SPRUCE Winter 2024

THE MAKEOVER ISSUE

Make time for what matters most

Being there means everything.

Achieve More with an Athena Assistant

Plum Perfect, page 12

Today’s trendiest status symbol? A fancy, stylish, high-tech toilet.

How the owner of Rosemead House fell in love with vintage finds and British maximalism.

JOANNE SASVARI

When a green builder tackles his own home, he learns more about sustainability — and you can, too. BY ANDREW FINDLAY

These owners explain why they chose to restore their homes — or start all over from scratch. BY CARLA

SORRELL

8

11

SPRUCE IT UP

The cozy season: Warm up with a modern fireplace; plum pretty hues; fragrant candles; Chairperson’s contemporary furniture; winter tasks to keep your home safe and snug; Reading Nook.

16

HOW TO: BE SECURE

The best advice for protecting your home while you’re away. BY CAROLYN CAMILLERI

48

DESIGN INSPO

Après, anyone? Chalet chic inspiration from alpine getaways.

50

GARDENS

If you think there’s nothing to do in the yard right now, think again.

BY CAROLYN CAMILLERI 54 REAL ESTATE

The open house is back — and it’s a powerful way to sell your home. BY SHANNON MONEO

Why right now is the very best time for oysters and bubbles. BY JOANNE SASVARI

An architect and a designer describe their home’s sweet sanctuary.

Transform your outdoors with Capital Iron:

From grills to hot tubs, outdoor kitchens to furniture — we create the ultimate entertainment and culinary oasis. Free outdoor space design with every outdoor kitchen purchase.

Kensington Round Patio Flame Table

Fig & Cherry Sarasota Outdoor Set

Gozeney Pizza Dome Bone/Olive/ Off Black

Who doesn’t love a makeover?

It’s the stuff of fairy tales. The ugly duckling grows up into a swan, straw is woven into gold, the scullery maid becomes a princess. Transformations make the best stories; they reveal the most satisfying of endings.

Here at Spruce, we’ve always loved a good makeover, whether it’s a simple coat of paint that revives a tired room or a full-on, down-to-the-studs renovation. It’s fun to consider the possibilities, to scroll through Pinterest for ideas and inspiration, to gather paint samples and fabric swatches and appliance catalogues.

But how do you know when the time is right to actually go from dreaming to doing?

Ask a builder and they’ll tell you it’s when your home has visible signs of deterioration and aging, especially when that wear and tear becomes dangerous. (Think: broken stairs, faulty wiring, cracked foundations and

so on.) It’s funny, though. There’s a lot we put up with because, well, it’s always been that way. We find workarounds and MacGyver fixes that solve the problem — until they don’t.

Or maybe you’re running out of space. Your kids are getting older, your mom has moved back in with you, your cookbook collection is taking over the house, you need a place for a home gym. Suddenly, the time is right to tackle that unfinished basement or build that add-on.

Or perhaps you’ve decided to sell and know that you’ll be able to move your home faster — and get more money for it — with a few key updates, like replacing those builder boob lights with something a bit more stylish.

Most likely, though, you’ve found yourself standing in your kitchen and realizing you can NOT take one more minute of that dysfunctional faucet

or the horrible lighting or the terrible traffic flow or that cutesy ginghamchecked wallpaper with all the chickens. You find yourself wondering when the Tuscan décor you’ve put up with all these years was actually trendy or realizing that those brass fixtures have been in place since the last time brass was in style.

Here’s the thing: Once you see the flaws, you can’t unsee them. Once you realize how dangerous, or inconvenient, or annoying, or dated, or just plain ugly your space is, that’s when you have to do something about it.

And that’s the right time to start your own home makeover and create your own fairy-tale ending.

Joanne Sasvari, Editor-in-Chief

It’s Thyme

We are smitten with this new colour from Le Creuset, the French enamelled cookware brand. Thyme is an earthy green with a hint of grey, reminiscent of the rich hues found in your herb garden. It’s an easy way to infuse your kitchen with the green trend that’s so popular right now, without doing a full makeover. And it will look splendid sitting out on your stovetop. You can find Thyme in everything from cast-iron cookware to oven-to-table stoneware and kitchen accessories. lecreuset.ca

— Paul Gauguin

PUBLISHERS Lise Gyorkos

Georgina Camilleri

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Joanne Sasvari

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Jeffrey Bosdet

LEAD GRAPHIC DESIGNER Janice Hildybrant

ASSOCIATE

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Kelly Hamilton Caroline Segonnes

ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Deana Brown

Jennifer Dean Van Tol Cynthia Hanischuk Brenda Knapik

ADVERTISING CO-ORDINATOR Rebecca Juetten

TO DETAIL

FINE ARCHITECTURAL METALWORK WITH ATTENTION

597 Hillside Ave, Victoria adam@broadwellmetal.com 250-812-7514

kyle@broadwellmetal.com 250-919-5984

broadwellmetal.com

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

259 Esquimalt Road 250.360.2123 douglasgrantcabinetmakers.com

MARKETING & EVENTS

CO-ORDINATOR Lauren Ingle

COPY EDITOR Lionel Wild

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Carolyn Camilleri Andrew Findlay Shannon Moneo

Carla Sorrell

CONTRIBUTING

PHOTOGRAPHERS Joshua Lawrence Michelle Proctor

CONTRIBUTING AGENCIES Getty Images p. 11, 16, 27, 51, 52, 53, 54; Living4Media p. 48, 50, 52

GENERAL INQUIRIES info@sprucemagazine.ca

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR editor@sprucemagazine.ca

SUBSCRIBE TO SPRUCE subscriptions@sprucemagazine.ca

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES sales@sprucemagazine.ca

ONLINE sprucemagazine.ca

INSTAGRAM @sprucemagazinevictoria

FACEBOOK sprucevictoria

ON THE COVER The Greenest Home, see page 28

Photo by Joshua Lawrence

Spruce magazine is published by Page One Publishing 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 marketinginfo@sprucemagazine.ca

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VICTORIA’S

COZY DAYS AHEAD

These are the best days to love your home.

STAY WARM BUT BE COOL

Coziness and sleek contemporary style rarely go hand in hand — except in this stylish cast-iron fireplace by Norwegian company Jøtul, which has been making and designing stoves and inserts for 165 years. It evokes the compact tiled wood-burning stoves that Scandinavian and German people used for centuries to heat their homes, but for a whole new generation of design. The cylindrical body of the Jøtul GF 370 DV IPI features a castiron frame and advanced technology that includes accent lighting, a variable speed blower and energy-saving ignition system. Plus the burner and faux logs creates a perfect flame from every angle, offering a whole new way to stay warm this winter.

Available in Victoria at heatsavers.ca.

Pantone started it, but now it seems that, come fall, every paint company announces their own colour of the year.

For 2025, aside from a smattering of blues and greens, we’re looking at soft, earthy, plummy, brownish-purplish hues, from deepest ruby red through all the tints of burgundy and warm chocolate brown. These are hues that look sophisticated but also cozy; they go well with the season’s stylishly warm metallics (gold, brass, copper) and natural wood tones.

And while these deep colours work well as accents, they are especially effective and contemporary if you absolutely drench your space in them. Here are five purplish hues we’ll be seeing everywhere.

1 Rumors by Behr Paint (MQ1-15): rich, earthy ruby red.

2 Starry Night by Sico (6044-83): deep, dark, dynamic purple.

3 Cinnamon Slate by Benjamin Moore (2113-40): heathered, velvety brownish plum.

4 Caramelized by Dunn-Edwards (DET-687): pinkish terracotta brown with vintage appeal.

5 Purple Basil by Dulux paints (DLX1046-7): rich, warm, transformative purple.

Spilling the Tea on Electric Kettles

Here in Canada, we’re more likely to splash out on a fancy coffee maker than we are on an electric kettle, and yet a kettle is the kind of versatile appliance every kitchen should have. It boils water in a snap for tea, hot chocolate, instant soup and pour-over coffee, but is also handy should you need hot water fast for topping up a bain marie or cleaning the silverware. Plus it’s compact, leaves the stovetop free for other things and, as these examples show, can look sweetly stylish, too.

SMEG ELECTRIC KETTLE

BREVILLE SMART KETTLE LUXE

FELLOW STAGG EKG ELECTRIC

KITCHENAID 1.25L ELECTRIC KETTLE

CAPRESSO H2O GLASS KETTLE

How adorable is this nostalgic kettle? With its stylish 1950s look and multiple colours to choose from, it’s the perfect accent for your kitchen counter. But it’s functional, too. It has several temperature options between 122°F and 212°F, plus it heats fast, pours smoothly, shuts off automatically and is in general a delight to use. smeg.com

Sleek, elegant and pricy, this is the kettle for serious tea lovers. It has five labelled temperature settings for tea and coffee (including 175°F for green/white tea, 195°F for oolong, 200°F for French press). Plus it’s intuitive to use, comes in several designer colours, heats up in the blink of an eye and will generally make every morning better. breville.com

POUR-OVER KETTLE

For those who believe the only proper coffee is a pour-over one, this stylish kettle offers the accuracy you’re dreaming of. It has a digital control screen, easy-to-adjust temperature dial and that beautifully angled gooseneck spout. fellowproducts.com

With its nod to the whistling kettles of days gone by, this compact gadget has a retro appeal that looks great on your counter now and will never go out of style. Plus it’s durable, easy to use and available in on-trend colours. kitchenaid.ca

Simple to use, pretty to look at, not super spendy. The Capresso heats up fast and while it doesn’t have the bells and whistles of some of the others, sometimes all you want is a cuppa tea with the simplicity of having no choices to make. capresso.com

Light Up the Night with Subtle Fragrance

Need a host gift? These local candles are a bright idea.

On a dark and stormy night, or just a typically chilly winter one, nothing adds a warm glow like a scented candle. Choose the right scent and it can create an ambience that’s romantic, cozy, welcoming or festive.

But not all scented candles are the same; some have too much artificial fragrance, while others are made with materials that aren’t great for the environment, especially the environment of your home.

That’s why we love Victoria’s own Lit soy candles. They are made from biodegradable soy wax and scented with high-quality fragrance and essential oils. They are also vegan, meet FDA and kosher standards, and do not contain phthalates or GMO material. And they are all poured into their sleek glass jars right here in Victoria.

Lit candles come in evocative scents like Bonfire (damask plum, cassia bark, vanilla), Golden Hour (kiwi blossom, plumeria, mandarin, coconut, musk) or, just for the holiday season, Gather (bayberry, cranberry, cinnamon, clove). Find them at local boutiques or at litsoycandles.com

Fogia’s Barba armchairs have a relaxing cloud-like form.

The Future of Furniture

Victoria’s Chairperson brings cutting-edge international designs to Western Canada.

Living in the U.K. introduced design journalist Carla Sorrell to some of the world’s most forward-thinking home-furnishing brands; now that she has returned to Victoria, she’s bringing them home with her.

Sorrel, who is also the founder of the four-day Design Victoria festival and a contributor to Spruce magazine, recently launched Chairperson, a curated selection of six eclectic and exquisitely crafted international furniture brands. She first introduced them at IDS Vancouver in September and will now be representing them in Western Canada with long-term plans to expand the range.

“Companies around the world are designing quirky, regional, totally unique products that set them apart and capture the imagination of clients, interior designers and architects, creating new possibilities in all kinds of interiors,” says Sorrell. “I come home from international trade shows wishing much of what I have seen was available to the local market, something I hope to change with Chairperson.”

Chairperson represents:

• Fogia: An award-winning Swedish design company and progressive furniture producer.

• Hoshina: A timeless lifestyle furniture brand with Japanese and Italian influence.

• Derlot: A pioneering Australian brand of contemporary furniture and lighting.

• La Manufacture: French meets Italian contemporary design.

• Impact Acoustic: An innovative Swiss company transforming plastic bottles into bespoke acoustic products.

• Ethimo: High quality, Italian-made outdoor furniture.

Find them at chairperson.design

READING NOOK

The chilly days of winter are perfect for curling up with a good book and dreaming about the projects you’ll tackle this year.

English Country House Style: Traditions, Secrets, and Unwritten Rules by Milo Campbell, Katy Campbell and Mark Nicholson (Abrams Books)

From the boot room to the butler’s pantry, this beautiful book draws back the chintz curtain on the interior design secrets of this comfortable, sumptuously lived-in look.

The Perfect Room: Timeless Designs for Intentional Living by Marie Flanigan with Susan Sully (Rizzoli)

Every room has its own unique design challenges. This handy book identifies the most common ones and dreams up solutions for spaces that are as beautiful as they are functional.

The Romantic Minimalist: Simple Homes with Soul by Atlanta Bartlett (Mitchell Beazley)

As this lovely book proves, “romantic” doesn’t have to mean frilly and fussy. Rather, it is at the heart of a new minimalism that celebrates time-worn treasures, favours sustainability and creates elegant homes that soothe the soul.

Did you remember to ...

Here on the South Island, we don’t get the kind of deep freezes and heavy snowfalls the rest of Canada has to put up with. But winter is still hard on our homes, so it’s crucial to stay on top of maintenance. These are the key things you should be doing now.

OUTDOORS:

 It’s stormy out there. After any heavy rain, substantial snowfall or significant windstorm, inspect the roof, gutters and downspouts for damage, and keep an eye on the basement for any leaks. Also check on trees and shrubs for broken branches.

 Make sure you have a good snow shovel and stock up on ice melt.

 Outdoor pipes can freeze once temperatures drop to –6°C, so if you haven’t already done so, prepare your hose bib for the season. Detach and drain the garden hose and any accessories. Shut off your indoor valve. Open the hose bib and drain any water remaining in the line. For extra security, pop an insulated cover over the faucet.

 If you have a sump pump, check and unclog its exterior drain.

Upgrade: Snow Joe Shovelution back-saving snow shovel with springassisted handle.

 Cover your outdoor furniture, grills and air-conditioning units to protect them from the elements.

Upgrade:

Google Nest

Protect smart smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector.

INDOORS:

 Check, clean, test and, if needed, replace your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

 Vacuum bathroom exhaust fan grills as well as refrigerator and freezer coils.

 Clean drains in sinks, tubs, showers and dishwashers.

 Set up mouse traps as needed — cold weather drives critters inside where it’s nice and warm.

 Prepare for power outages by stocking up on: flashlights, a batterypowered radio, first aid kit, extra batteries, non-perishable food and bottled water, warm clothing, blankets and cash.

Also be sure to use surge protectors to protect electronic devices such as computers, printers and televisions. Find more info at bchydro.com.

 Spend stormy days planning your home and garden projects for the year ahead.

For more on planning your spring garden, see page 50.

HOW TO

BY CAROLYN CAMILLERI

10 Steps for Protecting Your Home

PLANNING TO GO AWAY FOR A WINTER BREAK? HERE’S HOW TO AVOID MAKING YOUR HOME TEMPTING TO THIEVES WHILE YOU’RE AWAY.

Nothing dampens a vacation mood like niggling doubts about whether your home is as safe as it could be from the ravages of thieves and vandals. Worse yet is wondering whether you have made one of the several common mistakes that can leave your home vulnerable.

“Many people forget to lock all windows and doors before leaving, which might seem obvious, but is a frequent oversight,” says

Inderbir Singh, president of Victoria-based Western Canada Security. “Hiding spare keys under mats or in planters is a common mistake that burglars know to check. Allowing mail and packages to pile up is a clear sign that no one is home, and forgetting to set alarms or leaving lights off can make it obvious that the house is unoccupied.”

My favourite mistake?

“Sharing travel plans on social media can

alert potential burglars that your home will be empty,” says Singh.

While you may think only your friends can see your Facebook page or know exactly where you live, you might be surprised at how quickly a clever criminal can figure it out. Wait until you get home to share the details of your vacation.

Here are some other basic tips to avoid common home-security mistakes.

1 Lock all entry points, including all windows and doors, as well as your garage door, shed and basement windows. Put a piece of wood or a long metal rod in the tracks of sliding windows or doors so they can’t be pushed open.

2 Use timers to turn lights on and off to give the appearance that someone is home.

3 Install tamper-proof motion-sensor lights around the outside of your home.

4 Keep ladders or tools locked up and out of sight — they may be all a thief needs to get into your home.

5 Leave some blinds or drapes open.

6 Inform a trusted neighbour about your travel plans so they can keep an eye on your property. Perhaps ask them to take the mail in, water the plants, turn on some lights or some music. It’s a favour you can return when they go away.

7 Arrange for mail, package and newspaper deliveries to be paused.

8 Ensure your home security system is activated and functioning properly.

9 Secure valuables in a safe or hidden location. Update (or make) a list of valuables and their serial numbers with accompanying photos.

10 Consider hiring a house sitter.

And don’t forget the clues your yard can offer to a prowling burglar. “Maintaining yard appearance by arranging for someone to mow the lawn, shovel snow or collect leaves can all contribute to making it look like the house is occupied,” says Singh.

If you want to bring home security to the next level, Singh recommends installing smart home devices such as smart locks, cameras and alarm systems that can provide remote monitoring and control.

“Consider having a third party monitor your cameras live and 24/7 while you are away,” he says, adding that you may even want to schedule security patrols in your absence.

Better yet, hire a security company to do a risk assessment and help you take steps to future-proof your home in your absence.

Consider installing a smart device like the Blink Outdoor 4 by Amazon, which has a camera (with infrared night view) and two-way audio.

The more occupied your home looks and the more barriers you have in place to prevent an easy break-in, the less vulnerable your home will be and the more enjoyable your vacation.

“By avoiding common mistakes and taking these security measures, you can significantly reduce the risk of burglary and ensure your home remains safe while you’re on holiday,” says Singh.

FOR MORE INFO

• The RCMP offers home-security tips at bc-cb.rcmp-grc.gc.ca.

• The Government of Canada also has advice at getprepared.gc.ca.

THE POSH FLUSH

IT’S THE TRENDIEST WAY TO IMPRESS YOUR GUESTS RIGHT NOW.

The Kohler Veil smart toilet features sculpted simplicity designed to complement contemporary décor, and deserves a beautiful setting. kohler.ca

It used to be the unmentionable. These days, the toilet is a status symbol.

That’s thanks to a range of high-tech innovations that make the throne more stylish, more comfortable, more functional and, above all, more hygienic than ever before.

Credit the Japanese brand Toto, which introduced the “washlet,” a combination toilet and bidet, back in the 1980s. Today it’s estimated that more than 80 per cent of Japanese households have bidet toilets. Now North America is finally catching on, and so are other brands like Kohler, American Standard and Eplo.

A few months back, the fashion designer Marc Jacobs raved about his Toto smart toilet to his two million Instagram followers; meanwhile, in 2022, Drake famously gifted his friend DJ Khaled four high-end Toto bidet toilets for his 47th birthday. “This might be the best gift ever, like real talk,” Khaled said at the time.

That’s because the toilets, which likely retailed for well over $5,000 apiece, featured heated seats that could be opened and closed with a remote control, as well as an automatic airpurifying system, night light, automatic tornado flushing, UV light-cleaning system and other features.

Top Pick

AMERICAN STANDARD ADVANCE CLEAN 100 SPALET BIDET TOILET

This sleek, modern combination bidet and auto-flush toilet has self-cleaning dual nozzles that direct a soothing stream of warm water to both front and rear areas. It also features a nightlight, smart remote control, heated seat, warm air dryer with adjustable temperature, air-shield deodorizer, auto open/close seat and lid, and a Triple VorMax Flushing system with two powerful water streams plus a siphon jet to completely clean the bowl. americanstandard.ca

Make a Statement

New from Hillberg & Berk, these dramatic statement earrings offer endless styling options. The crystals move gracefully with you, adding extra shimmer to any look.

About H&B

Hillberg & Berk is a women-owned, purpose-driven Canadian jewelry company.

1% FOR WOMEN — NO MATTER WHAT H&B supports self-identified women to reach their potential, and as part of this promise, they commit 1% of annual revenue in donations and jewelry to local and national partners. At H&B, purpose always comes first.

Your Financial Partner in Times of Change

Shine Financial Group is a unique wealth management firm that specializes in working with women during and after times of transition, specifically divorce and widowhood.

Paul, CIM,

But the key feature for all these smart toilets is the bidet function, a spray or wand used to wash the nether body parts. It is by any measure much more hygienic than using toilet paper alone; it is also more environmentally sound because it reduces the amount of waste paper flushed into our waterways.

Bidets, which were until recently a separate fixture in addition to the toilet, have been popular for centuries in many parts of the world, from Western Europe to the Middle East to South America to Asia. But here in North America, they were associated with sex and scandal and considered unsanitary when quite the opposite is true.

That’s changing now, especially with the convenient new washlets and other combination units. You can even install a bidet attachment on your existing toilet for as little as $100.

But there’s more to the modern toilet than a tidy tush. The design is sleeker and more sophisticated, the bowl often higher and

Top Pick

longer, which is more comfortable for most people. The bathroom itself is becoming a more intentionally designed space, too, whether it’s the serene spa ambience of a primary ensuite or a dramatic powder room designed to impress.

And while classic, quiet luxury white is standard for smart toilets, you can find some pretty opulent finishes, too — Kohler’s Eir has a subtle metallic detailing, for instance, while companies like Royal Toiletry and Watermony offer toilets in baroque black and gold.

These toilets do much more than just flush. In addition to a washing function, there is often a drying one, where gentle puffs of warm air replace the need for T.P. Most also have selfcleaning and deodorizing functions, as well as built-in lights and other features. The Kohler Numi 2.0 model even has its own speaker system. It also retails for nearly $20,000.

Most cost much less, but still retail for more than $1,000 — sometimes much more.

But we know you’re worth it. And your friends will, too.

KOHLER KARING

We love the minimalist look of this luxe smart toilet. It boasts an advanced touchscreen remote that allows you to create your preferred settings for warmth, cleansing and drying. Its self-cleaning stainless steel wand offers adjustable spray shape, position, water pressure, temperature, pulsate and oscillate functions; plus it has a precision air dryer, adjustable settings for heated seat, dryer and water temperature, motionactivated cover opening and closing, an LED nightlight and a high-tech, self-cleaning function with an automatic deodorizer fan to reduce odours. kohler.ca

(Left) Charlotte Paul, CIM, Associate Portfolio Manager, Assante Capital Management Ltd.

Top Pick The Splurge

TOTO NEXUS WASHLET S7A

The smart toilet trend started with Toto, and the Japanese company is still the industry standard. They have numerous models with many different features; this sleekly redesigned one has an elongated bidet seat and a technologically advanced cleaning system. It features five spray settings and four storage settings. It also has an auto open and close lid, heated seat, nightlight, adjustable warm air dryer and instantaneous water heating, as well as Tornado Flush so you should never have to scrub the toilet again. splashes.com

ROYAL SPHERE SMART TOILET

This luxurious black-and-gold throne combines opulence and cutting-edge technology. Among its many features: app connection, voice control, LED screen, built-in night light, bidet, self-cleaning features and automatic open, close and flush. But mostly it’s about that shiny gold finish. royaltoiletry.com

Makeovers That Make a Difference

Bites, Bevvies + Bright Ideas

FEBRUARY 11, 2025

5-7 p.m. | The Atrium, 800 Yates Street Tickets $75 (fees & taxes included) Each ticket includes two beverages, gourmet bites from Zambri’s, a chance to win prizes and a swag bag to take home.

PROUDLY SPONSORED BY

Join us for an evening of style, expert insights and tasty bites. This exclusive event brings homeowners together with design enthusiasts and top industry experts, who will share the latest trends and practical tips for transforming your living space. Don’t miss this chance to mingle and enjoy an unforgettable evening of home makeover magic.

MODERATOR

Ann Squires Ferguson, CEO, Western Design+Build

THE RELUCTANT MAXIMALIST

Vintage meets modern meets one man’s vision as Rosemead House reopens in a burst of colour and pattern.

BY JOANNE SASVARI

The first thing Lenny Moy bought was a vintage mirror that he’d found at a London flea market. “I love mirrors,” he says. “I really love mirrors.”

As it turns out, he also loves old clocks, fancy teapots, velvet draperies, Empire chairs, intricately inlaid desks and romantic paintings in ornate gilt frames. This has all been as much a surprise to him as anyone else. After all, the founder and president of Aragon Properties is better known for the sleek, functional, contemporary style of projects like The Plaza at Esquimalt Town Square. As Moy says, “I’ve been in this business for 35 years and I design space.”

But then in 2014 he bought Rosemead House, the circa-1910 Samuel Macluredesigned mansion in Esquimalt that for many years operated as The Old English Inn. Moy figured the 4.3-acre property on Lampson Avenue would be ideal for upscale condos and townhouses, as well as a boutique hotel in the original Craftsmanmeets-Tudor-style house.

“I looked at it like a regular project,” he says. “And then we started to do a simple renovation.”

Ten years and more than $13 million later, it has turned out to be anything but.

Above left: Owner Lenny Moy is captured in one of the ornate mirrors he loves. Below left: One of several vintage tea sets Moy discovered in the U.K. Below: Regency-style chairs destined for the dining room.

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“the Queen’s library” features

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the gilt torchieres and chairs upholstered in lush, William Morris patterns.

ENGLISH DESIGN

Because Rosemead House was so old and so long neglected, it had many, many quirky issues. Moy’s team kept reaching out to him with problems only he could answer. “I had to be involved more and more to find solutions,” he says. “I’m very detail oriented. If I’m going to do something, I want to do it well.”

But he never expected to be the guy in charge of decorating the place. “My background is the furthest it could be from interior design. I’m an engineer and an MBA. I’m a business guy,” he says. “I saw it as a challenge. I wasn’t going to be the head designer, but our designer didn’t want to do it, so I became the head designer.”

At the same time, he found himself in London, England, where one of his two daughters was going to school. He began visiting flea markets, auctions and estate sales. He bought that first mirror, then a piece of furniture and then another one. “I quickly realized that I had to stop or go big.” He laughs a little. “I decided to go big.”

Moy got a warehouse in London and began to fill it. He bought the bespoke Wedgwood dishes from the Savoy Hotel and vintage furniture from the Dorchester, paintings from old country houses and a whole suite of things from the set of The Crown television series: chairs from the Queen’s bedroom, torchieres from a royal hallway, even the 13-foot-high iron gates from the fictionalized Buckingham Palace. He estimates now that he’s been to at least 50 estate sales and filled four, maybe five containers with his finds.

After all, as Moy points out, “English design is maximalist; it’s not minimalist.”

“I QUICKLY REALIZED THAT I HAD TO STOP OR GO BIG.”

Below: The cocktail lounge features gilt mirrors and velvety upholstery in hues of purple, magenta and teal.

botanical printed wallpaper swirls over the sloped ceiling in one of the guest-room baths.

COLOUR AND TEXTURE

On October 23, Janevca Kitchen, the restaurant at Rosemead House, officially opened for business, with the 28-room boutique hotel to follow later this year. Throughout the evening, Moy ambled happily through the dining room, greeting old friends and new, quietly enjoying the lively buzz and the sheer delight on his guests’ faces.

He has created a room unlike any other in Victoria. Aside from the original architecture, it is lush with texture and colour, with dark teal walls and furniture upholstered in deep magenta and burnt orange. Vintage details like the old wooden Bollinger ice bucket and William Morris patterns are everywhere. Mostly, though, there’s the tree, a glorious faux maple that creates a canopy of fiery autumnal leaves over the dining room.

“I saw it as an opportunity to incorporate Old World design, English design, in the restaurant,” Moy says, noting that he was inspired by many of the places where he had dined across the pond. “In Europe, they’re more advanced with restaurant design.”

Working with a consultant, he has created a look that combines the original post-and-beam structure with traditional décor elements and modern functionality. “We want to be seen as something that is traditional, but modern. It’s about the layers,” he says.

Most of all, even while enacting his own vision, Moy was keenly aware of his role as “a custodian” of such a historic property, and the responsibility he had to the community where it is located.

“I knew I had to do a good job for the community,” he says. “I wanted to avoid traditional West Coast design and incorporate heritage design. It’s an evolution of design. You take elements of places that you like.”

HOW TO SHOP AT AN ESTATE SALE

Antiques and vintage finds are back in style after a number of years in the design wilderness, and one of the best ways to source them is at an estate sale. That’s how Lenny Moy found many of the pieces for Rosemead House, and it’s how you can find treasures for your own, too.

If you plan to shop at an estate sale, here’s what you need to know.

1. The basics

An estate sale is a process in which many of a person’s assets are liquidated all at once, usually due to a change in circumstance, for instance moving, downsizing, bankruptcy or death.

Public estate sales are usually held where the items are located, such as a house. Items are tagged with prices and, unless the sale is set up as an auction that accepts bids, they are sold on a first-come, first-served basis, usually over a day or two. Go early — lines may start forming hours before the sale begins — and be prepared to wait.

Sometimes, though, the sale is held online. You can browse through the items on a website for several days and make bids until a set date and time; after that, there will be a scheduled time and place to pick up your items.

2. Finding an estate sale

The best way to know when sales are happening is to sign up for a newsletter produced by local estate sale companies such as Vancouver Island Estate Liquidators or by an online company such as MaxSold. Note, though, that some estate sales are private and require dealer connections.

3. What (and how) to buy

You can find almost anything and everything at an estate sale: furniture, housewares, rugs, artwork, glassware, kitchenware, clothing, jewelry, books, electronics, collectibles, sports equipment, even cars.

You can nab some serious bargains, but note that art and collectibles might still be quite expensive. And yes, you can negotiate, but wait until late in the sale to do so. Often prices are reduced by then and, if they aren’t, you can always try to strike a bargain. Also: Check ahead of time to see if credit cards are accepted, and remember that anything marked “NFS” is not for sale.

4. Be prepared

Before you go, have a good idea of what you want (and what you don’t), as well as the price it should command. Also, bring with you: cash, a measuring tape, a bag for small items and a truck or van if you plan to purchase larger ones.

5. Be respectful

Don’t forget that whatever the circumstances led to the estate sale, the possessions you’re pawing through likely belong to a family dealing with loss. Be respectful of the people on site, as well as the objects for sale.

Vibrant

JEFFREY BOSDET/SPRUCE MAGAZINE

The Greenest Home

BUILDER ANDREW CHAPMAN SHARES LESSONS LEARNED AND DISCOVERIES MADE BY DESIGNING HIS OWN NET-ZERO HOUSE.

BY ANDREW FINDLAY PHOTOS BY JOSHUA LAWRENCE

Anyone who has built a custom home — and Andrew Chapman, principal of Chapman Building, has constructed more than a few of them — knows that details matter. There can seem like an infinite number of decisions, big and small, to make along the way, and if you’re going green, that decision-making is taken to a whole other level.

Consider something as mundane as insulation. In a green-home project, you must consider not only R-value, which rates how well an insulation prevents the flow of heat into and out of the building, but also the carbon footprint of the insulation manufacturing process. Then imagine applying this vetting process to all your building materials. You get the picture.

Chapman spends a lot of time thinking outside of the box about this big sustainability picture and what his industry can do better.

“Energy and climate change are perhaps the biggest issues we have to tackle. Buildings and the construction, maintenance and demolition

“I think there are huge opportunities to make buildings a positive participant in efforts to decarbonize our economy.”

Home builder Andrew Chapman

of them, account for 39 per cent of global greenhouse-gas emissions,” he says. “I think there are huge opportunities to make buildings a positive participant in efforts to decarbonize our economy.”

Where there is a big footprint, there is also big potential to make environmental gains. And for Chapman, that starts at home.

So two years ago he set out to build a net-zero home for his family of four, with the goal of putting into practice everything he knew and believed about construction and building sustainability.

TICKING THE BOXES

On a July afternoon, Chapman arrives from another job site to give an informal walking tour of the family home in Oak Bay. “This is a builder’s house,” he says.

That might suggest that builders prefer function over fashion. But it’s immediately obvious that Chapman has put a lot of thought into design and esthetics, too, subtle as they may be at first glance. The foundation is clad in concrete-faced insulation. The first and second floors are sided 60 per cent with cedar shingles, cut from salvaged Vancouver Island cedar lumber and stained blue-grey, and 40 per cent with Richlite, a flat panel siding product made in Washington state from recycled paper.

Inside the front door, the ambience is bright, warm and filled with sunlight. Custom cabinetry in the kitchen and bathrooms is clean and crisp. The appliances are well chosen, but there’s nothing fancy about the décor. It’s uncomplicated and intentionally simple. There are no odd angles and few unnecessary, dust-gathering surfaces.

It’s a far cry from the 1950s-vintage threebedroom home with “a lot of deferred maintenance” that he and his wife bought back in 2016.

“When we looked at the expenses of renovating, everything pointed to building new,” says Chapman. “As a builder, it was an opportunity to look at what was the most appropriate building for the lifespan of the house and the community it will serve in the future.”

From a livability perspective, the neighbourhood ticked a lot of boxes for the family. It’s within easy walking and biking distance of green space at Uplands Park, Willows Beach and Cattle Point. It’s also close to schools, shops, downtown Victoria and the University of Victoria.

So Chapman sat down and sketched out a design for a two-storey, net-zero house with a basement and a solar system that would generate enough electricity to meet the energy needs of the house and one electric vehicle. The design included a rainwater-capture and cisternstorage system capable of supplying all the yard’s irrigation needs. Among the many other details he included as he put pen to paper were extra-thick walls to maximize heating and cooling efficiency as well as large, energy-efficient windows framed into south-facing walls to harness passive solar heat and light.

“I sketched the building by hand, then brought it over to architect Christian Foyd at BoForm,” Chapman says. “He helped to turn a concept into a beautiful building.”

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE

Part of what Chapman calls the decarbonization challenge facing modern communities is fitting more housing units into a given area, what urban planners call densification. Not only is densifying key to preventing relentless and costly suburban sprawl and the subsequent

Andrew Chapman’s home is designed to be sustainable not just now, but into the future. Behind the kitchen’s sleek, contemporary walls, roughed-in plumbing, electricals and other architectural features would make it easy to convert this from a single- to multi-family home. In fact, the entire main floor is designed to easily become a self-contained, two-bedroom suite.

MAIN FLOOR

A - Office

B - 3-piece bath

C - Kitchen

D - Dining

E - Living area

F - Entry

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loss of ecologically essential green space, it also helps address a shortage of affordable housing and create more livable, vibrant communities. The personal challenge for Chapman was how to legally build a multifamily home in a neighbourhood zoned for single-family dwellings.

He decided to incorporate roughed-in plumbing and electricals hidden in the walls as well as other architectural features that would make for an easy future conversion from single- to multi-family home. Though not visible, these forward-thinking features are an important up-front investment.

“The main floor, with our kitchen, living room, dining room, washroom and office, is set up to become a self-contained, twobedroom suite with the addition of a few walls,” Chapman explains. “And the top floor, with three bedrooms and two bathrooms, is also designed to become a self-contained, twobedroom suite with the removal of one wall and addition of kitchen cabinets.”

From a design perspective, he was also thinking multi-generational, with an eye to one of the suites someday becoming a home for an older parent or two. Aging in place is part of a big-picture community piece that guided the house design.

TOP FLOOR

A - Bedroom 3

B - Hallway

C - 3-piece ensuite

D - Walk-in closet

E - Bedroom 1

F - Bedroom 2

G - 3-piece bath

In some ways, taking on the additional costs of facilitating future straightforward suite conversions was a design gamble. In other ways, it was an astute read of housing and policy trends. In November 2023, well after Chapman had broken ground on the Oak Bay home, the provincial government passed Bill 44.

As part of the “Homes for People” plan, the new legislation “requires local governments to update their zoning regulations to permit small-scale multi-unit housing (SSMUH) by June 30, 2024.”

Like a lot of municipalities, Oak Bay is now in the process of developing zoning bylaws to align with this provincial directive.

CONSULTING OUTSIDE EXPERTS

The house has other less obvious, but thoughtful features. For example, the ridgeline of the roof is off centre line and shifted north to make room for another row of solar panels. As Chapman says, “Small design change, big impact.”

Andrew Chapman relaxes in his living room, where extra-thick walls maximize heating and cooling efficiency and large, energyefficient windows drench the space in natural light while also harnessing passive solar heat.

He also implemented lessons learned from his previous builds, such as the time he opted for a spray-in foam insulation as part of a passive house project. It sounded good on paper — and then Chapman learned that the blowing agents used for foam insulation are a greenhouse gas that’s a thousand times more potent than carbon dioxide. It would take literally centuries for the house to pay back its carbon debt in the form of heating and cooling energy savings. In practical terms, it was a green wash.

Aging in place was a key consideration of the home’s design.

Walk-in showers, for instance, not only maximize the use of space, but are accessible for family members from young to old, even those with mobility issues. Plumbing fixtures are from Valley Acrylic, Hansgrohe and Duravit.

Natural light fills the stairwell, which creates a perfect showcase for a painting by local artist Martin Osberg. Simple white walls and natural materials make the space both of the moment and timeless.

This time he chose a type of insulation made from recycled paper. “It’s essentially atmospheric carbon, captured by photosynthesis, recycled and then locked into a building,” Chapman says.

By this time, Chapman was well down the road of infinite design decisions.

He’s modest enough to admit that, even for a professional builder, there’s always more to learn, especially in green construction. Getting another set of eyes on the project was important for Chapman. Thanks to connections with faculty at Royal Roads University, he was able to enlist a team of graduate students to do an environmental performance audit of his house.

As a class project on sustainability, it was a fascinating audit with some important takeaways. One group of students that examined his solar panels learned that they were manufactured using energy from a coal-fired power plant. That was a big strike. Another group discovered that the coolant for his heat pump contained potent greenhouse gases. It was another strike.

“Had I known, I would have bought a different brand of solar panels and sourced a different heat pump,” Chapman says. “It’s kind of exciting to have room to improve.”

When he set out on this journey two years ago, Chapman knew there would be ways he could have set the sustainability bar even higher. Still, he’s happy with the result.

“We nailed our budget and even came in a bit below it,” Chapman says. “The savings were in the pre-planning.”

Above: This diagram illustrates the placement of solar panels on the roof; small design changes, like shifting the ridgeline slightly, allowed Chapman to add enough panels to power the house and one electric vehicle.

Left: Every component of this net-zero home was thought through carefully. The foundation is clad in concrete-faced insulation. The first and second floors are sided with both salvaged cedar shingles and Richlite, a siding product made from recycled paper. The home also has a solar system to generate electricity, as well as a rainwater capture and storage system for its irrigation needs.

RESOURCES

General contractor: Chapman Building

Architect: BoForm

Structural engineer: Farhill Engineering

Windows: Schüco

Concrete: Butler Concrete & Aggregate

Building enclosure: Cascade Aqua-tech installation by Chapman Building

Insulation: Alpine Insulation

Metal roofing: Top Line Roofing

Rainwater capture: Canwest Tanks installation by Chapman Building

Photovoltaic installation: Oceanvolt Solar & EV

Electrical and EV: Stand Sure Electric

HVAC: Island Energy

Plumbing: Call In the Plumber

Plumbing fixtures: Valley Acrylic, Hansgrohe, Duravit

Millwork: StoneWood Joinery

Glass and railings: Royal Oak Glass

Appliances: Bosch, Miele, Sub-Zero by West Coast Appliances

Exterior shingles: Salvaged by Riverside Mills

Exterior panels: Ritchlite: Sustainable Materials

Tile, flooring and interior finishing: Chapman Building

Countertop and backsplash: Stone Age Marble

Lighting: West Elm

Artwork: Martin Osberg

Renovate or Rebuild?

HOW THREE HOMEOWNERS TACKLED THE QUESTION OF WHETHER TO PRESERVE THEIR OLDER HOME — OR START ALL OVER.

BY CARLA SORRELL

ON WEEKENDS , you’ll find Melanie Ransome at the table saw, building a picnic table, stacking rock walls, even drywalling or, more likely, painting some part of her home a beautiful shade of Farrow & Ball paint. But it took a while to get there. When her husband, Bill Farrant, sent her the listing for their current home, she wasn’t initially sold. As first-time home buyers, they were looking for a property that “made us feel good,” but not specifically an older home. The 1890s farmhouse had plenty of charm, but needed a lot of work. It was the quarter-acre lot it sat on, sided by municipally protected land, that spoke to them. And the outbuildings.

This page and previous: Melanie Ransome is happy to put in the time working on the turn-ofthe-century home she owns with her husband Bill Farrant, whether that means cutting wood or building rock walls.

“The thing that really hit it off for me was that there was a cabin in the back, a space outside that we could use — personally for working, because I work from home, and also for music,” says Farrant who, among other professional pursuits, is a musician with the experimental jazz band Astrocolor.

Adds Ransome: “The house looked super quirky and had a lot to sort out, but that was something that really drew us to the place, as well as knowing that we could kind of put our mark on it and make it our own.”

“THE HOUSE LOOKED SUPER QUIRKY AND HAD A LOT TO SORT OUT, BUT THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT REALLY DREW US TO THE PLACE.”

You can’t replicate the quality or charm of a turn-of-the-century home, and for a lot of buyers newer homes don’t have much flair to work with. The downside of older homes is their smaller size, compartmentalized rooms, minimal bathrooms and poor temperature regulation thanks to single-pane glass or inefficient heating.

That’s when new owners like Ransome and Farrant have to face the question: Should they renovate or rebuild?

A cabin on the property was transformed into a space where Bill Farrant could work and create music.

Below: The couple’s 1890s farmhouse has vintage details that can’t be found on new builds.

JEFFREY BOSDET/SPRUCE MAGAZINE

When a Reno Preserves Charm

“The disadvantage of older homes is that you have to work within their design,” says music teacher Byron Lienard-Boisjoli, who in 2014 with his wife and fellow teacher Isadora, bought an older home in Fernwood, an area they love for its proximity to downtown and local beaches. “Our home wasn’t designed with a basement that had a family room and a rec room and an extra bedroom,” he says. “So it’s a matter of getting creative with the space or spaces that are there.”

Like Farrant and Ransome, the LienardBoisjolis were drawn to the charm of the circa-1908 home, and specifically to the potential of a large, enclosed garage with windows overlooking the garden and a woodburning stove. The previous owners had used it as a workshop, but the Lienard-Boisjolis could envision something more exciting for the space.

“It’s always that balance of what we can do ourselves to make it affordable but also our own,” says Isadora Lienard-Boisjoli.

The appeal of what’s possible is the hook for many homeowners. And, realistically, that transformation — making the home your own —

will take some time. The Lienard-Boisjolis lived in their home for six years before renovating the garage into a “breakaway space” that their growing children can use to entertain friends or where their family can kick back for movie nights.

For Farrant and Ransome, incremental “Band-Aid” improvements have characterized their approach.

“I was having a hard time seeing how to achieve our dream home with the amount of work that would need to be done,” says Ransome. But with the help of her dad and the right tools, she has built the skills and confidence required to undertake many renovations on her own. It’s a complementary hobby to her day job where, as director of marketing and communications at Aryze Developments, she shares updates of her progress and borrows tools from her colleagues. In fact, the love affair with her home’s potential compelled her to create the Instagram account @restoringastoria.

This year the couple saved to add a front porch and hired S.M.S Painting to overhaul the house, a job that was a little too big for

For Byron and Isadora Lienard-Boisjoli, finding more space in their 1908 Fernwood home meant getting creative with an outbuilding formerly used as a garage.

Ransome to take on herself. And despite their “to-do” list, the priorities have sometimes presented themselves. Soon after moving in, Farrant fell through the back porch.

“Older homes do that,” says Ransome. “They make you decide what’s next. It’s not always about your vision and your dreams.”

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When a New Build is Easier

For homeowner Laurie Abel, the restrictions of her older James Bay home determined a more drastic future for itself. In 2022, three years after buying the property, she ended up building a new home on the lot.

That wasn’t her initial intention. Moving into the property with her aging mother, Abel had planned to renovate and create a multigenerational home while restoring original, historical features. But consultants thought otherwise. They cautioned her about how difficult it would be to get the home back to its original state, thanks to damage caused by previous owners.

“A lot of the designers or architects were suggesting that what I wanted to do might be easier in a new build,” says Abel.

The idea was seeded early on, but it wasn’t until her application for a minor variance was

“I WANTED TO BUILD A HOUSE THAT I WANTED … IT SEEMED UPSIDE DOWN, THE PROCESS.”

Laurie Abel originally planned to renovate her James Bay home, but the challenges of repairing old damage and meeting new restrictions made it easier to tear it down and start from scratch.

turned down, with her neighbours citing concerns, that she realized the best route for her and her mom would be to build a new home.

“I didn’t want to spend the kind of money I was spending to build a house that my neighbours wanted,” says Abel, who found that the process left her with less and less control over her vision for the renovation. “I wanted to build a house that I wanted … It seemed upside down, the process.”

The only requirement of a new build is to meet the city’s codes and get planning approval for the new design. In the case of many older homes, the ease of the process leads to homeowners like Abel choosing to rebuild. It’s a much more direct and straightforward process, she notes. Within about half a year of having her request for variance turned down, Abel was breaking ground on a house designed to fully meet her needs.

Working with Flintstones Design & Build, Abel ended up with the home she wanted. A flight of eight stairs was replaced with two, and her mom’s bedroom was positioned at the front of the home on a level, ground floor with a curbless shower and wide hallways and doorways for ease of mobility.

The new design wasn’t just functional. Abel was also able to weave in references to her time spent living in New Zealand and Bermuda: A half-moon “eyebrow” awning covers her front door, a characteristic Bermudan feature that protects the entrance from the rain and allows inhabitants to leave the windows open to the air in a rainstorm. To enjoy views over James Bay, she put a balcony on the back of the second floor instead of out front.

“We were able to accomplish what we wanted with the renovation, but we went far beyond that,” says Abel.

Time Versus Money

Rebuilding comes at a cost. Abel’s rebuild, for instance, came in at three times the price of the proposed renovation.

“This is not what I was financially ready to do, but it became the best decision for the two of us,” she says. “When you’re closing in on 60 and 100, it’s better to just get it done. Youth has time and energy, where you don’t have it at the other end of life.”

For Ransome and Farrant, sweat equity has been a big part of their annual renovation “budget.”

“We have a wish list of things we want to do,” says Ransome. “Some of them, we are going to do ourselves because we want to, but also because it’ll be cheaper to do so. And then we have some bigger things down the road that we’re going to plan for.”

Even if money was no object, neither of the younger couples would rebuild their homes. But a second bathroom would be a high priority as would the potential to explore unused spaces like the cabin loft for Farrant and Ransome or, for Isadora and Byron, the attic.

When it comes to next steps with an older home, there is no right answer. For most, decisions come down to a balance between values, lifestyle and budget. The only certainty is that there will be work to undertake, some of which will clearly present itself with little choice for the homeowner, while some of it will be in the personal touches that make it a home.

One major benefit of a new build is that it mostly alleviates the burden of ongoing work. With an older home and creative homeowners, there is always something that needs to be done.

JEFFREY BOSDET/SPRUCE MAGAZINE

Undecided?

In general, remodelling is less expensive than rebuilding, but there comes a tipping point when the amount of work needed outweighs any possible savings. Ultimately, whether you renovate or rebuild is your own personal decision, but these tips may help you decide which is right for you.

Renovate if:

• You plan to live in your home for 10 years or less.

• You have a limited budget and/or prefer to spread it out over a longer period of time.

• You have to keep living in the home during construction.

• The foundation and structure are in good shape.

• The renovation is relatively small

Rebuild if:

• You plan to live in your home for 10 years or more.

• You have the budget to spend a lot of money in a short amount of time, and to commit to the cost of the rebuild.

• You can live elsewhere during construction.

• The foundation and/or structure is beyond repair or not strong enough to support the planned work.

• You need a substantial amount of new space that would require major construction work, such as jacking up the house or building a second storey.

Rebuilds in your neighbourhood are selling for substantially more than older homes.

Zoning and permitting in your neighbourhood favour rebuilds rather than remodels. The quality of your home is simply too costly to repair; for instance, if your home has undergone several renovations that may need to be brought up to current building codes. The layout of the home you want is vastly different from the one you have.

Chalet Chic

MAKE EVERY DAY AN APRÈS DAY WITH ALPINE-INSPIRED DÉCOR.

There are two ways to handle winter: escape it or embrace it. The best way to embrace it is by heading to the snow-covered hills for a little ski-and-après vacation. But even if a jaunt to Whistler or Chamonix isn’t on the itinerary, you can still infuse your home with alpine chalet décor.

Chalet chic is not kitschy; rather, it is a fine balance of rustic and elegant design that captures the essence of mountain living. It features natural materials, earthy hues, cozy textures and an inviting vibe. And, OK, sure, maybe it’s a little kitschy as well.

Start by incorporating wood, stone

and other natural materials in furniture, flooring, exposed beams, walls or fireplaces and chimneys. In fact, the fireplace is the centrepiece of any true alpine getaway — rustic river stone is classic, but even a pot-bellied stove captures the vibe you’re going for.

Furniture should be rustic, sturdy and comfortable, ideally handcrafted from reclaimed wood or comfily overstuffed and upholstered in leather and/or textured fabrics.

Then add the colours of the wild mountain landscape — warm browns, deep greens, earthy greys, gold, blue. Layer on the cozy textiles, wool, faux fur and chunky knits, and

pile on the pillows and throws. Offer a nod to tradition with plaids, checks, Alpine prints and, of course, the Canadiana classic HBC point blanket.

Add a few vintage accessories such as wooden skis, snowshoes, antler décor and mountain-themed artwork. But keep it tasteful by limiting yourself to just a few pieces. Dot some flameless candles or warmly glowing lights around. Don’t forget to stock up on glassware and serveware for your après parties.

Then escape to the mountains, even if it’s just in your dreams.

Rustic Furniture

There’s no better way to create that rustic vibe than with a few pieces of rugged furniture. Think: a big, cushy leather armchair; live-edge long table for merry dinners; and a bookcase or cabinet made from reclaimed wood. One option is the Ironside dining table from Vancouver’s Muse & Merchant, which has a rugged oak top, with charming natural flaws, and sturdy iron frame and legs. museandmerchant.com

Vintage Skis

Nothing says alpine getaway like a pair of vintage wooden skis criss-crossed over the fireplace. While you might not be able to find actual vintage skis all that easily — though you can certainly try eBay and other resale sites — you can always hang a piece of vintage ski wall art like this painting from Etsy instead. etsy.ca

Cozy Throws

Pile on the warm blankets as you gather round the fire, swapping stories and sharing memories. The Canadian cabin classic is, of course, the heavy wool HBC point blanket with its distinctive green, red, yellow and indigo stripes; for a more modern and functional take, check out the down-filled cabin throw, guaranteed to keep you toasty on all but the chilliest nights. thebay.com

Antler Chandelier

Nothing says mountain hideaway like a chandelier or sconce made of antlers, real or faux. Deer, moose and other ungulates shed their antlers naturally so no animals are injured in the making of these rustic décor items; you can find the stunning chandeliers and sconces by Winnipegbased CDN Antler in some of North America’s most famous mountain lodges. cdnantler.com

An Alpine Guide

If you need inspiration, the new book Alpine Style: Bringing Mountain Magic Home by Kathryn O’SheaEvans (Gibbs Smith) has plenty of it. It’s the definitive designer guide to creating a mountain-inspired home, and is simply packed with gorgeous photos of alpine interiors and enchanting mountain lodges around the world. Perfect for cozying up with a cup of cocoa in front of the chicly rustic fireplace.

GARDENS

BY CAROLYN CAMILLERI

PLANNING and PRUNING

Who says there’s nothing to do in the garden in winter?

It’s time to prep for next year.

Oh, winter, the bleakest gardening season of the year. Or is it? Even if you aren’t into winter veggie growing, you can still be actively gardening and enjoying the results of your efforts.

While winter may not be the best season to pour new concrete, build rock walls or plant trees, it is the ideal time of year to make plans, especially if you want expert design guidance. It’s also the best time for pruning

Here’s what to tackle over the next few months.

SHARPEN THOSE SECATEURS!

Linda Petite, head gardener at the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific, says home gardeners without pruning experience tend to fall into one of two categories.

“People are honestly afraid to prune. They’re afraid they’re going to kill the tree,” she says. “Then there are others who will chop something down to nothing and don’t care if it comes back.”

Learning to prune starts with a basic understanding of why it is important.

“Pruning keeps trees healthy, encourages new growth and helps control size,” says Petite.

Deciduous trees — you know, the ones that lose their leaves — should be pruned in the winter when dormant, which means the tree is alive, but not actively growing. Because the leaves are gone, it is also easier to see the structure of the tree and which branches to cut.

Start by cutting out what Petite calls the three Ds: dead, diseased and damaged branches. Then you can thin out some of the branches, removing branches that cross over each other or seem to be growing in a different direction. Thinning increases air flow and allows more light.

Fruit trees are a bit special. Even though fruit trees are deciduous, some careful pruning can happen in the summer, but they are normally pruned again in the dormant season when you can see the tree’s framework.

For very large trees, any trees near utility lines and protected trees such as Garry oaks, an arborist must be called in.

Shrubs need to be pruned in the same way as trees — the three Ds and thinning — with some exceptions.

“Pruning shrubs in the winter promotes new growth, but remember to prune spring-flowering shrubs after blooming — they form their flower buds on old wood,” says Petite. “Coppicing is a technique where a shrub is cut to ground level in early spring to encourage new growth from the base, a great way to rejuvenate and renovate overgrown shrubs.”

PRO TIP

Start by cutting out the three Ds: dead, diseased and damaged branches.

“PRUNING SHRUBS IN THE WINTER PROMOTES NEW GROWTH, BUT REMEMBER TO PRUNE SPRING-FLOWERING SHRUBS AFTER BLOOMING — THEY FORM THEIR FLOWER BUDS ON OLD WOOD.”

Linda Petite, Horticulture Centre of the Pacific

that you can’t possibly do properly or safely,” says Petite.

HCP offers basic and advanced pruning courses for homeowners, as well as a section on fruit trees.

Pro tip from Petite: Whether you are using a pruning saw, secateurs or pole pruner, it has to be sharp, otherwise you risk tearing the bark. “Where you leave that raggedy edge of bark, that’s where you can have an issue with diseases and insects entering the tree,” she says.

GET OUT THE GRAPH PAPER

Victoria landscape designer Mary Haggerty recalls an autumn trip to Versailles, France.

“There weren’t any flowers,” she says. “All you saw were the beds and the pathways. You could see the outline, the bones, the skeleton, and it was a really good opportunity to see it without all that other stuff to distract you. In the winter here, we can do the same thing with our garden and get a good look at it.”

Depending on your level of experience, you may wish to hire a professional horticulturist to identify your trees and shrubs as well as guide your pruning.

“Don’t tackle something

If you’re even a little bit artistically inclined, draw out the space on graph paper, with each square representing a measurement — a foot or six inches, depending on the scale of your yard. Then map in what you have, even without plant names.

“This is a high plant, this is a low plant, this is high yellow or this is low purple,” she says. “It doesn’t have to be meticulous — it can just be areas to get a sense of

A Festive Touch of Elegance

how the heights are working together, how the colours are working together.”

If you want to introduce some height to a section, try sketching in a raised planter and consider the texture, the colour and the plant height you might like there. If you want more height, perhaps a simple obelisk on which to grow vines. Then mark in plants you want so that next winter looks nicer.

“Ornamental grasses are always good because you don’t cut them down in the fall — you cut them down in the spring — so you’ve got nice plumes in winter and different heights, and there are quite a few varieties of ornamental grasses that stay all winter,” she says, adding that anything with coloured bark, like dogwoods or Japanese maples, brightens up a January perspective.

Does your garden have a focal point or do you want to add one? Maybe a pergola or a seating area or something else?

“I’m a big fan of water features,” says Haggerty, noting that simple “plug and play” options with LED lights look fantastic in the winter.

You may decide you want to add a new garden bed, alter existing beds or add a pathway. A well-placed pathway can completely transform a yard, especially when it meanders invitingly to a patio or garden that is a bit hidden by foliage or is tucked around a corner.

Plan before you dig. “Lay down the garden hose or a piece of rope, something flexible, then you can move it one way or the other until you get what is pleasing to your eye,” says Haggerty.

Top tip from Haggerty: Gather photos of gardens you love for a storyboard or folder and discuss with other members of your household before big decisions are made.

And remember — a little work over these chilly days means a garden filled with beautiful plants for the rest of the year.

Red twig dogwoods offer a splash of colour on even the greyest day.

Add Some Winter Colour

Well-placed, well-chosen planters add colour and beauty in any season. In the winter, Jen Lasko, owner of Modpots, brings brightness with lighter coloured plants.

“I’ll choose lemony green grasses that are lighter in colour. I’ll choose lemon cypress or lemon cedars that are yellowy green,” she says. “The winter heathers are nice and when you pop them in with a bunch of other things, they are a nice way to bring in purples and mauves and pink shades — and they come in white as well.”

But first, you need a planter made to handle cold temperatures — and size matters. On a patio, aim for at least

ON A PATIO, AIM FOR A PLANTER THAT’S AT LEAST TWO FEET WIDE AND TWO FEET TALL, THEN CHOOSE PLANTS THAT WILL ADD AT LEAST TWO MORE FEET IN HEIGHT.

Look for cold-proof planters like this Textured Radius Ficonstone one from West Elm.

two feet wide and two feet tall, then choose plants that will add at least two more feet in height.

“You don’t want to look down at your feet to look at a garden,” says Lasko. “When I design a patio space, I always make sure that there are at least a couple of pots that will be eye level.”

Then choose your anchor or base plant — for example, a Japanese holly — and surround it with heathers and maybe winter pansies or a creeping jenny.

Always use planter feet so rain drains out and doesn’t puddle and freeze in the pot. If you are placing the pots on soil, Lasko recommends resting them on pea gravel to further aid drainage.

Another tip from Lasko: Add some mood lighting to

FIERA DI MIIANO

REAL ESTATE

BY SHANNON MONEO

RETURN OF THE OPEN HOUSE

For potential home buyers, nothing beats the experience of walking through a space in person.

When it comes to selling a home, several factors are out of the vendor’s control: mortgage rates, the economy, competing homes for sale. But the seller has latitude over one vital aspect: how their valuable asset is marketed. One potent tool is the open house.

“Open houses have always held a prominent place. People expect them, ” says Brenda Jackman, a Realtor at Coldwell Banker’s Oceanside office. Buying a home is a very emotional — and costly — transaction, she says, and open houses will always be part of the deal.

Having worked almost 29 years in the Greater Victoria market, Jackman has weathered the cycles. In the area’s fall market, she estimates 80 per cent of for-sale properties include open houses. The typical playbook is that when a listing hits the market on a Friday, it’s followed by a Saturday or Sunday open house.

During the pandemic, open houses disappeared during the roughly six-month

lockdown. That evolved into homes being shown via appointment only, but now the open door has reappeared. “Open houses have returned in full force. They’re back at pre-COVID levels,” Jackman notes.

Pre-pandemic, real estate agents used digital media to varying degrees, but during COVID-19 online marketing was burnished to a high degree, with drone footage and Matterport 3D imaging supplanting in-person viewing. And there’s no going back.

Yet, while photos and moving images are beneficial and effective, it’s at an open house that a buyer truly gets a sense of the property, Jackman says. We all know how lighting, camera angles and camera lenses can distort an image. Who hasn’t been fooled by an Airbnb site?

When Jackman hosts an open house, she encourages attendees to take their time and walk around the home. “They can absorb what the house has to offer,” she says.

Being able to leisurely, and anonymously,

view a home is worth the time. But virtual home tours can be a starting point, says Laurie Lidstone, the 2024 chair of the Victoria Real Estate Board.

Online scrutiny allows buyers to investigate and research before they enter an open house, says Lidstone, who is also a Realtor with RE/MAX Camosun. Once they find something they like, would-be buyers have two options. “If they’re a real serious buyer, chances are pretty good they’ll make an appointment to have a oneon-one viewing,” says Lidstone. “It’s a lot more efficient to view two or three properties and not wait for an open house. A house could sell. Serious buyers do home tours.”

For Shayne Fedosenko, a Realtor with Maxxam Realty, once the photos, floor plans, writeup and digital footage have been released and the price has been set, the open house becomes not only a meet-and-greet opportunity, but a chance to push a buyer’s hand.

Fedosenko says if would-be buyers have keen interest in a home and then are aware of an upcoming open house, they may make an offer, worried that an open house will generate additional offers from new views. With thousands of open houses hosted in his 35-year career, Fedosenko still often does three to six on a weekend alone. “I do a lot of business at open houses,” he says.

But he’s learned one cardinal rule.

“I never do open houses on long weekends,” he says, after he hosted around 50 very lonely open doors. Sellers will ask for them, but people are instead focused on travel or R&R, not Q&As at a for-sale home.

When Fedosenko works an open house, the benefits accrue, particularly in a business where word-of-mouth advertising is widespread. “I will pick up clients at an open house,” he says. The ability to interact with attendees and share expertise, in a low-pressure setting, is valuable. “When people show up, I just let them go explore,” he says. At times, visitors will point out items that require fixing or attention, information that Fedosenko will relay to the owners.

Yet there are cases where an open house isn’t a good idea. “I’d never sit and do an open house in Shawnigan, on the water, in December or on a rainy day in Sooke on the waterfront,” Lidstone says. With over 40 years of selling experience in Greater Victoria, Lidstone knows that during summer, on certain properties, an open house is a solitary pursuit.

In large, high-end homes, two real estate agents will often be present to keep track of attendees. Some lavish properties, which may contain valuable artwork, may opt for by-invitation-only open houses.

Then there are the inevitable “lookie-loos” whose curiosity and spare time spur them to tour a neighbourhood home. But even lookie-loos can provide value, Lidstone says. During a conversation with a friend, they may recommend the for-sale home they scoped out on the weekend.

The tried-and-true open house, in existence since the mid-1910s, has endured. Hosting an open house is a small two-hour commitment, Lidstone says, noting: “It’s an opportunity to showcase a client’s home. I never say it’s a waste of time.”

HOW TO HOST A (NOT TOO) OPEN HOUSE

Before welcoming potential buyers into your home, Realtors Brenda Jackman and Laurie Lidstone advise you to follow these tips:

• Ensure your home is sparkling clean, including windows.

• Ditch the shoes, coats, hats and any other clutter at the front door.

• Clear countertops, tidy up any other clutter and either remove or tuck the kitty litter box away.

• Take out the garbage, including recyclables and compostables.

• Tidy the garden and yard, especially around the home’s entrance.

• Make it smell nice, but don’t go crazy with chemical-based

scents; instead opt for fresh air or natural air fresheners.

• Have real flowers on display.

• Ensure there’s lots of light; open the curtains and/or turn on the lights.

• Put away any items you don’t want the public to see, including personal mail, prescription drugs and certain pieces of art, photos, magazines or books.

• Secure valuables; don’t leave jewelry or cash in plain view.

• Have a sign-in sheet so viewers are accounted for.

CIBC WOOD GUNDY

AT THE TABLE

BY JOANNE SASVARI

Is there a more celebratory pairing than oysters and sparkling wine? Jess Taylor sure doesn’t think so.

“Oysters and bubbles are old friends. They balance each other’s best traits,” says the owner of Shuck Taylor’s oyster bar and the Wandering Mollusk. “You have that ceremony when you pop the cork. It just gets everyone’s attention.”

Celebration on the Half Shell

Winter is the best time to enjoy oysters — especially with bubbles.

Winter, as it turns out, is the very best time of year for oysters, especially enjoyed raw on the half shell at happy hours and festive gatherings. Indeed, in France and many other parts of the world, oysters are pretty much synonymous with New Year’s celebrations, and that’s one tradition we can get behind.

It’s not so much that oysters are safer to eat in winter — modern refrigeration and farming means they can be consumed year round. (That said, any uncooked seafood always carries some risk.) It’s more that oysters tend to be firmer and fatter in winter.

“It all comes down to texture,” Taylor says. “You want oysters crisp and you want oysters clean.”

If you plan to serve oysters at home this season, you can either shuck them yourself or have them catered and shucked for you. If you do it yourself, Taylor recommends selecting your oysters from live tanks at seafood markets such as Finest at Sea. “You want to keep them in their habitat as long as possible,” he says, adding that keeping them cold “is everything.”

“IT ALL COMES DOWN TO TEXTURE.”

He also recommends serving oysters with something acidic, such as lemon wedges, vinegary mignonette sauce, tangy hot sauce or a crisp white wine, especially a fizzy one. Acidity, he points out, balances brininess and lets the sweetness shine.

Then slurp and sip with abandon.

“There’s an anticipation, a ceremony [to serving oysters],” he says. “It’s a very community, family-style way of eating. There’s something very soulful about it. It brings people together. It’s why having an oyster bar is so fun.”

At Shuck Taylor’s, owner Jess Taylor presents half a dozen oysters on the half-shell, along with their ideal accoutrements.

Gear for Your Oyster and Bubbles Party

Champagne Coupe Forget the flute — it’s awkward to drink out of and doesn’t enhance the flavour of the wine. Instead, serve your bubbles in a white wine glass (like they do in Champagne) or a vintage-style coupe like this elegant one by Waterford. waterford.com/en-ca

Oyster Knife and Gloves If you plan to shuck your own oysters, you’ll need the right tools, starting with a proper knife and protective glove. You can’t go wrong with the gear designed for “Shucker Paddy” McMurray, Canada’s shucking champion and Guinness world record holder. shuckerpaddy.ca

Oysters But maybe you don’t want to shuck your own oysters. We get it, and so do the folks at the Wandering Mollusk. They can provide pre-shucked oysters, on ice and with all the accoutrements, in sizes ranging from the Skipper’s Platter (30 oysters, $97.30) to the Captain’s Platter (100 oysters, $325). wanderingmollusk.com

Seafood Tower When serving shellfish, it’s essential to keep it as cold as possible, which means you need a platter that can hold lots of ice. But while many oyster platters are functional, few are beautiful. This one from Crate & Barrel is, and its two tiers let you double the drama. crateandbarrel.ca

Dishy Towels Kitchen towels are essential; why not make them beautiful, too? These super-absorbent but quick-drying Turkish cotton and linen towels from Tofino Towel actually make mopping up spills a pleasure. tofinotowelco.com

THREE TO TRY

Looking for bubbles to go with your bivalves? Choose something dry, high in acid and with a lively mousse to add a contrasting texture. We like the brioche notes of brut Champagnes, but will always reach for B.C. wines like these ones first.

1 Blue Grouse Charme de L’Île

One of the Cowichan Valley’s oldest wineries is among the most recent to produce the Island’s signature Prosecco-style fizz. Made from German-style grapes, it’s fresh and crisp, with flavours of citrus, green apple and white peach, and vibrant bubbles.

2 Hester Creek Old Vine Brut 2021

There is so much great sparkling made in the Okanagan these days, it’s hard to pick just one. But we love this traditional method brut made from 50-plus-year-old Pinot Blanc vines. It has lovely lemon zest, stone fruit and brioche notes, with good acidity and a fine, creamy mousse.

3 Blue Mountain Brut Rosé 2020

This OK Falls winery was among the first in B.C. to produce sparkling wine and is still among the best. This gorgeous traditional method rosé (70 per cent Pinot Noir, 30 per cent Chardonnay), has delicate wild strawberry and zesty lemon flavours and fine, persistent bubbles.

Wandering Mollusk platters include mignonette, pickled pepper hot sauce, lemons and fresh horseradish.

AT HOME WITH

BY CARLA SORRELL

Sonnen Sloan and Ross Chandler

For this designer couple, every space in their home has been designed for a different kind of connection, feeling and use. But one space stands out. Architect Sonnen Sloan, principal of Fold Architects, and graphic designer Ross Chandler, principal of Becoming Design Office, talk about their current favourite retreat and how they created it.

What is your favourite space in your house?

Sloan: My favourite place currently is what I call our wing. It’s like a sanctuary, away from the rest of the house. It’s away from the kids; it’s quiet, it’s calm, it’s got soft, northfacing lighting.

How did you design the wing?

Chandler: We basically turned a bedroom into a bathroom and connected it through an old bathroom to make a “parent room.” You walk into our room, which is the only door, and then through the old bathroom, which is now our walk-through closet, to another old bedroom that is now our ensuite. So it’s a bedroom-size bathroom, which is really nice.

Sloan: Because it’s an old house — it’s a 1930s site — the floors were so sloped that we could not get a square doorway to look good. As a result, we ended up putting in these two arches. Not only does it frame the progression into the bathroom, which I love because I can sit in one room and get this real sense of space, but it was a happy accident that it has turned into one of my favourite parts of the house.

How do you experience it?

Sloan: It’s a place to get away. It’s the only space in the house that I would consider our space. The rest of the house is really our family’s zone. There’s kids stuff everywhere. We’ve got a chalkboard wall, a big art desk for the kids and a climbing wall. I feel like I don’t have to make it work for anyone but us. And even though it’s not really “‘done” in my view, it still makes me feel happy to go in there.

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