SPRUCE Fall 2022

VICTORIA’S HOME & D E S I G N MAGAZINE

From dark and cramped to light and airy — a dramatic reno celebrates a blend of design styles.

INSPIRING HOMES & INTERIORS sprucemagazine.ca PM41295544

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IN THIS ISSUE

FALL 2022

On the cover A stunning, light-filled Fairfield renovation.

Page 36

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DEPARTMENTS

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EDITOR’S LETTER Creating comfort in your home and giving yourself permission to find ease.

BY DANIELLE POPE

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SPRUCE IT UP This season’s top picks to revitalize your space.

FEATURES

36

44

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Style, materials and installation: getting the right roof over your home.

Blurring the lines between indoors and outdoors in a Gordon Head luxury home.

A dramatic renovation celebrates a blend of design styles.

BY KIM PEMBERTON

B Y DANIELLE POPE

B Y NESSA PULLMAN

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50

54

Six edgy townhomes that aim to diversify Victoria’s housing choices.

The warm-toned, natural looks that are dominating flooring trends.

Whole-system planning to help your garden withstand climate change.

B Y DAVID LENNAM

B Y LINDA BARNARD

B Y SUSAN HOLLIS

ROOFS 101

BOLD, INNOVATIVE BEAUTY

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LIFE ON THE WATER

FLOORED WITH INSPIRATION

FROM DATED TO DREAMY

GARDENING IN A NEW ERA

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ASK THE EXPERT Make the most of your space by putting lighting at the top of your list.

BY CAROLYN CAMILLERI

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THIS ROOM Mudroom re-design ideas that are functional and stylish.

BY CAROLYN CAMILLERI

58

DESIGN INSPO Reflect your entertainment style with a home bar that fits your space.

BY SUSAN HOLLIS

62

FINISHING TOUCH Set the tone for the season with the allure of a fireplace.

DESIGN | MANUFACTURE | INSTALL westcoastwindows.ca #105–2031 Malaview Ave W, Sidney 778.404.1695

EDITOR’S LETTER

Inviting Comfort

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BUYING OR SELLING? I am dedicated to providing my clients with exceptional service, sound negotiating techniques and constant communication throughout the real estate process.

Call Andrew Maxwell for a complimentary consultation.

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, SALES

250.213.2104 amaxwell@sothebysrealty.ca

“The way we create comfort in our home says a lot about our values and where we give ourselves permission to find ease.”

ith the promise of a cooling fall fast approaching, it’s time to think about inviting comfort back inside the home to help ease our transition indoors.

When I speak to people about their homes, I often ask one question in particular: what is your favourite space in your house? I’m always intrigued by the answer. It’s not that there are many rooms to be surprised by — people often cite the kitchen, or a favoured den, maybe even the garage. I’m drawn in by what it is about these spaces that means so much.

I’ve heard folks speak about a beloved heirloom armchair they’ve reupholstered and placed by a library wall. Others have talked about the finish of a countertop and how they love the feel of the cool marble against the palms of their hands. One man said it was the entrance of his home, because you could look straight through the windows of the house to the ocean below. A homeowner in this issue reported she adored her laundry room — not because of its exceptional appliances, but because she’d turned it into a mini gallery of her now-grown children’s art.

The way we create comfort in our home says a lot about our values and where we give ourselves permission to find ease. Perhaps it’s a particularly comfortable couch, or a bistro niche that practically invites you to sit down. In our home, it’s a pair of sage green armchairs set beside one another for easy conversation, a shared table in between. My husband and I refer to this spot as our “morning review” nook, since it’s the place we started a tradition of taking our morning coffee before the day gets ahead of us. While we don’t often get those leisurely coffees with our now-crawling babe, that spot remains a cherished retreat for both of us when we have a moment to spare.

In this issue of Spruce, you’ll find inspiration throughout the pages for ways to create your own sense of comfort this season. Dive into constructing a dreamy mudroom in This Room, or read about how Mike Randall, in Ask The Expert, adds dynamic lighting to a space. One luxury home in Gordon Head will show off the impact of adding serious custom upgrades (like a car elevator), and a renovation in Fairfield demonstrates how to preserve character while modernizing a living space. Find yourself floored with inspiration for the latest design trends in flooring materials, take a tour through transforming niche corners into elaborate bars, and then finish off with a look at an elegant fireplace to warm your hearth.

Then, while your coffee is still warm, I invite you to reflect on where your favourite place is in your own home. What is it about that spot that calls to you, and could you bring that feeling to other parts of your house? With that muse in mind, I hope you enjoy leafing through the pages of Spruce this fall season and get ready to cozy up.

A N D R EW M AXWELL .CA SOT H E BYSR E A LT Y.CA Sotheby’s International Realty Canada, Independently Owned and Operated. E.&O.E

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SPRUCE | FALL 2022

Danielle Pope, Guest Editor

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V I C TO R I A’ S H O M E & D E S I G N M AG A Z I N E

PUBLISHERS Lise Gyorkos,

Georgina Camilleri

GUEST EDITORS Carolyn Camilleri, Danielle Pope PRODUCTION MANAGER Jennifer Kühtz DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Jeffrey Bosdet DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER Amanda Wilson LEAD GRAPHIC DESIGNER Janice Hildybrant ASSOCIATE GRAPHIC DESIGNER Caroline Segonnes MARKETING COORDINATOR Claire Villaraza ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Lauren Ingle PROOFREADER Lenore Hietkamp CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Linda Barnard, Susan Hollis,

David Lennam, Kim Pemberton, Nessa Pullman

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Dasha Armstrong, Jody Beck,

Joshua Lawrence, Ema Peterson

CONTRIBUTING AGENCIES Getty Images pp. 12, 18, 19, 24, 57;

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ON THE COVER

“From Dated to Dreamy,” page 36. A mix of styles in this reno include a mid-century modern pendant in the dining room, perfectly framed by an elegant arched doorway.

The print in the kitchen is by the homeowner’s late mother, artist Marsha DeLouchery. Photo by Dasha Armstrong.

Outdoor spaces for all seasons

Spruce magazine is published by Page One Publishing 580 Ardersier Road, Victoria, BC V8Z 1C7 T 250-595-7243 info@pageonepublishing.ca pageonepublishing.ca

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SPRUCE | SPRING 2022

SPRUCE IT UP

Welcome home

AS THE DAYS GET COOLER, WE TURN OUR ATTENTION INDOORS WITH IDEAS TO BRING WARMTH AND COMFORT.

PAIGE OWEN

HEART OF THE HOME The kitchen holds a special allure.

We gather in the kitchen, preparing meals, telling stories and sharing news. We teach, learn and laugh in the kitchen. And of all the seasons, fall seems most connected to the kitchen. This is where we bring in the bounty from our gardens and farm markets, maybe trying our hand at pie or jam making.

With its dark wood cabinets and window frames, the kitchen pictured here has a heritage feel but with a stunning modern marble countertop with backsplash and sink from Vancouver Island Marble.

SPRUCE SPRUCE | SUMMER | FALL 2022

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SPRUCE IT UP

Fresh Take on Colour Lavender makes an elegant, serene statement.

Trend forecasters predict 2023’s colour trend will be “digital lavender,” a shade that suggests serenity, stability and digital escapism. You can introduce this soft, gentle colour with accent décor — cushions, throws, linens, small furnishings — or go all out with a full colour refresh. Use lavender in a dining room in varying intensities, from the palest shade on the walls to deeper shades in an area rug or chair upholstery for an overall contemporary elegance.

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Above: As an accent colour or tone-ontone, lavender lends an elegant, contemporary vibe.

Right: Benjamin Moore's Hint of Violet 2114-60 (top) and SherwinWilliams' Studio Mauve SW 0062

48" Abel brass mirror

2

ZACK BENSON

1 3

Sonoma Stellar Delancy tile (left) and Jonathan Adler Orbit in the Cosmos colourway

Cotton and chenille Arabia Rug

1 ACCENT ON BOLD

Add interest and bold texture to any room with a large, patterned area rug. Trends this season lean towards geometric and abstract patterns that introduce colour and playfulness and complement a more neutral overall décor.

Look for fun but refined geometric shapes and floral motifs (think Middle Eastern tile) to add flair without overwhelming other elements in a room.

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Dress up a wall with a bit of unexpected, free-form personality. Asymmetrical mirrors — aka puddle mirrors — are appearing in more homes, both for their function to reflect light and create an illusion of space and for their intriguing beauty. Like a reflection in a pond, these mirrors have an organic feel that adds an instant touch of modernity to a bedroom or hallway. Brass frames have made a décor comeback, particularly in brushed, muted versions that add subtle colour and warmth.

Transform a bathroom or kitchen with one of the hottest trends in tile. 3D tile is designed to look like sculpture and adds eye-catching interest as a feature wall, backsplash, trim or mixed with other types of tile.

But don’t restrict yourself to the kitchen or bathroom: consider a fireplace surround, home bar, outdoor kitchen, entryway or mudroom. Tile creates a sense of luxury, adds colour and vibrancy and can make a small space seem more spacious — as well as doing what it is intended to do: protect a surface from damage.

SPRUCE | FALL 2022

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SPRUCE IT UP

KEEP IT CURVY The cozy furniture trend continues for all the right reasons, making home the relaxing, welcoming haven we all want it to be, especially as days get cooler and darker. The rounded edges and softened corners are a contrast to the minimalist designs of earlier trends but maintain simple, clean lines. Chairs and sofas are plump and cocooning, and beds feature padded headboards and bases. It’s all about calm comfort.

Left: The wood and upholstered Chloe bed from Rove Concepts has a padded platform base and a gently tufted headrest. Above: West Elm’s Crescent Grand Swivel Chair is a contemporary update to the classic drum chair and is oversized to let you sprawl out or curl up.

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SPRUCE | FALL 2022

YOUR OPINION MATTERS!

Give us your feedback and tell us what you’d like to see more of in SPRUCE magazine.

Scan the QR code above to take our reader survey, and be entered to win a fabulous prize pack from the Oak Bay Beach Hotel, valued at $2,000!

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VICTORIA’S HOME & D E S I G N MAGAZINE

INSPIRING HOMES & INTERIORS

Find Your Inner Chef With state-of-the-art technology and an iconic esthetic, Wolf’s Dual Fuel Range is a luxury addition to the kitchen.

Whether you are frying an egg, roasting a chicken, searing a steak or stir-frying vegetables, precision temperature control makes all the difference. The Wolf 48" Dual Fuel Range, with its six burners, infrared griddle and 10 oven cooking modes, will make you feel like a master chef.

Favourite features include gourmet mode, with almost 50 pre-sets — for example, beef any way you want it, fish, vegetables, one-dish meals — to ensure best results.

Or use stone mode, which produces the temperatures needed for baking on a ceramic stone.

The technology is exciting, too. The oven is Wi-Fi–enabled so you can remotely preheat, select modes and adjust temperature from your phone. The full-colour touch screen is easy to use and read and can be hidden away when not in use.

The icing on the cake? This gorgeous stainless-steel range with its pro-style door handles has knobs that come in your choice of black, brushed stainless or red.

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SPRUCE | FALL 2022

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ASK THE EXPERT

BY CAROLYN CAMILLERI

Dynamic Lighting MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR SPACE MEANS PUTTING LIGHTING AT THE TOP OF THE LIST.

C

JEFFREY BOSDET/SPRUCE MAGAZINE

reating natural flow in a home is more than just the layout. Lighting plays a role from shape to function, directing our attention and highlighting features. It creates mood and influences how we feel about a space — and how we feel in a space. With the latest in lighting technology, we can have full control over the effects — not unlike a stage production. To get it right and make the most of your space, you need to plan ahead and consider your options.

To find out where to start and get some expert tips, we talked to designer-maker Mike Randall, an expert in wood-bending and lighting, whose stunning work is appearing in homes and businesses all over Victoria.

What is the most common mistake people make with lighting?

Lighting as an afterthought. This results in poorly lit spaces and fixtures that were chosen only because they fit the existing wiring layout and not for how they fit in with the design esthetic. Having a qualified interior designer or lighting specialist be involved at the beginning of a project is so important.

Tell us about some of the design effects that can be achieved with lighting.

Mike Randall, furniture and lighting designer and maker, at his Victoria studio.

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Lighting can either create a mood or reflect the occupants’ current mood. For example, an open-plan kitchen and living area can be bright and welcoming during the day for cooking, working or socializing.

At night, lighting can be used to create the

The custom 15-foot light in black walnut that Randall created for this kitchen features a “Dim to Warm” light engine, which gives the user some control over how their space feels. For practical activities like cooking or homework, the light can be high intensity: 3000 to 3200kW. During dinner or when guests are over, the light can be dimmed in intensity and the visual temperature of the light emitted reduced to 2700 to 1800kW.

ambience for a romantic dinner for two or just a peaceful place to sit and read a book.

For a dinner party, emphasis may be on the dining table and the artwork in the room or the kitchen if it’s a potluck and everyone is standing around making food.

Controller technology has advanced. What are some of the latest features?

Google Home and other similar systems have really started to take off. These allow the Smart system to regulate a range of

“Having a qualified interior designer or lighting specialist be involved at the beginning of a project is so important.”

ANDREI RODIN.

lighting controllers, such as 0-10V dimming systems and DMX controllers, in order to create a personalized environment.

These systems can also be used to control circadian lighting, which is designed to have a biological impact on the human circadian system. This is achieved by adjusting the white colour depending on the time of day. When choosing this technology, it is really important to consult your designer and electrician very early on in the design process, as they often require specific wiring and controller locations.

Some of the new control features makes me think of theatre — am I imagining that?

This version of Randall’s pendant light uses lowvoltage LED bulbs and is suspended on a power cable. They were designed to provide low-intensity focused light over a specific object such as a bedside table or reading area, but they can also be installed in multiples over tables or in an atriumstyle entranceway. Mike Randall (left) has been working on and refining the pendant design over the past couple of years with the goal of creating customizable light that can be used in many different ways.

Probably not. A lot of modern technology being used in the home started its development in the professional realm. Just look at email and the internet, for example.

I think it’s safe to say that lighting is no different. After all, stage directors have been using artificial light to create moods and scenes for decades.

I would have to say, right at the beginning.

This is such a crucial aspect of the design, it is important to get a sense of how it will be lit right from the start. The lighting plan should be designed into the initial layout, so you have a sense of the overall feel of the space.

From my perspective, it is always easier if I can work with the electrician right from the early stages. This way, we can make sure all the wiring and controllers are in the right place. Many of today’s systems require the use of a control room, which can be a simple cupboard in the loft where all the lighting and audio-video controls are kept.

What questions should people be asking themselves when making lighting decisions?

The most important question would be, “How am I going to use this space?” This is not always as simple as “It’s for cooking” or “It’s for dining.” Every space has a multitude of functions, whether it’s working from home, doing schoolwork or hosting cards evenings, just to name a few. Some of these will be deeply personal and there is no way a designer will guess them. It can be as granular as “At breakfast, we sit like this but at dinner we sit over here.”

Is there art on the walls or a sculpture in a special spot? How the room will be laid out is another seemingly obvious consideration that often gets overlooked. What is the available natural light and when will it come into play? A modern home with huge

JEFFREY BOSDET/SPRUCE MAGAZINE

During a renovation or a new build, at what point should lighting decisions be made?

panoramic windows that face south will have very different lighting requirements than a Victorian house with only one south-facing window. My best advice is to work with a professional who really understands all the nuances of lighting a space, whether it’s an interior designer or a registered lighting professional.

Tell us about what you are working on now with respect to lighting.

Aside from a couple of very cool custom lights, I am working on my latest product design. This is a little outside my usual MO in that it’s a small wall sconce. There are two main principals behind the design. Firstly, I want to start working with OLEDs. These are incredibly thin light-emitting sheets covered by a thin layer of glass. The product I’m working with is made by

a company called OLEDWorks based in New York and Germany. They are extremely energy efficient and have an incredibly low environmental footprint.

The second principal behind the design is that I’m looking at every aspect of the product, starting from the build through to the installation and finally how the user interacts with it. It needs to just “work.” Whoever is interacting with it needs to feel that time and care have gone into that aspect of the design.

What is the most exciting project you have worked on thus far?

This has to be the light I’m designing for a Mari Kushino Design project. I can’t give away too many details right now other than it’s a large three-dimensional kelp-like sculpture that makes use of the latest OLED technology.

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THIS ROOM

BY CAROLYN CAMILLERI

Design-Forward Mudrooms CAN A WELL-DESIGNED MUDROOM BRING YOU JOY? YOU BET IT CAN.

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hile not every home has a mudroom, every home has a space that serves as one. It’s that drop zone at an entryway, where muddy, wet shoes and coats can be shed — a transition space that moves us from outdoor mode to indoor mode.

In most homes, the mudroom is at a secondary entrance or connected to the garage, but it can also be part of a porch. While that entryway area is often considered a minor part of a home, the functionality and efficiency of a well-designed mudroom cannot be understated or overvalued.

What makes designing a mudroom different from just the “back door”?

“It’s purposely, intentionally planning how people actually come into your home and what they do when they’re near the door,” says interior designer Sherry Willing of Make It Real Design.

While a mudroom has a clear function, it also needs some sense of esthetic.

“When we enter a space, the more we can become aware of the esthetic and keep that attuned to the people who are using the space, then we are accomplishing something great in design,” says Willing. “It makes us feel warmer. It makes us feel welcome.”

It also means being attuned to the kinds of things that happen at a casual entrance like a mudroom and making it easy to see where everything needs to go.

“If you don’t have a place for things, it creates a safety issue and also a gigantic mess,” says Willing.

While the size of your mudroom or your ability to add to your existing space will dictate some possibilities, there are some basics every mudroom needs.

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Above: Dress up a mudroom with a functional but beautiful feature, such as a custom wood bench.

Left: Good lighting welcomes you into a space and creates a sense of arrival. Natural light is wonderful if you have it; supplement with directional lighting or a pendant in a style that ties into the rest of the home. It should be bright enough that you can see inside a dark gym bag.

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SPRUCE | FALL 2022

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AARON USHER III PHOTOGRAPHY | SITE STYLING | RED HOUSE DESIGN BUILD

RENAISSANCE HOMES

“I’m coming in. I’m purposely taking off my shoes. I’m slowing myself down to think about where I am going to put those shoes, where I am going to put the dog leash — all of that kind of thing,” says Willing.

Seating can be multi-purpose, with a seat that flips up to reveal a storage space — or rather one of several storage spaces.

“You need to have contained spaces,” says Willing, listing cubbies, lockers, shoe cabinets and closets, all specially designated landing places for the things we bring into our homes.

“If we don’t have contained areas that are purposely either purchased or built, things are just going to end up everywhere.”

Flooring is another very important consideration.

“You need to be able to clean that space.

People are coming and going all the time, so it has to stand up to everyday treatment,” she says, adding that there are some great new flooring products available.

“Some of the luxury vinyl could look very close to wood, and yet it’s really water resistant and stands up well to all kinds of scrubbing,” says Willing, adding that some of the new vinyl tile is really lovely and would be great in a space like a mudroom. “Tile also works extremely well, as long as you’re careful to purchase tile that has a good slip rating and you’re doing the grout in a dark colour.”

The paint used on the walls also needs to be durable and washable.

“A lot of builder homes have paint that’s not super easy to wash because it doesn’t have any sheen,” says Willing. “You probably want to use something with a pearl finish or an eggshell finish, because that sheen makes it easier to clean rather than some of the flatter paints.”

To add interest to those walls, Willing suggests wall murals that are durable and washable.

Lighting is important in any space, and that includes mudrooms.

“The simple bulb in the ceiling is really not

Above: If your mudroom is opposite the kitchen, consider a Dutch door to keep people and pets in place during cleanup without the barrier of a fully closed door. Mudroom flooring should be durable and easy to clean, like vinyl. Today’s options mean it can also be attractive.

Left: A dog person’s dream: a tiled, counter-level dog shower. Choose paint with a pearl or eggshell finish for easier cleanup.

the best light,” says Willing. “We need to have task light. We need to have ambient light. We also need to have some kind of décor lighting.”

Task lighting might be recessed lighting that can be angled towards specific things like a key drawer. You may also want to consider lighting inside closets and storage spaces, such as puck lights that turn on when drawers and cupboards are opened.

Consider, too, how you cover the windows.

You want something that lets in light but also protects you from peering eyes — perhaps blinds or shades that can be easily opened or closed with minimal contact.

CUSTOM FEATURES Once you have covered the basics, put some thought into more specific features. Is your recycling kept here until pickup day? Do your golf clubs/skates/skis need a special space?

Willing says any time she is designing a space

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like this, she tries to get at least a small sink in.

“If you’re a dog owner, perhaps a shower or space you can put the dog at counter height then have the capability to spray them off and clean them up,” says Willing.

How about a place for gym clothes, wet towels and bathing suits? It could be a laundry bin or a small apartment-size laundry tower.

“For the gardeners amongst us, you know you come in covered in dirt and sometimes it’s nice just to throw that jacket directly into the washing machine, or kids’ clothes after they were playing outside,” says Willing.

Then there is the décor.

“The esthetic is a really important point because this is the preamble to your home, so it’s nice to set a tone of what you’re going to be walking into,” she says.

For example, décor lighting.

“You might have a feature light that gets repeated somewhere down the hallway, as you move into the home, that sets the tone,” she says. “If you’re going French country, for example, the lighting needs to relate to that as well as the style of the cabinets.”

Choose your cabinet style carefully, especially if your mudroom and kitchen connect.

“My preference is to continue the style of the cabinetry between the two spaces,” says Willing. “For example, if you’re using a Shaker style in your kitchen, then a Shaker style in the mudroom is very appropriate and really helps to unite those two spaces.”

However, you can break it up a bit with colour.

“If you’re doing slab cupboards or cabinets, you can change colours in specific areas,” says Willing. “If you’ve got designated cabinet spaces or designated locker areas, those could be in another colour, such as lovely green while the rest of it is white.”

Colour is a way you can have fun with mudroom décor — for bench cushions or window coverings or on the walls, as well as posters or maybe a chalkboard.

While it is function first in a mudroom, that doesn’t have to mean drab.

Add some fun with a splash of colour, such as painted cabinetry or washable wallpaper or a mural.

“Most of us, when we’re thinking about upgrading a home or designing a new home, we are thinking some point down the road where we might resell,” she says.

“That whole scenario has gotten us into the situation where we’re working with neutrals throughout most of the home, but a mudroom might be a place where you could really go to town on colour.”

Everything in its place easily, comfortably and cleanly even on the rainiest, muddiest of days — that’s a mudroom to be joyful about.

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SPRUCE | FALL 2022

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ROOFS 101 A PRIMER ON GETTING THE RIGHT ROOF OVER YOUR HOME — AND KEEPING IT THERE.

BY KIM PEMBERTON

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T

hey are integral to protecting our homes, taking most of the brunt of our rainy weather on Vancouver Island, but with roofs, it’s often a case of out of sight, out of mind for many residential homeowners.

Yet ask any roofing expert and they’ll tell you homeowners need to make their roof a priority, from choosing the style and materials and getting it properly installed to maintaining it to ensure optimal performance and longevity.

“Do your research. You just don’t go out and buy a car. You need to do the same thing with anything to do with your home, especially your roof,” says Tim Stubbins, senior project manager of the B.C. building science division of WSP Canada, a multi-disciplinary consulting engineering firm.

“Some clients take it more seriously,” he says. “Our job is to provide the pros and cons [for roofing options] and hopefully they can make an informed decision.”

When it comes to choosing the best style for residential homes on the West Coast, there really are two main options, says Stubbins: flat or sloped. A sloped roof can be a hip roof, which has slopes on all sides, or a gable or pitched roof, with two sloping sides that meet at the top.

A slope style helps make the roof resilient against high winds and heavy rains and has varying degrees of a slope. A flat roof, while almost level, also has some degree of a slope so snowmelt and rain can drain off.

“Residential roofs are typically slope but if you get into areas with views, say White Rock, you’ll often see flat roofs that allow views for their neighbours,” says Stubbins.

In the Victoria area, where so much of our housing stock is heritage homes, most have roofs that are pitched, he says.

Either way, both styles can be made watertight.

“When buildings get constructed, architects have a vision and whether they choose slope or flat, is up to who is designing the home, but like any new building component, if you apply it correctly, then it will be fine.”

CHOOSING MATERIALS Stubbins says the only roofing type he is aware of that did have a problem was a concrete tile by a specific manufacturer that didn’t do well in “snow country” because of how much moisture the tile absorbed.

Concrete tiles are molded from sand-mix concrete coloured with different hues to provide a variety of choices. Since it is a heavy material, it does well in high wind areas. Stubbins adds that concrete tile can still be the right product depending on the quality and if it is installed correctly.

If homeowners want to upgrade their roof from asphalt to something heavier like concrete or slate, they should check with a structural engineer to ensure the weight can be supported, he says.

One of the new roofing systems that has come out in recent years uses solar panels that generally bring more benefits year-round in southern climates like California and Arizona. While they would do great in summer in B.C., chances are, they won’t fare as well in our gloomier fall and winter seasons, says estimator Darrel Holm of Top Line Roofing.

“The solar Tesla shingle stores power,” he says. “The problem is where we live, we get a lot of cloud cover and rain so won’t get a lot of [power] production.”

When making his own choice for a roof, Holm says he went with a laminate asphalt shingle, which are built with a heavier base mat and multiple layers of asphalt.

“It’s a good choice economically and for longevity,” he says. “Almost every house being built is going shingles. They’re cost effective and they work.”

< Solar roof tiles, like the ones from Tesla, have been getting more attention. Not only do Tesla roof tiles produce energy, some of which can be stored in a Powerwall home battery for use any time, as a roofing material, these tiles are notable for their durability in all weather.

CONCRETE TILE

Beautiful, long-lasting and economical, concrete roof tiles from Tile Roofs Canada come in six style options and over 30 blends of colour. The Bel Air concrete roofing tile by Eagle (above) is a traditional flat-profile tile with a smooth angular finish. Its sharp edges and clean lines are perfect with contemporary homes. All Tile Roofs Canada concrete tiles are tested against the CSA 220 and ASTM 1492 for durability in the Canadian climate.

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While metal roofing has gained popularity While cedar shingles look attractive, Holm in recent years because of its durability — says he would steer clear of them because routinely lasting twice as long as shingles — they aren’t as high a quality now since they it’s also double the price of an asphalt roof, are no longer made from first-growth cedar. says Holm.

Also, they aren’t practical in areas that get “You can put on two shingle roofs for the a lot of moisture, like the B.C. climate, or cost of one metal roof,” he says, noting that where wildfires are a possibility. And they most asphalt shingle roofs typically last 20 to are costly.

25 years.

STAYING ON TOP OF MAINTENANCE Metal roofs are recommended in regions When it comes to roof maintenance, that can experience heavy snowfall and Holm says homeowners wildfires since they are should not take the risk fireproof. Holm notes of walking on their roof that if you are willing to themselves but instead, splurge on metal roofing, hire a professional. ensure it’s of high quality Every year, gutters and applied correctly. should be cleaned However, homeowners and if moss starts to with oceanfront property accumulate, it should be may find they won’t be removed.

Composite roof shingles are made from a able to get a warranty mix of materials, including fibreglass, rubber “If your house is in the on the metal roof paint and recycled plastic, and are also referred to shade, you’ll get a higher because of the salt spray, as polymer composite or synthetic shingles. degree of moss buildup, which is detrimental to Most last 20 to 30 years and while each so do it yearly,” he says. metal. Normally, a paint type has a different rating, they are generally Otherwise, Holm more fire resistant than wood or asphalt. warranty for a metal roof recommends having a lasts 20 years, he says. professional check the Composite shingles roof every couple of are made from a fibreglass base and topped years or earlier, if you spot shingles that have with asphalt and mineral granules. They excel come loose or need replacing. Because of at flexing and adapting to the contractions expansion and contraction, the roof caps and and expansions roofs undergo because of pipe vents need to be checked as well. weather changes.

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or over 30 years, Gabriel Ross has proudly offered authentic modern furniture, lighting and accessories for the home and office.

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Visit us in person at our showroom or shop our extensive collection online for the iconic brands and designers you know and love, including Herman Miller, Knoll, Vitra and many more.

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LO C A L LY H A N D C R A F T E D D E S I G N E R K I TC H E N S

DREAM KITCHENS REALLY DO COME TRUE Metal roofs come with pros and cons. On the plus side, metal roofs are very durable, low maintenance and great in areas with heavy snowfall or wildfires. Negatives include cost, which is more than an asphalt roof, and potential damage to paint from ocean spray.

And while many homeowners opt for a metal roof because they are low maintenance, it doesn’t mean they are maintenance free. Just like with an asphalt shingle roof, a professional should do regular inspections to identify potential problem spots, like denting, scuffing, galvanic corrosion or leaking. Keep the metal roof surface free of dirt or debris and gutters and drains clear of leaves and sticks to prevent water accumulation that can cause metal corrosion. To protect the metal paint, ensure tree branches are away from the roof surface — scratches from tree branches can invalidate a paint warranty.

The final word on roofing applies to any kind of work done to your home — hire professionals.

“If people are going to shop for a new roof, they should contact a number of reputable contractors, and hopefully they’ve been around for a while, so they can show them the work they’ve done,” says Stubbins.

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■ CUSTOM BUILD

Life on the Water WITH ITS WEST COAST TOUCHES, THIS GORDON HEAD LUXURY HOME BLURS THE LINE BETWEEN THE INDOORS AND THE OUTDOORS.

BY DANIELLE POPE | PHOTOS BY JODY BECK

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D

ouglas and Brenda MacAskill were living overseas when they made the choice to retire in Victoria. They’d lived here in the 90s and loved the ocean atmosphere, space and accessibility to town. So, when they found a waterfront property in Saanich, they knew it was almost perfect.

“The location and view were paramount,” says Douglas. “You have almost total privacy despite the fact that you’re only a couple of kilometres from UVic. It’s unique because there’s a park on one side and a neighbour on the other with an acre and a half of land. It feels very spacious.”

Though the property itself captured them, when it was time to make the move, they decided to start from scratch with a complete rebuild for their home.

“We wanted to get closer to the water and there is a plateau on the property, so we wanted to get down to that vantage point,” says Douglas. “The footprint of the house is based on the original, but with modifications that took better advantage of the contours of the property.”

The new 6,800-square-foot house features five bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a self-contained suite and four distinct outdoor living spaces, including a rooftop patio. With a modern, contemporary design and curved living room facade to take advantage of the view — not to mention the home’s 17 skylights — the result is a living ocean environment. Add a few special touches, like the three-floor elevator, gym, steam room, complete bar and games room, and custom two-level garage with a car lift, and the home offers unparalleled entertainment.

While this striking waterfront home appears deceptively simple from the entry, the modern and nearly 7,000-square-foot main house features two custom elevators, a car lift in the garage, four outdoor living spaces, five bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a gym and a self-contained guest suite, among its other features.

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“Where we were located in the Middle East, you really don’t go outside, so we wanted to take full advantage of the outdoors and all the beauty here,” says Brenda. “We loved the property, but it wasn’t exactly our dream home so we made something that would be.”

The couple hired Tim Agar, owner and principal of Horizon Pacific Contracting, who worked with architect Jonathan Aitken to see their vision to fruition.

“We really tried to blur the lines between indoors and outdoors with this build,” says Agar. “There was a constant collaboration between these two things: you could walk out from the lower level to the big pool, deck and spa in only a few steps. With where the home is sitting, it feels like you’re literally hanging over the ocean.”

Agar says the property came with its own set of challenges, as expected for a rock-facing coastal home — including the mountainous cliffs that had to be blasted to put in a switch-back driveway to get to the home’s new lower location, 80 feet down from the entry of the property. Bringing material down to the new site and building from back to front meant complex decisions had to be made in specific order.

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Above: To ensure the homeowners were able to maximize their love of the region’s outdoors, four distinct outdoor living areas were designed, including a rooftop patio, pool area and outdoor kitchen/BBQ/dining area, pictured here. With a mission to blur the lines between the indoors and outdoors, this space connects seamlessly to the interior to simplify hosting meals in good weather.

Top right: With the roofline at an elevation 80 feet lower than the entry of the property, builders took on complex blasting on the side of the mountain to create a building area for the house and the switchback road that would lead down to it.

Bottom right: The outdoor spa and pool area is one of the areas Tim Agar, principal of Horizon Pacific Contracting, calls a “constant collaboration” between the world inside and out. It was designed as a walk-out experience from the lower level, and the pool was specially coloured to match the ocean water.

“... IT FEELS LIKE YOU’RE LITERALLY HANGING OVER THE OCEAN.” — Tim Agar, Horizon Pacific Contracting

The home also features two custom elevators: one that takes guests up to the thirdlevel breezeway to the rooftop patio, and one from the garage that moves vehicles from a subterranean level to the above-grade garage.

“The greatest accomplishment of this build is the fact that Douglas and Brenda were happy that it turned out the way they wanted it,” says Agar. “It’s always a big accomplishment when you have two people who have spent their own careers in construction and you give them something to be extremely proud of.”

Because the couple held differing design ideologies, interior designer Sandy Nygaard supported the execution of the millwork drawings and the technical interior design. The result was an open-concept West Coast motif that welcomed in the surrounding environment.

“The best thing you can do when fusing two design visions is listen to everyone’s needs when it comes to the use of the spaces,” Nygaard says. “Sometimes, it takes more than one iteration to nail down the specific desires, then you find the way to massage it and adapt the plans.”

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“THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO WHEN FUSING TWO DESIGN VISIONS IS LISTEN TO EVERYONE’S NEEDS WHEN IT COMES TO THE USE OF THE SPACES.” — Sandy Nygaard, interior design

Although homeowners Douglas and Brenda MacAskill have strikingly differing tastes, designer Sandy Nygaard supported the couple in creating a cohesive and modern open-concept, West Coast motif throughout their home. Natural materials were brought in specifically to mirror the outer environment, like the raw stone of the fireplace feature wall and the wood tones of the millwork and white oak flooring. Vertical lines appear throughout the design, from the exterior entry of the home through to the interior staircase, to draw the eye up from the already captivating horizon.

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“DESPITE ITS SIZE, [THE HOUSE] HAS A GOOD HUMAN SCALE.” — Sandy Nygaard, interior design

STRENGTH & QUALITY

Brenda and Douglas agree that Nygaard simplified the process to an exacting standard.

“Sandy was able to tweak the design without having to go back through more construction,” says Brenda. “We wanted to make this house one that our parents could visit or maybe stay, and one that would welcome our kids. My wish was that it would be functional and easy to keep clean, and Sandy helped with that. Despite its size, it has a good human scale.”

Brenda says her favourite spot in the home is the laundry room: more than a place to fold clothes, she transformed it into a mini gallery full of her kids’ art.

Douglas appreciates everything from the outdoor spaces to the living room, but notes that the garage is of special importance for his car collection. That, and the home’s overall style.

“A lot of people say this house is like living on the water or being on a cruise ship,” he says. “We even coloured the pool to match the sea. The curved facade was on my wish list from the getgo, and it creates a real flow. People disagreed with me but I insisted, and I love the end result.”

Above: Art plays a prominent role in this home, with the homeowners curating their own collection through the course of their time overseas. Although the aim of the design was to keep a clean and modern appearance, meaningful artifacts appear tastefully throughout the space to colour the home with the lived experiences of its occupants.

Left: Seventeen skylights welcome in the light, including in the kitchen and dining area. As Brenda points out, although the home subtly mimics a cruise ship, it has a “good human scale” when it comes to cleaning and living in the space. The kitchen is one of Brenda’s favourite spots, with its view and easy-toaccess features.

info@green-island-builders.com

green-island-builders.com

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Robyn Wildman Top rated in Customer Service Multiple MLS® Award Winner Why work with Robyn?

“Robyn has a depth of knowledge that she shared as the market was changing. She is very quick to respond to questions. I appreciated her ability to provide information looking at all options and share her expertise. I sold and bought and Robyn was calm, confident and knowledgeable.

I recommend her and would go to her again.”

- S.B.

BUYING OR SELLING REAL ESTATE CALL

250.818.8522 rwildman@sothebysrealty.ca robynwildman.com

sothebysrealty.ca Sotheby’s International Realty Canada, Independently Owned and Operated.

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RESOURCE LIST ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER: Aitken Design INTERIOR DESIGNER: Sandy Nygaard BUILDER: Horizon Pacific Contracting DRIVEWAY: Horizon Pacific Contracting

Left: The master bath’s millwork reflects that also found in the kitchen, drawing this transitional, modern design throughout the home. Views are a premium focus throughout, with the vantage points of this space no exception. Large-format stone tile flooring keeps up the natural material connection to the outer world, and the bath chandelier adds a spark of class.

FRAMER: Horizon Pacific Contracting PLUMBING: Good Grade Plumbing MECHANICAL: RedBlue Heating &

Refrigeration

ELECTRICIAN: Amped Electrical GARAGE DOOR: Depend-A-Dor WINDOWS: Westeck Windows and Doors ROOFING: Top Line Roofing TILE: Decora

Right: As the house is perched on a plateau that takes advantage of the contours of the property, each room promises an aweinspiring view, mostly of the water. With three bedrooms on the main level and two on the lower level, the home is designed for delighting family and friends who visit.

MILLWORK: Splinters Millworks INTERIOR PAINTING: Kings of Color COUNTERTOPS: Colonial Countertops FLOORING: Engineered Stairs STAIRS: Electron Metalworks FIREPLACES: Good Grade Plumbing & Gas POOL & HOT TUB: Nautilus Pool Service OUTDOOR PLANTS: Gardenworks Oak Bay OUTDOOR FURNITURE: Gabriel Ross

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■ EXTREME RENO

BY NESSA PULLMAN | PHOTOS BY DASHA ARMSTRONG

Working with the esthetics of time, this dramatic reno celebrates a blend of styles.

From Dated to Dreamy 36

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Before

“

38

W

hen I first walked into this house, I was like, ‘Oh, no,’ ” says Kristin.

“But my husband [Joe] fell in love and assured me he would do whatever it took for me to live in it.”

When Kristin and Joe Day were looking for a larger place to house their multi-generational family with a yard for their young kids, Joe landed on a decadent 1970s home in the Rockland area.

“It was dark, cramped and dripping with lavish décor,” says Joe. “But I could see the potential.”

Joe, a pilot who was less busy than usual as COVID-19 restrictions were in place, decided to take on the job himself with the help of his father-in-law, who was living with them at the time. Having never renovated a house before, the couple reached out to Raubyn Rothschild of Rothschild West Design + Planning for some guidance.

The three-level home needed some serious TLC and, except for the living room, was gutted to create a clean slate for their visions to come alive.

Rothschild called in the team at Flintstones Construction to help with some of the higher-ticket items — structural pieces like windows and doorways. Interior walls were removed and doorways were widened to create more openness, while windowsills were lowered to let in more natural light.

Though the house spoke for itself in many ways, Kristin came into the project with a strong design sense inspired by the minimalistic functionality of the Scandinavian and the quirky traditional charm of the British. One of the largest attractions to the home was the living room, where ornate moulding and crystal chandeliers decorated all four walls. Even though this wasn’t the homeowner’s ideal design style, they agreed it was too beautiful to destroy in the demolition.

“This house was as unique as it comes,” says Rothschild. “It had its own esthetic, which we worked with, not against.”

To bridge the gap between ornate and minimalist, Rothschild toned down the living room by removing the crystal chandeliers and replacing them with simpler gold wall sconces. The original mantel was preserved but a modern gas insert and a new marble base were installed. New wideplank fir hardwood replaced the outdated mix-matched flooring throughout the home. A fresh coat of white paint and windows reframed with wood trim brought in a Scandinavian feel.

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To counteract the dark and uninviting entryway, a new sidelight door with muntin windows were built to bring in loads of natural light in addition to the doorway being widened.

Due to the ornate wall trim in the living room, the clients had to get creative in recreating the moulding using a mixture of silicone and cornstarch to fill in any gaps.

Before

“[THE HOUSE] HAD ITS OWN ESTHETIC, WHICH WE WORKED WITH, NOT AGAINST.”

Before

Kristin’s dream was to have a big British kitchen with lots of space for cooking and baking. Traditional face-frame cabinetry and classic mouldings pair nicely with honed marble countertops and elegant lighting fixtures. The kitchen island was made oversized to act as a workspace: “I wanted an island so big, you could land a plane on it!” says Joe. While Kristin’s dream was a British kitchen, Joe’s was for a wall-to-wall accordion door off the kitchen that completely opens up to the outdoors to access the backyard he always wanted.

In the dining room, a large mid-century modern pendant hangs above the table and is framed perfectly by the arched doorway (see cover image). The rest of the lighting in the home was salvaged from the original fixtures (remember all those crystal chandeliers in the living room?) and moved to various different places throughout the house.

“This home had incredible historical richness,” says Max Sydenham, director at Flintstones Construction, “And the Days’ vision for what could be done with it was remarkable.”

A mix of European elegance, British charm and Scandinavian minimalism has made this house a unique blend of styles that will stand the test of time.

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The original space was separated into two cramped rooms, so the wall and fireplace were removed to put in one large kitchen area.

The island, where the family gathers for casual meals, was designed with black cabinets to offset the rest of the light-toned kitchen.

Instead of typical recessed puck lights, classical wall sconces are used to create task lighting while ornate gold hardware ties in that British charm.

“I WANTED AN ISLAND SO BIG, YOU COULD LAND A PLANE ON IT!”

As the clients love to cook and entertain, a separate baking nook — which includes a second oven — was put in where an old broom closet used to be. Next to it, bi-fold doors by Loewen easily open up to let fresh air into the cooking area.

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Before The basement was reconfigured to create a large laundry area, which also acts as a garden supply room leading to the backyard. The clients built this room using entirely refurbished materials, including the crystal light fixtures and the vintage table skirt, which used to be window curtains in the original home.

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RESOURCE LIST INTERIOR DESIGN: Rothschild West Design CONTRACTOR: Client and Flintstones Construction (for structural and windows) PLUMBER: Water Ethix ELECTRICIAN: 484 Electrical DOORS AND HARDWARE: Loewen WINDOW RESTORATION: Loewen APPLIANCES: Lansdowne Appliances PLUMBING FIXTURES: Andrew Sheret, The Ensuite TILE: Spartan Tile PAINTING: Carlin Coatings KITCHEN MILLWORK: Victoria Millwork COUNTERTOPS: Colonial Countertops,

Exotic Stone Before

HARDWOOD: West Wind Hardwood FIREPLACE: Heat Savers ENGINEERS: Boca Engineering Co. LIGHTING: McLaren Lighting, Huey Lightshop, West Elm FURNITURE: Gabriel Ross

The upstairs bathroom — built durably for their young children — hosts an unconventional semi-freestanding bathtub, which rests against a tiled built-in shelf. The original bay window was squared off to create an extra-wide sill, which acts as a seat or a secondary shelf for toys.

HARDWARE: Lee Valley, Bradford Hardware, Richelieu CHARACTER ART ADDITIONS: Paula Nasmith LANDSCAPING: Haddow Groundworks,

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■ TOWNHOME DEVELOPMENT

BOLD, INNOVATIVE BEAUTY Pearl Block is one of Aryze’s edgy answers to the missing middle.

BY DAVID LENNAM PHOTOS BY EMA PETERSON

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T

he challenge was a lesson in geometry — finding a way to build on a triangular, mid-block lot that had sat vacant for 65 years.

What Aryze ended up accomplishing was much more.

The Victoria developer not only created a bold, visionary design that would share space in the Oaklands neighbourhood without overwhelming other nearby homes, but also addressed the most pressing need of the city’s housing market — that vital missing middle.

Quick refresher: the City of Victoria’s Missing Middle Housing Initiative refers to adding more townhouses and houseplexes to diversify housing choices between apartment and single-family home in an effort to provide housing for younger families, in particular.

“We wanted to create a landmark project,” says Aryze’s principal and general manager Ryan Goodman, who feels the bold, brutalist-style design excites and satisfies and “as the years go by will … become a prominent part of that neighbourhood’s story.”

Pearl Block comprises six, three-bedroom townhomes presented in a “stepped” form, providing each of the units with an outlook onto the street.

The visually striking soft-density project, created primarily for young families, offers living spaces of between 1,100 and 1,288 square feet, placed like a piece from the game Tetris into an irregular 12,000-squarefoot lot.

The three-storey layout of each townhome, plus ample rooftop deck, is designed for both privacy and what urbanist Jane Jacobs (The Death and Life of Great American Cities, 1961) referred to as “eyes upon the street.” Buildings must be oriented to the street and “cannot turn their backs or blank sides on it and leave it blind.”

Goodman says Jacobs was key to Pearl Block.

“We wanted everyone to feel like they had presence.”

The City of Victoria’s Missing Middle Housing Initiative refers to adding more townhouses and houseplexes to diversify housing choices between apartment and singlefamily home in an effort to provide housing for, particularly, younger families.

With edgy brutalist design, full of dark tones, sharp angles and excitement, Pearl Block comprises six three-bedroom townhomes, each featuring 1,200 square feet over three floors plus a rooftop deck. The smaller footprint on the ground floor allows for easier vehicle manoeuvring. There are covered courtyard spaces at the entry to each unit. The top-floor decks are utterly private, surrounded by fivefoot-high parapets.

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“... EVERYONE HAS A FRONT DOOR THAT FACES THE ROAD WITH A HUGE GLASS DOOR AND WINDOW BESIDE IT.” — Ryan Goodman, Aryze principal and general manager

Typical townhouse projects, he explains, are like a galley where you enter down a central driveway toward which all the front doors face towards.

“With this one, everyone has a front door that faces the road with a huge glass door and window beside it.”

The entrance is prominent but discreet.

Large windows on the second floor face Shelbourne Street through the trees.

None of the windows face any of the other units. A wing wall feature functions like horse blinders, allowing the residents unobstructed views without neighbours looking in.

“Everybody’s outlook is very private, but we wanted to create presence rather than have everyone feeling tucked away,” says Goodman.

At the ground level is a garage and a concrete-floored foyer with overhang, creating a covered courtyard. The second level is open plan, with a living and dining area, kitchen, two-piece bath and south-facing balcony. Level three is three bedrooms and a full ensuite. And the roof is an utterly private 443-square-foot deck surrounded by five-foot parapets — like having a sky-high backyard.

The unique but stripped-down esthetic features a deeply textured stucco exterior in a looming concrete grey, punctuated by darker panels around a recessed ground floor that helps minimize the building’s massing.

The spare, modern esthetic of each townhome’s entrance foyer is enhanced by the not-quiteminimalist palette and airy feel of the entire home. Each living area faces the main street, following what urbanist Jane Jacobs advocated as “eyes upon the street.”

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I believe that every customer deserves the best care and service.

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FORM AND FUNCTION Michael and Aiko, parents of a toddler, chose Pearl Block when they moved from Toronto in 2021.

“It was a new build,” says Michael, a product design manager at a software company. “It was turnkey. No renovation, start fresh. And everything was clean and designed just exactly how we would design it.”

He says the building’s esthetic lined up with his own: clean lines, honest material usage, things that get the job done simply and beautifully.

“Balance between form and function, and space to add your own personality to it.”

The interior, fashioned with what Goodman calls an intentionally modest palette, features exposed structural elements — a steel post in the living room, exposed plywood stair railings, raw concrete — along with white oak floors and the peaceful vibe of neutral tones and an astonishing lack of clutter.

“We were really intentional on the interior design,” notes Goodman, “keeping it minimalist and keeping everything tucked away.”

“WE WERE REALLY INTENTIONAL ON THE INTERIOR DESIGN, KEEPING IT MINIMALIST AND KEEPING EVERYTHING TUCKED AWAY.” — Ryan Goodman

RESOURCE LIST DEVELOPER: Aryze Developments

FLOORING: Island Floor Centre

ARCHITECT: D’Arcy Jones Architects

ELECTRICAL: A. Slater Electric

ENGINEERS: RJC Engineers

MILLWORK: Coast Cabinets

(for structural and building envelope) INTERIOR DESIGN: D’Arcy Jones

Architects

LANDSCAPE: Biophilia Design Collective

COUNTERTOPS: Colonial Countertops APPLIANCES: Coast Appliances MECHANICAL AND PLUMBING FIXTURES: Solid Plumbing & Gas

Form and function feature prominently in all areas of the home, with a use of natural materials and soft colours — white oak floors, exposed raw concrete. There’s no sense of being cluttered or hemmed in. Huge windows offer plenty of natural light.

Completed in 2020, the project was recognized with a pair of design awards from the Architecture Foundation of B.C. Goodman hopes Pearl Block will challenge the way people think about how lots are developed in older, established neighbourhoods.

“There’s so much happening right now in Victoria around missing middle housing, and this is a very bold example of what can be done. What we’re most proud of is the creativity and ability to create a landmark on a piece of land that was a deer pasture for so long.”

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hat’s trending for interior floors this fall?

According to local flooring and design experts, warm-toned, natural looks dominate.

The number-one trend for plank flooring is “goodbye grey.” The pale, cool-hued, blue-grey shades that led the décor scene for the past several years has had its day, and the classics have stepped back into the spotlight. Grey still shows up, but now it’s as greige — grey-beige — with pops of brilliant colour in floor tiles and accents.

Jenny Martin of Jenny Martin Design says her clients are going with more linen and limestone shades, along with natural, sandy colours.

“I’m calling it more of this natural sort of style, with natural products as well,” she says.

It almost sounds like TikTok’s love for the Coastal Grandmother style of thick oatmeal-coloured wool sweaters, jute totes, canvas hats and linen trousers is pushing into home décor.

“I guess that’s what it is,” Martin says. “It’s timeless and it’s sticking around.”

Brenda Affleck, project manager and design consultant at Island Floor Centre, says there may be slight grey undertones to the look of today’s plank, but the primary focus is warmth. Think woods like white oak, ash and hickory.

“These tones are more classic than grey, because they can go with anything,” says Affleck, showing a sample of oak hardwood. “You could have a white kitchen with this.

You could have a walnut island or a navy-blue island. You could do so many different things with this palette.”

Herringbone-pattern flooring remains popular, especially in offices and libraries. Affleck recently did a couple of projects where the entire condo was done in herringbone hardwood. One client chose a light colour, and the other various shades of darker wood.

COZY UP TO INDOOR LIFE THIS FALL WITH FLOORING DESIGN TRENDS THAT ARE ALSO WARMING UP.

BY LINDA BARNARD

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ALEXANDER VAN BERGE/LIVING4MEDIA

Floored with Inspiration

And think big, whether it’s nine-inch-wide floor planks or 24x48-inch tiles. Large tiles make even a small room look bigger. Affleck also likes to use custom-coloured grout to match tiles to create a uniform, spacious look.

PLANK, TILE, NATURAL LINO Joel Roper, contract sales representative at Hourigan’s Flooring, says there’s plenty of choice in plank flooring today, whether it’s real-deal hardwood or the new generation of durable and water-resistant vinyl and laminate.

Hardwood has classic good looks and will never go out of style, says Roper. It can be sanded and refinished if the homeowner wants to change the look. On the downside, it’s pricy and can be scratched and damaged.

Martin is a fan of the new generation of vinyl plank flooring.

“We just did an elaborate she-shed which was a Samuel Maclure original carriage house, two levels, probably part of an old south Oak Bay Estate, that we turned into this incredible health retreat in the backyard. And we put vinyl plank in that because it was slab-on-grade,” she says.

“You’re coming in from the garden and it looks great.”

Opposite: Custom herringbone and chevron patterns continue to be a classic choice, in both light and dark shades.

Right: Hakwood, an engineered hardwood from the Netherlands and available through Island Floor Centre, has the look of hardwood but is easy to install and resistant to scratches and water damage.

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Today’s vinyl flooring has come a long way. Not only is vinyl durable and easy to clean, but it can also be beautiful, with some looking like real wood. For example, the Himalaya Adventure tile from United Floors (left) and the Tamar Silver Herringbone (right) are ideal for a bathroom where hardwood would be at risk for water damage. The Torlys RigidWood Flex vinyl flooring (below) is available through Hourigan’s Flooring and comes with a built-in underlay, which means no other underlay is needed.

Other places Martin likes to use vinyl flooring is in a kids’ bathroom where the waterproof properties really pay off.

“You can drag stuff across it. You can bang it on and wipe stuff right off,” Martin says.

Vinyl has come a long way from the original 70s products. Today, it’s durable, waterproof and realistic looking. A printed wood pattern tops either pliable planks glued to the subfloor or put together using rigid interlocking systems that float above the floor. Some brands offer registered embossing that creates the raised whorls and ridges of real wood.

Roper likes hybrid vinyl plank from Toronto-based Torlys Floors, which uses cork underlay rather than the usual vinyl.

Laminate flooring was always great for durability, but pooling water could cause buckling. Manufacturers have caught on to the need to be water resistant, says Roper. One company has a warranty to replace your floor if it gets damaged by standing water.

For stone and tile, Martin is using more custom waterjet-cutting for clients, where materials can be cut into curving and flowing patterns. It’s especially popular in foyers.

Affleck says marble, composite terrazzo tiles with colourful chips of quartz, glass and other materials and travertine and limestone in warm shades are all popular.

Roper adds slate to the list but says the bumpy and multicoloured style is out in favour of a smooth surface and uniform look. He says four-panel tiles that feature black and white versions of classic Moroccan or Portuguese tiles or mid-century designs are becoming popular.

For Affleck, it’s all about colour. She’s seeing a lot of clients opt for Marmoleum, natural linoleum sold in sheets. Once used primarily in schools and health care settings, homeowners love the huge range of striking colours. She’s also seeing a lot of clients choose Zellige as an accent, a traditional rustic Moroccan clay tile with a colourful, glossy finish.

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Cowichan Terrazzo tile from Vancouver Island Marble is a composite tile made at their manufacturing plant in Duncan using local cement and recycled marble chips from their two Island quarries. It is a beautiful low-maintenance tile that doesn’t fade or burn and contains no toxic resins.

FORBO MARMOLEUM

“PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS WANTED CANADIAN PRODUCTS, BUT NOW MORE THAN EVER.”

Marmoleum, the brand-name for a type of linoleum made from natural raw materials, is notable for its sustainability as well as for the many colours it comes in. And because it comes in sheets, it can be used to create custom patterns.

And customers want to buy local.

“People have always wanted Canadian products, but now more than ever,” says Affleck.

Island Floors carries Quebec-made Mirage hardwood. Martin likes to use Chilliwack-based Wide Plank Hardwood, as well as Vancouver Island-quarried marble.

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NEW AND IMPROVED CARPET Cost-conscious buyers should go with carpet, says Roper, which has also improved dramatically.

“I wish people knew that carpet is much better than it used to be,” he says. “The technology’s improved a lot with the stain resistance and fibres.”

Roper likes SmartStrand carpets from Mohawk Flooring, which come with a lifetime warranty against stains, including pet mishaps.

Affleck says wool carpet is making a comeback and they’re doing a lot of it for clients.

“It brings that element of warmth,” she says.

“People put hardwood down and then they put a big area rug on top of it. Let’s just do our bedrooms in carpet.”

No matter what flooring you choose, with the combination of a skilled labour shortage and supply chain issues, anyone contemplating updating their floors has to be patient. Roper believes the situation could last a couple more years.

“I try and get people to select stuff as far in advance as possible so we can secure it,” he says.

In other words, if you are thinking of new flooring, there is no time like the present to start making plans and place your orders.

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GARDENING IN A NEW ERA

As climate change brings more extreme weather to Vancouver Island’s temperate seasonal cycle, whole-system planning can help gardeners withstand the change.

BY SUSAN HOLLIS

Tayler Krawczyk of Hatchet & Seed in his garden, where a diversity of plants and insects makes a balanced ecosystem.

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esilience is a popular term these days, denoting success and longevity however it’s applied, and it’s no different when it comes to gardening. Knowing how to plant for drought, heat domes and heavier-thanusual rains can ensure a beautiful landscape throughout the year — something in which many Islanders take great pride.

While some plant species can handle intense heat, many suffer because they haven’t been properly integrated into their landscapes. As with all healthy ecosystems, our gardens — ornamental, edible or both — need diversity to really thrive. Whether or not permaculture is a familiar term, it’s one that will serve any Island green thumb well as they navigate uncertain future climates.

“The first change we would like to see all gardeners embrace is not a technique or method but a change in paradigm about their landscapes,” says Tayler Krawczyk, co-founder of Hatchet & Seed in Victoria.

“That is, to view their gardens as dynamic ecosystems where diversity of species — be it plant or bug —is actually required for it to be a healthy landscape.”

Krawczyk recommends looking at a problem from a long-term solution mindset,

focusing on the why behind the issue, and how it can be solved within the ecosystem rather than a top-down approach.

“This of course doesn’t mean a do-nothing approach but rather asking questions like, Why is this pest or ‘weed’ dominating? ” says Krawczyk. “How might I attract its predators rather than killing the pest? How can I make the soil ecosystem healthier so my plants can fight off disease?”

According to the David Suzuki Foundation, the key to sustainable horticulture is sun mapping and layering plants into wellplanned canopies and understories to help more delicate plants withstand heat — creating your own healthy “forest” of species and heights to allow nature to do what it does best.

For hearty, sun-loving ornamentals, Krawczyk recommends Pacific wax myrtle, manzanita, kinnikinnick, lupins and goldenrod. As Hatchet & Seed focuses on edible gardens, he also encourages gardeners to be unafraid to “foodscape,” to mix in native edible species like salal, evergreen huckleberry, Oregon grape, kales and collards, garlic and leeks, goumi (a nitrogenfixing fruit-bearing shrub that is very drought tolerant), persimmon and fig.

GETTING GOOD GROUND It may sound like a no-brainer, but having good ground is critical to healthy plant life.

Nutrient-rich soils can better withstand heat and retain moisture than counterparts full of clay and sand, both of which exist aplenty in and around Victoria. Adding enriched organic matter annually — usually in the fall and spring — will help keep plants thriving no matter what summer and winter bring. And while topsoil is helpful, compost and soil amenders are also key to a happy garden, especially in areas prone to acidity, like beneath conifers.

If part of your landscape gets hours of full sun, try non-native Mediterranean plants like Arbutus unedo, lavender, rosemary and rock rose, which all thrive under hot conditions but can tolerate wet winters.

“The most important thing for people to remember is that if you don’t have good soil, nothing will grow,” says Linda Petite, head gardener at the Horticultural Centre of the Pacific (HCP). HCP uses enormous amounts of decomposing leaf matter collected from the District of Saanich across all aspects of their nine-acre botanical gardens.

“I always tell our students, we need good soil for good growth — do spend the money

PHOTOS THIS SPREAD: JEFFREY BOSDET/SPRUCE MAGAZINE

Tayler Krawczyk and Solara Goldwynn, owners of Hatchet & Seed, have created a garden permaculture, an agricultural ecosystem with a diversity of plant and insect species that makes it sustainable and self-sufficient.

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IT JUST TAKES A FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE OF LENS TO APPRECIATE WHY IT’S BEST TO MOVE AWAY FROM COOKIECUTTER SUBURBAN LANDSCAPES.

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on it,” says Petite. “You can have the healthiest plants but if they aren’t going into good soil, nothing will thrive.”

The addition of mulch is an age-old practice to protect the top of the soil from drying out too quickly and it can be a simple way to ensure your green things stay happy despite the dry summer months. Mulch is also a handy tool in weed suppression and can protect soil from erosion in heavy downpours. Sources of mulch include straw, leaf mold, compost and wood chips. Using leaves from nearby deciduous trees can save on trips to the transfer station while providing necessary compost material and weather protection, not to mention a host of beneficial wildlife habitats for birds, mammals and invertebrates.

In essence, gardens with perfectly raked lawns and “clean” garden beds are more high maintenance and prone to difficulties than those which are allowed to feed themselves through their various seasonal cycles. It just takes a fundamental change of lens to appreciate why it’s best to move away from cookie-cutter suburban landscapes.

“In addition to being a physical soil protector like a blanket, organic matter also feeds the billions of microorganisms found in even a handful of soil,” says Krawczyk. “These organisms cycle the nutrients and water, making them available to plants in drought.”

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Solara Goldwynn, co-founder of Hatchet & Seed

JEFFREY BOSDET/SPRUCE MAGAZINE

Made for life in Canada

Hearty, sun-loving ornamentals local to our climate add colourful beauty to a garden and support beneficial insects and pollinators. From the left: goldenrod, Pacific wax myrtle, manzanita, kinnikinnick, lupins.

BEE DIVERSE Fruit-bearing plants need nature’s pollinators like bees to do their jobs in the springtime; however, when long, cold springs (like the one we experienced in 2022) are the norm, there are fewer crossfertilizers out doing their jobs. Backyard gardeners can help the process along by manually pollinating with a cotton swab or small paintbrush, mimicking the work done by bees as they fly from flower to flower.

Choosing a wider range of plants than typically used in a landscape meets not just esthetic outcomes, but also better mimics the diversity found in nature.

“It’s so important now, especially with what’s going on with our bees, to plant pollinators,” says Petite. “And it’s also important to plant flowers in with your vegetables — it looks nice and also attracts beneficial insects and all kinds of pollinators, so it’s a win-win, really. You can even do it if you live in a condo.”

And whether you have pots on a balcony or a backyard garden of dreams, creating a dynamic ecosystem where a diversity of plant and insect species can thrive will help your landscape grow healthier and more resilient. Something to think about when you are choosing shrubs and perennials to plant this fall.

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DESIGN INSPO

BY SUSAN HOLLIS

Raising the Bar

DASHA ARMSTRONG

TIPS FOR PLANNING A HOME BAR THAT REFLECTS YOUR ENTERTAINING STYLE.

A

s we say goodbye to a fading summer and look towards the cozy, crisp days of fall, there’s no better time to consider how to improve your space for entertaining.

The pandemic inspired all sorts of home renovations, reorganizations and design overhauls, and home bars were a popular choice for those wanting a fun, sophisticated way to approach happy hour without leaving your front door. Whether as simple as a repurposed bookcase or plumbed-in with an ice maker and distilled water on tap, the aim of a home bar is to create a grown-up sanctuary with all the bases covered.

One of the first things to consider is how many people it will typically accommodate. Is it a full bar with seating where friends can catch up? Or is it more of an extension of the kitchen used to house stemware and drink-specific paraphernalia? For the latter, a bar cart does a great job of storing all the fussy parts associated with proper martinis, decanted wine and elaborate cocktails. For the former, an empty wall space or even a closet can be transformed into something more elegant, with a prep area, seating and ample storage.

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“WHEN DESIGNING BAR AREAS, WE LOVE THE IDEA OF MAKING THEM FEEL LIKE A RETREAT.” Above: For this bar project by Jenny Martin Design, under-mounted LED strip lighting was integrated to highlight the homeowner’s collection of curated liquors. The leather seating, sleek countertops and brass accents elevate the traditional bar esthetic.

JO-ANN RICHARDS

JO-ANN RICHARDS

In this Incredible Home project, the bar area is integrated seamlessly and tidily into the kitchen. With a focus on wine, bottles are displayed under lights that serve double duty as task lighting. Cabinets are in a similar style as elsewhere in the kitchen but in a different finish to distinguish them. In addition to the built-in wine cooler, wine bottles have a home in a separate storage area (below).

“When designing bar areas, we love the idea of making them feel like a retreat,” says Maria Alvarez of Jenny Martin Design. “It’s an opportunity to design something different, moody, and can be a fun way to play with finishes, fixtures and colours.”

As the past few years have seen a spike in hyper-local drink trends — think custom cocktails, never-before-seen beer flavours and locally made tonics and seltzers — designers are fielding more specific wet bar requests, like custom taps for beer, carbonated water and filtered and reverse osmosis water.

And because makers of spirits put great effort into their bottle designs and labels, they can be used as centrepieces — shelved behind the bar or even kept behind glass in specially designed fridges.

A collection of pretty cocktail glasses also works as a focal point — a simple way to both identify the bar’s purpose and encourage its use. And it’s not over the top to match your cabinet paint colour to your glassware or wine collection. Make the most of your bar’s assets by proudly keeping them on display.

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ELE VATED GL ASSWARE Gilded Age-inspired Viski Gatsby glasses are crafted from lead-free crystal and high-quality glass for stunning clarity so your drinks can steal the show. Functional and beautiful, this is glassware that will truly shine.

Many homes will have limited places a bar can go — converting part of a butler’s pantry, an empty corner where a potted plant has long lived or even an underused closet can be great ways to create a dream drinking nook. Just keep in mind it should work with the social areas in your home while allowing for ample storage.

“Often an escape or gathering spot for family and friends, it’s important to consider seating, flow and functionality,” says Jenny Martin of Jenny Martin Design. “Depending on what our clients love to collect, whether it be wine, beer or coveted liquors, it’s important to tailor storage to this.”

Especially among collectors, security is a factor to consider when laying out a home bar. Ensuring special bottles aren’t easy to walk away with is easily done by providing locked storage and discreet roll-out drawers.

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Even the smallest space can be transformed beautifully.

In this Zebra Group project, the lighting gives this compact bar big pizazz.

A WINE COLUMN CAN PULL DOUBLE DUTY AS A WAY TO PROPERLY STORE WINE WHILE ACTING AS AN EYECATCHING STATEMENT PIECE.

Some wine fridges and wine columns can be customized to match any cabinetry and room décor. These appliances are specially designed to protect wine from heat, light, humidity and vibration. The Sub-Zero 24" undercounter wine fridge (below) has two individually controlled zones so reds and whites can be kept at their proper temperature. The Bertazonni wine column (right) holds up to 52 bottles in two temperature zones.

For those going the distance with a built-in bar, fridge drawers can be hidden behind panels or under the sink. And don’t forget to plan for compost, garbage and recycling to keep debris off the bar.

For the wine lover, consider a wine column.

A step above the stand-alone beer and wine fridges of yesteryear, a wine column is taller, with specific shelving, cooling, humidity and vibration controls. This high-tech appliance can pull double duty as a way to properly store wine while acting as an eye-catching statement piece.

Creating a special vibe can be achieved with the help of accent lighting. This is an opportunity to step outside of your home’s overall themes to include something fun or even unusual. Maybe that vintage candelabra that looks plucked from Hogwarts is just the thing you needed to go with your five o’clock Tom Collins.

And with a fun, new home bar suited to your tastes, you’ll have a good reason to break out the bubbly this fall.

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FINISHING TOUCH

Draw Closer to the Fire

AS LEAVES CHANGE COLOUR AND THE DAYS GET SHORTER, WE LOOK INDOORS TO THE ALLURING WARMTH OF THE FIREPLACE.

“There’s something inherent that draws humans to fire,” says Maria Alvarez, senior designer at Jenny Martin Design. “A gathering spot for family and friends, fire strengthens connection and sense of community. There’s something special about sitting by the fire after a long day, and this is something that has been prominent since its discovery.”

Fireplaces can be a design focal point and greatly influence its surroundings. It’s important to consider scale.

“You want everything to look balanced, symmetrical and proportionate to the space,” she says. “The material surrounding the fireplace must also be able to handle a substantial amount of heat, depending on your fireplace output.”

The fireplace pictured here is constructed using locally sourced, sustainable stone from Vancouver Island and accented with custom millwork to display the homeowner’s collection of books and décor.

“Mantle and fireplace surrounds can be an exciting opportunity to set the tone for the rest of the home’s interior and can be a creative outlet to show off a unique design element or material,” she says.

And after a walk on a crisp fall afternoon, drawing up to the fire with a book sets the tone for a relaxing evening at home.

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“We wanted to introduce something both timeless and rugged to match the rest of the home’s interior,” says Alvarez.

“Mimicking the raw, natural textures found within the West Coast, we loved its industrial feel.”

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