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HOME FALL 2011
INSIDE FALL 2011
Issue 21, Fall 2011 ISSN 1913-0759 www.Okanagan-Home.com info@okanagan-home.com Publishers: Justin O’Connor, Christy Hughes
FEATURES
PROFILES
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Casa Belle
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Norman Goddard Architecture
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Bridges at Glenview
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Decorating Den
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Kettle Valley
60
Maui on My Mind
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Mid Century Renovation
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Business Finders Canada
42
402 Lakeshore Drive
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Kekuli Cabinets
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Renovations with a Return
Chief Editor: Christy Hughes Senior Editor: Keri-Lynn Oelrich Art Director: Tyson Henderson Advertising Executives: Justin O’Connor, Raymond Oelrich Contributors: Lisa Robinson, Jordan Oelrich, Keri-Lynn Oelrich, Raymond Oelrich, Dave Trifunov
COLUMNS 6
Okanagan Real Estate Review
7
Denis on Design
8
Wealth
9
Giving Back
10
Legal
Okanagan Home Magazine Suite 153 #105-3957 Lakeshore Road Kelowna, BC, Canada V1W 1V3 www.Okanagan-Home.com Phone: 250-826-9961 Email: info@okanagan-home.com President: Justin O’Connor Okanagan HOME Magazine makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information it publishes; however, it cannot be held responsible for any consequences arising from errors or omissions to story, ad or photo content. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, including distribution by any electronic method, including email, website or other distribution without the written consent of the publisher. Upon publication, Okanagan HOME Magazine acquires Canadian Serial Rights and copyright to all content included in this issue.
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COVER: Courtesy of Wesplan Building Design INC.
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NEW PUBLISHERS
his Fall issue is not the first time that we have read through a copy of Okanagan HOME Magazine, but it is the first that time that we have published one! We, Justin O’Connor and Christy Hughes, are excited to introduce ourselves as the new owners of Okanagan HOME Magazine. Justin comes to Okanagan HOME with a diverse background that includes ranching, logging and wealth management. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Okanagan University College, where he focused on Marketing. Six years of financial planning experience and working with sophisticated clients, has given him the ability to investigate and understand client needs to provide them with meaningful solutions. Similar to Justin, Christy earned her Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, BC at the top of her class. Christy’s studies focused on Finance and Marketing and her subsequent career path moved her first towards municipal finance, with her education eventually landing her in the investment brokerage industry. This is where Christy first joined up with Justin to work on a wealth management team. We decided to take our proven ability to work as a team and our common entrepreneurial spirit to embark on a bold new career path. Impressed by the proven reputation of Okanagan HOME’s
quality and exposure, we saw the investment as an outlet to express our creative ambitions. We were drawn to the Okanagan, not only for this business opportunity, but also for everything else that the region has to offer – stunning sceneries, world-class amenities and an expanding economy. We know that our desire to be in the Okanagan mirrors that of our readers, many of whom will spend their hard-earned dollars on the spaces that they call home. We are enjoying our leap into the publishing world and will be doing our homework – interviewing clients and industry professionals for their feedback and doing extensive market research. Our hope is to spend these early months gaining knowledge and experience, with the intent of taking this publication to the next level. We want Okanagan HOME Magazine and our clients to realize their full potential; taking advantage of the power that media has in our globalized economy. We look forward to meeting our readers and of course our current and future clients. Keep an eye out for us, out and about throughout the beautiful Okanagan – we just might end up at your door!
Yours truly,
Justin & Christy Okanagan HOME Magazine
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O K A N A G A N R E A L E S TAT E R E V I E W
IGNORING THE EXPERTS The table included here summarizes the last six months of our BY DON GEREIN market. The most noticeable fact is that the total inventory keeps think we should all be able to agree that, when it comes rising. This is a seasonal phenomenon in the Okanagan and into the economy and the housing market, ventory will go down after October. The unit sales none of the “experts” can agree on anyfigures are not showing clear patterns but they do thing. Conflicting reports and articles appoint out how challenging it is to sell in this marpear in the same papers (sometimes on the same ket. The average price shows fairly tight consisday). These articles (good or bad) all focus on tency over the last four months and the median Canada’s major urban centres and produce numprices have been tightly grouped for the last four bers that have little to do with our market or any months. Both the average and median prices have other market in the interior of our province. The lifted since the start of the year meaning buyers major urban markets have not faced the correcare choosing a little more expensive home as tions that we have had to face. In BC there are two stock in their price range is getting picked over. markets: The Lower Mainland and the rest of the Those buyers waiting for the market to fall further province. The first thing any Realtor is taught is before pouncing on a deal should have pounced that the real estate market is local. What happens in January or February. The price trends are enin other markets has little to do with what is hapcouraging and the next two quarters will tell us pening to the value of your home today. Sellers if our market has tested and found a bottom want to believe that our market activity is influthat will form a solid base for growth in 2012. enced by Vancouver. The truth of the matter is that (www.macrealtykelowna.com) the only force capable of delivering you a buyer is the market. TOTAL SINGLE FAMILY AVERAGE PRICE MEDIAN PRICE TOTAL The market is unemotional. If 2011 UNIT SALES RES. SALES SINGLE FAMILY SINGLE FAMILY INVENTORY your house is priced well for JAN 197 94 $437,000.00 $410,000.00 4137 the market and is presentable it AUG 286 132 $470,000.00 $430,000.00 5237 is likely buyers will consider it.
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DENIS ON DESIGN
RENOVATIONS BY DENIS APCHIN
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o renovate or not to renovate that is the question! There are definite advantages and disadvantages to each choice so here are a few important things to consider: Renovating can be a wonderful alternative to building a new house under the right circumstances. The number one reason to consider whether to renovate would revolve around the old adage Location, Location, and Location! New subdivisions tend to spread further away from the central core of cities so if being situated closer to work, shopping hospitals, or schools is important to you then perhaps a renovation is an option. If the home you are considering to renovate has enough square footage and is the right architectural style for your needs then a simple remodel can be limited to moving a few walls, adding a new kitchen or bathroom and possibly developing unused space like basements and attics. New floors paint and trim can do wonders to the look and feel
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of a home and add value. Now if the size of the home requires an addition complications begin to rise along with the bottom line. First of all, regulatory requirements such as property setbacks, heights and heritage status can affect the size and shape of the new addition. Other limiting factors for the placement include access for machinery to excavate and location of existing trees, sewer, gas and water lines. Be warned that new additions require tapping into the existing furnace and electrical panel and also require new windows and doors. Homes built before the 60’s do not have ground wires and do not meet code. This usually leads to having to gut the entire home inside and out and having to replacing everything. Under these circumstances costs are equal and sometimes more than building new so unless the home has special characteristics it is usually better to tear down and build new. Whether you plan a light remodel, full blown renovation or teardown it is important that the cost of the home and the construction do not exceed the selling prices of the homes in the area. (www.apchin.com)
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W E A LT H
PAY ATTENTION, CLASS . . . HOW AN RESP CAN HELP PUT YOUR KIDS (OR GRANDKIDS) THROUGH SCHOOL! BY KEVIN TOM The cost of getting a post-secondary degree is increasing all the time. In fact, in today’s dollars, the average undergraduate degree will cost about $50,000 for a four-year program. In 15 years, it’s estimated to be around $100,000. How can you prepare for your children’s or grandchildren’s education? An excellent first step is to set up a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP). It’s a savings plan for post-secondary education, and deposits to an RESP grow tax-free until withdrawn by the student. The plan also allows you to apply for free grants from the federal government through the Canada Education Savings Grant. If you save $500 a year, the government will contribute 20% of that amount, which would be $100. The grant adds 20% to the first $2,500 annual contribution every year until the child turns 18 (that means an extra $500 per year!). (Editor’s note: There is a lifetime CESG contribution of
$7,200 per child.) All Canadian children with an RESP can receive the Canada Education Savings Grant. The maximum lifetime contribution limit is now $50,000 per child. There is no limit on how much can be contributed annually. More than one plan can be started per child; for example if a grandparent, other family member or friend wants to contribute to an RESP, they can do so as long as you don’t exceed the $50,000 lifetime total contribution over all plans for the child. In an era where school systems are facing ever-increasing budget shortfalls it is wise to factor in more cash will be needed than ever before to receive a good education. Many of the schools are passing on the cost of supplies and activities to students so these programs are exceptionally important to students of all ages. It’s back to school time, and whether you’ve got children in your life starting pre-school or high-school, it’s not too late to start an RESP. Of course, the best time to start is when they’re younger, as you’ll be able to save more, but even if you haven’t started yet, don’t wait! Start today. Class dismissed.
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GIVING BACK
TUTT STREET PLACE – “TRULY A HOME AND NOT JUST A PLACE TO LIVE” BY CHERYL MILLER
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utt Street Place is managed and operated by New Opportunities for Women (NOW) Canada Society (www.nowcanada.ca) and provides 39 larger family-type units of affordable, supportive housing for women, and women with children who are homeless, may be at risk of homelessness or who have a proven financial need. The development provides 24 one-bedroom, 12 two-bedroom and three three-bedroom apartments. Four suites are wheelchair accessible. The four-storey building includes space for support services, and is designed and built to LEED Gold standards. “In the few months we have been open, a real sense of community has grown within this building . . . friendships have developed and support and encouragement between tenants is freely given. Tutt Street Place offers women and children a safe and supportive environment where they can live healthy and fulfilling lives,” said Liz Talbott, executive director of NOW Canada Society. “It’s a wonderful community that’s developing in this building – it’s truly a home and not just a place to live.”
NOW Canada used their own equity to build offices and program space within Tutt Street Place. This allows NOW Canada to run their operations on-site, including life skills training, job training and counselling to Tutt Street Place tenants and other women, youth and children in NOW Canada programs. The Central Okanagan Foundation would be pleased to facilitate a gift to NOW Canada for you. “We have been actively supporting local charities since 1977,” said Cheryl Miller, Grants Manager for the Central Okanagan Foundation. “We continue to make a difference in our community through establishing endowment funds for legacy giving, memorial funds to pay tribute to loved ones, or donor advised funds for those who want to be more involved in your giving decision!” To make a charitable donation to NOW Canada or find out more about the Central Okanagan Foundation, visit their COF’s website. (www.centralokanaganfoundation.org) JAMES MARSHALL of Marshall’s Home Furnishings has graciously offered to donate 5% of the proceeds from the brand new, Lexington 11 South collection, to the Tutt Street Women’s Shelter to all Okanagan HOME readers until December 31 2011. See store for details.
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LEGAL
ESTATE PLANNING YOUR TITLE BY RICHARD MONTGOMERY, LAWYER
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hen purchasing a home, you will need to decide how to register your title. This will involve at least some basic estate planning choices being made. The most common option is for spouses to register as joint tenants. This means they will each own an undivided 50% interest and will have rights of survivorship, i.e. on the death of the first spouse, the title will go to the survivor (even if they only survive for an instant). If your spouse is the one you want to have the property after your death, then this is the most efficient and cost effective way to register your title. With the frequency of blended families these days, many couples will want their interest in the property to go to their children. In these cases the title should be registered as Tenants in Common, i.e. there is no right of survivorship. On the death of a party, their 50% interest will go to their estate and be disposed of according to their will (usually going to their children).
In order to provide for the needs of the surviving spouse, the parties may make a written agreement to the effect that the survivor may stay in the property for a set period of time and after the expiry of that time, the whole property will be sold. The survivor will keep their 50% of the proceeds and the other 50% going to the deceased party’s beneficiaries named in their will. Sometimes lenders may require a parent to cosign the loan for their child and may even require them to be on title. Most lenders will accept a mere 1% interest, so that 99% stays in the child’s name. This will minimize the Property Transfer Tax if the child qualifies for an exemption as a first time home buyer. In these cases there should be some understanding that the 1% interest will go back to the child once the lender allows the parent to be released from the loan. This may be a very important document should the parent(s) pass away while title is still in their name. (www.montgomerymiles.com)
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Casa Belle - Love Story Turned Passion By Lisa M. Robinson
Okanagan
ME FALL 2011
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As beautiful as its name, Casa Belle is the culmination of a 12-year passion. From the moment Charmeyn and Rob Martell met,
Some dreams do come true Casa Belle was the seed that blossomed into an amazing romance ... the romance of Casa Belle.
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hortly after Charmeyn and Rob met while working for Canadian Airlines, Rob quit his job as ground crew and together they started buying, renovating, and selling houses. Charmeyn stayed working as a stewardess for a time and also worked as a life-coach. With Rob having already renovated four homes of his own, and Charmeyn’s father and grandfather having also been builders, they decided to put their talents together. At the time, Casa Belle was only a distant dream. In 1999, Charmeyn and Rob’s first love was a 1908 heritage home. They completed the four-year restoration work with the tender loving care of two parents with their first born child. Travelling to the coast in a small, powerless pickup, they purchased turn-of-the-century materials from salvage yards, and painstakingly breathed life back into the old beauty, giving it back colour and character. Finally, Charmeyn quit the airlines and life coaching to work full time on the business. While Rob handled the building,
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Charmeyn handled the decorating, design and finances of the business. Among their most memorable houses were two 1950’s art deco homes they bought and saved from demolition. The two homes were moved from the Centuria Development site and stored until they were able to relocate them. After renovating and restoring the homes into uniquely creative Sante Fe styles, they rented them as vacation homes before selling the pair in 2008. In 2008, Rob and Charmeyn took possession of the future lot of Casa Belle overlooking Okanagan Lake. However, planning and building the home on a rock face was not without its problems. The financing and the sheer size of the home required to fit the site was much bigger than initially intended. Using freedom of creativity and the cooperation of friendly bankers, lenders, and family who believed in their vision, Charmeyn and Rob finally built their 12-year dream, and in 2010, Casa Belle was completed. Nestled in the mountain surrounded by forests, Casa Belle has
Okanagan big city benefits with the privacy and tranquility of a country home. Rob and Charmeyn offer Casa Belle as a vacation rental home, and live there the rest of the year. However, while Casa Belle is Rob and Charmeyn’s dream home, through much introspect they have decided to sell in order to satisfy an even bigger dream – adventures abroad building and renovating houses in Mexico or Central America creating beautiful vacation sanctuaries. A love story from the start, Casa Belle captured the hearts of Rob and Charmeyn Martell. They call it an ‘amazing chapter in their lives’... “We have been through blood, sweat and tears, and come
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ut the other side. n endeavour of his magnitude hanges who you re. And for us, it’s or the better.” Charmeyn says, Nothing is imossible, but I’m ossible! It’s bout believing, erservering, and rusting that your bilities take you hrough adversity. he adds, “Your dreams are a lue print to your reality.” Rob agrees: “We both orked at a job in a declining ndustry which was no longer njoyable. We took a leap of aith. People spend many years f their lives working for the an. I am blessed to do what love, and make money doing t! If you love doing what you o, it is not work.” Together, they laugh at their
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favourite quote: “This project is the triumph of imagination over intelligence.” ... And the passion of Casa Bella flourishes. Stonewood Building Products (www.stonewoodbp.com) is a wholesale/retail supplier of wood interior and entry doors, hardwood, travertine tile and natural stone siding. “Our philosophy is to provide the customer with a factory direct product with the best price and quality available,” says Stonewood’s Paul Gillespie. “We supplied the extensive use of the 16”x16” Travertine throughout the Martell home. Our Travertine is custom produced for us in Turkey for ease/lower cost
Okanagan
HOME FALL 2011 installation as well as long term durability.” Kirkwood Elevators is committed to giving their customers the best products and the best service available in the market today. Elevators are fast becoming an accessory of convenience. We ere delighted to be asked o design a custom elevator, omplete with a glass obseration wall for the Casa Bella roject. “Oh, you remember, it was he house with the elevator. “ “Charmeyn and Rob Marel have been purchasing their ppliances from us for several ears now,” says John Finch, ales representative for Paific Wholesale Appliances
Okanagan (www.pacificwholesaleappliances.com). “Both she and Rob are an eclectic couple and they have a real flair for what they do when it comes to creating a living space. Like most people, they want a good price, but they also are willing to work with us to create the best appliance package to suit the project.” They have an initial idea of what they would like and what Pacific does is spend the time researching what is available that best suits the project at the best possible price. Unlike many traditional retail appliance stores, they are not focused on selling the customer the models they have in their warehouse, but their strength is
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working with them and coming up with solutions that are “outside of the box.” ROV Consulting Inc. (www.rovconsulting.ca) did the full engineering of the home including the elevator down to the beach. “The challenges were working on a steep hillside/ cliff face and as a result we stepped the basements down with the uphill wall moving into the building several feet each level,” says Richard Visscher, president and senior structural engineer. “We made extensive use of rock anchors for attachment of the building to the cliff.” “In the Martells home we designed, supplied and installed all cabinetry
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throughout the house,” says Rob Love of Kelowna Kitchen Studio (www.kelownakitchenstudio.com). “It’s a huge open floor plan kitchen. We decided to design two islands and a raised eating bar that would take in all the lake views. A pleasure working with Charmeyn and Rob on this project.” “At first glance walking into a plumbing, heating, and electrical showroom can be very overwhelming with the vast selection of products available to the consumer today,” says Jill Ayotte, Okanagan area showroom manager. The courteous and informed staff at Bartle & Gibson will make every effort to ensure this process is easy and stress free. “We always welcome the opportunity to help guide the homeowner through the selection process whether it be a new build or renovation. Charmeyn and Rob had a vision for their new home and we were happy to help bring that dream to fruition,” Ayotte says.
Discovery Glass (www.discoveryglass.ca) was responsible for the design and installation of the total vision all glass shower for this project. “We worked very closely with the builder to ensure that they received the fix and finish that Discovery Glass is known for,” says Gary Alton. “Todd (Simpson, of a local real estate firm) and I have sold several very high end lake shore homes, but none represented a better value than this. There are homes in this area for 7 million that do not have the finish or breathtaking living space,” says real estate consultant for Century 21, Assurance Realty, Steven Bergg (www.bergghomes.com). Bergg has high praise for Casa Belle. “Words like stunning and unique are over used in our business, but when you walk in a home like this with clients... they start using them! Every few days we get a call from someone on a boat who has been looking at all the places on the lake and this one catches their eye.”
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BUILDER TESORA ARCA BY LISA M. ROBINSON
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f you thought the garage space at Tesoro Arca townhomes was grand before, just wait until you see the second phase of the project! While there are only two of the Phase I homes left with 14’x50’ garages, Phase II homes’ garages are even bigger and better. With 24’x50’ or larger garages, these homes are a toy owner’s dream come true. You will never have to worry about your prized motorhomes, ATV’s, boats or snowmobiles being unsecure again. It is expected that by the spring of 2012, Phase II will have been completed with seven more townhomes. Tesoro Arca will still have the same high-quality luxury living space and design with an elevator to take you and your belongings from your heated, lower garage to the upper living space. Additionally it will now have the much larger garage
to be more accommodating for all of your toys and workspace needs. As with the Phase I garages, Phase II garages will still feature a 30 amp RV plug-in, sani-dump, and two or more piece bath with hot and cold water. Dan Dupuis, Partner/President and Sales Manager for DU-ZE Developments Inc. says, “Everybody’s got more toys, so Tesoro Arca is building bigger garages.” These days, they are getting more visitors to the site than phone calls. In fact, Dupuis says that 70% of all visits are development specific, meaning they are receiving a lot of personal, on-site interest to see the townhomes. Dupuis says that interest for these luxury homes is coming from people of all age groups with the desire to have a beautiful and comfortable living space where you can also safely and securely store your recreational toys to enjoy. You can find Dan Dupuis daily in one of Tesoro Arca’s show homes. Or, you can speak to his Partner and General Contractor, James Zeleznik.
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Okanagan
BY LISA M.
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ROBINSON
n keeping with the Okanagan’s quest to integrate nature with community, Bridges at Glenview Pond (www.bridgesliving. com) has successfully completed their two-acre park, exclusive to its community’s residents. Twenty-eight out of the 34 lots have direct access to the beautifully serene park, while the other six have unlimited keyed access. The gated park has two scenic ponds – one at either end of the oblong-shaped park, seven picturesque bridges, and a gentle walking trail and creek tying it all together. Waterfalls, natural stone, and rich, colourful vegetation make every walk along your private
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trail a relaxing experience. Just walk out your back door, through your yard gate, and enter into sanctuary. “The story of us getting into Bridges isn’t really that glamorous,” says Benjamin Moore’s (www.benjaminmoorekelowna. com) Leon Bustin. “The designer liked our colours (as all designers do) but would have got colour matches elsewhere so we gave them a designer kit and free paint for the show homes to secure exclusivity. “The interesting thing, which is more to do with Bridges, is that
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the customer can choose the quality of BM paint they want in the home before it’s built,” he adds. Out of 34 available lots, two homes have been completed and are currently occupied, three more are near completion, and five more are being started. Sandra Barr says that interest is very high, with a steady flow of visitors coming to see the site and the two show homes, including visitors from out of town. The site is built on an old family orchard right in the middle of Old Glenmore and every home has a heritage Craftsman-style charm. Home Hardware (www.homehardware.ca) were proud to be involved with Bridges. Besides the beautiful heritage designed homes and private park, there are many benefits to living at the Bridges. You are close to Kelowna’s downtown core, Okanagan Lake, and the 18-hole Kel-
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owna Golf and Country Club! Each home will feature geothermal heat (which is available for lease or to buy), HardiePlank siding, 40-year shingles with warranty, and attractive stone-paved driveways. The front yards are meticulously landscaped to maintain continuity between the homes, while the back yards are fenced and open to your own creativity. Although every house is required to have an exterior heritage design, every home is custom designed for the lot chosen and can vary between bungalows to walk-out basement plans. Partners, Jim Andrews and Joe Rood of Valux homes, are very pleased with the progress of their Phase II development, and are excited to see it coming to fruition. Visit them soon while there are still a wide variety of lots to choose from!
Bridges, is that the customer can choose the quality of BM paint they want in the home before its built,” he adds. All Star Eavestroughing (www.allstareavestroughing.com), specializing in all types of gutters and down spouts, is providing customized gutter solutions for all of the Bridges development and use Kaycan Building Products materials on them. “At All Star Eavestroughing we consider gutters as the picture frame to your house,” says Lorin Laidlaw. All Star Eavestroughing looks after new construction as well as renovations. Discovery Glass (www. discoveryglass.ca) was responsible for the design and installation of the total vision all glass shower for this project. “We worked very closely with the builder to ensure that they received the fix and finish that Discovery glass is known for,” says Gary Alton.
F I N A L
P H A S E
N O W
S E L L I N G
Come and take a look at what’s new at Bridges‌ # ! # ! # " # ! Located in the Heart of Old Glenmore within walking distance to the lake and cultural district.
GLENVIEW
GORDON
CLEM
ENT
GLENMORE
CER
ISE
CLIFTON
Open Daily Noon - 5:00pm
BERNARD
HARVEY
97
1358 Glenview Avenue, Kelowna, BC
250.763.7209 cull.indd 7
w w w. b r i d g e s l i v i n g . c o m 9/17/11 12:33:06 AM
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DESIGN NORMAN GODDARD ARCHITECTURE BY LISA M. ROBINSON
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ife is about relationships: relationships to others, things, and the universe in general. When building our homes, we have a specific type of relationship. It is a relationship to our space, our foundation, and our surroundings. Norman Goddard (www.goddardarchitecture.com) will guide you in connecting with your home and its surroundings, to bridge the gap between buildings, nature, and our souls. Goddard ensures a fluid transition from start to finish of the design and building of your home. For Goddard, design
is about reflecting the client. Goddard has worked with many renowned architects in such places as Pennsylvania, New York, and the Lower Mainland. While Goddard works independently, he is also one-third of a collective called MGP Studios. He often works closely with his collective partners, Catherine MacArthur and Evan Phillips, to offer a full-service option for their clients. While Phillips is a General Contractor/Project Manager, MacArthur offers interior design. Together, MacArthur and Goddard will also
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create your garden landscaping design to unify your home’s interior and exterior. MacArthur says, “My collaboration with Norman has grown out of a belief that good architecture is multifaceted – involving an integrated execution of all elements: site planning, exterior and interior elements. This can only be achieved when all the disciplines share a common vision. My role, as part of the interior design team is to provide connections and harmonies with the architecture.” Phillips says, “Norman Goddard’s deep understanding of spatial relationships and the connection to ‘place’ provide for designs that fit into both the geographical and living environments for which he designs. Norman is able to create separate environments that somehow blend intimacy with social interaction in an elegant and timelessness way. An artist through and
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through, Norman’s work will be appreciated for long beyond his living years. It remains an honour to work on his projects.” Goddard’s clients praise his patience, concern, and eye for detail. Client, Annette Little, felt reassured by Goddard’s daily presence on the site and his ability to find solutions. Little says, “Norman incorporates water features that make for a harmonious environment, complimenting the natural setting of the property. His liberal use of wood, both inside and outside, lend a feeling of warmth and permanence. Helpful in many areas, he is a “complete package.” I would always ask him if he came with the house.” With such references, it would be difficult to dispute Goddard`s artistic expertise and demeanour.
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Kettle
Valley
Town Centre is the place to be
All Photos courtesy off Sawchuk Developments
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BY KERI-LYNN OELRICH
The Village of Kettle Valley is widely known as the best community in Canada. And it just got better. A coffee shop, chiropractor, day spa and a day care are welcome additions to Town Centre. Within the next two months the centre will see a pharmacy and walk-in clinic. In total there are 25 independent businesses, including a gym, restaurant and grill, pizza take-out and a travel agent.
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new building has provided an additional 13,000 sq ft of commercial space and increased the Town Centre capacity to 30,000 sq ft. “We researched the local community to establish a list of services that the residents of Kettle Valley were looking for, and then set about marketing the space to match these requirements,” says owner Tony Overton (overtons@live.ca). “The response from local businesses has been excellent, and only one unit remains unleased since the building was completed less than three months ago. “The feedback from local residents has been excellent and all the
new businesses are enjoying a great level of support from the community,” Overton says. “The biggest opportunity remains a local grocery store which has always been the number one requirement on the residents’ list,” he adds. Overton says he expects that with the normal churn of business additional space will become available, which would add additional medical services like an optician or dentist. ON THE PROJECT: The most challenging aspect was siting the building on the
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multi-level shopping site, while adhering to the client’s programming and budgetary requirements, says Lisa Fraser, business and planning manager for New Town Architecture and Urban Planning (www. newtownservices.net). ”New Town initiated and coordinated costing exercises with the client and contractor throughout the process in order to ensure that the budget was maintained and even reduced where possible,” she says. JVL Excavating Inc. is a family owned business that worked on the project. The business was started in 1995 with one bobcat and a dump truck. They now have five excavators, two bobcats and a loader. “We do everything from bulk excavation to civil pipe work and rock and block retaining walls; and landscaping and irrigation and interlocking pavers - we are your one stop shop for all your dirt work needs,” Vic Lima of the company says. OK Deck Doctor (www.okdeckdoctor.ca) worked with Sawchuk Developments and New Town Planning Services to provide them with decorative and functional aluminum guardrails and stair hand railings. “We were able to offer them the custom options which they required in an economical and efficient manner,” says Conrad Loss-Wells, owner. Grizzly Metal (www.grizzlymetalfab.ca) was responsible for the fabrication of all the structural steel for this Kettle Valley project. “Sawchuk Developments (www.sawchukdevelopments.com) is extremely proud to be the chosen builder of the Kettle Valley Commercial Building. We feel the design and architecture of the building blends nicely with the existing structures. The commercial building is a perfect fit for the Kettle Valley community,” says Gord Sandrin, project manager. For more information on space available to lease, contact Tony Overton.
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TENANT PROFILE THE NEW YOU DAY SPA
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tress. We all live with it. It’s what we do about it that determines our overall health. Penny Pedersen, owner of The New You Day Spa has healthy solutions for your stress, and her location in Kettle Valley makes her easy to find. Modern spas get their roots from ancient towns where patrons “took waters” as a way to heal themselves in hot springs and mineral waters. Today hydrotherapy, massage, wraps and mani-pedi’s are used to heal tired souls. Pederson says that massage can promote heightened relaxation, stress reduction, and an overall sense of wellness and heightened work productivity. But that’s not all. “The muscle manipulations cased by massage include reduced muscle tension, relief from pain, improved flexibility,” she says. “The spa fits each person’s life differently,” she explains. “It is more useful than people realize when it comes to de-stressing and taking some much needed time to yourself.”
Pederson goes on to say that this can be instrumental in a healthy lifestyle. And who couldn’t use better health? The spa can play a big part in people’s day-to-day lives. Many people have injuries or issues like back problems that require regular massage. Of course there’s those who go strictly for a pampering session. At least they think that’s what it is. The spa really offers a wide range of health benefits; even just the act of pampering oneself can lift spirits and re-energise—something we all need in our hectic lives. The New You Day Spa can do group bookings Thursday through Saturday mostly two at a time, but arrangements can be made for larger groups. The Kettle Valley location makes it just minutes out of downtown Kelowna and so easy to get to. “The location is beautiful and scenic,” says Pederson. “The community of Kettle Valley gives the feel of a quaint smalltown atmosphere that is relaxing and laid back.” So when you’re ready to relax, call the spa to make your appointment - your appointment for a new you!
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DESIGN DECORATING DEN BY DAVID TRIFUNOV
I
t didn’t take long for Kelowna interior designer Arlene Marshinew to discover the fringe benefits of moving. Buying and selling homes – with the packing and unpacking, hauling furniture and appliances up and down narrow staircases – isn’t always the most enjoyable process, but it gave Marshinew an opportunity to develop her passion for decorating. “I have always loved interior design,” she says. “It was something I wanted to do right out of high school, but I didn’t pursue it
CREATING BEAUTIFUL ROOMS SINCE 1969
at that time. Over the years, friends, family – even Realtors when selling our many homes – would tell me I had a flair for design. I decided to follow my dream and love for design by purchasing the Decorating Den (www.arlene.decoratingden.com) franchise.” Decorating Den has operated in North America since 1969. Today, it offers its 500 franchisees access to 150 suppliers of everything from flooring and win-
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dow coverings to lighting and “Arlene’s ability to conpaint. Marshinew purchased vey her ideas and bring them the Kelowna franchise in to reality in our home was October 2010 and underwent more than we could have Decorating Den training in hoped for,â€? she said. November. Marshinew says Marshinew enjoys workshe opted for the franchise ing on small or large projoption because it made sense ects, from new custom winto her. dow treatments to designing “Perhaps one of the most entire home interiors. She important reasons for me, says it’s her job to make evpersonally – and what sets us ery home or ofďŹ ce alluring apart from other businesses to those who use them. supplying similar services – “My philosophy on design is I really like the idea that I is simple: I want to create do not have to charge a clibeautiful, functional living/ ent design fees,â€? Marshinew working spaces for people says. “This was very apthat perfectly ďŹ t their lifepealing to me to be able styles,â€? she says. “I love I want to create functional spaces to offer clients the decobringing a sense of glamrating and design service our to a space whether it is without having to charge one small interesting piece, an hourly fee.â€? several well-placed pieces or doing a whole room, always keepInstead, Marshinew charges her clients for the items they pur- ing in mind my client’s taste and style. chase through the Decorating Den supply chain. She also works “It could be adding one special accessory or an incredible fabfrom home, which keeps her overhead and business costs low. ric in the upholstery or window treatment—even just a throw pilMarla MacDonald hired Marshinew to renovate their kitchen low in the form of satin, velvet, or other plush fabric, or perhaps and living room. tufting the back of a chair, or even adding a metallic.â€?
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BEFORE
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Mid Century
RENOVATION BY JORDAN OELRICH
T
PHOTOGRAPHED BY SHAWN TALBOT
he whole campaign started all the way back in 1955, this gorgeous lakeshore home was put in the place it still stands today. Contemporary and advanced would have been the best words to describe the original design of this home back in its time. The original owners stayed with the home until 2010 keeping it in its original form for 55 years. The new owners where drawn to the location, old growth landscaping and potential of this “diamond in the rough� and decided to take the liberty of renovating this home. They took one solid step in the right direction by bringing Apchin Design Corp. (www.apchin.com) onboard for a bit of help with modern design ideas and project management. The original idea was just to go forward with a cosmetic renovation, but as time went on and ideas sprung, they decided to go with a full-blown renovation. They had warmed up to
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the “beach cabin” feel that is hard to produce with a new building with a focus on the lake and boating. “Shoreline was very pleased to be the ‘developer’s choice’ for the licensing and construction of the private moorage facility at the Watt Road house. Our relationship with Denis Apchin has always been a pleasant experience, having built five plus such docks for the premier home builder,” says Bob Jones of Shoreline Pile Driving (www.shorelinepiledriving.com). Originally the house was only equipped with one and a half bathrooms. Apchin Design turned the original main bathroom into an
ensuite and added a new bathroom. The two-piece bathroom was also redesigned to accommodate a shower. Now you will find three full bathrooms in this house. Another addition was a 580 square foot detached studio, along with a two-piece powder room. The new studio was constructed as the rest of the home was, using the post and timber beam technique. Northern Log and Timber (www.northernlogandtimber.com) supplied custom cut beams and 2x6 tung and groove decking to match original profiles. “We have three band saw mills at our Winfield site,” says the company’s Julie Morgan. “We can custom cut to
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match existing materials: posts, beams, siding, etc. This particular project we were able to match the beams and keep the original look. We also build machined log and handcrafted log homes. Originated in the Yukon in 1952 by Al Morgan and is now owned by son, John Morgan Jr. We’ve built log homes around the world from Alaska to Florida to Nova Scotia, Mexico, Chile, Ireland, Germany, Korea, and Japan.” The original home was finished with wooden paneling, so they decided to gut the building completely and start from scratch. The wiring that was originally put in the home didn’t meet code, so that
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was one of the first things to be fully replaced. During the process the electrical panel was doubled from 200A to 400A and they also replaced the unsightly overhead wire from the street to an underground service. Pinnacle Structural Consulting Ltd. (www.pinnaclestructural. ca) is a full-service engineering consulting firm, and worked with Apchin on this project. Pinnacle designed new structural elements for renovation of the main house including beams, columns, associated connections and new footings in the crawl space. Their scope also included the concrete retaining wall along the driveway and the
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structural design of an art studio and breezeway. “We worked with late 50’s and 60’s. The new eight-foot tall Teak doors were hung on the designer to bring his design vision to reality, while ensuring custom made X door jambs. the structural integrity of the house, and that the house renovation Dean Knowlton of Everwood Custom Woodworking meets the current Building Code requirements,” says Amy Jenkins (www.everwooddesign.com) says they were happy to work with Swan, P. Eng. Apchin on this project. They manufactured and installed the kitchAt the time, the house wasn’t equipped with any form of air con- en, laundry, and three baths in main house, as well as the bath is studitioning and had two archaic furnaces. This being very futile during dio. The next step for this nearly complete renovation was installthe hot and cold months, ing new Organic White trying to stay warm or Ceaserstone countertops cold, all of the mechaniin the kitchen, laundry, BEFORE cal was totally stripped vanities and outdoor and replaced with a new BBQ area. 98% high efficiency fur“Cabinets were finnace with all new ductished with a clear coat on work. With this instalquarter-sawn, reconstiment it seemed fitting tuted Teak which highto accompany the home lights the woods natural with new energy efficient beauty and warmth, and exterior doors and winties in with all the intedows. To go along with rior and exterior doors the new windows, the in the house of which siding and stucco needed we also finished,” says to be updated as well. Knowlton. Everwood is a small artisan shop and supplier of cusAt this stage the house that was beginning to look like a master- tom woodworking and furniture in all designs, for all rooms of the piece, but the next important step was to drywall the entire interior home (kitchens & baths, wine rooms, home offices, dens, etc.) and and studio. All of the new millwork for the kitchen, vanities and also supplies beautiful handcrafted interior and exterior solid wood doors were constructed from Teak. Teak gave a retro look, as it was doors, pre-hung in exotic wood species. “We pride ourselves on used extensively for what was considered modern furniture in the creating beautiful, top-quality, heirloom worthy woodworking with
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every attention to detail and client satisfaction,” he adds. Hardwood was chosen for the main floor, while all new carpeting was installed for the upper and lower floors and stairs. All new decking, along with glass handrails were installed into this home that was certainly turning into something much more modern than the original owners had in mind. Extensive amounts of stamped concrete were used for the new patios, court yard and driveway. The entire front and rear yard was re-landscaped while a new garage door and retractable entry gate were both installed to put the finishing touches on this magnificent home. Pires Concrete Finishing (piresfamily@ shaw.ca) has been doing work for Denis for the last 12 years. “His custom homes are a good fit with custom stamped concrete,” says Joe Pires. “We have been doing concrete since 1979.” Joe and Gilbert own the company and have lived in Kelowna since 1968. Now that the interior was nearly completed the team turned its attention to the landscaping. “We are pleased and honoured to work with Denis Apchin for the
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second time,” says Jill Lemke, owner of Prestige Total Landscape Service (www.prestigelandscape.ca) . She and the other owner, Steve Lemke says they really admire his beautiful designs. “We endeavoured to echo the beautiful horizontal and vertical lines of this house design in the planning of the planting beds.” The property lines at the front of the house are defined by a row hedging cedars. All the plant beds feature a crisply lined edge of boxwood. “The rear plant bed features beautiful colours and textures of Okanagan friendly plants, especially picked for the shady area of the expansive back patio,” says Jill. The square shape of the path landscape lights echo the interior lights in the home. Prestige was responsible for the design and installation of the irrigation system, the planting beds, the landscape lighting and the front turf area. Jill notes, “This was a challenging project to work on due to the limited access to the work areas, but we are pleased with the final results.” This charismatic Mid Century Modern home proved worthy of such a grand restoration and shall create many more wonderful memories for at least another half century.
Shore
Lake 402
Drive
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BY KERI-LYNN OELRICH
Eight months after their initial meeting, th construction drawings were complete. Permi and approvals by city council and the city plan ning department done, it was time to get going And go they did.
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esplan Building Design Inc. (www.westhomeplanners. com) owner Michael Giroux, backed by generations of construction and design heritage in the Okanagan, led his design team to create a stunning four-unit luxury lakefront condo in Penticton. The total building area is 7,268 square feet, with 6,894 square feet of living area and 374 square feet of common area. The total deck and patio area is a generous 2,216 square feet. There are two lower units and two upper units. The lower units are single storey, with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, great room, kitchen, dining, and laundry in a 1,332 square foot living area and a 570 square foot patio and deck. The two upper units have two bedrooms, one den, 2.5 baths, a great room, a dining room, laundry and elevator. Living area per
unit here is 2,115 square feet, with an 823 deck area. Open living was very important to developers Bruce Schoenne and Bill Boswell (www.lakeshoredrive.ca), and large windows were used to take advantage of the views the Lakeshore Drive location affords. “With the building being in an exposed area along Okanagan Lake with many tourists through the summer, sound control and privacy were considered,” says Tony Giroux, whose role in the project was construction drawings, project consultation and technical. The custom design department manager says the windows chosen were very important in this and were tight sealing to prevent sound intrusion. Other measures for privacy were taken as well. The building is raised from street level and landscaped to give privacy to the residents from foot traffic on the sidewalks.
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Even the staircases in the upper units give an open view, with floating landings. Kitchens are open to the living area to allow for entertaining guests while cooking. The design of the building is “open modern” says Giroux. The front profile was designed to “imitate the decks and feel of a cruise ship. Colours were chosen to fit into the surrounding environment. Landscaping to fit the beach feel, using ornamental grasses,” he says. “While the feeling of the units is clean and open, it is not cold, but captures the warmth of the beach, giving the home a comfortable feel.” Giroux says the structural design of the building was very complicated to get the outcome they desired. A combination of floor trusses and I-joists as well as concealed beams were used in the floor system to allow for the open living areas without visible supports. The roof is flat trusses and the exterior
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of the building is stucco. “Skaha Electric Co Ltd (www.skahaelectric.ca) and Premier Audio Visual work hand in hand in bringing our clients the full package when they are developing our projects, says Mike Woods, owner.“The builders had a lot of architectural design in place on the project before we were bought on board. We were able to enhance the lighting design and electrical layouts that help make this building spectacular. We provide full home automation, audio/video and lighting control systems as well as CCTV and surveillance. This building has been pre wired for every foreseeable future need including whole home audio and surround systems that have been pre wired to a central equipment rack enabling the flat screens to be hung neatly on the wall without clutter. “One thing I didn’t touch on and I also feel is very important for new homes like this is Ethernet Networking, homes rely on
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wireless to carry too much and you can’t beat the speed of an actual cable,” says Woods. “Bruce’s unit has been outfitted with a Colorado V net control system consisting of audio, temperature, and lighting control as well as, CCTV cameras and a weather network module which posts info from other chosen cities.” This home features a highend package from Lake City Appliances (www.bcwholesale.com), with Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances. “The appliances are of superior quality and not your run-of-the-mill product, creating an impressive showcase for the development. Lake City Appliances is a business built on relationships,” says Russ Bergum, president. The compa-
ny works closely with designers, cabinet makers, builders, etc. and receive their work through referrals from these industry professionals and satisfied customers. Lake City Appliances strives to make the retail setting an out-ofthe-box experieence, by getting to know their clients and making the process c fun for themselves and their fu ccustomers. By getting to know their clients on a more personal th level, they are able to better le meet the needs of each indim vvidual. V2 Furniture (www.v2furniture.com) supplied the furnishtu iings for the project at 402 Lakeshore and also provided the interior decorating service for the development.
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Innotech Windows and Doors (www.innotechwindows.com) the factory was also involved. The 402 Lakeshore Drive building is located directly across from public beaches of Okanagan Lake. The builder wanted to maximize the view and natural light without compromising comfort and security. “The project features the following Innotech products: tilt + turn picture windows, entry doors, terrace swing doors, and tilt + turn doors,” says Bruce Schoenne. “The windows and doors feature an Acryl-Protect titanium exterior and custom painted titanium interior finish. The builder also upgraded the glazing package to clear laminated glass for added soundproofing and secubeautiful living : for generations
g performance standards And so do our building partners. Visit our showroom at The Factory in Kelowna 1302 St. Paul Street
innotech-windows.com/thefactory
windows + doors
(&3."/ &/(*/&&3*/( t ."%& */ /035) ".&3*$"
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rity. The project also features Innotech dual action pleated shades designed specifically for Tilt + Turn Windows and glass doors.” Ecora Engineering, Ltd (formerly Chesapeake Services, Ltd.)(www. ecora.ca) provided structural engineering and field review for the foundations and re framing for the building. Adfr dditionally, Ecora provided civil eengineering services, preparing the drawings to provide in ddrainage, and water & sewer sservices for the project. “Ecoora Engineering recently went through an ownership change th aand people may have known us as Chesapeake Services, Ltd. Our parent company, Ecora Resource Group, is a Natural Resource and Environmental Consulting firm which comple-
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ments our core services of Land Development, Water Supply, Structural and Municipal Engineering,” says Kelly Davies, P. Eng project engineer. OK Door secured the twin garages with attractive Flush’-style garage doors (built by Steel Craft Door Products Ltd. of Edmonton, AB), while Maple Creek Gates (www.maplecreekgates. ca) secured the parking area with a high-grade custom aluminum vehicle gate and a matching pedestrian gate (both built by Billy Gates Inc. of Langley, BC). Liftmaster automation systems were installed on both the garage doors and the gate, and all feature battery backup to ensure uninterrupted operation even in the event of a power failure. OK Deck Doctor (www.okdeckdoctor.ca) supplied and installed 300
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HOME Fall 2011 ft of topless glass railing at 402 Lakeshore using a system that was new to Canada. “This unique sysC tem was the only railing te the customer would conth sider, so we provided site si specific engineering and sp fine tuned the attachment fi method for this project,” m the company says. “The th result is a railing which ofre fers unobstructed views of fe Lake Okanagan.” L Robinson Lighting and Bath (www.rlrbc.com) B took care of the lighting to and plumbing. “This was an a most enjoyable project to with. The combbe involved i mitment and vision, offered from both the Boswell’s and Schoenne’s in making this an extraordinary building project, led to some freedom of creative expression and professional input oftentimes not available in these types of projects,” says Tara Sjoberg, sales consultant. “We were given
Okanagan the enviable task, of sourcing and supplying the latest up-todate products available in the plumbing and lighting industry. This allowed us to utilize our extensive resource of exclusive/ semi-exclusive relationships with vendors from all over the world, and present a unique offering.” Duravit is the wall hung toilet supplier and CSL Lighting was the LED pot light supplier. Bruce Schoenn says he and his partner Boswell always had the intention of designing and building a modern building. “I got the initial idea for the design from a photo of a duplex in Malaysia,” he says. The building was designed to be modern but without that cold feeling of some modern homes, Schoenne ex-
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p plains. “It was important for us to reflect ta the makeup of the area th including colour tones in and materials which an would complement w the surrounding landth scape. To that end we sc uused tan tones to reflect the hills and sand fl and blue tones from the an gglass and accent stucco to reflect the water.” There was no exppense spared in the construction of this deco vvelopment. Schoenne says they used “only sa the best” subcontracth tors from Penticton and Kelowna. “The most recent sale in the building has set a new benchmark for the Penticton area as far as pricing goes. The purchaser of a home in this development expects nothing but the best, recognises the quality and is prepared to pay for it.” Only one of the four units remains available to buy.
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RENOVATIONS WITH A RETURN
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BY DAVID TRIFUNOV
D
Photo by Rediscoverd Wood
on’t think of home renovations as breaking your bank. Instead, consider that when you upgrade your windows, water heater or insulation (to name a few), you are most likely going to recoup that money later through lower utility bills and higher home value. And it doesn’t end there, either. Federal and provincial governments are so eager to help you ditch that aging refrigerator and replace it with an Energy Star model that they’re willing to rebate you money for your efforts. Renovations that replace aging materials or appliances are eligible for rebates and grants from all levels of government. In July, Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government renewed the popular ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program. This initiative helps Canadians save on home improvements and energy costs while protecting the environment. “Our government is committed to easing the burden of high energy costs on Canadians and putting more money back in their pockets,” the Hon. Joe Oliver, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, said in a press release. “With this program, Canadians can make their homes more energy-efficient and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Canada.” Until March 31, 2012, homeowners may be eligible to receive grants of up to $5,000 to make their homes more energy-efficient. The program could help up to 250,000 Canadian homeowners improve their homes’ energy efficiency and generate as much as $4 billion in economic activity across Canada. The provincial LiveSmart BC program offers more than $7,000 in rebates, including cash for exterior wall insulation, installing heat pumps, basement or attic insulation, upgrading of air tightness, installing an electric heat pump water heater, and money for every new window, door or skylight. “For most families, their most important investment is their home,” said Rich Coleman, B.C. Minister responsible for housing. “The LiveSmart BC program aims to help more than 40,000 B.C. families protect that investment while fighting climate change. Improving your home’s energy efficiency is a smart way to make it more comfortable, to increase its value, and generate ongoing energy savings.” Companies such as BC Hydro and FortisBC are also getting into the act. BC Hydro will even arrange to collect your aging fridge, and will rebate you as much as $75 when you purchase energy-efficient appliances. Rebates also exist for lighting, windows and home electronics. “Anything we can do to make it easier for people to conserve electricity is beneficial not only to individual homeowners, but to our province’s energy future in general,” said David Cobb, president and CEO of BC Hydro. “Individual efforts all add up and will help us achieve our goal to meet two-thirds of new demand through conservation and efficiency by 2020.”replace them. If you are thinking of renovating, the kitchen and bathrooms will add the highest resale value to your home, according to experts. Clean, repair, or replace old worn out furniture. Some furniture outlets actually rent furniture for a nominal fee. This might be a good idea if you were planning on getting rid of your old furniture anyway. Spruce up bedrooms and bathrooms with new bedspreads and towels. Clean off dressers and counter tops. Fresh cut flowers in a nice vase can add a special touch to a room. But there’s more to it than that.
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All Weather Roofing Products - All Weather Products (www. roofingstore.ca) distributes many styles of roofing, and with this wide variety of choices, we can help make simple looking homes look fabulous, and this contributes greatly to keeping up the curb appeal of homes being reroofed. If you tear off an old wood shake roof, and replace it with the “typical” thinner asphalt shingles, the home won’t look as good as when it was built, it will lose a lot of curb appeal, and essentially the home’s value goes down. A large contingent of contractors in the Okanagan pushes thinner nonstylish roofing materials as the only choice for homeowners. They think everyone only wants the cheapest solution. Getting the lowest price
for a roofing job is okay, but make sure you look at the return on your investment. If your home is worth $350,000 before you re-roof, a contractor saves you $3,000 by installing a thin nonstylish shingle on the home, and after your home looks like it is worth only $330,000 (or less), that would not be money well spent. It would be better to invest the extra $3,000 to have a super-thick luxury look shingle installed, and then your house may not only look like it is worth $370,000 (or more), it will stand out from the crowd with its improved curb appeal, and that will surely improve a home’s real worth. The bonus is that thicker roofing materials perform better, they last far longer, and they make your home look outstanding in the meantime.
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Rafter 4K Contracting Ltd. - Rafter 4K Contracting Ltd. (www.rafter4k.com) and owner Norm Kneller have been operating in Kelowna for 20 years. Green products and practices are on the forefront of every decision. They support the proper disposal of materials for recycle or reuse, install low-flow shower heads and new 4.6 L toilets for less water use and in all cases help their customers source and install energy-efficient appliances and alternatives in all areas of their home or office. They advocate the use of new hybrid and Latex paints wherever possible and constantly look for ways to save energy for their clients. They even suggest car pooling for their employees! Sandi Kneller says they “strive to provide quality customer service, communication, and 100% satisfaction.” She says they have found the need to provide a diverse range of services to satisfy a handful of customers that “request we are their ‘exclusive’ contractor for all their renovation and handyman needs inside and out.” They welcome anything from the smallest repair to a complete home renovation.
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Glenmore Millwork - Glenmore Millwork (www.glenmoremillwork.ca) says replacing doors and windows can do much to help the environment: The obvious savings is energy and heating/cooling expense as most wasted energy comes from a poor fitting windows. Updated appearance, higher property value and a lower carbon foot print of the residence are other benefits as windows often define the character of a building or home. New windows can balance historic integrity with current functional requirements and energy efficiency. A window’s function is to control light, air and weather. Common materials used for windows are: Wood—can be painted or stained to match changing design requirements; vinyl—available in a variety of colours to match home decor, maintenance free; glass—high thermal value, low solar gain efficient sealed unit with non cold conductive spacer bar. Common materials used for doors: Wood—warm aesthetic appeal design flexibility; fibreglass—sturdy and dent resistant, wide variety of patterns available, steel—cost effective, energy efficient.
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Benjamin Moore - Benjamin Moore’s (www.benjaminmoore. ca) Green Promise states that any product that displays the Green Promise logo will meet, and in many cases, exceed the strictest environmental standards in North America. Painting your house
add thousands of dollars value to your home and help it sell quicker. Our products cure quicker & have rooms back in service with minimal disruption. Benjamin Moore makes its own colour systems and offers over
gives the most visual impact of any renovation and is the most cost effective. Even buying the most expensive paint costs are under 35 cents per square foot. Freshening up the interior or exterior look can
3000 colour options. Benjamin Moore Natura paint is the lowest emission zero V.O.C. paint in the industry & is available in any sheen or colour.
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Flooring Canada Kelowna - “Hardwood flooring makes a crucial first impression and it is a product that everyone responds to,” says Perry Hildebrandt from Flooring Canada Kelowna (www.flooringcanadakelowna.ca). “A gorgeous hardwood flooring is a sign of quality and invokes a good feeling in people, and it has a timeless air of beauty and quality. “Hardwood flooring adds value to your home - it is a true investment that retains its value and in most cases will generate a return on investment that exceeds the value of the initial cost of the installation. A hardwood floor properly maintained can truly last a life time.” Flooring Canada Kelowna only sells hardwood flooring that comes from sustainable hardwood forests—no imported illegal
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lumber from off shore, and at guaranteed best prices. In the past your selection of hardwood species was very limited - 3/4 inch solid maple or oak. Now you have a world of choices in both engineered products (allows hardwood to be installed in a basement environment) and solid hardwood in many different species The most popular domestic species (hardwood grown in North America) are oak, maple, ash, hickory, cherry, birch and beech. Imported species range from Brazilian Cherry and Walnut to Cumaru, Tigerwood, and Cabreuva. At present, our most popular is Hickory. Dog lovers have discovered improved durability in wire brushed oak. These floors are easy to maintain—just sweep or vacuum. That’s a great return in and of itself!
RE-OPENED FOR BUSINESS Visit Us At Our New Location
1788A Baron Road (Between Costco & Canadian Tire)
250-763-1234
www.flooringcanadakelowna.ca.
A Special Thank You We are grateful for the tremendous support and assistance we’ve received after the fire at our former location, especially: Kelowna’s Fire Department, the RCMP, & Paramedics TOPS - Total Office Product Solutions Capri Insurance 5037-28800
Derek Ruf
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The Rediscovered Wood Floor Company Ltd. - “Our showroom is on our property in Lower Nicola, just 10 minutes outside of Merritt towards Spenses Bridge, on Hyw.8,” says Kerry Bloom, owner and president of The Rediscovered Wood Floor Company Ltd. (www.bloomsfloorswithflair.com). “We are now in the throes of building a brand new web site that will have video testimonials on it. It will show many of our reclaimed & new wood floor products that are available, and if you don’t see it on the web site just call or email and I’m sure that we will find it for you.” Bloom says the web site will hopefully be up the beginning of October, and will have many homes on it. The showroom has just been renovated and the floors are reclaimed wood from a cotton textile mill that was built in 1899 in the south Carolina’s. The wood species is long leaf heart pine in a very char-
acter grade. “I have finished the floors with Waterlox tung oils, and I’m the distributer for waterlox in western Canada. It is an amazing finish for all aspects, including floors, cabinets, furniture, base boards, railing, slab furniture etc.,” he says. “We can supply and install all of the products just mentioned, plus whatever else you can think of with reclaimed wood.” What a great return for the environment! There are about 60 samples of reclaimed choices on the wall in the showroom, 30”x 48” in size. They are large sample boards so you can get a great idea as to what the floors will look like. They are all visible as they are not stacked on top of one another. By early October Bloom should have a very large slab table of walnut in the showroom as well. It is 3”x57”x13’ long. “Very beautiful.”
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Claymasters Kelowna - Upon walking into a room with American Clay earth plastered walls people are first drawn to the aesthetics of the textured finish and cannot resist reaching out to touch,” says Gerry Monty, owner of Claymasters Kelowna (www.claymasters.ca). “The touch is soft and smooth. The clay is a natural producer of negative ions, promoting a sense of wellbeing.” With the use of American Clay there are no chemical off gassings so the overall air quality is better. The walls are non-static so dust particles and pollen will not cling to surfaces. The plaster provides additional thermal mass, allowing the walls to regulate temperature and humidity. This factor also creates better sound absorption improving acoustics. The clay is mold & mildew resistant. There is no on site waste as the clay comes from the earth and can return to the earth. The finishes are easily repaired. “From the aesthetic value, through creating healthier surroundings, to a product that is sustainable Claymasters Kelowna provides a positive package for interior finishes,” says Monty.
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Okanagan Timber Frame - “Timber framed entrances and covered walk ways can dramatically alter the curb appeal of your home,” says Todd Roberts from Okanagan Timber Frame (www.oktimber.com). “This can reduce or even eliminate the amount of shovelling you have to do at your home at Big White or Silver Star by covering your walk way, entrance with a dramatic structural timber frame.” Outdoor living spaces are the easiest way to bring the comfort and grandeur of timber framing to your home. “Extend your ‘dining al fresco season’ with the addition of a fireplace,” he says. “Locally harvested timber is the greenest building material available.” It is also more energy efficient, reducing the carbon footprint since it is a shorter distance to the mill. “Our timber frames are produced in a local shop. Shop production/pre fabrication of the timber frame in our shop insures limited waste on site and an impressively short set up time/construction period on site”, Todd adds.
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Okanagan
HOME Fall 2011
From The Forest - (www.fromtheforest.ca) The buildings which first created this city and the country we live in, do not need to end in uncertain destruction. Instead, they can be re-birthed into a beautiful, timeless construction. In this way, their character continues to grow and live. Fred and Brenda Everets, owners of From the Forest, have a very unique business of milling reclaimed wood from old buildings. Working closely with demo companies, they walk through each building to take stock of its history and acquire a vision for what the wood will be used for after it has been reclaimed. The process to reclaim the product is slow because of the care that must be taken during the deconstruction process. In determining how the wood will be re-used, the size of the product is the main determining factor. If the product is large enough, Fred Everet says that “beams can be made out of this material,
and with our lock miter system, we can create some very impressive faux beams.” In considering what new creations will be made from the old wood, customers bring their wishes to the Everets. And though tables, doors and fireplace mantels are the most popular choice, they also make railings, arbour trellises, structural beams and posts, furniture, floors, and cabinets. Integrating glass into their creations accentuates and beautifies the antiquity of the wood they use. What started with something as simple as putting mirrors into bathrooms, has lead to the installation of heavy glass into the reclaimed fir railings, and installing glass shower doors. This has proved to be a stunning mix of Old and New. Asked what customers will get from the experience of using modern glass with refinished wood, the Everets answer, “When you use glass with the old wood, its beauty is never obstructed giving the best of both worlds.”
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In Style Home Décor & Furnishings - In their second year of operation at their Banks Road location, Duane and Mona Mueller of IN STYLE HOME DÉCOR & FURNISHINGS (www.instylehomedecor.ca) offer a great variety of Rustic and Mexican solid wood furniture and accessories for your home. The warmth of a wood dining table, coffee table or bedroom suite will give you years of enjoyment. “We’ve recently added a new solid wood furniture manufacturer,” says Mona Mueller. “With a huge new variety of bedroom, kitchen and living room furniture, our selection has never been better. We carry a lot of one-of-a-kind items you can’t find in a box store.” The store carries a unique selection of indoor and outdoor pottery, iron furniture & lamps, wall art and metal art, mirrors and outdoor canvas art. We look forward to meeting each homeowner and hope to making their selection process easy and enjoyable. Their choices are personal and will be in their home for some time. We want to make sure they love their new purchase. In Style Home Décor & Furnishings will soon be changing their store name to Santa Fe Furniture.
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Pure Granite Rocks! - Whether you choose to replace BOTH the cabinetry AND countertops, or simply the countertops during your kitchen renovation project: there is little doubt that upgrading your countertops to Granite or Silestone is one of the best investments in your home. “The immediate pay-off is the beauty, durability and low maintenance that your new countertops bring. (Granite and Quartz are the two top-rated kitchen countertop materials according to CONSUMER REPORTS MAGAZINE, rating equally for resistance to heat, scratching and impact.),” says Clark Omand, president of Pure Granite Rocks! (www.puregraniterocks.com). “Indeed, in this soft Real Estate environment, we have seen a marked increase in the number of kitchen renovations being done to assist in selling a house,” he says. “The theory being that it is the house on the street with the beautiful stone countertops that is going to bring the first buyer, and indeed, if your house does not have them, then the prospective buyer will simply discount their offer by the amount required to put them in.
Maui on my Okanagan
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By
HOME FALL 2011
Mind R aymond
M
Oel ric h
aui, Hawaii, the most spoken words in the traveller’s language outside of “On my VISA card please.” There are plenty of reasons why Maui has been voted “Best Island” by readers of Conde Nast Traveller for more than a dozen years in a row. That would include nearly every Canadian I have met that has been to the island, and many that long to go as well. Everyone has their own reasons to love Maui and their favourite memories, such as Lahaina and the lovely beaches of Ka’anapali, the championship golf courses or the scenic road to Hana or just to see the thousands of humpback whales that migrate to Maui’s warm waters year after year. This is not a travel article per se, but rather an economic glimpse into the annual passage of tens if not hundreds of thou-
sands of Canadians that make up part of the estimated 1.7 million visitors to Maui each year. Consider the impact of tourism in the Okanagan each year and raise it nearly TEN FOLD and you have an idea how valuable visitors are to an island roughly the same size as the Okanagan and about the same population. To put this into perspective imagine nearly two MILLION visitors a year in the Okanagan instead of the estimated 250,000 per year now! Maui is barely 80 kilometers long about 50 kilometers wide at the widest point, about the size of the Okanagan, and a full 70% of the island has NO roads at all. Most of the visitors flock to the western side or “leeward” side where the wind is not so fierce, and some brave the island trade winds to seek out the surfing and other water sports on the famed North Shore. Ironically most of the homes and vacation rentals are from Kapalua to the north to Wailea to the far south, all on the west and south side of the island.
If vacation and tourism is the lifeblood of the island, condo and home rental and ownership is the heart that keeps the economy pumping. It is estimated that as much as 45% to 50% of the tourism trips booked each year for such activities as scuba diving, whale watching, parasailing snorkelling and golf are booked through timeshare operations that underwrite the cost of these activities. It is hard to ignore the ‘$19 whale watching trips’ or ‘$29 round of golf’ to sit through a four hour timeshare presentation, especially when you have four kids and a limited budget. “About 25% of those people that DO sit through the presentations actually BUY a timeshare in Maui” according to one Realtor we spoke with, so they are immensely lucrative ventures for the timeshare companies looking to sell condo projects to visitors, many of them travelling to the island barely two weeks a year.
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For those that opt to stay longer, and many DO live on Maui for up to six months a year, the lure of home ownership is too much to resist, much to the delight of the Realtors on the island. “We LOVE the Canadians” says the Realtor. “They buy a lot of homes and live here for weeks and months at a time, often renting out their units to other Canadians, who refer even more Canadians when they get back home.” Apparently there is a large contingency of visitors from Western Canada, a fact I can personally attest to. When my family and I were at the Aston Resort in June we discovered EVERYONE in the pool that night, or cooking steaks at the BBQ was either from Alberta or BC, including one couple and two families from Kelowna. Most of the visitors do rent hotel or condos when they visit, but a surprising number own homes or condos, often letting them sit vacant or rent them out when they are not there. One other alternative is 50% ownership, where one family or couple will own half and another will own the other half. It is an ideal solution for Canadians when the law only allows visitors to be outside Canada for no longer than six months. In essence
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TWO Canadian couples could each own half and then share the costs of the home equally. The airlines have direct flights from Kelowna to Hawaii and there are dozens of flights each week into Maui from all across Canada, Bellingham and Seattle. When we flew the one-way tickets to Hawaii were barely $200 each, less than the cost to fly to Winnipeg (and a WHOLE lot more interesting when you land unless you are FROM Winnipeg and anxious to get home!) With the sandy beaches welcoming shirtsleeves and shorts instead of windy winter with mitts and boots, no wonder more Canadians than ever have discovered Maui. Realtors see an increase in Canadian ownership now with the strong dollar, and it will continue to rise from now on. See for yourself, click on the real estate magazine listed below at www.MauiRealEstateGuide.com and call the Realtors on the homes that excite you the most. Who knows, perhaps YOU too will decide you want to live there part time just like thousands of other Okanagan residents do now.
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Okanagan
HOME FALL 2011
BUSINESS
BY KERI-LYNN OELRICH
H
ave you e v e r dreamed of getting out of the corporate world, or maybe about being your own boss? How about doing something different? The opportunity is here, the time to make an investment. Business Finders Canada (www.businessfinderscanada. com) is here to help. “According to industry statistics, over 90 per cent of the people who begin a search to buy a business fail to ever complete a purchase,” says Steve Harvey, president and CEO of Business Finders Canada. The company “helps business owners sell their business in a confidential manner to qualified buyers,” he explains. Through a blind business profile they begin to gather information that is only shared with serious clients who are
able to buy your business in both a financial and operational manner. Not to be taken lightly, the duo pulls no punches in being totally honest with their clients. “Having been an entrepreneur from an early age, I have experienced and I understand the range of emotions that buyers and sellers experience through the process,” says sales associate and franchise director Nelson Bayford. “I also understand that business is not linear and there are many challenges and obstacles to success. Bayford brings a view of what it takes to really succeed in owning your own business. Business Finders Canada works with both buyers and sellers. They work with the seller to establish a fair market value and arrange proper documentation position your business and financial information to posiproperly for sale tion the business for sale, working closely with lawyers and accountants. “We don’t just qualify the buyer, we also qualify the seller to ensure we provide quality to both parties,” says Steve Harvey. At any given time, the company will have 20 to 30 businesses listed. Bayford notes, however, “We are not just a listing service and are very particular about the businesses we accept for listing. As each business is unique, we must be able to step into the owners shoes and take the time to ana-
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lyze its financials and the nature and potential of the business.” Harvey and Bayford are specialised—business brokerage is all they do. Business Finders Canada is in the business of SELLING businesses. And they expect good things in the future. Bayford says prospects for the next five to ten years are “really good” as the Okanagan/Thomspon is “a world-class destination” with a well-educated and affluent population. It is also a very desirable relocation and retirement destination from other areas of Canada and abroad.” With the decline of sales in many businesses in the last several years, market values have been affected and somewhat softened. Bayford says this has created many very good opportunities for buyers seeking to purchase a business in the Okanagan-Thomspon region. In regards to sellers, it is more important than ever, Bayford explains, to position a business properly for sale. An owner has a perceived value of his company, but it is a whole different ball-
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game to get that across to the buyer. Financial records that show market strength, niche and potential to have on-going sales and growth potential are key. Business Finders works with sellers to establish a valuation, taking into account things like cash flow, assets and earnings before tax. Bayford says that while this is not a perfect science, because each business has unique features and benefits, “we can establish a fair market value and starting point for negotiations. As a general rule of thumb buyers are willing to pay approximately three times adjusted cash flow.” Don’t try to buy or sell your business alone, get the professional help of Business Finders Canada.
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Okanagan
HOME FALL 2011
Wine
Rack Ages of Okanagan
HOME FALL 2011
BY DAVID TRIFUNOV
I
t’s the kind of project that comes along once in a lifetime for a cabinetmaker, Ron Syrnyk says. The Kelowna sales manager at Kekuli Bay Cabinetry (www.kekulibaycabinetry.com) recently completed a private wine room for a client that may have set a new standard in the Okanagan … maybe even the country. “If I could use the term, going from the ski hill into the hottub,” he says. “You know that feeling where you just go … ‘ah.’ That’s kind of what happens, the atmosphere it creates.” As soon as you walk into the room, it’s the atmosphere that’s created by the colours and the design.” The $60,000 wine room is a modest 8’x12’, or about 96 square feet. Still, it features a $15,000 cooling system that compensates for body temperature when guests arrive to peruse vintages. The
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racks themselves are constructed of walnut and finished by hand with tung oil, an imported product that gives wood a golden hue and controls off-gassing. “It was hand-rubbed and not sprayed,” Syrnyk says. “If you look at that room and imagine everything being rubbed three times, it was a long process.” The project began with the design and research phase from December to March, Syrnyk says. After that, it took about eight weeks of construction until completion at the end of June. The room was stripped to its studs. The contractor used moisture-resistant foam insulation and specific drywall, paint and flooring. The cooling system, Syrnyk noted as “probably one of the most complicated cooling systems in North America.” The motion-sensor lights don’t heat the room, either. Not bad for a room that holds 600 bottles of wine. “It took longer to do this wine room than a lot of houses,”
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HOME fall 2011
Reds White
Big
At BIG
Syrnyk says with a laugh. “The temperature of that room doesn’t change a half of a degree regardless of what’s going on,” he adds. “It’s an insulated exterior door. The temperature of the wine is taken from inside the bottle. There’s a special probe that goes into a test bottle filled with liquid. The humidity is checked by an outside source.” The house itself is elegantly decorated, yet modest with a country-cottage style that takes advantage of an antique white palate and beige floor tiles, for example, says Syrnyk – nothing you wouldn’t see in other houses in the affluent Lakeshore Road neighbourhood of Kelowna. But the wine room is certainly exceptional. What made the project exciting for Kekuli Bay was the level of sophistication and complexity. Syrnyk says he’s completed many custom projects in his career, including one-off entertainment units and closets, but when it comes to kitchens and bathrooms, often designers have their hands tied. You have to include a wall, base cabinets, upper cabinets, windows and appliances. With this project, he was pushed to think well beyond the box. “It’s almost paint-by-number where you fill in the blanks, right? To be able to truly create from scratch something where my juices flowed,” he said. “Even though it was a small room, what we got to put into that … tons of customizable features. It was a lot of the creativity designers long to use.” Kekuli Bay separates itself from the competition by designing and manufacturing its entire product line – from start to finish – right in Vernon. The team will walk you through your purchase, from the consultation process to delivery and installation. Some of its more notable customers of late include Firelight Lodge at Silver Star Mountain Resort and the Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort in Osoyoos. The manufacturing facility and Kekuli’s choice of raw material also reflect the company’s commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. The cabinetmakers use finishing materials free of hazardous air pollutants (HAPS) and are also working toward offering water-based finishes. Wood waste, offcuts and sawdust power water heaters that keep their building warm. The process is 50 per cent more efficient than conventional gas systems and also reduces the stress on local landfills.
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ig White is hosting their 4th annual wine tasting event this December. Big Reds at Big White is a perfect way to end wine festival season. About 300 people, mostly locals, will attend the event representing over 100 different wines. As well, the finest chefs at Big White will be preparing a “night of sensory delights,” says the Big White web site. “It has provided a good platform for most wineries to access the marketplace without interfering with Christmas planning,” explains Trevor Hanna, Director of Food and Beverages at Big White. Big Whites will follow in March, focusing on white wines instead of red. “Last year was the inaugural event and was met with positive reaction from our guests as well as our suppliers,” says Hanna. The event takes place December 10 from 6 to 9 at the Village Centre Mall and is $50 per person. See you there!
www.OwnCanyonDesert.com
The developer reserves the right to make modifications and changes to building design, specefications, features, floorplans and pricing. E&OE.