SPRUCE Fall 2023

CONTENTS

22

DRESSED TO IMPRESS

Inspiring window trends to create a warm, inviting atmosphere this fall.

BY SIMONE PAGET

26

A DREAM FOR TWO

This mid-century reno brings functional living and freedom to play for one mother-daughter pair.

BY DANIELLE POPE

34 COASTAL CALLING

A retired couple moves across the country for an ocean view only the Island can offer.

BY NESSA PULLMAN

42

GROTTO ESCAPE

Organic architecture takes the spotlight in this sun-filled addition, which incorporates natural rock into its design.

BY DAVID LENNAM

50 SMART HOME, SAFE HOME

Your guide to the latest advancements in home security will keep peace of mind at your fingertips.

BY CAROLYN CAMILLERI

8

EDITOR’S LETTER

Welcoming change opens the door to creating the home you’ve always wanted.

BY DANIELLE POPE

11

SPRUCE IT UP

This season’s trends cut the clutter, add texture and bring comfort into your space.

16

ASK THE EXPERT

Tim Jacob from ARK@Home offers tips for selecting the right stove or fireplace for your home.

BY LIAM RAZZELL

18

THIS ROOM

Dining Room Details: Set the scene for your fall gatherings with a little revisioning.

BY DANIELLE POPE

54

DESIGN INSPO

Hardware Harvest: Trends, function and personal preference will help you select the right finishings for every room.

BY LIAM RAZZELL

56

REAL ESTATE

Winterize your investment by getting your home ready for the cooler days ahead.

BY SHANNON MONEO

58

FINISHING TOUCH

Cedar barrel saunas combine therapeutic benefits with backyard luxury.

ROBYN

Inviting change to come inside this season

Irecall meeting change in my earlier years the way some people meet an unexpected guest at the door.

There was always the chance this visitor could show up bearing some wonderful surprise. But it seemed just as likely any surprise could be a foreboding one. So I often passed by opportunities to greet change with my full enthusiasm, deciding instead that things were fine as they were. And they were. Fine, that is.

When it comes to reinventing the spaces in which we live, many of us can find ourselves stalled out in a place of quiet discontent. A room may not exactly be in need of change — the chairs fit nicely enough, and the colours are still in season — but it doesn’t light you up when you walk in anymore, either. We often discount the impact of a small change, too. There’s nothing wrong with that old desk, except it mostly collects papers now, and the couch has turned into your at-home office lounge.

What if it was different? What does this version of you need?

It is, in fact, when we’re willing to hear the knock, knock, knock of change offering us a fresh set of eyes that we can turn a settled-for space into one that, once again, captures our hearts. It’s the primary reason people in the throes of renovations turn to professional designers for support — even with our deepest desires at the forefront, it can take someone else looking in to see what our home could truly become.

This fall issue of Spruce is here to remind us all of the tantalizing possibilities change can offer. In a season when we’re committed to getting cozy with our indoor spaces again, it’s the perfect time to reassess what’s really working and what needs a good old-fashioned revision.

Within these pages, you’ll have the chance to reflect on how your dining room is working for you (see This Room), reconsider your relationship to your hardware finishings (see Design Inspo) and even pursue the idea of changing up your fireplace (see Ask The Expert) or adorning your yard with your own cedarbarrel sauna (see Finishing Touch). You can work out your fears and discover the opportunities that exist with smart home security (see Smart Home, Safe Home), then look forward to a wall-to-wall transformation with the latest trends in window coverings (see Dressed to Impress).

You’ll also hear the story of a mom starting fresh who wanted to rebuild a home especially for her daughter and herself (see A Dream For Two). You’ll take a journey with a couple who chose to relocate for a view (see Coastal Calling). And you’ll learn how one set of homeowners embraced change by turning an unused bedrock outcrop in their backyard into a green-roof building their whole family could enjoy (see Grotto Escape).

With any luck, the shifts seen within these stories might inspire you to crack your door open just enough to see if change is ready to treat you to a few welcome surprises this season.

Wishing you plenty of courage — and happy reading.

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

SALES ASSOCIATE & SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, SALES

“I WAS A CHILD WHO WENT ABOUT

WORLD

— Frida Kahlo

Landscape Your Lifestyle

DESIGN

250-595-0527 info@acaciavictoria.com

259 Esquimalt Road 250.360.2123 douglasgrantcabinetmakers.com

PUBLISHERS Lise Gyorkos, Georgina Camilleri

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Joanne Sasvari

EDITOR Danielle Pope

EDITORIAL INTERN Liam Razzell

PROOFREADER Lionel Wild

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Jeffrey Bosdet

LEAD GRAPHIC DESIGNER Janice Hildybrant

ASSOCIATE GRAPHIC DESIGNER Caroline Segonnes

PRODUCTION MANAGER Jennifer Kühtz

ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Deana Brown, Will Gillis, Cynthia Hanischuk, Brenda Knapik

ADVERTISING CO-ORDINATOR Rebecca Jeutten

MARKETING CONSULTANT Amanda Wilson

DIGITAL MARKETING

CO-ORDINATOR Claire Villaraza

MARKETING CO-ORDINATOR Lauren Ingle

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Carolyn Camilleri, David Lennam, Shannon Moneo, Simone Paget, Nessa Pullman

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Dasha Armstrong, Tony Colangelo, Joshua Lawrence, Mary McNeillKnowles

CONTRIBUTING AGENCIES Getty Images p. 12, 50-52, 56-57; Stocksy p. 18; Unsplash p. 19

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ON THE COVER

A Dream For Two. See page 26.

Photo by Mary McNeill-Knowles.

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Landscape Architect: Stephen McLeish (BCSLA, CSLA)

Fall Away from it All

THIS SEASON’S INSPIRING TRENDS WILL CUT THE CLUTTER AND ADD TEXTURE, COLOUR AND COMFORT TO YOUR SPACE.

THE TEXTURE OF FALL

If spending time pulling out bins of décor causes you stress, rest assured 2023 is your year. Design trends right now are focused on a less-is-more approach.

Texture is hitting the walls this year, with limewash paint, textured wallpaper and beadboard panelling reaching new popularity for fall. The most significant design elements are in fabrics, with velvet making a big appearance for 2023. Jute and natural fibres like wool also aren’t going anywhere.

While adding texture is always in season, this year’s approach to fall is soft, upscale and uncluttered. Go easy on the themes (collections of pumpkins, leaves and skeletons are out), and choose only your best pieces to display. That said, statement black in a rug or runner is a chic choice. Feel your way into your own favourites by checking out the collections at the Victoria Wallpaper Store.

Available at finestwallpaper.com

Above: Cascadia by Kelly Wearstler makes for a bold textural feature wall. Top right: Thibaut Sutton Stripe grasscloth pulls in natural materials. Bottom right: Thibaut East Gate grasscloth adds dimension to a wall. (All from finestwallpaper.com.)

CURATED FINDS

Bringing one-of-a-kind style to your space can be as simple as finding the right object. Searching vintage is a hot trend right now in the world of home design, and adding statement pieces with an intentionally curated collection can work with modern or classic motifs. A choice bowl, sculpture or even tablecloth can bring new life to lost objects and welcome “the art of slow indulgence back into our fast-paced lives,” according to Victoria’s The Found Studio. You can even find specially curated selections through designer Iván Meade’s online décor shop, where interested buyers can flip through a digital lookbook of specialty items Meade has set aside — like a pair of ceramic monkey bookends or a heritage pill container. The pieces add novelty, interest and a touch of charm. Available at ivanmeade.com and thefoundstudio.com

MODERN DAY CUBISM

For a complete living room refresh, consider doing something square. The Herman Miller Nelson Cube Sofa — and its matching armchair — originally designed by George Nelson for Herman Miller in 1968, has made a comeback with a modern take. The mid-century design, available at Gabriel Ross, offers firm support paired with soft, tufted cushions in high-resiliency foam for comfort. The exposed hardwood frame, in oak, walnut or ebony, provides a clean anchor to any space. Reintroduced with new fabric options — from leather to velvet — Cube makes its presence known as beautifully in a lounge as it does in an office. Available at grshop.com

READING NOOK

COLOUR THE SEASON PINK

Building with History

Classic and contemporary design gets a new blend of style in Nina Farmer’s book out this season — Timeless by Design: Designing Rooms with Comfort, Style, and a Sense of History (Rizzoli New York, 2023). Farmer, a U.S. designer known for her unique brand of classic interiors, helps readers reimagine century-old homes to bring them up to dwellings that work for today. Farmer is the recipient of the New York School of Interior Design’s prestigious Rising Star Award and has been celebrated for allowing her designs to straddle the line between paying tribute to days of old while living stylishly in the present. Her book touches on design solutions that make a space look collected over time, rather than created all at once, and offers readers insight into how considered design can give new life to any home.

Given the popularity of pinks after the height of the Barbie movie, it’s little surprise that one of Pantone’s colours of the fall season is Rose Violet (17-2624), described as “high energy, personified.” With its use of reddish-cast fuchsia, it fits right in with Pantone’s colour of the year, Viva Magenta. The jewel tone has been appearing in the fashion and design world, opening the question as to how Pantone, as always, could have predicted this would be the year for bold pinks. For using this around your own home this season, consider a pop of colour on a bedspread, in throw pillows, or — if you’re feeling brave — perhaps the curtains.

Fiora pillow and the Textured Piazza quilt, both from Anthropologie.

PLASTIC HOUSES MADE POSSIBLE

It’s not something Victorians are likely to see next door yet, but as the world of design changes, advancements in the use of 3D printing are giving a facelift to ideas around what our homes could soon be made from. With the option to envision new forms that surpass the structures of today’s building standards, architects and designers have a tool at their fingertips to test out theories and experiment with new materials in a safe, replicable form. What is now being termed “large-scale additive manufacturing” involves building objects, layer by layer, until they achieve their final form. Like desktop 3D printing, this means new possibilities for literally printing new shapes and materials that could change the typical angular building code — think curved and rounded buildings, rather than square houses. While concrete and clay are common materials used in this process, plastics and polymers are seeing some experimentation. With no need for additional formwork or moulds, the creation of these materials is highly efficient, exciting those in the industry focused on sustainability. For now, companies like Victoria’s Forge Labs are surging ahead with 3D printing architectural models and elements that allow designers the chance to work on elaborate concepts and refinish designs in real time. More info at forgelabs.ca

GREATNESS IN RANGE

Professional cooking enthusiasts need no convincing that a gas range will offer superior control over a culinary experience, but the Hestan KRG Series Professional Gas Range could sway even the most novel kitcheneers. One part mechanical, one part high-tech, this range comes in a freestanding, four-burner, 30-inch option; a built-in, five-burner, 36-inch option; and an elaborate 48-inch option, with six burners and a 24-inch griddle for serious chefs. Along with all the features you’d expect in a range, these models electronically control multiple convection heating systems to optimize baking, broiling and roasting. It has backlit knobs for visibility on dark mornings, a special simmer flame setting for delicate sauces and a gentleclose door feature. And with its “CircuFlame” tech on the five-burner model — which delivers the most power available to home units (up to 30,000 BTUs) — you can go from 0º to crab boil in moments. The units come in a spectrum of colours from sol yellow to grove green, Pacific fog blue, tin roof red, Bora Bora teal and steeletto grey, making this range the obvious statement piece for your kitchen.

Available at lansdowneappliance.com and westcoastappliances.ca

The Hestan range in grove green.

WATER WORLD

Shower luxury has stepped up its game with the Eden ceiling-mounted, LED music shower set. The elaborate system comes in brushed gold, complete with water options of rainfall, waterfall, mist, water column, and either three or six wall-mounted body jets. If that wasn’t enough, the system plays music, straight from your phone, and is self illuminating. A thermostatic faucet control allows for customized temperatures, and can be installed in most large shower systems. The system can ship to Canada through the U.S., but local customers can also access body-spray systems, like the Moen Mosaic Round Body Spray Trim (shown below), in a variety of finishes via Splashes Bath & Kitchen. Available at smartlivingandtechnology.com

BY LIAM RAZZELL

Romancing the Flame

SELECTING THE RIGHT FIREPLACE OR STOVE ISN’T JUST ABOUT PERSONAL PREFERENCE.

Everyone loves sitting in front of a fireplace or stove. Despite the draw of that warm glow, with so many options to choose from, picking the right fireplace to match a space can be a difficult prospect. Fortunately, there’s some science behind the selection process.

The decision should be based on more than just personal preference. It should be a series of choices around what device can best heat a room, how the esthetic matches a space and how safety factors into the design.

Few people can help homeowners make those decisions better than Tim Jacob, sales manager at ARK@Home, which has sold and installed wood and gas stoves and fireplaces in Victoria since 1978. Spruce recently spoke with the fireplace expert about how to make the best pick when it comes to bringing new warmth and ambience to your home. Here is his advice.

Why would someone opt for a fireplace or stove when they already have a heating system?

It’s supplemental. A lot of people come in for a gas system because their heat pump doesn’t keep them warm on really cold days. It’s also a backup system. If you have a heat pump, boiler or furnace, you need electricity. There are power outages here, and a lot of the gas fireplaces we sell run without electricity.

How do you help people pick the perfect fireplace or stove?

Why do they want a fireplace or stove? For esthetics, main heating, supplemental heating? We start with a series of questions on what their need is.

If we’re in a client’s house, we can see what their idea of décor is, whether their house is modern, mid-century modern or vintage. We have a database of photos of projects we’ve done over the years, and we’ll show them some images and pay attention to which ones they gravitate towards. Then we can start narrowing it down.

A lot of people come in who’ve gone to restaurants or a ski lodge with an oversized fireplace, and they want that look but would have to run the flame really low because otherwise their place would get too hot. So, a lot of what we do is find the proper sizing for heat.

What is possible with design?

For the most part, every stove is customizable. You can change log sets, surrounds, colours. You can go with different trims — brushed nickel, polished chrome, vintage iron. Most of the customization we do is trying to find the best place to frame a fireplace or stove in a wall. We start asking questions like: What do you want to see? Do you want the fireplace as the focal point? Do you want to put a TV over it? Are you going to put built-in bookshelves around it?

What do you recommend to a client who lives in a minimalist, new-build home?

A more linear fireplace: sleek, short, long and narrow. Think glass instead of logs, with reflective glass panels in the back.

What about for people who live in a more traditional home?

If they live in a more traditional home, you can put in traditional logs or even a birch set with a brick liner, rather than reflective glass. These units are usually more square than linear.

What are some of the most common misconceptions about fireplaces and stoves?

People are scared of natural gas. People hear about a gas explosion somewhere on the other side of the world and think it’s going to happen here. There’s also a big misconception that open-hearth fireplaces heat entire homes. You won’t feel the heat unless you’re sitting right in front of it.

What’s the main difference between gas and wood fireplaces and stoves?

A lot of people come in with a romantic notion of a wood fire. Usually, by the time they leave the store, they want a gas unit because they didn’t know what was involved with wood. Gas fireplaces are a lifestyle thing. Push a button, 30 seconds later you’re feeling the heat. With a wood fireplace, you have to get the kindling, build the fire, stoke it up, get the air flow right. Within 30 minutes, you can start feeling the heat.

Why would people opt for a wood stove or fireplace, then?

Some people say, “What if gas goes out? What if there’s an earthquake on the Island and we can’t have gas?” They want a wood backup.

They also like the feel of it. If you rent a place up at Tofino and it has a wood stove and you’re sitting by the fire with a glass of wine and watching a movie — it’s a nice feeling.

Above: The Valor Linear insert is known for its advancements in radiant heat technology — and modern motifs.

Left: The Jøtul Newcastle series brings a similar modern-insert experience, but with the traditional charm of cast iron and classic design.

Tim Jacob, sales manager at ARK@Home, says selecting the right fire feature — whether a traditional or modern fireplace or stove — takes careful planning and consideration about how the heat will perform in your space.

“MOST OF THE CUSTOMIZATION WE DO IS TRYING TO FIND THE BEST PLACE TO FRAME A FIREPLACE OR STOVE IN A WALL.”

JEFFREY BOSDET/SPRUCE MAGAZINE

THIS ROOM

BY DANIELLE POPE

Dining Room Details

DEDICATING A SPACE TO YOUR FALL GATHERINGS MAY REQUIRE REVISIONING THE ROOM.

The dining room can be a quietly closeted place in a house. When daily meals are enjoyed on the kitchen island, nightly teas are taken in the living area and only the kids swing by to drop off an overflowing bag of something, the dining room all but awaits its turn.

It’s fall, perhaps, that gives any dining room the most hope.

With the promise of holiday gatherings on the horizon, cool evenings forcing meals inside from the patio and ever-darkening days encouraging family game nights, this is the dining room’s time to shine.

With a little polish — and some clear intent — this room can also become your key to creating a space dedicated to the season, and treating guests to an experience they’ll take home long after the stuffed bellies are forgotten.

DECORATING WITH LIFE

“Coming into autumn, the dining table is really the hearth of the home,” says Ann Squires Ferguson, CEO of Western Design+Build. “You come together, and you’re face to face with the people you love. It’s a place of gathering and community.”

For Squires Ferguson, bringing a ritual into dining has become a beautiful way of honouring time and space. She says her family’s experience of the dining room has changed significantly this last year.

“In our family, we add a lot of ceremony with dining now. We take the time to set the candles and the placemats, and the cloth napkins, really at every occasion,” says Squires Ferguson. “Coming out of cancer, I used to think, ‘Oh, it’s just the family,’ and now I think, ‘It’s the family — this is as good as it gets.’ ”

To use a room this way, Squires Ferguson says the key is “normalizing the detritus of daily life.” She holds a regular gathering with a group of friends who meet at each other’s houses with one rule: no preparing. Cleaning is off limits; so is creating a fancy dish, or getting dressed up. The result is more comfort.

“I think we all need more permission to have a little bit of friendly chaos,” says Squires Ferguson. “Rather than apologizing for what has become a craft table, see it as a wonderful thing … When we talk about creating an experience around the dining table, you’re talking about creating connection.”

COLOUR OUTSIDE THE LINES

Squires Ferguson suggests that building experiences — whether for yourself, your family or your guests — is the best way to infuse meaning into a space.

That’s not to discount esthetics. Squires Ferguson is the first to talk about the great joy in beauty, but she offers a tip.

“If I have done a really good job with a design at a restaurant, for example, people don’t talk about the restaurant — they talk about what a wonderful night they had,” she says. “When we talk about creating

meaningful spaces, we’re really building a container for an experience. Those are the things people actually remember.”

How does one capture that potential for experience? Curating the setting with personality goes a long way.

Muffet Billyard-Leake, owner of Muffet & Louisa, admits she bucks the trends most seasons. While greys, whites and pinks remain the most popular colour schemes, Billyard-Leake prefers to go big with her colour.

“It’s so grey and cold and dark in the winter, so we bring in a lot of colour,” she says. “We bring candles in metallic and gold and rose gold and blood red. We do tablecloths in red and green and cream — anything that brings as much warmth and colour as we can.”

While Billyard-Leake acknowledges the classic fall palettes, she says there are always twists you can take on tradition. Instead of oranges and blacks, try amber, pewter grey, dark platinum and metallics. Drop the pumpkins and go with a more sophisticated motif, like a fall-bounty theme, or stick to dried, seasonal grasses.

The dining room is also the perfect place to experiment with textiles.

“Fall is a time when you can go to the heavier weaves,” says Billyard-Leake. “Runners are lovely, as they allow people to show off their tables more. You can take a few short runners and lay them across the table in a vis-à-vis pattern.”

With nostalgia surging in popularity, vintage shops are a great place to find antique silverware — and Billyard-Leake notes that it doesn’t have to match.

“People are using things they love, and you can always find new ways to organize things you have,” she says. “You also have to remember the food is going to take place, too. That can become a display in itself.”

SEAT AT THE TABLE

Design fans can plan to whisk dinner guests to new worlds with the help of the latest work out from author and photographer Stephanie Stokes. The World at Your Table is one part how-to guide, one part coffee-table reader and one part design guide featuring tablescapes set with evocative, eye-catching and exotic items. Stokes draws inspiration from her global travels to give a breakdown on how to select meaningful pieces to enliven any tabletop setting this season. Using a combination of collected china, glassware, linens, candlesticks and cutlery from different destinations — like Japan, Cartagena, Budapest and London — Stokes lays out a plan for people to follow along and create unparalleled environments around their own tables.

TABLE THIS IDEA

Your furniture can also set the tone of the room.

Dave Duckworth, owner and creator of Willow Groove Live Edge Furniture, creates tables from locally sourced materials, including artfully created epoxy and resin designs with mixed mediums.

“Clients that come to us for a dining table are wanting it to be the focal point. They want a beautiful, artistic table that they are excited to host their friends and family at,” says Duckworth. “They want a space that is inviting, warm and a table that can be a topic of discussion.”

When it comes to decorating these tables, Duckworth suggests less is more.

“You don’t need much on the table since you want to see it,” he says. “For a fall theme, simple décor like a flower vase with some fresh flowers is all you need — and, of course, the table should have an abundant spread of food.”

Regardless of what makes up your dining room, Squires Ferguson encourages building an experience out of reflection.

“There is a season to our lives, and autumn is a time of focusing inward and stockpiling resources,” says Squires Ferguson. “It’s a time to gather around the table and celebrate the harvest. Often, this is the time we’re reaping the rewards of the connections we’ve been fostering.”

TIPS FOR YOUR FALL TABLESCAPE

LAYER FABRICS >

Experiment with layering different textures on your table, from runners to placemats and napkins. Natural textures can be offset with synthetic ones for a dynamic look.

CHOOSE SEASONAL VESSELS > Swap a traditional flower vase for a hollowed-out gourd or collection of leaves, sticks, unusual items or other seasonal holders.

GREENERY GARLANDS

> Harvest your own local greenery and create a loose braid of grasses to drape over the table or runner.

TRIVET TIPS > If you plan to serve food on the table, prepare your centre spread with trivets pre-set amongst the décor, making it easier to deliver dishes.

MISSING SEATS > The season will inevitably highlight anyone not at the table this year. Consider a tribute to those not present through artistic décor, a framed photo or favourite item that can welcome them in spirit.

STEM DOWN > For dinner parties with many people, young kids or unsteady hands, opt for stemless wine glasses to reduce the risk of accidents.

BRIGHT IDEAS > While candles and lanterns create beauty, ensure all flammable materials are well out of reach, and that guests dashing by won’t catch flames on their clothes.

ANTIQUE IT UP > Fall is the perfect season to showcase sentimental family heirlooms, from heritage silverware to an item that could be incorporated into a centrepiece.

Above: This Pottery Barn tablescape features the Eva Fringe Runner, bringing natural texture into the setting. A mix of seasonal grasses does the trick for foliage, and space is made for the food itself to take centre stage.

Willow Groove Live Edge Furniture creates custom pieces, like this maple and volcanic grey epoxy dining table.

BC CANCER FOUNDATION

Enhancing holistic cancer care on the Island

The BC Cancer Foundation has been supporting BC Cancer – Victoria for over 20 years – helping equip the centre with the latest, life-saving technology and to establish it as a globally renowned research hub.

What’s next?

The Foundation is supporting BC Cancer in their commitment to treating the whole patient with a new building focused on Supportive Care.

Supportive Care includes services like patient and family counselling, psychiatry and hereditary counselling. These programs all help patients and their families to manage the adverse side effects of cancer and its treatment (physical and psychological) — from diagnosis through treatment and into survivorship or palliative care.

Located less than 250 metres from the existing BC Cancer – Victoria facilities, the new building at 2340 Richmond Road will include over 12,000 square feet of new space to enhance care for patients across Vancouver Island.

The BC Cancer Foundation has committed to fully funding the purchase and renovation of the space and is working with the Island community to fulfill this promise.

Research shows that providing supportive care services away from the site of cancer treatment has a significant benefit for patients and families because returning to the original setting where they had received chemotherapy and/or radiation can be triggering for patients. There will be a focus on creating a healing environment with features like a calming outdoor therapeutic garden.

At the same time, the close proximity to the existing facilities will allow staff to work seamlessly between the buildings.

“The Foundation’s donor community plays a critical role in enhancing cancer care on the Island and we’re tremendously grateful for the support we’re already receiving,” shares William Litchfield, BC Cancer Foundation’s Executive Director for Vancouver Island. “This new building will make an enormous impact on the experience of patients and families throughout their journey with BC Cancer.”

Now is the time to support this project. To donate or learn more, contact William at: william.litchfield@ bccancer.bc.ca or 250-667-8690

William Litchfield, Executive Director – Vancouver Island, BC Cancer Foundation

“This new building will make an enormous impact on the experience of patients and families throughout their journey with BC Cancer.”

BY SIMONE PAGET

DRESSED TO IMPRESS

Fall has arrived, which means it’s time to swap lazy days at the beach for cozy moments at home — preferably ensconced in a plush throw with a seasonal beverage or simmering pot of soup standing by. As we prepare to spend more time indoors, maximizing texture and light is key to curating an inspiring environment at home.

Windows, while great for letting in natural light during the grey and drizzly months, can also create unique challenges after the sun sets.

“Uncovered windows can be black holes in the dark hours of winter,” says Cheryl Kellett, window covering expert at Ruffell & Brown Window Covering Centre.

Choosing the right window treatment can be the solution to eliminating unwanted drafts and creating esthetic warmth where there otherwise is none.

Raubyn Rothschild, lead designer at Rothschild West, says as home design trends have grown to embrace the use of large and ample windows, these

elements need more attention than before.

“The selection of the right window coverings is now more important than ever,” she says.

To streamline the process, Spruce spoke to local experts for tips on how to maximize current window treatment trends and create an inviting atmosphere this fall.

1

EMBRACE CLEAN LINES

According to design experts, luxe yet minimal window treatments are having a moment.

“Many of my clients are selecting products with a clean look, like a roller blind or shade,” says Amy McGeachy of McGeachy Design Studio.

Within this category, there is a plethora of versatile silhouettes to choose from, including trending honeycomb or cellular shades, which are ideal for this time of year. The pleated cell design retains air

Inspiring window trends will revitalize your space to create an inviting atmosphere this fall.

between your window and the shade, providing extra insulation during the colder months.

“A cellular roller shade such as a Hunter Douglas Sonnette is a great option because it can be done in a soft-look fabric, be roomdarkening or light-filtering, offer many of the advantages of a traditional cellular shade, while being able to be motorized,” McGeachy says.

Rothschild has noticed a similar trend. If your space is feeling a little too heavy, she encourages people to streamline their window treatments.

“A Roman blind or woven wood shade may strike the right balance between keeping some visual interest, but in a more restrained approach,” she says.

To create a sense of warmth and coziness, play with materials, proportions and subtle patterns.

“By keeping a clean look with blinds and shades, you can select a product that has an interesting fabric, with texture and dimensions, while keeping the look more structured,” says McGeachy.

Opposite page: Motorized Powerview Silhouette Shades from Hunter Douglas can be automatically controlled from a device or with voice commands to allow in just the right amount of light (and warmth) throughout the day.

Below: Hunter Douglas Sonnette shades in ELAN Heather Taupe create a streamlined look.

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2 TAKE A PAGE FROM NATURE

As the temperatures cool, bringing in natural textures and materials creates warmth, even when it comes to window treatments.

“Some of our favourites for both modern and traditional spaces are woven shades, including grasses, reeds and bamboo,” says Rothschild.

For those looking to maximize privacy, Rothschild suggests adding a liner, which creates “a layered, natural feel in a space.”

In addition to pairing well with earthy neutrals and other organic elements, window treatments made of sustainable, natural materials can balance out a space that is already colour-heavy. (Think: natural-material window treatments paired with richly hued walls or cabinetry.)

Natural textures can create an instant feeling of cozy. Above: The Hunter Douglas Provenance Woven Wood fabric brings the outdoors in, and is handcrafted from wood, reeds, grasses and bamboo. Left: Designer Raubyn Rothschild brought texture into this bathroom with a shade that aligns with the wood flooring.

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4 GO SEASONLESS

While it’s true there are more choices than you’ll ever have windows to fashion, it’s neither cost effective nor sustainable to switch out your window coverings every season. Opt for something that creates the atmosphere you are looking for, year round.

“Most people choose to go with something that will stand the test of time and easily work with other aspects of the home,” says McGeachy. “Window coverings are something that you should spend the money on up front to get a good-quality product that will not need replacing.”

For this reason, McGeachy says the majority of her clients lean toward rich neutrals and subtle patterns, as opposed to bold hues and prints.

“People who want contrast are doing deep charcoal or brown tones,” she says.

However, if you want to add a pop of colour, she suggests going with accents in “hot and rosy” desert tones. This particular colour spectrum has a broad appeal and blends, subtly, with many other palettes.

As Rothschild reiterates, when choosing window treatments it’s important to evaluate how you plan to use the space, long term.

“Consider what type of atmosphere you want to create in both the daytime and evening, as well as throughout the seasons,” she says.

3 DRAPE YOUR SPACE IN COZY

Draperies are making a comeback.

While not as flouncy and ornate as in the past, according to the team at Ruffell & Brown, draperies are popular now either as stationary side panels or traversing drapery.

“If your space is skewing more modern and you want to soften the vibe, adding draperies is a great solution,” says Rothschild, noting that this goes from elegant floor-to-ceiling styles to minimalist single-panel curtains.

During a time when sunshine is at a premium, sheer panels — especially when hung floor to ceiling — create a sense of height and allow natural light into the room while still providing privacy. Also popular are pinch-pleat draperies in natural fabrics like linen and wool.

“A light-to-medium fabric can effectively block natural light, and still allows the option to add a lining in the bedrooms, where additional light filtering may be desired,” says Rothschild.

To add subtle drama this season, Rothschild also recommends layering drapery with roller blinds or shades underneath. Layering window treatments adds texture to the space while maximizing the functionality by providing additional warmth and UV light blocking where necessary.

Left: Floor-to-ceiling drape panels, like the Alendel Jones drapery (found through Ruffell & Brown), add dimension to a room and can create a feeling of height.

Right: This bathroom space, designed by Raubyn Rothschild, utilizes traversing drapes on a smaller level to bring in tactile comfort, privacy and softness.

Desert tones are always in season, and include trending colours in the design world. These Hunter Douglas Vignette UltraGlide Jewelstone Carnelian Roman shades add a dash of colour to this kitchen while staying true to its design.

A Dream for Two

BY DANIELLE POPE | PHOTOS BY MARY M c NEILL-KNOWLES

When Mia Starcevic was looking for a home, she needed a new start for herself and her daughter. They’d been living in a bungalow overlooking a cliff and the site posed risks for a young child. This would also be a home owned by Starcevic herself, and it needed to be an exploration of her personality — a symbol of what she wanted for herself now.

“When I found this place it felt like it had been loved,” she says. “It had all those things I never thought I’d get around to — irrigation, a heat pump; investments I appreciated. But it also felt like a 90 year old lived here. There were wall-to-wall brown carpets, fake wood-panel walls, a 1950s kitchen and it didn’t feel like me.”

Part of the Oak Bay home’s appeal was its expansive backyard, with gardens and fruit trees — including some Starcevic and her now six-year-old daughter, Sophie, planted when they moved in.

“Most of the landscaping was done by my family,” says Starcevic. “The people who’d lived here had done a lot, too, so every year we have like 100 cloves of garlic and onions and fruit. Sophie has her own fruit trees back there; Italian prunes, Pippin apples and a raspberry patch.”

A few years into living there, Starcevic knew it was time to make the space her own. In 2020, she enlisted the support of Bidgood, who understood her dream to make this a home with as much personality as it had safety.

“I was raised on this. My mother was a renovation queen — she would get so excited, and I constantly lived my life under a blue tarp growing up,” says Starcevic. “That’s why I chose a designer. I have so many passionate ideas, but I couldn’t do it all by myself.”

Mia Starcevic says the personality of her home is best captured by the signature tile she’s selected throughout its spaces — a representation of her Mediterranean heritage. The living-area fireplace is adorned with Portuguese ceramic tiles from Walker Zanger in Duquesa Fez. The kitchen’s striking backsplash is completed with Spanish tiles from Equipe Cerámicas in the pattern Oasis.

This mid-century Oak Bay reno brings a mother and daughter functional living, freedom to play and the chance to connect to what matters most.

Bidgood’s Jessica Allerton became lead designer on the home. She says the space needed to be fun and feminine. It couldn’t take itself too seriously, and it needed colour, durability and an easygoing, rugged motif that would work hard for this mom-anddaughter pair.

The first point of transformation: the kitchen.

“Mia and Sophie love gardening and cooking, so we needed to open the kitchen into the backyard and blur the boundary between the two spaces,” says Allerton. “In mid-century homes, the kitchen used to be quite small as it wasn’t seen as a place to entertain. We really changed that.”

The team added a seven-foot bump-out extension, squaring off the kitchen to a standard size and creating enough space for a new mudroom entry as well as room for a full island, professional-grade range and more storage. The central island’s butcher-block countertop is designed so this workable surface could be refinished over the years to grow a beautiful patina.

A new deck was built immediately off the kitchen, with full French doors opening onto the space to create a seamless blend for indoor/outdoor gatherings.

The carpeted floors saw a full replacement with red-oak-style engineered hardwood throughout. New windows in the kitchen brought in more light, and the team restructured the order of rooms for flow — adding storage and a laundry closet where the living room was, redistributing the primary bedroom to capture

This kitchen is prepped for a mom-and-daughter chef team with a shared passion for cooking. Bidgood introduced a seven-foot bump out that brought the room up to standard size, then equipped the space with a professional range, butcher-block island with seating, a specialty coffee/drink station and cabinetry outfitted with unbleached cane for a mid-century appeal.

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a view, and creating its new closet and ensuite. An interior paint and exterior re-stucco and paint brought in colour and calm.

“We wanted to make sure the spaces felt bright and airy, but we didn’t want it to feel coastal,” says Allerton. “Mia wanted space to dedicate to family heirlooms and memorabilia, so we created lower cabinets that wrap the walls — and are easily wipe-able — to emphasize that tribute to family and midcentury design.”

Then there is the tile — the conversation piece of this reno.

“Mia’s family originates from Croatia, and her dad was a builder back in the day,” says Allerton. “There were some special touches, like the tile, which was in reference to her heritage, and playfully riffed on a classic motif.”

Starcevic says the tile was, by far, her most opulent purchase — but it also feels the most like her.

“These [kitchen] tiles are from Spain, and the bathroom’s are from Italy and people have strong reactions to them. They remind someone of their grandmother, or a place they’ve travelled. That’s where I spent my money,” says Starcevic.

Left: Floating shelving throughout the home creates intentional spaces for Starcevic and her daughter to display their favourite items, whether artistic or sentimental.

Right: The mudroom was a new addition in this reno, offering a space that transitions into the outer landing, off the kitchen. The area becomes a catch point for dirty shoes and baskets of produce collected from the gardens.

The geometric archway through the living area to the kitchen creates an intriguing entrance to the space, and also offers a strategic spot to store a laundry cupboard, behind closed doors. The room was finished in November Skies accent paint by Benjamin Moore.

“They’re really a story in themselves. I wanted something that paid tribute to my Croatian-Mediterranean heritage without seeming bland or too crazy.”

Starcevic has trouble picking a favourite feature of her home now. It could be the new view from her bedroom, or the easy way she can move through the kitchen. Mostly, though, she says it’s her daughter and the space they’ve created together.

“[Sophie’s] very happy in the backyard and running around,” says Starcevic. “The home isn’t fussy, even though it’s beautiful. I can literally have a herd of kids over — and they do roam like a herd between houses. They can come through here and make a huge mess and it’s so easy to clean nothing really gets dinged. It’s also nice to be able to send the kids out to the garden when they say, ‘I’m hungry!’ OK, here’s a bowl.”

The WetCleaner team (L to R): Adrian, Summer-Rain, TJ, Hanna, Lily, Robin and Cedric

RESOURCE LIST

Designer: Bidgood

Builders: Strong Built

Millwork: Trestle Millwork

Excavators: Paradigm Construction

Framer: Wescor Contracting

Plumbing and mechanical:

Oceanview Mechanical

Electrician: Titan Electric

Light fixtures: Triple Seven Home (sconces above kitchen window), Anthropologie (light fixture above kitchen island)

Doors and hardware: Top Knobs (kitchen hardware)

Windows: Slegg Building Materials

Roofing: RC Roofing

Tile: Equipe Cerámicas (kitchen), Walker Zanger (fireplace)

Kitchen appliances: GE Café range, Sub-Zero refrigerator

Countertops: Caesarstone

Plumbing fixtures: Brizo faucet, Blanco sink

Flooring: Hourigans Flooring

Landscape design: Homeowner

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COASTAL CALLING

ONE RETIRED COUPLE MOVES ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR AN OCEAN VIEW ONLY THE ISLAND CAN OFFER.

BY NESSA PULLMAN PHOTOS BY JOSHUA LAWRENCE

When Wendy and Ian Miles were driving back after visiting their daughter at Brentwood Bay Resort, a row of townhomes overlooking the marina caught their eye.

“Looking up at the large windows, I could only imagine how beautiful that view must be,” says Wendy.

The couple, who were living in Ontario at the time, tucked away the thought of living out here one day and being closer to their five children on the West Coast. Fast forward a few years, when they were both retired and ready for a change, and they had never forgotten about that row of townhomes on the marina.

Though they couldn’t find a home for sale in the exact set of townhouses they’d longed for, a complex just up the street had one unit for sale. They jumped at the chance.

“As soon as we walked in, our eyes immediately drew to that view,” says Wendy. “But the rest of the house needed some serious updating.”

True, the pink carpets, mahogany cabinetry and yellow appliances were reason enough to renovate, but the impetus for moving was the view, so they wanted to open the space up to maximize the scenery as much as possible. The Miles reached out to the team at Velocity Projects to make it happen.

Breaking down the wall that separated the main living room created an open-concept atmosphere for the kitchen, living room and dining area. White linen curtains line the windows on the side walls, and the designer left the windows that face the view bare to maximize the ocean scenery.

“We started with removing the wall that divided the kitchen with the rest of the living area,” says Megan Cortini, interior designer at Velocity Projects.

Because the wall was a vital structural component, the team had to figure out a way to get a new engineered support beam inside the enclosed townhome. They were able to slide it in through the front door — but only barely. Strata restrictions meant the homeowners would have to keep all original exterior doors and windows, so Cortini added numerous pot lights and carried a fresh white paint throughout the home to brighten the place up.

“The Miles wanted a bright and airy coastal home,” says Cortini. “So I chose natural textures and materials with a neutral colour palette.”

Knowing the Miles were planning to purchase entirely new furniture for the space, Cortini wanted to create a warm and inviting backdrop with a lived-in feel for the furniture to blend in without looking staged. To accomplish this, she used a modern foundation with traditional accents in the millwork and fixtures. Shaker-style cabinetry, grainy, white-oak flooring and brushed-gold accents add a worn-in feel against the simple and neutral palette.

The staircase was kept in its original location but redone with glass panels to let more light into the bottom floor of the townhome, where a recreational room and guest bedroom are located.

In the living room, the vaulted popcorn ceiling was refinished for a clean look that leads up to the floor-to-ceiling arched windows that provide views out to the marina, Brentwood Bay and the Mill Bay ferry crossing the Saanich Inlet. Cortini kept the original gold inlay on the arched windows to create a feeling of transition with the other gold accents throughout the space.

While much of the interior of the unit was gutted, one element that stayed was the arched doorway in the primary suite that leads through to a large, walk-in closet and spa-inspired ensuite. The existing tub and cramped, neo-angle shower were replaced with one large walk-in shower (to support aging in place), situated under a bright skylight to create a relaxing oasis. In the bedroom, glass double doors open up to the deck overlooking the inlet.

Whether they’re planning family gatherings with their five children or cozy nights at home with just the two of them, the Miles finally have the seascape paradise they dreamed of all those years ago.

“Our home flows so efficiently between rooms,” says Wendy. “We finally have one big space that our entire family can be a part of.”

This page: The old fireplace was gutted and replaced with a new gas insert. The homeowners opted for a simple, elegant design with a mantel made out of reclaimed wood.

Opposite page: In the open-concept kitchen, the designer opted for a dual-toned chevron tile backsplash, quartz countertops and white shaker-style cabinetry with Emtek hardware. A vertical pantry was built in beside the fridge for easy access while cooking.

RESOURCE LIST

Designer: Megan Cortini

Builders: Velocity Projects

Plumbing and mechanical: West Bay Mechanical

Electrician: Amped Electrical

Contracting

Doors and hardware: Windsor Plywood Duncan

Tile: Island Floor Centre

Countertops: Stone Age Marble

Plumbing fixtures: Victoria

Speciality Hardware

Flooring: Island Floor Centre

Millwork: Innovative Kitchens & Bath

Closet: Incredible Closets | Incredible Home

Left: The ensuite features a sleek porcelain floor tile with chevron floor-to-ceiling tile in the large walk-in shower. Brushed-gold wall sconces mirror the double vanity.

Above: In the guest bath, the designer chose a hexagon floor tile to complement the rift-cut white oak cabinetry in the vanity.

GROTTO ESCAPE

Inspired by a practice of organic architecture, this sun-filled addition incorporates natural rock into its design.

BY DAVID LENNAM

PHOTOS BY TONY COLANGELO

Frank Lloyd Wright designed one of his most famous houses around a waterfall. Fallingwater showed the celebrated architect’s commitment to a philosophical style known as organic architecture. Architect Bruce Greenway is a disciple of that harmony of art and nature in design.

As the principal of Greenway Studio Architecture + Integrated Arts, Greenway has built his practice around merging architecture with landscape — even if the landscape is a backyard of boulders forming the rocky base of Gonzales Hill.

Homeowners Peter and Milvi wanted an extension to their 1940s home. Something a bit breathtaking. Something to capture the sunlight. A place to be. And, somehow, working around the bedrock that takes over their property. Naturally, they called Greenway.

‘LOOK AT THE ROCK’

Their initial approach to Greenway was of a sunroom with a window looking out at the rock. The architect felt they lacked the physical space for that.

“Let’s push it out and have the rock become part of the building,” was Greenway’s response, indicating that such a dominant natural element can be treated in several ways. “You can fight it, you can blow it up, or you can pull back from it and say, ‘Ooh, look at the rock.’ ”

“LET’S PUSH IT OUT AND HAVE THE ROCK BECOME PART OF THE BUILDING.”

Extensive use of fir — floor, ceiling, trim and that fabulous curving bench — provides a natural and subdued template that works in harmony with the stone feature wall and, as the architect likes to say, “merges with the landscape.” From the garden, the space is a mix of sun and shade, with an extensive overhang punctuated by skylights. It makes for ideal passive solar design. With oversized glass doors, from Duncan’s Fenstur Windows and Doors, that post-and-beam architecture style stays at the forefront of this build.

Greenway’s concept revolved around turning the rock into part of the building and bringing that into the building, then creating a roof that extends off, and feels like it’s almost part of, the rock itself.

A room amongst the rock — the grotto — was born echoing a great line of Lloyd Wright’s: “No house should ever be on a hill or on anything. It should be of the hill. Belonging to it. Hill and house should live together, each the happier for the other.”

“It’s a very happy room for us. I do most of my work here,” says Peter, admitting the project began with a more modest vision. “We had a little nook [here] that had big windows and found we spent all our time in that tiny little space because it got the sun. Our initial idea was to just build some kind of glass box out of the back, have a sunroom.”

Greenway was on site quickly sketching out the design while he spoke with Peter.

“The idea with him, as he drew, was to get a lot of light in there and to have it feel like you weren’t necessarily totally inside when you were inside, and the same thing when you were outside — you felt like the room in there was part of your experience out here,” says Peter.

This project was all about working with a mountain of rock, not against it. Loose rocks were sheared off the bedrock and local stone was brought in from a supplier to build the curved wall that becomes part of the exterior and forms the shape of the wooden bench. The light sconces, designed by the architect, were made from leftover trim.

Water drains from the roof outside, creating a symbiotic water feature against the bulk of the outcropping. Water can be piped from the roof (when it isn’t raining) at whatever volume the homeowners want. “You can have it really shooting, which, honestly, it’s very sonic and almost too much,” confesses the homeowner, “or you can turn it into a little dripping trickle.”

GLASS AND STONE

The 400-square-foot space, with its floor and ceiling of light woods, dramatic beams and seemingly wraparound glass, is a marriage of glass and stone. It’s inspired, says Greenway, by houses he’s seen in the American desert states.

What presented a challenge was transporting that design to a damp climate.

Making the glass and stone meet without visible frames or borders was challenging — all about eliminating thermal bridging, allowing insulation and understanding where finishing will end. Somehow, leaving the whole structure open to drain.

“I’m very proud of it,” says Greenway. “We invested a lot of our own personal time to develop this detail.”

Passive solar design features, like an overhanging roof to prevent getting broiled by the summer sun, avoids any sort of greenhouse feeling.

The green is up above, actually, in the form of a green roof system that not only lasts longer than conventional roofing, but keeps things cooler, purifies the air, saves energy and reduces stormwater runoff.

That last bit is important. The roof drainage pipe deposits water onto a place in the rocks that delivers a calming, spa-like sound. A natural water feature where the homeowner can change the flow from an appealing trickle to something sonically dominant.

“There was a place in the rock with little clefts,” explains Greenway. “When the rainwater hits, it makes these little sounds. I thought, what if we take all the rainwater off the roof and channel it to hit that spot? It will accentuate that.”

The high windows, the rock, wood and glass construction, the dramatic boulder view — it gives the space the feel of a holiday resort.

“[The homeowners] soon realized this wasn’t going to just be an extension of their house,” says Greenway. “But it would be something different.”

A GREEN ROOF SYSTEM NOT ONLY LASTS LONGER THAN CONVENTIONAL ROOFING, BUT KEEPS THINGS COOLER, PURIFIES THE AIR, SAVES ENERGY AND REDUCES STORMWATER RUNOFF.

Above: There was a lot of thought that went into planning before the site was prepped for construction, including removal (or reshaping) of the rock to allow for the stone wall to emerge out of it. According to the architect, there’s an emotional appeal for a green roof that sometimes outweighs its commonsense applications — like managing rainwater and making the roof longer lasting. Drainage is built into the roof with edges lined with riverstone to collect the water and send it to a downspout.

RESOURCE LIST

Architect: Bruce Greenway, principal Greenway

Studio Architecture + Integrated Arts

Builder: Taylor McCarthy, Frontera Homes

Electrician: Capson Electric

Windows: Pacific View Windows & Doors

Lift and slide doors: Fenstur Windows and Doors

Table and beam float with corner glass: Broadwell Metal Company

Custom millwork: Trestle Millwork

Stonework: K2 Stone

Shaped Western maple table and counters: Duff & co.

Flooring: Canadian Bavarian Millwork & Lumber

Wall and ceiling wood: Canadian Bavarian Millwork & Lumber and Longhouse Specialty Forest Products

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SMART HOME , SAFE HOME

A guide to the latest in home security

FROM A BASIC CAMERA TO A FULLY AUTOMATED SYSTEM WITH PROFESSIONAL MONITORING, PEACE OF MIND IS RIGHT AT YOUR FINGERTIPS.

BY CAROLYN CAMILLERI

What worries you when your home is unattended? Fire or burglary? An open window or unlocked door? Maybe you want to check on your dog or ensure the garage door is closed. And are you sure you turned off the coffee maker?

These are the kinds of questions that often launch the quest when it’s time to start looking into a home security system. Whether prompted by a move to a new home, an investment you want to project, or needing support with busy or aging family members, adding a sense of security to your space can mean plenty for overall well-being.

It’s little surprise, then, that finding out what you worry about when you aren’t at home is where the conversation begins with Kobalt Systems, a local electrical contracting company that specializes in home security.

“We sit down with the customer and have a conversation to figure out what they’re worried about, what they know about, what they don’t know about and what sorts of things would bring peace of mind,” says Steve Thomson, master electrician and licensed security expert with Kobalt Systems. “Everyone’s different and everyone’s worried about different things.”

Many of these concerns can be addressed with something previous generations didn’t have access to: home automation.

“With the new technology, the possibilities are virtually endless on what you can do,” says Thomson, who has been working in the electrical security industry for 20 years.

Security technology has developed exponentially, far beyond basic door and motion detectors.

Consider this: Now, you don’t even have to remember if you locked the door and set the alarm. With geo-fencing, if a device — your phone, for example — leaves a designated area around your home, you get a notification and can arm it remotely.

“It can be a little bit overwhelming for customers, at first, with so many different options,” says Thomson. “They often don’t even know where to start.”

It helps to look back a few years.

THE GREAT TECH LEAP

Adam Stowe, director of communications at Wenner, a local electrical contracting firm that entered the home security industry almost a decade ago, says the really big change over the last few years is the shift to smart home systems and smart security.

“The big advancement has been that you can pull out your smartphone and access your home from anywhere in the world,” says Stowe. “You can check the status of certain security components — cameras, motion detectors. You

can answer your front door from your phone.”

You can also control window coverings, lights, thermostats, music — and it can be different music in different rooms — and see and listen to multiple areas in your home. When you tie all of that in with home security, he says, you can fully realize the experience of living in a smart home.

Stowe says the 2010s were about smart home devices in singular form, working independently. While the technology was advancing, people experienced “app fatigue” with so many applications controlling so many devices and systems. It is simpler now.

“We integrate on our automation side one platform to control five, six, seven of those systems in one app,” says Stowe.

Another aspect of the great leap has occurred behind the scenes.

“Devices are able to communicate with each other now, so they can talk back and forth and relay device status information to each other,” says Thomson. “They can also auto-negotiate, depending on the environment. Sometimes something would be in the way of what used to be a communication path between devices. Devices are now smart enough that they can find different routes by talking to other devices.”

We may not be far off from that old Jetsons cartoon.

SAFETY FIRST

One thing Thomson flags as an impressive advancement is how home-security technology has improved smoke detectors and heat sensors. Traditional smoke detectors wake you up and get you out of the house — but that’s it.

“With security smoke detectors, they not only wake you up and get you out of the house,

but they also relay the fact that there’s a fire to the monitoring station,” says Thomson.

“The monitoring station can then call the fire department and get the fire department to your house.”

You can even program your wireless door locks so they unlock automatically to let firefighters in — no broken-down doors required. If you’re on vacation, you’ll get a notification and the fire department will come, even if you don’t respond.

Water leaks are covered by another special security feature, limiting the chance of ever again waking up to an unexpectedly flooded basement.

“With the automation involved, your house will sense that there’s water on the ground where it’s not supposed to be and will automatically shut your water main off,” says Thomson.

Stowe has also seen increased interest in leak detectors on sinks and hot water heaters, noting safety features like these warrant insurance discounts.

“When we’re working with clients, we like to understand their needs, but we also have them ask their insurance provider what would be required to get deductions on home insurance, and they’ll give you a list,” says Stowe.

As for the classic alarm part of the system, both Wenner and Kobalt work with securitymonitoring companies. The process that takes place if an alarm is activated is arranged between the homeowner and monitoring company, but typically starts with calls based on a priority list and can include security professionals — live

“WHEN WE’RE WORKING WITH CLIENTS, WE LIKE TO UNDERSTAND THEIR NEEDS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE THEM ASK THEIR INSURANCE PROVIDER WHAT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO GET DEDUCTIONS ON HOME INSURANCE ...”

— Adam Stowe, Wenner

humans — who can go to your home and determine if police are needed.

“You can do a lot with security these days, and it doesn’t just have to be stopping burglars from getting in your house — there are a lot of different elements of it now,” says Stowe.

Closing the window coverings, turning appliances off, locking or unlocking the doors, closing the garage door, adjusting the thermostat and arming the home can all be taken care of remotely or through automation. While you’re away, you can even make it look like you are home by activating lights, window coverings and your TV at random times.

“One of our hardware providers actually coined the term ‘occupancy,’ ” says Stowe. “You can really emulate that.”

SMART HOMEWORK

Very little space is needed for today’s streamlined security technology, but you do need strong, consistent Wi-Fi connectivity throughout the house.

“If you’ve got three or four people in the house on iPads and iPhones and you have smart TVs with your Netflix on, people start seeing lagginess, and that’s when you know you need to upgrade your network to better suit your needs,” says Stowe.

When Wenner is involved in a home’s construction phase, they recommend pre-wires for wireless access points. Otherwise, Wenner’s electricians can install additional access points so the smart home system is protected no matter how many other devices are in use.

Thomson says they can use the home’s existing Wi-Fi, but it’s better if Kobalt installs dedicated Wi-Fi, separate from general home use.

“Then, the homeowner can do whatever they want with their Wi-Fi — upgrade their

modem, change passwords, lock their Wi-Fi down because the kids are using it too much — and it’s not going to affect any of the security equipment,” says Thomson.

Systems installed by both Wenner and Kobalt have backup batteries as well as cellular capability in case the power or internet are knocked out.

Of course, that switch to backup batteries happens automatically.

BACK TO BASICS

Choosing a security and home automation company depends on various factors, starting with what you want to do and who you want to work with.

In 2019, Telus Corp. purchased ADT Security Services Canada and, in 2020, purchased Victoria-based Price’s Alarms. For a monthly fee, homeowners can choose a package, ranging from a basic one-camera, self-install option to one that includes hardware installation and professional monitoring. Telus products include indoor and outdoor smart cameras, smart locks, security sensors for windows and doors, smart thermostats, carbon monoxide and smoke detectors and flood sensors, as well as backup batteries that last up to 24 hours in a power outage.

“Technology for security and home automation has rapidly evolved over the past decade, and Telus is excited to be at the forefront of these advancements,” says Cale Stewart, manager of smart home security marketing at Telus.

Stewart adds that the average Canadian household now has over nine smart-connected devices — a number that’s increasing. Earlier this year, Telus announced a collaboration with Amazon Web Services to create a new Telus smart living solution using the latest advancements in cloud technologies, internet of things, machine learning and artificial intelligence. The result will be an automation experience uniting all of your connected devices.

“It will make it easier for consumers to use existing and new smart home devices to automate their home so they can focus on what matters most to them,” says Stewart.

Smaller, “boutique” home security companies, like Wenner, can provide homeowners with specialty customized options, such as security contacts on individual art pieces, intercom stations at gated driveways and pedestrian door stations that allow you to “buzz” people in.

Kobalt also offers solutions tailored to your personal requirements and those of your home. Their installers are certified master electricians and licensed security experts — a factor that has allowed them to work in correctional institutions, government facilities and judiciary buildings, as well as residential.

“You can really take security pretty far,” says Stowe. “It comes down to personal preference and everyone has budgets and different needs, and we look at those individually, and say this is the best solution for you.”

Home security can be customized at almost every level, including through gated driveways that allow homeowners to interact with visitors via digital interfaces before allowing anyone to enter.

VERY LITTLE SPACE IS NEEDED FOR TODAY’S STREAMLINED SECURITY TECHNOLOGY, BUT YOU DO NEED STRONG, CONSISTENT WIFI CONNECTIVITY THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE.

An Evening in Support of Dance Victoria

Live Jazz & Libations

Saturday,

October 21 at Luxe Home Interiors

Celebrate the kickoff of Dance Victoria’s 2023/24 Season!

All proceeds benefit Dance Victoria’s Artist & Community Engagement Programs.

Featuring curated whisky tasting by Adam Bradshaw of the Dram Association Whisky Club at the Strath, Damian Graham Jazz Trio, online auction, libations by Storied Wines & Spirits, and catered bites by local artisan suppliers.

7PM-10PM | 19+ EVENT | $99 TICKET INCLUDES FOOD, DRINKS + ENTERTAINMENT DANCEVICTORIA.COM

DESIGN INSPO

BY LIAM RAZZELL

Hardware Harvest

TRENDS,

Ornate hardware, minimalist hardware, colourful hardware, hardware that stands out against cabinetry, hardware that blends in, no hardware at all — when it comes to selecting the finishing pieces in your home, the choices seem endless.

“We’re seeing hardware made from unexpected and innovative materials like resins, wood, marble, leather,” says Charlotte Pommet, a kitchen and custom millwork designer at Urbana Kitchens. “Ironically, the trend for hardware is also pointing in the direction of having none at all.”

So if you’re in the market for new hardware, where do you start?

It begins by recognizing that hardware should not be an afterthought. Designers have long considered it a room’s jewelry.

“[Hardware] is considered an element on its own and can even be a driving force in a project,” says Pommet.

The surfaces you touch every day are some of the most meaningful but often overlooked parts of your home. Handles, knobs, hinges, faucets, levers, pulls — though small, they have a big effect on how your home looks, feels and functions. There are thousands of styles and finishes to choose from, however, which can make planning a cohesive update for your home a tough process.

Design experts recommend starting your search with a few important questions: Why do you need hardware in the first place? Is yours broken or worn out? Are you building a new house or renovating an older one? Or do you just want something fresh?

Changing the hardware in a room is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to update it, even if you choose primarily high-end pieces. Experts say keeping trend, design, function and personal preference in mind can help you make the right choice.

Natural materials are making a big comeback in hardware and develop their own patina over time. Clockwise from right: Flanders handcrafted leather drawer pulls and handles from WalnutStudiolo — made from materials in the Pacific Northwest (right); the Lo & Co Arc Travertine handles; and the CALIN ashwood pull from Linear Standard.

For those looking to keep up with the times, trending right now is hardware with minimalist design, clean lines and less ornamentation, Pommet says, as well as discreet divots in cabinet doors replacing pulls for a sleeker look.

But while that style works for some homes, especially new builds, it may not suit your home, or your personal esthetic.

“It really depends on what your home looks like,” says Debra Lee, a customer service specialist at Victoria Speciality Hardware who helps designers, architects and individuals select hardware for renovations and new builds. “You’re pretty much marrying what the house is with what your personality is, so it makes a room your room.”

The surfaces you touch every day are some of the most important in your home. Textured metals bring a pleasing, modern experience to your reach points. Find dynamic examples like these.

From left: the Modern Rectangular Knurled with Plain Pocket Flush pull (Emtek); the Veda collection of hammered brass handles (Meraki); the Hammered Brushed Black Knob from Crate & Barrel; the Andrex Knurled Cabinet pull.

When choosing hardware, Lee says, clients renovating older homes tend to lean toward traditional and classic hardware designs in unlacquered brass, polished nickel and oil-rubbed bronze finishes. Consider the ornate flourishes of hinges styled in Victorian design, the precise symmetry of Georgian knobs or the sturdy simplicity of Craftsman architecture pulls.

On the other hand, those building a new home often lean toward sleek, minimalist designs in trendy matte black, satin nickel and polished brass finishes. Think modern, monochrome faucets, mid-century handles and minimalist door locks.

FUNCTION, DESIGN AND PERSONAL PREFERENCE ALL ADD UP TO PICKING THE PERFECT PIECES.

LINDSEY RICKERT

Powder rooms are the ideal spaces for signature hardware with a touch of fancy, like the Flynn Polished Unlacquered Brass and Crystal from CB2.

Regardless of the trends, Lee advises picking hardware that matches your unique personality. She recently helped one client find hardware that matched their steampunk esthetic — retro-futuristic designs that incorporate industrial and Victorian styles. Instead of standard bathroom faucet handles, for example, they opted for small recreations of industrial water shut-off valves. Though steampunk isn’t trending, it makes Lee’s client happy and that’s what matters most.

Trends and style aside, it’s crucial to pick hardware that’s functional. What is the space used for? Who will be using it? How often will the space be used? Rooms used more frequently than others, like kitchens and bathrooms, require sturdier hardware than bedroom closet doors, for example, Pommet says.

For homes with kids or aging adults, it’s important to consider something easy enough to use intuitively and comfortably. Levers can be easier on arthritic fingers and tiny hands than knobs, for example. Even weight and texture can be a consideration. If the hardware is outfitting a showy powder room meant for little more than impressing guests, however, it might be the perfect place to splurge on a quirky statement tap.

It’s little surprise that spending more is likely to earn you a better product, and with the right investment it’s something you’ll only have to think about once. While quality pulls can range in price from $6 to $15 and up, be prepared to spend between $50 and $500 on your frontdoor handle, depending on the design.

Ultimately, the right hardware has to do the job it’s designed for while showcasing your tastes, your sense of style and who you are — and, at the same time, work with everything else in the room and throughout your home.

“The key is to build an overall palette with all the elements in the space — the floor, cabinets, counters, wall colour, light fixtures, textiles — and look for a flow or thread within,” Pommet says. “My main tip is always to choose pulls and knobs that feel good on your hands. Then think of the narrative, the overall style you are shooting for.”

Amazing downtown location

Guestrooms • Executive fitness centre

• Fantastic harbour views

• Billiards room • Private event venues

Lending library • Affiliate club network

• Downtown parking ... and more!

Interested in learning more? Book a tour with Danielle Hind, Sales Manager: 250.384.1151 (ext. 320) sales@unionclub.com

805 Gordon Street, Victoria UNIONCLUB.COM

Forest to Table

Harvested by families in Saint-Quentin, New Brunswick, Maple Roch syrup is an exceptional organic, single-forest maple syrup. Its lighter flavour is perfect for baking, coffee and more — it’s not just for pancakes!

We are also excited to carry their line of maple candies, popcorn and caramel dips.

REAL ESTATE

BY SHANNON MONEO

Winterizing Your Investment

Greater Victoria may not endure the winter blows felt in places like Regina or Edmonton, yet as the season turns, homeowners should be ready for relentless rain or a one-foot snowfall. With the cost of homeownership only growing in the capital city, nurturing that investment — through all seasons — will also grow your capital.

Now is the time of year to plan what to prioritize when it comes to winterizing your home and protecting your assets for the months ahead. From the obvious flags like checking pipes, sleuthing out drafts and making energy-efficient modifications, to the more obscure obstacles like the risks of surrounding vegetation, it’s an important time to listen to the advice of experts and those who have experienced challenges first-hand.

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED

Nina Moroso and her partner moved into their 1990s-built Colwood home about a year ago. Despite the frenzy around buying a home, the couple made an offer on the house with the condition that an inspection take place.

“We knew a little bit about what we were coming into,” says Moroso. “But every new house has its mysteries — quirky little things you aren’t aware of.”

When winter arrived after their purchase, Moroso and her family discovered their 2,400-square-foot, three-level home performed well. Even with any flags from the home inspection, however, there were still a few unexpected kinks.

“There were a couple of surprises in the home,” she says, “which is now useful for us [to know], going into next winter.”

One surprise involved the exterior taps, where a mislabelled shut-off valve resulted in an unexpected leak inside the exterior wall. Fortunately, the couple realized this quickly and repairs were done pronto.

Another unexpected discovery was made when they found an unidentified tank lid buried under patio stones. The tank turned out to be part of the septic system’s operational holding and distribution system. Though undetected by the previous owners, it ultimately posed no problems.

There were little things, like a gas fireplace that never could be turned on. Rather than risk

a blow-up, however, they hired a technician, which ended up being the right choice. They even added a fan and thermostat to improve heat efficiency.

“So glad we didn’t start playing around with it,” Moroso says.

Because they had the house inspected prior to purchase, they learned the windows had been replaced recently, and that the home was well swaddled — helpful things to cross off the list of to-dos when entering home ownership.

“We have great insulation,” Moroso says. “It’s beyond what the [building] code would require.”

With their three-level home hosting a roof too

tall to be visible from the ground, the family had a professional inspection performed on the gutters and perimeter drains. Tree and vegetation debris on the roof and gutters was not something they had to worry about due to landscaping, but it was still important to make sure the asphalt roof remained in good, moss-free shape.

Jane Johnston, a Realtor with The Briar Hill Group at RE/MAX Camosun, says she makes a point of informing her clients what older homes (mid-’90s and earlier) will likely require. She also addresses perceived needs versus real needs.

One perceived need, in light of winter, is that homeowners think they need double-paned windows.

“It’s not as critical in Victoria,” she says.

Today’s well-engineered single-pane windows work well. However, the quality of insulation should be examined. Proper insulation will reduce fluctuating temperatures — which can, in themselves, degrade a home over time. It can also curb the risks for humidity, mould, drafts and high heating bills.

Perimeter drains are also a notable concern. While it’s not the most visible home maintenance task, these should be checked

“WE KNEW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE WERE COMING INTO, BUT EVERY NEW HOUSE HAS ITS MYSTERIES — QUIRKY LITTLE THINGS YOU AREN’T AWARE OF.”

GETTING YOUR HOME SEASON-READY THIS FALL WILL KEEP IT FROM DEGRADING IN THE MONTHS TO COME.

Winterizing Checklist

Gutters

Check for clogged or loose gutters, and have an expert perform regular cleaning before the heavy rains.

Landscaping

Remove or trim any plants or trees that pose a risk to the house, either from above or from below with water collection and root damage.

Pipes

From perimeter drains to exterior faucets, have a handle on how everything is flowing, and prepare to remove hoses and insulate faucets before a freeze.

regularly and cleaned every five years or so. With their connection to a home’s plumbing infrastructure, a clogged or collapsed perimeter drain could lead to basement flooding, mildew, mould and environmental contamination in the long term.

The home’s foundation should also get regular look-sees.

“Water can be such an issue here,” Johnston says, noting that when these less-visible infrastructure elements fail, residents often have to move out of the home while remediation is done.

PREVENTION IS KEY

Johnston recommends avoiding plants around the perimeter of the house, because their roots can grow into drains. Some invasive species (like bamboo) have even been known to exacerbate cracks in cement foundations and cause serious structural damage. Plants also carry moisture, which can envelop a home.

Mould prevention is serious business in this damp climate from fall to spring, and one way to check for moisture in the walls is

Insulation

Make sure your attic and any indoor/outdoor wall is well insulated.

Heat Sources

Inspect chimneys and fireplaces for creosote accumulation, nesting wildlife and to ensure proper working order.

Drafts

Inspect your home for air leaks, including through windows, doors, switches and vents.

Filters

Change furnace filters, clean dryer ducts and have HVAC and heat pump systems inspected by professionals.

to look for evidence of mould in cupboards and along windows. While there are many steps to preventing mould accumulation, the overarching theme is good ventilation, especially through the roof.

Roofs featuring soffits and fascia have a supportive barrier between external elements, especially in sloping-roof systems. These not only keep out moisture and prevent mould and mildew, but also deter pest infestations and add to the life of the roof. For reference, composition shingles on roofs should be replaced every 12 to 20 years; wood shingles every 20 to 25 years; asphalt shingles every 15 to 30 years.

“The whole house is a system,” Johnston says.

Mortgage specialists note that a home’s value can decline by roughly 10 per cent if proper maintenance is left undone. Major considerations include ensuring water doesn’t pool around the foundation, that the roof is in good shape and that the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems are serviced.

Experts recommend annually spending one to four per cent of a home’s value for

maintenance and repairs. That means owners of a million-dollar house should anticipate spending $10,000 to $40,000 each year in property maintenance.

Moroso has first-hand advice for homeowners looking to protect their investments as winter approaches: start saving.

Prior to buying their home, Moroso and her partner both paid strata fees. Now, they put a few hundred dollars each month towards their home repair/contingency fund, which renders it less painful when a home expert needs to be called.

And, when expert help is required, Moroso recommends hiring professionals instead of going the YouTube route.

“We didn’t have full knowledge of plumbing and we paid the price,” she says.

Moroso has one last tidbit of wisdom. Even if you ended up buying a home without conditions like an inspection, she suggests getting one anyway, even after purchasing.

“[With an inspection] you get a prioritized list of what needs attention,” Moroso says, adding that even if you can’t get to it right away, “you have it to refer to. It’s super useful.”

Assessing these top issues can save you grief in the long run and give you a chance to make modifications before spendy remediation work becomes necessary.

Cedar Therapy

LOCALLY MADE, CEDAR BARREL SAUNAS COMBINE HEALTH BENEFITS WITH BACKYARD LUXURY.

Heat therapy isn’t a new concept to those living on the West Coast, but the idea of having your own private cedar barrel sauna may be.

Saunas have been used for eons around the globe to support athletes, soothe injuries and offer health benefits like improving blood flow, increasing metabolism and even enhancing skin tone.

One local company has made its business from perfecting the art of creating therapeutic sanctuaries, right from the edge of our own coastal forest.

Forest Cooperage, located in Sooke, crafts hot tubs, soaker tubs, cisterns and saunas from locally sourced western red cedar. With customizable options that can fit two to eight people, their saunas are built to make attractive additions to any landscape.

“Think of being here on a cold, rainy November day and just being able to go into your own sauna and put the steam on,” says company president Lorne Atherton, a fulltime firefighter in Victoria who bought Forest Cooperage in 2019.

Clients from as far away as Europe and Asia seek out these saunas constructed from Vancouver Island materials, from the wood to the steel. The saunas come in a range of options, from classic wood burning (cue the ritualistic wood chopping and lighting the fire) to electric and even Wi-Fi-controlled from your phone. It’s a long way from the days of heading to a rec centre for a steam.

“There’s nothing quite like being on the

chairlift [at a ski hill] and realizing you’re going to be home in 30 minutes,” says Atherton, “so you press a button on your phone to get the sauna going and it’s ready when you get there.”

Aside from health benefits, cedar barrel saunas can extend the life of lakeside living — think hopping in for a cold plunge after a hot steam. They also offer an attractive place to disconnect from devices and reconnect with friends.

“Going into a sauna is like exercise. It can raise your heart rate, lower blood pressure; it’s great for aches and pains. It keeps you going as you get older, especially if you mountain bike or ski,” says Atherton. “But it’s also a great time out. When you’re in the sauna, you’re not doing anything else and it’s a good gathering place.”

This cedar barrel sauna, made by Forest Cooperage, is located at Wild Renfrew and gives visitors a chance to slow down and reconnect with themselves and their friends.

PHILIP BUSHBY