Kitchen Design $50-$100,000 New Home Frame Custom Homes Ltd. for the Jaenen Residence In this kitchen, classic, old world charm is married perfectly to the most modern conveniences. The massive island is the central feature defined by detailed grapevine corbels. Dramatic granite, tenfoot coffered ceilings, wrought iron light fixtures and railings, a separate coffee area define this clutter free kitchen. Frame Custom Homes together with Associate Partners Cucina Del Re Cabinetry and Absolut Granite –an awardwinning team.

Excellence in Logo Design – 2 Winners Rohit Communities – Copper Point Resort The logo design by Pure Vision Inc. for Copper Point Resort is sleek, contemporary and represents four elements: rolling hills, rocky mountains, forest and lakes. Its clean format allows it to be used in all marketing materials and indicates quality, elegance and luxury.

Frame Custom Homes Here is a logo straight to the point. Simple and brilliant.

The builders name is Frame. Great Creative.com and Jeff Chandler.ca created this dramatic logo. An Asian-style paint stroke, white writing on an orange background, adaptable to all logo applications. An award-winning builder with an award-winning logo!

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Sales Person/ Sales Team of the Year in New Home Construction Sopa Square for Sopa Square Meet the Sales Team of the Year at Sopa Square! They are dedicated to connecting – and following up by phone, email and in person. They use a powerful software system that keeps them organized but always mindful of the ‘personal approach’. Constantly honing their skills through webinars and personal sales training.

The result – consistently turning potential customers into purchasers.

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Excellence in Single Family Detached Home $1 Million to $3 Million Quiniscoe Homes Ltd. for Stealth In this home, modern lines fit and follow the 46-foot elevation gain and crazy topography instead of fighting it. Stealth hides on the hillside with the exception of the fir beams and trims. The home was built in three stages because of concrete pump and crane constraints. There are many environmental considerations including two green roofs. Simple, yet grand, with every window capturing the view in Panorama.

Associate partner – Sitelines Architecture.

Excellence in Residential Renovations $250-$500,000 AuthenTech Homes Ltd. for the Sawatzky Lakehouse Renovation This extensive renovation to a lake cabin in Oyama now provides beautiful year round accommodation with a studio and separate accommodation for guests. The final design re-uses the basement structure and expands the home up the hill to take full advantage of the views. Geothermal heating and cooling transform this summer cabin to a year round home. The wrap around deck is the place to just sit and enjoy. Associate partner: Connect Architecture Inc.

Your Dre am‌Re alize d

Visit one of our showhomes: 1364 Clearpond Court

Or contact: scott@authentechhomes.com

2539 Paramount Drive

250-491-7690 NICHE

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Excellence in Brochure Design Sopa Square for Sopa Square The discovery of an old newspaper in the walls of one of the deconstructed buildings at Sopa Square served as the inspiration for the Sopa Square Times – it was used as takeaway piece for visitors at the Discovery Centre, for admail and as an insert in the Daily Courier.

The Sopa Square Times, cost-effective, flexible, eco-friendly!

Excellence in Creating an Interior Feature/ Innovation in a Home Quiniscoe Homes Ltd. For Stealth Connection To attain the best view, the master bedroom had to be on the highest point of the lot. Getting there was the problem! The solution – build a bridge that floats over the existing shale and use it as a feature in landscaping and as a greenhouse inside. Presenting the ‘Connection’ – where the energy efficient windows follow the angle of the stairs, where the lowest plant shelf is a composter, and where creativity ‘connected’ to create a stunning innovation. Associate partnerSitelines Architecture.

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Excellence in Customer Service – (2 winners) Gienow Windows and Doors (Supplier) With a focus on improved customer service, all Gienow windows employees have a road map of clearly outlined expectations. A new streamlined manufacturing process eliminates waste and results in product being delivered on time with fewer defects. The Service on the Spot program sets aside a portion of each service tech’s day to resolve customer problems immediately. Just a few of the initiatives that make Gienow Windows our Tommie winner!

Mission Group (Builder/Renovator) Mission Group has ‘dedicated’ manpower to address and improve customer service at their various developments. A homeowner liaison for managing requests, co-ordinating orientations and scheduling repairs . A manager of customer experience to present customer manuals and provide instructions for on-line access.

Responses to homeowners, always within 24 hours. A customer care van allows concerns to be quickly addressed at Mission Group’s various communities.

Excellence in Master Suite Design in a Home 2000 – 2999 sq.ft – NEW HOME Valux Homes for Bridges Showhome The Bridges Showhome master suite has a natural flow complete with privacy and all the amenities. Lots of room for a king bed and a sitting area and oversized fully customized walk-in closet, a spa style ensuite– design options that make it at once comfortable and relaxing. A beautiful master suite by Valux Homes.

Associate partner – Newell Design Studios.

Excellence in Presentation of a Model Home/Model Suite Ledingham McAllister for Waterscapes-Skye Casual elegance with an aged charm. Simple with detailed touches. Waterscapes – Skye with i3 design utilized the surrounding scenery and landscaping as the backdrop to the home.

Small spaces are balanced with eclectic furniture..light fixtures and accessories are playful and unexpected. It all adds up to an award winning show suite for Ledingham McAllister!

Excellence in Kitchen Design over $100,000- New Home Urban Classic Cabinetry and Design Inc. For MLB Residence Congratulations to Urban Classic Cabinetry for this remarkable French Chateau style kitchen. The centrepiece of the design is a curved alder fanhood. Exceptional attention to detail has been taken throughout . Lighted display cabinets, custom-milled bookcases, ample Storage and countertop space all complimented by stunning granite countertops.

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Excellence in Master Suite Design in a Home 3,000 Square Feet and Over- New Home Bellamy Homes Inc. for The Ponds

Excellence in Kitchen Renovation under $50,000 Gord Turner Renovations for the Berkshire-Palmer Kitchen This renovation took a dull, cramped 80s kitchen and transformed it into a modern entertaining space designed to showcase sweeping lakeviews. The Berkshire-Palmer kitchen has a dramatic New York loft look. A sweeping glass eating bar matches the curve of the peninsula.with lots of room for entertaining. The ceiling was raised, a wall removed and a whole new look given a kitchen that greatly improves the value of the home. Associates: Urban Classic Cabinetry, Trail Appliances and Okanagan Glass.

excellence in creating multi-family development highrise Ledingham McAllister for Waterscapes Skye was skewed at an angle of roughly 30%, and is comprised of a rectangular rather than square floor plate, thereby affording the greatest number of homes with either full or partial lake views. Extensive use of water features, pedestrian pathways, green spaces, and elaborate indigenous landscaping to enhance the physical and visual connections to Skye’s natural amenities of Okanagan Lake and Brandt’s Creek.

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The emphasis on this incredible master suite from Bellamy Homes is comfort and luxury. Ten-foot coffered ceilings and a wall of windows add drama while every comfort is considered. The walk-in closet has loads of built-ins. A solid single piece granite tub, an expansive shower, vanity counters are furniture height. A master suite to be pampered in. Architectural design by Les Bellamy.

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Excellence in Single Family Detached Home over $3 Million Quiniscoe Homes Ltd. for Villa Gran Sasso Villa Gran Sasso is a stunning home built on a cliff side in Panorama. A two-storey glass bridge connects the two portions of the home. An elevator services four out of the five levels. The layout of this home minimized disturbance to the existing lot by building a portion of the home on the bottom of the cliff and the larger half on top requiring a full time on-site crane.

The floor plan creates a spacious yet private feeling for all members of the family. Congratulations, Quiniscoe Homes with Sitelines Architecture!

Building Exceptional Homes and Relationships in the Windermere Valley Winner of 7 Tommie Gold Awards

www.quiniscoe.ca

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Excellence in Kitchen Renovation over $50,000 Gord Turner Renovations for The Meckling Kitchen Gord Turner Renovations has done it again. The difference between the ‘before’ and ‘after’ in the Meckling kitchen is amazing! The 108 square feet addition improves traffic flow, creates more workspace and connects the kitchen to the outdoor space.

This 30-year-old home has gone from a tired U-shaped closed-in kitchen to a expansive L shape to feel open and spacious. Not to mention the attention to detail in every inch of this kitchen reno.

Excellence in Advertising Campaign Rohit Communities for Copper Point Resort Rohit Communities’ advertising campaign for Copper Point Resort was based around catch phrases – brief statements of two words. Tongue-incheek witty humor with an unexpected visual interpretation of the catch phrase. All with upbeat vibrant colors and consistent usage of the logo. A clever appeal to the vacation market... to have fun at Copper Point Resort!

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Excellence in Landscape Design over $100,000 -Single Family (New or Renovation)

Excellence in Master Suite Design in a Home valued over $1M- New Home

George Schluessel Real Estate Investments Ltd. for Schluessel Residence, White Spirit

Quiniscoe Homes Ltd. for Stealth

The forest, boulders and local plants give the vision to create an alpine village experience at this Big White home. A 200-foot retaining wall gives strength, a 13-foot grizzly welcomes guests. A handcrafted log feature bench, extensive lighting that highlights the trees and an outdoor gas fire pit invite skiers to stop and enjoy the panoramic views at the Schluessel residence. Associate partner: ProCura Real Estate Services Ltd.

Quiniscoe Homes along with Sitelines Architecture have built a master suite that is on top of the world! Owners wake up to look at the majestic mountains before working out in their private exercise area.

A custom-built bed frame, a raised soaker tub, and large shower give a clean spa-like feel. The cabinetry and closets provide a dressing area and a transition from the bedroom to bathroom.

Excellence in Creating Multi-Family LOWRISE Developments Philip MacDonald Architect Inc. for Willowbridge – Canadian Mental Health Association Willowbridge is a supportive/transitional housing program for individuals on limited incomes who are at-risk of homelessness. Located near an important gateway intersection to downtown Kelowna, this LEED Gold Certified building focuses on environmental sustainability. This carefully-planned and scaled building integrates comfortably with the street. Tenants are provided with a large double volume communal lounge, kitchen, dining and patio area. Innovative and functional. Congratulations to Philip MacDonald Architect Inc. For Willowbridge – Associate partners Bentsen Developments, BC Housing and Sawchuk Developments.

Terasen Award for Building Energy Efficiency - Multi Family New Construction Philip MacDonald Architect Inc. for Willowbridge-Canadian Mental Health Association Terasen is proud to present this award to Philip MacDonald Architect Inc. for the Willowbridge Project.

Understanding a community’s vision is an integral part of Terasen’s commitment to the community. Terasen congratulates Willowbridge for achieving Gold Level LEED Certification, for diverting 87% of construction waste from the landfill, for recycling, for using local materials, for reducing energy costs by 47%. This project is a shining example of collaboration and co-operation in our community and a well as a demonstration of keeping building with energy efficiency top of mind.

Congratulations too to the Willowbridge partners – Sawchuck Developments, Bentsen Developments and BC Housing.

Outstanding Achievement in Residential Enviromental Consideration and Energy Efficiency CHBA Central Interior for The Green Dream Home The Green Dream Home marks the 17th year of a unique partnership. The builder /developer is a consortium of CHBA Central Interior and a wide variety of Thompson River University students. The project addresses the need for training a new generation of home building professionals. The 2010 Green Dream Home is a 3,000 square foot two-storey house designed in the English Country Architectural style to fit with the surrounding neighbourhood. Built to reduce its environmental impact and to raise the bar for built green standards. Built as an Equilibrium and Net Zero Home. Energuide Rating currently achieved is 97.1. It is predicted this home will reach 15% of energy requirements of a typical Canadian home. The home was built in one year and showcases over 38 green concepts and products.

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Best Public/Private Partnership – 2 Winners Philip MacDonald Architect Inc. for Willowbridge – Canadian Mental Health Association A memorandum of understanding was signed between the City of Kelowna and BC Housing to jointly provide a much needed housing option to marginalized populations within our community. The City provided the land and BC Housing teamed with Canadian Mental Health Association, as one of Kelowna projects, to design and build a 40-unit transitional housing development. The location is excellent for housing particularly of this type. All partners wanted a building that was not a project but a great building that all would be proud of for years to come.

CHBA Central Interior for the Green Dream Home CHBA Central Interior and Thompson Rivers University won the bid to build one of two net zero homes in BC as part of the Equilibrium Initiative of CMHC. Several other departments of TRU were engaged to build a home that provided by natural means sufficient energy to accommodate the electrical needs of a family of four over a one year period. The home was built in one year and showcases over 38 ‘green’ concepts and products. The demonstration house is open for six months showcasing a variety of ways to live more sustainably.

Residential Development of the Year Ledingham McAllister for Waterscapes Congratulations to Ledingham McAllister for Waterscapes. This upmarket, pedestrian friendly community in Kelowna’s downtown area is destined to become the cornerstone of the recently revitalized neighbourhood of Brandt’s Creek Crossing – former railway lands set close to Okanagan Lake. Waterscapes offers a wide range of home styles: Skye at Waterscapes, The Herons at Waterscapes and the Cascade Club-the centrepiece of the community.

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Residential Renovator of the Year Gord Turner Renovations Gord Turner Renovations has always been a renovation company. Not a construction or building company that just “made the switch.” This is what they’ve been doing since 1989.

Gord’s team of trades work under signed trade guidelines, reflecting standards.and expectations. They do everything from start to finish and have a project manager in place. Gord Turner Renovations has a solid reputation backed by happy clients, years of service and a long list of references. That is why Gord Turner Renovations is Residential Renovator of the Year!

Single Family Homebuilder of the Year Frame Custom Homes Congratulations to a consistent Tommie winner! Eight-time Tommie awardwinner, Frame Custom Homes specializes in building small, high-end communities of five to six homes per neighbourhood. Each community is master-planned and architecturally controlled. Frame Custom Homes carefully selects and builds with the highest quality, most environmentally-friendly products. Not just an award-winning builder but a company involved in our industry that consistently contributes to the community. We applaud Frame Custom Homes for another well-deserved Tommie!

Multi Family Homebuilder of the Year Ledingham McAllister for Waterscapes Congratulations once again to Ledingham McAllister for Waterscapes. This up-market, pedestrian friendly community in Kelowna’s downtown area is destined to become the cornerstone of the recently revitalized neighbourhood of Brandt’s Creek Crossing – former railway lands set close to Okanagan Lake. Waterscapes offers a wide range of home styles: Skye at Waterscapes, The Herons at Waterscapes and the Cascade Club-the centrepiece of the community.

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Tommie 2010 Judges Award George Schluessel Real Estate Investments Ltd. For Schluessel Residence, White Spirit This year our Tommie judges, experts from around the country, designated a special award for this unique home at Big White. The judges were impressed with every aspect of this 10,000 square foot home that was breathtaking and intentionally designed around the massive cedar logs - 27 semi-trailers of logs to be exact. From custom carved doors, to a hand-laid glass pebble stream, to an old world stone turret – the Tommie 2010 judges would like this special award to go to the Schluessel Residence.

Home of the Year Quiniscoe Homes Ltd. For Villa Gran Sasso Congratulations to Quiniscoe Homes for Villa Gran Sasso. Villa Gran Sasso is a stunning home built on a cliff side in Panorama. A two storey glass bridge connects the two portions of the home. An elevator services four out of the five levels. The layout of this home minimized disturbance to the existing lot by building a portion of the home on the bottom of the cliff and the larger half on top... requiring a full time on-site crane. The floor plan creates a spacious yet private feeling for all members of the family.

Congratulations, Quiniscoe Homes with Sitelines Architecture N

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dig News & Developments

By Bobbi-Sue Menard

Predator Ridge has begun land development at Falcon Point Estates. The 10 high-end home

sites will each be about one acre in size. Falcon Point is open to builders and lots will be shovel-ready mid-May. Falcon Point is located at the top of the neighborhood at Predator Ridge and is a rare opportunity for builders and buyers to have custom home at the course.

A second project is on the go at Predator Ridge.

Construction is underway in the final phase of Osprey Green town homes. Five of the 11 units have been pre-sold. Buyers so far have been a mix of year round residents and second home buyers from Vancouver and Alberta. move-in day will be fall 2011.

Rob Montieth from Okanagan Solar has returned from a two-week volunteer trip to northern Nicaragua. Montieth volunteers with

The view from Falcon Point Estates

North Okanagan charity Nicaragua Fuente de Vida. In his six years of working with the organization Montieth has helped build orphanages, large drip water filters, medical and community centres in the Latin American country.

Nicaragua has very little infrastructure, electricity is erratic and so expensive it is beyond the means of a large portion of the population. Montieth’s most recent trip was spent installing 5W solar panels in homes, enough power to operate three LED light bulbs.

“Imagine a palm frond thatch roof where scorpions live. These people have never had power; to bring light to them is a huge change. The people in Nicaragua entertain each other with human interaction, they have relationships,” says Montieth. “In A humble Nicaraguan home the evenings they’ll now have light when they talk to each other.”

Montieth will be returning to Nicaragua in March. He is working on establishing a branch office to work on construction projects in the region, “I’ve assisted with aid, but I am so tired of doing that, I want to help create jobs for people there.”

He will continue installing solar panels in homes as he builds a business with local workers. It costs $75-$100 to install a solar system in a home. Donations to Nicaragua Fuente de Vida Society are tax deductible and can be made through the Canada Helps website.

New companies to join CHBA-CO in the last quarter are:. Landing Construction Ltd., Knights Gate Properties, Sticks and Stones Design Group, Burland Langdon Construction Ltd., Hamlet Property Services, Kekuli Bay Cabinetry and UK Trades (0775766 BC Ltd.).pThe show homes at Winsome Hill open in March. The new development by Mission Group will have 10 homes in the first phase. Planning for Winsome Hill began a year ago. The family-style community will have a mix of 16-foot and 20-foot wide town homes.pPhase 1 floor plans have two variations, each with three bedrooms, two and a half baths, two car garage, fenced yard and large sun deck. The plans are 1,450 and 2,000 square feet each; the larger floor plan has a bonus room behind the garage with a roughed in bathroom.

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“We have a mix of products at Winsome Hill to help with the velocity of sales,” says Bob Anderson, marketing director.pWinsome Hill is located in South Glenmore at the foot of Knox Mountain at Boynton Place. The community will build out at 83 units. Anderson says now is a good time to carefully re-enter the market with a new development, “Things have stabilized enough to have some predictability.”

Melcor Developments is working on land development for phase six at Black Mountain. Phase six will have 38 lots and is scheduled to be released for sale in 2012. “These are amongst the most desirable lots at Black Mountain,” says Brad Pelletier, VP Kelowna region.

Winsome show home

Happy Birthday, Harmony Homes. For 35 years Harmony Homes has been building in Kelowna. The

company has offices established in Nelson, Grand Forks, Prince George, Kettle Valley subdivision and Kelowna.

Harmony Homes has many staff who have been with the company for decades.

“I like to think people aren’t going to stay that long unless they see a benefit beyond a paycheck and are being treated properly,” says co-founder Mick Webb. “We are an ethical and company and have compassion for people and I hope that shows to our customers and the people we do business with.”

The secret to corporate longevity in the construction industry is to address the top concern of buyers says Webb, “Cost overruns are the single biggest complaint about new home construction. On everything we build we are very competitive in terms of pricing, we keep it in line.”

Harmony Homes has won 41 Georgies and many Tommies. Webb estimates Harmony has built over 3500 homes since the company first started. “We have always built, ever since we incorporated in October, 1975.” Philip Macdonald Architect had a busy 2010. The firm focuses on multi-unit residential design. In Kelowna PMA designed Willowbridge, a project for the Canadian Mental Health Association that won a Power Sense award from FortisBC, as well as 2010 Tommie Golds (see Feature). Willowbridge was LEED gold certified. 2011 is promising to be another strong year; Tutt Street Willowbridge is an award-winner Place in Kelowna is under construction.

One of Frame’s unique homes

After five years in business Frame Custom Homes is expanding into Penticton. Their first Penticton home went up in 2010 and

two more homes are in the design phase with starts scheduled for April.

The custom builder builds all sizes of homes but their typical home size is 5,500 to 8,500 square feet.

The company is building in the Quarry neighborhood in the Mission. Frame Custom Homes has had an overall rate of four to six homes per year. “Last year was a decent year, especially considering the conditions of the market,” says company owner Bill Frame.

The company has another start scheduled for the neighborhood this spring. “Over all, 2010 was a record year for us, we want to build off that.” N

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dig

experts

questionsfor home professionals

BY DOROTHY BROTHERTON

Q. What are some of the new innovations in sun deck design and amenities?

A. The old days of cracked, peeling and rotting sun decks are over, largely because of

Bryan Hughes SunDeck Centre

innovations in materials. Alternative deck materials are a great choice for people who want to enjoy their sun deck without all the maintenance required by wood. The whole point of a deck is so you can spend time relaxing outdoors. You can do that with a decking system made of Moisture Shield composite decking. It costs a little more up front, but you get that back in years free of scraping, staining or sealing.

Tufdeck is a factory-finished product that requires no re-coating, just regular cleaning with soap and water. This vinyl material has a life expectancy of approximately 20 years. Vinyl decking even comes in tones of aggregate and barn plank, so you can follow almost any theme.

Another innovation is powder coating, a type of coating applied as a free-flowing dry powder. The main difference between a conventional liquid paint and powder coating is that powder coating does not require a solvent to keep the binder and filler parts in a liquid suspension form. The coating is applied electrostatically, then gelled and cured under heat to allow it to flow and form a “skin.” We use Super Durable Polyester powder coating, the highest quality of exterior grade powder coating. It exceeds one of the toughest paint standards in the industry.

Paired with an aluminum railing system, this type of decking lends itself to your lifestyle and your home’s architectural features, giving you many carefree years of use.

Specializing in Custom Home Design 3D Renderings Color Renderings Stock Plans Subdivision Development (Residential)

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NICHE PMG-5542 Mullins Ad.indd 1

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11-03-03 9:08 AM

experts continued from page 29

Q. What kind of roofing materials are you recommending to your clients these days?

A. There are many types of roof systems and membranes available. It depends on

Chris Romano Madge Contracting Ltd.

building use, access, weight loads, foot traffic, numbers of penetrations, cost and other factors.

Fire resistance is a number one factor in the Okanagan, so old-fashioned cedar shakes are not usually recommended.

Fibreglass laminates are probably the most popular shingle in the residential market. They commonly consist of two layers of fibreglass-reinforced asphalt laminated with a fibreglass base into a shingle unit. The three-dimensional appearance mimics wood or slate, and it effectively seals out rain, sleet, snow, ice and wind, without curling, rotting, warping or losing tabs.

Asphalt 3-Tab shingles are a common choice and offer a wide colour variety. These are offered in fibreglass mat-based shingles and organic mat-based shingles.

Torch-on is an alternative to the old-fashioned tar-and-gravel roofing. Single-ply roofing systems are a cost-effective way to roof large areas in a short time, often used in the commercial market. Advances in polymer technologies have made them more cost effective. A two-ply torch-on consists of polyester or fibreglass-reinforced mat sandwiched between layers of rubberized asphalt.

w w w . c u c i n a d e l r e . c o m

Concrete tile offers a unique architectural appearance. It has a life span of 50 years or more.

Durable waterproof underlay is needed to waterproof this structure. It resists sun, wind and fire.

Metal roofing is made mainly from steel, aluminum and aluminized steel, and is an effective way to keep a building watertight. Metal roofs are lowmaintenance, impact and wind resistant, but cost more.

Cucina Del Re is proud to be the custom cabinet supplier for the following Tommie Gold Awards * Excellence in Kitchen Design $50 – $100K * Excellence in Single Family Detached Home 3,000 sq.ft & over * Excellence in Interior Design in a Custom Residence * Single Family Home Builder of The Year

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250.491.7680 2-677 Willow Park Rd. Kelowna, BC V1X 5H9

home professionals

Q. What is the latest is home outdoor paint technology that is not only attractive but durable?

A. Over the years the painting product industry has grown in the ‘green revolution’

Jason McMurray Certa-Pro Painters

by primarily focusing on environmentally-friendly products for the home’s interior.

Now it is for the exterior as well. Manufacturers and applicators are required to use low-VOC (volatile organic compound) products, meeting new Canadian standards of 2010. These products have been around for years, with only a few companies specializing in differentiating themselves by searching out these products and using them in their businesses to help customers.

The focus for green products on home and business interiors and exteriors was not as important as it is currently. Now manufacturers have to follow the new Canadian guidelines where they have found ways to emulsify products, combining alkyd resins or primers and 100% acrylic properties. This not only meets the new standards, it gives the best of both worlds for sealing the wood and providing long-lasting colour and protection. Paints and solid colour stains have done this well. When choosing the right product for your home, you must know whether you currently have a paint or a stain on your home.

Due to the substantial variety of substrates, have a specialist inspect the surface material and previously applied products to determine what product is best suited for your painting needs.

N

WANT THE BEST POSSIBLE LIGHTING FOR YOUR PROJECT? w w w . d e s i g n i n g w i thlight .ca Come on into the Okanagan’s most innovative lighting lab and let us take you through our virtual showroom. Specializing in sustainable energy efficient and L.E.D. lighting.

Let certified Lighting Consultant Mike Bentien C.L.C., L.S. (one of only two in Canada and with 28 years of experience) do your lighting layout ahead of time, saving you time, money and costly mistakes.

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APPS:

COAST APPLIANCES

barbecuing & MORE thisRETAILER

understands

OUTDOOR KITCHENS

BY RAND ZACHARIAS

“N

ewer trends for barbecues are seeing the introduction of infrared burners, which increase the heat, creating better sear zones for blackening meat dishes and baking, steaming or caramelizing vegetables. This is a quick, intense heat process for whatever you may try as a specialized barbecue recipe,” says Rob Siddon, general manager of Coast Wholesale Appliances in Kelowna.

As spring arrives and we migrate from cooking and living inside to cooking and living outside, our neighbourhoods are filled with wafting, mouth-watering scents from local known, or unknown, barbecuing masters. But it’s not just barbecue; other dishes are being created in increasingly popular outdoor kitchens.

“Lighting systems are becoming a popular feature,” states Siddon, “as people are putting in built-in barbecues, or high-end free-standing grills. The need for light on grill surfaces to cook for precise results has become a demand.

Some LED systems are battery-powered, others you just plug into an electrical outlet.

“People want to be outside, so the trend for outdoor kitchens was bound to happen.

Okanagan builders have been offering this

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option in new home starts, but homeowners are starting to take note and are seeing the benefits for adding value to their existing homes. These kitchens are full service,” says Siddon.

Outdoor kitchens are in demand for the Okanagan lifestyle because of our comfortable climate. These kitchens are spacious, open air arrangements with a roof structure for protection from precipitation, offering comfortable relief on those hot summer days when cooking inside just isn’t the thing to do.

Coast Appliances has kept up with this welcome trend by offering most of the appliances and items needed to enjoy the outdoor culinary experience.

The company has also grown exponentially since its beginning, says Siddon.

“In 1978, Coast opened its first outlet in Vancouver and grew eastward as far as Ontario, presently having 16 outlets across Canada. We dealt originally only with builders, but the business grew. It became a public company half a decade ago and has increased its retail department dramatically. Coast has been in Kelowna for nearly a quarter of a century.

“We’re here for everyone, from the individual with a moderate budget to regional entrepreneurs buying high-end appliances with brand names like Wolf, Sub Zero or Thermadore, to name but a few. With over 40 major brands our selection is comprehensive. We have five live kitchen exhibits for all of our customers to get a real feel, visually, of the kitchen they may be dreaming of owning.”

Stability and stock are but two of Coast Appliances’ drawing points for the conscientious buyer. Buying power and flexibility are also benefits that Coast’s staff can pass on to customers, created by their ability to buy in bulk because of the company’s presence across Canada. Even after a sale, the service department and sales people continue to keep good relations with present and past customers to enhance referral opportunities and future purchases by a satisfied, and well-served clientele.

A Commitment to Fine Products and Outstanding Service

N

THE SYMBOL OF HOME BUILDING EXCELLENCE

apps: barbecuing

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We welcome you to visit our showroom, meet our kitchen designers and tour our factory 2140 Leckie Place, Kelowna • 250.860.3900 www.westwoodfinecabinetry.com NICHE

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PROFILE:

LEE MULLINS

THE: CONSCIENTIOUS

drafter-designer

by BOBBI-SUE MENARD

Kelowna Professional Helps Envision Dream Homes

E

A Mullins-designed home

very industry has unique vantage points where participants can glimpse a

clear vision of what is happening on the ground. In residential construction Lee Mullins of Mullins Drafting & Design occupies one of those posts. Mullins has been drafting and designing homes in Kelowna since 1996 and works with both builders and buyers.

Mullins was in building supply prior to founding the company. The opportunity and the client needs were obvious, says Mullins. Starting a drafting business was a logical move despite his age; he was 24 at the time.The company has built steadily to a team of five working exclusively on residential projects.

Mullins Drafting has a mix of mid-range residential, multi-unit single family residential and high-end residential homes in its portfolio.

One reason home buyers choose to work with a designer rather than an architect is due to cost considerations. Mid-range buyers are especially conscious of design costs. The executive home market has steadily increased for designers and drafters. Mullins works through an extensive design process with home owners who have the means for a high-end home.

The influx of out-of-province purchasers has influenced the shift to custom home buyers approaching a designer before looking for a builder.

Mullins is routinely approached by buyers looking to define their dream home prior to finding a builder. “In the past things would come from a builder first,” he says. “Now home buyers are much more educated and have a broader spectrum of expectations. That calibre of client is looking for a more customized home than in the past.”

Educated home buyers have also shifted how builders approach the design process. “Builders come to us with a project and then we do a lot of work on a custom home with the builder and the home­ owner,” says Mullins.

In the series of tripartite meetings which incorporate every design detail of a new home, the builder has a valuable role, explains Mullins, “A builder is a huge asset to the design process. It is important to take into consideration their thoughts about the home.”

Home design has its own trends. Customers are aware of view lines within the home and the views available to the location of the lot. Creating flexible spaces for lifestyle options including entertaining are a priority for many designs. The need for tailored, even intimate comfort is important to almost all homebuyers, “Most people want a custom space to themselves,” says Mullins.

Environmental options and products are a routine part of the design consideration process. The environmental trend has specific characteristics. Affordability is a decision driver, not just the cost of the build for an environmental option, but also the long-term savings an environmental choice might deliver to the operation of the home.

“Even in higher-end homes I see people looking to trim the cost of maintaining the home. No one wants to be a slave to their home maintenance and costs.”

The last three years have been “challenging,” says Mullins, but from his perspective the market is “fairly sustainable. It remains steady; home buyers still want a single family home, and people want to live in the Okanagan.”

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COMPANY:

PARS CONSTRUCTION

strength and stability:

hands-on approach builds award

winning

homes

By Rand Zacharias

B

uilding a home with Pars is like reading a great novel; it gets better as you get towards the end,” claims a testimonial on Pars Construction’s web site. Amir and Naze (pronounced na-zee) Khajavi, husband and wife of 26 years, eliminate many of the common stresses of building an award-winning home through teamwork. They make the project of building a dream home a positive experience from the outset that gets even better as it nears completion.

Amir started in his youth working with concrete and Rebar—a good foundation. He learned the craft of wood construction early while living in Vancouver, and sharpened his gifts of attention to detail and organization to create, alongside his designing wife, the award-winning company called Pars Homes.

“From a very humble start in 1989,” starts Naze, “My husband Amir began building a reputation for [building with] strength and stability. He has always demanded more steel and stronger mixes of concrete for walls, footings and driveways—beyond that of local building code requirements. Strength and beauty are very important in a Pars-built home.

Amir Khajavi specializes in large, well-crafted homes.

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“By 2000, Amir was seeing a trend in the industry revealing quickly-built homes with minimal living space,” Naze continues, “and it was at this point that Amir decided to move toward building larger, exquisitely-designed homes that were at least 4,000 square feet in size.”

Khajavi’s move to larger, well-crafted homes with attention to design and architectural detail required him to oversee eight to 10 projects a year.

The result has seen Tommie and Georgie awards over the years, but also a unique company that Amir and Naze have created through their vision of satisfying homeowners with stability, strength and beauty for each and every Pars home.

“Amir is very hands-on during each phase of construction,” states Naze, “and from the start he works with a custom buyer to examine individualized changes that could be made in a design. Once we get to the lock up phase, the majority of the time I work with our clients to pick out colour combinations, wood mouldings, flooring and stone, tile and lighting features, so the homeowner is never flying solo—unless so desired.”

At 52, Khajavi still enhances his vision for future homes. Presently on Audubon Court in Kelowna, a Mediterranean-styled home is under construction, accompanied by a very unique design feature. At the heart of the home, visible upon entry, sits a 10 by 12-foot outdoor courtyard that welcomes natural light to flow throughout the home’s interior.

This courtyard acts as garden patio for tea, coffee or quiet time with complete privacy, yet is an outdoor experience from the very heart of the home. On the first floor three fully-glassed walls reveal this inner sanctum, while on the second floor, four full window walls open the house up from the inside to natural light and a feeling of inner space.

“We understand that a home is the largest investment of your life,” explains Amir. “Therefore, we work side by side with you from start to finish N and beyond.”

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PRODUCT:

NORELCO CABINETS

SOLID CABINET COMPANY

competitiveedge in a competitive

marketplace

by Bobbi-Sue Menard

N

orelco Cabinet Solutions has been manufacturing in Kelowna since 1972 and distributes its products all over Western Canada, the U.S. Pacific Northwest and is putting their first showroom into Hawaii.

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The locally-owned company thrives with a broad selection of products from two different facilities, Norelco Cabinets’ plant, and the high-end custom plant, Cucina Del Re Cabinetry.

Design services for customers supplement the product lines. Norelco has 10 sales people and designers on staff with a combined experience of over 150 years. Technology and software have streamlined the design process. Pricing, directions for manufacture, shipping documentation and installation instruction are all produced by a single program. Not only is the process fast, it reduces human error; customers receive a consistently high quality finished product.

Norelco works to meet the needs for almost every segment of the housing market.

Peter Raja, Norelco’s president, can rapidly identify the needs of clients. “We manufacture all types of cabinetry. We have done residential cabinets for projects from low-income housing to high-end luxury condos and single-family homes to commercial offices, medical centres, dental offices and hair salons. With having the two different manufacturing plants, it allows us the flexibility to be competitive with the high-volume production type cabinetry to the more detailed custom millwork cabinetry.�

With such a broad customer base, Norelco can easily spot trends in the industry.

There has been a shift away from dark stains to lighter and natural wood finishes and a mix of both wood and painted or chalked finishes. Hardware is trending to brushed metal finishes, longer, sleeker designs, and hidden hardware is becoming more popular.

Environmental priorities have shifted. Echo Wood qualifies for LEED credits and is an economic option of beautifully-designed veneers on a recycled wood core. Norelco is meeting escalating demand with their latest line of earth-friendly products. NAUF board (non-added urea formaldehyde), fast-growing plantation wood species and water-based finishes are options for customers. “We started working with green products about four years ago,� says Raja. “We are seeing more of a demand for healthier materials and products more so than environmentally-friendly products, meaning materials that do not off gas.�

Raja expects demand to lower the price of environmentally-friendly options, “Soon environmentally-friendly products will be as competitive as conventional materials. We want to be a leader in the industry.�

To meet future demand, Norleco is pursuing certification for Forest Standards Councirated materials for LEED projects with Chain of Custody Certification.

Buying patterns have changed slightly since the recession, says Raja. “Most clients buy based on their needs, but are now able to shop around and get the best price. We have seen an increase in our retail sales, as they are able to buy direct from a manufacturer such as ourselves and save money by not going through dealers that are only middle men for manufacturers from outside of our community.�

Home renovators are becoming more detailed and much larger, says Raja. A full kitchen gutting is the most common type of renovation the company works with.

Builders are looking for a competitive edge in a competitive marketplace and Norelco does a lot of customized work. “Builders are looking for the best materials with a competitive prices. What used to be considered high-end custom cabinets is now expected as a standard. Materials such as wood grain melamine interiors, soft closed door and drawer hardware, pull-out hardware for pantries and recycle centers are all becoming very common in most kitchens today.�

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SPECIALIST:

AMERISPEC

NEW BUILDING STANDARDS:

home inspectors face new

challenges

BY Dorothy Brotherton

B

uilders know it’s coming. Mandatory labeling in regard to energy will soon be a fact of life for all new homes, and builders will need to work with a view to ensuring their homes are efficient, green and meet the new B.C. Building Code standards.

“It’s been evolving. Soon, all new homes being built will have to be rated, and they will have to achieve an energy rating of 80 or higher,” says Dean Nevew of AmeriSpec Inspection Services.

It’s about homes being efficient and ecofriendly. Whether you are a home builder or a potential new home owner, this is the new reality. It’s not as daunting as it may seem.

The EnerGuide rating system was developed by Natural Resources Canada to measure energy efficiency, using a scale from 0 to 100. A new home built to current provincial building codes is rated about 72, but a highly-efficient home earns about 80. You get there by the use of additional insulation, high-performance windows and doors, efficient heating and cooling equipment, tight construction and ducts, as well as ENERGY STAR lighting and appliances.

The rating label is placed on a home’s electrical panel, so homeowners and

Murray Klingbel and Dean Nevew of AmeriSpec Inspection Services

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potential buyers can see at a glance just how energy-efficient the home is.

Builders who work to these exacting standards even before they are mandatory tend to bring more customers through the doors. “While you position yourself as a green organization, you can also do your part to build a better future for Canada,” notes Nevew.

The pay-off for homeowners is great too. A home rating 80 or higher costs about 1/3 less to operate than a conventional home. That means savings on utility bills and higher home resale value. Plus, the homeowner can feel good about using less of the earth’s resources.

A specialist can walk you through the building requirements. That’s where a company such as AmeriSpec Inspection Services comes in. They’ll take you, as a builder, through the process with Natural Resources Canada to become licensed and registered.

Nevew, his partner Murray Klingbel and staff, analyze the building plans and give you a preliminary evaluation, using an energy simulation program developed by Natural Resources Canada. When the building is complete, AmeriSpec analyzes again to produce the actual rating.

Customized upgrades can boost energy efficiency even further. Top-rated homes may feature optimal insulation, passive solar energy, high-performance heating and ventilation systems and thorough air sealing.

Nevew notes a company such as AmeriSpec can take a lot of the stress out of the process for a new home builder or buyer. AmeriSpec, the biggest home inspection company in North America, is franchised across Canada and has worked in the Okanagan 17 years. It also teams with individuals to check the standards of a home they are thinking of buying. After you buy, a professional inspection helps ensure the builder lives up to the home’s warranty. Another person who often uses inspection services is the home owner who wants to retrofit a home and take advantage of provincial government rebates for N energy efficiency. home inspectors

.

kit.biz

kitchen design consulting contracting millwork

102-1561 Sutherland, Kelowna | 250.712.1004 | www.kitbiz.ca

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IMPRESSIONS:

PURE GRANITE ROCKS

STONE ROCKS:

quartz and granite givecountertops A rich look

BY RAND ZACHARIAS

C

lark Omand, owner of Pure Granite Rocks, just returned from one of his industry’s largest conventions in Las Vegas. The event offered some of the newest trends and products available from around the planet in the world of stone countertops.

Omand moved west when he purchased the cutting edge company in 2006. “I was in the banking industry for some time when I discovered an itch that had to be scratched,” Omand says, “so I purchased the company and upgraded our factory with computer numeric control (CNC) machines along with other quality and customer service policies to bring world-class service to the Okanagan Valley.”

Over the course of the last five years, Omand has delivered excellence with a large selection of quality stone slabs from Brazil, Africa, Italy and western Canada.

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The present inventory of 600 slabs offers customers from Osoyoos to Revelstoke to Kamloops one of the most varied choices on the local market.

“One of the most exciting products, a line we now carry, is called Glass2,” says Omand. “This is a translucent, backlit 100 percent recycled melted glass slab feature with a rainbow of colour offerings ranging from sheer white to light blues and greens to deep, dark chocolate brown hues as feature points accenting fireplaces, foyers, kitchens and wet bars. The visual experience is stunning.”

Other new trends are thicker skirting and textured techniques for countertops. Skirt features of two and a half inches along with mitred or chiselled edges can create a completely unique style of customized countertops.

“A leather texture, like an elephant’s skin,” adds Omand, “or a matte-patterned textured look introduces a rougher, but rich flowing feel contrasting the traditional, smooth polished look. Rock has hard and soft points and diamond brushing methods used by our CNC machines can sculpture your countertop to realize this new idea in slab evolution.”

Omand admits it’s been a steep learning curve for him over the last five years, but with Pure Granite Rocks delivering 500 project orders a year—it seems his efforts have given some valley consumers a desire for stone that rocks.

“I have to thank HGTV,” Omand states cheerfully. “These home decorating and designing shows are educating the consumer to certain realizations. When one pays $400,000 and up for a residence, the quality of kitchen and bathroom countertops, fireplace hearths and shower walls should reveal the smooth or textured, rich look of stone like granite and quartz.”

2343 Dominion Road West Kelowna

250-769-8528 Off Stevens Rd. behind Byland’s Nursery

Building, upgrading or remodeling your home?

We invite you to visit our showroom to experience the latest in style and functionality.

Pure Granite Rocks maintains a staff of 21 dedicated people, administrative and artisan. Artisans and technicians still polish, plan, design and create, but the machines fill orders quickly and with unmatched accuracy, running up to 20 hours a N day.

stone rocks

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ECOLIFE:

GEOTILITY

from the ground up:

geothermal ENERGY becomes more popularfor

okanaganhomes

BY RAND ZACHARIAS

Preparing to install a geothermal system

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“I

live in the community of Wilden,” says Rick Nelson, operations manager of GeoTility in Kelowna, “and when I look out on a crisp, winter morning all I see is a clear, panoramic view of snow-covered rooftops and our valley’s surrounding mountains, without rising streams of exhaust heat flowing out of chimneys.”

Ninety-five percent of the homes in the urbane development of Wilden, in Kelowna, are heated and cooled by the constant heat of none other than the natural ground sources from Mother Earth.

Imagine a world where everyone’s home is warm and cozy on cold, wintery nights, cool and comfortable during the hot, sweltering, dog days of August, all with a minimal carbon footprint...and up to a 60% monthly savings on your energy bill for heating or cooling.

This is the business of GeoTility. It started humbly enough with a company called Leask & Sons Mechanical Ltd. and the installation of a geothermal system in the city of Prince George, 26 years ago. From that point, the company, owned by Jim Leask at that time and now co-owned by partner Gerhard Blenk, began installing three to five geothermal systems each year for homes around the valley.

Today, as many as 800 homes in the Okanagan are using geothermal systems. The recovery of investment for choosing such a system at present is nine years, but with rising fuel and electricity rates, the cost-effectiveness for new construction or the retro-fit of an older home with geothermal heating systems is being seen as a sound financial investment.

“Ten to 15 thousand on average, is being added to a home’s valuation,” says Nelson, “when that home has a geothermal system.

“We saw the pendulum begin swinging in the last decade, and now 98 percent of GeoTility’s work is installing geothermal systems. We’re fully staffed with drilling teams, engineers, and installation crews which make us a one-stop shop for our customers. We can turn around an installation on an older home in less than a week—depending on the system being installed, at a cost that may only be 30 percent higher than installing a system on a new project.”

GeoTility presently uses vertical, horizontal, pond and open loop systems depending on each project’s site and size. The loops are installed underground, or underwater, and draw or dispense heat through pump systems that deliver the necessary demands for heating or cooling to, large or small, commercial and residential projects.

Geothermal energy may have started as a ‘green’ trend but is now becoming an energy mainstay due to companies like GeoTility.

“We’re seeing micro-homes, of 700 square feet, with a single vertical drill hole on projects in Victoria,” says Nelson, “to large open loop systems that require some monitoring for a project like a recent installation at the UBC-O campus which is situated atop a large underground aquifer. A system like this rotates thousands of gallons of water to heat and N cool buildings at the Okanagan university site.”

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CONTRACTOR:

VIVAR

ALL FOR THE FAMILY:

CHILDREN inspire OWNER’S

commitment

By Rand Zacharias

W

ith spring soon arriving, improving the quality and appearance of our homes and yards is one of the responsibilities of the conscientious homeowner. DJ Rasovic of Vivar Contracting Inc. sees the warming season as a time to install lawn and garden irrigation, check windows for air leakage, inspect roofs, expand decks and make additions to the home. His family-owned and operated company Vivar Contracting Inc. is exactly the sort of business to help the homeowner get all this done professionally.

Vivar Contracting is a full-service general contractor, owning excavation and landscaping machinery, with several employees and tradespeople, who have developed strong loyalties to one another.

They will take on jobs from smaller interior facade renovations to building projects like the largest high-end new homes, including landscaping and pools.

“Quality is not expensive, it is priceless,” is the motto that Rasovic works by.

Rasovic, born in Montenegro, the (former) Yugoslavia, grew up working with family in the construction industry. The family came to Canada in 1988 when he was 15. His career in the residential/commercial construction industry saw him

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DJ Rasovic and his family, the inspiration for his business

move his own family from Vancouver to the Okanagan Valley in 2001 for the benefit of his two young sons, Victor and Valentino. His daughter, Izabela, arrived in 2004 in Kelowna.

“I wanted my kids to enjoy growing up in a city with community, roots,” states Rasovic, “and Kelowna reminds me very much of the city of my youth. Lifestyle is important here and work has never slowed. Word of mouth has kept us busy even when home starts dropped slightly in 2008.”

He explains that in the company name, Vivar, the ‘Vi” stand for his son Victor, the ‘va’ for son Valentino, and the “r” for Rasovic.

“I answer when people ask about the unique name, so I’m not planning for Vivar Contracting to go away any time soon,” Rasovic says, “I’m here for the duration and love the people and projects that we always complete up and down the Okanagan Valley.”

Rasovic says he enjoys the hands-on approach to building on every project. Over the course of the last 19 years, Vivar has worked on total fire loss restoration projects, deck expansions and large development sites with all new construction.

“The renovation process, on an older home, is a real passion for me,” Rasovic says, “seeing N the homeowner realize a dream is coming true is a very good feeling.”

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view:

RESIDENTIAL PURCHASE

BUYING A BRAND new home: It Has Its Advantages

By CHBA STAFF

When you buy a brand new home, you get the best of both worlds—all the traditional value you expect in a home, plus the advantages that only a newlybuilt home can provide.

Get what you want. New home builders offer unparalleled quality and value. Choose from an incredible selection of new home models, then work closely with your builder to decide on the features and finishes that work best for you and your family.

You choose the builder. When you buy a brand new home, you get to choose your builder based on their reputation and track record. Professional new home builders are proud of their work, they have the skills, experience and integrity to do the job right, and they are committed to your satisfaction.

You know what you get. With a new home, you know how the house was built and what went into it—both

what you can see and what is behind the walls. And if you have questions later, your builder will be there to give you helpful and accurate information.

Quality construction. The quality of your new home is based on solid construction and attention to details.

Professional new home builders combine the latest construction techniques with timeless craftsmanship to create homes that are comfortable, attractive and great to live in.

Well-designed communities. New developments are designed to foster a spirit of neighbourliness by carefully balancing private and public areas—welcoming home designs, green recreational areas, playgrounds for children, safe and attractive roads and pathways.

Great designs. Today’s new homes combine function and style, with open, inviting living areas, lots of light, well-planned work spaces and built-in convenience. Flexible layouts make it easy to accommodate future changes to your household.

Advanced products and materials. New homes use the most advanced building components. From construction materials to heating systems, the technology built into every new home ensures high performance, durability and long-term satisfaction.

Finishes with flair. From flooring to faucets, the latest finishing products spell great looks and superior performance. New home builders offer a wide selection of standard and upgrade options—you can pick and choose what best suits your lifestyle, personality and budget.

Easy maintenance. With today’s careful construction, thoughtful design and improved building products, it is easier than ever to keep your home in great condition inside and out.

Energy-efficiency. Thanks to advanced construction, higher levels of insulation and energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, you not only save money on your energy bills, you also enjoy a far more comfortable home.

CONTINUED

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RESIDENTIAL PURCHASE CON’T.

Clay Interiors

Indoor air quality. Clean air, a comfort-

able moisture level and no mold or lingering odours—new homes are designed to give you and your family the best possible indoor living environment.

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Safety. Constructed to the latest building

codes, a new home includes a wide range of safety measures to protect you and your family, from electrical circuit protectors and safety glass to hard-wired smoke detectors.

Warranty. One of the great advantages of buying a brand new home is the warranty that comes with it. Professional builders stand behind their work with an after-sales service program and a guaranteed thirdparty warranty.

Stable financial planning. Plan for the future with confidence. With a new home, you know what you are getting. Everything is brand new—there will be no major repair bills and no replacement costs for years to come.

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PAPERWORK RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH:

designing a solid builder-buyercontract

N

o sane person wants to live the nightmare of a builder/buyer relationship gone terribly wrong. A good contract can create the framework for a positive relationship between builder and buyer with a satisfied customer at the end of the job.

Brad Cronquist has practiced real estate, real estate development, corporate and commercial law in the Okanagan Valley for 20 years.

Cronquist has been a member of the team at Pushor Mitchell LLP for four years and has some practical suggestions for builders and buyers looking to create a contract that serves their needs and protects their interests.

When you have a buyer, a builder and a home waiting to be built, there are two basic types of contract: fixed price and cost plus. The difference in approach signifies a shift in risk.

Fixed price contracts work well for lower-priced homes, especially in a multi-home development when the builder has capacity to overcome supply and labour price shocks. Fixed price is rarely appropriate for a higher-end or custom-designed home.

“With fixed price the builder has a little more risk and normally prices the home a little higher to cover that possible cost. Typically the builder builds in a ‘buffer’ on the price,” says Cronquist.

Cost-plus contracts prescribe a percentage of the cost of the build as a management fee. The price can change on a cost plus home in tandem with supply and labour prices. There is always the possibility the buyer will spend up on materials which will impact the final price.

“There is no guarantee in cost plus for the buyer,” says Cronquist.

“Buyers tend to be much more involved the building process in a cost plus contract.”

Timelines in contracts can be a touchy subject. A builder rarely wants to agree and buyers often are hoping for a firm move-in date, even if the big day is 12 months or more from the signing of the contract.

Cronquist says a mix of homework and savvy can pay off. “The solution to a timeline is to work with a reputable builder who has a track record.”

It is vital for both parties at the table to know who is handling the permit process. Time is money, and Cronquist recommends both sides keep that in mind, “Make certain you know which services the builder is going to provide. Building, development and occupancy permits all take time, so do variances. Who is going to stand in line at City Hall and go through that process?”

The best way to avoid a relationship melt down is to research, research, and research. That advice goes both ways, says Cronquist. The builder and buyer interview is a vital conversation, “The builder interviews the customer as well. If the builder thinks the buyer will cause problems, they may decide the project is not worth it. Builders can weed out problem clients.”

A carefully-written compliance clause can help set the basis for dispute resolution. Knowing what the customer and the builder can and can’t do is preventative medicine. The final option of termination, “is not a good solution for either side,” Cronquist.

To help prevent a messy slide into termination, pick your lawyer

by Bobbi-Sue Menard

well, says Cronquist. Choose a lawyer who understands your position as either a buyer or a builder and who will push terms on your behalf.

Look for an experienced lawyer who is knowledgeable about the issues involved. Then be certain your lawyer makes you aware of exactly what is in the agreement.

Cronquist cautions against a shovel hitting the dirt before the contract is signed, “A contract is important enough to insist on having a contract or find someone new.”

Some builders and buyers still believe in building on a hand shake.

There are plenty of disaster stories with nothing in writing to back up any part of the situation. “Some people just operate without any agreement and no lawyer would ever recommend that.”

In an endeavor as complex as building a house, many things can become issues. The best agreements cover those issues before they happen, but no contract covers every eventuality.

There remains only one solution Cronquist says, “A good relationpmg_5510_final.pdf 1 11-02-24 2:53 PM ship is as important as a good contract.”

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HERITAGE:

FINTRY MANOR

THE VISIONARY ESTATE OF JAMES CAMERON DUN-WATERS

BY DOROTHY BROTHERTON

Stroll slowly as you cross the spacious lawn surrounding Fintry Manor. Feel the pace and pulse of an earlier time. The rambling house seems almost to reach out arms to embrace you, in the gracious style of the early 1900s.

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Fintry Manor as it stands today.

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The story of Fintry offers romance, danger, eccentric characters, beauty and brilliance—the stuff of which epic movies are made.

Fintry Delta, spreading out into Okanagan Lake half way between Kelowna and Vernon on Westside Road, was pre-empted by Thomas Shorts in 1882, when only the lake connected settlers.

Shorts gave his name to the creek and delta, calling them simply Shorts Creek and Shorts Point.

The trophy room at Fintry Before the front screen door of the manor creaks open for your entry, sweep your gaze to the north and imagine Thomas out there in his row-boat ferry pulling against the wind. He transported people and freight along a 78-mile route from Okanagan Landing to Penticton by muscle-power alone.

His time claiming the delta was short, and the point with all its potential went through several ownerships before a man appeared who seemed driven by destiny to be lord of the land. James Cameron Dun-Waters bought the land in 1909 and renamed it for his Scottish home. He grandly called himself Laird of Fintry.

Laird Dun-Water’s English-style hunting clothes

Laird of Ideas

Dun-Waters had inherited a fortune, but he was not one of the idle rich. He explored and hunted big game world-wide, adventures which led him to explore Shorts Creek and be inspired by its dramatic triple waterfall. Dun-Waters saw more than beauty. He saw power. With vision ahead of his times, he saw the potential for water-driven electricity. The challenge captured his imagination.

James and his wife Alice settled on the delta, and in 1910-11 he built the manor house. Granite was extracted from nearby cliffs for the 22-inch thick walls. The Dun-Waters furnished the home with

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PMG-5545 Acutruss Ad.indd 1

the visionary estate 11-03-04 10:28 AM

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The architecturally-designed octagonal barn

antiques that came by ship from the old country, by train across Canada and down Okanagan Lake by sternwheeler. Mahogany, silver and brass embellished the interior. They planted gracious English-style gardens around the home.

Sometimes the colourful laird was the brunt of jokes by the locals. He hunted in the hills with horse, hounds and horn, dressed in boots, breeches, cap and a traditional red riding jacket, Englishstyle. Later he became more practical and wore rugged clothing while hunting with packhorses and guides. He netted fewer jokes and more game.

Dun-Water captured the creek’s power and the massive energy spilling over Fintry Falls in a system of wood staves, wire-wrapped pipes. European engineers had called it impossible, but Dun-Waters built it anyway. He harnessed the magnificent water power that had first attracted him to the location and thus brought irrigation to the delta for orchards and gardens, as well as running water to the home and barn. He harnessed hydro power to grind grain and run a small sawmill. His piece de resistance was the use of a Pelton wheel to generate electricity.

While people in Vernon and Kelowna were still drawing water from wells and using outhouses, Fintry in the wilderness had modern amenities. Lovely Alice could flip a switch and have light, turn on a tap and run a bath. She could even pick up a telephone and call throughout the delta.

James fought for England during in the First World War and was wounded at Gallipoli, but even that experience caused him to generate ideas. He built a convalescent centre in Egypt where soldiers could recuperate.

Back home at Fintry, he built a polygonal barn for his dairy herd.

The barn was designed by an architect, using rough-sawn lumber from the Dun-Waters sawmill. James devised an efficient hauling system to use manure to fertilize the orchards.

The purebred cattle came from Scotland and introduced the Ayrshire breed to B.C., winning awards both as animals and for milk. The dairy products fed the elegant diners of the CPR sternwheelers. the visionary estate

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Always eyeing improvements, the Laird added a trophy room to the manor in 1924, a small stone grotto. It showcased a Kodiak bear that he had shot and mounted and soon became the treasure room for his mounted trophies from around the world.

But tragedy would intervene. When construction of the grotto was underway, his beloved Alice became ill and died. Just a few weeks later, fire razed the house to its foundations. Picture this man, by nature a resilient optimist, now stricken by grief, picking through the charred remains, alone.

True to character, Dun-Waters rebuilt the house on the same spot. Since the foundations were intact he used the same floor plan and recreated the original as much as possible. He rebuilt the stone walls, hardwood floors, wainscotted walls, tall windows with wide sills or window seats, all the details Alice had loved. In the garden is Alice’s grave; her headstone reads, “Here lies my dear old Missus in her garden.” James could sit in a wing-back chair on the wrap-around veranda, sipping tea from a china cup, and view her resting place surrounded by flowers. He lived in the manor for the rest of his life.

Katie and Geordie Stuart, brother and sister, became managers of the house and accounts. Seven years later, Dun-Waters married Margaret Menzies, 30 years his junior.

The Laird Leaves a Legacy

The feisty transplanted Scot had no heirs but many youngsters benefited from his largesse. He gave Fintry Estate to Fairbridge Farm School, which trained orphans to become farmers and carry on the Laird’s dream. Two weeks before he died in 1939 at age 75, DunWaters relished a pillow fight with students and reported that he had them “pummelled into submission.” The lives and loves of these young people formed a new era at Fintry.

Today the manor and barn are being restored by Friends of Fintry and are open for tours in season. A provincial campground, established 1995, occupies much of Fintry Delta. Many visitors climb the 400 steps to the top of Fintry Falls to see the original view that captured the Laird of Fintry.

Photos courtesy of Michael Recknell. N

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DESIGN: Dannburg

Interiors

Classic Flooring andWindowTreatments Add Spring Flair

By DOROTHY BROTHERTON

S

pring seems to call for a fresh look as you and your home come out of hibernation.

Beyond scrubbing and decluttering, you can create a fresh look, whether renovating or building new, by starting with the underpinnings of your home’s interior—floors and windows. This is where you set the mood and style called for by your own individuality.

If you have hardwood flooring, experts say, don’t mess with it. No, it’s not going out of style. Hardwood is the classic of classics, and since we rediscovered it a few years ago, it has dominated floor treatment and will be here for decades. A professional designer at Dannburg Interiors in Kelowna says, “The classic beauty and elegance found in a hardwood floor makes its appeal timeless.”

Trends show newer hardwood installations are using customized borders, accents and medallions.

Planking is becoming wider. Many kinds and colours of hardwood are available but oak is still standard. Whether you love a rich, dark cherry, an antique hand-scraped oak, or a fresh, light maple, hardwood provides an ever-elegant foundation to your home’s interior.

Don’t ban hardwood from the kitchen. Extending it through the great room, hallways and dining/kitchen areas gives a connected feel to the home. Proper care of hardwood ushers it into kitchen use.

Tile reigns in bathrooms. The amount of moisture in bathrooms will cause dramatic wear on hardwood. If you must have the look of wood, go for a laminate or engineered wood with a non-porous surface and glued edges.

Consider stone tiles for a luxurious look that’s less prone to water damage than marble or limestone. Ceramic tile is inexpensive, durable and water resistant. Vinyl tiles offer a quick and easy project that is moisture resistant. Glass tiles lend themselves happily to walls, shower, tub-surround or floor. New recycled glass tiles are gaining popularity.

Glazed porcelain tile has the strength of porcelain but the glaze offers more design and style possibilities. You can actually duplicate the look of limestone in glazed porcelain but with breezy maintenance.

Tile can simulate the look and texture of leather, carpet, linen, bamboo, slate and even elephant skin.

Simple continues to be the watchword for window treatment this spring, but look for surprising comebacks. Draperies are back, complete with fringe, tassels and elaborate valances.

Today’s windows are wearing gossamer sheers that are worlds away from frilly. Velvet is a continuing trend—it proved itself as the best draping fabric in use as back-dropping for artwork. Look for sheers in dramatic colours such as cocoa and cloud. We’re moving away from that Come visit our NEW SHOWROOM extra-long fabric puddle on the floor, back to trim floor-lengths.

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DIRECTORY CHBA-CO Architects Architecturally Distinct Solutions Inc. Matt Johnston / Grace Pontes 250-878-4313 distinctsolutions.ca Philip MacDonald Architect Inc. Philip MacDonald 250-764-4157 pma-architect.ca Builders A Legacy of Designs Ltd. Brad Dziedzic & Brandy de Bartolo-Dziedzic 250-558-8889/ 250-558-8839 legacyofdesigns.com AuthenTech Homes Ltd. Scott Tyerman, RHP 250-491-7690 authentechhomes.com Bellamy Homes Les Bellamy 250-470-2429 bellamyhomes.ca Borebank Ventures Inc. Paul Benson 250-979-1650 Built Rite Homes (A Division of Roblyn Developments Ltd.) Robert Anderson 250-764-0315 builtritehomes.ca Burland Langdon Construction Ltd. Brooke Langdon 250 342 5660 Cardan Enterprises Ltd. Don Dudgeon & Lisa Dudgeon 250-861-8823 cardan.ca Chaparral Industries (86) Inc. John Pushor/Jim Pushor 250-765-2985 chaparralhomes.com Chatham Homes Dave Chatham (250) 764-5387 or 862-1075 Chriscan.com Enterprises Ltd. Len Suchocki (250) 712-1324 chriscan.com CorWest Builders Andreas Hayer/ Bob Guy 250-869-4960 corwest.ca

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Eidse Builders Jim Eidse, Gary Tebbutt & Elmer Eidse (250) 862-2650 eidse.com Fawdry Homes Glenn Fawdry, RHP (250) 862-8630 fawdryhomes.ca/ Frame Custom Homes Ltd. Bill Frame 250-718-8670 framecustomhomes.com Freeport Industries Todd Venier / Chris Inkster (250) 707-3950 freeportindustries.ca Hamill Creek Timber Homes Inc. Fiona Daniels (250) 366-4320 hamillcreek.com Hamlet Property Services Paul Day 250 215 5355 Hansum Homes & Development Inc. John Hansum & Fran Hansum (250) 764-2324 hansumhomes.com Harmony Homes Mick Webb (250) 765-5191 harmonyhomes.net Heirloom Custom Homes Ltd. Jason Brears 250-718-5752 heirloomcustomhomes.ca Hildebrandt Homes Ken Hildebrandt (250) 309-4986 okanaganbchomebuilder.com Ian Paine Construction Ltd. Ian Paine (250) 868-2133 Impact Builders Chad Jones 250-470-2269 impactbuilders.com Inspiration Homes Ltd. Rod Doroshuk 250-542-3111 inspirationhomes.ca Jaycor Homes Inc. Vince Montemurro 250-768-5070

Destination Homes Don Erdely & Travis Erdely (250) 707-1752 homesbydestination.com

Jazel Enterprises Ltd. James Zeleznik (250) 768-5799 Jazelhomes.com

Distinctive Developments Ltd. Terry Heinrich (250) 491-1171 Distinctivedevelopments.com

Karmoy Builders Inc. Jody Dyrland 250-919-8448 karmoybuilders.com

Edgecombe Builders Kevin Edgecombe & Don Campbell (250) 491-8655 edgecombebuilders.com

Kascade Developments Scott Renou 250 448 6339

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Keith Dahlen Construction Ltd. ReBath Okanagan Ken Dahlen (ReBath Okanagan www. rebathokanagan.ca) 250-545-1300 keithconstruction.ca Kentland Homes Ltd. Stephen Wells (250) 764-1306 kentlandhomes.com Landing Construction Ltd. Brad Stinn 250 542 3276 landingconstruction.ca Larsen & Whelan Enterprises Ltd. Stephen Whelan & Ian Larsen 250-423-8810 Mandala Custom Homes Inc. Lars Chose 250-352-5582 mandalahomes.com

Richbuilt Homes Darren Richmond 250 549 8852 richbuilt.ca RLJ Homes Inc. Ray LaPointe 250-862-1968 rljhomes.com Rockwood Homes Construction Ltd. Gilles Ladouceur 1-250-450-9761 rockwoodhomes.ca Rykon Construction Management Ltd. Randy Siemens, Kelly Lawrie, CMA (250) 712-9664 rykon.ca Schulz Construction Inc. Marlin Schulz 250-212-9541 schulzdevelopments.com

Meadow Ridge Homes Ltd. Miles & Susan Krahn (250) 861-3344 meadowridgehomes.com

Sierra West Homes & Construction Corp.

Kevin Adams (250) 767-1993 Cell: 878-2207 sierrawesthomes.com

Neil Miller Homes Ltd. Neil Miller (250) 764-8627 millerhomes.ca

Ski Home Limited Richard Unger 1-250-342-2555 skihome.ca

Okanagan Dream Builders Ltd. Trent Tinkler 250-808-1788 okanagandreambuilders.com

Square Root Contracting & Consulting Ltd Mike Twack (250) 863-6576 sq-root.com

Okanagan Glacier Homes Inc. Kirk Andersen 778-755-5003 okglacierhomes.com Okanagan Sunrise Construction Ltd. Dale Ahlbaum/Nick Franz (250) 763-1461 OkanaganSunrise.com Okanagan Sustain Homes/Into the Woods Furniture and Cabinetry Carl St. Jean 250-260-8425 oksustainhomes.ca Okanagan Trend West Master Builder Ltd. Ray Moran 250-558-0415 okanagantrendwest.com Pars Construction Amir Khajavi (250) 764-6226 ParsConstruction.com Pentar Homes Ltd. Fred Parent (250) 862-9006 pentarhomes.com Quiniscoe Homes Ltd. Lisa Godlien 250-342-0853 quiniscoe.ca Redgwell Construction Ltd. Lyle Redgwell 250 549 7405

Stonebridge Contemporary Originals Albert Van Ee or John Steinhauer 250 766 0393 Sunstar Ventures Ltd. Denis Bigham & Bob Buvyer 250-807-2270 Sunterra Custom Homes Ltd. Ranbir Nahal 250-503-8220 sunterracustomhomes.com Surecraft Construction Ltd. Jim Shales - President 250 295 8012 surecraftconstruction.blogspot.com Team Construction Mgmt. (1981) Ltd. Charles Cullen (250) 868-8326 teamconstruction.ca Timberhaven Homes Ltd. Scott Ross 250-878-0159 timberhaven.ca Trico Homes Inc. Jacob Kuiken 250-545-9261 tricohomes.com Tyee Custom Homes Ltd. Carl Lauren 1-250-427-0315 tyeecustomhomes.com

Valux Homes Ltd Joe Rood (250) 317-1332 bridgesliving.com Varitec Enterprises Ltd. Don Kerr, RHP (250) 769-2375 Vivar Homes ( A Division of Vivar Contracting Inc.) D.J. Rasovic 250 808 5555 Webster Construction Ltd. Ken Webster (250) 763-6600 thewebstergroup.com Wilson and Company Ltd. James Wilson 250-869-7125 Woodstyle Homes Ltd Donovan Imbeau (250) 558-9765 or (250) 558-9765 woodstyle.ca Community Developers Acorn Communities Ltd. David Pfuetzner Greg Bird 250 491 0095 acornhomes.com Aldebaran Enterprises Inc. John Jacobsen 1-250-306-9355 aldebaranhomes.com Callahan Property Group Ltd. Bob Callahan (250) 717-3000 Dilworth Quality Homes Inc. Greg Asling - General Manager, Al Ryder Building Operations Manager (250) 762-9999 dilworthhomes.com G Group of Companies Green Solutions Grant Gaucher - President / Andrew Gaucher VP Developments (250) 712-2449 ggroup.ca Gallagher’s Canyon Construction Al Bremner (250) 860-9013 gallagherscanyon.com George Schluessel Real Estate Investments Ltd. George Schluessel - President (403) 410-1224 procura.com L & S Contracting Ltd. (A Div. of Lambert & Paul Construction Ltd.) Lambert Schmalz (250) 860-2331 Melcor Developments Ltd. Tobi McNeil 250-717-8390 melcor.ca

Mission Group Jonathan Friesen, Randy Shier, Gerald Heinrichs, George Summach (250) 448-0016 themissiongroup.ca Molenbeek Ventures Development Corporation Wim Zuydervelt 250-764-0338 creeksidepark.ca Ocorp Development Ltd. 250-764-1750 ocorpltd.com

Nesbitt Originals Paul & Jan Nesbitt (250) 762-3337 nesbittoriginals.com Okanagan Glacier Homes Inc. Kirk Andersen 778-755-5003 okglacierhomes.com Okanagan Sustain Homes/Into the Woods Furniture and Cabinetry Carl St. Jean 250-260-8425 oksustainhomes.ca

Predator Ridge Limited PartnershipLand Division Chris Reiter 250-503-3976 predatorridge.com

Stonebridge Contemporary Originals Albert Van Ee or John Steinhauer 250 766 0393

Rohit Communities- Copper point Resort Bobby-Jo Weibe 250-341-5745 copperpoint.ca

RBC Royal Bank Gary Eisenhut (250) 868-4188 rbc.com

Scuka Enterprises Ltd. Dan Scuka (250) 765-0136 scuka.bc.ca Sopa Square Stacey Fenwick 250 762 5818 sopasquare.com Starland Developments Company Ltd. Kathleen Mackenzie (250) 717-8228 prospectkelowna.com Tyee Custom Homes Ltd. Carl Lauren 1-250-427-0315 tyeecustomhomes.com Woodland Hills On The Ridge Geby Wager 250-764-0626 woodlandhillskelowna.com Woodstock Development Inc. Dennis Kort & Jennifer Kort (250) 769-7775 discovereaglesview.com Design-Build Alternative Construction Inc Edmaro Cabete (250) 864-0761 alternativeconstruction.ca Bellamy Homes Les Bellamy (250) 470-2429 bellamyhomes.ca Chaparral Industries (86) Inc. John Pushor/Jim Pushor 250-765-2985 chaparralhomes.com Mandala Custom Homes Inc. Lars Chose 250-352-5582 mandalahomes.com

Financial Services

TD Canada Trust Joe Delicato (250) 763-4241 tdcanadatrust.com Government Offices BC Housing Peter Chau (250) 487-2521 bchousing.org Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation Paul Fabri (250) 712-4334 cmhc.ca

Insurance / Accounting Capri Insurance Services Ltd. Capri Insurance Services Ltd. Erika Jarvis (250) 860-2426 capri.ca Grant Thornton Chartered Accountants Paul Guerette (250) 712-6800 GrantThornton.ca The Co-operators, Solve Insurance Sevices Inc. Dennis MacLeod 250-861-3777 cooperator.ca Wilson M. Beck Insurance (Kelowna) Inc. Brett Innis 250-763-3840 wmbeck.com Landscape Interior Pool and Spa Ltd. Brian Pavia 250-868-4831 interiorpoolandspa.com Media / Marketing Okanagan Okanagan Valley Newspaper Group, The (The Daily Courier) Terry Armstrong (250) 470-0721 kelownadailycourier.ca Professional Services

City of Kelowna Mo Bayat - Building Inspections Manager (250) 469-8630 kelowna.ca

Amerispec Inspection Services Murray Klingbeil/Dean Neveu 250 763 0822 amerispec.ca/okanagan

Homeowner Protection Office Doug Cox (250) 646-7067 or 1-800-407-7757 hpo.bc.ca

Canaterra Property Pages Karen Thompson 1-250-575-8877 canaterra.com

Home Design/ DĂŠcor Specialists Clay Interiors Len Trump 250-859-3242 clayinteriors.com Dannburg Interiors Gary Munt or Scott Munt (250) 862-5277 dannburginteriors.coms Mullins Drafting and Design, Inc. Lee Mullins & Lani Hoff 250-717-3415 mullinshomedesigns.ca Sticks and Stones Design Group Carla Fisher 250 712 9282 sticksandstones.ca

Carbon Copy Digital Paul Gervais 250-860-6928 carboncopydigital.com Interior Pool and Spa Ltd. Brian Pavia 250-868-4831 interiorpoolandspa.com Okanagan College Randy Werger (250) 862-5494 okanagan.bc.ca Pushor Mitchell LLP Brad Cronquist 1-250-869-1150 pushormitchell.com ROV Consulting Richard Visscher, P.Eng. 250-860-0412 rovconsulting.ca

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DIRECTORY CHBA-CO SW Audio and Visual Cal McCarthy 250-868-3333 sw-online.com Tactx Project Sales and Marketing Inc Rob Hager 250-763-5703 tactxinc.com Winmar Kelowna Stewart Walker 1-250-862-3500 winmar.ca Realtors Century 21 Executives Bill Hubbard 250-549-2103 century21.ca RENOVATORS Chriscan.com Enterprises Ltd. Len Suchocki (250) 712-1324 chriscan.com Gord Turner Renovations Ltd. Gord Turner (250) 469-9379 gtrenovations.com

2010-11

Hamlet Property Services Paul Day 250 215 5355 Keith Dahlen Construction Ltd. ReBath Okanagan Ken Dahlen (ReBath Okanagan www. rebathokanagan.ca) 250-545-1300 keithconstruction.ca Okanagan Glacier Homes Inc. Kirk Andersen 778-755-5003 okglacierhomes.com UK Trades (0775766 BC Ltd.) Ron Brewer 250 862 1574 uktrades.ca Vivar Homes ( A Division of Vivar Contracting Inc.) D.J. Rasovic 250 808 5555 Suppliers AcuTruss Industries Ltd. Barry Schick & Rob Voros 250-860-6667 acutruss.com

All Weather Windows David Collins (250) 860-5666 allweatherwindows.com

Colonial Countertops Ltd. Deeanna Wehrhahn 250-765-3004 colonialcountertops.com

Big Steel Box Troy Doell 250-763-9660 bigsteelbox.com

Creative Door Services Don McEachern 250 491 2012 creativedoor.com

Bolt Security Systems Dennis Palmer 250-861-1001 boltsecurity.net

Cultured Stone Kim Kotowsky 250-864-8110 culturedstone.com

Broadleaf Logistics Mike Whitehead (250) 860-4470 broadleaflogistics.com

Designing with Light Supply Mike Bentien / Rob Bentien (250) 862-3671 designingwithlight.ca

Burnco Rock Products (BC) Ltd. Dave Tesarski & Dean Biglow 250-769-7865 burnco.com

DuPont Building Innovations Ryan Foster 250-575-2545 construction.tyvek.ca

Cambridge Elevating Inc. Jamie Hamilton 250-550-6125 cambridgeelevating.com

Enviro Choice Sewage Treatment Solutions George Devlin (250) 765-8265 - 1-866-765-8265 envirochoice.ca

Coast Wholesale Appliances Inc. Rob Siddon (250) 765-2421 coastappliances.com

Euroline Windows Inc. Paul Klyne/ Roel Van De Crommenacker (250) 448-8484 or (250) 718-7771 euroline-windows.com

Powertools for your pocket book Incentives to help you conserve energy and save money Make your home energy efďŹ cient and qualify for cash back. FortisBC PowerSense rebates are helpful tools for saving money, and having a home that’s more comfortable and easier on the environment. Contact FortisBC PowerSense: Visit: fortisbc.com Call: 1-866-436-7847 Email: powersense@fortisbc.com

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Floform Countertops Ken Hilsenteger (250) 860-5333 floform.com

Paragon Surfacing Ltd. Interior Chris McCutcheon 250 861 8988 paragonsurfacing.com

Beyond Audio Inc. Mike Ohman (250) 860-9929 beyondaudio.com

Madge Contracting Ltd. Chris Romano 250-765-1180 madgeroofing.com

Gienow Windows & Doors Dave Richert (250) 868-9006 or 1-800-367-9520 gienow.com

Phantom Screens Levon Symonds 250-762-7592 phantomscreens.com

Bolt Security Systems Dennis Palmer 250-861-1001 boltsecurity.net

Nicholson Enterprises Bob Nicholson 250-212-1758

Glass Canada Inc. Debra Dotschkat 250-454-9923 glasscanada.net/

Plasti Fab Sean McBeth 604-526-2771 plastifab.com

CDN Roof Doctor Ltd. Howard Pfefferle / Ken Langton (250) 765-3013 roofdoctor.ca

Home Hardware Building Centre Gary Welder (250) 868-9040 homehardware.ca

Pure Granite Rocks Clark Omand 250-558-3773 puregranitrocks.com

CertaPro Painters Jason McMurray (250) 868-5126 certapro.com

Square Root Contracting & Consulting Ltd Mike Twack (250) 863-6576 sq-root.com

Iko IndustriesLtd. Vincent Carrier-Sales Representative 250-212-7742 iko.com

Robinson Lighting Centre Larry Lundgren (250) 860-9626 rlrbc.com

Crystal Classic Exteriors Inc. Dan Poznikoff 250-861-5988 crystalclassic.ca

Starwatch Audio Video Peter Tischler 1-250-717-0022 http://www.starwatchav.com.

Jona Panel Sales Joe Shalapata 250-764-7595 jonapanels.com

Rona Home & Garden Bill Roper & Chris Robertson 250-979-3089 rona.ca

Discovery Glass & Aluminum Inc. Gary Alton 778-753-5966 discoveryglass.ca

Sundeck Centre Bryan Hughes & Justin Reynolds 250-766-7320 sundeckcentre.com

K2Stone (Kelowna) Inc. Darren Kroeker 1-866-323-3035 k2stone.ca

Steel-Craft Door Products Ltd. Henry Howe 250-765-4765 steel-craft.ca

Floform Countertops Ken Hilsenteger (250) 860-5333 floform.com

Vivar Homes ( A Division of Vivar Contracting Inc.) D.J. Rasovic 250 808 5555

Kaycan Ltd. Sandra Woodcock (250) 258-8528 kaycan.com

Sundeck Centre Bryan Hughes & Justin Reynolds 250-766-7320 sundeckcentre.com

Four Seasons Insulation Ltd. Roger Prato 250-861-3626 fourseasonsinsulation.com

Kekuli Bay Cabinetry Bonnie Huber 250 558 5112 kekulibaycabinetry.com

The Brick (Commercial Sales Division) Tom St. George, Harinder Lalli (250) 765-2291 thebrick.com

GeoTility Geothermal Installations Corp.

Rick Nelson 1-250-762-5776 geotility.ca

The CAT Rental Store Graham Hoffman 250-860-3510 catrents.ca

Glass Canada Inc. Debra Dotschkat 250-454-9923 glasscanada.net/

Trail Appliances Terry Volden (250) 862-3838 trailappliances.com

Hi-Test Exteriors Ltd. Jason Gagnon-Owner 1-250-808-8859

Kelowna Carpet One Floor and Home Gary Noble 250-762-5312 kelownacarpetone.com Kelowna Ready Mix Harvey Beselt (250) 762-2211 Kitchenhaus Cabinets Ltd / Cash + Carry Cabinet Warehaus Jason Coroy / Brooke Nicholas 250-491-5665 / Cash & Carry 250.491.4774 kitchenhauscabinets.com & cabinetwarehaus.com Mara Lumber Lou Gauthier 250-765-2963 maralumber.ca Norelco Cabinets Peter Raja - Owner/General Manager 250-765-2121 norelcocabinets.ca OK Builders SupplyLtd. Pat Kunz (250) 762-3206 okbuilderssupplies.com Okanagan Hardwood Flooring Co. Ltd. Steve Everitt (250) 765-2610 okanaganhardwoodfloors.com

Westwood Fine Cabinetry Inc. Kelly Kennedy - Business Development Manager (250) 860-3900 westwoodfinecabinetrry.com

Keith Dahlen Construction Ltd. ReBath Okanagan Ken Dahlen (ReBath Okanagan www. rebathokanagan.ca) 250-545-1300 keithconstruction.ca

Wolseley Kitchen & Bath Classics Hayley Mepham & Norm Schwab 250-860-4366 wolseleyinc.ca

Kekuli Bay Cabinetry Bonnie Huber 250 558 5112 kekulibaycabinetry.com

Trade Contractors Ace Plumbing & Heating Brian Walter 250-861-6696 aceplumbing.bz Bath Fitter Ian Gorst 250-860-8678 bathfitter.com

Kilo-Womp Electric Ltd. Keith Wemp (250) 861-3939 Loney Plumbing Inc. Richard Loney 250-470-0108

Okanagan Solar Ltd. Rob Monteith 250 801 9662 okanagansolar.ca

Utility Companies FortisBC Inc. Kim Jones (250) 717-0808 fortisbc.com Shaw Cablesystems GP Marc Reinhart (250) 712-2345 shaw.ca Terasen Gas Brent Hunt (250) 868-4522 terasengas.com Warranty National Home Warranty Programs Gord Houston 1-604-575-3536 nationalhomewarranty.com Pacific Home Warranty Insurance Services Inc. Josh Cudmore 1 604 574 4776 pacificwarranty.com Travelers Guarantee Company of Canada Marvin Friesen - Kelowna Ed Tsumura - Vancouver 1-800-555-9431 travelersguarantee.com

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Lynx Brand Fence Products John Denney 250 765 1468 lynxfence.com

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PRODUCT:

synlawn

WHERE THE

grass isgreener Get in Some Golf at Home

H

ave you ever stopped in the middle of that weekly chore of mowing your little portion of God’s green acre, accompanied by dandelions, weeds and those brown spots that water and fertilizer just won’t green up, scratched your head, and thought, “There must be a better way?”

Rene Bourgault, owner of SYNLawn-Okanagan operating out of Kelowna, has a few answers to that very question.

SYNLawn is a synthetic turf that can be installed on yards, decks, rooftops and patios — even interior flooring spaces.

“With the installation of SYNLawn,” says Bourgault, “you immediately save on your water bill, fertilizer and pesticide costs and—time—while diminishing your carbon imprint.”

Across North America in 2011, artificial turfs will conserve three billion gallons of water, significantly reduce carbon, or smog, emissions and eliminate the use of almost a billion pounds of fertilizer and pesticide products.

“Our grass comes in a variety of lengths and shades to match the needs of our customers,” says Bourgault, “from a short tight look of an inch and a quarter, to the fuller feel of a two inch lawn, but our most brisk business is the installation of custom-designed putting greens for golfers who may want to shave a few strokes off their game at home.”

“We’ve designed contoured greens with sand traps, filled with sand used at your local course, accompanied by accented chipping areas or a second-cut collar,” informs Bourgault.

SYNLawn is installed with a four-six inch crushed base that allows for 40 gallons of water drainage in an hour. No longer will your yard’s trees, shrubs and gardens have to compete with natural grass water demands.

Maintenance of SYNLawn is as simple as a raking or brushing eliminating noise pollution that occurs with the high decibel levels of two-stroke lawn mowers.

SYNLawn controls the creation of its product from yarn to yard. The product has one of the longest warrantees in the industry, accompanied by a patented system called HeatBlock that keeps this artificial turf 20% cooler than its competitors.

SYNLawn can also be used to attain points in the LEEDS certification process.

The 12-15 year lifetime of this artificial turf allows for weed-free living and hours of recreation instead of lawn maintenance. Your investment in SYNLawn is returned after only two-five years, transforming a previously high-maintenance, costly landscape into an easy to maintain, water-saving show piece.

A SYNLawn putting green offers you the convenience and entertainment of at home golf and is a beautiful accent to any backyard. N

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PRODUCT:

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LYNX BRAND

A fence that makes

sense

Canadian Manufacturer Offers Strength and Style

“S

trong fences make for good neighbours,” said John Casorso, an early immigrant pioneer of the Okanagan Valley, to a neighbouring landowner one day. At that time, it meant that livestock wouldn’t invade a neighbour’s crops, gardens or herds creating conflicts and strife.

This year, Lynx Brand Fence Products is celebrating its 40th year as a leader in the Canadian fence industry with offices of the family-owned business in Kelowna, Red Deer, Calgary and Edmonton. The company’s built a strong reputation in business and strong fences.

“We manufacture our own fence systems,” says John Denney, the general manager of the Kelowna office. “We weave our own chain link fence systems. We also introduced wrought-iron fence systems about five years ago.”

Lynx has broadened its horizons by introducing wrought-iron fencing and automated gates for driveways.

“We are the only certified automated gate operator installer in Western Canada,” states Denney. “This certification is important as it involves keeping safety in mind as each installation is carefully constructed and tested to the highest standards.” It is another facet that shows the strength of the Lynx Brand’s products.

Lynx Brand, one of Canada’s premier fence companies, has installed standard galvanized chain link fences for local construction projects, Canadian Tire, WalMart, local developments and homeowners throughout the Okanagan Valley.

“One of the modifications to our classic, galvanized grey has been the white, green and black coatings,” says Denney. “In the application of the colour black, for instance, we use a local powder coating company that bakes our product to 450ºF creating the high durability of this style of chain link fence. After 15 years these fences retain their strength and colour—our fences are virtually maintenance-free—you can let God wash them.”

“The black chain link fence has an unexpected added benefit by blending in with nature’s surroundings,” says Denney. “Unlike the high visibility of the silvery grey, the black chain link becomes almost invisible allowing for a secure perimeter to your yard, but a clear view to the natural environment surrounding your home and property.”

One of the disadvantages of a high, solid fence system is a lack of visibilThe Fence Brand You Can Trust Since 1971 ity. How do you know what’s on the other side? With security being so important for homes and businesses, the see-through quality of the Lynx chain link and wrought iron fences becomes doubly important when invaders, human or animal, can be seen through the fence and handled appropriately.

Locally, Lynx Brand’s wrought-iron fences have become distinct in developments like Black Mountain, where developers are using their product for perimeters, creating a high quality standard for homeowners and visitors in the community to appreciate. The rich, distinct design of the black wrought iron brings an ambience to the Black Mountain community that would not be realized with individual designs on each property. Strong fences do make for good neighbours—even today.

N www.lynxfence.com

904 Alsgard St Kelowna • 250-765-1468

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PRODUCT:

PINE LIGHTING

LIGHTS ahead Kelowna Company Offers Bright Selection

“P

ine Lighting opened its doors 32 years ago as a family business,” says Kiersten Hincks, co-owner and manager, along with her husband, Bryan, of Pine Lighting in Kelowna. “That family saw success over two generations, and sold the Kelowna operation to us, the third generation, eight years ago.”

Pine Lighting’s mission with local builders and developers, along with private homeowners, is to offer an excellent selection of ceiling fans, lighting fixtures, table lamps, chandeliers and anything to do with lighting older and newly-constructed homes.

“We are constantly looking for the next trends in lighting,” says Hincks, “For 12 years our show rooms have been at the Baron Road location, but we have another show room downtown at St. Paul and Cawston in Kelowna. That will be a very contemporary experience; it will be a presentation of the limits and extremes we can go to in lighting design.”

Recessed lights, dimmers, light control devices, remote-controlled ceiling fans, as well as landscape lighting and outdoor fixtures are also supplied by Pine Lighting. From upscale, informed consumers to nervous, first-time home buyers, all are welcome to come in and browse for what they want and need.

“Each of us, including Bryan and me, consider your budget with interest and focus by taking the time for a great final outcome in keeping with your construction budget,” says Hincks.

“Designing lighting systems is a priority at Pine Lighting, because we work from the start of your project. The sooner you come to see us the better. Even if you’ve only begun framing your home, talk to us so we can foresee any lighting concerns throughout the course of the project, from placement, to quantity, to style of lighting demands.”

Pine Lighting has assisted in local developments such as Lakeshore Gardens in Peachland, Stonebridge at Big White and in Kelowna, Centuria, with 70% of the lighting, especially decorative, supplied by Pine Lighting.

Whether it’s cutting-edge, contemporary design or traditional lighting arrangements, Pine Lighting offers brand names like Progress, DVI, Maxim, ET2 and Savoy.

“We take a blank canvas and put light into it,” concludes Hincks, “We want people to be in love with the way we light up furniture, cabinetry, interior and exterior spaces, so we constantly upgrade our understanding with supplier and American Lighting Association training.”

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PINE LIGHTING

250-862-3245 • 1953 BARON ROAD, KELOWNA

Visit pinelighting.xolights.com to see our selections!

32 years in Business!

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KEKULI BAY CABINETRY

CUSTOM

cabinetry systems

From Design to Every Detail

T

he craftsmen and design specialists of Kekuli Bay Cabinetry in Kelowna and Vernon have been creating award-winning, fine cabinet systems for nearly 30 years. This expertise and quality has led to results that any homeowner would cherish. “We live by the philosophy of being a leader of innovative design and product,” says Ron Syrnyk, sales manager.

Serving the Okanagan Valley from north to south, this full service, state-ofthe-art facility uniquely designs each and every cabinet system from start to finish. Kekuli Bay manufactures for condos, cabins or lakeside dream houses.

From the very onset of a project, Syrnyk and the staff incorporate the latest trends in cabinetry, along with traditional design features that have endured the test of time, depending on specific design ideas and themes.

“Customer service doesn’t stop after your cabinets are installed either,” says

Syrnyk, “We provide full attention to whatever future concerns you may have during the lifetime of your installations. Our discssion centres around clients and their specific needs.”

The knowledgeable kitchen design team will lead you from the initial space design and conceptual layout through to the smallest detail to complete your cabinetry. Because they manufacture their own cabinets in the Vernon factory, they’re able to better control every aspect of new kitchen, bathroom or custom cabinet projects from design through to installation with special focus on personal tastes in design and functionality.

Whether building a lake front dream home or considering renovating tired cabinets, clients will appreciate Kekuli Bay’s attention, quality and detail.

Sales staff can be contacted in Kelowna or Vernon to have a cabinetry project started well before construction.

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The only Limit is your Imagination...

8111 Highland Place, Vernon Book an appointment

1794 Baron Rd, Kelowna Book an appointment Call Ron at 250.826.6001 Call Randy at 250-801-3760

Call Steve at 250.938.6016 Call Matt at 250.241.0036

kekulibaycabinetry.com advertisement

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DECOR:

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STICKS AND STONES

A design

group

In Tune with Your Environment

“W

e specialize in bringing your perceptions and vision of personal environment and decor to your project,” says Carla Fisher, owner and manager of Sticks and Stones Design Group, based in Kelowna for the last seven years. “We bring your space in harmony with the unique, natural setting of the surrounding environment for each project. Sticks and Stones, our company name, had its genesis in the idea of working from the core essentials of your personality at home or work, we focus on the simple basics.”

Sticks and Stones Design Group has experience in a wide range of interior design projects from the worlds of commercial, residential, hospitality and personal.

Offices are located in Canmore and Kelowna, with much of their work visible locally, but they’ve overseen projects as far away as Japan.

Sticks and Stones Design respects the natural environment—and, with creative distinction, your environment.

Working in smaller communities, as they do, helps members of the staff to stay aware of the personal nature of their business. It is this sense of community that lies at their foundation for personal service. Your project is as individual as you or your business.

An experienced group of designers, architectural technologists, decorators, trades people and FROM CONCEPT TO COMPLETION merchandisers effectively integrate their strengths to produce strong design concepts and carry them CUSTOM HOMES . RENOS . RETAIL . OFFICE . HOSPITALITY into every detail of your project. At present the company employs ten certified technicians and designers, but this past year has seen fantastic growth, “We’re actually looking presently,” states Fisher, “at expanding our staff with another certified interior designer and an experienced home stylist.”

“We have an international client base—many of whom own several homes, but locally we’ve seen great strides in our business as we’ve become known through word of mouth. Ninety percent of my time is now dedicated to Kelowna’s exciting energy and constant development,” she says.

“Forty percent of our business is custom homes and architecture, 25% is hospitality based—requiring discriminating choices of paint, furniture, CELEBRATING 15 YEARS OF SUCCESS IN DESIGN & STYLE decor, millwork design and lighting design.

Thirty-five percent is commercial, or what we might call, corporate, involving designing and coordinating office spaces.”

“Our staff is constantly upgrading their educational certifications,” says Fisher, “and with the constant push for green or LEEDS-certified projects, Sticks and Stones is ready for the next 15 years of exciting trends in design, decor and N development.”

www.sticksandstones.ca

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COMPANY:

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DILWORTH HOMES

VETERAN

community developer

Delivers Homes to Buyers Their Way

D

ilworth Homes, a division of Emil Anderson Construction, has been a master builder on Kelowna’s Dilworth Mountain for over 20 years—but that’s not the only place you’ll find the developer of over a thousand homes in the last two decades.

Whether for a first-time single family bungalow home buyer, apartmentrenting seasonal visitor or town home aficionado—Dilworth Homes continues to enhance living possibilities in the heart of the Okanagan Valley.

“Our motto is ‘your home...your way,’” says manager of sales and marketing Alan Ryder, “And with so many of our projects nearing completion, starting up, or in the middle stages of construction we are still providing our customers with the variety of high quality homes they demand.”

Whether it’s the Mount Baldy Apartments, Monashee Rise, Tower Ranch, South Ridge in the Upper Mission, Selkirk in Dilworth Mountain Estates, Stonebridge Estates, Summit at Selkirk or Cascade Pointe, the variety of lifestyles home buyers may be looking for in the Okanagan Valley can be realized by connecting with Dilworth Homes.

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.

First phase of the Mount Baldy Apartments is 70% occupied, with many of its residents future homeowners who are waiting for their Dilworth homes to near completion. The second phase is under construction right now for those who wish a rental scenario with a one-year lease.

“Our neighbourhood project, Selkirk, the 2008 Tommie Gold winner for best neighbourhood development, has been a very good seller in recent history,” says Ryder. “This is the final phase of these single family homes on Dilworth Mountain—only 12 lots remain—and we’re seeing several of our former customers moving up the mountain.”

A lot can be said about a company whose employees and owners not only stay for years, but also buy their own homes in the neighbourhoods where they work.

Attention to the natural and man-made elements of each and every project creates the feeling of belonging for every home buyer. Whether it be a town home next to the golf course at Tower Ranch, or an exquisitely designed single-family dwelling, Dilworth Homes’s four project managers are ready to produce desirable future homes in future neighbourhoods.

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THE WATER’S EDGE

NEW

lakeshore

developments

Location, Luxury and Value

T

he Water’s Edge, in Kelowna’s Lower Mission, is continuing to buck the trend of this year’s pre-sale condominium market. “The right product in the right location always sells,” says MKS Resources president Steve Shoranick. Home buyers are steadily purchasing in anticipation of moving in this fall.

Construction is well underway. The developer, MKS Resources, has 25 years of experience in the Okanagan and has built projects in bull markets and soft markets.

The established firm, with a reputation for quality and reliability, is finding many repeat buyers from past projects have taken advantage of the opportunity at The Water’s Edge.

The Water’s Edge complex is unseen by walkers and drivers on Lakeshore Road, yet from this discreet location, local shopping, professional services and amenities are but a short stroll away. On the banks of Mission Creek and just steps from Lake Okanagan, The Water’s Edge occupies a spacious property that took years of patient negotiation to assemble.

“The unique location won’t be found again,” notes Shoranick. “Our buyers recognize the vital elements of a development that is positioned to deliver the benefits of ownership, location, planning, quality and luxury.”

Careful planning has delivered a wide range of floor plans; 29 different ones make up the 64 units. The common theme in each home is a focus on luxury, defined by generous space, expert finishing, and preferred lifestyle amenities.

Clients can choose from a selection of floor plans that range from 1,072 to 3,540 square feet. Nine-foot ceilings and expansive Low-E windows help to define the complex’s gracious interior design. The towering, two-storey advertisement

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lofts will feature double bank windows and offer outstanding views. Balconies and patios create inviting outdoor living spaces, expanding the options for entertaining and relaxing at home.

Large kitchens with granite countertops, under mount sinks, and gas ranges will be accompanied by great rooms filled with natural light. Generous allowance has been made for eating areas, while common living areas are punctuated with gas fireplaces. Unique and interesting sightlines are created by thoughtful floor plans, including diagonally-situated living spaces and welcoming foyers.

Finishing elements have been picked for luxury and quality including engineered hardwood floors, tiled front foyers and bath areas. Kohler fixtures are standard for the bathrooms, along with stainless steel appliances in the kitchen, and a finishing touch of extensive crown molding and discreet overhead lighting displaying generous kitchen cabinets.

In the cooler months, buyers will be able to rely on private forced-air gas furnaces while on warm, summer days private central air will keep homes comfortable. Barbecue gas rough-ins are located on comfortable decks optimizing the exquisite views of Lake Okanagan.

The Water’s Edge homes are priced from a range of $355,900 to $1.35 million.

“We have been extremely happy with the rate of sales,” says Shoranick. “Buyers seeking a home with long-term value are able to make decisions with confidence.”

With construction in progress, a visit to the onsite sales office allows buyers to see construction in progress at The Water’s Edge. Steady sales have new owners poised to N move in this year.

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STARWATCH AUDIO VIDEO

UNIVERSAL

control forlife

Make Your Home Smart

“W

e can start on your existing home, or spring renovation, at a cost as low as $900 for your first installation,” says partner and electronic engineer of StarWatch Audio Video, Robert Farr, “With the Control4 universal remote systems we can create a smart home out of your existing home.”

Imagine lights that turn on and off as you enter or exit each room of your house, closing your garage door from your iPhone, iPad or iPod while you’re out shopping, or from work, knowing when your kids arrive home from school and that they’re doing their homework before turning on the television. These are but a few of the many functions you will be able to carry out with the introduction of the Control4 electronic systems.

The average North American home has 48 electronic devices. That’s 48 instruction manuals one has to refer to in order for proper operation of each device. With the installation of Control4 systems that number is reduced to one. This leader in the smart home industry is universally compatible with whatever kind of electronic brand you wish to use in your home — shouldn’t technology make life easier, less complicated? Control4 is that one easy step.

Control4 helps you to monitor and control thermostats to televisions,

garage doors to audio equipment, curtains to door locks. An electronically-controlled device, the easy-to-understand, wall-mounted and remote video pads of Control4 make your life manageable, eliminating the unending complications of understanding each and every electronic device that you introduce to your home.

Control4 solutions are very affordable and cost-effective, easy to install, requiring no major construction and simple to use from a television touch screen or remote control. These flexible devices can be upgraded as your budget allows so you can start small and add more control devices over time — with only one limitation — your imagination.

Finally, the decision to install a Control4 system in your home can save you money. Energy savings created by controlling heating and cooling times in your home, lights being turned off automatically by this smart system and monitoring of power usage can indicate electric devices that may not be operating correctly— fridges, stoves, freezers and furnaces can be costing you hundreds of dollars when not working efficiently. Control4 can quickly pay for the investment you’ve made by saving you money during the course of your smart home’s lifetime.

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Starwatch Audio Video boasts Kelowna's premier audio/video team. If you're looking for that magazine quality home theatre installation, new flat panel television, or whole home music system with true one touch control in every room, Starwatch Audio Video is your number one choice.

wroom! o h S r u o it Come Vis Contact Us Starwatch Audio Video 1-1698 Cary Road Kelowna, BC V1X 2B9

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(250) 717-0022 info@starwatchav.com

www.starwatchav.com

Starwatch offers: Home Automation Home Theater Distributed Audio Structured Wiring

Phone Systems CCTV Cameras Gate Systems Commercial Systems

Access Control Lighting Control Satellite Systems Intercom

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SUNVIEW SOLARIUMS

custom-built

sunrooms

Invite the Great Outdoors Inside Michael points out that a solarium or conservatory can serve as more than just a room to enjoy the sunlight or the moon and stars on a cloudless evening.

“The uses are almost limitless,” he says. “You can relax and enjoy the peace and solitude of your solarium, or use it as a room for entertaining. Many people have an eating area set up in their sun room. It’s also a great room for gardening or hydra culture. It is ideal for reading, watching TV and even bird-watching. Some families use their solarium for a play room, family room or home office.”

Some conservatories and solariums are used to house a hot tub, or even a swimming pool! Costs vary significantly, and do-it-yourself options are also N available.

Could this be your home?

I

n the Okanagan it’s all about the view, and a custom sun room or solarium allows you to enjoy the great view scapes year round, without having to step outside and brave the elements.

Custom-built solariums are as individual as the home they’re built for.

They are designed as a natural extension to your home, and it may come as a surprise to see how many uses a solarium can fulfill.

Sunview Solariums is a Saskatoon-based business with clients throughout B.C. and the Okanagan. They have been supplying solariums, patio covers and conservatories to Okanagan residents for years. Michael McLaurin, owner of Sunview Solariums, says many people simply want the lush greens of their yard and colorful outdoor plants and shrubs to meld seamlessly with the bright, spacious indoor solarium. It is an ideal place for plant lovers; many of your favorite flowers will thrive year round in a well-built sun room.

Michael stresses that each solarium, sun room, conservatory and patio cover is designed specifically with your home in mind. The options are limitless in terms of the size and utilization. A solarium is typically constructed of acrylic or sealed glass and a maintenance-free aluminum framing system.

Sunview Solariums is the actual manufacturer of their products, and with custom-tailored details, you’ll save both time and money.

All of their products are built for extreme temperature variations and all feature thermal breaks. While most solariums are used for three seasons, Michael says that the mild Okanagan winters mean that it’s possible to use your sun room year-round.

The British-style conservatories offered by Sunview Solariums are constructed with glass walls and a glass on polycarbonate roof. These elegant rooms are very popular in B.C., as they can be insulated for four seasons and utilized all year.

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Extend your outdoor experience up to year round with a Sunview Solarium or Conservatory.

1-800-668-2870

www.sunviewsolariums.ca

Custom Built in Canada, Just for You! Solariums • Patio Covers • Conservatories

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SPECIALIST:

CREATIVE ROOTS

landscaping withpurpose Growing Great People, Great Yards

I

n a business that is all about growing things, Creative Roots Landscaping places an equal emphasis on the growth and evolution of their own employees. It is a fresh, inclusive approach and it means the home owner is dealing with the very best in their field.

Creative Roots owner Ryan Markewich started the company in 1994, with just one lawn mower and a truck. As his business evolved so did his perspective, and Ryan began exploring different ways to approach the operation of his company. After reading the book The Great Game of Business, he made up his mind to incorporate the concept of open book management. It is a method used with great success by companies such as Southwest Airlines and Harley Davidson Motorcycles.

Every employee at Creative Roots is taught the measures of business success, and is part of high level weekly financial meetings and planning sessions. Each worker is also expected to apply that knowledge in their work. And every employee has a direct stake in the company’s success, tracking where they stand on a weekly basis and receiving bonuses, where applicable, every 90 days. Volunteer work is part of the program, and eight local groups have benefited from Creative Roots Landscaping.

Putting all of this theory into action is a challenge Ryan relishes. He is confident that Creative Roots’s unique approach and highly-skilled employees will live up to their brand promise, “Making Neighbours Jealous Since 1994.”

Creative Roots Landscaping not only designs new yards and renovations, but they offer monthly maintenance programs as well. If you’re looking at landscaping, though, it’s best to start now.

March is the ideal time of year to begin a landscaping project. The process begins with a paid consultation to establish whether a home will benefit from landscape design. If so, they will be given a cost for the design work itself.

Once that is complete, the home owner can choose to have Creative Roots finish the work or do it himself. If Creative Roots Landscaping is hired to do the actual yard work, a final price is established. The entire process can take several months, so the sooner you get started, the better.

New homes and renovations are designed with the best in high-tech conceptual planning. Wood structures such as fences, pergolas and trellises; water feaDesigning, tures; brick pavers and flagstone for driveways, patios and walkways; retaining Building and walls…any of these elements can be incorporated into a Creative Roots design.

Maintaining They also encompass low-voltage lighting, stonemason work and irrigation awesome landscapes systems. The company’s wrought iron work is artistic and highly creative. for really nice people Ryan Markewich says Creative Roots Landscaping has done very little adverwho appreciate detail. tising, but they’ve grown their business one client at a time through the most effective method of all… happy clients and word of mouth.

N What can we help create for you?

Absolutely Creative Since 1994

Book your consultation: (250) 868-9374

www.creativerootslandscaping.com

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SWIMPOND

ECOLIFE:

mother nature’s

swimming POOL

Or...A Lake in Your Back Yard

N

ot everyone in the Okanagan is lucky enough to live on the waterfront.

For those of us with a burning desire to reside on a lake, however, there is another option. Consider a swimpond, an environmentally-friendly, healthy swimming area designed to look like a lake or pond right in your own back yard.

A swimpond is alluring, reminiscent of a tranquil pond or small, natural lake. In fact, it is a pool alternative that was invented in Germany 30 years ago, using a natural water purification system instead of chemicals.

“It is in harmony with nature,” observes Markus Winkler, founder of SwimPond. “We use Mother Nature to filter the water using a ground filter that moves water through sand and gravel. We have our own biologist on our team, who designs each pond’s filtration according to the water quality.”

The look is very natural, encompassing rocks and plants similar to those found in or near a lake. This closed system has a special, imported liner which can either be visible or not as rock and other materials can hide it. Beautiful landscaping and water features around the pond create a look that is very close to nature itself.

The lake or pond is actually built in two parts, including the swimming area and a second area, which looks like a water garden, to purify the water. There

is a waterfall between the two ponds, which not only looks great but also helps hide road noise.

Usually a swimpond is built from the ground up, but Winkler says a traditional swimming pool can also be converted. The list of a swimpond’s benefits goes on, including the fact that the swimming area is easier to clean than a traditional pool. Cleaning is required only every two to three months. You can also harvest the rainwater and filter it to top up the swimpond, resulting in soft water and great water quality.

Currently, most of SwimPond’s clients reside on Vancouver Island or in the Okanagan. Winkler says there are five on the go in B.C. right now. Prices range based on the size and other requirements, but a swimpond can be installed for about $80,000 or more.

“Our clients are people who want to be a little bit closer to Mother Nature.

One individual in Kelowna had a swimpond installed at his home. He’s recently been transferred and he’s going to have another one built in the new location.

Meanwhile, his house with a swimpond will be the first one on the real estate market,” says Winkler.

The possibilities and the benefits of a swimpond are endless. SwimPond’s own slogan says it best: If You Can Dream It, We Can Build It. N

A Quality of Life Without Compromise N

The swimpond is a bold step forward in the evolution of man-made aquatic facilities, combining design, an understanding of how ecological systems work and the latest European environmental technology to produce one of the most innovative and complete garden features currently available.

Tommie Award Winner GOLD 2006 / 2007 / 2008 Georgie Award Winner GOLD 2008

250.764.9102 www.swimpond.com

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