FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015
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ELEGANCE AND OPULENCE Highlights from the Luxury Home Show
T
he Vancouver Convention Centre was transformed May 2-3 into a 58,000 square foot mansion. The second annual 2015 Luxury Home & Design Show showcased collaborated vignettes between some of the city’s top architects, builders, interior designers and most exclusive international vendors and furniture makers. The fair is said to be the only Canadian exhibition featuring curated home furnishings and well-known brand names of the rich and famous. Organized by Taste of Life magazine publisher Wendy Guo, the show is also the first of its kind in North America. This year it attracted approximately 3,000 of arguably some of Vancouver’s wealthiest residents. With tickets going for $100 (or $150 for access into the VIP room) to $200 for a weekend pass, affluent attendees enjoyed the show sipping on a cocktail or glass of wine, serenaded by a pianist. Decked out in their finest, people milled about, checking out the opulent spaces designed by local and international trendsetters often seen in the pages of home design magazines. The Italian-inspired $250,000 grotto bathroom with $18,000 gold faucets, handcrafted marble sinks and Versace wallpaper attracted lots of attention, as did the Frenchchateau inspired gardens and cov-
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ered lanai. A wall covered with a custom Chinois floral wallpaper by England’s de Gournay, whose handpainted frescos grace dresses worn by Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, greeted the crowd as they entered the venue. “The show was much better than our first. This year was about redefining what luxury means,” Guo says. “It was also about fuelling the desire in all homeowners to appreciate the work that goes into creating beautiful homes. It’s not all about money; it was about the craftsmanship involved in the beautiful pieces of furniture and accessories.”
ate a similar look for less, says Chrissy Cottrell, principal designer of Vancouver’s Chrissy & Co Design Savvy, who designed the space. “Check out estate sales, antique and secondhand stores to find quality, affordable vintage pieces,” she adds. “Add gold accessories, in a brushed finish, to add elegance. Lastly, paint, pillows, lighting and flooring don’t have to be expensive but can give that look of elegance.”
Luxury Bathrooms on a Budget REW asked Joy Chao of John Henshaw Architect to give tips on how to create an indulgent, beautiful ensuite bathroom on a budget. She said: “So often I have seen homeowners think the way to make a place looks luxurious is to install as many expensive things as possible. That’s really not the case. One can have a simple white bathroom, but by adding some nice touches – a nice vase filled with flowers or striking accessories such as soap dishes and lush towels – you can create a spainspired space. “Other easy tips include: hanging a few unique prints for artwork to add more visual interest and paint the walls in a rich tone of colour. These small things can convert a simple bathroom into a very beautiful space.”
Indulgent Grandeur In one corner of the centre, Joy Chao of John Henshaw Architect created an indulgent $50,000 Renaissance bathroom. The inspiration came from Stile, an Italian hardwood floor company, which she says creates interesting design and specialty finishes for their hardwood floor every year called StileLab. The great room was resplendent in Paramount Furniture’s tobaccocoloured leather chairs and a Roche Bobois ivory and taupe undertone sectional, Venetian wall paneling and a crystal and brushed gold chandelier. Although the great room on display is affordable mostly to the wealthy, there are ways to cre-
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