YAM magazine September/October 2017

ISSUE 51 SEP/OCT 2017

yammagazine.com

STYLE ISSUE

VICTORIA’S LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

ARTFUL LIVING, BY DESIGN SEASON OF LUXURIOUS LAYERS RESTORING AN ART DECO-ERA BEAUTY THE SECRETS TO AUTHENTIC PERSONAL STYLE FRENCH-INSPIRED DESIGN

THE WAIT IS OVER Alfa Romeo Stelvio. Now available.

Test drive yours today.

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CONTENTS

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SEASON OF MISTS AND MELLOW Luxe statement sweaters and accessories with a retro handmade feel are making a comeback for the fall season.

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ARTFUL LIVING,

BY DESIGN

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SURFACES WITH STYLE

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BORROWED FROM THE FRENCH

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THE AUTHENTICS

YAM visits one of Victoria’s most artful homes, purposefully renovated to showcase the owners’ impressive collection.

A fascinating look at the coffee table — that ubiquitous workhorse of the living room and a relatively new addition to the décor landscape.

Get inspired by the understyled elegance of the French, which plays surprisingly well here on the West Coast.

These local tastemakers offer proof that the secrets to great personal style are confidence, exploration and embracing your individuality.

BY KATE CINO

BY MELISSA GIGNAC

BY DANIELLE POPE

BY ATHENA McKENZIE

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YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2017

bestyou This season let the

shine through

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IN EVERY ISSUE FEELING ELEGANT AND RELAXED ...

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EDITOR’S NOTE

11 YAM CONFIDENTIAL Our Shop & Style Giveaway with Mayfair Shopping Centre, plus a Victoria musician makes his Carnegie Hall debut

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15 H ERE & NOW

Marble must-haves, local fashion finds, natureinspired art and colourful B.C.-made furniture, plus fall style tips from our fashion editor

22 FOOD & DRINK

The wisdom of “reducetarianism” — or how our food writer learned to love the lentil.

ON THE COVER

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By Cinda Chavich

30 GREAT SPACE

Colour blocking is the perfect way to dress up any room

By Kerry Slavens

32 HOME & LIFESTYLE A savvy reno restores the original beauty of this stunning 1928 home

By Danielle Pope

78 STYLE WATCH

Season of luxurious layers

available at Barbara’s Boutique

Copyright © 2015 Joseph Ribkoff Inc. All rights reserved. Any reproduction and/or use of the Joseph Ribkoff logo for commercial or promotional purposes is forbidden without the written authorization of Joseph Ribkoff Inc.

Barbara’s Boutique 2392 Beacon Avenue, Sidney 250 655 0372

Baden-Baden Boutique 2485 Beacon Avenue, Sidney 250 655 7118

www.badenbadenboutiques.com www.facebook.com/badenbadenboutiques

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YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2017

By Janine Metcalfe

84 SCENE

YAM talks to artist and jazz musician Noah Becker — and tours the Design District with Iván Meade

By David Lennam and Danielle Pope

90 DO TELL

A Proust-style interview with designer Ines Hanl

By Kerry Slavens

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The Comfort Sleeper The Comfort Sleeper The Sleeper No Bars | NoComfort Springs | No Sagging | 15 Styles

No Bars | No Springs | No Sagging | 15 Styles No Bars | No Springs | No Sagging

1802 GOVERNMENT ST. | 250.386.3841 | SAGERS.CA | MON-SAT 9:30-5:30

1802 GOVERNMENT ST. | 250.386.3841 | SAGERS.CA | MON-SAT 9:30-5:30 1802 GOVERNMENT ST. | 250.386.3841 | SAGERS.CA | MON-SAT 9:30-5:30

THE STYLE CHALLENGE: BE MORE WITH LESS

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File Name: YAM-3rd-2.39x9.58-VW-2017.indd Trim: 2.39” (w) x 9.58” (h) (Exported in horizontal layout to be flipped to vertical position in magazine) Bleed: 0.125” x 0.125” Live: N/A Colours: 4C Studio: NF Notes: No crop marks for YAM Magazine exports.

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s we go to press with our Style Issue, I just discovered blogger Courtney Carver of bemorewithless.com is coming to town to talk about Project 333, her minimalist fashion challenge that invites you to dress with only 33 items or less for three months.

I’ve been thinking for a while about trying Carver’s challenge because my closet really has become an overflowing mishmash. At least two personalities live in there, fighting for dominance. The minimalist me, who likes simple lines and lots of black and neutrals, wars with my inner bohemian who craves earthy patterns and sweeping silhouettes. These two personalities don’t just battle in my closet — they fight in other areas of my life as well.

There’s nothing wrong with having a few favourite styles Kerry Slavens, Editor-in-Chief (most people don’t fit perfectly into a single type), but I feel like my closet is a metaphor for my entire life — and my life is filled with competing desires that I want to resolve. The free-spirited me and the “I-mean-business” me need to meet and get along, and I see my wardrobe as the start.

REV.#

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Studio Revisions

BE MORE YOU Part of what I love about Carver’s approach is that she isn’t a fashion guru — just someone with a great sense of style who spent much of her adult life working too hard, feeling overwhelmed and under-inspired, sleeping too little and feeling stressed and sick. In 2006, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

“I always wanted more or thought I needed more to be happy,” Carver writes.

But, as she discovered, minimalism doesn’t mean scarcity. By launching Project 333, she found that getting rid of excess things actually Courtney Carver, Project 333 frees up “the space, time and love to remember who you are ...”

But even with such a compelling promise, many of us, myself included, feel trepidation at the thought of reducing our wardrobes to 33 items (thankfully, things like wedding rings, sleepwear and underwear don’t count!).

“Fear will tell you that you will never have enough,” Carver writes.

And mostly, that fear is just human nature in overdrive. While our ancestors once wisely stocked up for lean times out of need, today’s consumer culture focuses on want — and gives us access to fulfilling our shopping desires on a 24/7 basis.

The result is overflowing closets and the tyranny of too much choice.

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EDITOR’S NOTE

“Fear will tell you that you will never have enough.”

TINY WARDROBE INSPIRATION Courtney Carver’s Victoria stop on her Tiny Wardrobe Tour coincides perfectly with my imminent switchover from my summer to fall wardrobes. I’m already combing through my items, planning which things will go into storage for the grand experiment.

I really don’t know if I can live with just 33 items in my closet, but I can certainly live — and live better — with far less.

If anyone else is interested in taking up Courtney’s challenge, visit bemorewithless.com.

And do drop me a line; I’d love to hear about your experiences and ideas.

I’ll leave you with this thought from Carver’s blog: “Get clear on what matters by getting rid of everything that doesn’t.”

Stay tuned!

Email me at kslavens@pageonepublishing.ca facebook.com /YAMmagazine

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YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2017

twitter.com /YAMmagazine

@ yam_magazine

VICTORIA’S LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

PUBLISHERS Lise Gyorkos, Georgina Camilleri EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kerry Slavens

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Jeffrey Bosdet

PRODUCTION MANAGER Jennifer Kühtz

EDITORIAL DESIGNER Janice Hildybrant

DEPUTY EDITOR Athena McKenzie

PROOFREADER Vivian Sinclair CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER Jo-Ann Loro CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Cinda Chavich, Kate Cino, Melissa Gignac, David Lennam, Lana Lounsbury, Danielle Pope CONTRIBUTING FASHION EDITOR Janine Metcalfe

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Jeffrey Bosdet, Mackenzie Duncan, Jo-Ann Loro, Joshua Lawrence, Janis Nicolby

CONTRIBUTING AGENCIES ThinkStock p.11, 29 Living4Media p.64, 66, 68

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Vicki Clark, Sharon Davies, Cynthia Hanischuk

GENERAL INQUIRIES info@yammagazine.com LETTERS TO THE EDITOR letters@yammagazine.com TO SUBSCRIBE TO YAM subscriptions@yammagazine.com ADVERTISING INQUIRIES sales@yammagazine.com ONLINE yammagazine.com FACEBOOK YAM magazine –Victoria TWITTER twitter.com/YAMmagazine INSTAGRAM @yam_magazine

COVER S tylish renovation of a vintage bathroom by Kyla Bidgood of Bidgood + Co.

Photo by Janis Nicolby

Published by PAGE ONE PUBLISHING 580 Ardersier Road, Victoria, BC V8Z 1C7 T 250-595-7243 info@pageonepublishing.ca pageonepublishing.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.

Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement #41295544 ADVERTISE IN YAM MAGAZINE YAM is Victoria’s lifestyle magazine, connecting readers to the distinctive lifestyle and authentic luxury of the West Coast. For advertising info, please call us at 250-5957243 or email sales@yammagazine.com.

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YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2017

YAM CONFIDENTIAL

YAM’S

Shop + Style GIVEAWAY

GET YOUR FALL FASHION INFUSION — ENTER TO WIN A SHOP & STYLE GIVEAWAY FROM MAYFAIR SHOPPING CENTRE! Winner will receive 1) a $250 Mayfair gift card, 2) a 2-hour personal Style Session with Mayfair’s stylist and 3) a makeover provided by Sephora.

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2

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Visit yammagazine.com for contest details and to enter.

Contest ends October 19, 2017. Good luck!

A TRIBUTE TO TALENT

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“

To perform at Carnegie Hall is a life dream for every musician.

e were blown away when DR. MARK LUPIN we learned that Victoria’s own Dr. Mark Lupin would be making his Carnegie Hall debut this fall! While Dr. Lupin has performed with many of the world’s leading orchestras — including the Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra — he considers this New York performance a career highlight.

“To perform at Carnegie Hall is a life dream for every musician,” Dr. Lupin says.

The dermatologist and founder of Cosmedica is a world-class classical violinist who performs both as a soloist and as concertmaster of the World Doctors Orchestra, whose concert proceeds benefit medical charities.

Dr. Lupin’s October 1 performance in New York is billed as a tribute recital to his late mentor, Jascha Heifetz.

“Being able to pay tribute to my great teacher at such a historical and significant landmark is a wonderful honour,” Dr. Lupin says.

“I want to celebrate the genius of Heifetz and the great gifts he gave the world through his music and humanitarian efforts.”

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2017

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LOCAL EXPERTISE, GLOBAL CONNECTIONS

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SINGLE FAMILY HOMES NEW LISTING

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720 Piedmont Dr., Saanich

2002 Hannington Rd., Victoria

621 Woodcreek Dr., North Saanich

136 Clarence St., Victoria

BEDS: 5 BATHS: 3 2,564 SQ.FT.

BEDS: 3 BATH: 2.5 2,000 SQ.FT.

BEDS: 4 BATHS: 4 2,754 SQ.FT.

BEDS: 5 BATHS: 5 4,063 SQ.FT.

Melissa Kurtz

Bruce Sheldon

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250.857.2067

« CONDOS/DUPLEXES RECENTLY PURCHASED

OUR LOCAL EXPERTS $355,000

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778.350.4405

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250.514.9024 Mark Imhoff

VICTORIA 250.380.3933

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205 - 924 Esquimalt Rd., Victoria Tanya Piekarski

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NEW YORK

SALT SPRING 250.537.1778

HONG KONG

VANCOUVER 604.632.3300

MOSCOW

CALGARY 403.254.5315

VENICE

Melissa Kurtz

TORONTO 416.960.9995

Sotheby’s International Realty Canada, 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.

1.877.530.3933 sothebysrealty.ca

621 Woodcreek Dr., North Saanich

WATERFRONT PROPERTIES & VIEWS

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1725 Texada Terrace, North Saanich

5054 Catalina Terrace, Victoria

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BEDS: 2 BATHS: 2 3,085 SQ.FT.

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LONDON

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SYDNEY

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Sotheby’s International Realty Canada, 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.

In your own space ... at your own pace.

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JEFFREY BOSDET/YAM MAGAZINE

HERE &NOW

ART & MEDITATION The Shen & Xin series of installation paintings by Bill Goers interacts with light and space, their rotational movement and sway creating a dynamic and hypnotic viewing experience. Small air currents generated by viewers, ambient air flow and changes in pressure and room temperature all contribute to their kinetic energy. Made from cedar, cotton or hemp string, mulberry paper and rice glue, the installations have appeared in galleries, artists’ lofts, private homes and public spaces.

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2017

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HERE &NOW

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eye candy

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MARBLE -

must haves

MARBLE HAS BEEN USED FOR MILLENNIA, BUT CONTINUES TO INSPIRE DESIGNERS WITH ITS SWIRLING PATTERNS AND NATURAL, TIMELESS BEAUTY. 10

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1 Designers Maurizio Galante and Tal Lancman channel French elegance with the Louis XV Goes to Sparta armchair (available through Livingspace in Vancouver, price upon request) 2 Seaworthy’s Cuate necklace features white howlite gemstones marbled with grey (Violette, $200) // 3 Martha Sturdy’s Pemberton Ink bowls are inspired by West Coast stones (marthasturdy.com, platter, $560; bowl, $290, line carried at Calla Design) 4 Designer Rebecca Atwood’s marble designs were created with the Japanese suminagashi technique (wallpaper, price upon request; pillow, US$224, both rebeccaatwood.com) 5 Thierry Lasry Advisory sunglasses, rock grey stone (Maycock Eyecare, $540) // 6 Renna Deluxe’s elegant cotton clutch carries all your essentials (etsy.com/.ca, $75) // 7 B.C.-based Stil Classics’ 18-month agenda is organized style (stilclassics.com, $82) // 8 S’well water bottle keeps it cool in marble (Type A Home, $49) // 9 Hey’s White Marble fashion spinner will stand out on the luggage carousel (Hudson’s Bay, $190) // 10 dconstruct’s marble concrete ring gets its sparkle from gold leaf (dconstruct.ca, $50, line carried at the AGGV gift store)

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TEXTURE HUNTING

Kez Sherwood’s ceramics often reflect nature’s chaotic symmetry, as seen in her rock line votives (left) and planter (right), on which she replicates patterns from photographs of rocks she takes on her nature walks.

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YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2017

Kez Sherwood, a multidisciplinary designer and artist, is inspired by the natural world and modern design. As co-founder of ox + monkey design & fabrication on the Sunshine Coast, Sherwood created SOAK, her minimalist and compact hot tub. Recently, Sherwood moved to Port Alberni to pursue a solo practice, which includes ceramic work in porcelain and black clay. As part of her craft, Sherwood goes “texture hunting” in nature, taking impressions in clay (of items such as cedar bark or barnacles) or photographing patterns (such as rock lines), then translating them into her unique pieces. kezsherwood.ca

STANDOUT STOOLS

START AT THE BASE Arostegui Studio’s W line emerged from the angles in the shape of the letter W, visible in the powder-coated aluminum base on the W credenza (see below), one of the first pieces designed and manufactured for the collection.

“The credenza was a custom piece for a client, but I really liked the design of the base and I immediately started thinking of an entire line using the W concept,” says furniture designer and maker Cristian Arostegui G. “I now have an idea for a console or hall table.”

The credenza was originally designed to be used with Arostegui’s polychromatic Tetris shelves, which inspired its colourful palette.

“I recently had a request for a version in greys and blacks,” he says.

“The colours are totally customizable.”

(Price upon request, arosteguistudio.com)

A wash of pure pastel colour adds a sense of playfulness to the Ostra stool from Shipway Designs. Match or mix stools in different shades or get a customized colour to suit your personality and space.

Romney Shipway, the creator behind Shipway Designs, makes his pieces in his East Vancouver studio from Douglas fir from a sustainably managed community forest on Cortes Island. (Ostra accent stool, $290 each/ $850 set of three, shipway.ca)

DESIGNINSIDER For YAM’s Style Issue, our design expert delves into the latest trends, letting you know which are staying strong, which are old news and which deserve a redo — and how to make them work with your own décor.

OUT

IN

By Lana Lounsbury Registered interior designer, Lana Lounsbury Interiors

BACK AGAIN

PINK Pink can work as the ideal accent for any décor. It can be calming, edgy or just plain pretty, depending on how it’s paired. It’s the perfect hue for fabrics, working well for accent pillows, upholstered walls, slipcovers or drapery. I love the Marmol Rosa fabric by local designer Iván Meade. Because it pairs so effortlessly with other patterns and solids, you can literally put it anywhere.

Lightweight linen-cotton blend ideal for window treatments, pillows and bedding, available at ivanmeade.com

MATTE BLACK When it comes to bathroom fixtures, there is nothing more stylish than matte Available locally at black. It doesn’t show Splashes Bath watermarks or fingerprints & Kitchen (although it looks like it should) and it makes a huge statement. Pair it with traditional white subway tiles or go wild with pattern and it still holds its own. I can’t get enough of it. My favourite fixture is DXV’s Lyndon Shower.

PINK CARPET

PINK GLASS

If you have any “dusty rose” carpet, chances are it is more dust than anything else, and it’s probably time to remove it.

Antique glass in pale shades of pink is a great find and most easily salvaged from light fixtures. Check grandma’s attic for old brass and glass lamps and bring them back by rewiring them at Waterglass Studios and fitting them with a new creamy white lamp shade.

FAUX CRYSTAL FIXTURES

You know the ones: teardrop-shaped, clear plastic and almost impossibleto-pull-out to turn on. It’s time to give them the boot for something more ergonomic.

CHROME We all know brushed brass is back, but I want to mention the lesser heralded bathroom finish — chrome! For a clean, bright sparkle that suits modern, vintage and transitional décor, nothing beats it. You’ll save at least 20 per cent over brushed, black and brass finishes, so it’s definitely worth another look.

Waterworks Ludlow faucet, available through Cantu Bathrooms in Vancouver

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2017

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islandmotorsportcircuit.com

The Style Files The tailored pant, vivid kimonos, designer classics and a fashion show for a good cause — YAM presents local finds to get you inspired for the fall season.

WARDROBE STAPLE

File Name: YAM-3rd-2.39x9.58-VW-2017.indd Trim: 2.39” (w) x 9.58” (h) (Exported in horizontal layout to be flipped to vertical position in magazine) Bleed: 0.125” x 0.125” Live: N/A Colours: 4C Studio: NF Notes: No crop marks for YAM Magazine exports.

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REV.#

Studio Revisions

PATTERN PLAY

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WALLPAPER FLORALS We’re not talking about

walls, we’re talking about what to wear! Look for big, romantic florals (think roses, in particular). And don’t be afraid to go floral on floral and get matchy-matchy, says Janine, whose go-to look this season is a custommade floral suit.

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2017

Tribute Trousers come in three styles, including these limited-editionprint TLC Slim Leg.

To get a stylish start on the season, we asked YAM’s contributing fashion editor Janine Metcalfe to share her top looks for fall.

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MENSWEAR ...

FOR WOMEN

From Calvin Klein to Victoria Beckham, designers this fall draw on the masculine to highlight the feminine.

Think double-breasted suits and shoulder pads. And get ready for warm, luxurious tweeds, wools and natural fabrics.

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CRAZY FOR RED

Whether it’s scarlet, ruby, mulberry or vermilion, red is sizzling this season, and designers like Max Mara and Stella McCartney are embracing its boldness and sensuality. And do go to town with tone on tone, says Janine, because you can never get enough red.

L TO R: PORT 1961, CALVIN KLEIN, STELLA McCARTNEY

AD #: VIMC-YAM-07282017-2.39x9.58-2017.pdf Client: Volkswagen Victoria Publication: YAM Magazine Insert Date: Sep/Oct 2017

Each fall, Lindsay Jones of Chai Fashions heads to India to source the vibrant fabrics she uses in her collection.

“I work with a lot of recycled silk saris,” Jones says. “Women in India wear all these beautiful colours and patterns, and I wanted to use these fabrics in western-style fashions.”

For the past 14 years, Jones has been working with the same family in India, who sew all of her designs.

“We’ve been able to support each other and see both of our businesses grow. It’s really taken off,” she says.

TOP STYLE TRENDS FOR FALL

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ALAN SMITH

Local fashion designer Teresa Lindsay believes trousers should be fit to the woman — not that a woman should have to fit the trouser. She started her “pant project” after hearing so many women complain about their trouble finding the perfect skinny pant. The result is Tribute Trousers, which she says can be fit in the same time it would take someone to park their car in a mall parking lot.

“They’re a collection of custom-tailored pants consisting of my personal three favourite styles, which suit all lifestyles and body shapes,” Lindsay says.

The jasmine joggers, the tuxedo pant and the slim-leg styles are all made in Canada, feature flat fronts and are custom-fit and hemmed to the owner. Shoppers can schedule private fittings or even host a Tailored Pant Party for groups of friends.

2546 Government Street, Victoria, BC, V8T 4P7 • T 778.406.1380 Ext 459

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HERE &NOW

Jones’ signature piece is her timeless Victoria wrap dress — a go-to for spring and summer or a sunny destination in winter. But this year, Jones says the highlight has been her kimono.

“My winter collection is just Chai Fashions’ getting up and recycled-silkrunning, and I’ll be sari kimono doing the kimono in velvet,” Jones says.

“It will be a real statement piece for fall.”

FULL-SERVICE FASHION Shai Thompson likes to say “we don’t sell clothes, we wardrobe” about House of Lily Koi, her luxury consignment boutique in Sidney.

The shop carries items that are hard to find on the Island, including pieces from European designers, Nordstrom and Holt Renfrew.

“I also look for things that are congruent with what is rocking today’s runways,” Thompson says. “Fashion is cyclical. For example, the floral skirt that was on trend in 1995 is back.”

As part of her service-based retail store, Thompson offers wardrobe consulting. Along with seasonal closet turn-overs, Thompson helps first-time clients do a wardrobe audit — from outerwear to bras — to help them discover the possibilities within their own closets.

“So many people are terrified of changing Fashion and their look,” Thompson Philanthropy says. “We decided to take the mystery out of The art forms of ‘image consultant’ or dance and fashion have always made ‘wardrobe specialist’ a perfect pairing. and make sure that it On October 26, was a fun environment during Cherish: and an experience that A Glamorous people want to return Evening of Fashion to.” and Philanthropy, This fall, House 16 professional dancers will grace of Lily Koi will also the runway in launch its online store, the latest fall which will initially fashions from focus on accessories local boutiques, such as jewelry, shoes including Tulipe and bags.

Noire, Outlooks for Men and Hughes Clothing.

All proceeds will benefit Victoria Women’s Transition House and Dance Victoria Society. For ticket information, visit rmts.bc.ca.

Clothing to Celebrate Copyright © 2015 Joseph Ribkoff Inc. All rights reserved. Any reproduction and/or use of the Joseph Ribkoff logo for commercial or promotional purposes is forbidden without the written authorization of Joseph Ribkoff Inc.

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19

South Island

Sidney, The Shortest Distance to Far Away

S

idney is alive with chatter — friends meet for lunch, patrons stroll down the highstreet with treasures stowed in their bags.

Seagulls glide over rooftops, and the sweet, salty smell of ocean air fills the town.

This is Sidney, a place to rest your mind, stimulate your senses, enjoy some retail therapy and remind yourself that “vacation” can be as close as the town next door.

It’s a place where shop owners know their customers by name, where the barista remembers your favourite drink, and where you’re just as likely to run into a neighbour as you are to share a laugh with a new acquaintance. It’s a place surrounded by forests, farm fields and ocean; where you can cycle in on the Lochside Regional Trail,

or arrive by bus or car in minutes. Here, the sidewalks are decorated with flowers, sculptures and people, and the vibe is relaxed.

With a population of just 11,600, Sidney has an unparalleled number of boutique shops and eateries for its size. It has garnered international acclaim for the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea, the Mary Winspear Centre, the Sidney Sculpture Walk and the legendary Thursday night street market that stretches along four blocks of Beacon Avenue. It’s also Canada’s first and only Booktown, featuring six independent bookstores. Now home to Victoria Distillers, guests can tour the facility and sample innovative cocktail creations, with the ocean as the perfect backdrop.

With expansive views of the Salish Sea,

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FOOD&DRINK

How YAM’s food writer embraced reducetarianism, stopped overeating animal protein and learned to love the lentil. By Cinda Chavich

For his Silver Rill Corn Risotto, Chef Robert Cassels of Saveur uses every part of the corn cob, relying on grilled cobs to make the stock and garnishing the finished dish with fried corn silk.

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YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2017

PHOTO BY JEFFREY BOSDET WITH STYLING BY JANICE HILDYBRANT/YAM MAGAZINE

THE ART OF MINDFUL EATING

Y

ou know I love meat — a yen for smoky sausages, artisan bacon and steak is apparently hardwired into my Slavic/Scottish/Prairie DNA. But I also hate waste and the modern system of industrial meat production that wastes water, land and, by extension, our potential to feed the world.

That’s the message from the growing “reducetarian” movement, a way of eating that advocates reducing our collective meat consumption for social, environmental, ethical and personal-health reasons. North Americans eat far more meat than we need, and the ever-increasing demand for meat worldwide has created a system that’s, frankly, unsustainable.

I’m not going vegan but have decided to be more mindful of the meat I buy — opting for smaller amounts of better meat, sourced from smaller producers who factor in the values I hold dear when producing their grass-fed beef, pastured pork and chicken.

REDUCETARIAN LIVING Beyond Meatless Mondays, many people are also exploring alternative proteins and recipes that rely on vegetables and grains to bulk up the portions. Not vegetarian, but reducetarian living.

It’s an idea that’s gaining high-profile fans, from Mario Batali and Oprah to Paul McCartney and Deepak Chopra, who says eating less meat “offers us a path toward a more ecological, sustainable, humane and compassionate world.”

They’re all referenced in The Reducetarian Solution, a collection of essays from a wide variety of contributors, riffing on the topic of why we need to eat less meat.

Brian Kateman, president of the non-profit Reducetarian Foundation, edited the book and coined the term to describe his own efforts to mindfully eat less meat and other animal products, without feeling like a “cheating vegan” or “lazy vegetarian.”

“Meat consumption isn’t an all-or-nothing premise,” he writes, “but every plant-based meal is one worth celebrating because it is healthier, more eco-friendly and kinder to animals.”

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VEGETABLES TAKE CENTRE STAGE Chefs are embracing the idea of vegetableforward dishes as well. At Part and Parcel, Chef Grant Gard takes his inspiration from local, sustainable ingredients and says that often means vegetables take centre stage.

“We like to showcase what we can get from local farms and what comes in through the back door,” says Gard.

Popular dishes — from his carrot falafel and hummus to his roasted beet and quinoa salad — are vegetarian, but others include ethically raised meat, fish and poultry, simply in smaller portions.

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2017

23

positive but less daunting “I’m focused on keeping our prices low, so we use braising change that’s easier to achieve cuts and try to work with and likely healthier. vegetables in different ways,” And the thing about eating says Gard of his casual but meals without meat, or with technique-driven meals. “Our far less, is that there’s no dishes have a lot of different deprivation involved. components, but meat is At Saveur restaurant, Chef expensive and you don’t need Robert Cassels specializes — Chef Robert Cassels, to eat it all the time.” in five-course tasting menus Saveur Gard, who loves Italian, — both a protein-based Japanese and Mediterranean Chef’s Tasting Menu and a Chef’s Vegetarian flavours, says it’s not hard to find inspiration Tasting Menu. The latter puts seasonal local for meatless meals. Sometimes, he says, a dish vegetables at the centre of the plate and he devises just happens to be meat-free, owing appeals to diners of all stripes. to ingredients like beluga lentils, chickpeas, “It’s common for one person to order the faro, blue barley and quinoa from Vancouver’s protein-tasting menu and one to order the GRAIN, or the seasonal selection of vegetables vegetarian menu and share,” says Cassels. from Victoria’s Square Root Farm.

“The vegetarian menu was not as popular “We do a dish of faro, wheat berries and when we first introduced it, but interest has lentils, dressed with a pickle vinaigrette, that’s skyrocketed in the last few months.” scooped over labneh (strained yogurt) with Cassels says he creates vegetarian dishes kale juice, greens and a crunchy nut-and-seed with “the same depth and richness” as his mixture on top,” he says. “Different textures, protein plates, and works hard to showcase different flavours — really interesting to eat.” vegetables in unique preparations.

“I love the versatility of vegetables,” he A LESS DAUNTING CHALLENGE says, describing a carrot dish that includes Only five per cent of Americans are carrot stock, a black tea carrot emulsion, vegetarian or vegan, and studies show that crispy carrot, roasted carrot and carrot many vegetarians eventually revert to their powder. “Instead of nose to tail, this is root to carnivorous ways. Cutting back on meat — rather than cutting it out altogether — is a stem. We don’t like seeing things wasted.”

“Instead of nose to tail, this is root to stem.

We don’t like seeing things wasted.”

GOING MEATLESS? The more you learn about how we raise animals for meat in the modern industrial age, the more you might be inclined to pass on that giant slab of steak. But eating meat or not is a complex topic, with many factors to consider, from environmental and animal health to your own nutrition.

In Meatless? A Fresh Look At What You Eat (Owlkids, 2017) author and journalist Sarah Elton breaks it all down for you and your kids. With illustrations by Victoria artist Julie McLaughlin, this slim, colourful children’s book is filled with clear, understandable facts about why we eat meat, why some people don’t and how you can make conscious choices.

Food for thought for omnivores, vegans and vegetarians alike.

HOW TO REDUCE MEAT One of the easiest ways to cut back on animal products is by scheduling Meatless Mondays or cooking more “vegetable forward” cuisine at home. Many classic vegetarian dishes combine plant proteins and grains in healthy ratios — think Mexican rice and beans, Indian dal, chickpea hummus and curries with flatbread, eggplant Parmesan, cheesy perogies, chili and grilled cheese or falafel sandwiches. Many other foods — whether pasta dishes, risottos, stir-fries or pizzas — rely on meat as a garnish or flavour enhancer, not as a main ingredient.

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YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2017

Don’t worry about protein — we get plenty.

The minimum daily recommendation is .37 grams per pound of body weight (0.8 grams/ kilograms) or about 50 grams of protein for a 140-pound woman (or up to 135 grams if you are extremely active).

How much is 25 grams of protein? It’s a small, three-ounce portion of pork, beef or chicken, eight medium shrimp or six oysters.

Beyond meat and poultry, there’s plenty of protein in other animal products, from eggs and milk to cheese. Or just include vegetable proteins from lentils, nuts and grains like quinoa. You get 25 grams of protein in 1 2/3 cups of black beans, a cup of Greek yogurt or cottage cheese, 3 cups of cooked quinoa, four eggs or 17 cashews.

Mushrooms and eggplant, even young jackfruit, can add meaty texture to your sandwiches, stir-fries and curries, while avocados, tahini and olive oil provide healthy fats that will keep you sated longer.

You can buy plant-based burgers and “meatballs” or use a single spicy chorizo sausage to season a pot of beans. Stretch a bit of chicken or pork with lots of stir-fried vegetables and rice, or garnish a mushroom risotto with a few fresh spot prawns.

A BOUNTY OF BENEFITS The long-term benefits of eating less meat seem so logical, especially in the area of individual heath and animal welfare.

Adding more vegetable-forward recipes to the rotation saves HOW TO ADD ... money and boosts your personal PROTEIN: vitamin and fibre Beans, lentils, intake, which is chickpeas, split great for your bank peas, quinoa, lentil or account and your chickpea flours (and pastas made with body. And there’s added plant protein), the greater good leafy greens, broccoli, to consider too — nuts and nut butters, clean water, clean tofu, hemp seeds, chia food and a clean seeds, eggs, cheese, environment for milk, yogurt, edamame all. (soybeans) and soy I’m happy that milk there’s a new CALCIUM: reducetarian Spinach, sardines, trend to remind us seaweed, salmon, about the joys of kale, almonds, canned eating vegetables. salmon, tofu, almond It’s the kind of milk, tahini, cheese, old-fashioned beans, figs, molasses, wisdom your turnip greens, collard great-grandmother greens, broccoli, might have shared, edamame, bok choy, and the basis of oranges author Michael MEATY TEXTURE: Pollan’s common Grilled Portobello sense mantra: “Eat mushrooms, eggplant, food. Not too much. firm tofu, seitan and Mostly plants.” tempeh

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25

SILVER RILL CORN RISOTTO

FERMENTATION SET SET INCLUDES:

Chef Robert Cassels always has a risotto dish on his vegetarian tasting menu at Saveur. It’s a great way to use any seasonal vegetable, and Cassels uses every part of the ingredient — from root to shoot — to avoid food waste in the kitchen. To add richness to this roastedcorn stock, he adds Parmesan rinds.

Corn stock: • 2 or 3 cobs of young fresh corn • Parmesan cheese rinds • Bouquet garni (bundle of fresh herbs like parsley, thyme, bay leaf, peppercorns, celery or leek) • Salt

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Roasted corn purée: • Reserved corn kernels • 1 large shallot, finely chopped • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped • 2 tbsp butter Risotto: • 2 tbsp butter • 1 large shallot, minced • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 1 cup arborio rice • 1/4 cup good-quality Chardonnay • 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese • 4 tbsp cold butter, cubed

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Garnish: • Green pea shoot pistou (on the next page) and deep-fried corn silk Shuck the corn, reserving corn silk.

Cut the kernels from the cobs and reserve.

You should have about 1 1/2 cups.

Heat the barbecue grill or broiler to high and grill the cobs until lightly charred on all sides.

Place the cobs in a stockpot and cover with 6 cups of cold water. Tie the Parmesan rinds and bouquet garni into a piece of cheesecloth and add to the pot. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce to low and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes. Strain the stock, discarding the cobs and bouquet garni. Measure the corn stock and add enough water to make 6 cups. Season with salt. Set aside.

Meanwhile, make the corn purée. Sauté the reserved corn kernels with chopped shallot, garlic and butter over medium heat until tender.

Place in a blender with a little of the reserved corn stock and purée. Set aside.

To make the risotto, heat the butter over medium heat in a wide sauté pan and cook the shallot and garlic for 2 to 3 minutes, until translucent but not brown. Add the rice to the pan and stir until the rice kernels are glossy.

Deglaze with Chardonnay, stirring, then start adding the reserved corn stock, one ladleful at a time. Stir until the stock is almost absorbed, then add another ladleful, and continue in this manner until 2/3 of the stock is incorporated.

Stir in the reserved corn purée and continue cooking, stirring and adding more stock, until the rice is just cooked, al dente.

Remove from heat and stir in the Parmesan and cubed butter.

Serve immediately, garnished with pea shoot pistou and fried corn silk.

Serves 4. by 72 7272 Social Social Social Icons Icons Icons byby Dreamstale.com Dreamstale.com Dreamstale.com

Heavenly BC

Green pea shoot pistou: • 3 cups local pea shoots, stems removed • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese • 2 cloves garlic, chopped • Juice and finely grated zest of 1 lemon • 1/3 cup olive oil

Apple Ring Pancakes

In a blender, combine the pea shoots, Parmesan, garlic, lemon juice and lemon zest. Purée and, with the machine running, slowly add the olive oil through the feed tube, whirling until the sauce is emulsified.

Refrigerate.

HARISSA-SPICED FRENCH LENTILS Try this spicy lentil dish from GRAIN, the Vancouver-based purveyor of Canadiangrown pulse and grain crops sourced from small, non-conventional farms. Quality plant-based protein from the prairies are available at local retailers, including Red Barn and Lifestyle Markets.

• 2 tbsp olive oil • 1 large onion, chopped • 1/2 tsp salt • 2 carrots, peeled and chopped • 1 clove garlic, minced • 1 tsp ground cumin • 1 tsp ground coriander • 3/4 cup French lentils • 2 cups veggie or chicken broth • 1 tsp turmeric • 1 small can tomato paste • 3 medium tomatoes, coarsely chopped • 1 tsp salt • 2 tsp harissa paste • 1/2 tsp paprika • 3 tsp sugar • 4 cups baby spinach leaves

Make these delicious BC Apple Ring Pancakes today–here’s how!

Step 3

Step 1

Garnish: • Fresh cherry tomatoes and toasted baguette croutons Heat the olive oil in a medium-sized pot or dutch oven on the stovetop. Add the onions and 1/2 teaspoon salt, and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the carrots and cook for 3 to 4 minutes more. Add the minced garlic and cook one minute, until fragrant. Add the coriander and cumin and cook one minute, stirring the whole time.

Add the lentils, broth, turmeric, salt, tomatoes and tomato paste and stir well until the paste is dissolved. Cover and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. Cook for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add the harissa paste, paprika and sugar and cook a further 15 minutes. A few minutes before serving, stir in the baby spinach and cook until wilted but still bright green.

Serve garnished with fresh cherry tomatoes, plenty of black pepper and toasted baguette croutons.

Serves 4.

Step 2 To make batter, combine 1 cup plus 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 4 tsp. baking powder and pinch salt in a bowl. In another bowl, combine 1 cup milk, 2 large beaten eggs and 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract. Mix dry and wet ingredients together.

Now core and cut 4 apples into 1/4” to 1/2” slices.

Preheat a non-stick griddle to medium, medium-high heat. Lightly coat the surface with vegetable oil.

Dip BC apple slices in batter, allowing excess to drip away. Cook apples about 2 minutes per side, until puffed and golden.

Plate and serve pancakes, sprinkled with cinnamon and icing sugar, and accented with a dollop of whipped cream.

You could also serve the pancakes with maple syrup.

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ROASTED BEETS, QUINOA, FETA, ALMONDS, POPPYSEEDS AND HERBS This hearty salad is on the menu at Part and Parcel. Quinoa, an ancient grain from Peru, is highly nutritious, both gluten free and a complete protein, so great for meatless meals. Chef Grant Gard says his method of cooking quinoa results in a particularly light and fluffy result.

Quinoa: • 1 cup quinoa • 1 cup water or broth • 1/2 tsp salt • Herb mix: chopped parsley, arugula and/or fennel fronds Beets: • 6 medium beets • Pinch of salt • Splash of apple cider vinegar • 2 tbsp chopped fresh dill • 2 tbsp roasted almonds, chopped Dressing #1: • 2 tbsp lemon oil • 2 tbsp olive oil • 1 to 2 tbsp lemon juice • Salt, to taste

Dressing #2: • 1/4 cup olive oil • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar • 1 tsp Dijon mustard • Pinch xanthan gum (optional)

Garnish: • 2 striped chioggia beets, peeled and shaved into thin rounds • 8 oz goat feta, cubed • Poppy seeds Quinoa: Soak the quinoa in water for 20 minutes. Rinse well under running water, and set aside to drain for 20 minutes.

Add 1 cup of water to the saucepan (always use 1:1 ratio), 1/4 teaspoon salt, and bring to a boil over high heat. Stir, cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand 15 minutes before removing the lid and fluffing the quinoa with a fork. Cool on a tray, then refrigerate. Grains will be nice and separate.

Use dressing #1 for the quinoa: Whisk together two oils (or replace lemon oil with olive oil), add lemon juice and salt. Dress cooled quinoa with lemon vinaigrette, herb mix, salt and a generous grinding of black pepper.

Beets: Place beets in a roasting pan. Add enough water to come about halfway up the beets. Season with salt and a hearty splash of apple cider vinegar. Cover the pan with foil and roast in a 425˚F oven for 60 to 90 minutes.

Peel beets while warm, let cool, dice and place in a bowl. Toss with dill, roasted almonds and dressing #2. To make the dressing, emulsify olive oil and apple cider vinegar into mustard (you can also use 1/8 teaspoon xanthan gum to help emulsify).

To serve: divide quinoa between four plates, mounding in a horseshoe shape. Top with the roasted beet salad, shaved chioggia beets, feta, poppy seeds and some nice small lettuces for garnish.

Serves 4.

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YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2017

tastes + trends

ENHANCE YOUR NATURAL BEAUTY

By Cinda Chavich

THE OLIVE FARM A visionary couple has brought the ancient art of olive growing to Salt Spring Island — and the result is a rare extra-virgin olive oil, coveted by chefs.

I

f you’ve ever travelled through the Tuscan hills or along the rocky shores of southern Greece, you’ll know the romantic lure of the olive.

It was in the countryside of southern Spain where George and Sheri Braun were first smitten by huge groves of ancient Andalusian olive trees “sweeping down hillsides” and gnarly old specimens punctuating the landscape.

Most of us must leave our encounters with olive groves in our holiday memory banks, but not the Brauns.

They came home and turned their memories into The Olive Farm on Salt Spring Island — and recently bottled the first homegrown extravirgin olive oil in Canada.

MICROCLIMATE MAGIC “There were many, many naysayers,” says George Braun as we walk the slope here in the Fulford Valley where 2,400 of the young greygreen trees are planted in undulating rows.

“Nobody has ever done it, but this is a special microclimate,” he adds, noting the olives are planted on former vineyard land.

“Where you have Madrona or Arbutus trees and Pinot Noir, you have a chance of growing an olive tree.”

Though others have planted olives on the Gulf Islands — the Saturna Olive Consortium imports and sells several varieties of olive saplings and olives have been growing on Pender Island for nearly a decade — none have planted olives commercially or taken

the olive from tree to press to bottle anywhere in Canada.

RARE AND REVERED It was last December when the Brauns gathered family and friends to pick and press 1,000 pounds of olives in their new Pieralisi mill. The olives were small and green, but the mill produced 33 litres of extra-virgin olive oil, a deep-emerald liquid with fresh herbal notes, hints

“It’s a longterm project — and a huge leap of faith.” of artichoke and a spicy phenolic bite on the finish.

Bottled in slim 200 mL bottles, The Olive Farm’s cold-pressed EVOO is a rare and expensive product — allocated to just a few chefs and available direct from the farm for $75 a bottle.

It’s on the menu at Hastings House on Salt Spring Island, where Chef Marcel Kauer drizzles the grassy oil artfully around his appetizer of local scallop ceviche. You can taste it

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at other restaurants, too: Savio Volpe in Vancouver, Buca in Toronto and The Wickaninnish Inn in Tofino — and dignitaries may soon be served this all-Canadian creation at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.

A LEAP OF FAITH First cultivated in Syria some 5,000 years ago, olives spread throughout ancient Greece and Rome, and today more than a billion olive trees grow across the Mediterranean and around the world, from South Africa and Argentina to Australia and California.

Conventional wisdom says olives won’t thrive north of the 46th parallel, but at 48 degrees 47 minutes north, The Olive Farm is challenging that long-held belief.

The Brauns have had setbacks, losing some trees to cold temperatures and wet winters, but their 73acre farm has good drainage and a south-facing slope.

The Maurino, Leccino and Frantoio olives they’ve planted are hardy varietals that have survived in northern Italy for centuries, and Braun is confident they will thrive on Salt Spring and produce larger crops, and more oil, every year.

“It’s a long-term project — and a huge leap of faith,” he admits. “Given another five or six years, we’ll have answers to all of our questions.

“But, as they say, you plant a vineyard for your children, and an olive grove for your grandchildren.”

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f you think colour blocking is just for the fashion world, think again. This stylish way to add pop to rooms is making yet another comeback since its big debut in 1956 on an Yves St. Laurent dress inspired by the work of artist Piet Mondrian. Colour blocking has been an on-and-off trend ever since. It’s the perfect way to dress up an empty wall or highlight a feature in any room, large or small, whether you are seeking an ultra-sophisticated or trendy fun vibe. Look to your furnishings and accessories, or even a favourite piece of art, for inspiration.

While colour blocking used to focus mainly on the primary colours, modern colour blocking allows for any hue, even ones that traditionally clash. So go bold or go subtle, and if you are stuck for ideas, look to the latest palettes from companies like Benjamin Moore, or check out trending colours from Pantone.

And do remember: colour-blocked rooms aren’t just about the walls. Bring a sofa or soft furnishings into play — and then play it up.

GET THE LOOK 1 Benjamin Moore’s Violet Stone paint (available Pacific Paint & Wallpaper) 2 Linear colour-block crewel pillow cover

by Margo Selby (westelm.com, $29) 3 Bluebell-gray rectangular linen pillow (Hudson’s Bay, $40) // 4 Benjamin Moore’s Sun Porch paint (available at Pacific Paint & Wallpaper) // 5 A Possible Way by Patty Ripley, acrylic on canvas (Avenue Gallery, inquire for pricing) 6 Glazed porcelain vases (espacedonline. com, right: $120, left: $100) // 7 Cerno Silva giant floor lamp (Gabriel Ross, $3,168) // 8 Lazar LAX sectional sofa (Parc Modern, starting at $4,999) 9 Ferm Living wire basket tables (available at vanspecial.com, starting at $150, lid sold separately) // 10 Turkish over-dyed patchwork rug (kilim.com, starting at $355) // 11 100% alpaca reversible throw (espacedonline.com, $370) // 12 Dalian azure accent chair (leannemckeachie.com, $575 // 13 Metal-capped wood console (westelm.com, $2,499)

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HOME&LIFESTYLE

ORIGINAL BEAUTY A SAVVY DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION TEAM TRANSFORMS A HOME SUFFERING FROM DECADES OF MISMATCHED RENOS INTO A MODERN MASTERPIECE OF EXCEPTIONAL GRANDEUR.

By Danielle Pope -- Photos by Janis Nicolby

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M

erle Alexander knew he’d found his dream home the moment he stepped into the “great room” of the house in the Arbutus area of Victoria. With its 18-foot ceilings, arched windows, spectacular views and lustrous natural light, it was as breathtaking as it was enormous.

Of course, the house had its flaws. It was a representation of every decade since it was built in 1928. It had bedrooms conceived in the 90s, vinyl linoleum in a 70s kitchen and bathrooms painted in aqua tones of the 60s. It took some convincing for Alexander’s partner, Tamara Napoleon, to see the same vision he had, but eventually the two would turn this historical melting pot into their own legacy home — a home as timeless as it is beautiful — in which to grow their family.

“Even then, we were planning for another child, so we wanted a home with a robust master bedroom and at least two other rooms,” Alexander says. “When we found this house, we wanted to honour the original architecture while making it work for our family.”

OPENING UP THE POTENTIAL Using a stylish mix of black-and-white motifs and classic tile throughout the house, the couple did just that. First, though, a large-

The entryway of the house was designed to be as grand as the living room that follows. Parallelplaced Random Light pendant chandeliers by Moooi offset the Decora Tile black-and-white tile flooring and subtly capture the arch of the door frame in their design. The salvaged armoire, refurbished by Island Custom Cabinetry, gives the room a warm and homey feel.

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scale overhaul was necessary to streamline the home for modern-family living. In the original structure, a strange hallway cut through one bathroom, which opened into a small den before leading through to a bedroom.

Chris Strong, principal at Strong Construction Group, says it took some reimagining to make the space come together. His greatest accomplishment was the revised kitchen and dining area, created by opening a closed-off eating room and galley-style kitchen.

“The sum of those small rooms combined was about the same as the great room, but it transformed the entire house,” Strong says. “It felt like the area gained hundreds of square feet and gave you free rein to move.”

RESTORING BEAUTY Despite the restructuring, there was a great deal of original beauty in the house — from the shapely windows to the natural oak flooring.

While most Victorian homes of the era held to a traditional standard, the original owners of 34

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the Arbutus house contracted an architect from San Francisco, bringing in design and style not commonly seen here. At a leisurely 5,500 square feet, including the basement, it was quite the “summer cottage” for the first family.

“The main living area has become my favourite,” Napoleon says. “Our chairs face the ocean and yard — towering maples and arbutus trees frame the water, and Japanese maples enclose the patio. When the fireplace is glowing it’s a beautiful room, and it’s the one we use most.”

A NEW VISION Through the years, the home shapeshifted with each new owner’s insight, right down to faux-candle light fixtures adorning the walls.

Yet the great room kept its striking features, with exposed beams and wood-sashed windows. To help it come alive again, Strong’s team freshened the plaster walls, repainted the natural detail in the moulding and refurbished the fireplace back to its centrepiece stature.

“Every room had its own bit of history, and our goal was to bring a sense of cohesion and function to each area,” says Kyla Bidgood, principal of Bidgood + Co. Interiors. “We wanted to make the home look the way it was always meant to look — and I think we achieved that.”

Leading the redesign, Bidgood’s team enhanced even the subtler details of the house to build an almost imperceptible repetition throughout each space. The team added an archway to the living area, brought in Edison bulbs and modern light sconces, placed subway tiles in the powder room and even recreated the arch of the great room within some tile patterns throughout the house.

“In order to build a home that lasts through time, you have to focus on what’s really important,” says Bidgood. “The quality of your materials, the colours you choose, the mix of traditional and modern elements and the personal touches — that’s what makes a home a treasure for generations to come.”

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Turning a mosaic of styles into one classic look was the mission of designer Kyla Bidgood, principal interior designer at Bidgood + Co. Interiors. Patterns reappear throughout the house, some so subtle that visitors would know only that it all fits together. The arch of the entryway, for example, reappears in the great room, from the beams of the roof’s structure to the rounded frame of the fireplace’s hearth and twin-arched Restoration Hardware mirrors.

Subtler still is the curve found within the fireplace tiling. The tile of the fireplace draws the eye into this classic centrepiece, using Cement Tile Shop’s Bordeaux pattern.

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The dining area of the house reflects more parallels, showcasing a window wall that mimics the entryway. Staying true to the home’s history was a priority for the homeowners, so Bidgood made use of reclaimed objects, like the dining room’s vintage radiator. The Modo chandelier by Roll & Hill and black dining chairs by Chintz & Company keep this room as modern as it is classic.

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Left and right: Bidgood’s favourite room in the house is the main bathroom with its striking black tile, as it makes a strong statement for such a contained space. The scrolling in the mirror from Pigeonhole Home Store reflects the classic antique tones of the house, while twin globe Arteriors wall sconces hint at the modern theme. The floor tiling in Circulos Black Mex from the Cement Tile Shop carries on the black-andwhite parallel, with an ever-so-subtle arch.

Above: The ensuite bathroom reverses the thematic colour of the house, using 6th Avenue Ceramic tile from Walker Zanger and retro hexagon tiling from Cepac Tile for the white wall. Plumbing fixtures in brushed brass from Kohler’s Purist Collection maintain a faux historic feel, while the black-andwhite claw-foot tub and custom vanity offer dark contrast.

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RESOURCES Drywall: Wescor Contracting Designer: Kyla Bidgood and Mary McNeill-Knowle, Bidgood + Co. Interiors Construction: Strong Construction Group Construction Manager: Nat Noel Plumber: West Bay Mechanical Electrician: Capson Electric Doors and hardware: Victoria Speciality Hardware

Tile and floor refinishing: Hourigan’s Flooring Painting: Greatheart Painting Kitchen/bathroom millwork: Island Custom Cabinetry Custom millwork: Island Custom Cabinetry Finishing carpentry: Strong Construction Group Countertops: Colonial Countertops

Above: The kitchen renovation was a personal achievement for builder Chris Strong. Turning this space from a closed galley-style runway to an open area where the family could gather was reward in itself, Strong says.

To stay playful with the contemporary themes first found in the house, the dining nook features a custom 70s-style burnt-orange bench, crafted by Strong Construction. The refurbished table by Scott Landon Antiques and Michael Thonet Era chairs from Design Within Reach give a modern vintage feel when paired with the Noir chandelier from Luxe Home Interiors. Light is elevated in this once gloomy area, with all-white tiles from Olympia Tile reflecting bright sheen from the windows.

Pendant lamps from Feiss balance the bright layout, and Lewis Dolin cabinet hardware wraps in the gold tones found in the main living area.

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ARTFUL LIVING,

BY DESIGN Leading up to the AGGV’s annual House Tour on September 24, YAM visits one of Victoria’s most artful homes, renovated specifically to showcase the owners’ impressive collection, which includes iconic pieces by David Blackwood and Douglas Coupland.

By Kate Cino // Photos by Joshua Lawrence

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ince 1953, the Gallery Associates have supported the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria (AGGV) with an annual House Tour. On September 24, guests will visit five stylish local homes, each with a unique flair and a working artist on site. One of the featured homes belongs to a Victoria couple, Carla and Michael Perry, who refurbished a modest bungalow into a lively live-in art gallery.

The house is specially designed to hold the couple’s stellar collection, each alcove and wall space reveals another eye-popping

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treasure. Moving around is effortless in this one-storey home, with wide hallways, designed for aging in place.

The original structure was a 900-squarefoot bungalow designed by well-known architect Percy Leonard James in the early 1940s. It is set back from the road on a deep lot with a back lane.

“We had our eye on this place for many years as a retirement opportunity,” says Carla.

When the house became available, she and Michael sold their nearby home and moved in.

After one year of living in the house, and negotiating an awkward 1980s addition,

they decided a major fix was in order. They worked with Todd Martin, designer for Knot in a Box, and after finalizing the plans, the couple moved out and the one-year construction project began.

DESIGNED FOR ART AND LIVING “We gave Todd Martin our essential list for the 1,400-square-foot addition,” says Carla, “and he grappled with a few contradictions.”

Martin turned out to be a good listener.

To find solutions, he sat with the couple for many hours, looking at three-dimensional drawing plans on his computer. From

Left: Group of Seven (91" x 61" acrylic and oil pastel on canvas) by Andy Dixon, based on the well-known photograph of the painters.

Below: Marlena Wyman’s A Little Band of Lonesome Women (36" x 12" encaustic and photo transfer on birch panel) from a series based on archival materials of early Prairie women.

Take a totem tour today!

the finished 3D model, blueprints were produced and building began. “Technology is wonderful,” says Martin. “It allows people to enter the space at eye level and experience the effects of various adjustments.”

The Perrys required large wall spaces for artwork, plus they needed an abundance of natural light. Martin used clerestory windows on both external and internal walls. These narrow windows above eye level bring in angled light in winter but protect from direct summer sun. The artwork also required expert illumination. The warm LED spots recessed in the ceiling are all on dimmers.

“We did many walk-throughs with the YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2017

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YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2017 REV.#

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46 Above: From the iconic Indigenous artist Norval Morrisseau, also known as Copper Thunderbird, Untitled (Shaman) is a 48" x 40" acrylic on canvas.

Left: A paint-covered vintage globe from Douglas Coupland’s Trash Vortex series.

electrician, working out placements,” says Martin. The front foyer is a narrow entryway that holds key works from the collection, so that area required special attention. The owners had all the electrical outlets lowered to three feet above floor level. This clever adaptation prevented the switch plates from taking up valuable hanging space — and made them wheelchair accessible.

A TOUR DE FORCE Starting the tour in the living room, the cozy atmosphere of the original dwelling lingers. The heritage-style windows, upgraded fireplace, built-in bookshelves and cove ceilings say “curl up and read.”

Don’t miss the paint-covered vintage globe

by Douglas Coupland from his Trash Vortex series. You’ll find it tucked on the front window ledge among potted plants. Several luscious paintings by Joe Plaskett (1918-2014) offer sensual warmth to this area. In contrast, a painting called Fix’n up the House by Cree artist Allen Sapp (1928-2015) shows Prairie people battling harsh conditions.

Entering the great room, there is a glorious burst of colour and energy from a painting by Anishinaabe artist Norval Morrisseau (19312007). The open-concept great room is 1,400 square feet and combines an eat-in kitchen, dining table and seating area with fireplace.

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THE ART AND THE STORIES Pat Preston, chair of the Gallery Associates’ communications/marketing committee at the AGGV, is delighted to include the Perry residence on their major fundraiser.

“I marvel at the level of care that went into this remodelling,” Pat says. “They made a home for themselves and their artwork.”

The Perrys’ amazing art collection reflects years of mutual effort. The love of collecting began for the couple while they were travelling, and going to galleries and museums became a priority in their life. Having similar tastes in art helped focus their decisions.

“When we started collecting, we made a rule,” says Carla. “We both have to love it.”

They favour Canadian art, both historic and modern. Many pieces feature strong colour and figural works with narrative content. “[The artworks] really are like our children,” Michael says. “They all come with unique stories, and it’s hard for us to part with them.”

He enjoys doing research on interesting artists, meeting them and hearing details about their creative process.

One of his favourite artworks is a colourful collage, Palouse Patterns, by Ruth Sawatsky (1936-2012). He purchased the artwork in Tsawassen, then acquired two more pieces while visiting the artist’s studio. Shapes, patterns and interesting textures bring the works to life.

“She is not a famous artist,” he says, “but I get a lot of pleasure from viewing these pieces.”

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The owners were successful in creating a smooth transition from the charm of the original bungalow to the symmetrical balance of the new addition.

“We wanted this room to reflect our casual lifestyle,” says Carla, “and be welcoming to friends, grandchildren and dogs.”

Andy Dixon’s Group of Seven painting creates another bright oasis on the same wall. Dixon, a prolific painter with an anti-establishment edge, is very hot on the contemporary scene. The work reinterprets a historical photo of the Group of Seven seated together. (A framed copy of the original blackand-white photo sits nearby.) Delightfully irreverent and exquisitely rendered, the

painting sings with fauve colours and gestural brushwork. “It’s our conversation piece,” says Carla. “We both admire the social commentary and talents of Andy Dixon.”

Over the fireplace in the great room is a four-by-six-foot painting by Newfoundlander David Blackwood. Carla’s maternal grandparents were from Newfoundland, and her heart went out to this iconic marine drama. Monumental whale flukes splash against a stormy sky. The raging sea and fiery horizon, slightly askew, speak of unfathomable forces of nature and life-anddeath struggles.

“David is a great storyteller,” says Carla.

“We sat together and I gave him the last

Above: A selection of works by Newfoundland artist David Blackwood dominated by Twilight Sounding (oil tempera on panel, 48" x 72").

Left: Tidal (40" x 51," acrylic on canvas) is by Ray Mead, one of the Painters Eleven group.

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name of my grandparents. Right away, he connected them with a town and began reminiscing about the inhabitants.”

Another Blackwood painting, Night View from Fonte Vecchia, hangs in an alcove in the hallway. The watercolour recounts an Italian holiday in 2011. Emerald-green leaves and floating pink flowers fill the picture frame with delicate hues. A twilight landscape viewed through an open window shows a Tuscany hill town and cypress trees. On the table (in the watercolour) there is an art book about Italian artist Cimabue (1240-1302).

Carla managed to track down a coffeetable book on Cimabue and has it carefully placed on a table beneath the Blackwood watercolour. Attention to detail brings art to life in this home.

The master bedroom features an oversize painting, Room for Mystics No. 7 Energy Generator, by award-winning artist Sandra Meigs. Striking energetic spirals on a yellow ground give a lively zest to this 2016 painting.

“Every morning, this artwork fills me with light and hope and good energy,” says Carla.

Visitors on the House Tour will not see this painting, as it will be in Toronto, included in Meigs’ solo exhibition at the Art Gallery of Ontario, opening in October 2017. What will hang in place of the Meigs’ painting?

Something equally impressive, no doubt.

GET YOUR ART FIX

Left: Sandra Meigs’ Room for Mystics No. 7 Energy Generator (acrylic on canvas, 80" x 90") will be included in Meigs’ solo exhibition at the Art Gallery of Ontario this fall.

From an ultra-contemporary custom home with a display of striking nature photography to a bungalow that has been transformed into a work of modern architecture replete with the homeowners’ eclectic art collection, five unique properties await you on the 2017 AGGV Home Tour. This year, all the houses on the tour are in Oak Bay, making it an easygoing afternoon of enjoying art and beautiful homes. And don’t miss the featured local artist working at each location. Tickets are $35 and will be available on September 1 at the gallery’s front desk and online at aggv.ca/events.

Below: Night View from Fonte Vecchia (watercolour, 28" x 23")

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THE POSITIVE VIBE IN RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION WINNER: TS Williams, Project of the Year

2017 VIBE Awards Honour Exceptional Vancouver Island Building, Design and Innovation

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ach year, the VIBE Awards are eagerly anticipated by the Island construction community and consumers alike as a benchmark of excellence in the industry.

Some of the finest builders and projects on Vancouver Island have been recognized at the 2017 Vancouver Island Building Excellence Awards — known as the VIBE Awards. Hosted by the Canadian Home Builders’ Association – Vancouver Island (CHBA-VI), supported by Emerald Presenting Partners Slegg Building Materials and FortisBC, the coveted awards were presented April 1 at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre in Nanaimo.

Companies from all over Vancouver Island were recognized, including multi-award winners Pheasant Hill Homes of Nanaimo, who won five awards including Home Builder of the Year and Renovator of the Year. TS Williams Construction of Nanoose Bay won four awards, including Project of the Year.

MAC Renovations of Victoria also took home four VIBE Awards.

“The VIBE Awards are not only a chance to recognize excellence in the residential construction industry, but they are valuable for consumers,” said CHBA-VI Executive Officer Kelsey Botting. “Companies that have entered a professional awards program are communicating clearly that they are a professional, committed to their business and proud of their work. This can be an important factor for consumers in hiring a contractor.”

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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS EMERALD SPONSORS

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BRONZE National HomeWarranty/ Aviva, ASTTBC, Coastal Community Credit Union, Concept Photography

Lehigh Hanson Materials Ltd., Mayco Mix, ABC Concrete, Ocean Concrete, Floform

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Pre-Reception: Island Aggregates Chocolate: Herold Engineering Wine: Federated Insurance, Cambria

PHEASANT HILL HOMES has been committed to building eye-catching, energy-efficient and sustainable homes since 1999. Their dedication to custom-built homes ensures home owners are completely satisfied with their decision to trust Pheasant Hill Homes with their dream house.

The 2017 Vancouver Island Building Excellence (VIBE) Awards recognized Pheasant Hill Homes with awards for ‘Home Builder of the Year,’ ‘Renovator of the Year,’ ‘Best Environmental Initiative,’ ‘Best Renovation over $300,000’ and ‘Best Kitchen Renovation over $75,000.’ They apply their knowledge of building science to craft homes that minimize environmental impact and construct homes using building methods that surpass minimum code construction.

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HELPFUL ADVICE FOR HIRING THE BEST CONTRACTOR

VICTORIA’S LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

The Best of the Best in Building and Design The Canadian Home Builders Association of Vancouver Island’s strong code of ethics inspires their membership and influences their members’ relationships with the people they serve. CHBA’s focus on quality in business and services is why YAM is once again proud to be a sponsor for the VIBES Awards.

yammagazine.com

If you want to make an informed and confident choice when buying a new home or hiring a contractor to improve your existing home, start by contacting the CHBA. Through the national “Get It In Writing” campaign (hiringacontractor.com), you can educate yourself to feel confident in hiring a professional and avoiding underground deals.

“There’s nothing worse than hearing from a consumer who’s been caught in a project gone bad. We want to get the message out to call us first!” says Botting. “We’ll connect you with our professional members and resources to help you take control of your project so it goes as smoothly as possible.”

Locating a potential contractor is just the first step to a pleasant process and successful outcome. You need to check out prospective contractors thoroughly before deciding who to hire. It is important that you are comfortable with your contractor, that you trust them in your home, and that you have confidence they will complete the project as promised. If you don’t feel that way, you probably shouldn’t hire them.

One of the best ways to determine your comfort level is with thorough research and an interview. Some important questions to consider in making your decision are: • How long have they been in business?

• Do they have experience with similar jobs?

•A re they open with providing references from past customers?

•A re they easy to communicate with and transparent about the estimate and construction process?

CHBA members agree to abide by the code of ethics that requires high standards in customer relations and business practices. Members act with integrity and professionalism in all aspects of their company’s operations and are committed to industry excellence. The VIBE Awards program is another way for industry professionals to communicate their commitment to upholding high industry standards.

CHOOSING THE WINNERS VIBE Award projects were evaluated anonymously by a panel of industry professionals and long-time CHBA members from outside Vancouver Island. This panel considered factors such as design, materials, environmental measures, functionality of the floor plan and land use.

For a complete list of finalists, winners and project pictures, visit VIBEawards.ca.

For more information on the CHBA-VI and its members, go to chbavi.com.

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YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2017

Award-winning KB Design, recipient of the 2017 VIBE Award Project of the Year for The Element, is a full-service custom home design studio specializing in the design of fine homes that are energy efficient, light-filled, well integrated into their surroundings and inspired by contemporary West Coast architecture.

With over 28 years in business, Keith Baker, as owner and principle designer, heads up a team that has designed hundreds of homes on Vancouver Island, across Canada and the United States. By using state-of-the-art 3D modelling technology and bringing a fresh and positive approach to their projects, KB-designed homes are of the highest quality, truly unique and reflect the taste and integrity of their owners.

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WINNER: Pheasant Hill, Builder of the Year

Congratulations to the Winners of the 2017 VIBE Awards (Vancouver Island Building Excellence)

Best Single Family Home under 3,000 sq.ft. — sponsored by Slegg Building Materials: Creative Concepts Construction Inc, for Concrete Comfort

Best Townhouse Development — sponsored by Canadian Home Builders’ Association - Vancouver Island: Aryze Developments for Frank

Best Single Family Home between 3,000 - 4,500 sq.ft. — sponsored

by FortisBC: TS Williams Construction Ltd for The Element

Best Any Room - New or Renovation — sponsored by Lehigh Hanson Materials Ltd.: The Interior Design Group for Mariner Point

Best Single Family Home over 4,500 sq. ft. — sponsored by BC Housing: Horizon Pacific Contracting for West Coast Modern

Best Residential Renovation $200,000 - $300,000 — sponsored by ASTTBC: MAC Renovations for Suite Basement!

Best Single Family Production Home — sponsored by National Home Warranty / Aviva: Aryze Developments for Lateral

Best Residential Renovation $300,000 and over — sponsored

by Canadian Home Builders’ Association: Pheasant Hill Homes Ltd for Heritage Enlightened

Best Residential Renovation under $100,000 — sponsored

by Canadian Home Builders’ Association - BC: J. Zsiros Contracting Ltd for Knight Residence

Best Single Family Kitchen - New over $50,000 — sponsored by Travelers Insurance Company of Canada: TS Williams Construction Ltd for Atrium Beach House

Best Residential Renovation $100,000 - $200,000 — sponsored by Coastal Community Credit Union: MAC Renovations for Mid-Century Masterpiece

Best Single Family Kitchen Renovation $75,000 and under — sponsored by YAM magazine: MAC Renovations for Suite Kitchen!

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Best Single Family Kitchen Renovation over $75,000 — sponsored by Canadian Home Builders’ Association – BC: Pheasant Hill Homes Ltd for Heritage Enlightened Best Single Family Bathroom New over $30,000 — sponsored

by Concept Photography: GNB Builders Inc for Maison de Campagne Best Single Family Bathroom Renovation over $30,000 — sponsored by MNP: MAC Renovations for Serenity by the Sea Best Outdoor Living Space – New or Renovation — sponsored

by CTV: TS Williams Construction Ltd for The Element Best Environmental Initiative — sponsored by VIBE Awards: Pheasant Hill Homes Ltd for Gulf Island Sanctuary Best Interior Design Custom Residence - New or Renovation — sponsored by Canadian Home Builders’ Association –

Vancouver Island: The Interior Design Group for Mariner Point Best Innovative Feature – New or Renovation — sponsored

by Island Aggregates: Hanna Construction for 3816 Island Hwy

GRAND VIBE AWARDS: Renovator of the Year — sponsored by FortisBC: Pheasant Hill Homes Ltd Project of the Year — sponsored

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SURFACES WITH

style

The humble coffee table is a universally familiar furnishing, but that hasn’t always been the case. In fact, it’s a relatively new addition to the living-room landscape. This ubiquitous workhorse — and landing pad for its namesake as well as countless other items — can also be the standout statement piece of your décor. By Melissa Gignac

W

hen we look back at Western culture and décor, the coffee table as we know it — generally a low rectangular form averaging 15 to 19 inches high — didn’t actually make its way into European homes until the late 19th century. European households commonly utilized taller tea tables, generally a hinged circular surface

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atop a tripod stand, which could be folded down and stored against a wall when not in use. In Victorian households, these tables would be moved between seating arrangements by household staff, who would then serve tea to the host and guests.

As high-backed settees gave way to lower sofas, tall, narrow tables were often placed behind the sofas as a space to place one’s tea, and perhaps a lamp or candle.

These sofa tables are the predecessor to what we now know as the coffee table.

< This marble-topped pedestal coffee table with an antique brass base from Vancouver’s West Elm is elegant and sculptural but still substantial enough to put your feet up on. (westelm.com, $699)

The lowering and moving of tables to the front of the sofa was likely influenced by the Victorian obsession with the exoticism of Asian art and culture; it may have been adapted from the traditional low tea tables of China and Japan. The desire for this new form converged with the rise of the middle class, who, without servants in their employ, were tasked with serving guests themselves.

In the late 19th century, the legs of taller tables began to be shortened to accommodate the new serving style. By the early 20th century, low coffee tables were de rigueur, and the industrialization of furniture design birthed some of the iconic tables still in production today.

FIND YOUR FIT When choosing a coffee table, it’s important to consider not just style, but also function, and to ensure all furnishings in the room work in harmony.

Luxe Home Interiors’ Elaine Balkwill notes that it’s important the piece “fit the space correctly; it’s the right height, it’s pulling elements from the rest of the room.”

Balkwill says that she loves the complement of different elements. “So many places are going to have hardwood flooring, so it’s nice to add a metal and stone in, just to add more earth elements to the space.”

The Gradient from Timothy Oulton is crafted from the metal frame of a chandelier. Its light is gently diffused through the smoked-glass tabletop.

(Luxe Home Interiors, starting at $2,160)

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Zero gravity positioning reduces pressure on the spine, hips and knees, enabling sublime relaxation and healing, while elevating your feet above your heart to reduce swelling in the legs.

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Luxe’s showroom boasts pieces crafted of rigid acid-etched steel, industrial concrete composite, marble or salvaged wood, all of which add visual interest to living-room décor.

Balkwill notes that stone tops, historically fragile given their porous nature, are now generally sealed, protecting them from wine spills.

Shape is determined by the room’s style, and how furnishings are going to be laid

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out. Flanking a fireplace with two sofas? A rectangle will complement the symmetry. If the room has a lot of hard edges, a circular shape softens up the space. While there’s no standard height for coffee tables, sleek, lowslung modern furniture is going to pair well with a table with linear lines, around 15" high.

A more traditional setting will require something beefier, in the 17" to 19" range. This doesn’t mean going the matchy-matchy route; in fact, combining styles can create a more dynamic, inviting environment.

Max Furniture’s Rahim Khudabux notes, “We’re seeing a big mix right now. People are blurring the lines more than they used to.

People would come in and buy the full threepiece sofa sets, whereas now they’ll get a sofa, they’ll get a couple of chairs, a coffee table, and all three of them won’t match, but they’ll flow together.”

When furnishing small spaces, it’s imperative to find pieces that don’t overwhelm the room. Glass is a fantastic option as it imparts a visual lightness, keeping the space feeling open and airy. While glass may seem like a risk, Khudabux notes that high-quality glass will last forever; treated well, it’s unlikely to chip or crack. Acrylic is a lighter choice, while alleviating the fear of shattering the surface.

Khudabux also notes that options with angled legs add visual interest without adding bulk. In a larger space, a small glass table wouldn’t be substantial enough; a more traditional wood table, with visual bulk and weight, appropriately anchors the space.

A molded-glass waterfall table, such as this Blake Condo coffee table, is a classic option in acrylic. (Max Furniture, $599)

CHAMPIONS OF SMALL SPACES For spaces where storage is a concern, a multi-functional upholstered ottoman is a smart solution. Blankets and remote controls can be stored out of sight, they’re perfect for propping up feet, and they can be used as extra seating when guests outnumber sofa space. Top it with a pretty tray and you have a stable surface for your beverage. Pop casters on the bottom and it can be rolled out of the way when you need to pull out the sofa

2

THREE INCOMPARABLE ICONS

Many memorable coffee tables date from the midcentury modern era; most are still in production today. These beauties have never gone out of style — or out of shops. With knock-offs a-plenty, it’s fair to say imitation is the highest form of flattery — but not necessarily of value.

1

Noguchi Accent Table When it comes to icons of style, furniture experts Rahim Khudabux and Elaine Balkwill name the JapaneseAmerican sculptor Isamu Noguchi’s eponymous table as top of mind, and rightly so. The interlocking curved wood base topped by hefty plate glass is an enduring stalwart of mid-century design.

3

Saarinen 42" Oval Pedestal Table Perhaps more familiar in its dining-table form, Eero Saarinen’s 1957 Pedestal Table was intended to eliminate the “slum of legs” inherent in more traditional four-legged forms. Most commonly seen with a white base and white marble top, this table comes in a variety of wood and stone options to complement different living spaces.

Nelson Platform Bench Designed by George Nelson and produced as part of Herman Miller’s first collection in 1946, the familiar rectilinear form of the Nelson Platform Bench features wooden slats atop polished chrome or ebonized wood legs. Available in three legs, the Nelson Platform epitomizes multi-function — it can be used as both seating and surface.

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bed for any out-of-town guests. Bonus: beneath. It’s “clean and modern, but there’s the soft edges protect toddler chins and that multi-function purpose for a small clumsy-adult shins. space. You’ve got extra seats and you’ve Nesting tables — think the matryoshka got a surface.” dolls of furnishings — are a fantastic Just as versatile are groupings of two or option for significant surface without three smaller tables that can be pulled apart to a substantial footprint. The Fabulous move surface space where it’s needed most.

Find’s Greg James notes that they sell like INNOVATIVE DESIGN hotcakes. “You get three tables for one.

Tables with mechanics that allow them to And if they’re the right size, the biggest expand offer extra functionality, without one one is the coffee table, and you also have having to physically move them. Balkwill of end tables.”

Luxe Home Interiors points to a Home Articles Balkwill points out a modern take on stunner comprised of stacked disks that swivel the nesting form, Natuzzi Italia’s black out to provide additional surface space.

1 2017-07-19 1:21 PM glass tableROBP_Green_Burial_YAM_Half_Island_Bike_X1a.pdf with two ottomans that tuck

The two-level swivel glass coffee table with chrome base from Home Articles is space saving — and impressive. (Luxe Home Interiors, starting at $1,015)

With space being a premium, many living rooms are multi-tasking as eating spaces. James points to mid-century innovation as a solution — coffee tables that pop up to dining height, with leaves that draw out to accommodate a larger group. We may be seeing a resurgence of this innovation, particularly as tiny condos that don’t incorporate the luxury of a dedicated dining space become the norm.

Green Ride

Green Energy C

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An example of a mid-century convertible coffee table from The Fabulous Find, this 1960s teak model by Niels Bach Denmark converts into a dining table — perfect for small spaces.

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Max Furniture’s Khudabux notes that tables with this functionality are currently only available in expensive lines, though he anticipates that they’ll hit the mainstream suppliers at a more affordable price point.

With so much to consider when seeking the perfect table for your space, it’s a good idea to collaborate with a pro. A well-chosen coffee table will be the hub of your living space, complementing the home it inhabits and providing space for friends and family to gather around. Like those friends and family, you’re investing in something that will last a lifetime.

COFFEE-TABLE BOOK CHIC More than mere whimsy, the coffeetable book is part inspiration, part home décor and part shorthand to your personal style for your guests.

Here are a few of YAM’s recent favourites.

The Finer Things: Timeless Furniture, Textiles, and Details This beautiful book by Christiane Lemieux, the authority on outstanding design, will inspire and instruct, with compelling photos of great designs and passages that unpack the basics of home design and décor, from textiles to furnishings. (Random House)

The Coveteur: Private Spaces, Personal Style The Coveteur by Stephanie Mark is billed as an intoxicating combination of fashion eye candy, interior design and celebrity voyeurism. Created for the fashion obsessed, The Coveteur delves into the creative process and inspiration of 43 designers, models, fashion editors and other stylesetters.

(Abrams Books)

Bookniture Love books but lack space? Bookniture is extremely compact furniture that allows you to flip from a book to coffee table, small seat or footstool in seconds.

Bookniture is the brainchild of Mike Mak, who was given a honeycomb board sample a few years ago and was amazed by the strength of the structure. Thanks to a successful Kickstarter campaign, his idea became reality. (US$86 to $98, bookniture.com)

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THE FRENCH ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR UNDERSTYLED ELEGANCE, WHICH PLAYS SURPRISINGLY WELL HERE ON THE WEST COAST. YAM BRINGS YOU INSPIRATION AND ADVICE TO ACHIEVE THAT JE NE SAIS QUOI IN YOUR HOME.

d e w o r r o B the

By Danielle Pope

from

Soft harmonious colours are well balanced with the natural textures and antiques in this French-inspired bedroom.

CHRISTINE BAUER/LIVING4MEDIA

French

I

weeks in Paris and discovered the biggest difference between the regions was the use of space. Floors also become a decoration in themselves, from elaborately patterned woodwork in the dining room to the classic flagstone in the powder room.

“In France, everything is skinny and tall.

You’ll see 200-square-foot apartments with 11-foot ceilings,” she says. “The floors have texture, because many of these buildings have lived through eons of history, so sometimes they’re rough and gouged, refinished and worn again. You’ll see floors laid in herringbone, or on an angle, or shifting from wood to stone in different rooms.”

Next, focus on the room’s natural centrepieces: a highly designed fireplace, a crystal chandelier or an oversize gold-framed piece of art leaning against the wall. These items become the focal point, with everything built up around them. But, in typical French UNDER STYLED, UNDER STAGED fashion, don’t get too committed to one look.

There’s a feral domesticity to French “It’s not just one idea décor that’s as hard — it’s all of them,” says to capture as it is to Lounsbury. “In a true imitate. But Lounsbury, French kitchen, instead principal designer at Lana of plain white, you’d Lounsbury Interiors, says see Italian influences, it can be done. She’s been separate pieces of captivated by the look cabinetry, open shelving, since she was a budding hanging pots and designer, when a mentor appliances spaced so introduced her to the separately they almost principles of French have their own section design. The trick is to of the kitchen.” do less — much less.

Lounsbury never saw “The French celebrate a pantry in any Parisian economy in everything, home. With a culture and yet there is luxury,” Lana Lounsbury that celebrates the she says. “They care about freshness of markets and art, but not their kitchen the pleasure of desire, cabinets. They care about their homes, but they she thinks this reflects a “pick what you need, don’t fill them with thousands of objects. You when you need it” mentality. won’t see a space in France that looks overly A LITTLE OF THIS, A LITTLE OF THAT decorated — there’s an organic feel, like it just came together on its own.”

When it comes to sculpting the French Lounsbury points out that in Western bedroom, Pinterest provides rich inspiration, culture, we quickly get caught up in the with stylish images of cottage-white rooms, “perfect” image, with straight lines, parallel exquisitely decorated. The key to a real patterns, furniture that matches and cohesion French look, however, is keeping it eclectic. throughout the house. In France, only A few pillars will guide you: use natural favourite items are kept, passed down or linens with plenty of layers, play up the purchased at garage sales. It makes for an feminine with delicate eyelet lace, and use eclectic milieu, but a hard one to recreate texture to build the room — nubbly rugs, authentically. puckered duvets, pillows and plushy throws.

The best place to start, according to In the casual country style, colours are Lounsbury, is with the bones: the preoften in monochromatic creams and whites, existing architecture of the house. If your with an accent of colour found on a bookshelf home has any natural elements, like stone or in a beloved chair. Tables are mismatched flooring, a ceiling with exposed wood, a and often painted, and a few treasured objects brick wall or Venetian plaster, showcase adorn the space. The bed frame is made from these “rough” spots. You don’t need a lot of iron or brass, but it could also be a platform space to pull off the French look, though you mattress or a four-post bed, with pillows do need some height. Lounsbury spent five stacked and blankets hastily arranged.

f a Parisian-inspired room could talk, designer Lana Lounsbury believes the words “I just woke up like this” would capture its spirit.

Think tousled linens, layers of plush throws, curtains hanging casually off a tall window, etched flooring betraying years of wear and a rumpled rug laying a pathway into the room. One painted bookshelf with a handful of favourite titles is gathered to the corner, a white geranium in a brass vase perched on its top. Two pillows carelessly decorate a bedside chair, and hanging just above is a perfectly-out-of-place Italian chandelier. Somehow, it all works.

You might say there isn’t a lot to this room, and you’d be right; it’s sparse, monochromatic and as mussed as a Sunday morning. Yet everything nesting here makes a statement — and it’s graceful in its freedom.

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Helping you make more dough Modern French

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Keeping it Simple®

“The main thing is that this space looks lived in,” says Lounsbury. “It’s chic, not glam — there are no matching end tables, smooth bedsheets, bright metals or sparkles (except maybe the chandelier) and it feels comfortable. It’s a place you wouldn’t mind spending your time.”

Though “French country” with its monochromatic whites and easy nature is often what people picture when they consider the look, French décor tendrils itself in a few directions. Old-world France plays up the Château style, with the gilt sheen of gold motifs and a nearly over-thetop reverence for luxury antiques. It’s a “just less than cluttered” look, though here the mismatched nature takes on a collector’s feel.

Meanwhile, modern French style pulls colour back into its palette, with bold oranges, blues, greens and reds contrasting a familiar theme of greys and whites. In modern style, there’s no obsession with the past, but that “thrown together” look is pervasive.

It can be described as a “just moved in” or “just moving out” look. Artwork, for example, is found throughout the house, but is seemingly abandoned on the floor, leaning against a couch or bookshelf, even stacked.

Then there’s the new-world collaborative French theme, which Janice Long, principal

GERALDINE JAMES ANNE-CATHERINE SCOFFONI/LIVING4MEDIA

French Countr y < When people hear “French style,” they often picture French country, with its monochromatic whites and laidback feel. A great example of this easy décor style is Geraldine James’ dining room, shown in The Creative Home, from CICO Books.

Far left: Modern French uses familiar themes of greys and whites, but includes some bold colour in its palette.

designer of Calla Design, is particularly keen on. Long plays with a French-Asian fusion, toying with bold colours and a spark of glam beside embroidered textures and beaded fabrics.

“All you need is one jumping-off point to get started: a favourite colour, a fabric that catches your eye. It doesn’t have to be a lot, but it can transform your home,” she says.

Long helps clients create their own fusion looks, combining everything from classic country coastal to minimalist old-world ranch or Asian gilt modern. The looks are endless.

As France is famous for its flea-market finds, Long also helps people source one-of-a-kind treasures to complete their homes.

“I love the richness you find from blending styles,” Long says. “It creates an upscale, classic appearance, and it’s very French this way: everything comes together, just so. You only have to decide on your focus — how much of one pattern, or one colour, can you take?”

MORE THAN THE EIFFEL TOWER For the spirited do-it-yourselfer, Victoria is home to a variety of shops that will help capture your own French style. French Vanilla Home and Garden offers guests everything from Parisian linens and enamel dishes to refurbished dressers and paint to create the look. Owner Sheila Stone even runs

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MAGDALENA BJORNSDÖTTER/LIVING4MEDIA

5

WAYS TO PAINT LIKE THE FRENCH

If you’re ready to transform your old furniture into chic French-inspired pieces, these techniques will help you create elegant and rustic treasures. For a hands-on approach, consider taking a painting class taught

by Sheila Stone at French Vanilla.

Use a mineral-based furniture paint.

Mineral paints won’t soak into the wood, and they leave a waxy finish, meaning your piece comes out looking catalogue-worthy.

Sand if necessary. Depending on the piece, sand first to help the colour set on your furniture.

Find the right white. While the French-country look doesn’t boast a lot of colour, a Parisianinspired white contains just a whisper of pink.

Don’t be too perfect. The messy, scuffed look is part of the Parisian charm — don’t spend too much time getting everything even.

Texturize it. After the paint has dried, use a sheet of sandpaper to gently distress the finished project, as much or as little as you like.

CASEMENT

Using mineral paints such as Fusion on furniture requires little prep work.

Casement, from the Fusion Classic Collection, is a neutral warm white that pairs well with virtually any colour. Little Piggy, from Fusion Tones for Tots, is the soft pink of a blush rose. (Both available at French Vanilla.)

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LITTLE PIGGY

ANNE AND PETER RIVETT

“ The biggest takeaway is that these loo ks aren’ t fussy — they just evolve on their own ...”

A bedroom in the French style from The Creative Home

by Geraldine James, from CICO Books.

1023 Fort Street, Victoria BC . 250 920 7653 . www.heartandsoleshoes.ca Illustrations Created by Freepik

workshops on how to transform furniture pieces — and entire rooms.

“You can incorporate almost anything into French décor, but just as important is what you choose not to keep,” says Stone, who has shifted her own preferences from French-provincial, with its stately Eiffel Towers, to French-Nordic, for a rustic, woodsy approach. “The biggest take-away is that these looks aren’t fussy — they just evolve on their own, and you don’t have to be consistent.”

While Stone has spent years honing her eye, she says a few shortcuts will help: steer away from the clichés (overused landmarks, French writing and, yes, the Eiffel Tower), as you’d never see any of that in a Paris apartment. Travel to the places you want to imitate (even if it’s just through Google) to get a sense of how everything really comes together. Put yourself in your style. Above all, Stone says, create an environment that feels like “you” — Pinterest images look nice, but a room will be more meaningful when adorned with your own treasures.

“You don’t have to paint every piece of furniture, and you can mix and match with French style,” Stone says. “There’s a freedom here that we aren’t as comfortable with in Western culture. It’s a lot of fun to just play, and the imperfections are what makes it perfect.”

CLIENT: MAYCOCK EYECARE YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2017 PUBLICATION: YAM MAGAZINE SHIPPING DATE: TBD 2017; AD SIZE: 4.94” x 4.7”

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The Authentics

Graham and Ashleigh Newmarch in Calculus, their high-fashion showroom in Oak Bay. Graham is wearing a tee and trousers by Jan-Jan Van Essche; Ashleigh is wearing a shirt dress by Jan-Jan Van Essche.

By Athena McKenzie Photos by Jeffrey Bosdet

THESE LOCAL TASTEMAKERS OFFER PROOF THAT THE SECRETS TO GREAT PERSONAL STYLE ARE CONFIDENCE, EXPLORATION AND EMBRACING YOUR INDIVIDUALITY.

Punk & Romance Graham and Ashleigh Newmarch bring the world of alternative high fashion to Victoria.

F

or Graham Newmarch, a Shakespearean actor by training, the most exciting part of the theatrical process was always dress rehearsal.

“Whenever I was in a play, as soon as I put the clothes on, it dictated so much about the character,” he explains. “For me, clothes have always been an exploration of self, the kind of self you want to show the world. It’s also about getting to know yourself.”

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“costuming” to develop her personal style.

“We both dabbled with dressing to stand out when we were young, and our younger selves would probably think we’re quite frumpy now,” she says with a laugh. “It’s really essential to do that costuming; to wear a lot of things and explore different characters. And whether you’re getting negative or positive attention, you notice. Once you distill what you like, that costume becomes your uniform. You get to that place of feeling great and not having to think about it. That’s the golden ratio.”

Calculus is located in Ashleigh and Graham’s

renovated 1903 Arts and Craft home in Oak Bay. The majority of their sales are online, but local “fashion geeks” have been known to make an appointment to check out the high-end garments rarely seen in the city. The two also run re. porter, an online consignment store of curated avant-garde and artisanal high-fashion menswear.

Both Calculus and re. porter carry some of the alternative designers, such as Rick Owens and Ann Demeulemeester, whom Graham first discovered in the early 2000s, when he was indulging his obsession with clothes on Internet

discussion forums superfuture and StyleZeitgeist.

“Ann Demeulemeester was all dark poetic punk and romance, and that’s what I loved about it,” Graham says. “I still feel like I dress in alternative fashion, but the embodiment of that has changed a bit. That does have a little bit to do with being 33 and a homeowner.”

Graham describes his esthetic now as “alternative high-fashion Belgium streetwear,” while Ashleigh loves a sense of uniform and is drawn to bigger, breezier silhouettes.

“We love pieces that you can wear a lot,” Asleigh says. “If I love something, I want to be able to wear it all the time.”

This means that dressing up doesn’t look much different from everyday wear, with Ashleigh wearing her favourite outfit and Rick Owen wedges to the pub or to the opera.

Both say that while they have been wearing a lot of black for many years, they were drawn to the natural, undyed cream linens on their recent buying trip in Paris.

“Fashion has become so democratized. I’m sick of people thinking they can take any [piece of clothing] and wear it in black and that makes them cool,” Graham says. “I hate to admit it, but I do have a deep desire to be different than the mass population of people — so I’m going to have to start wearing more colour.”

As Ashleigh puts it, their style is their “little bit of self-expression.”

introducing

250 590 1110 Made in canada

parcmodern.com

STYLE FAVOURITES FAVOURITE ACCESSORY:

Graham: Sterling silver twisted pinky ring from Werkstatt:München Ashleigh: Ann Demeulemeester sterling silver feather necklace

GO-TO SHOES:

Graham: Ann Demeulemeester low-top sneakers

Ashleigh: Rick Owens wedges

COVETING:

Graham: Handmade jacket from Geoffrey B. Small Ashleigh: Hand-dyed natural indigo kimono from Jan-Jan Van Essche

MOVIE/SHOW ESTHETIC:

Graham: Jean-Paul Gaultier's work in The Fifth Element; Yohji Yamamoto’s costume design in Brother and Dolls

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Vintage Maven A passion for retro inspires milliner Maria Curcicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eclectic fashion.

Milliner Maria Curcic photographed at home in front of her painting Underground Movement, wearing a jacket by Nea Sandi and one of her own hat designs.

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A

s morning rituals go, Maria Curcic’s sounds pretty enviable. She stands in front of one of her two huge doublewide closets and selects whatever appeals from the colour-coordinated sections.

It’s a cornucopia of pattern, in lush fabrics and textiles — much of it vintage — collected for more than three decades.

“Fashion should be expressive and intuitive,” Curcic says. “It’s about expressing your own personal style through clothing and accessories … mine is eclectic and eccentric.”

That wide-ranging aspect of her style extends to her career, which includes hatmaker, painter and DJ. “These are the three things I have always done to make my living as an artist — and it is work,” she says.

Curcic was born in Paris, and although she moved to Calgary when she was eight, she says her time in France was very formative.

“My mother always had me in hats and special little outfits when we ventured to go shopping or to get our bread and cheese at the market,” Curcic says. “She is a seamstress and always made me aware of the fashion around me.”

Her mother also taught her to sew and bestowed the important lesson that “no

matter how one dresses, an accessory will always finish the outfit.”

A visit to Paris when Curcic was in her teens resulted in a visit to a milliner — a friend of her mother’s — and that was when Curcic first learned to make hats.

“I was designing hats for a friend’s store in 1988 [in Calgary], and after several years of growing popularity, she encouraged me to open my own store,” she says. “In 1994 I opened my shop, Le Chapeau Rouge.”

Today, based in Victoria, Curcic creates custom designs for clients around the world.

But not all of her hats make it far. Curcic loves dressing up, and the finishing touch is often

one of her own creations.

“Dressing up means ‘play,’” she explains.

“And I always accessorize with a hat. I make pieces and I fall in love with them.”

Not surprisingly, Curcic doesn’t subscribe to trends and has a particular dislike for denim, which she blames for killing fashion.

She thinks people need to open their eyes to all the accessible things that designers are actually doing in the fashion world.

“Shredded denim, athletic wear, hoodies and flip-flops are not really fashionable, just highly marketed,” she says. “People should experiment with their clothing. There’s not enough colour in people’s wardrobes.”

STYLE FAVOURITES SIGNATURE SCENT:

GO-TO SHOES:

Christian Dior J’adore

Fluevogs

MOVIE/SHOW ESTHETIC:

The Fifth Element and Mad Men

STYLE BOOK:

Alexander McQueen’s biography

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Nicole Sleeth | (detail) Valerie ll | Oil on Linen | 80 x 37 - 2016

AGGV_9929_AG026.indd 1

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Mix & Match Partners in love and business, the styles of McCauley Wanner and Ryan Palibroda of Alleles Design Studio artfully complement each other.

Ryan Palibroda and McCauley Wanner in the studio for Alleles Design, which creates decorative covers for prosthetic legs.

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cCauley Wanner wants to make something clear: fashion and style can be used to solve problems — and make the world a better place.

“Some people think it’s frivolous and shallow,” she says. “But really, style can define you as person. It’s how you project yourself to the world, and that’s the entire mission behind our company. We didn’t start it as a prosthetic company; we started it with the fashion aim first, and then it evolved into prosthetic covers.”

Alleles, whose studio is based in Market Square, makes fashion-forward decorative covers for prosthetic legs in bold colours and designs.

Their goal is to bring people chic designs, styling inspiration and the chance to evolve their wardrobe.

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2017

When it comes to personal style, Palibroda believes it is the “narrative that one creates for oneself.” The two describe their own styles as very different but complementary.

“I do a lot of thrifting and I like a lot of vintage things,” Wanner says. “Things with history in them.

My favourite thing that I have is an old jewelry box filled with costume jewelry. I can imagine the people who wore them before.”

Palibroda says that layering is Wanner’s skill but that he himself prefers to be “super simple” and doesn’t really like to wear accessories or jewelry. For her part, Wanner describes Palibroda’s style as very European.

Their different approaches do make their way into the studio.

STYLE FAVOURITES

So Longed For 24 x 48 Oil on canvas

“We are so different in our styles, and we even design differently; it’s a mesh of those esthetics,” Palibroda says.

Often design inspiration comes from the simple question, “Would I wear this?” explains Wanner, referring to how different colour palettes and patterns come into play.

Working in the studio means opportunities for dressing up don’t happen as often as when the pair worked in Montreal — Palibroda as an architect and Wanner as a “user-experience designer” for an advertising agency. But they are able to take joy in the way their clients express themselves with their creations.

“We recently got a three-paragraphslong email from one of our clients, a young woman in her 20s who previously only had the foam cover,” Wanner says. “She loves fashion and she used to hate getting up in the morning to get dressed. But now she can’t wait to get up to pick the clothes that she wants to wear. That’s important, to feel confident in what you are wearing. That’s fashion working right there.”

KIMBERLY KIEL IMPASTO Sep 21 - Oct 2 Artist Reception: Saturday, September 23 1 - 3pm

FAVOURITE ACCESSORY:

McCauley: Salvador Dali “Telephone” earrings

2184 Oak Bay Avenue Victoria www.theavenuegallery.com

Ryan: A good pair of sunglasses

GO-TO SHOES:

McCauley: Day to day: A silver metallic pair of ankle boots with a chunky 1.5-inch heel. For a night out: Irregular Choice heels Ryan: Sneakers

SIGNATURE SCENT:

McCauley: Chanel No.5 Ryan: Jean Paul Gaultier’s le male or Givenchy’s Pi

COVETING:

McCauley: Jean-Paul Gaultier’s fullbody houndstooth look from his 1991 collection or any of the dress/shoe combos from Alexander McQueen’s 2010 Plato’s Atlantis Collection Ryan: Steve McQueen trials jacket with a crooked breast pocket

MOVIE ESTHETIC:

McCauley: The Grand Budapest Hotel Ryan: Trainspotting

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Day to Night Kari McLay, owner of Oak Bay boutique Tulipe Noire, wearing Ted Baker London, in front of a painting by Bill Porteous.

Boutique owner Kari McLay blends old-world elegance with a modern twist.

K

ari McLay has been helping people with their style for decades — even back when she was working as a clinical social worker at Jubilee Hospital.

“People always asked me about skincare and where I exercised and got my hair done,” she says. “That still happens now, but they don’t have to ask me about the clothes because they can see them in the store.”

McLay opened her clothing boutique Tulipe Noire in 2005 and much of what she sources for the store is based on her own “simple and easy personal style,” which she believes can work for anyone.

“I always choose for comfort and simplicity and then I accessorize,” McLay says. “It’s about choosing a great foundation piece in a high-quality fabric and then

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2017-03-28 11:00 AM

STYLE FAVOURITES

Tequila Sunrise 54 x 90 Mixed media on canvas

layering with jewelry and/or scarfs. I just have fun with that. And it can’t take more than five minutes to get dressed. I don’t wear a lot of trousers because that means two pieces and maybe a belt and buttons on the shirt. So I wear a lot of dresses, and I can wear that one piece from nine in the morning until midnight — but I might change up my accessories.”

These accessories are just one way McLay is able to indulge her love of the visual.

She draws inspiration from art and interior design, design and dance theatre, and says she loves old-world style combined with modern.

She describes her esthetic as multi-faceted, with the way she dresses and the way she decorates her house as having very distinct styles.

“What’s interesting is that in my own personal style I don’t wear a lot of colour or a lot of print, but in my home, I love a lot of colour, and velvet and layers of colour,” McLay says. “I’m an art collector, and the more colour the better.”

While her style remains easy and elegant, McLay does love to dress up for a formal occasion. As a member of the board of directors for Dance Victoria and a sponsor of their post-performance events, she’s often called on to thank donors and sponsors.

“It’s a big part of my life, and I really enjoy the opportunity to dress up when I go,” she says. “It’s one way I show my appreciation for the arts. I love silk taffeta dresses with a bit of old-world glamour.

“Even if I’m the only person in a long gown at the Royal, I’m cool with that.”

BLU SMITH THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE Oct 26 - Nov 6 Artist Reception: Saturday, October 28 1 - 3pm 2184 Oak Bay Avenue Victoria www.theavenuegallery.com

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FAVOURITE ACCESSORY:

Book Printing

Silver Kwagiulth First Nation cuff from the 1950s, inherited from my mother.

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GO-TO SHOES:

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Elk men’s lace-up loafers

WARDROBE STAPLE:

Eileen Fisher white cotton or linen shirts

MOVIE ESTHETIC:

The Shining.

“The interiors are stunning.”

Visit our new fine writing pen centre!

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2017

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STYLE WATCH Fashion Stylist: Janine Metcalfe Photos by Mackenzie Duncan

Embrace a luxurious layered look this season with textured handmade pieces, designer knitwear, unstructured silhouettes and an organic, natural palette.

Season of Mists and Mellow

Cashmere poncho ($1,295) and leggings ($325) in peacock, both available at Black Goat; hand-knit alpaca scarf by Hendrik Lou (hendriklou.com or in store at Open House, $200); bosco green Sienna boots (Heart & Sole Shoes, $175)

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Fifth Label knit sweater (Frances Grey, $168); le Fe Maraboute culottes (Frances Grey, $265); WovenWares wool vest (wovenwares.xyz, $200); Fara cowl by Hendrik Lou (hendriklou.com or in store at Open House, $140); scrunch socks in white (Heart & Sole Shoes, $27); camel Sienna boots (Heart & Sole Shoes, $170)

WovenWears gold dress (wovenwares.xyz, $355) and WovenWears wool coat (Hold General Store, $300), both woven

by May Cloth Studio; black linen wrap by Hendrik Lou (hendriklou.com or in store at Open House, $120); grey scrunch socks (Heart & Sole Shoes, $27); camel Sienna boots (Heart & Sole Shoes, $170)

Grey unravel sweater (Nicole Bridger, $398); black Belief pant (Nicole Bridger, $198); black Peruvian hand-knit wool sweater ($450) and washed alpaca scarf ($200), both available at hendriklou.com or in store at Open House; grey scrunch socks (Heart & Sole Shoes, $27)

Vintage linen jumper (Open House, $90); cotton cashmere Balance sweater (Nicole Bridger, $288); linen wrap and cream toque in alpaca wool (hendriklou.com or at Open House, both $120)

WovenWares linen dress (wovenwares.xyz, $325); hand-knit cardigan by Hendrik Lou in Peruvian wool (hendriklou.com or at Open House, $450); moss toque by Hendrik Lou in alpaca wool (hendriklou.com, $120); rain boots (Heart & Sole Shoes, $149); white scrunch socks (Heart & Sole Shoes, $27)

Model: Kim Noseworthy, Key Model Management Hair and makeup: Anya Lewis, Lizbell Agency Title inspired by John Keats’ ode “To Autumn” Special thanks to Paul Dimont for his location assistance at Shawnigan Lake.

SCENE

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NOAH’S

ART YAM talks to artist and jazz musician Noah Becker about his “New York state of mind” and why the Big Apple keeps beckoning him back.

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By David Lennam

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Free family fun

Live Music | Horse Drawn Carriage Rides | Food Trucks Kids Crafts & Activities | Interactive Heritage Displays Vintage Dress Up Station | Historic Tours Plein Air Art Contest

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2017-01-11 10:07 AM

I

t’s hard to believe Noah Becker once called himself “a feral hick from the sticks who learned the ways of the city later on.”

It must be later on.

That 47-year-old hick, and part-time Victorian, has prospered in New York City as painter and jazz musician after twice moving there — once in 1997 and again in 2010 — following in the footsteps of another New Yorker, Andy Warhol, who immersed himself in a multidisciplinary model of creating art.

When I ask Becker what label I can pin on him — musician, painter, writer, magazine publisher, art show curator, filmmaker — he offers a wry smile like he was hoping I’d ask.

“I don’t think that just because you do something, suddenly that’s another career to pile on …” he says. “As far as saxophone playing goes, I do it professionally and I record and I perform, but I’m more interested in writing music and recording music than I am in touring all over the world, so it’s a little bit like Glenn Gould deciding to not tour.”

“Just don’t become some sort of weird recluse and carry your own chair around and gobble amphetamines and …” I tell him.

“Well, anything’s possible,” he responds.

NO IRONY HERE Achieving celebrity in a city of celebrities is no easy task. It means numerous museum and gallery shows, 30 years of making thousands of paintings, gigs with famous

A RITE OF PASSAGE Moving to New York has always been a rite of passage for artists and writers.

Becker figures he was meant to be there.

He has grooved on what Billy Joel once sang of as a “New York state of mind” since he began hosting a cadre of visiting Canadian jazz musicians at his Brooklyn apartment in the late 90s, all of them on pilgrimage to the jazz world’s capital.

“The reason I live in New York,” he says, “is there are a lot of people like me, the sort of people from this small town and that small town with a sense of hyper-talent — or their community propped them up to a certain point and said, ‘Oh, you’ve got to go to New York because you’re too big for this town.’

“That’s a stereotype I’ve let go of. Like that scene at the end of Pulp Fiction where Samuel L. Jackson is talking about getting out of the crime industry and just walking the earth. I feel like I’m edging up on the ‘walk the earth’ phase of my career.”

There’s also an art to living in New York — more than just surviving it by pounding the pavement until your feet bleed.

“New York is the kind of place people go where they expect to be world famous in six months and then die at the age of 27,” muses Becker.

“People who grow old in New York usually are millionaires and billionaires because they have the opportunity to not have to fall down the subway stairs in their elderly years. They can have a driver and they can wear their giant round glasses and their all-black clothing. So it’s sort of a wild thing to be 40 years old and decide to move there. New York takes a lot of energy. It’s a place, to sort of quote Glenn Gould again, that’s a debut city, like everybody goes there to have their debut.”

JEFFREY BOSDET/YAM MAGAZINE

musicians. And making a living in New York means living in New York, curating art shows, creating a documentary about the city’s current art scene called New York is Now, and publishing the online Whitehot Magazine of Contemporary Art, an insider’s guide to the international art world.

Those who remember Becker’s days in Victoria in the 90s as a Hermann’s Jazz Club regular with his big alto sax, splashing canvases at his Chatham Street studio or creating a giant portrait of Tchaikovsky onstage with the Victoria Symphony, might recall a too-serious twentysomething with a chip on his shoulder.

But what some perceived as hubris might just have been self-confidence. Enough to fuel his Big Apple successes.

Without a hint of irony, Becker offers up that his entry into the Victoria scene was as prodigal wunderkind. He found a city where he could acquire a following and make a living painting and playing music.

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“

I want to be what’s happening rather than go to where it’s happening.

MAKING THE MARK That’s what New York has done, opened him up to opportunity, like it has so many before him. And that’s why Becker will continue finding himself drawn back to that city.

“I came to the conclusion that people like Bob Dylan, or Warhol, or Ornette Coleman, or whomever it may be that’s associated with New York, they were there for a period of time, but they’re associated with that city forever — and I think that’s kind of the goal for me,” he says.

“I want to be associated with New York, so I guess I’m just trying to make a mark and create an association with the cultural pulse of that city. And I don’t know how long I’ll have to interact with that to make that happen, but I’m not putting pressure on myself.”

NOAH BECKER

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A STATE OF BECOMING Born in Ohio and raised on Thetis Island by American parents, both potters and later the owners of Artworld, the art supply store on Yates, Becker was “encouraged, not forced” to become an artist.

At age 11 he started playing sax. At 15, wanting to be a comic-book artist, Becker attended the Victoria College of Art to draw better Marvel comics.

“That ended up turning into ‘art’ and, to my surprise, I made things that people considered art.” Like the two giant portraits of Mozart and Rossini that hung in the lobby of the Royal Theatre.

Other influencers became part of his script: Francis Bacon, Arthur Rimbaud, Charlie Parker and Ornette Coleman, whose horn he got to play during a visit to the late jazz visionary’s apartment. Becker found the Pulitzer Prize-winner to be more philosophical than gregarious.

“He wasn’t the kind of guy where you show up and go, ‘Hey, how you doing?’ You’d go in there and you’d be like, ‘How you doing?’ and he’d say, ‘There’s all these people in the world and not one of them is trying to find out who they are. Do you agree?’”

Becker’s sax lesson from the master was trippy. Coleman had him play the same note 10 times.

“Finally, when I played the note for the 11th time, he goes, ‘There it is.’ He opened me up to things I hadn’t considered before, which you’d expect from someone like that.”

CULTURE X3

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RIFFLANDIA TURNS 10!

Moby, Zeds Dead, Bonobo, July Talk, A Tribe Called Red and a zillion other eclectic acts: the 10th anniversary of Victoria’s primo outdoor (and indoor) music festival means everywhere you turn for four days will have live music (like the this-can’t-be-Victoria Electric Avenue) in true festival spirit. Atomique consistently serves up a repertoire of international-calibre concerts.

Royal Athletic Park & various locations, September 14 to 17, rifflandia.com

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ATOMIC OPERA And you thought The Sweet Hereafter was grim and gripping. Celebrated filmmaker (and hometown boy) Atom Egoyan steps from behind the lens to direct the dark and musically ° , for extraordinary opera Jenufa Pacific Opera Victoria. It’s the piece, it is said, with which Czech composer Leoš Janá ek conquered the world.

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YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2017

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PHOTOS: JO-ANN LORO/YAM MAGAZINE

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DESIGNING THE DISTRICT VICTORIA’S DESIGNER HOTSPOT OFFERS THE CHANCE TO LIVE IN CREATIVITY.

By Danielle Pope

T

he corner of Johnson and Government is alive with visitors today. Two women rush past me, a clutch of shopping bags between them. A group of twentysomething men strut through the crosswalk with iPhones and skateboards in hand. Despite the sun, brick buildings with arched windows cast shadows onto the pavement, and a busker sets his hat on the sidewalk before picking up his guitar. Shop doors open in a line down the street, welcoming in passers-by with signs boasting local wares.

There’s a shift in the city’s vibe here, distinct from other areas of downtown. This district feels raw, creative and well worn; you can feel the remnant grit of a neighbourhood that’s bounced back from difficult times — that’s lived through a haunted history and repainted its buildings in hopeful shades of modern style.

This is Victoria’s Design District, a vibrant place whose trendy veneer does not, importantly, hide decade upon decade of stories.

GETTING COHESIVE I decide to tour the district with designer Iván Meade, creative director and principal at Meade Design Group and one of the region’s most prolific designers. Meade’s studio focuses on everything from interiors and graphics to fabrics, artwork and, recently, chocolate. The Mexican-born designer has been pushing the cohesion of this designer hot spot since his studio opened in 2002 — 88

YAM MAGAZINE SEP/OCT 2017

and he was the creative force behind branding much of the neighbourhood. Though the district officially launched in 2007, it took years of collaboration to get it there, and it’s still growing.

“These shops could be anywhere, but the owners choose to have them here, and we’re lucky for that,” says Meade. “We have the opportunity to experience world-class design and craft in our own city, without having to go to New York.”

It’s a busy weekday afternoon when Meade and I start our tour at the shop just below his studio on Government Street: Lore General Store, which showcases local wares and maker workshops, from ring making to weaving. Meade moves about the shop with the excitement of a hunter, pointing out fine textures and fabrics. He talks to the owner about his favourite locally crafted honey — made in small batches from Mellifera bees — and asks when the new batch will arrive.

My fingers play with the cotton tassels of a Turkish tea towel, and the smell of cedar soap and rosemary fills the air.

As we tour the Design District, it’s clear that a sense of community runs deep. Shop owners stop what they’re doing to shake Meade’s hand and greet me. I discover the creation of this district was the city’s attempt at mending an area so affected by petty crime, homelessness, rundown buildings and a low profile that businesses risked extinction.

The revitalization invited businesses to become part of an official precinct — one that showcased a style-centred way of life. That’s why the district is hard to define geographically: it’s a milieu of shops and buildings that joined over time, from Government and Johnson to Wharf and Herald, Market Square, Dragon Alley and parts of Chinatown. What they all have in common is a focus on creative living — whether through interior design, furniture and art, or local eats and stylish self-care.

CREATIVE MASHUP From Monarch Furnishings to Swans Hotel, Brewery & Pub, the district is a mashup of artisan talent that grows its kitsch from capturing some of the city’s most historic warehouse buildings.

“I love the energy here,” Meade tells me.

“We didn’t just want to rescue the buildings and shops — we wanted to restore a sense of community. We care about each other.”

We explore Bois & Cuir, a hip new furniture gallery on Government, then head down Johnson through more of Meade’s favourite haunts: the teeny-tiny Salt & Pepper Fox, Meade’s kryptonite for quick lunches; Rook & Rose, where he buys his floral displays; Citizen Clothing, which supplies most of his wardrobe. At the base of Wharf and Pandora, where the Janion recently turned abandoned buildings into a thriving hub of stylish micro-suites, we duck into Paboom Home Imports: Meade’s “save my hide” store.

“We didn’t just

want to rescue the buildings and shops — we wanted to restore a sense of community.

We care about each other.”

IVÁN MEADE

Opposite: 1 Chester Fields; 2 Monarch Furnishings; 3 Paboom Home Imports; 4 Rook & Rose; 5 The Drake Eatery patio in Market Square; 6 TRIG Vintage; 7 Dragon Alley heritage apartments

Today’s discovery is a black ceramic whale.

“I like how chubby he is,” Meade says, smiling.

Later, we pass Sager’s Home Living on Government and Herald streets — another of Meade’s favourite hot spots for home furnishings.

Above Sager’s, and throughout the district, heritage apartments are home to artists, designers and makers. Dragon Alley blends history with live-work modernity — Moore Paterson Architects won awards in 2001 for the conversion of these derelict buildings into updated live-work townhouses. This is how an area transforms, Meade tells me.

We stop at a Herald Street classic, TRIG Vintage, with its mid-century modern décor.

It looks like a retro flashback to my parents’ home, but it’s a warehouse of possibility for Meade.

“I get a burst of adrenaline every time I come here,” says Meade, confessing his storage unit is full of found treasures waiting for use.

And amid the historic streets, treasurefilled alleys and local-to-luxe boutiques and eateries, the vibe is one of creative possibility.

“This place is remarkable,” says Meade.

The sun catches the warmth of the old brick buildings, adding a glow to the old sash windows. Somewhere in this district, right now, someone is finding an outlet for their creativity.

®

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DO TELL THE PURSUIT OF CREATIVITY

By Kerry Slavens

T

he first thing to know about Ines Hanl is that she lives in a world of creative possibility. The second thing is that she has a delightfully cheeky tendency to reframe interview questions. And why not? Her life has morphed around a desire to reshape reality, first as a child in a German household where she felt an urge to redesign the work of her mother’s decorator. “When I look back at my childhood, I don’t see colour; I see beige because that is what he did to our home.”

In pursuit of a creative life, Hanl became a theatrical seamstress-turned-costume-designer before receiving her MA in Innenarchitektur (interior architecture). After meeting her husband, the display- and theme-park designer and artist Klaus Kinast, the couple moved to Victoria and opened The Sky is the Limit Interior Design Concepts, bringing a fresh, creative outlook to the local interior-design scene.

During our interview in her Humboldt Street studio, Hanl sits beneath one of Klaus’ paintings, a portrait of the enigmatic goddess Fortuna, whose lovely countenance looks so favourably upon Hanl’s zest for pursuing a deeply creative life.

Who’s your favourite hero of fiction? Pippi Longstocking.

I loved her independent mind, and that she kept her black-andwhite horse in her very colourful house ...

Is that your final answer? Well, the first character that came to my mind was Jeannie on the TV show I Dream of Jeannie.

You have to see her through the eyes of a child who grew up in a bleak 70s German household. She looked so exotic in her Moroccan-style boudoir in the bottle and her pink outfit ... and she could do magic!

What’s your greatest achievement? I’d say turning childhood trauma into positive energy. But that has a lot to do with my genetic disposition. I have a certain resilience and some people may not have that ... So can I really say I’ve “achieved” that?

No, but without resilience I would not be where I am.

Your idea of perfect happiness? Firstly, good food, shelter and companionship, and secondly, to find the magic in the everyday.

Which colour or pattern best describes your personality?

Black-and-white geometrics combined with a colourful floral.

Which living person do you most admire? I really don’t have one person, but I do admire anyone who shows grace under adversity.

What qualities do you most admire in your friends? Integrity, intellectual curiosity and inspiration.

What traits do you most deplore in others? Greed and lack of common sense.

Ines Hanl in an Arne Jacobsen egg chair manufactured

by Republic of Fritz Hansen, from Gabriel Ross.

What’s your biggest fear? The first thing that came to mind is having a disease like ALS, but really, it’s being “caught” — not being able to move or escape. I’m thinking of it as an emotional as well as a physical condition.

Which historical figures would you most like to talk with? Jesus, Morgan le Faye of the King Arthur legends, the Mayans and the people who built Stonehenge. All of them were involved in events at a time when society went through huge changes ...

What’s your greatest extravagance? The spontaneous answer is Fluevogs.

And the non-spontaneous answer? To live in Victoria. That has to do with both my career and Klaus’s, because doing what we do, if we really wanted to make money we would live elsewhere — but we choose lifestyle over money.

If you were to die and come back, who or what would you be? An animal in my household. The other answer is that I truly accept astrophysicist Carl Sagan’s premise that we are all made from stardust. If we are all “recycled” matter, it means that I have been and will be everything, so I won’t miss out.

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JEFFREY BOSDET/YAM MAGAZINE

On what occasion do you lie? I can omit, but I cannot lie.

One size fits seven.

Think big and go big with the All-New 2018 Volkswagen Atlas. Pack in the fun with loads of room for passengers, cargo, or both. And plug into serious digital connectivity, entertainment, and more.

2018 Atlas.

From just $37,685.* Exceptional exists for less than you think.

Volkswagen Victoria A Division of the GAIN Dealer Group 3329 Douglas Street | 250-475-2415 | vwvictoria.ca |

VolkswagenVictoria

Volkswagen

Highline model shown for illustration purposes only and may contain upgraded equipment. *Starting from price is based on 2018 Atlas 2L Trendline 8-Sp Automatic with Tiptronic® model with a base MSRP of $35,690, plus $1,995 freight and PDI). DOC ($395), environmental levies ($100), license, insurance PPSA fee (up to $45.48, if applicable), registration ($495), options, any dealer or other charges, and applicable taxes are extra. Visit Volkswagen Victoria to view current offers. “Volkswagen”, the Volkswagen logo, “Trendline” and “Atlas”, are registered trademarks of Volkswagen AG. ©2017 Volkswagen Canada. DL 49914428 #31186

LEAD SPONSORS

“They raise the bar, and then they jump over it.”

Aspen Santa Fe Ballet

Company artists in 1st Flash. Photo © Rosalie O’Connor Photography

– New York Times

// Contemporary Ballet

A tender and energetic program by leading dance-makers from Spain and Finland NOVEMBER 17 + 18 • 7:30 PM ROYAL THEATRE Single tickets now on sale!

BOX OFFICE: 250-386-6121 ONLINE: DANCEVICTORIA.COM

From

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SEASON SPONSOR PUBLIC SECTOR

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