SPRUCE Spring 2022

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

INSPIRING HOMES AND INTERIORS sprucemagazine.ca PM41295544 PM41295544

CUSTOM SOLUTIONS BEYOND THE KITCHEN

SHOWROOM LOCATED AT:

1745 BLANSHARD ST, VICTORIA, BC

250.383.2635

URBANAKITCHENS.CA

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

IN THIS ISSUE

On the cover A completely reimagined backyard complements the renovation of a 1970s split-level.

SPRING 2022

Page 32

FEATURES

24

32

SIMPLE SPRING TRANSFORMATIONS

SPLIT-CENTURY MODERN

B Y ERIN McINTOSH, CAROLYN CAMILLERI

B Y DAVID LENNAM

Seasonal refresh tips for outdoors and indoors.

6

SPRUCE | SPRING 2022

From the 1970s to a contemporary home for the ages.

44

ARTFUL LIVING An oceanfront art haven for a collegeage daughter.

B Y NESSA PULLMAN

52

ALL IN THE DETAILS

A purpose-built luxe penthouse tailored to specific needs.

B Y DANIELLE POPE

58

OFFICE, REVISED

Creating the perfect 2022 home office.

B Y KIM PEMBERTON

Creating unique spaces

IN THIS ISSUE

DEPARTMENTS

12

EDITOR’S LETTER

Spring transformations and lessons in letting go.

15

SPRUCE IT UP

This season’s top picks to revitalize your space.

22

THIS ROOM Luxury outdoor buildings to expand your world.

BY DANIELLE POPE

62

64

ASK THE EXPERT

REAL ESTATE

BY DANIELLE POPE

BY SHANNON MONEO

Change your home with your dream closet.

8

SPRUCE | SPRING 2022

The ideal digital open house.

66

FINISHING TOUCH

Bathe the day away in a luxury bath.

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 Danielle Pope, Carolyn Camilleri PRODUCTION MANAGER Jennifer Kühtz DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Jeffrey Bosdet DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER Amanda Wilson LEAD GRAPHIC DESIGNER Janice Hildybrant ASSOCIATE GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Jo-Ann Loro,

Caroline Segonnes

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Jennifer Hartley, Carla Sorrell MARKETING COORDINATOR Claire Villaraza ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Rebecca Juetten PROOFREADER Lenore Hietkamp CONTRIBUTING WRITERS David Lennam, Erin McIntosh,

Shannon Moneo, Kim Pemberton, Nessa Pullman

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Dasha Armstrong, James Jones,

Joshua Lawrence

CONTRIBUTING AGENCIES Getty Images p. 29, 64;

Living4Media p. 58, 60, 61; Stocksy p. 60; Unsplash p. 29, 59

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES D eana Brown,

Cynthia Hanischuk, Brenda Knapik

25 years of finely crafted, handmade cabinetry, furniture & millwork

GENERAL INQUIRIES info@sprucemagazine.ca

259 Esquimalt Road 250.360.2123 douglasgrantcabinetmakers.com

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR letters@sprucemagazine.ca SUBSCRIBE TO SPRUCE subscriptions@sprucemagazine.ca ADVERTISING INQUIRIES sales@sprucemagazine.ca ONLINE sprucemagazine.ca INSTAGRAM @sprucemagazinevictoria FACEBOOK sprucevictoria TWITTER @sprucevictoria

ON THE COVER

A reno transforms a 1970s Oak Bay split-level home.

See story on page 32. Photo by Dasha Armstrong.

Spruce magazine is published by Page One Publishing

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580 Ardersier Road, Victoria, BC V8Z 1C7 T 250-595-7243 info@pageonepublishing.ca pageonepublishing.ca

ADVERTISE IN SPRUCE MAGAZINE

Spruce is Victoria’s home and design magazine.

For advertising info, please call us at 250-595-7243 or email sales@sprucemagazine.ca.

Printed in Canada by Transcontinental Printing.

Ideas and opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of Page One Publishing Inc. or its affiliates; no official endorsement should be inferred. The publisher does not assume any responsibility for the contents of any advertisement and any and all representations or warranties made in such advertising are those of the advertiser and not the publisher. No part of this magazine may be reproduced, in all or part, in any form — printed or electronic — without the express permission of the publisher. The publisher cannot be held responsible for unsolicited manuscripts and photographs.

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S low Beauty Rituals

Offering traditional and holistic slow beauty rituals to our community since 2005.

Organic Skincare • Ayurvedic Treatments • Therapeutic Massage • Vegan Nailcare 714 View Street 250-385-6676 sapphiredayspa.com

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SPRUCE | SPRING 2022

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2 9 0 8 F I S H B O AT B AY R O A D , S O O K E

U UN N II Q QU UE E O OP PP PO OR RT TU UN N II T T II E ES S » » INTRODUCING

$14,000,000

$11,975,000

$12,500,000

$7,900,000

2908 Fishboat Bay Road, Sooke

3275 Campion Road, Central Saanich

377 Seymour Heights, Salt Spring Island

1700 Mt. Newton Cross Road, Victoria

BEDS: 5 BATHS: 8 12,214 SQ.FT

BEDS: 5 BATHS: 7 9,156 SQ.FT

BEDS: 7 BATHS: 8 7,324 SQ.FT

BEDS: 5 BATHS: 10 17,576 SQ.FT

2.50 ACRES

8.39 ACRES

71.17 ACRES

Samantha Jennson 250.818.2006

Andrew Maxwell 250.213.2104

Logan Wilson PREC

250.857.0609

20 ACRES

Dean Innes

250.686.0279

Glynis MacLeod PREC

250.727.5448

U UN N II Q QU UE E O OP PP PO OR RT TU UN N II T T II E ES S » » SOLD

$2,999,000

SOLD

$2,750,000

$2,450,000

$2,395,000

2024 Troon Court, Langford

9544 Ardmore Drive, North Saanich

228 St. Andrews Street, Victoria

1239 B Tattersall Drive, Victoria

BEDS: 4 BATHS: 4 4,280 SQ.FT

BEDS: 3 BATHS: 3 2,900 SQ.FT

BEDS: 3 BATHS: 2 1,921 SQ.FT

BEDS: 3 BATHS: 4 3,394 SQ.FT

0.33 ACRES

0.70 ACRES

0.18 ACRES

0.14 ACRES

Brad MacLaren

250.727.5448

Christine Ryan

778.533.3205

Kris Ricci

778.966.7441

Kirsten MacLeod 250.686.3385

Shaelyn Mattix 250.908.0184

C O N D O S & TOW N H O M E S » SOLD

« C O N D O S & TO W N H O M E S INTRODUCING

RECENTLY SOLD

$750,000

$699,500

$674,900

RECENTLY SOLD

SOLD

$600,000

$400,000

$495,000

2-1900 Watkiss Way, View Royal

102-912 Jenkins Avenue, Langford

111-530 Michigan Street, Victoria

1107-728 Yates Street, Victoria

303-69 Gorge Road, Saanich

1004-728 Yates Street, Victoria

BEDS: 3 BATHS: 4 1,943 SQ.FT

BEDS: 3 BATHS: 3 1,650 SQ.FT

BEDS: 1 BATHS: 1 553 SQ.FT

BEDS: 1 BATHS: 1 478 SQ.FT

BEDS: 2 BATHS: 2 965 SQ.FT

BATHS: 1 480 SQ.FT

Grace Shin

Sean Farrell

Marnie Ross

Brayden Klein

John Shin

Michael Tourigny

250.893.9976

250.588.2377

250.514.4363

250.588.2466

778.584.1204

S I N G L E FA M I LY H O M E S »

« S I N G L E FA M I LY H O M E S NEW LISTING

NEW LISTING

SOLD

$1,099,000

$1,395,000

250.514.6457

SOLD

SOLD

$929,000

$874,000

9 Mckenzie Crescent, Piers Island

1190 Reynolds Road, Saanich

3208 Wetherby Road, Saanich

2151 Gourman Place, Victoria

6920 East Sooke Road, Sooke

BEDS: 3 BATHS: 2 1,788 SQ.FT

BEDS: 4 BATHS: 2 2,524 SQ.FT

BEDS: 2 BATHS: 1 1,077 SQ.FT

BEDS: 7 BATHS: 6 4,679 SQ.FT

BEDS: 1 BATHS: 1 732 SQ.FT

0.49 ACRES

0.19 ACRES

0.13 ACRES

0.22 ACRES

0.66 ACRES

Andy Stephenson PREC 250.532.0888

Kersten St Germain 250.532.3869

Brett Cooper PREC

Victoria 250.380.3933

Salt Spring Island 250.537.1778

Vancouver 604.632.3300

West Vancouver 604.922.6995

250.858.6524

White Rock 604.385.1840

D’Arcy Harris

Whistler 604.932.3388

250.686.2375

Tom de Cosson

Kelowna 250.469.9547

250.380.3933

Sun Peaks 250.578.7773

Move Beyond Your Expectations S SO OT TH HE EB BY YS SR RE EA AL LT T Y. Y. C CA A 1 8 67 SU RG E N O R ROA D, B L AC K C R E E K 1 8 67 SU RG E N O R ROA D, B L AC K C R E E K

« « U UN N II Q QU UE E O OP PP PO OR RT TU UN N II T T II E ES S NEW LISTING NEW LISTING

$3,278,000 $3,278,000

$3,900,000 $3,900,000

$3,200,000 $3,200,000

$2,999,000 $2,999,000

2904 Mt. Baker View Road, 2904 Mt. Baker View Road, Saanich Saanich

1867 Surgenor Road, 1867 Surgenor Road, Comox Comox

554 Beach Drive, 554 Beach Drive, Oak Bay Oak Bay

6435 Sooke Road, 6435 Sooke Road, Sooke Sooke

BEDS: 4 BATHS: 4 4,546 SQ.FT BEDS: 4 BATHS: 4 4,546 SQ.FT 0.68 ACRES 0.68 ACRES Lisa Williams PREC Lisa Williams PREC

BEDS: 4 BATHS: 6 4,994 SQ.FT BEDS: 4 BATHS: 6 4,994 SQ.FT 28 ACRES 28 ACRES Georgia Wiggins PREC Tim Wiggins Georgia Wiggins PREC Tim Wiggins 250.415.2500 250.415.2811 250.415.2500 250.415.2811

BEDS: 4 BATHS: 4 3,026 SQ.FT BEDS: 4 BATHS: 4 3,026 SQ.FT 0.20 ACRES 0.20 ACRES Peter Crichton 250.889.4000 Peter Crichton 250.889.4000

BEDS: 8 BATHS: 6 5,023 SQ.FT BEDS: 8 BATHS: 6 5,023 SQ.FT 0.61 ACRES 0.61 ACRES Nico Grauer PREC Nico Grauer PREC

250.514.1966 250.514.1966

250.228.3858 250.228.3858

« « U UN N II Q QU UE E O OP PP PO OR RT TU UN N II T T II E ES S C CO ON ND DO OS S & & TOW TOW N NH HO OM ME ES S » »

« «

NEW LISTING NEW LISTING

$2,300,000 $2,300,000

$1,900,000 $1,900,000

SOLD SOLD

$1,199,900 $1,199,900

$799,000 $799,000

1584 Rockland Avenue, 1584 Rockland Avenue, Victoria Victoria

DL 625 Head Bay, DL 625 Head Bay, Tofino Tofino

127-2345 Cedar Hill Cross Road, 127-2345 Cedar Hill Cross Road, Oak Bay Oak Bay

206-330 Waterfront Crescent, 206-330 Waterfront Crescent, Victoria Victoria

BEDS: 4 BATHS: 4 3,649 SQ.FT BEDS: 4 BATHS: 4 3,649 SQ.FT 0.19 ACRES 0.19 ACRES Dave Hatt Dave Hatt

BEDS: 1 BATHS: 1 BEDS: 1 BATHS: 1 186 ACRE LOT 186 ACRE LOT Harley Shim Harley Shim

BEDS: 2 BATHS: 3 2,298 SQ.FT BEDS: 2 BATHS: 3 2,298 SQ.FT

BEDS: 2 BATHS: 2 1,260 SQ.FT BEDS: 2 BATHS: 2 1,260 SQ.FT

Don St Germain Don St Germain

Alenzo Winters Alenzo Winters

250.888.0204 250.888.0204

250.881.3601 250.881.3601

PREC PREC

250.744.7136 250.744.7136

250.858.9395 250.858.9395

S S II N NG GL LE E FA FA M M II LY LY H HO OM ME ES S » »

« « S S II N NG GL LE E FA FA M M II LY LY H HO OM ME ES S R EC E N T LY SO L D R EC E N T LY SO L D

N EW L I ST I N G N EW L I ST I N G

$1,989,888 $1,989,888

$1,875,000 $1,875,000

SO L D SO L D

$1,769,000 $1,769,000

$1,644,000 $1,644,000

$1,399,000 $1,399,000

5165 Duncan Bay Road, 5165 Duncan Bay Road, Campbell River Campbell River

8545 West Saanich Road, 8545 West Saanich Road, North Saanich North Saanich

102-1211 Beach Drive, 102-1211 Beach Drive, Oak Bay Oak Bay

3951 Trailhead Drive, 3951 Trailhead Drive, Sooke Sooke

1410 Simon Road, 1410 Simon Road, Saanich Saanich

BEDS: 4 BATHS: 3 2,593 SQ.FT BEDS: 4 BATHS: 3 2,593 SQ.FT 5 ACRES 5 ACRES Harley Shim 250.881.3601 Harley Shim 250.881.3601

BEDS: 4 BATHS: 2 2,078 SQ.FT BEDS: 4 BATHS: 2 2,078 SQ.FT 4.07 ACRES 4.07 ACRES Sandy Berry 250.818.8736 Sandy Berry 250.818.8736

BEDS: 2 BATHS: 2 1,414 SQ.FT BEDS: 2 BATHS: 2 1,414 SQ.FT 0.04 ACRES 0.04 ACRES Robyn Wildman 250.818.8522 Robyn Wildman 250.818.8522

BEDS: 3 BATHS: 3 2,779 SQ.FT BEDS: 3 BATHS: 3 2,779 SQ.FT 2.91 ACRES 2.91 ACRES Andrew Maxwell Andrew Maxwell

BEDS: 5 BATHS: 3 2,466 SQ.FT BEDS: 5 BATHS: 3 2,466 SQ.FT 0.23 ACRES 0.23 ACRES Thomas Goodman 250.415.6675 Thomas Goodman 250.415.6675

250.213.2104 250.213.2104

Connect with your local experts.

Alenzo Alenzo Winters Winters

Andrew Andrew Maxwell Maxwell

Andy Andy Stephenson Stephenson

Beth Beth Hayhurst Hayhurst

Brad Brad Maclaren Maclaren

Brayden Brayden Klein Klein

Brett Brett Cooper Cooper

Christine Christine Ryan Ryan

D’Arcy D’Arcy Harris Harris

Dave Dave Hatt Hatt

Dean Dean Innes Innes

Don Don St Germain St Germain

Georgia Georgia Wiggins Wiggins

Glynis Glynis MacLeod MacLeod

Grace Grace Shin Shin

Harley Harley Shim Shim

Jacob Jacob Garrett Garrett

John John Shin Shin

Kersten Kersten St Germain St Germain

Kirsten Kirsten MacLeod MacLeod

Kris Kris Ricci Ricci

Lisa Lisa Williams Williams

Logan Logan Wilson Wilson

Marnie Marnie Ross Ross

Marsha Marsha Graham Graham

Michael Michael Tourigny Tourigny

Nico Nico Grauer Grauer

Peter Peter Crichton Crichton

Robyn Robyn Wildman Wildman

Samantha Samantha Jensson Jensson

Sandy Sandy Berry Berry

Sean Sean Farrell Farrell

Shaelyn Shaelyn Mattix Mattix

Thomas Thomas Goodman Goodman

Tim Tim Wiggins Wiggins

Tom de Tom de Cosson Cosson

Toronto Toronto

Paris Paris

New New York York

Tokyo Tokyo

Hong Hong Kong Kong

Montréal Montréal

S S OT OT H HE EB B YS YS R RE EA A LT LT Y.C Y.C A A

Independently Owned and Operated. E.&O.E.: This information is from sources which we deem reliable, but must be verified by prospective Purchasers and may be subject to change or withdrawal. PREC is Personal Real Estate Corporation.

Independently Owned and Operated. E.&O.E.: This information is from sources which we deem reliable, but must be verified by prospective Purchasers and may be subject to change or withdrawal. PREC is Personal Real Estate Corporation.

EDITOR’S LETTER

Lessons in Letting Go

T

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.

250.213.2104 amaxwell@sothebysrealty.ca

here’s something about this season that encourages us to shed what’s no longer needed and step out from under winter’s cloak.

When it comes to home revitalization, now is one of the best times to shake off the rhetoric of how things have been and truly examine how we’d like them to be.

An out-of-date office space? Time for a planning session.

An overstuffed closet that isn’t working anymore?

Maybe a complete reno is in store. A home that isn’t as accessible as your family needs today? Call on a designer you trust to bring your needs to the forefront.

Spring, for me, represents a time of great transition — when my mental wishlist is unfolding into all the ways I hope to spend my year and I am considering what I need to slough off to get there. Yet I’ve always thought of spring cleaning as more than letting go of the objects in our house. It’s about clearing the allostatic loads in our minds, when so much thought is taken up by the “have tos” and “shoulds” rather than the “I’d like tos.”

Most of us shoulder these allostatic loads without even considering their impact.

The term refers to the cumulative burden of holding mental awareness — from remembering how much milk is left in the fridge to knowing which birthday cards need to be sent and when family medical appointments are coming up. As with any good stress, there’s a benefit to carrying this load — after all, someone needs to remember Daphne’s upcoming retirement party and that meeting with the flooring specialist. When we have too many to-dos juggling around in our heads, however, we experience allostatic overload. The cost is great.

Letting go is sometimes accepting that the cards might not be sent, the trash might not get taken out this day, and the paint colours almost certainly won’t choose themselves. Yet making space for less involves taking on less as well. Those big important projects that sit on the back burner for years — like that “she shed” you’ve always wanted to create — are only on the back burner because they’ve been viciously de-prioritized. What if we measured success by how much we enjoyed our space? What if our measure of a good season was not how much we accomplished, but how we accomplished that one really important project we’ve been putting off for a lifetime?

In a world where we can access open houses online, put in ponds on a whim or take on complete home renovation projects with expert team guidance, it makes sense to prioritize these “big listers” and let go of the rest — at least as much as we can.

As you turn the pages of this issue of Spruce, I invite you to listen to what sparks your inspiration — whether by way of a tip in “Spruce It Up,” a nudge to get going on your luxury outdoor structure, a closet consult with “Ask The Expert,” or some in-season tips from the article “Simple Spring Transformations.”

Seize what’s in store for your spring season, then let go of the rest.

“What if we measured success by how much we enjoyed our space?”

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 | SPRING 2022

Danielle Pope, Guest Editor

Be Bold. Do what the Ordinary Fear.

You are unique, your home is unique, and Luxe is not your typical furniture store. At Luxe Home Interiors, we believe in curating an inspiring shopping experience where customers can see, touch and feel great treasures that cannot be found anywhere else. We believe in shopping local, and relish the beautiful human connections that happen with in-person shopping. All of our salespeople are skilled designers. Let us help you tell your unique story.

Visit us at our new home at 564 Yates Street, conveniently located across from the Bastion Square Parkade (first hour free)!

564 Yates St 250.386.7632 luxevictoria.ca

SPRUCE IT UP

Residential Refresh

THE SEASON’S TOP PICKS WILL REVITALIZE YOUR SPACE AND INNOVATE THE WAY YOU LIVE.

LIGHTEN UP

Shed some light on your space this spring with pendants fit for the season of renewal — and whimsical enough to last year round. The Fluo Pendant Light by Arturo Alvarez (above) delivers decorative illumination with distinctive personality and a hint of floral charm. This suspension lamp’s delicate structure is belied by a galvanized painted stainless steel mesh, which serves as a light filter for impressionable shadows and soft, ambient lighting. This, and other features in the Alvarez line (like the Tempo Vivace Suspension, far left, and the Nevo Medium, left), can create dynamic centrepieces for dining areas or entryways and bring new meaning to the idea of lightening the mood.

Available through lightformshop.com

SPRUCE | SPRING 2022

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JOSHUA LAWRENCE

SPRUCE IT UP

Style Meld STYLE WATCHERS HAVE THEIR EYES ON THIS SEASON’S MOST CAPTIVATING TREND: JAPANDI.

Blending comfort with luxury, this meld combines Scandinavian functionality and Japanese minimalism to offer a design that’s both warm and simple. Clean lines and organic textures are already popping up in bathrooms as Japandi-style elegance integrates its artful approach. How to invite it in for spring? Think dramatic but simple lines in statement black and big signature items, like oversized pedestal tubs, as well as natural wood siding. Wood-look porcelain stoneware plank tiles have come directly from this inspiration.

The clean lines and organic textures of the Luxo Marbre hanging vanity and the Estelle A&E Bath and Shower freestanding acrylic tub add drama to a minimalist space.

Available through homehardware.ca

JOSHUA LAWRENCE

Pedestal tubs and floating lavatories pair with stone, wood and other natural materials to create the Japandi look. Well suited for mid-century modern styles, this design approach blends functionality with minimalism in an elegant combo.

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SPRUCE | SPRING 2022

ARTISTIC OUTLOOK

The Perch outdoor lounge chair by Blu Dot in Sunbrella Linen (left) or Toohey Charcoal.

Though changing the layout of your walls takes major renovation, rotating the art you showcase on them doesn’t — and it’s one of the quickest ways to add vitality and interest to your home this season. No need to commit to a storage site of strange and wonderful things: various works are available from the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria’s Art Rental & Sales program. With an ever-evolving inventory of original works by emerging and established local artists, the rental program allows patrons to rotate works for seasonal redesigns or to stage homes to fit a particular theme. And, if you stumble upon a perfect match, you can buy it outright. Coming March 2022, the program will welcome “Between the Swings of the Pendulum,” a solo show for acclaimed artist Michelle Miller. Peruse the gallery in person or online to develop the perfect spring collection for your home.

Available through aggv.ca

LOUNGE AWAY

Revive your outdoor getaway with a lounge chair designed to make every day feel like a vacation. Choosing natural materials can draw the environment into your space to create a cohesive look, while dynamic shapes will add interest to the area. The Perch outdoor lounge chair uses rectangular teak slats and matte white aluminium to offer a modern and airy vibe, while mildew- and fade-resistant cushions keep these chairs practical.

PHOTO: LAURA HULL/ARCHITECT: TIM BARBER ARCHITECTS/DESIGNER: TINEKE TRIGGS

Available through grshop.com and designhouse.com

Michelle Miller, The Great Shedding, 40" x 52", oil on canvas

GO DUTCH

Having all the windows open is one of the joys of spring, but go one step further with a Dutch door, allowing the bottom leaf to close and create a cozy space while the top leaf opens to welcome in airflow.

These units can be operated as traditional doors by locking the top and bottom sections together, and are versatile enough to be used as both exterior and interior doors. In addition to increasing natural airflow, Dutch doors keep pets and young children in and unwanted creatures out, as well as add character to an entryway.

Available through pacificviewwindows.com/doors and terradoors.ca

SPRUCE | SPRING 2022

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SPRUCE IT UP

GREEN THUMB

Trade your bookshelf for a refreshing green space this spring with a garden system built for the indoors. Rise Gardens’ modular gardening systems bring veggies right to your doorstep so you can grow crops of herbs and leafy greens in any season. Master gardeners and beginners take heart: these smart systems are Wi-Fi-enabled and app controlled, reducing the guesswork of gardening and yielding fresh results, year round. From a small tray to a triple-level shelf, these systems let you create a custom garden. All gardens come with an appenabled hydroponic system, seeds and nutrients, selfwatering tank and LED grow lights to get you started.

Available through risegardens.com

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SPRUCE | SPRING 2022

COMPOST CONVENIENCE

Dump the bucket. Composting waste now comes with a cleaner, easier, feel-good factor, thanks to a Victoria-based company that has created the world’s first eco-friendly garbage disposal. The system is “kind of like a reverse juicer,” according to creator and Anvy Technologies CEO Victor Nicolov. The Sepura system fits all kitchens, connects directly to the drain and allows users to simply scrape scraps off their plates and down the drain, where it compresses solids into an under-the-sink, odourproof container. There is no risk of clogged drains, and with its non-food detection system, kitchen connoisseurs can dispose of waste for up to four weeks odour free. Once the container is full, it can be easily emptied into a take-away compost bin.

pillows | duvets | covers | sheets Great selection from Daniadown, Revelle, Cuddle Down, Brunelli, Pokoloko, Laundress and more!

sweetdreamsboutique.com 250 383 6133 636 Broughton St, Victoria

250 656 0510 2492 Beacon Ave, Sidney

Available through sepurahome.com

MICRO WASH

Clean up just got easier with the world’s first multi-use micro washer to adorn even the smallest spaces with convenience. The FOTILE 3-in-1 Sink Dishwasher combines the functions of a traditional sink with dishwashing capabilities and fruit and vegetable purification. Made out of food-grade stainless steel, the appliance replaces standard double-basin sinks with a dishwasher that fits up to 24 pieces of tableware and can remove harmful pesticide residues from vegetables with high-frequency ultrasonic waves. The design was created for families of two to five people with limited space, and allows users to load their dishes without bending down. Heat convection drying and washes in delicate, normal and intensive cycles offer flexibility for heavy use.

The key to true elegance is simplicity.

The calming neutrals of our beautiful linens, pillows and baskets will complement the colours in your home with ease.

Available through fotileglobal.com

PHARMASAVE BROADMEAD Broadmead Village Shopping Centre 310-777 Royal Oak Drive 250-727-3505 pharmasavebroadmead.com

SPRUCE | SPRING 2022

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For over 40 years, Wilk Stove has built its reputation on providing superior wood and gas installations.

We’re committed to providing the best products available in the hearth industry and to customizing retrofit fireplaces to give clients exactly what they want.

160 East Burnside Road, Victoria | 250-382-5421 We offer after-hours showroom appointments.

Please contact us for more information.

wilkstove.com

The best in wood and gas heating appliances I M A G I N E A F I R E P L A C E I N E V E RY R O O M .

THIS ROOM

BY DANIELLE POPE

At-Home Getaway

SHADE JOHNSON

EXPAND THE USABLE SPACE OF YOUR HOME WITH A LUXURY OUTDOOR BUILDING.

T

here’s nothing like living through a pandemic to force people to take a hard look at their space. Whether working from home, accommodating guests or revitalizing hobbies, people today are assessing what’s missing so they can better enjoy where they live. The verdict: a need for more usable space outside the home.

Once known as “she sheds,” “man caves,” detached studios or bunkies, these backyard outbuildings — often sitting at just 100 square feet in size — can augment the usable space on a property to give homeowners a chic chance to escape their typical four walls.

That need has been proven by companies like PacRim Log Structures, which has seen a 600 per cent increase in the sales of their luxury outbuildings from 2019 to 2021 — from 55 buildings sold in 2019-2020, to 325 erected in 2020-2021.

“Many people come to us looking for office space. They need to be able to walk out their door and feel like they are going to work,” says Cher Rowe, operations manager for PacRim. “Folks are also moving home, because they can’t go back to school, so they need more space, and some are finally focusing on their hobbies and need room for that.”

While the idea of sneaking off to a tool shed for garden therapy is nothing new, Rowe says homeowners today want the elevated feeling of being inside an attractive, purpose-built space that allows them an escape from the everyday inertia — or cabin fever — that might come from being housebound.

“These sheds really aren’t for storage — this is a building that can last you for a good 20 years, and might even transform in function over time from what you

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Luxury outbuildings give those at home a chance to break out of the same four walls. Modular units, like Model 146 from Aux Box on this page, can be delivered and installed in one day and offer an environmentally conscious way to add an extra “auxffice” or dwelling area to your home.

appear. In most municipalities, any shed up to 100 square feet does not require a permit. While builds range from complete kits to custom modifications, most take only a couple days to complete. And while structures can range in size from 35-squarefoot add-ons to 1,600-square-foot cabins, many owners will go the extra mile to install electrical and plumbing elements to complete the space.

“You have to follow municipal bylaws and build within setbacks, but these sheds are surprisingly easy to incorporate into your property,” says Rowe. “We had one client who installed three — one for each of her kids — so they could customize them and enjoy them over the holidays.”

That customization can range from colour choice to adding porches, skylights and oversized windows to baseboard heating or selecting a peaked, barn or sloped roof to match the look of the main house. While most homeowners decorate their own interiors to taste, some involve professional designers to finish the job.

“The best thing you can do is go into a showroom and walk through some of the spaces and get a feel for how this might work for you,” says Rowe. “We can always add in things like extra windows, but it’s best to experience it yourself.

There really are endless possibilities and these buildings can make a huge difference to the way you live.”

Before you start To ensure it will fit your needs, consider these questions before diving into the search for your own luxury outbuilding:  H ow much space can I build on and what are my municipal restrictions?  What

is my ideal function for this building?  W hat size can accommodate this need?  W hat style do I like? Does it match with my property?  What will my budget allow?

ALL PHOTOS THIS PAGE: PACRIM LOG STRUCTURES

first intended to what you need,” she says.

Kyle Knorr, owner of Langford-based kSheds, has also seen an increase in demand. Whether he’s crafting a “Cedar”-style west coast cabin shed, a high-end “Hardie” to match the exterior of a home, or a “Rancher” to help people find more space, these projects can get as elaborate as a client imagines.

“I’ve seen these buildings totally change the functionality of a home,” says Knorr. “For people who have just moved, it’s a great way to get organized, and if you’re running a business, there’s very little prep needed before you can move into your own home office.”

The buildings are used for everything from a private getaway space to massage therapy room, yoga studio, gym hut and hobby house. Those in the industry say the applications are unlimited, and most companies will custom create for specific needs.

“One client was a well-known pianist, and he wanted a small building he could use as a music studio to play in with his musician friends,” says Aaron Morson, head of operations for The Shed Guys out of Duncan. “For that kind of mini studio, we’re opting for a pressure-treated floor system to protect the instruments, insulation for soundproofing and moisture-reducing walls — because in this climate, almost everyone has to think about how to deal with the wet.”

What’s surprising about these buildings isn’t just their practicality but the ease at which they can

PacRim Log Structures has been creating custom outbuildings for homeowners looking to increase the usable space on their property.

Mini offices, like the “Langeoog B” pictured here, are assembled by the team using pressure-treated base wood and metal roofing to match the look of the existing property.

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Simple Spring Transformations WELCOME THE SEASON OF RENEWAL WITH A REFRESH OF YOUR OUTDOOR AND INDOOR SPACES.

Spring Outdoors

BY ERIN McINTOSH

A

s the sun begins to shine, life returns to our gardens and it’s time to get our hands dirty. Whether you have a small patio space or a big backyard, sprucing up your outdoor living area is a rewarding spring activity.

“We all have this innate connection to nature,” says Bianca Bodley, owner and principal designer at Biophilia Design Collective. “Nature makes us feel better; it heals us, it brings us joy.”

Bodley believes an outdoor space shouldn’t be cookie cutter — an extraordinary outdoor space means going beyond the ordinary.

Questions to ask yourself: do I want a lowmaintenance garden? Do I want my garden to provide food? How much shade do I want?

What elements do I like in a garden?

While material selection, plant variety, zoning and climate change can be tricky, planning your outdoor space is certainly worthwhile.

STRONG FOUNDATIONS Before you start adding plants to your garden, take a look at your soil. Soil is like the foundation of a house: healthy, happy soil is crucial to a healthy, happy garden.

“As soon as you start to see the warmer days, get the mulch down in your garden beds,” says Bodley. “If you leave it too late, your weeds start popping up and you’re always playing catch up.”

She recommends adding two to four inches of a 50/50 mix of compost and mulch to the top layer of your garden beds to ensure your soil is nutrient rich and weed resistant.

Mulch provides your garden with insulation and prevents erosion as well as compaction. It will also clean up the esthetic.

“Deep-edge your beds so there’s a clean visual between the turf or patio and the bed, and put that black mulch in,” says Diana Benschop, owner and operator at New Roots Landscaping.

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JAMES JONES

“... EVERY GARDEN TELLS YOU A NICE SPOT TO BE.”

DEFINE YOUR SPACE

JAMES JONES

“Classic structure with natural whimsy,” is how Bianca Bodley from Biophilia Design Collective describes the landscape design at this home. “We created focal points with structural evergreens and other permanent elements — pavers, arbours, art pieces — then allowed for natural flow with ornamental grasses and flowering perennials to soften the views and provide habitat and food for the birds and the bees.”

You wouldn’t jump into a home renovation without a plan, and the experts advise treating your garden the same way.

“First, think about the function of the space: Are you somebody who sits in the garden after work and has a glass of wine?

Where does the sun fall?” says Benschop. “It’s a permaculture premise that, before you make changes, you should live in the space to assess the landscape.”

To get inspired, find images that appeal to you. Look online, look in magazines, talk to your friends about how they use their outdoor space. Make your plans according to how you want to use the space.

“Look at your garden, see where the spots are that you want to hang out, that you currently can’t — every garden tells you a nice spot to be,” says Bodley.

By “listening” to your garden, Bodley says you can also pick up on the areas that need the most help.

“See if there are areas that are struggling with too much sun, especially with our long, hot summers, and then plan to put in a shade canopy tree,” she says.

Shade canopy trees are an excellent addition to any outdoor space, provided you have the room, as they offer an area for guests, kids or animals to cool off — a designated chill zone.

If your space allows it, map out the path you want your garden to create.

“The foot traffic should be aligned with the functions of the inside and the outside. They should communicate with each other,” says Benschop. “When people walk into the garden, it should be clear which direction they should go — but you still want a little bit of mystery.”

Try creating a space that leads you through a visual, sensory experience, and let the garden direct you.

If you have less room to work with, think maximalist. Use long containers and tall plants. Use art or colourful pots and containers to make the space personal. When buying containers, Benschop says to consider the surrounding location.

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“Think about the colour of your house,” she says. “You want to complement it and accent it. If the containers are the accent, don’t make the flowers the accent.”

CHELSEA McKENZIE

PLANTING FOR THE FUTURE

Jennifer Lasko, owner of the Victoria-based company Modpots, says when you add pots to your outdoor space, consider the appropriate scale. In narrower spaces, slimmer troughs will fit better, while low and wide bowls are great for wide open spaces. Match the colour of your pots to your home or patio. Black is a great option but may look too heavy in a small space, she says. Choose plants that are attractive and long lasting or swap them out with the seasons.

Once your soil is revitalized and you’ve honed in on your garden designs, you can start planting.

“Spring would be a good time to plant your hardy perennials, herbs, structural plants and your food production,” Bodley says.

With rising temperatures, it’s important to think wisely about plant choice — for example, xeriscaping. Xeriscaping is a style of landscaping that focuses on droughtresistant, low-maintenance plants. General guidance from the Victoria Master Gardener Association (VMGA) suggests succulents, sempervivums and sedums are great choices for drought resistance, especially for containers. Lavender, rosemary, sage, grasses, yucca and wild indigo are also good drought-tolerant options.

You may also want to consider an edible garden.

“Incorporating edibles into any landscape is always an eco-conscious thing to do, because even if it’s just herbs, you’ll never have to buy herbs again,” says Benschop, recommending that flowers and herbs be planted close to food-producing shrubs or trees to promote cross-pollination.

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Whether you’re purchasing a home for the first time, taking out equity from your home for investment or pleasure, or your current mortgage is simply up for renewal, it’s important that you are making an educated buying decision with professional unbiased advice. Jodie has served the local real estate community for over 20 years.

250-885-5738 jodie@modernmortgagegroup.ca www.jodiesmortgages.ca At this Victoria home, landscape designer Melissa Baron helped the homeowners create an Island permaculture paradise with 60 kinds of plants, plus eight varieties of fruit trees. A walk along the pathway is a visual, sensory experience leading to what feels like a secret hideaway.

The varieties of edible herbs, trees and shrubs that do well in British Columbia are endless. The VMGA recommends thimbleberry, Saskatoon or serviceberry, red and black currant and salal, as well as fruit trees such as pear, apple and fig. Nut trees like walnut and chestnut work well in this climate and double as fantastic shade providers.

One thing to keep in mind with edible landscapes, however, is that in the winter, fruitbearing plants often drop their leaves and rest.

Benschop advises including some evergreen options in your landscape for pleasing esthetics.

“Then, in the winter, you don’t have this barren, dried-up orchard in your backyard,” she says.

Do consider including native plants in your gardens. The VGMA advises that not only are native plants well adapted to our climate, and therefore lower maintenance, but also many of our native pollinators and beneficial insects depend on them.

Examples of native plants suitable for both containers and garden beds include Lupins, gaillardia (blanket flower), Camassia

(camas/ Indian hyacinth), Aquilegia formosa (columbine) and Dicentra formosa (Pacific bleeding heart).

KEEP IT SIMPLE “Simplicity sometimes is the secret to just snapping the landscape together,” says Benschop.

Simplicity can help homeowners have a gorgeous garden with less work. But keeping it simple doesn’t mean skimping on vegetation.

“Having a good quantity of evergreens, grasses, ground cover and perennials to your taste is very important for covering up the soil so weeds can’t take hold,” says Bodley. “The less space you have between plants, the less room there is for weeds. A low-maintenance garden is a very well-planted garden.”

Most importantly, enjoy the process. An outdoor space has the ability to bring joy, tranquility and vibrancy to your life. Make your spring transformation a fun activity.

“Go to the garden centre, put a few things in your cart and just browse,” says Benschop. “Sip your coffee and take your time.”

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Spring Indoors

BY CAROLYN CAMILLERI

F

or Ann Squires Ferguson, CEO of Western Design+Build and the owner of Design District Victoria, spring is about reconnecting with nature.

“Springtime is that time where we are starting to blossom and allow new growth, which is exactly what is happening in nature,” she says. “But it’s also what is happening in our built environments, where we want the curtains or the blinds to be open — we want to crank open those windows.”

For deep inspiration harnessing the idea of how we live in “seasonality,” Squires Ferguson references Dallas Hartwig’s book, The 4 Season Solution: A Groundbreaking New Plan for Feeling Better, Living Well, and Powering Down Our Always-On Lives.

“You can’t be in summer mode all the time, extroverted, eating salads and running long runs — that’s not natural.

Your body wants a seasonality to it and, of course, as an interior designer, when I read it, I thought, ‘Oh, that makes total sense,’ ” she says. “Your home, your office, your everything wants a seasonality to it.”

Here are a few simple tips to bring spring into your living space.

COLOUR SOFTENER Squires Ferguson recalls the days when “having your colours done” was popular. There is still something to that. While summer colours tend toward brilliance and flashiness, spring colours are soft and nuanced, she says. They are the colours you see outdoors in the spring.

“We have these soft sage greens as leaves are just poking through the soil, and we have soft blush tones and the colours of the flowers in spring, the crocuses and snowdrops,” she says.

Looking to nature for inspiration, add soft spring colours to a room with accessories, such as throws, pillows, candles, glassware, linens, art, rugs — even coffee-table books and magazines.

Look to nature’s muted colours for accessories.

CRATE & BARREL

SPRING TEXTURE Natural textures — pottery, stone, wood and anything woven, such as textiles, baskets or floor mats — bring the earthiness of the outdoors inside. Often, these items are handmade or have

The muted colours of the Crate & Barrel Ojai accent chair add a touch of softness to a space.

a handmade look to them. Woven items are especially appealing to Squires Ferguson.

“Whether it’s wall coverings or textiles or basketry, why it really appeals to me is that it is traditionally a feminine art and often an Indigenous art or cultural art from around the world,” she says. “Particularly here in the Pacific Northwest, we see those textiles and woven goods representing what can be an underrepresented sector.”

With the region’s rich variety of handmade artisan goods created by local Indigenous makers, as well as those available through international cultures, Squires Ferguson encourages people to seek out connections to these makers who carry that tactile knowledge in their hands.

“Every one of those [handmade] items carries with it an embodiment of creativity and skill and innovation that has come down through an intrinsic way of knowing,” she says. “That intertwining is a really powerful and invisible part of nature.”

GUSTAVO VIVANCO/MOSQOY

Right: Handwoven rug made by Indigenous women weavers using a backstrap loom with all-natural fibres and dyes.

Mosqoy Fair-Trade Peruvian Textiles contributes to the preservation of cultural knowledge and traditions in the Peruvian Andes.

Left: Beach Anemone by Victoria-based fibre artist Julie McCracken. For this piece, McCracken used natural fibres on a handforged metal circle frame, four feet in diameter.

MARYAM MORRISON

PLANT POWER

Snake plant

While we often think of flowers in the spring, Squires Ferguson says we should be considering live plants.

“We want live plants in the spring — actually rooted in the soil — because the beauty of a live plant versus cut flowers is that live plants are air scrubbers,” she says, adding that some plants are more effective air cleaners than others. “Even at the very beginning of spring, before you can open those windows comfortably, you can bring those air-scrubbing plants in to get that real freshness.”

Plants clean the air by filtering out impurities. “They push those impurities down into the soil and use them as fuel and give us that clean-scrubbed oxygen,” she says.

Research abounds on plants that clean the air. Common examples include snake plants (Sansevieria trifasciata), spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum), Boston ferns (Nephrolepis exaltata), areca palms (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens), peace lilies (Spathiphyllum), English ivy — even bamboo and Aloe.

Whether shifting from a neutral palette or adding natural textures or live plants, customize your space in a way that leaves you feeling refreshed for the season.

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BY DAVID LENNAM PHOTOS BY DASHA ARMSTRONG

SPLIT-CENTURY MODERN

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S

ome say the often derided split-level house — seemingly stuck in a 1970s Brady Bunch time warp — actually belongs in the stylistic oeuvre of the much-lauded mid-century modern.

Perhaps with that as their inspiration, Jamie and Jesse Gough managed to look beyond the tepid curb appeal of a South Oak Bay run-of-the-mill split-level to imagine a wide-open, light-filled space with room for their family of four (plus mum) that embraced the patina of coveted midcentury modern.

Though not without some trepidation.

“When I first saw it, I wasn’t really interested,” says Jesse.

“The outside still looked like 1969. I didn’t love [it] and I told Jamie I didn’t want to buy the house.”

Like any typical split-level, it was bland, pale yellow, with a church-like, A-frame roof over the front entrance. Yet the lot was impressively large and the attached carport could become an enclosed garage.

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The home was owned by a contractor who was creating a spec project for resale and extensive structural alterations to the interior had already been made, releasing the building from its dated esthetic. Walls had been removed, large windows and sliding glass doors installed, and stylish millwork was brought into the brand-new kitchen and bathrooms.

Enter interior designer Raubyn Rothschild of Rothschild West Design + Planning. She fully understood the limitations of the house plan, but she saw strong bones and the contractor’s substantial re-fit as groundwork for her client’s desire to fashion a residence with more than a nod to midcentury modern style.

“Split-levels are one of the trickiest ones to revamp and rethink,” explains Rothschild. “They’re so specific; everyone knows them and there’s not a lot of innate charm in them.”

Her clients wanted comfortable and livable, but also relevant and fresh. So Rothschild went to work on the nearly

The homeowners wanted as much of an open-concept main floor space as possible for entertaining and to spend time together as a family without feeling cramped.

An effort to bring outside inside with a wall of windows and glass sliders means plenty of light. The vintage swivel chairs, a family heirloom, have been recovered from their original 1970s orange.

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3,000-square-foot home, first removing several features the contractor had installed and reconfiguring much of the lower level to outfit a suite for Jamie’s mother.

Topping the Goughs’ wishlist was one big, open-concept space — a refined and streamlined, sink-into-the-couch area, but one that would be hardy enough to handle their two youngsters.

“That’s a little tricky sometimes, when a bunch of kids are running around,” says Rothschild, who makes it her mission to weave “hard-wearing” into sophisticated adult spaces.

The end result is roomy but cozy: an upper floor with a spacious, airy open plan for the living/dining/kitchen area, plus three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Downstairs features a family room, guest bedroom, garage/workout room and a full suite.

“In some new builds the rooms are so big you have a lot of empty space between the zones,” says Rothschild. “This one shows you can still have a modest footprint and the spaces still feel distinct, but it feels cozy.”

This page: The wide-open main floor space gets the cozy treatment with a gas fireplace (one of three fireplaces in the house) surrounded by a ledgestone finish that keeps with the theme of white. The 65inch OLED TV, where the family likes to gather for movie nights, is discreetly camouflaged. The round coffee tables are by West Elm and match the kitchen countertops.

Opposite: The front entrance used to say classic split-level, but a new casual elegance is inviting and durable with light and space galore.

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Why work with Robyn?

Why work with Robyn?

“Robyn was wonderful… calm, kind, clever and well-informed. She did a thorough study of the market and updated her impressions as the market was changing. She was a good listener, a good sounding board and a good counsellor when many decisions needed to be weighed. I appreciated her expertise, knowledge and resourcefulness.

She helped me set goals and achieve them prior to listing, she had great staging ideas and supplies and she has been helpful through the final stretch prior to closing. She really made this process fun. I would absolutely recommend her and I hope to work with her again in the future.”

- L.A.

“Robyn is so knowledgeable, courteous and insightful. She certainly has a keen awareness of the market. Her negotiating skills are outstanding! I feel very fortunate to have had her as my REALTOR®” - P.K.

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The kitchen features a huge island in waterfall edge quartz with abundant cupboard space on both sides, including hideaways for a microwave and a wine fridge. The fridge, dishwasher and six-burner gas stove are all Dacor.

Remote-controlled blinds on both sides of the main floor (light-filtering and blackout) offer subtle lighting choices and utter privacy.

Textures and colours complement each other, from the bleached, engineered oak hardwood floors to the light wood of the dining table and touches like the sheepskin cushions on the dining chairs.

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 Furniture was purposefully chosen for the new house to emphasize the function of each area without crowding.

“Raubyn really helped define the spaces of the open-plan main room,” says Jamie. “It’s got some flow to it, but there are definitely specific spaces.”

She loves how the whole family can hang out around the sizable kitchen island — the kids doing homework, mum and dad cooking, or all enjoying daily family happy hour.

“It doesn’t feel like there are too many people when we’re all up here doing our thing,” says Jamie. “That’s nice.”

The Goughs got their mid-century flourishes in the bleached, engineered oak hardwood floors and neutral colour palette, as well as the low-profile furniture that doesn’t obstruct sightlines or sunshine and a blend of organic textures and materials — wood, stone, fabric, even the sheepskin accent cushions on dining room chairs.

For Rothschild, the nod to the clients’ yen for this style was a subtle one.

“This home doesn’t scream mid-century; it’s just some of the long, lean lines, the simplicity, the use of natural materials and light. And not trying to be too showy.”

She says, adding with a laugh, “There’s no teak in there.”

Built for life

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Built for inspired living

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ENGINEERED HARDWOOD FLOORS:

Island Floor Centre

KITCHEN COUNTERTOP AND ISLAND COUNTERTOP: King’s Granite LANDSCAPE DESIGN: Melissa Baron

Landscape Design

CONCRETE PAVERS: Victoria Concrete Surfaces (poured on site and coordinated by Melissa Baron)

The almost 10,000-square-foot lot meant room for multiple hangout spaces, each getting sun at different times of the day. A sizable pergola in the backyard features a relaxing outdoor living room with fire table, a hanging chair and huge concrete pavers underfoot. There’s a second fire pit (pictured right) around the side of the house. Thanks to the vision of landscape architect Melissa Baron, it’s a far cry from the chaos that greeted the couple when they bought the property. “When we moved in, the outside was like a gravel pit. It was a nightmare,” recalls Jamie.

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BUSINESS PROFILE

NZ BUILDERS Design + Build + Perform

NZ Builders’ Damon Gray(left) and David Phillips

“Everybody deserves to live in a healthy, comfortable home ...” health of their family and their investment long term,” says Gray, General Manager and founder of NZ Builders.

Building custom homes that push the envelope for building and design is a true passion for NZ Builders. Still, Dave and Damon could not ignore the growing issue of housing accessibility in the Greater Victoria community.

Kompak Prefab is a modular prefab construction company born out of a need for more financially feasible housing options. With homes starting at $290k, the units are built offsite and can be delivered to bare land or even installed as a garden suite for homeowners looking to maximize

the use of their land while maintaining privacy.

“We love taking on projects that challenge us from a design perspective, and the process of creating these smallerscale homes that still align with our high standards of quality has been nothing short of challenging,” says Phillips, Operations Manager of NZ Builders. “The same barriers in design, construction, engineering and permits still exist, but the benefit is we only have to go through this process once, which allows us to deliver a high-quality product at a much lower cost.”

Kompak Prefab officially launches in Spring 2022.

1.888.592.6444 | kompakprefab.com | nzbuilders.com

BRITTANY CAREY PHOTOGRAPHY

K

iwi-owned, Victoria-built, and redefining the way we live. Awardwinning custom home builders, NZ Builders’ Damon Gray and David Phillips have started a fresh new project, Kompak Prefab, which aims to bridge the gap between high-performance and affordability.

NZ Builders has earned a reputation for building some of the most architecturally stunning homes on Vancouver Island and surrounding areas, always with an emphasis on sustainability, comfort and durability.

In 2004, the company began doing renovations to improve the health of their clients’ homes, and soon recognized a startling pattern — code-built homes were continuously deteriorating due to rot and mould, often requiring costly restoration within the first 10 to 20 years.

The NZ Builders team shifted its focus to developing innovative building techniques to deliver homes that would maintain their integrity in Vancouver Island’s wet, west coast climate. NZ Builders has since gained national recognition for building some of the first net-zero ready and Passive House homes in the area.

“Everybody deserves to live in a healthy, comfortable home, so we feel it is our responsibility to educate our clients about how the decisions they make in the initial stages of building will help protect the

RUFFELL & BROWN

BUSINESS PROFILE

We’ve got you covered inside and out

From the left: Peter and Lori Stofko, Debra Ruffell and Nigel Brown

R

uffell & Brown Window Covering Centre was founded 35 years ago by Debra Ruffell and Nigel Brown, and over the years it has grown to be one of the largest independently owned window fashions stores in Canada.

In 2020, Peter and Lori Stofko acquired Pacific Rollshutters & Awnings, which shares a showroom with Ruffell & Brown at 2745 Bridge Street in Victoria. As the former offers exterior covering products and the latter offers interior window fashions, it soon became obvious that joining forces just made sense! Now Peter and Lori are the proud owners of both businesses, and Debra and Nigel will continue to work alongside them, staying on throughout the transition to ensure the process is smooth and the company does not skip a beat in terms of providing superior service to its customers.

Residential, commercial and institutional clients alike will be happy to

know that Ruffell & Brown will continue to offer the wide selection of blind and shades (including motorized options), fabric treatments and shutters they always have, as well as continue to offer the repair service and additional parts that these loyal customers have always found to be reliable. Meanwhile, Pacific Awnings will continue taking care of their outdoor needs, from simple window awnings to motorized retractable awnings and roofs, to completely rainproof aluminum pergola systems, patio covers and drop-down screens. The company is in a strong position to provide the best selection and service as it is the largest retailer of weather protection and security products on Vancouver Island. In fact, Pacific Rollshutters & Awnings has recently been awarded the Best Weather Protection & Security Solutions Expert Award for British Columbia by the 2022 Canadian Business Awards!

Peter and Lori are proud of what they have accomplished in a relatively

short time since taking over Pacific Awnings, and are very excited about the opportunities presented by their Ruffell & Brown acquisition.

“On the exteriors side, we took a brand that was well recognized and improved internal processes and technology, which allowed us to improve our customer service and expand product offerings — which now include, of course, the great interior window covering products from Ruffell & Brown,” says Peter. “We are very excited about the two companies joining forces and feel that despite their long histories, we’re just getting started!”

2745 Bridge Street 250.384.1230 | ruffell-brown.com

■ COTTAGE CONVERSION

ARTFUL LIVING Local restaurant owners turn their oceanfront rental home into a functional and modern art haven for their college-age daughter.

BY NESSA PULLMAN | PHOTOS BY JAMES JONES

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W

hen the daughter of Victoria restaurant owners Shellie and Mike Gudgeon was ready to leave the nest, they prepared their old waterfront rental property for a transformation.

Uniquely located in between multi-lane Highway 1 and peaceful Portage Inlet, there would need to be some reconfiguring to make this home a suitable long-term living space for their daughter.

“The home shares the same elevation as the city’s largest highway, as well as nature in its most picturesque form,” says Matthew Jardine, construction lead at Aryze.

Because of the home’s location on the inlet, the builders had to keep the existing foundation to avoid disturbing the marine ecosystem. The clients worked closely with local architect Chris Foyd of BoForm, who designed this home in a U-shaped structure that faces the inlet to block out the highway noise and maximize the tranquil oceanside views.

Coming from a long career as restaurant owners, the couple, along with daughter Isabella, had strong requests to make this a home that could stand the test of time.

“From years building restaurants and living in character homes, we really learned the importance of durability. It will always save you in the long run,” says Shellie.

For Isabella, having a home that reflects her childhood comforts and her art-focused personality was key.

An array of vintage collectibles and rich, velvety colours help set the scene for this bohemian and eclectic waterfront home, which was a product of many different generational influences.

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“Growing up in heritage homes, we always had an eclectic style, with the idea of collecting things over time and then finding a way to make them work together,” says Isabella.

Working alongside the team at Bidgood + Co, the Gudgeons were able to express their needs and find a way to make it work with the limited space they had.

“Creating a canvas for Isabella to express her love of art while keeping to her parents’ request for practicality had us scheming, but we found a way to marry the two and create a space that really reflects Isabella’s creative personality,” says Christi Rivard, lead principal designer at Bidgood.

The team designed a two-storey building with Isabella’s suite upstairs and a rental unit below to help with the bills. To make the most use of the one-floor unit for Isabella’s space, the team at Bidgood honed in on her lifestyle and worked from there.

“Isabella would never use a formal dining room, or a flatscreen TV, or even need a traditional closet for that matter,” says Rivard with a laugh. “We wanted to use the space we had to fill her needs, and leave as much room for her to showcase her art and collectibles, because that’s who she is.”

A floor-to-ceiling bookcase in white oak lines the main corridor for her to store books and display antiques she has collected throughout her life.

Rather than having the living room centred around a TV, a custom wood-burning fireplace sits off to the side while large art pieces by Luis Merino bring life to the walls. The open-concept living/dining room is centred around oversized double doors framing Portage Inlet. In the kitchen, a fullheight mullion glass cabinet by Woodshop 506 is used for storing kitchenware and showing off more of Isabella’s art.

Custom cabinets built by Woodshop 506 integrate hidden appliances and functional storage to get the most out of the small space while keeping a clean and modern appearance. Opposite the kitchen is a gallery-inspired library wall, where the team at Aryze constructed a rolling ladder that can be used to reach higher shelves as well as access a small rooftop deck.

“WORKING WITH A MULTI-GENERATIONAL CLIENT GROUP HAD US FINDING WAYS TO BRIDGE THE GAP, ALL WHILE FOCUSING ON CREATING A DURABLE HOME THAT COULD REFLECT ISABELLA’S PERSONALITY AS IT EVOLVES THROUGH THE YEARS.”

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Growing up around her parents’ restaurants, Isabella dreamed of having her own restaurant-grade kitchen, suitable to fit large pots and pans and full-sized appliances for making large meals and entertaining. To optimize the space, the Bidgood team extended the kitchen counter to create a separate dining area. In the bathrooms, black hardware, arched mirrors and terrazzo tile tie together the home’s modern base with Isabella’s treasures.

Keeping with the eclectic style, the team at Bidgood created a minimalistic backdrop with neutral tones and clean lines for Isabella’s tasteful furniture and striking artwork to pop.

“Working with a multi-generational client group had us finding ways to bridge the gap, all while focusing on creating a durable home that could reflect Isabella’s personality as it evolves through the years,” says Rivard.

Making a space functional while providing every opportunity for the client’s personality to shine through is key to a successful design.

“Isabella — she lives art,” says Jardine. “It drips from who she is and what she wants from life. This home really shows that.”

Above: The focal point of the kitchen is easily the vintage-inspired La Cornue stove from Lansdowne Appliances. Bidgood worked from this statement piece to build the rest of the kitchen, using dual-toned Shaker-style cabinets and a square-tile backsplash. A custom-made pot rail hangs above the stove. To ensure a bullet-proof kitchen for the clients, Dekton countertops by Cosentino were chosen for longevity and durability.

Right: Unlike most 22-year-olds, Isabella requested a nonconventional closet for her capsule-inspired wardrobe, and the result is an open-concept clothing rack that hangs from the ceiling. Rather than a more common walk-in shower, Isabella yearned for an old-fashioned soaker tub with the option to have showers by installing a hanging shower curtain rod above.

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South-facing exterior windows were thoughtfully placed to minimize sound transfer from the noisy highway behind the home and to draw in the natural light and tranquil sounds from the ocean’s waterscape.

In addition to the twostorey house, a small outbuilding was built below, which acts as Isabella’s art studio. The charming oceanfront studio has a living roof designed by Biophilia Collective, which can also be viewed from the deck of the main house.

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RESOURCE LIST INTERIOR DESIGNER: Bidgood + Co ARCHITECT: Chris Foyd, BoForm CONSTRUCTION MANAGER: Aryze PLUMBER: True Home Mechanical ELECTRICIAN: Slater Electrical DOORS AND HARDWARE: Emtek interior door handles, custom oak doors WINDOW RESTORATION: Loewen Windows ROOFING: Infinity Roofing TILE: Tierra Sol, Marble Trend Terrazzo (via Island Floor Centre) PAINTING: Painting Dept.

KITCHEN/BATHROOM MILLWORK: Lacquered 1/2" shaker cabinets and white oak slab cabinets from Woodshop 506; mirrors and glass cabinets

by Silverfern CUSTOM MILLWORK: Woodshop 506; custom

metal by Silverfern

FINISHING CARPENTRY: AP Woodworks FLOORING: Eckowood (Island Floor Centre) GLASS: Royal Oak Glass LANDSCAPE: Biophilia ART: Painting over bar by Megan Dietrich (Madrona Gallery); paintings over sofa by Luis Merino

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■ CONDO REDO

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ALL IN THE DETAILS

Functional reno transforms a waterfront condo into a purpose-built luxe penthouse.

BY DANIELLE POPE | PHOTOS BY DASHA ARMSTRONG

V

ictoria’s rainy, temperate climate was a selling point when Joni and Glenn were searching for their home. In fact, for the New York couple, it was between here and Seattle, given the moderate winters and mild summers — but with beautiful ocean vistas and a star property that matched the needs of these homeowners, Victoria won out.

“We knew we wanted to live downtown and in the hub area, and we decided to try spending a winter here, which we loved,” says Joni. “Glenn has a condition that makes it difficult for him to be in warm, humid weather.

We knew from that winter experience that this was the right place for us.”

Spacious layout was a theme for this condo reno, and the openconcept kitchen is one of the homeowners’ favourite gathering areas, with its purpose-build island bar. Wide-plank oak flooring was a perfect match for this space. Quartzite countertops and perimeter and backsplash in Taj Mahal bring brightness to the space, even when blinds are drawn to protect against heat. Hudson Valley Paoli island pendants in aged brass create a classic feel and align with the Brizo Litze SmartTouch faucet in luxe gold finish.

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With accessibility a top priority in this couple’s search — along with air conditioning — the two found their match in a downtown, ocean-facing suite that allowed them the space to accommodate Glenn’s mobility devices as well as make renos that would suit their lifestyle.

“At 1,961 square feet, the suite is quite spacious, which we need, but we picked it due to its spectacular views of the Salish Sea and semi-industrial, naturalist areas,” says Joni. “One thing that’s important to both of us is accessibility for Glenn with his walker and scooter. We had to be very creative with how we were going to turn this unit into something esthetically pleasing for us that could work for Glenn.”

The two turned to Jenny Martin Design, and lead designer Alia Marshall, to help them fulfill their needs.

“Because these clients were living in New York, we basically did the whole project virtually,” says Marshall. “They were also moving from a fairly large house to a condo, so we had to make sure there was a home for each item, including flow for accessibility.”

The Point

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Because this home is pooled in light, low-lustre paint was chosen (in Benjamin Moore’s “Aura”) to ensure the space feels cool and cozy, even in sunny weather.

The home’s layout had to change to accommodate the homeowner’s spacial needs, including storage areas for mobility devices and accessible reprieves.

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SPRUCE | SPRING 2022

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This page: The ensuite brings a spa atmosphere to the home, while ensuring accessible elements, like powder-coated black handrails, were added for stability and support. The vanity backsplash was stylized with glossy-finish rice paper by Anne Sacks in Porcelain Mosaic, Savoy. The shower pan is created from porcelain Ames Tile in matte finish, and the floor tile is a porcelain matte finish Ames Tile in Autore, Trevi. The Newport Brass faucet in flat black coordinates the look.

Previous page: The laundry room was purpose built with an elevated washer/dryer so the homeowners would not have to bend down. The stone floor tile is Puzzle “Faroe” in a matte finish to diffuse the bright room.

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placements in the bathroom and kitchen for respite, esthetically pleasing grab bars in powder-coated black, fold-up benches in the shower, motorized blinds and built-in millwork, so everything can be tucked away.

The team was also able to accommodate extra storage, from the double island to a floating countertop over a full-length window, along with niches throughout the home and a waterbrush flooring finish to hide scratches with a natural look.

“The theme of this project was really that you don’t need to sacrifice style for accessibility,” says Glenn. “My study is one of my favourite areas. It has a closet that I can park my scooter in, charge it, and back it out

to get to my car or go to the refuse room. The living area is where we spend a lot of time, though — with its fireplace, big-screen TV and sound system.”

Joni says one of her wishes for the space was that Glenn would be able to use the entire home. To make it as accessible as possible, the design team created plenty of counter and floor space for easy-to-work-in areas.

“The project definitely tested everyone to be more creative than we thought we needed to be, but it all worked out and I don’t feel like we had to give up anything,” says Joni. “The space is so functional and efficient that we can hide the things we don’t want to see and display the things we love.”

While the suite itself was outdated, being on the seventh floor of a building with a unique hexagonal-shaped terrace meant the views alone were worth the investment. Still, the couple realized they would have to deal with heat gain as well as some unchangeable structural walls. That meant employing effective shades that let in as much light as possible while reducing excessive heat, and moving some rooms — like the laundry area — to rework the floor plan as much as possible.

“Their style was really a modern twist on mid-century, and this couple has a lot of antiques, from a stunning gold mirror to a grandfather clock and heritage table lamps, which meant we had to save space for these objects while still creating a fresh, warm, bright and inviting space,” says Marshall.

With a neutral, warm palette, earthy tiles, brass and signature antiques adding luxury, finishing touches included elevated wallpaper for the powder room, along with New York influences in the lighting and décor. Still, each area accommodates accessible living — from the hallway without hanging art (for ease of movement), to purpose-built nooks made to house special equipment and a washer/dryer unit on pedestals to avoid bending for laundry.

“We had to think about how one moves around the house during the day as well as at night, which meant bringing in motion-sensing lights recessed under the vanity and along the hall as well as recessed lighting low to the ground to guide you,” says Marshall. “It was great to work directly with Glenn to make sure his home is going to fit his lifestyle.”

Other elements included raised countertops, lowered cabinets and sconces, seating

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LIVING4MEDIA/CECILIA MOLLER

SPRUCE | SPRING 2022

OFFICE, REVISED

Creating the perfect 2022 home office requires flexibility and a touch of creativity.

BY KIM PEMBERTON

W

hile more people are working from home now, not everyone has the luxury of a dedicated home office space. As a result, thoughtful design is more important than ever to integrate a functional but eye-catching space.

“You want your home to be a sanctuary and give you a sense of peace,” says designer Iván Meade of the Victoria-based Meade Design Group. “Ideally, you need to be able to just close the door and not be confronted with your work.”

HONEY, I’M HOME Since Meade believes in separating work and living spaces as much as possible, he doesn’t recommend carving out a home office in a principal bedroom or living area. Instead, he says, if the home has a guest bedroom, one easy solution is to transform it into a primary working space or an office/guest bedroom combination. When an entire separate room isn’t an option, Meade suggests choosing a space that can still be closed off at the end of a work day, such as reconfiguring a closet or entryway.

Luckily, less space is required for today’s home office, thanks to smaller devices and workstations to accommodate them. Gone are the days of large, boxy computers, oversized printers and fax machines.

“We’re printing less these days, and those who need to can do so with a small printer or look to another location if it’s a monstrosity of a machine,” says Meade.

He suggests storing printers and files that aren’t frequently used in a secondary location, such as a kitchen pantry or dedicated storage space.

When it comes to desk furniture, Meade recommends getting a desk approximately five feet wide, with storage space on each side to keep clutter contained.

“A lot of small desks fit like a glove into a closet,” he adds.

Left: Creating an office space that fits your personality is crucial to building an environment you enjoy. Custom wallpaper, luscious plants and bright colours will invite you into the space, making it an effective enhancement for work.

Right: Under-utilized space (like this under-the-stair nook) can double as an effective office corner, especially when tucked out of the way of a main room. Custom or purpose-built desks can be tailored to fit a tight space. Lighting these areas becomes an especially important task.

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LIVING4MEDIA/VIEW PICTURES

Above: Storage should be considered in your office redesign, making it useful to think about where in the building plan you’ll fit paperwork, books, printers and more. Repurposing a corner of a room, like a kitchen, can bring multi-purpose efficacy to a room if it works with your lifestyle.

OFF TO WORK

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Left: Natural lighting is one of the most effective ways to create a positive working environment.

Converting an outbuilding, like a garage or corner suite, with your office design in mind will allow you to visualize your space in a new light.

LEXIA FRANK/STOCKSY

Ben Brannen of Bespoke Design believes one of the main requirements of a home office is for the user to feel comfortable. He doesn’t rule out using the main rooms of the house, like the dining room or bedroom. In all cases, he adds, it’s important to provide storage space where work paraphernalia can be stowed away.

“Work can happen in a satellite area on any comfortable piece of furniture. You just need a place you can be quiet,” he says. “Early in the pandemic, I visited several homes where the makeshift office got moved into the living room.”

Brannen says one of his recent home office projects was converting a garage, where a long desk was placed along the wall to provide all the storage space necessary for office files.

One of the main difficulties with the garage-to-office project, he says, is ensuring there is enough light. In his recent example, a transom window was added to brighten the space.

For Victoria designer Jenny Martin of Jenny Martin Design, having natural light and a pleasant view are crucial in any home office.

“Natural lighting and a view are things to consider.

The busy areas of the house are less desirable because it’s hard to manage the acoustics and noise of the other family members,” she says. “If people don’t have a spare room, you can get creative with making a space multi-purpose and functional like a den.”

HERE FOR THE LONG HAUL All three designers say it’s important to make the home office space as inviting as possible since you could be spending eight hours a day there.

“We want things to feel polished — layering lighting, accent artwork, creating a more permanent feeling where people feel they can dive into a project as opposed to perching at the kitchen island and just making do,” says Martin.

Meade says, depending on the client’s taste, he likes to add colour and texture to an office with wallpaper.

“Doing a fun wallpaper gives you energy and makes you feel happy instead of just staring at gloomy walls,” he says, adding he tends to choose pastel colours because they are “vibrant and happy.”

With Zoom calls common during the work day, Brannen says it’s important to consider what others are looking at when on a call with you.

“It’s human nature that we don’t stare at people’s faces; we look around them. So you need to consider what people are seeing on that Zoom call,” he says.

Brannen says he also likes a wallpaper since it adds texture, but another nice backdrop to a Zoom call is fabric in a corner of the home office.

The three designers agree: for the most part, workers now prefer working from home. When the pandemic is over, chances are these new and improved home offices are here to stay.

LIVING4MEDIA/GREAT STOCK!

With online meetings becoming ever more popular, creating an intentional backdrop is crucial in drafting your new office plans.

Wall murals, wallpaper and feature walls offer the perfect frame for bringing professional meetings home.

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ASK THE EXPERT

BY DANIELLE POPE

Crafting Your Closet FROM BEDROOM WALK-INS TO HALLWAY WARDROBES, CREATING THE IDEAL CLOSET FOR YOUR NEEDS CAN TRANSFORM YOUR HOME.

T

he closet is the one room in the house that’s used every day. It is relied on for storage and does the heavy lifting of deep organization.

Creating the ideal closet for your needs takes more than carving out a niche in your room, though. From bedroom walk-ins to office storage, how we use closets says as much about who we are as what we put in them.

To discover the trade secrets for what people should think about when launching into a closet reno, Spruce chatted with Ted Hancock, owner and manager of Incredible Home (formerly known as Incredible Closets), to find out how to turn each closet into a success.

In all cases, making someone a better closet comes down to asking a lot of questions. What do you find frustrating about your closet now? Maybe there’s no hanging space for your jewelry, or you’re always struggling to separate your black and your navy pieces.

You want to look at maximizing storage for the items you use on a daily basis. It’s ideal for a closet to fit your entire wardrobe, of course, but unless you have unlimited space,

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Ted Hancock, owner and manager of Incredible Home, shows off his company’s showroom.

JEFFREY BOSDET/SPRUCE MAGAZINE

When it comes to a closet renovation, what do you suggest people consider?

The Room Conversion Light is one of the most important tools used in closet renovations and will transform a space from challenging to functional. Bright enhancements can also be made by using white colour palettes and transparent glass to lighten a space and ensure every item remains visible.

that isn’t always possible, so we try to compartmentalize the most-used items.

Back in the 1930s, bedroom closets were about two to three feet wide. Now, we consider how we can use the whole home. Room conversions are a popular way to consider space — whether by repurposing rooms once the kids move out or creating a linen closet out of a storage space. It’s about making it work for you now.

shelves, or personalize it with purposebuilt puzzle tables or desks.

Lighting is the biggest revelation in closet organization, and that includes for office and hallway storage. We have things now like recessed closet-rod lights that shine on hanging clothes so you can easily see between colours. There are also conveniences like pull-out pant racks with strip lighting, wardrobes with clear shelves and hooks with differing hanging levels so everything remains visible.

The secret we go by is this: if it’s visible, it’s accessible. If it’s accessible, it’s functional. So good function comes back to good lighting.

How do you help people narrow down the choices — from style and design to colour palette?

This depends on individual needs and what a client has in their home. We offer a variety of finishes, laminates and colours, and we use industrial-grade board so these pieces look good forever — with no chips or scratches like you get with veneer or real wood.

We also work with clients in-home to help them visualize certain themes. For example, if you have a fairly small space, you want to focus on brightening it. That means choosing light or white options. If you have a very large walk-in, however, you might choose a darker finish. People also might want wood grain that matches the rest of the house on the outside, but is white on the inside.

White is still our most popular choice, though light greys are very popular, too.

High gloss looks amazing and bounces the light around, but matte is a very “in” look right now. Try to tie these in with finishes around the house, like tables and chairs.

We do have five full-time designers on staff who can help with design, too. It’s not just about one area of the house — it’s about aligning the whole thing.

How does office or hallway storage differ in options from other closet spaces?

When it comes to the office, people are often looking for wood grain or modern finishes to brighten it up. You can have recessed strip lighting under floating

Can a closet be too big or do too much?

The ideal closet will perform multiple tasks, from providing a storage area for all your clothes to hosting space to dress. Bonus marks are awarded for closets that carve out room for the entire clothing cycle, like this project (above) that features a washer and dryer in the area. Mood lighting and custom material preferences (below) can create cohesion in a home and will turn your closet into a space that inspires you each day.

That’s not even a question. You want a closet to hold everything you need — one that lets you choose your wardrobe, get dressed and put your laundry away. If you have one place to hang your belts, for example, you will always know where to look for them.

In terms of closets that do a lot, however, the entry closet is the most popular one in the house. It’s used the most, guests see it, yet it’s often the last one considered in design.

What’s your favourite closet space you’ve worked on so far?

One of my favourites is a walk-in we completed with a beautiful chandelier and sensor lighting. Each cabinet drawer used translucent glass fronts so all was tucked away but was visible. Another was a 12 x 12 room with an island that hosted rows of shoes. Accessories are a huge thing in closets and they often make the difference for people.

There’s a big difference between creating a closet and having a designer design you something that’s easy to use and works for your life. It’s about giving people that moment when they say, “I didn’t know that could be done.”

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REAL ESTATE

BY SHANNON MONEO

Creating the ideal digital open house EXPERTS AGREE: PANDEMICINDUCED TECHNOLOGY HAS TRANSFORMED THE WAY PEOPLE INTERACT WITH BUYING.

I

t’s no surprise big-city residents have been the long-distance buy-in relationship launched.

Not a lot changed until COVID-19. moving locales since the pandemic took hold, Once the model home was finished, Joe did Prior to 2020, about five per cent of Greater searching for space through digital means a FaceTime walkthrough and a neighbourhood Victoria home sales were attributable to open when in-person visits weren’t an option. walkabout. houses, says David Langlois, outgoing president More recent reports have examined how “We felt like he wasn’t trying to sell us just of the Victoria Real Estate Board. buyers, from far and near, have started anything. We thoroughly trusted Tony,” Powell Beyond serious buyers, many open house to become reliant on virtual home tours, says. “It worked out beautifully.” visitors were habitués, who made a habit of even enamoured with them. Drone footage, When the pandemic hit hard in March 2020, spending weekend afternoons touring fancy Matterport tours, FaceTime walkthroughs real estate open houses took a corresponding homes and partaking of free edibles. and Zoom conferencing have become the tools strike — a first in their 110-year history. The Poaching design ideas and turning on gilded replacing open houses and in-person showings. first recorded open houses, referred to as “open faucets abruptly stopped in spring 2020, and But will these modern methods of realtors who had not yet boarded the meandering wither away along with high-tech treadmill were pushed onto the pandemic, or will “real” estate it, Langlois says. marketing take on a new meaning?

Many realtors were already making Amy Powell and her husband Moe full use of video footage, 2-D floor Doiron sold their Toronto home within plans and immersive walkthroughs, one day via half-hour, in-person visits, but COVID-19 forced more agents to for $250,000 above the listed price. improve their camera skills or hire an Two months later, they were settling expert. into their North Saanich house, 4,200 “We have seen a significant adoption kilometres away — a home they had of digital marketing practices,” purchased after only seeing it through Langlois says. videos and photos.

As an associate broker with “As soon as we walked in, it was Macdonald Realty, Langlois has better than we thought,” says Powell, a a couple of photo/videography semi-retired schoolteacher. companies on speed dial in this busy Video production is quickly becoming one of the most important tools in selling a home, and digital home tours now rival open houses when it The couple went from their market, where home visuals are comes to enticing buyers.

100-year-old, two-bedroom exposed expected before the For Sale sign is brick home to a brand-new, two-storey planted. Everything from the $300,000 house purchased with the assistance of condo to the $5-million house are Victoria realtor Tony Joe. for inspection,” took place in the 1910s in the virtual candidates, Langlois says. Because Soon after their home sold in June 2020, U.S. with homes open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. In recording technology has significantly advanced, Powell called Joe. Scouring Victoria-area listings the 1930s, real estate agents viewed open houses production costs have dropped, but the use of each day, she spotted the Bridlewood Lane as a personal marketing tool to nurture contacts. slick, showy visuals has accelerated. project and Joe visited the site, which was in By the 1950s, Sunday became the standard “What the pandemic has done has raised the early development. He forwarded photos and showing day. digital bar,” Langlois says.

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In the case of high-end homes, the bar’s been raised so high that the video imagery is akin to short lifestyle movies, celebrating the live/work/play ethos that’s been lauded during the pandemic with work-from-home the trend du jour. Langlois has sold a few homes using just the virtual tools, and the buyers were happy.

Matthew Neumann’s Sooke-based company, Matthew James Photo, does regular work for Langlois. Neumann works for about 40 realtors, providing listing photographs, property videos, 2-D floor plans, aerial shots, twilight images, sky replacement (swapping grey skies for blue) and virtual staging.

The realtors he works for are spread from Mill Bay to Sooke to North Saanich, and the properties he visits range from mobile homes to mansions.

“Good photography can increase the perception of the average home and create the most benefit,” Neumann says.

Premium properties already have the great lighting, finessed staging and wow elements.

But, like most technology, there’s a doubleedged sword. Neumann has the ability to transform a dark and shadowy home into a bright space or make a small space appear larger. He tries to strike the right balance.

Typically a 3,000-square-foot home requires

three hours of his work: one hour each for photography, video and 3D work, and realtors often expect a next-day turnaround.

Langlois says some realtors shoot their own visuals using their smartphones, but he’s not a fan of amateur imagery.

“It matters in this hot market. Don’t skip the steps to shine it up,” he says.

Yet even though he predicts in-person open houses won’t return to previous levels, Langlois says they will reappear because they are one more tool in the crate. Certain realtors — and some sellers — still rely on this method of connection. And to dissuade those hungry Sunday viewers, open houses from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays or 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursdays are known to attract the most serious clients.

Even as more sophisticated technology slips into selling practices, from augmented reality and virtual open houses to artificial intelligence, Langlois says there is no substitute for in-person showings. He would never buy a house without actually seeing it.

“You want to walk in the back yard, see your kids playing there, smell the grass,” says Langlois, who notes it’s always important to ask questions like, Do the floors creak? Do the doors fit the frames? Does the basement smell musty? “A house isn’t a thing you should be buying off Amazon.”

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