Summer 2012

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Natural Ventilation.

Solar Shading.

"«i ÊÕ«ÊÞ ÕÀÊ Û }Êë>Vi Retractable screens offer all the benefits of conventional screens, while ensuring that your décor and views remain unobstructed when you don’t need them. £ nnn * /" ÊÊÊUÊÊÜÜÜ°« > Ì ÃVÀii ðV Product shown: Executive™ Motorized Retractable Screens

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This incredible estate is currently available for Private Viewing Experiences and a Buy It Now price is posted online for those looking to snatch it up before the upcoming auction. For more information please visit www.thegaragesale.co/blockbuster23

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A COMMUNITY UNLIKE ANY OTHER Come see the Village of Kettle Valley – a thoughtfully planned, award-winning community unlike any other. Here you will find stunning streetscapes, beautiful parks, extensive nature trails, breathtaking lake and city views, a charming Village Centre and state-of-the-art elementary school. For more information about the Village of Kettle Valley and available home and lot packages, visit our Discovery Centre.

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Kettle Valley Discovery Centre 447 Lakepointe Drive discoverycentre@kettlevalley.com 250.764.2199 kettlevalley.com

DOWNTOWN KELOWNA

WINNER OF 8 INTERNATIONAL GOLD NUGGET AWARDS

WINNER OF UDI AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE

WINNER OF THE CHBA AWARD BEST COMMUNITY IN CANADA

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INSIDE SUMMER 2012 FEATURES 18

The Auction

34

Kellet Project

38

Sonoma Pines

44

Rammed Earth

48

Predator Ridge

52

The Benchmark

ISSN 1913-0759 www.OkanaganHome.com info@okanaganhome.com

Page 18

Publishers: Justin O’Connor, Christy Hughes Chief Editor: Christy Hughes Managing Editor: Bobbi-Sue Menard Art Director: Tyson Henderson

Renovation Adventure Page 18

LIFESTYLE 46

Misconduct Wine Co.

Advertising Executives: Justin O’Connor, Arlene Paulsen

Page 48

DEPARTMENTS 29

Kitchens | Efficient Entertaining

30

Planning | Closets

57

Online | Inspired Backyard Makeover

58

Artist Profile | Dorothy Tinning

60

Builder Profile | Bellamy Homes

62

Materials | Historic Floors

66

Accessorize | Sofas

COLUMNS 10

News

14

Real Estate Review

15

Denis On Design

16

Wealth

17

Legal

26

Home Improvement

28

Kitchen Essentials

59

Green Housing

Issue 24, Summer 2012

Contributors: Justin O’Connor, Christy Hughes, Bobbi-Sue Menard, Darcy Nybo, David Wylie, Don Gerein, Denis Apchin, Paulo Araujo, Richard Montgomery, Shell Busey, Grant De Montreuil, Keith Veerman Okanagan HOME Magazine Box 153, 105-3957 Lakeshore Road Kelowna, BC V1W 1V3 www.OkanaganHome.com 250.826.9961 info@okanaganhome.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.

COVER: Photo by Shawn Talbot

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Nature Inspired Living

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From the Publishers

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s we write, we find ourselves en route to the Fashion Meets Architecture on the Bench (FAB) event in Penticton. It seems there is rarely a spare moment in our days as publishers of Okanagan HOME! FAB is a chance for Vintage & Vogue clothing store in Penticton to showcase their collection of classic trends on the runway. What makes this event unique is that the fashion show is being held in a beautiful Barnett Construction custom home on Naramata Bench, with a breathtaking view of Okanagan Lake. This spectacular venue gleams with a detailed and purposeful aesthetic, pulled together by Interior Designer, Maria Nordlund. We look forward to seeing this beautiful South Okanagan home in person, but have prepared a glimpse for you as one of our principal features in this Summer Issue.

Another show stopping feature that we have lined up in this copy of Okanagan HOME, is our cover story – a 7,400 square foot Timberhaven Homes masterpiece. This beautifully appointed estate is slated to be auctioned off to the highest bidder next year. The auction, put on by The Garage Sale, brings non-traditional real estate sales to the Okanagan market. Using the age-old auction method in this application is helpful in bringing an increased sense of urgency, in a real estate market that rarely produces this sentiment. As it turns out, this process is becoming more popular for luxury home sales in markets such as the United States, the Caribbean and abroad. When it comes to real estate investment, one look through this home may leave you feeling a little progressive yourself!

Deviations from the ordinary may be a theme this issue, as we explore the stabilized rammed earth construction method in a Solum Rammed Earth creation. This home is one of a kind, inside and out.

The sedimentary rock-like layers in the structure of the residence have an appeal that can be attributed to the hand-made, natural components. Not to mention that these homes are efficient to cool and heat, making them a very ‘down to earth’ option, so to speak.

If you are looking for ideas to liven up the home you already have, look no further than our Planning department this issue where we explore the growing trend of sophisticated closets. These closets do more than just house garments – your closet can help with organization and the flow of time in your daily routine. More than that, a well-planned closet can provide a much-needed escape for a few moments of peaceful serenity.

Photo by David Szabo Whatever your motivation for reading Okanagan HOME, we are sure that you will enjoy what we have put together this summer, and look forward to seeing you out and about over the sunny summer months in the Okanagan Valley.

Justin & Christy We want to hear from our readers! Please write us with your editorial ideas and feedback to info@okanaganhome.com so that we can continue to provide you with quality content.

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News

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he Mission Group and BigSteelBox have merged. Both companies are familiar names in the Okanagan. BigSteelBox has become the fastest growing moving and storage company in Western Canada with 18 locations. Mission Group has developed and sold over $600 million in residential real estate by providing original designs and excellent customer service. Both companies are privately held and will continue to operate under their own brand identity. Mission Group subsidiary MGC Construction is one of the largest builders in the Okanagan.

BigSteelBox rents and sells storage containers for residential construction, industrial and commercial use. One expanding part of business is BigSteelBox modification. BigSteelBoxes have been modified for many uses including offices, housing, guard shacks, and mobile labs. The newly merged companies will work together in this and other markets.

The Village of Kettle Valley has released a new grouping of view lots in The Pointe neighborhood, sized to accommodate pools and three car garages. The lots are larger than the traditional lots The Village of Kettle Valley has released in the past. The Pointe has been designed to feel slightly separate from the Village, while retaining full access to all Village amenities.

Next up on the agenda for The Village of Kettle Valley is The Highlands, located on the south eastern side of the neighborhood; this new phase of lots will be available soon.

The Village of Kettle Valley only has about 120 lots left to be developed and new builders have been added to their select builders list. kettlevalley.com Dilworth Homes has sold out their townhome neighborhoods at Wycliffe at Selkirk, Cascade Pointe and Monashee Rise. The company is launching two new townhome projects at Tower Ranch and in the Selkirk neighborhood on Dilworth Mountain in Kelowna.

Tower Ranch is a golf course community on the rolling east slopes of Kelowna with stunning views of the City and Lake.

Dilworth Homes is building North Pointe on Eighteen, located across from the clubhouse of the award winning Tower Ranch Golf and Country Club.

The final neighborhood on at the top of Dilworth Mountain in the center of Kelowna, is the Summit at Selkirk. There will be 20 semi-detached homes and the show home at 588 Harrogate Lane is already open. dilworthhomes.com Melcor Developments has finished paving a new section of road with disclosure available for 13 new lots available in June in Black Mountain. Four new duplex lots will also be released at Black Mountain in June as the neighborhood continues to add a mix of single family and semi-detached town homes to the neighborhood. blackmountain.com New Kelowna company, Peregrine Precisionworks is a custom etching firm working with glass, wood, and metal. Retail 10 Okanagan HOME Summer 2012

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customers of the firm, which also does parts cutting for commercial customers, can choose to have custom laser engraving in a wide variety of materials - from privately engraved wood wine boxes to imagery on glass and metal for statement making walls in the home. The company can also etch granite, aluminum, ceramic, Corian and more. The only limit is your imagination. peregrineprecisionworks. com Discovery Glass and Aluminum in Kelowna is now a dealer of Western Window Systems door and window products.

Discovery Glass now offers large scale bi-folding and multi-slide door systems. The company also offers casement and awning windows, and hinged doors which have a superior fit and finish to the standard commercial grade products commonly used in curtain walls. These products give homeowners and builders the opportunity to locally source the moving glass walls that define the indoor/outdoor lifestyle.

New install techniques developed by Discovery Glass make it easy for trades to install commercial glass wall and door products for home owners wanting the look, feel and durability that commercial options offer. discoveryglass.ca West Harbour, a Troika Developments and Quadra Homes lakefront neighborhood, located just north of the WAC Bennett Bridge in West Kelowna, has had a busy spring with construction started on 10 new homes. The team has added Bobbie Riley as an associate to help keep up with the demand. westharbourkelowna.com Jillian Harris was called on by BC Hydro to do an energy efficient home makeover for the winner of the latest Power Smart contest. The Power Smart contest encouraged BC Hydro customers to enter their top power saving tip. The winning tip was by Sheila Anderson, “Wash laundry in cold

water and to cut down on dryer time, put a dry towel in the dryer with the wet clothes.” Anderson was thrilled to receive her new washer, dryer and EnergySTAR dishwasher.

Harris moved to Kelowna in the past year and is best known for her stint on TV’s The Bachelor. She has recently signed for a new design TV show after wrapping Extreme Makeover, Home Edition. Harris enjoys the work with BC Hydro and appreciates the difference energy conservation can make, “Power is precious, there are great resources out there to conserve energy.” bchydro.com/powersmart; jillianharris.com.

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Real Estate Review KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GETTING WHEN BUYING A STRATA

By Don Gerein

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trata properties now make up a large part of our market and they give rise to a lot of questions and potential complications. Many people have been involved in a few standard house purchases, but their move to downsize involves them in their first purchase of a strata. Lately, this area of the business has generated the most questions. Strata properties have their own legislation in B.C. and a protocol for disclosure of certain information.

When you purchase a strata property you must be provided with a “Form B Package”. This is a rather thick collection of documents provided by a third party (the strata management company) on behalf of the strata corporation. The package will contain current financial information, copies of minutes of the meetings, strata plan, and confirmation of the very important parking stall, storage locker and other facts you need to know. This is important information about the complex you are buying into and it is a boring accumulation of facts. You must read it and formulate your questions for presentation to your realtor or lawyer for clarification. Be sure you are clear on the rules

regarding pets, rentals, and age restrictions.

As you view the documents you will notice portions of the strata property with notations of LCP or CP. The most common areas of concern are patios or decks, parking stall, and storage units which can receive either notation depending on the rationale of the developer at the time of registration of the strata plan. Limited Common Property (LCP) is property that goes with your unit and gives you exclusive use of the area. Common Property (CP) belongs to the strata corporation and they have control over its use. While they can give agreements to you regarding use of common property, they can also modify the terms from time to time which can lead to surprises. Make sure you are clear on what you are purchasing.

To protect yourself, make sure the professionals representing you receive all of your questions and H concerns and you receive their feedback. O Don Gerein is the Managing Broker at MacDonald Realty Kelowna. Born and raised in Kelowna, Gerein has continued with his family’s orchardist history and currently grows peaches in South East Kelowna. He has been in the real estate business for 36 years, most of them as a broker.

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Denis On Design Interior Designers

By Denis Apchin

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erhaps you have only a small budget to decorate or remodel your home.

That doesn’t mean your house can’t be big on style. In today’s market, the homes that are selling are those that offer something unique like a bright open space, a clever built-in storage solution, or a feature that makes a small space far more functional. Putting that little extra something into a house doesn’t have to cost a fortune. If done right, not only do you get to enjoy the space, you can also yield a significant return on your investment.

If you want your space to be unique and special then the most important part of the project is to hire a professional interior designer. They are trained to help you with whatever budget you can afford. Whether it is to just select a wall colour or to completely redecorate your whole home, it will be the best investment you can make.

To find the designer that is right for you, get recommendations from friends and family who have worked with a designer. Searching online to look at a designer’s portfolio of work can give you an understanding of a designer’s past projects. A professional

designer will welcome a call to set up an initial consultation.

Fear not if the word “Designer” sounds expensive and unattainable. Yes there are design fees for services but these are minimal compared to the savings you would gain in time and material expenses. By utilizing their access to suppliers and sub trades with specialty products and wholesale discounts, your total project cost could be less than if you were to shop around on your own.

Working with a designer will help you keep the finished project within budget. By making all of the key decisions before moving to the construction phase, your designer can help you streamline the process and help you eliminate costly change orders. That means no unknown costs, no surprises and no time overruns. With careful project planning in the design phase your project will flow smoothly from start to finish. When it comes time for resale the less generic your home is, the easier it will be to sell and get your asking price. O H Denis Apchin is an award winning, Okanagan based designer of spectacular, luxury homes.

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Wealth How much debt is too much debt?

By Paulo Araujo

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ith interest rates remaining near record lows, Canadian households continue to borrow more and more, pushing average debt levels ever higher. Given this potentially delicate situation, how much debt is too much debt?

This is a tricky question as there is no clear-cut answer. There is no denying the average debt carried by Canadian households is on the rise.

At the end of 2011 it stood around 151 per cent.

This means for every dollar we earn, we owe $1.51 of annual gross income. Fortunately, the rate at which we are taking on debt is slowing.

When assessing debt levels, or more specifically, an individual’s ability to service their debt, there are some guidelines that all lending professionals follow. Generally, monthly housing costs (including mortgage, property taxes, utilities, etc.) should not exceed 35 per cent of gross monthly income. When you factor in credit card debt or other loans, the amount of money we are putting toward debt servicing becomes much higher as a proportion of income for many people.

Average household debt figures include mortgages. The in-

crease in home prices over the last decade has influenced the amount of debt individuals have taken on; however, this has been somewhat offset recently by low interest rates.

Recently, there has been an increase in people using home equity lines of credit (HELOC). We recommend HELOCs only to be used by people who can stay within their budget. If not managed properly, HELOCs can leave people at their maximum borrowing limit 10 years from now and not having paid down any debt. The government is looking at adding restrictions that will set maximum limits and rules that will force HELOC users to ‘term out’ or turn their line of credit into a more traditional product with blended monthly payments of interest and principal.

Ultimately, the appropriate level of debt depends on the type of debt and the ability to absorb interest rate increases. All indicators say rates are only headed one way – up. To ensure you stay on top of your payments, it pays to plan for future increases and build an interest buffer into your budget.

H O

Paulo Araujo, is Senior Manager of Retail Credit at Valley First Credit Union, with branches throughout the Okanagan, Thompson and Similkameen Valleys. Visit valleyfirst.com or any branch for more information.

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Legal BEQUEATHING REAL ESTATE TO YOUR CHILDREN

BY RICHARD MONTGOMERY

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ost parents would like to provide a good inheritance to their children, but there are important issues to consider when making a gift involving a home or cottage to a group of your children.

Parents need to consider whether it is the parents or the children who want to keep the property in the family. Often it is the parents and not the children. In such cases, if the children get the property but do not want to keep it, then they must decide what to do. They may feel a moral obligation to respect the parent’s wishes and keep the property even if they do not really want to. If there is not a unanimous consensus amongst them on this issue, arguments and hard feelings may occur.

Even if the children do want to keep the property, they must work out a way to equitably share the costs and usage. They need to be fair and equal, but often family members have different finances and different ideas, thus making it difficult if not impossible to reach an agreement. Again there is the possibility that

arguments and hard feelings may occur.

If an agreement is reached for usage and ongoing cost sharing, then there is still the possibility that one child may default, thus putting siblings in an awkward position of having to either cover for the defaulting sibling or having to enforce the agreement against them. There is also the likelihood that one of the children will at some point in time need to sell out for personal or financial reasons. The others may wish to keep the property and may not be in a position to buy out their sibling who wants to sell.

Again arguments and hard feelings may occur.

If a bequest of real property is to be given, it is prudent to work out a co-ownership agreement, including cost sharing, usage and a clear exit strategy, before making the gift so that there is little for the children to argue about.

The last thing we should be leaving our kids with is a bequest that can lead to arguments and hard feelings. o H Richard Montgomery is a partner at Montgomery Miles Law Firm. His business clients are varied and include proprietorships, partnerships, companies, investors, developers, and financial institutions. His real estate clients include lending and mortgage work to conveyancing, leasing and development transactions.

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The

Auction The Okanagan gets glamorous at night in this hillside home perched just above the lake.

By David Wylie

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n elegant Okanagan mansion will soon be going once... going twice ... and sold to the highest bidder.

The new custom-built home on a mountainside in what’s dubbed “Kelowna’s most exclusive development” is being sold in a non-traditional way -- on the auction block.

“The Garage Sale is about distinguishing ourselves from the traditional real estate process,” says Angela Roy, production manager and inhouse counsel for The Garage Sale.

Located at 23-180 Sheerwater Court, the house is in the company’s “buy it now” phase, where anyone can purchase the 7,400-squarefoot, five-bedroom, five-and-a-half bath home for the buy it now price of $8 million. But once that phase has passed, the house will be auctioned off.

While a date hasn’t yet been set for the live auction -- because the company wants the development’s private marina to be completed before the sale -- Roy says she expects bidders to push the price up to fair market value.

The sprawling contemporary estate, built

by Timberhaven Homes, is a glass, stone and wood masterpiece located on 2.55 acres. Named the Nautica Vista, the home boasts spectacular views of Okanagan Lake. The backyard includes a pool with a swim-up bar, a pool house that has a yoga studio, cedar sauna and steam room, and two outdoor kitchens. If that isn’t enough lounging space, the home has also an expansive rooftop patio.

Inside, the home is tastefully finished with sapele hardwood flooring and heated marble.

For vino lovers, there’s a unique underground

Photos by Shawn Talbot

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The classic lines of the Mediterranean inspired home overlooking the lake and vineyard at Bonitas Winery.

This page: Water is a primal element in this home. Above: The infinity pool. Right: The intricately tiled shower delivers a therapeutic experience, rivaled only by the serenity of the tub, opposite page.

wine cave tunneled through natural rock.

Roy says the property stands out, even in a city known for gorgeous homes.

“It’s incredible,” she says. “It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before.

It’s exciting for us.”

The interior finishing was designed by Kelowna’s Begrand Fast Design Inc. The design is by Loren Harms of Living Design, a Canmore firm.

The Garage Sale has held a couple of auctions already. The first house the company tried to sell in August 2009 didn’t reach the reserve bid, which is the lowest bid the seller would accept. The bidding reached $4.4 million for the Highpointe Drive estate, but the reserve had been set at $5.2 million. Al-

Inside, the home is tastefully finished with sapele hardwood flooring and heated marble.

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most three years later, the house is still on the Above: The shared bar area with the market. This auction kitchen is designed to easily entertain will go ahead without a a crowd. reserve bid.

For people who haven’t been through the auction process, there’s some hesitance, says Roy. “People could perceive there to be a risk involved,” she says. “Some of the fear could come from a potential seller; they don’t know how to deal with the emotion in selling by auction.”

However, Roy says The Garage Sale takes great pains to

market the house before the auction. Potential buyers have the chance to spend a night in the house, hosted by the company’s on-staff chef, so they have a chance to explore it more intimately.

“We’re not just trying to market the home to just the local population,” says Roy. “We have a global marketing strategy where we look at the property and the demographic it appeals to. Then we market to reach that demographic directly.”

The company has one property at a time that it is completely focused on. It is a contrast to the regular real estate market which often doesn’t have the same level of detailed and personalized marketing involved, says Roy.

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The principal suite is a study in perfect tailoring. Above: The coffered ceiling in the sleeping area is paired with modern hotel style bedding.

To get the auction crowd warmed up, there are a couple of wine collections being sold: a 1,000-bottle oldworld collection and a 200-bottle B.C. collection. Both are being stored in the home’s wine cave and are expected to be auctioned off as additional lots at H the live auction. O

Supplie rs All indoor & outdoor furniture/all home accessories & lamps | Z Decor Garage door | JP Garage Doors Interior railing/railing glass/curtain wall/showers/mirrors/canopy glass/sliding glass doors | Discovery Glass & Aluminum Porcelain, marble, onyx tile/carpet/hardwood | Ploutos Enterprises Ltd. Quartz trough bathroom sink/quartz vessel bowl bathroom sink/ recreation room countertop/pool bar top | Floform Countertops

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Home Improvement

Tips to Beat the Heat This Summer

BY SHELL BUSEY

W

ith summer on the way, here are a few simple tips you can follow to stay comfortable, being as energy efficient as possible.

• Fans use less energy than air conditioners but should only be operated when the room is occupied.

• Keep the pilot light off on your gas fireplace during the summer months and when it is not being used regularly.

• Skylight Shades - Skylights are a great way to let natural light enter your home, but the intense heat and light of the sun can heat up the interior of your home in a hurry, and make that natural light almost unbearable. An easy solution to this is the Sun Blocker, an installed exterior screen that can reduce up to 95 per cent of UV heat and glare coming through your skylight.

• Studies have proven that homes with fireplaces use 30 per cent more energy than homes without fireplaces. The Fireplace Plug or Draftstopper is designed to reduce energy lost up the chimney, from home heating and cooling, when the fireplace is not in use. The Draftstopper is an easy to install, inflatable PVC ‘pillow’ available through online outlets.

• Compact fluorescent and LED lighting use much less energy than incandescent lamps, last much longer and produce the same amount of light without producing heat.

• Heat Pumps – they are an efficient method of heating a home during the cold winter months and also cooling it during the summer months. A heat pump looks like an air conditioner, but that’s only the outside appearance. It actually has two functions based on the same principles for both. In warm weather situations, the heat pump works as a normal air conditioner. It extracts heat from inside the home and transfers it to the outdoor air through a condensing process. In colder weather, however, the process reverses, collecting heat from the outdoor air and transferring it inside your home. The heat pump pulls the heat from this cold outdoor air and sends it inside to warm your home,

using a similar process that a refrigerator would • Air conditioners can be costly to operate if used ineffectively. It’s important to ensure that your homes windows are closed before you turn on your air conditioner, so as to ensure the warm air from outside is not working against the air conditioner attempting to cool your home’s interior.

Also check your home’s humidity levels. Moist air is substantially more difficult to heat or cool, and the drier the air is, the easier it will be on both your heating and cooling equipment.

There are also ductless air conditioning units available for homes or condominiums without ducting such as Mr. Slim.

• Windows and draft proofing - Replacing your old windows with a new energy efficient model will help you keep your home cooler in the summer. Keep in mind that the installation is just as important as the window. Choose a vinyl framed window that has substantial chambers or air cavities in the structure of the vinyl extrusion. It is also important that the glass spacer used is manufactured using a material that is resistant to heat transfer.

Make sure that the glass includes at least Low Emissive Squared. Low-e2 windows have a clear coating on the glass to keep heat out during the summer and heat in during the winter. This will help reduce the heat and ultraviolet rays which can fade furniture and flooring.

By caulking around your windows, and sealing electrical outlets (using foam seals) and other areas that air will escape or enter your home, you are increasing the efficiency of your home, so the air you cool with your air conditioner is not just escaping outside through these areas. It’s a simple job that takes minimal effort, but the energy savings are definitely worth it.

By following my home improvement advice, you can make your home more comfortable in the hot summer months. For more information regarding who or what to use to keep your family cool H this summer, visit AskShell.com o

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CH_(S

The Natural Place To Call Home

* Price includes $25,000 discount. Developer pays net HST only. Offer subject to change without notice.

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Kitchen Essentials Cooking for Summer Guests

By Grant de Montreuil

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am often asked ‘who does the cooking at your house’ or my spouse is told, ‘well we don’t all have an executive chef in our house to do all the cooking’. The truth of it is we cook together, from gathering groceries in the summer from our garden to final lay out, Cooking at home versus cooking in a professional kitchen are really two different animals.

As an executive chef in a professional kitchen, I can dirty dishes with impunity and have most of the jobs divided up between numerous prep, steward and scullery employees. In the evenings at home it is important to keep it simple, make a lot of 1 or 2 pan dinners and whenever possible, BBQ! Having said that, my wife and I do a lot of large group dinners – Gold Medal Hockey (22 people), Family Christmas (17 people) or just, lets invite too many people over and feed them (31 people…whew)! This changes the game and like the commercial kitchen, preparation is the key.

For these dinners we usually set out a buffet of 6 to 12 vegetable dishes, a couple of proteins, a vegan option and dessert.

To pull these off, other than when I do a 3 – 10 hour braised

meat dish, I usually start with the vegetables; blanching, grilling, steaming, roasting - whatever fits the item. Cool them off and then arrange them in an oven-proof platter or casserole dish, waiting in the fridge for the dinner hour to arrive.

Then I prep salads, minus the dressing, depending on the recipe. Desserts can sometimes be made the day before. When I choose something along the lines of a chocolate mousse it becomes part of the evenings’ entertainment at our kitchen island.

Depending on the amount of wine, this can be more or less entertaining if you know what I mean!

The idea is to get it all done before your guests arrive so that when the time comes, all you need to do is to reheat the vegetables for a half hour or so in a 250 degree oven, cook the center of the plate item (steak or fish) and lay out all the goodies you’ve been busy preparing throughout the day. You look like a star, and you have time H to enjoy a stress free visit your guests. O Grant de Montreuil is Executive Chef at the Bonfire Grill at The Cove Lakeside Resort in West Kelowna.

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Kitchens

This renovated kitchen delivers space for entertaining and comfort for the home owners.

Efficient Entertaining

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his eight year old kitchen was renovated and redesigned to emphasize functionality and aesthetic value by the team at Westwood Fine Cabinetry in Kelowna. The home owners lived with the original kitchen for four years before the renovation. Prior to the renovation the island was far too large with a bank of bar seating that intruded into the walking and social areas of the space. The appliances were too far apart for an efficient work space. Kati Hadden, Senior Sales Designer with Westwood designed a solution for the home owners that kept the same room size but expanded the livability.

The most obvious design change was the custom island made of Barona cabinets in maple wood with a dark spray and wipe stain. The new island is now the main food prep area. The seating was shifted off to the side around an elevated, curved bar, leaving more room for the cook on the island and more room for guests. The curved bar wrapping around one corner of the island is a game changer in the space, highly visual yet perfectly functional.

The matching custom cabinetry under the bay window is

Photos by Colin Jewall

built high enough to function as a buffet for serving large groups.

The appliances were all shifted to take advantage of the new island configuration.

The Samsung fridge shifted only slightly, but the Kenmore cook top and the sink were arranged to create the classic triangle. The dual Kenmore wall ovens were placed slightly off to the side yet within easy reach of the island.

The finishing details are kept consistent throughout the room. The design team worked with Cambria quartz in Windemere for all surfaces. The simple yet modern pulls are a brushed stainless steel from Richelieu. The three piece crown molding to the ceiling lends a tailored look to the kitchen, while generous under cabinet lighting highlights the creamy quartz.

Details that can’t be seen but are appreciated through use include full extension, dovetailed, soft closing drawers. The cabinet doors all feature incredibly smooth soft close doors.

The liquor cabinet has a custom pullout.

Each element builds a layer of functionality and aesthetic H appeal for the home owners, a perfect renovation solution.O Okanagan HOME Summer 2012 29

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Planning

A closet with classic cabinetry and finishing details, where space is the biggest luxury of all.

Closets

By Darcy Nybo

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ttention to design and utilization of space make the custom heritage homes at Bridges at Glenview Ponds stand out. The development is located on a two-acre park, complete with ponds and bridges.

It’s a home to nurture your soul. Jim Andrews, project manager for Valux Homes says each home is designed from scratch to suit each client, right down to the closet space. One of the mainstays of any good home is storage space, and for that, you need experts. That’s where Lisa and Vince of Tailored Living come in. They use premier Italian fronts, direct from Italy, in all the different wood grains and antique whites. They cut your closet to spec on site so they can account for a tight wall to wall fit.

“Our closets are as unique as our clients,” explains Lisa Hunter. “Our job is to create great looking closets that are functional for the user.”

Functional doesn’t begin to describe the detail that goes into these custom made closets. “We find people are focusing more and more on closets,” says Hunter. “They have become the new kitchens and women are concentrating more on a spa-like or elegant closets to be an extension of their master bedroom or their en-suite.”

Men are getting more involved too, says Hunter. “Men

Photo Courtesy of Closet Tailors

like to joke, ‘Here’s my section’ and then show a small space.

However, men want a masculine feel to the closet and with a his/her concept and we can do that.” Closet planning is best done in the early stages of planning a home in order to budget and maximize your space. So where does one start to design a closet? As Hunter says, each closet is unique. First you have to decide what you want in your closet floor plan, including accessories, tie racks, swivel mirrors, flip and fold ironing boards European pant lifts, pant/slack racks, jewelry trays, and hamper baskets. Each item can go a long way to maximizing your closet and how you use it.

Tailored Living has a unique 3D design system so you can visually see what your finished closet will look like. “You can hang virtual clothing and put virtual shoes, jewelry and accessories in your virtual closet,” laughs Hunter. “We can even put a virtual person in there. You can spin the design all the way around for 360 degree viewing.”

On a recent job, she completed a master closet with a Tiffany chandelier in it. The husband liked it so much he brought a cooler into the space and filled it with beer. According to Hunter it’s not unusual to have mini-fridges and wine/beer coolers in the master bedroom walk-in closet. To her it’s all part of the job. She’s encased safes and created hiding spots, but so far, they haven’t built any secret passageways. O H

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Kellet Project Photos Courtesy of Bonitas

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Photos Courtesy of Wilson Custom Builders

By David Wylie

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he front door to Nick Kellet’s home is two of a kind.

Hand crafted from solid walnut, the massive off-axis door gracefully swings open from about 18 inches in, differentiating it from normal hinged doors. Its hardware is all custom machined, creating an exquisite finish.

It would be one of a kind, but the entrance has a match in the front door to the second home built on the property.

“It’s like walking into a castle,” says Kellet, an Okanagan entrepreneur who co-founded the list-sharing website, List.ly. “I think a house should surprise you every time you enter it.”

The doors are a perfect welcome to two uniquely styled residences built in tandem on a slice of lakefront Braeloch Road property in Kelowna’s Mission.

“I didn’t want to create another conformist craftsman home in the Okanagan,” said Kellet. “Everything about it is a piece of art -- from the garden to the lighting.”

The adventure of building two stand-out homes began after council granted a zoning change in mid- 2009 to Nick and Julie Kellet, from rural residential to two dwelling housing. The pair’s Above: The fabulous views through old 8,000-square-foot the open doors off the kitchen. house, built in the midBelow: One of the statement front 1970s, was too large doors, inviting you in. and inefficient, so they Okanagan HOME Summer 2012 35

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The classic lines of the Mediterranean inspired home overlooking the lake and vineyard at Bonitas Winery.

“I think a house should surprise you every time you enter it.”

- Nick Kellet

decided to demolish it and start fresh.

They hired James Wilson, owner of Wilson Custom Builders, to create two striking urban contemporary homes separated by a 15-foot concrete waterfall.

“His vision for the style of it was different,” says Kellet.

After about two years of construction, the final nails were hammered and the last stroke of paint was brushed in September 2011. The first home is 5,000 square feet, with five Top: The two homes, side by side show off their urban lines and attention to detail. Above: A spacious master bath, featuring a freestanding tub set in a luxurious amount of space.

bedrooms and four bathrooms. The second home is a touch smaller at 4,300 square feet, with four bedrooms and four bathrooms.

The result is a cross between an art gallery and a boutique hotel, with soft, varied finishes -- from the raw steel to corrugated metal paneling to cedar siding -- and vaulted ceilings as high as 25 feet. The floors are polished cement and radiant heated.

The homes also make good use of perhaps the most stunning natural feature: Okanagan Lake.

“There are very few homes that bring the lake in, which is bizarre,” says Kellet. “I open the window and I can hear the water lapping at the shore. It’s amazing to be able to experience that.”

The oversized windows and folding glass wall also ensure the lake is front and centre.

Wilson said pictures of the homes -- as stunning as they are -- don’t do the structures justice.

Exterior concrete blade walls help give the homes their

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A corner view of the kitchen, an outdoor dining alcove with space for a crowd is just beyond the glass doors.

modern look.

“It’s meant to look like concrete,” said Wilson, but it’s a stucco glaze.

Wilson said if he couldn’t find the materials he needed in the Okanagan, he curated them from elsewhere. The walnut for the front doors, for example, was found in Vancouver.

Wilson also singled out the front doors as a key feature.

“That’s kind of our ‘wow’ factor. We don’t do a lot of ‘wow’ factors,” said Wilson. Instead, he said he lets the quality speak for itself, rather than distracting with too many bells and whistles.

“The less detail you have, the more difficult it is to build,” he said, adding most details of the home are inconspicuous, such as the shadow lines that detail the inside corners at the windows. “It suits modern design. It’s very subtle.”

Wilson has also added green features, including solar water heating and grey water recycling.

Wilson said he tries to keep a narrow focus when working on homes by only working on one or two projects at a time.

“I’ve been building homes since my dad dragged me out of bed when I was 13 years old. Right from the time I was 13-14 H years old I’ve been working on $10-million homes.” O

S u p p lie r s Interior hand railing/showers/mirrors/sliding glass door | Discovery Glass & Aluminum Okanagan HOME Summer 2012 37

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Sonoma Pines

Photos Courtesy of Bonitas

Photo Courtesy of Lipsett Photography

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By Darcy Nybo

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here’s an urban oasis that wraps around the fairways of Two Eagles golf course in West Kelowna. It’s called Sonoma Pines and this vibrant Santa Fe style community has been creating quite a buzz for some time now.

Sonoma Pines is a mixture of single-family, multilevel and one-level townhomes; each with their own distinct design, style and feel. On top of that it’s near to everything you need including shopping, dining, movies, and of course, the beach.

There are a multitude of home styles to choose from with ev-

Above and opposite page: The San Marco Transitional colour scheme is highlighted in creamy fabrics from Sticks and Stones. To anchor the space, the creamy kitchen cabinets are contrasted with the darker island.

Above Right: The Miranda contemporary design is brought to life with great accessories: Lamps, Sticks and Stones; Candle Sticks, Urban Barn; Table Runner, Bowring.

erything from oversize windows to walk-in closets and culinary inspired kitchens. It is comfort, economy and efficiency all in one. They also have two-car garages, convenient visitor parking, a ground level patio and upper exterior deck. Gardeners have a great garden area and pets are welcome too – and prices start at $299,900.

Heather Cousins, an interior designer with Sticks and Stones, a Kelowna based interior design company, was part of making the houses at Sonoma Pines look and feel like home.

“As a team we started to work with the contractors prior to the architectural rendering stage,” explains Cousins. Sticks and Stones picked the interior finishes and the entire design scheme from cabinets to carpets and everything in between; everything that makes a house a home.

When you walk into a unit at Sonoma Pines you certainly do feel at home.

H O

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There is a full working design centre on site.

There are several designs to choose from and four distinct colour schemes. “We wanted to be able to hit every demographic, style and taste,” says Cousins.

The Contemporary schemes have clean lines, dark hardwoods, and grey tones. There are laminate counter tops that mimic quartz in the kitchen and the main living area has neutral colours with an accent wall painted in deep purple. There is a beautiful accent wall in the master bedroom with white wallpaper and we’ve used toss pillows and accessories to pull other colours into the room.

It’s all topped off with a charcoal ledge stone fireplace as a focal point in the living room.

The Transitional Above: The kitchen in the Alameda schemes at Sonoma design features cabinetry from Pines are classic with Westwood Fine Cabinetry. The cream a contemporary twist leather bar stools with silver nail head and include lots of studs are from Sticks and Stones. wood. The island is a chocolate brown with cream cabinets, 40 Okanagan HOME Summer 2012

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while the countertops are creamy quartz. The Top: The living room in the Alameda master bedroom has a design. The tailored furniture is feature wall of grey and warmed with textural elements. Above white wallpaper. In the Left: A tidy ensuite bathroom. Above Right: A principal bedroom is flooded show home, we’ve added with light, and the focal wall brings punches of apple green just the right amount of drama. in the room with the chair and blanket, a perfect match to the greens on the golf course directly out the window. The fireplace has a creamy ledge stone with a chocolate brown mantle.

For those who prefer a more traditional colour scheme, Sonoma Pines has that too. The Traditional scheme show home has a warmer feel with red tones, elegant furnishings and architectural details.

The kitchen here has granite countertops with stone and glass

mosaic backsplash surrounded by warm wood cabinets. The fixtures and the lighting in the home are oil rubbed bronze. The bathroom has a full glass surround shower with a glass and stone vertical accent strip that runs up the wall.

Last but not least is the Urban scheme which brings the outdoors in. Cousins explains, “The home is natural tones of tans and greens throughout. In the kitchen we have laminate counter tops that look like granite, but without the expense. The cupboards are creamy shaker cabinets.”

Each phase of Sonoma Pines has several designs and layouts to choose from. There is a full working design centre on site that can show you the various colour schemes. Sonoma Pines really is H a place where you can downsize without compromise. O

Supplie rs Cabinetry for kitchens/custom bars/bathrooms/laundry rooms | Westwood Fine Cabinetry

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F E AT U R E

Earth

WALL SYSTEMS

ENVIROMENTAL

RAMMED

BY DARCY NYBO

Photos by David Szabo

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hen it comes to building distinctive houses, Ritchie Custom Homes has quite the portfolio, including those that use rammed earth construction.

Nicholas Hill, president and owner of Ritchie Custom Homes, is also a partner of Solum Rammed Earth, who have built SRE (Stabilized Rammed Earth) structures throughout the valley for the last five years.

Hill loves the fact that building SRE structures utilizes locally sourced materials.

“It greatly reduces the embodied energy that goes into building a house.” Rammed earth homes are cool, figuratively and literally. Hill explains, “You get effective R24+ insulation value with these homes and high thermal mass that maintains ambient temperature levels, which saves you money.”

When looking for a home design that is unique, rammed earth is the way to go.

Each rammed earth wall is one-off, no two will ever be exactly the same. “Rammed earth has such a great appeal,” says Hill. “You get this natural hand crafted look that gives your home a real benefit and value. Rammed earth homes blend naturally

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into the Okanagan landscape and offer the ultimate in design flexibility. These structures are durable and very low maintenance.”

Rammed earth or SRE is pretty much what it sounds like. The walls are built with gravel, sand and clays with Far Left: The natural striations in the no organics, then mixed with small amount of Portland rammed earth walls produce a cement as a stabilizer. Iron oxides can be added to the mix compelling yet neutral background. to achieve desired colours.

Small amounts of iron oxide were added “We form our walls with re-usable aluminum formwork, to give the walls a warmer look and greatly reducing our construction waste,” explains Hill. “The feel. Above: Traditional design details soil is mixed and delivered to the wall with a loader where are incorporated in the kitchen with a it is hand shoveled into the forms in 6” – 8” lifts. Each lift is feature wall. Below: In the bedroom, pneumatically tamped as we work our way up to the full wall the 18 inch thick walls easily work with height. This is what creates the sedimentary rock look. The traditional window frames. wall is finished inside and out, after the forms are stripped off. There is no need for toxic paints, drywall or siding thus greatly reducing the ecological footprint of your project.”

SRE can be used to build the exterior shell of custom homes, usually coupled with a few interior feature walls. SRE is a structural-load bearing wall system that is engineered to meet building code requirements. It can also be utilized as fences, retaining walls, artistic landscape features and street lighting features. Go to solumbuilders.ca to see some of the amazing work they’ve done with dirt. o H

S u pp l i er s Builder | RITCHIE CONTRACTING & DESIGN LTD. Rammed earth work | SOLUM RAMMED EARTH LTD.

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c

LIFESTYLE

Mis

Photos by Kadar Photography

onduct Wine Co New vertical pine siding was installed to create the look of turn of the 20th century materials. Below: Burlap sacking was woven through the beams over the deck and seating area to provide shade.

By Darcy Nybo

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hat happens when you mix savvy wine makers with visionary co-developers and a talented design group? You get Misconduct Winery. Located at 375 Upper Bench Road North in Penticton, this winery is a must see for those who love architecture and wine.

The winery encompasses a prohibition era theme.

When you arrive it looks like an old farm building. Step through the doors and you are transported back to the roaring 20s where you find yourself in the middle of a speakeasy. The only difference is, the wine here is perfectly legal.

Michael and Tony Giroux, of Wesplan Building Design (Westhome Planners), were contacted in the fall of 2010

by Richard and Twylla daSilva. They were to draw up plans and renovate an existing orchard house and turn it 46 Okanagan HOME Summer 2012

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Post and beam construction was both a practical and aesthetic design choice.

Below: The exposed concrete wall in the wine cellar is part of the foundation of the original 1909 structure. It is easy to see the extensive settling that takes place during 100 years, and the issues created for modern building.

into a winery and tasting room.

The home was originally built in 1909 and the team faced several challenges during the renovations. “When we started taking the building apart we came upon some difficulties with the existing structure and had to change the drawings to deal with it,” explains Tony Giroux.

Foundations were shored up and the interior taken down to the open studs. Electrical, plumbing, insulation, and more were upgraded to exceed today’s building standards.

“The only thing left was the outside of the walls, the original slat,” says Richard daSilva. “Nothing in the building was square, it was quite the challenge. We kept the original structure and then built around it. Even now there is a 6” drop from one end to the other because the foundation is so settled, but we wanted to retain that feel of an older turn-of-the-century building that was built slowly over time. We weren’t looking for perfection we were looking for authenticity.”

As the renovation progressed, a final design was drawn with input from co-developer John Lee, and a lounge/restaurant was added to the final design.

“Heavy timbers were used to carry the old farm-building look into the winery, complete with post and beam, wood flooring and a tasting bar made of pine with a fir countertop,” explains Giroux. “The French doors were placed to take advantage of the natural lighting and the view of the lake.”

Future plans include converting the existing caretaker’s suite into guest suites and the construction of a stage for watching old black and white movies, concerts, or live theatre. A conH cert series is being planned for the fall wine fest. o

S u p p lie r s Contractor | WESPLAN BUILDING DESIGN Okanagan HOME Summer 2012 47

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PREDATOR Photos Courtesy of Bonitas

Photos Courtesy of Predator Ridge

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nterior designer Kelly Deck has brought her distinctive approach to West Coast Design and given it an Okanagan interpretation at Predator Ridge. Deck is a Canadian Prairie girl at heart and she brought her love of the grasslands and sky to her soon-to-be unveiled brand new design at Predator Ridge. The new Ellison show home will feature Deck’s signature take calm neutrals brought to life with texture and glorious hits of colour.

The theme of the Ellison is main floor living with generous, easy access to the outdoor living areas.

Deck’s work within the space is sure to inspire legions of new Predator Ridge home owners and maybe a few more people in the Valley as well. The Kelly Deck designed show home launches June 16.

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RIDGE

CANADA’S PREMIER GOLF RESORT COMMUNITY

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BY BOBBI-SUE MENARD t is like watching a Masters game of golf unfold shot by shot for the consistent birdie and then the win. At Predator Ridge the community is being built home by home into the top golf course living destination in Western Canada. A home buyer can watch as the property chooses the perfect ‘club’ for each demographic in the market: consistent and sophisticated architectural evolutions, new interior designers, new executive custom-build lots, new fractional ownership opportunities, lifestyle partnerships with world class Sparkling Hill Resort, the list goes on.

The most recent architectural evolution is embodied in the Poss Architecture redesign of the very popular Ellison floor plan.

The new floor plan incorporates more indoor/outdoor living in a seamless integration on the main floor living space, designed for active empty nesters.

The redesign is further enhanced by the complete interior design package by Canadian West Coast design star, Kelly Deck. On June 16, Predator Ridge is launching a brand new Kelly Deck designed home, sure to capture the imagination and desires of home buyers looking for the right opportunity.

“This is a completely new floor plan for the Ellison,” says

“We want to generate ideas and conversation and start a new dialogue about design at Predator Ridge,” – Kelly Deck.

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Homes and cottages along the fairway.

Below: The Club restaurant, r a n g e won an Award for Excellence 2011 from Wine Spectator for its wine program. Opposite: A classic Predator Ridge show home.

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Deck. “Poss are among my favourite architects to work with - they understand livability and luxury. We collaborated on open living. When the doors to the outside are open, the capacity of the home doubles.”

Deck’s design vision for the space embraces a subtle set of metaphors for the surrounding open landscapes and grasslands of the course. She pulled on the dry grasslands and blue sky as reference points, and the design will feature shots of brilliant colour intermixed with matte textures.

This is the second design project for Deck at Predator Ridge. Last year she worked on a Preston floor plan show home that sold quickly, but its influence was felt through the resort as home owners repeated design ideas in their own custom builds. “We want to generate ideas and conversation and start a new dialogue about design at Predator Ridge,” says Deck.

Many home owners and year round residents at Predator begin with a smaller step into commitment, says Claire Radford a property specialist at the community. Fractional ownership is the first taste of the lifestyle for many people. The Tips is the new fractional opportunity at Predator Ridge.

Shared by 12 owners, the townhomes come complete with membership privileges during ownership weeks, private pool and fitness centre, hot tub and steam room.

The scope of the community at Predator Ridge wraps around the hilly lines of the mountainside.

When driving through the rolling topography, up towards the gates, it is easy to see the clubhouse and hotel rising up out of the landscape, while the residential areas gently slide into the terrain.

Falcon Point Estates is where the custom luxury buyer can find their dream build site surrounded by spectacular views in every direction. The lots are approximately one acre in size and have already attracted the personal attention of Valley builders as the site of their own homes.

The range of opportunity at Predator extends to the midpoint of the market. Townhomes at Osprey Green and customizable plans at Birdie Lake Place round out the options for home buyers.

Predator Ridge is a 30 minute drive from the Kelowna International Airport. In 2013 that drive will be considerably shorter due to extensive upgrades to Hwy 97. The sales numbers for new homes at the course have remained remarkably steady in the past 12 months. The question of market ready inventory is only in doubt because of the rapid rate that homes are being snapped up.

It just goes to show, all the fundamentals of a H great game are in place at Predator Ridge. O

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F E AT U R E

The Benchmark

By Darcy Nybo

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ine lovers intimately know every inch of terroir of the Naramata Bench. This micro agriculture area just north of Penticton, on the east slope of the Valley, is home to the hottest boutique wineries in Canada. The Naramata Bench is also becoming a destination for excellent residential homes. Barnett Construction of Penticton teamed with Maria Nordlund of Maria Nordlund Designs to help the homeowners create a gracious and elegant family bungalow.

This home was the site for FAB, ‘Fashion Meets Architecture on the Bench,’ a fashion show fundraiser for the South Okanagan Children’s Charity (SOCC). The SOCC helps financially disadvantaged families with medical expenses and travel subsidies for children that require the services of BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver. The Charity also raises funding for projects to benefit children and youth in the South Okanagan. Penticton businesses, Vintage & Vogue, Lake Breeze Winery, and Salty’s Beach House were a part of the event.

Barnett Construction custom builds five to ten executive homes in the South Okanagan annually. The original design drawings were by Suncastle Design of Summerland.

Maria Nordlund worked to bring every interior element of the home into harmony with the spectacular views.

“It was a complete team effort,” says Nordlund. “Between the home owners, Barnett Construction and myself we worked through all the design decisions. The rooms are quite large and we needed to create zones that were comfortable and created a sense of warmth.” O H

When you walk into the home you see a wall of windows overlooking the lake, the pool, the vineyard and the mountains. “Lighting is my number one design tool,” says Nordlund. “This living room has soaring ceilings and we wanted it to feel really bright and fresh. We put the clerestory windows at about the 12-foot mark to bring in even more light.”

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Above: The backyard pool was built by Fun Water in Penticton. The perfect golf green is by Synlawn, Kelowna. Left: The home has an exceptional home automation system with lighting control

by Lutron; audio visual by

Crestron, installed by I Q Home Automation in Penticton. Below: The pivot front door is a reclaimed fir, by Plexus Design in Naramata.

“The weight of this door is perfect,” says Barnett. “A front door should be substantial.”

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Kitchen - The kitchen in this home is a chef and chief-cook-and-bottle-washer’s delight.

Nordlund worked with Ellis Creek Kitchens to design a family friendly, large and open kitchen where kids could be a part of the cooking. There are dual ovens and dishwashers and a full size fridge and full size freezer.

Bathroom – The bathroom was designed to evoke the very best luxury hotel bathrooms with floor to ceiling marble walls and a truly indulgent shower system.

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Above: The furnishings in the principal bedroom float above the white oak floor. “Oak had a bad reputation from the 70s and 80s,” explains Nordlund, “but the newer style of white oak is very durable and gives a sense of warmth. It’s my new favourite flooring.” Left: The home has a Renaissance Rumford fireplace, the only EPA certified wood burning fireplace on the market today.

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Online

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Inspired Backyard Makeover

ife outdoors in the Okanagan is so much better when it is inspired. This Summerland backyard features phenomenal hand carved woods from Indonesia.

Posts, beams, doors, and other architectural details were imported by Kelowna’s Sun Country Furniture, as were the outdoor furnishings. Paired with a spectacular pool, this backyard can be viewed in full at OkanaganHOME.com, where a new H website will be launched this summer. O

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Artist Pr ofile

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orothy Tinning is one of the Okanagan Similkameen’s most well known artists. Her fascination with art started as a child when she would stand and watch her father paint for hours. “I watched his techniques, and learned to love art,” she says from her Okanagan studio.

Her artistic style blends Aboriginal themes with surrounding landscapes. Tinning recognizes and appreciates the long and distinguished history of the First Nation’s people in our area. “I’ve always encouraged people to extend their understanding of their connection to their immediate environment,” says Tinning. “It is important they see Nature as the connection point. A landscape may subconsciously remind us of the history and the culture of the land.

For example, she has one painting called, Paddle Your Canoe on Vaseux Lake, which Tinning says, “Was an inspiration created from sitting in a canoe on a beautiful day on Vaseux Lake, absorbing the sense of spirit and place. If you know the history of the area, you are reminded of it, whenever you see this painting.” Some of her other original works such as, Rattlesnake Island, Spotted Lake, Paddling Home, and Oh Okanagan, create lasting memories of how these incredible landforms were such an important part of the aboriginal history of the area.

Tinning spends hours and hours researching her subjects and all that goes into her paintings before she even picks up a brush. “The creation of the painting, the arrangement of the landforms, and choices of colour, are all carefully chosen to represent how I see the world,” Tinning says. “The Okanagan Similkameen history is alive, and important, and relevant.

Hopefully my acrylic on canvas paintings have a Evoking the Okanagan with iconic strong visual impact. On topography and colour, Dorothy a deeper level, I also wish Tinning’s Paddle Your Canoe at to see people affected Vaseux Lake emotionally and intellectually by what I paint.”

Tinning has that special touch that allows her to pour emotion into all of her paintings. “My painting, Proud to Be Shuswap-Ernie Philip, is really a metaphor for strength and pride, and of Ernie’s proud heritage to have been born into the Shuswap Nation,” she explains. Tinning first saw Ernie dancing in 2009 at Okanagan College, Kelowna campus, at the Aboriginal Youth Exhibition and Pow Wow event, when he was in his eighties. “The energy, strength and stamina he exhibited in his dances presented a man half his age.” The painting was created following numerous interviews, and through the development of a deep personal friendship with Ernie.

Tinning, who has a Bachelor of Education from the University of British Columbia, also took art education courses through the University of Victoria with Dr. Sharon McCoubrey. She has an active status with the Federation of Canadian Artists.

Her work is featured in private and corporate collections throughout North America. You can currently see her art at the Spirit Ridge Resort & Spa in Osoyoos, and at Dorothy’s Fine Art, her studio in Penticton. Dorothy is proud to be participating in the 2012 World Indigenous Housing Conference in Vancouver, with an art exhibition and sale in June 2012. For more information go to dorothytinning.com. O H

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PROOFED Green Housing Energy Efficient Ventilation

By Keith Veerman

A

ir might be free but heating and cooling it can be expensive. As such, energy efficiency should be a priority when building or buying a new home.

While it’s important to make your home as airtight as possible, today’s energy-efficient homes can trap moisture and pollutants so it’s important to add proper ventilation systems. A true energy efficient home controls the flow of air, heat and moisture throughout, maintaining moderate temperatures, low humidity and improved air quality.

The essence of proper ventilation is a continuous flow of clean, fresh air coupled with the removal of stale, polluted air. If you’re building a new home, consider installing an Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) which recovers moisture, as well as heat, from the exhaust air—the best units are able to recover 80 per cent of outgoing heat. Well suited for the relatively dry Southern Interior, ERVs transfer heat and moisture from the exhaust airstream to the incoming fresh airstream, and are the ideal system to maintain proper humidity levels. ERVs are able to filter, hu-

midify, dehumidify, heat, or cool the incoming air.

In addition to the improved air quality and providing controlled ventilation, ERVs lessen the need to open windows, so there’s less dust and pollen inside your home as well as roadway or other neighbourhood noise.

These systems automatically adjust to changes in the indoor environment and allow homes to maintain high indoor air quality without high additional energy costs.

An ERV is usually installed on a wall inside the home’s furnace room. Two insulated ducts connect the unit to the outside: one to get rid of stale air and one to bring in fresh air. Ducts are used to collect stale air in the house, often in bathrooms and these are connected directly to the ERV. Fresh air provided by the ERV can be ducted either to bedrooms or into the home’s furnace or air-conditioning.

Look for and request EnergyStar models. The blowers in ERVs are energy efficient and inexpensive to operate—some less than 30 cents a day (with electricity at 10 cents H per kWh). O Keith Veerman is Manager, PowerSense Efficiency at FortisBC. FortisBC’s PowerSense program is continually evaluating energy saving products.

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Builder Profile

By Darcy Nybo

W

hen you look for someone to build your dream home, you want someone who understands your lifestyle, who can design and build what you see in your head, and most importantly, someone who cares.

Meet Les Bellamy of Bellamy Homes. He grew up in the Okanagan in the excavation business. With several family members in the construction industry, Bellamy decided to try it out at age 21. He didn’t start small either; the first building he worked on was a four-story, 90-unit apartment building. “It was an overwhelming and intimidating first day on the job,” recalls Bellamy. “My prior experience was working with four or five people on site; this one had over 100!”

Once his shock wore off, Bellamy was hooked. For over 20 years his pasA Bellamy Homes built sion has been building custom homes home, with a perfect night as unique as the people he builds time view of the city of them for. “Each home I’ve built holds Kelowna and Okanagan a different feel and memory. What I Lake beyond. like best is the big smile on people’s faces when I see them years later. I like a challenge and I like that every house I do is different.”

Bellamy is personally involved in the home from start to finish and that includes the design. He is an award winning designer and loves meeting with people and taking their vision of a dream home and making it a reality. “When I talk to my clients I find out what kind of home they need, how many

bedrooms, bathrooms etc. I have a 10 page questionnaire I give to my clients so I know exactly what they want. It even gets into lifestyle, entertaining, pets, use of outdoor space etc., I need to know who I am building for.”

Bellamy takes into consideration the views, how much natural light they want indoors, and do they want shade or sun outdoors.

“We offer three type of building contracts to suit all our clients out there,” explains Bellamy. “We can do a full fixed price build with allowances for customization. We can do a construction management build where we pay the bills but you are more involved in the trades and products you want in your home. It is a transparent process from start to finish and any cost over runs are paid directly by the customer. We also do construction management where we get paid a monthly fee to manage it, with the customer finding all the trades, materials etc.” What sets Bellamy Homes apart from the others is their involvement. “With us you get direct, hands on customer service from the owner of the company. We do not hire site supervisors to run our projects; we do it ourselves. We also include interior design expertise by an award winning interior design firm.”

Bellamy Homes builds a maximum of seven homes per year to ensure Les Bellamy is always the onsite supervisor. “I want to be the guy the homeowner meets and works with throughout the whole process,” he says. “I don’t need to be a big comH pany.” O

BELLAMY HOMES Photo Courtesy of Bellamy Homes

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M at e r i a l s

Photos Courtesy of The Rediscovered Wood Floor Company

Historic

C

Floors

enturies mean little to a tree, but time takes on a new dimension in wood that was cut, milled and installed as flooring hundreds of years ago, only to be reused in the Okanagan today. Historic wood flooring material can be sourced from around the globe and installed in Okanagan homes. The result in a modern home breathes new life into the word unique.

Recycled wood comes with its own history ready to be intertwined in a modern life. The jungles of Burma are home to massive trees felled years ago, waiting patiently on the jungle floor to be saved from rotting. Almost all of the available board feet are gone, but you can still find flooring from 400 to 600 year old structures from China.

That wood became available when the Chinese government changed the course of the Yangtze River.

Closer to home in North America, suppliers can find near extinct species of wood, rescued from the floors or 19th century eastern North America factories.

Availability of reclaimed wood depends on being part of the global network of reputable suppliers says Kerry Bloom, owner of Rediscovered Wood Floors in the Lower Nicola. “When you deal with reputable companies, what you install in your home will match the sample you see in the showroom.”

Bloom has been in the flooring industry for more than 23 years. There are many reasons why people choose a reclaimed wood floor. “A lot of people love the story. As a company we

go looking for the history of the wood,” explains Bloom, Above: Reclaimed Douglas who has been known to hire fir works perfectly with university students to track modern granite counter tops, down the history of the wood stainless steel appliances and dark cabinetry. he has installed.

That story guarantees a one of a kind finished product with design elements impossible to find elsewhere. Hundreds of years ago there was less pressure on forests; planks could be manufactured out of whole trees at widths only dreamed of today. Bloom has installed floors made up of 6, 7, 10 and 12 inch wide planks, each 18 feet long and repurposed from a tobacco factory.

The aesthetic of the floor is paired with practicality. “These woods hide every idiosyncrasy you could imagine,” says Bloom.

Installation of a reclaimed wood floor is similar to traditional milled hardwood. Once the wood is removed from its original home by the supplier, the stock is milled and shipped.

The planking needs to acclimate inside a home. With proper installation, Bloom says the age of the wood works to prevent gapping, “This is very stable with no warping.”

The wood can also be used for cabinetry and custom furniture. Wherever the wood came from, it has a story to create in its new home. o H

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Butvila Illustrations Custom Airbrushing and Design This is not a PHOTO

“Mustang Sally” Mustang Hood

NEW 2012

Armitage

TM

Waterstone Collection

TM

Kelowna #107-1641 Commerce Avenue Kelowna, BC V1X 8A9 PH: 250-860-5333

250-215-4066 • pbutvila@telus.net www.butvilaillustrations.com

B$'BIORIRUP LQGG

floform.com

Showroom hours: M-F: 8:00am - 4:30pm Sat: 10:00am - 2:00pm Sat by appointment only

30

The experience of building a home should match the experience of living in it.

We have been building unique custom homes on the Naramata Bench for 20 years. We know that our clients will be creating a life in the home we build for them, so we make sure you feel at home before we even break ground.

Ritchie Contracting & Design Ltd. 250.493.9341 ritchiecustomhomes.com Penticton, BC

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Accessorize

Sofas N

eed a new seat this summer? Some of the top Canadian manufacturers are available here in the Valley.

Top: The perfect base for vibrant summer accessories, the ‘Cheshire’ sofa from Ethan Allen; Exemplary tailoring, the ‘Newman’ by Barrymore available at Jordan’s; Above Left: the ‘Manhattan’ from Urban Barn, is perfect contemporary casual; Above Right: Ultimate comfort, grey sectional, DK Modern Furniture; Bottom Right: Set the foundation for your room with the ‘Opal’ sofa, custom created by Stylus, available at Marshall’s Home Living and Treehouse Interiors.

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HURRY! Only 2 Left in Phase 1, from $389,900 Much Anticipated Plan A Homes in Phase 2 Now Selling from $409,900

PRICED WITHIN REACH

|

QUALITY BEYOND COMPARE

3 Bed | 3 Bath. | 2,000 SF Home | ONLY 2 HOMES LEFT from $389,900 | from $194 per SF | from $130 per SF incl. Outdoor Living

3 Bed | 3 Bath. | 2,200 SF Home | 1,000 SF Outdoor | Yard off Kitchen

PHONE: 250.769.7797 or info@lakeviewliving.ca www.lakeviewliving.ca

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Lakeview Terrace

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Horizon

Rose Valley Elementary

Westl ake Peak Point

Terrace

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Lakeview

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from $409,900 | from $186 per SF | Only 3 Available

1818 Peak Point Ct., West Kelowna Disclaimer: This is not an offering for sale and such offer can only be made by Disclosure Statement E&OE Room sizes, square footage, specifications, features and outdoor spaces may vary. E. & O.E.

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