Western Living - AB, May2016

A Stunning New Home Design in West Vancouver Spring Getaways: The Ultimate Gulf Island Travel Guide

WESTERN LIVING // MAY 2016

Fresh & Modern

PLUS Designs to Inspire Your Next Dinner Party

Modern living, rain or shine.

The Dune Sofa. View all 10 of our exclusive outdoor lounge and dining collections at crateandbarrel.com.

Shop our entire collection | Vancouver • Calgary • Edmonton • Mississauga •Toronto • Laval | 888.657.4108

M AY 2 016 A L B E R TA // V O LU M E 42 // N U M B E R 4

SPRING FLING 30 // Poured Vision

Perched on a challenging site in West Vancouver, this concrete creation from design team McLeod Bovell is a revelation.

38 // Full Service

A trio of tabletop looks, inspired by Calgary’s Dinner by Design event.

STYLE 19 // One to Watch

Steven Pollock turns humble concrete into something beautiful.

20 // Shopping

Stunning blown-glass lights, EQ3’s designer collaboration and more new pieces we love.

COVER: Martin Tessler; this page: McLeod house: Martin Tessler; Dinner by Design: Robert Lemermeyer

30

22 // Openings

Your first look at new rooms, expansions and fresh locations across the West.

FOOD 47 // Bites

Learn to sear a steak like a pro and make a cornbread panzanella salad to go with it.

TRAVEL 51 // The Ultimate

Gulf Islands Primer

20

These magical isles, happily existing in their own orbit, make the perfect weekend escape— one that includes hiking, kayaking and taking things seriously easy.

PLUS 57 // Sources

Designer contact info and local resources.

38

58 // Trade Secrets

Here’s how a splash of colour is going to instantly upgrade your kitchen. westernliving.ca / M A Y

2016 3

send a CARE PACKAGE to YOUR MOM AND HERS.

Seventy years ago, we delivered the first CARE Packages to war-torn Europe. Today, with the help of Canadians, we deliver more than the contents of a single box.

When you honour someone special in your life with a CARE Package, you help a woman in a developing country to raise herself and her community out of poverty. There are more than 40 gifts to choose from such as warm blankets and a safe baby delivery.

Customize her CARE Package at care.ca/mom

Are we the missing puzzle piece in your Renovation or New Build Project?

Let us help you piece together your project and make it fit your dreams perfectly!

Design, Kon-struxion... Perfection.

Contact us to Schedule your Personal In-home Renovation Consultation 403.769.1440 www.kon-strux.com

SEE OUR BATHROOMS ON

Beauty on th

We start with superior ra beauty and natural grain sanded smooth and finis

Beauty on the inside. And out.

We start with superior raw materials and end with the delicate touch of hand-finishing to reveal the wood’s beauty and natural grain characteristics. And on the inside, our solid wood dovetail drawer boxes are sanded smooth and finished with a crystal clear coat - no sharp edges, unfinished surfaces, or unsanded joints.

Modern, contemporary designs and quality European craftsmanship.

Merit Kitchens—an experience for life. Canadian-made, German-engineered.

Modern, contemporary d Canadian Made. Germa

Toll Free: 1-800-663-2992 merit-kitchens.com

SPONSORED REPORT

The Best of the West by Bike

Explore some of Western Canada’s most celebrated sights on the back of a Harley Davidson® motorcycle this summer

W

hen we think about Calgary summers a few things come to mind: floating down the Bow River, cracking a cold one at a backyard BBQ, and of course the Stampede. But nothing says summer quite like a road trip. Stop by Kane’s Harley-Davidson® Calgary to get geared up before you hit the open road. Whether you’re hoping to buy new, pre-owned, or rent for the weekend, Kane’s will help you find the perfect fit. The rest is up to you—but here are a few suggestions to inspire you.

1. INVERMERE, B.C.

Located in the heart of the Columbia Valley, not far from the Alberta border, Invermere has always been a popular choice among Calgarians. With immaculate golf courses and one of the region’s warmest lakes, it’s no secret why. Follow the Trans-Canada west to the Rockies before detouring south into B.C. and enjoy some of the country’s best views along the way.

2. JASPER, AB

Looking for a longer ride? Explore two of Canada’s most stunning national parks (and that’s saying something) along Highway 93N. Banff makes a convenient coffee stop en route to the spectacular end goal.

3. ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE, AB

Explore the iconic expanses of Wild Rose Country with a trip to Rocky Mountain House.

Poised at the confluence of the Clearwater and North Saskatchewan Rivers, Rocky Mountain House promises a small town escape just two hours from the big city.

Created by the Western Living advertising department in partnership with Kane’s Harley-Davidson® Calgary

THE HARLEY-DAVIDSON® STREET TM 750, the perfect bike for Calgary’s inner city.

Pick yours up today.

Retail Store 403-269-8577 Rentals 403-262-5462 914 - 11th Street SE Calgary, AB

THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA

WESTERN LIVING editorial editor-in-chief Anicka Quin art director Paul Roelofs food and travel editor Neal McLennan senior editor Stacey McLachlan associate art director Naomi MacDougall assistant art director Jenny Reed staff writer Julia Dilworth contributing editors Amanda Ross, Nicole Sjöstedt, Barb Sligl, Jim Sutherland, Julie Van Rosendaal city editors Karen Ashbee (Calgary) Jyllian Park (Edmonton) Shelora Sheldan (Victoria) editorial interns Ellen Koehler, Sally Michael White art intern Ying Tang

Book by Craig Lucas Music and Lyrics

by Adam Guettel

email mail@westernliving.ca

westernliving.ca online editor Stacey McLachlan online coordinator Kaitlyn Gendemann

“The most intensely romantic score of any musical since new york times West Side Story” the

production manager Lee Tidsbury designer Swin Nung Chai

Produced in arrangement with Turner Entertainment Co. Owner of the original motion picture Light in the Piazza Based on the novel by Elizabeth Spencer Directed by Michael Shamata photo by david cooper

APRIL 26 to MAY 22, 2016

#tcPiazza Tickets: 403-294-7447 theatrecalgary.com Original Broadway Production by Lincoln Center Theater, New York City, 2005, The World Premiere of Th e Light in the Piazza was produced by the Intiman Theater, Seattle, Washington, Opening Night: June 14, 2003, Bartlett Sher, Artistic Director, Laura Penn, Managing Director and the Goodman Theater, Chicago, Illinois, Opening Night: January 20, 2004, Robert Falls, Artistic Director, Roche Schulfer, Executive Director, Developed with the Assistance of the Sundance Institute Theatre Laboratory

WesternLiving.ca

Untitled-3 1

2016-02-23 12:05 PM

Daily stories that connect you to the best of Western Canadian designs. Fresh, local topics that keep you in the know. Plus the Western Living Recipe Finder, with hundreds of our best recipes that you’ve come to expect from Western Canada’s lifestyle source—as gorgeous on your phone as it is on desktop.

But that’s just the beginning.

See more at WesternLiving.ca.

The West lives here. Daily.

1 0 m a y 2 0 1 6 / westernliving.ca

marketing & events manager Dale McCarthy events coordinator Laura Lilley marketing assistant Kaitlyn Lush administrative assistant Kaitlyn Gendemann tel 604-877-7732 fax 604-877-4848 customer service/subscriptions web westernliving.ca tel 855-626-4200

PRIVACY POLICY On occasion, we make our subscriber list available to carefully screened organizations whose product or service might interest you. If you prefer that we not share your name and address (postal and/or email), you can easily remove your name from our mailing lists by reaching us at any of the listed contact points. You can review our complete Privacy Policy at westernliving.ca.

WESTERN LIVING MAGAZINE is published 10 times a year by

Yellow Pages Homes Ltd. Copyright 2015. Printed in Canada by TC • Transcontinental, LGM-Coronet, 737 Moray St., Winnipeg, Man. R3J 3S9. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Circulation Dept., Ste. 560, 2608 Granville St., Vancouver, B.C. V6H 3V3.

Distributed free in areas of Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary, and Edmonton. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited. All reproduction requests must be made to COPIBEC (paper reproductions), 800-717-2022, or CEDROM-SNi (electronic reproductions), 800-563-5665. The publisher cannot be responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. This publication is indexed in the Canadian Magazine Index and the Canadian Periodical Index, and is available online in the Canadian Business & Current Affairs Database. ISSN 1920-0668 (British Columbia edition), ISSN 1920-065X (Alberta), ISSN 1920-0676 (Manitoba/Saskatchewan).

Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement #40068973.

WESTERN LIVING PUBLISHER

& Tom Gierasimczuk

GM

VANCOUVER & VICTORIA OFFICE ADVERTISING SALES DIRECTOR Edwin Rizarri EMAIL Edwin.Rizarri@ypnexthome.ca ACCOUNT MANAGERS Corinne Gillespie, Nicole Lilly, Carly Tsering, Gabriella Sepúlveda Knuth SALES COORDINATOR Karina Platon Suite 560, 2608 Granville St., Vancouver V6H 3V3. TEL 604-877-7732 FA X 604-877-4849

U.S. SALES REPRESENTATION, MEDIA-CORPS TEL 1-866-744-9890 EMAIL info@media-corps.com

CALGARY

#10 - 102 BOW MEADOWS CRESCENT, T1W 2W9 CANMORE, ALBERTA, CANADA 403.678.6131 RUDIPEETGOLDSMITH@GMAIL.COM RUDIPEETGOLDSMITH.CA

& EDMONTON OFFICE ACCOUNT MANAGER Anita van Breevoort 2891 Sunridge Way, NE. Calgary, AB T1Y 7K7 CALGARY TEL 403-461-5518 EDMONTON TEL 780-424-7171 FA X 403-685-0582 EMAIL Anita.VanBreevoort@ypnexthome.ca

www.ypnexthome.ca

PRESIDENT Jacky Hill DIRECTOR, NATIONAL SALES & CHANNEL MANAGEMENT, LIFESTYLE Nadine Starr NATIONAL SALES MANAGER, NATIONAL SALES & CHANNEL MANAGEMENT, LIFESTYLE Ian Lederer NATIONAL SALES DIRECTOR Moe Lalani DIRECTOR OF CONTENT Susan Legge

The Western Living e-newsletter brings you inspired home and entertaining ideas three times a week, including:

YELLOW PAGES NEXTHOME HEAD OFFICE

• Exclusive home tours • Design advice from the pros • Wine picks • Fabulous events • Must-try dishes from our Recipe Finder PLUS entertaining tips, fantastic contests, getaway guides, cooking tips, and everything else you need to know to live life well in the West.

1 2 m a y 2 0 1 6 / westernliving.ca

500–401 The West Mall Etobicoke, Ontario M9C 5J5 TEL 855-626-4200 FA X 416-789-9705

YELLOW PAGES DIGITAL MEDIA SOLUTIONS LTD. VICE-PRESIDENT & CHIEF PUBLISHING OFFICER Caroline Andrews

&

WL // EDITOR’S NOTE

Q& A This month we asked our contributors, now that the weather is warming up, what’s your favourite summer cocktail?

Lu s F y, P ‫ה‬r “Оe t ” 19 I’ll have the occasional cocktail, but my preferred summer beverage is an ice-cold beer. My Mount Pleasant neighbourhood has several outstanding breweries and they’re always creating tasty new options—this summer I’ll be looking for saisons, sours and a smooth German kölsch.

Ju a l rth, S ff W r “ y Is ” 51 When it’s done properly (i.e., without that Ghostbusters-green premix) a tart and salty lime margarita hits the spot every time. It’s got to be on the rocks (slush is for suckers), in a squat glass and with chunky salt on the rim.

Behind the Scenes Photographer Lucas Finlay gets a shot of designer Steven Pollock for our One to Watch this month (page 19) as he finishes up one of his pieces.

Pollock’s studio is in the original boiler room of the famed Parker Street Studios in Vancouver.

VISIT

ANICK A QUIN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ANICK A.QUIN@WESTERNLIVING.CA

1 4 M A Y 2 0 1 6 / westernliving.ca

FOLLOW US ON

Anicka Quin portrait: Carlo Ricci; styling by Luisa Rino, makeup by Melanie Neufeld; clothing courtesy Holt Renfrew. Photographed in home designed by Kelly Deck Design

“JUST WAIT.”

Once, while I was visiting the second home of a West Vancouverite in the south of France, the caretaker of the house told me how much she enjoyed watching the transformation of urbanite guests who arrive at the home.

Their first instinct was always to make a to-do list of everything they wanted to see, and to get her insider’s take on the best local spots to buzz over to. Her advice, she told me with a mischievous smile, was always, “Just wait.”

Because inevitably, she said, visitors let the spirit of the place sink in and stop the rush. To appreciate the view to the vineyards of Languedoc from a lounge chair with a glass of local sauvignon blanc, and to forget about the to-do list.

I got a small taste of that over a recent long weekend on Salt Spring. (Catch our ultimate guide to the Gulf Islands on page 51.) My fi rst day was spent attempting to maximize my time there: exploring all the stores in Ganges, following the official Studio Tour map to hit the wool producers and cheese makers, and circumnavigating the island to make sure I’d seen it all. (And to taste as many things as I could: Café Talia makes a mean chocolate peanut butter bar; Barb’s Bakery an excellent cinnamon scroll.)

And while I loved all that touring (and joining the locals on a Saturday night at the movie theatre and the local pub), reflecting back, one of the highlights of the weekend was the hours I spent gazing out a picture window in my weekend home at the Stonehouse B&B, glass of extra special bitter from Salt Spring Island Ales in hand, watching the boats in Ganges Harbour. It’s the real gift a vacation brings: to stop my puttering and get my shoulders to drop a few inches.

As we head into the West’s warm season, I hope you’ll soon be finding your own special getaway (might I recommend Salt Spring?)

—a place where you can pair the excitement of exploration with time spent just sitting back and, in the spirit of “just wait,” letting the quiet moments do their work.

YOU, TOO, CAN LIVE THE

LEGEND Estate s ize lots over 10,0 00 sq ft Mountain Views Private G ated Com munity Custom Designed Homes Walk Ou t Bungal ows Architec tural Co ntrols Close to Shopping Close to Schools UNBELI EVABLE VALUE MAINTE NANCE F REE LIV ING NATURA L PARKLIKE SE TTING

Enjoy your maintenance free lifestyle in one of Calgary’s only gated communities.

These exclusive custom designed walkout estate bungalows enjoy mountain views on spacious 10,000 square foot lots, all this with only a 15 minute drive to downtown.

New Floor Plans Available

|

Homes and land from $1.6M

Quite simply ... a better home

403.243.0500 legenddevelopments.com

WL // @WESTERNLIVING

LETTERS, ETC.

Tweet, message, ’gram or email (mail@westernliving.ca)— we love to hear from our readers!

VISIT US Want more Western Living?

Fresh stories daily on the new

RESCUE MISSION

WESTERNLIVING.CA

In “Modernism Revisited,” (April 2016) a Vancouver couple rescued a 1970s gem of a home.

Very cool! #Renovation improving and respecting its form. #architecture @MTNBVAN

Nice to hear this story. I watched the transformation. Nice work :) Y VONNE WILLIAMS

Love florals. This tops them all.

WHOA.

So much better than the fauxcraftsmen or French châteaux that are replacing older homes now. Good for them.

MARILYN STEARMAN VALDES

LYNNAE TERRILL

@PATTONI

Our readers fell hard for this painterly peony wallpaper from Area Environments’ new mural collection.

Stunning. Wallpaper done right is a wonderful enhancement to the decor and ambience of a room.

TERRY L. CALVELEY

Good news: you’ll save on ART. BILL KEARY

SUBSCRIBE

The latest trends, recipes and goods to hit our editors’ desks, delivered to your inbox.

ONLINE THIS MONTH

Find the May issue’s web exclusives at westernliving.ca.

DESIGN

DRINK

FOLLOW US FACEBOOK.COM/ WESTERNLIVINGMAGAZINE

FOOD

TWITTER.COM/ WESTERN_LIVING PINTEREST.COM/ WESTERNLIVING INSTAGRAM.COM/ WESTERNLIVING

Inside an Enviable Bathroom

Designer Victoria McKenney of Enviable Designs creates a spacious master ensuite without sacrificing square footage elsewhere.

1 6 M A Y 2 0 1 6 / westernliving.ca

Your Summer Sips Playbook

This season, let’s aim higher than a cooler full of Bud. Here’s our thoughtful guide to the summer tipple (with help from some of the West’s best barkeeps).

Seafood Paella with Chorizo

Boulevard Executive Chef Alex Chen shows us how to make a mean pot of seafood paella—with a spicy chorizo twist.

YOUTUBE.COM/ WESTERNLIVINGCA

Bathroom: Martin Tessler; summer sips: Page and Paper; paella: Leila Kwok

WESTERNLIVING.CA

CR

EA TI

NG

A

FO UN

DA TI ON

FO RE VE

RY G

RE

AT RO OM

FLOOR COVERING Red Deer 1 - 6013 48 Avenue |

Calgary 5914 3rd Street S.W.

| Edmonton 5055 Gateway Boulevard

RAFA NADAL

NEW DEKTON XGLOSS ULTRABRILLANT SURFACES

SPECTRA SOLID Collection

COSENTINO CENTRE CALGARY 10301 19TH STREET N.E. UNIT 101 CALGARY, AB T3J R1 587.538.8301 COSENTINO CENTRE VANCOUVER 152 8518 GLENLYON PARKWAY BURNABY, BC V5J B6 604.431.8568

DEKTON XGLOSS is the new family of polished Dekton surfaces that presents an extraordinary crystalline shine.

A unique new finish. This polish offers a radiant sparkle unlike any other, while maintaining the well-known physical resilience of Dekton.

THE BRIGHTEST DEKTON PROPOSAL. WWW.DEKTON.COM

STYLE

S H O P P I N G // T R E N D S // P E O P L E // S PA C E S // O P E N I N G S // I N T E L

ONE TO WATCH

Concrete Ideals

Steven Pollock, Woodstone Design, Vancouver

Lucas Finlay

It all started with a love of concrete.

“I’ve always been attracted to it, just walking through the city,” says Steven Pollock of Woodstone Design. “I like its mass and heaviness; it has a real presence.” When Pollock left behind a life in the global telecom industry 12 years ago, he decided to try turning that love into a new career, teaching himself the ins and outs of the medium.

Since launching his new career, he has built up his skill set, combining the industrial feel of concrete and steel with the natural lines of wood to create everything from large-scale fireplace installations to custom furniture. “It’s a frustrating material to work with,” he says, “but I embrace the little air bubbles and imperfections that come from it.” —Sally Michael White

Urban Influence See Pollock’s work at Kate Duncan’s Address show, May 5 to 8 in Vancouver in the Waterfall building.

westernliving.ca / M A Y

2016 19

WLSTYLE // SHOPPING

Pile On

A a’s Pi

There’s a hand-drawn vibe to the stripes that run every which way on this cozy highpile Birket rug ($199). Ikea, across the West, ikea.ca

Assembly Armchair $329, available at EQ3, eq3.com I love it when large companies use their heft to shine a spotlight on local talent. Winnipeg-based EQ3 has released their own capsule collection, Assembly, and the designers involved read like a who’s who of today’s most interesting makers. Take Matthew Kroeker: his armchair is an interpretation of the iconic Windsor chair, with a continuous steam-bent back and arm rail, streamlining the chair and improving the structure.

Light It Up The only thing lovelier than a blown-glass Nostalgia pendant lamp ($720) hanging above your dining table is a cluster of them (mix the crystal, chrome, gold and rose gold options for an elegant, eclectic look).

Lightform, Calgary and Edmonton, lightform.ca

For more of Anicka’s picks, visit westernliving.ca

NOTEWORTHY New in stores across the West

Balancing Act

Bee Cool Thrilling Throw It’s lucky that the Hay Mega Knit blanket ($395) is so lightweight— the pretty pink palette of the Norwegian-inspired pattern makes it the ideal throw for spring.

Kit, Calgary, kitinteriorobjects.com

2 0 M A Y 2 0 1 6 / westernliving.ca

Buy one of J.Crew’s Save the Bees pocket squares ($53), decorated with colourful insect illustrations from London’s Marcel George, and proceeds will go to Buglife, a conservation charity: a beeutiful idea. J.Crew, Calgary and Edmonton, jcrew.com

These Palace Thai rice bowls ($36 for set of four) bring the ideal hit of rustic pattern and exotic colour into a sleek, modern kitchen.

Williams-Sonoma, Calgary and Edmonton, williams-sonoma.ca

WLSTYLE // SHOPPING

OPENINGS Hot new rooms we love

CALGARY Range Road Furnishings A pair of engineers embraces their artistic side through handcrafted furnishings with a rustic bent: think rugged, solidwood benches, custom barn-style doors and live-edge tables. rangeroad furnishings.com

Working It

Two-Sided When the faux-leather topper is set flat side up, the wire Bend Switch ($650) makes for the perfect cocktail table; flip it over to transform the piece into a cushioned stool.

The Uncommons, Calgary, theuncommons.ca

O N E - Q U E S T I O N I N T E R V I E W WITH BRETT LAVENDER AND MARK GENEROUX

Proprietors, Range Road Furnishings

Chic Chair The Apelle dining chair (from $660) puts the metal of the moment, rose gold, to good use as a frame for a sleek colouredleather seat. Resource Furniture, Calgary, resourcefurniture.com

How does working with wood affect your designs?

Each one of our projects is a little different and has its own character; imperfections in the wood can become the highlight of a piece—the material inspires the design for sure. We use wood sourced from the West Coast, like Douglas fir, and when you’re working with something so raw and natural, you get surprised a little bit.

CALGARY Consignment Curating by RSHF The high-end consignment store— sister to the well-loved Robert Sweep Homefurnishings—features plenty of intriguing, gently used designer pieces for the stylishand-thrifty set. robertsweep.com

2 2 M A Y 2 0 1 6 / westernliving.ca

VICTORIA Thorn and Thistle In addition to beautiful flowers, find a well-curated selection of giftables (Amelie Mancini linens, Woodlot soaps and Lux et Terra beeswax candles) at the quaint floral shop’s new location. thornandthistle.ca

VICTORIA Trig Vintage Pop in regularly to see the constantly changing selection of mid-century modern furniture, quirky art pieces, statementpiece curios and great kitchenware on offer at this inviting Herald Street vintage shop. trigvintage.com

VANCOUVER Hugues Chevalier The Parisian brand makes its Canadian debut, bringing a modern interpretation of Art Deco to a line of sophisticated furniture designs, including sleek leather sofas and smartly designed coffee tables. hugueschevalier.com

Thorn and Thistle: Emily Johnson

MORE NEW ROOMS

ADVERTISEMENT

MAKE ROOM FOR STYLE WITH THE D E S I G N T R E N D S E V E R Y O N E ’ S WAT C H I N G .

Learn how you can incorporate the latest window fashions in your home with the style experts of Budget Blinds.®

ROMANTIQUE

Pale pink becomes a power colour and takes center stage as one of two hues chosen by Pantone as Color of the Year. Large-scale blooms and botanicals bring nature inside. Grey reigns as a classic complement to lighter, chalkier hues. Metals, woods, glass, and ceramics bring textural interest and keep pastel rooms from becoming too cutesy.

Tracy Christman Vice President of Vendor Alliance

In her role at Budget Blinds, the world’s largest window coverings franchise, Tracy travels the world to bring the newest must-have window fashions to your door. Her strong relationships with leading manufacturers help her identify the colours, styles, and trends that will transform your rooms, beautifully.

For even more of Tracy’s style forecasts and ideas about how you can incorporate them into your home, go to blog.budgetblinds.com

GLOBAL ARTISTRY

Inspired by travel and adventure, the trend is a modern take on global patterns, fabrics, and crafts. It’s all in the mix. Embroidery, caning, animal hides, even macramé, give a handcrafted, organic feel to accessories. Soft pastels contrast with deep blues and greys. Ethnic accents complete the look.

MASCULINE MÉLANGE

Black continues to be a strong colour preference for walls, windows, and metal accents. Vintage details add a timeless quality. Rustic woods contrast with classic shapes in furnishings. Leather, copper, wire, and natural elements give texture and shine throughout a room.

To schedule your FREE In-Home Consultation, visit BUDGETBLINDS.COM Canada’s #1 Choice for Window Coverings ©2016 Budget Blinds, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Budget Blinds is a trademark of Budget Blinds, LLC. and a Home Franchise Concepts Brand. Each franchise independently owned and operated. Franchise opportunities available.

1,000s of looks. 100s of colours. 25 brands.

1 stylish you.

Over 1,000 Style Consultants just a call or click away.

866-973-3086 // BudgetBlinds.com In-Home Consultation. Expert Measuring. Professional Installation. The Strongest Warranty. ©2016 Budget Blinds, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Budget Blinds is a trademark of Budget Blinds, LLC. and a Home Franchise Concepts Brand. Each franchise independently owned and operated.

Join the #1 window coverings franchise†. Call 1-800-420-5374 or visit www.budget-blinds-franchise.com. †Entrepreneur® magazine, 1996-Present.

SPONSORED REPORT

DESIGN YOUR LIFESTYLE Calgary’s Dorsia Designs builds homes to suit their owners

T

he City of Calgary continues to grow and with it the reputation of Dorsia Designs.

The custom home design and renovation company, which opened their new office on Calgary’s 17th Avenue SW in 2015, has quickly earned the respect of homeowners across Western Canada.

Their approach is simple: maintain an open line of communication with homeowners. “We believe that you should design your budget before you design your home,” explains Founder Karl Nekrep. “That’s how attainable project goals are set and achieved.”

Their emphasis on careful budgeting is

better known by Dorsia clients as the Lifestyle Allowance; an initiative that ensures a smooth project—and satisfied customers—from beginning to end. Preliminary budgets for custom builds are shared before the lot is even purchased, while total renovation costs are also estimated ahead of time. In both cases budgets include all materials and are tailored to personal lifestyle.

The result? An overwhelming process becomes an enjoyable one. And customization doesn’t end with the price tag. Dorsia Designs plans all projects— be they structural or interior designs,

Created by the Western Living advertising department in partnership with Dorsia Designs

commercial contracting, or international product sourcing—around the individual client, considering lifestyle, family and even personality in order to provide the full package. “We’ve worked with contractors before and always felt something was missing,” shared Calgary homeowners Craig and Carrie. “We were thrilled with Dorsia Designs. The colours are gorgeous, the fabrics are stunning and the car service taking us to our materials selections meeting is world class!”

DORSIA

BOOK YOUR RESERVATION HERE

DESIGNS

LI F E I S A B O UT L I V I N G. THE WAY YOU LIVE IS YO UR LIFESTYLE .

T HAT LIFESTY LE IS YO U. 587.897.3600 dorsiadesigns.com Dorsia Designs is the Exclusive provider for interior finishings for Sweetwater Lake Village at Koocanusa.

V100 Botox Cosmetic® $799

Achieve balance with full face Botox Cosmetic®

Juvéderm® Lips $725

Enhance your lips resulting in a soft, natural look

Belkyra™ Chin $1200

Non-surgical treatment for double chin

PRP Vampire Facial $800

Use micro-needling with PRP to improve skin tone, correct scarring & improve skin texture

PRP Treatments $1800

Allow your body to rejuvenate itself with Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Vampire Face Lift® | O-Shot® | P-Shot® | Hair Restoration | Breast Lift

V-MediSpa Custom Facials $120 each

Anti-Redness Calming | Deep Pore Detoxifying | Advanced Anti-Aging Stem Cell

(reg. $180)

Clear + Brilliant 3 for $900

Pore reduction & dark spot correction for any skin type (reg. $1100)

Laser Hair Removal

Brazilian $69 | Underarms $20 | Full Leg $175 | Full Back $99 | Upper Lip & Chin $65 Chest & Abs $99 | Half Face $65 | Bikini $49 | Lower Leg $99

403.242.0484

100, 1919 Sirocco Dr SW | v-spa-v.com | reception@vmedispa.com

HOMES I N T E R I O R S // A R C H I T E C T U R E // D E S I G N // L I V I N G

ROOMS WE LOVE

Simple Is Beautiful

Ema Peter

When homeowner Elana Cossever was renovating her bathroom, the budget was tight, so she turned a few inexpensive finishes into a beautiful thing. The flooring is actually plywood cut into boards; the subway tile was discovered at an outlet in Vancouver. The Brizo matteblack faucets are a splurge, but the pipe and brackets underneath are from Home Depot and spray-painted to match. And that funky curtain rod is made from copper piping and bent to fit. “Our architect always said restraints lead to good design,” Cossever says. “The bathroom design was a result of frugality, but it gives the house a really nice feel.”

westernliving.ca / M A Y

2016 29

POURED VISION

WL HOMES

Perched on a challenging site in West Vancouver, this concrete creation from design team McLeod Bovell is a revelation. by barb sligl // photographs by martin tessler // styling by nicole sjÖstedt

Warm Thoughts The designers at McLeod Bovell looked to the south for inspiration in achieving this home’s raw-yetcrafted aesthetic. “Its feel is derived more from South America or places where exposed concrete is the go-to material for standard construction,” says designer Lisa Bovell.

westernliving.ca / m a y

2 0 1 6 3 1

Grand Gestures Designer Matt McLeod describes the interior as “cave-like, but not constricting” (opposite, top). The home’s exterior follows the angle of the site line, winging out to act as a blinder that creates privacy (opposite, bottom left). Two major architectural pieces of metalwork, the folded stairs and fireplace-cumstorage unit, ground

I

the living room in dark charcoal (opposite, bottom right). Board-formed concrete adds pattern and texture, and “makes the concrete material less precious,” says McLeod (middle). Accoya natural wood cladding is used alongside the concrete at the front entrance and on the oversized pivot door, which is more quietly finished inside (top and bottom).

t’s not easy to describe the architectural vision of this concrete house on a rocky outcrop sandwiched between train tracks, tightknit neighbours and West Vancouver’s coastline-tracing Marine Drive.

Design duo Matt McLeod and Lisa Bovell of McLeod Bovell Modern Houses switched between fluidity, plasticity, malleability and even volumetric design to try capture their process of space-making.

Unlike anything surrounding it, this home’s irregular shape and atypical residential building materials are more akin to modern-day South American projects that stem from their surroundings to showcase concrete’s versatility. Think minimalist character, structural order and harmonious coexistence with the natural environment—as if sculpted from it.

Winners of Western Living’s 2014 Designers of the Year Arthur Erickson Memorial Award, the pair has worked together for eight years now, establishing a particular oeuvre. Having worked extensively on homes with challenging sites inherent to the steep and rocky terrain of West Vancouver, their go-to has become concrete. Not because it’s easy or cost-effective (it’s not), but because of its pliability.

“It’s solid, yet soft,” Bovell says.

And that characteristic resolves limitations of topography. Here, despite being buried at one end and exposed at the other, this splitlevel building is carefully choreographed to feel holistic. Each elevation is connected with just a half-level of stairs. From the oversized

Modern Beauty Concrete is the main material inside and out (this page and opposite, top left). “We’re always trying to limit the palettes in these houses, trying to get them down to their essentials,” says McLeod.

The minimal kitchen hides appliances within custom cabinetry and an expanse of Blizzard Caesarstone

(opposite, bottom left).

But there are plenty of organic moments, too.

“This house feels really natural,” says McLeod, with a material palette of raw concrete, leather, steel and wood, like this live-edge dining table (opposite, right). “These little moments where the house doesn’t have to be perfect or pristine.”

pivot door at the entrance, you can see right through to the back deck— and the ocean. Angled planes and retaining walls usher you into the space and continue front to back to a dramatic point that reaches out to that view and creates a privacy screen.

The transition between exterior and interior is seamless. Raw concrete is left exposed, its functional construction outside becoming decorative texture inside. The linear pattern of the board-form concrete (the boards’ imprint leaves a wood-grain texture in the material) is juxtaposed with a similarly textured wood siding, sometimes following on the horizontal but also breaking into vertical. “We use the direction of cladding to extend or break down the reading of floor levels,” says McLeod.

Concrete extensions and protrusions create privacy and sheltered

spaces, as if hoods or blinders. Neighbours disappear and the view is spectacularly framed through the back of the house, which seems to project into the ocean. Under a concrete canopy, suspended 40 feet above the property’s base, the deck and adjacent plunge pool are both viewing platform and meditative space—bold and quietly poetic. “It’s just you and that horizon line,” says McLeod. He compares it to a cave.

“There’s a feeling of solidity and containment, yet also an immediate connection to the outdoors.” Bovell adds, “When you’re inside the house, it feels like it’s a space that’s been hollowed out for you.”

Within this carved-out interior, the architects guided the design to continue the raw yet warm and crafted vibe of concrete, which “forms a kind of skeleton for the house,” says Bovell. Combined with other natural materials—wood, steel, leather pulls on millwork—the goal westernliving.ca / m a y

2 0 1 6 3 5

Indoors and Out Despite very-tight adjacencies, the home seems isolated and exposed with immediate and unobstructed views.

And Burrard Inlet’s deep anchorage means you can actually hear people talking on the freighter ships just outside (top and bottom left). The master bath’s porcelain tile reiterates the look of concrete, while oak flooring is used in its cabinetry and Blizzard Caesarstone in its countertop (bottom right).

was to “reduce the bandwidth and colour of material,” says McLeod, and “have everything exist in a quiet zone.”

It’s a limited palette, monochromatic and minimal. In the kitchen, matte-white cabinetry hides appliances. A live-edge plank dining table reiterates the texture of unfinished concrete. Light wide-plank oak flooring mimics the exterior cladding and is even continued up a wall in the living room for continuity. The dark-charcoal architectural metalwork of a custom-built fireplace and storage unit is repeated in a floating folded staircase. Pale porcelain tile with a veined effect covers another wall in the main living space, alongside walls of concrete, oak 3 6 m a y 2 0 1 6 / westernliving.ca

and glass. The master bath’s floors and walls are wrapped in the same porcelain tiles, and both the Caesarstone counter and white oak in the millwork are the same materials used in the kitchen.

Everything fits and belongs. There are no separate pieces. In both palette and design, it’s an interconnected whole. Like intricate origami, it’s as if a series of folded planes create one volume or geometric form: this house. Or sculpture. “Using concrete as a critical tool for expression allows you to think about a building as being solid or carved, rather than being put together from a series of pieces,” says Bovell. It’s poured vision.

See SourceS

Our Passion: the art of architecture.

rawlyk.com

403.228.5115

Bachelor Pad Designer Amanda Hamilton created this ode to steampunk for Dinner by Design’s inaugural year in Calgary in 2015. The warmly designed room was created to feel like that of an eclectic scientist who cleared his books off the table for the evening to host a party for friends.

See more tablescapes at westernliving.ca

WL HOMES

FULL SERVICE

by LUCY LAU // photographs by ROBERT LEMERMEYER

Awe-inspiring interiors and feel-good intentions will meet once again in Calgary, when Dinner by Design returns for its second year on June 2 and 3.

Produced by the Social Concierge, the dizzying design fete showcases custom “tablescapes” and cocktail bars from 10 designers—including newcomer Rochelle Cote and returning champ Amanda Hamilton—plus a selection of stunning art installations by alumni from the Alberta College of Art and Design. Proceeds from the event benefit Contemporary Calgary and a bursary program at ACAD, so you can feel good about indulging your inner designophile.

For a preview of what’s to come, here are three gorgeous scenes from last year’s debut event. westernliving.ca / m a y

2016 39

WL HOMES // DINNER BY DESIGN

Steampunk Party A reclusive scientist from the Victorian era throws an impromptu dinner party in designer Amanda Hamilton’s eclectic and charmingly chaotic study-turned-dining-room.

From steampunk relics to towering piles of curios that reflect the Industrial Revolution, various vignettes create a moody, lived-in feel while exhibiting enough personality to keep visitors intrigued.

Go neon Traditional panelling and espressostained chairs are modernized when paired with fluorescent accents like abstract, portrait-style art, neon-trimmed linens, and DIY ombré-sprayed cutlery. “We incorporated those bold pieces just to make it more current and approachable for people,” says Hamilton.

Repurpose antiques Scour thrift and vintage stores, plus your own stash of one-off treasures, for pieces that can personalize your dining space. Here, Hamilton strews a selection of second-hand books, luggage sets and ornate frames across the floor.

Control your lighting No dimmer, no problem: Hamilton unscrewed a number of light bulbs on her sparkling oldschool chandelier to dim the overhead light and encourage more intimate dinner conversation. A haphazard mix of candles, melting messily onto the lace tablecloth, completes the low-lit look.

Green Room Designer Alykhan Velji’s tablescape, fittingly named the Verdant Vivarium, plays on the pleasures of eating al fresco. The life-sized terrarium, crafted from Plexiglas and pressure-treated wood, houses a stunning arrangement of structural moss, succulents and manzanita branches that form a one-of-a-kind (and ohso-green) dining experience.

Into the Wild Transform your ceiling Add drama to your dining room with a bold patterned ceiling. Here, Peila suspended a romantic, floral-print fabric in striking swoops using fishing wire, which creates a tentlike ceiling that goes hand in hand with her safari theme.

Break out the china Don’t restrict your fancy tableware to special occasions only. Peila paired her exquisite Parisian china with more rustic pieces, like rattan wicker chargers and vintage, hammered silver cutlery from Anthropologie.

Layer multiple rugs A Persian rug, gilded cowhide and zebra-print fauxhide create an illusion of space by making the room seem to extend out while packing a vibrant visual punch. “Our chairs and tablecloth were a fairly neutral colour palette, so we wanted that pop on the floor,” says Peila.

Gather ’round Velji opted for a circular dining table

by Mtharu, custom-made from concrete and finished with a glossy wax coating, to bring guests closer together. “I always find that round tables are great for dinner parties,” he says, “and it worked really well with the structure.”

Tailor your tableware Customize your place settings by putting a spin on budget-friendly basics.

Here, Ikea dinnerware gets a sharp and graphic makeover with a pattern of gold paint that matches the brass chandelier above.

Diffuse lighting Avoid relying on a single fi xture, Velji advises. Instead, scatter your lighting sources to impart a warm ambience. The

industrial Lambert et Fils pendant draws the eye up, but an assortment of candles cozies up the rest of the space without overpowering.

Marie Antoinette meets lush African safari in this wildly imaginative space dreamed up by designer Kristin Peila of Corea Sotropa Interior Design.

Glittering gold touches shine alongside a mishmash of raw handcrafted elements for a playfully luxe finish fit for the highest of French royalty.

SPONSORED REPORT

CHEZ MONTEBELLO The Montebello show home by Astoria Custom Homes brings French countryside elegance to the city of Calgary

The Montebello is equal parts elegant and functional,” tells Astoria Custom Homes and Renovations VP and CFO Lisa Stinson of the company’s latest show home. Situated in the picturesque community of Watermark at Bearspaw, just northwest of Calgary’s city center, the Montebello has been garnering a fair bit of attention since opening its doors earlier this year. “It has been receiving some significant accolades,” admits Stinson—though that shouldn’t be a surprise for Astoria, which has already earned a long list of Best New Home and SAM titles over the years.

The Montebello brings a touch of Old World charm to its Calgary neighbourhood with tall, sloping roofs and rectangular windows that emphasize the formal symmetry of classic French architecture.

The 3,565 square foot, 5-bedroom home is tonally inspired by the waterfalls, bridges and streams and weave through the prestigious neighbourhood, as captured in the curved timbers, smoky sills, stone façade and other exterior accents.

Inside, spacious layouts basked in earthy colors evoke a welcoming aesthetic ideal for entertaining. “The immense dual island kitchen is designed for gatherings of friends, families and foodies,” says Stinson, who mentions that highest quality appliances and gorgeous quartz countertops are suited to haute cuisine cooking.

A master bedroom with spa-like ensuite is the focal point of the upper floor, nestled atop a gorgeous open-rise staircase. Meanwhile ground floor workspaces are made convertible with stylish barn doors and three family areas come equipped with the latest technology—not to mention the perfect Man Cave complete with bar, sports table and multiple TV’s. A fully developed basement, attached triple garage and expansive outdoor space with Chef’s BBQ and sundeck round out the family-friendly layout, though it is perhaps the stone fireplace—an inviting feature that emanates warmth from the heart of the home—the best represents the Montebello vibe: a blend of sophistication and comfort designed to accommodate real life.

Created by the Western Living advertising department in partnership with Astoria Custom Renovations

YOU DESERVE MORE DREAM BIGGER WITH ASTORIA

Building in Luxury Lifestyle community of Watermark at Bearspaw and Acreages surrounding Calgary.

Book your new home discovery session today www.AstoriaHomes.ca/discovery

Specializing in kitchens, bathrooms, basements and additions.

For a complimentary in-home consultation, contact Garth McDaniel at 587-349-7568 or gmcdaniel@astoriarenovations.ca

ASTORIA CUSTOM HOMES AWARD WINNING DESIGNS

www.AstoriaHomes.ca

ASTORIA CUSTOM RENOVATIONS A NAME YOU CAN TRUST

www.AstoriaRenovations.ca

SPONSORED REPORT

Reasons to Renovate Trademark Renovations’ Blair Foisy shares how renovating can make your dream home a reality

F BEFORE

or most people their dream home is exactly that: a pipe dream added to a long list of “if I win the lottery” items. What they don’t realize is that this doesn’t have to start with a brand-new lot—their current property has the same potential.

“We are essentially giving homeowners a whole new home,” says Blair Foisy, the Owner and President of Trademark Renovations, a Calgary-based renovation company that has won seven consecutive Consumer Choice Awards, the Top Choice Award, Best of Houzz, and several other titles since its 1981 establishment.

Foisy shares the two main reasons why homeowners renovate and why it often makes more sense than a custom build.

“We love our neighbourhood, but our home is out-dated.”

The most common reason to move is that your home no longer fulfills your needs. “People want a home that better fits today’s lifestyle,” he explains. Whether that means finishing the basement with a home theatre and rec room, adding a cozier ambiance with a stone feature fireplace, or updating the kitchen to better accommodate entertaining, homeowners can achieve their home dreams by updating their current place. And at today’s low interest rates, it makes sense to invest in your nest.

Trademark Renovations has renovated many of the city’s heritage homes—projects that Foisy describes as fun but challenging. “You take a 100-year old home and integrate modern amenities, systems and features all while maintaining the original character of the home.”

AFTER

“We’ve outgrown our current home—we need more space!”

“Many of the renovations we do are for people who want a more practical and functional space,” tells Foisy.

This includes building storage opportunities (such as walk-in closets and full-length pantries), using inefficient space more creatively, and adding square footage for additions to mudrooms, kitchens and more.

“We recently developed an artist studio in the attic above a garage,” shares Foisy. “We’ve added secret rooms behind bookcases, incorporated storage-focal kitchens, and built a 16-foot floor-to-ceiling storage wall with a sliding library ladder, just to name a few.”

Trademark Renovations’ innovative solutions are exceptionally well received by clients, as proven by their almost entirely referral-based business. “We want our customers to be happy when the job is done,” says Foisy, who lists quality, transparency and value as the cornerstones of the company. “We want them to feel that we’ve met their expectations and then some.”

Created by the Western Living advertising department in partnership with Trademark Renovations Ltd.

Make no compromises‌

Quality, Transparency, Value

A Big Thank You!

Thank you Calgary for selecting Trademark Renovations again this year as the recipient of the 2016 Consumer Choice Award!

We are also happy to announce that we have received a 2016 Top Choice Award as well as a Best of Houzz 2016 Service award.

(403) 277-5600 trademarkrenovations.com

OUR BEST PRICE GUARANTEE *On renovation projects $100,000 and up, we will match and better a recognized competitor’s quote by 10%. At Trademark Renovations, we are constantly reviewing and negotiating preferred pricing arrangements with our supplier & trade partners to get you the best value for your money. We are so confident about our pricing that we guarantee you the lowest price for your overall renovation project while delivering our unsurpassed level of quality, service and transparency. For further details, please refer to our website.

TERMS & CONDITIONS: This Best Price Guarantee applies to projects based on identical scopes of work, specifications, products, levels of finish, service, and quality. Best Price Guarantee applies to overall total project price and not the individual components contained therein. All recognized competitor quotes are subject to verification by Trademark before honoring this offer. Trademark will not accept screenshots or other purported evidence of a lower price that cannot be independently confirmed by Trademark personnel. Nor will Trademark verify any request that it believes, in its sole discretion, is the result of a printing or other error or is made fraudulently or in bad faith. All original documents from recognized competitor quotes must be presented to Trademark prior to verification, execution of any contract or commencement of work. This Price Guarantee excludes insurance claims, free offers, gifts with purchase, gift cards, gift certificates, rebates, clearance or close-out prices, credit or financing programs, used, damaged, or display merchandise or products. Discount applied before taxes and environmental stewardship fees or other levies, if applicable. This price guarantee cannot be combined with any other offer. Trademark reserves the right in its sole discretion to modify or discontinue the Best Price Guarantee or to restrict its availability to any person, at any time, for any or no reason, and without prior notice or liability to you. The failure by Trademark to enforce any provision of these Terms & Conditions shall not constitute a waiver of that provision.

SPONSORED REPORT

2016 TREND REPORT

BE THE FIRST TO CHECK OUT THESE HOT PRODUCTS FOR 2016 FROM SELECT ADVERTISERS Beautiful and durable hanging rack made from reclaimed rail spikes. Available in three, four or five hook configurations. Wood is finished in your choice of dark walnut or antique grey stain. The rack is protected in a satin finish. Mounting hardware included. Handmade in Reworks’ shop in Calgary, Alberta.

Now available for purchase online in both Canada and the USA. Reworks Upcycle Shop Ltd. 403.263.4366 | shopreworks.com

Encaustic tiles are nothing new but they’re currently enjoying a strong resurgence in the design world.

Their vibrant patterns and vividly contrasting colours create a timeless beauty that everyone can appreciate regardless of their style. For a classic modern look, mix a black and white pattern with natural materials, some subtle gold accents and lots of white to keep it fresh.

Essential Living Design & Renovations Suite 15 - 6025 12th Street SE, Calgary, AB T2H 2K1 403.262.6150 | design@essentialliving.ca

Bring nature’s thrill and tranquility to any space with Maria Z Photography’s majestic Landscapes and Wildlife. Maria’s passion for capturing nature and its magic moments ensures that you will not only be decorating with vibrant colors to complement interiors, but will be transporting viewers behind the artist’s lens to unexpected journeys of the natural world.

Prints can be ordered online at fineartamerica.com/profiles/mary-koutzarov and come in different mediums such as photo paper, canvas, metal and acrylic.

MariaZ Photography | Nature & Wildlife 403-606-0074 | photography.mariaz@gmail.com mariaz.photoshelter.com | mary-koutzarov.pixels.com fineartamerica.com/profiles/mary-koutrzarov

FOOD

R E S T A U R A N T S // E X P E R T A D V I C E // E N T E R T A I N I N G // W I N E // R E C I P E S

Lick Your Plate

Ryan Szulc

Sisters Julie Albert and Lisa Gnat have perfected a playful approach to great cooking. Like Julie’s take on this salad: “Lisa hates when I speak in accents, but I simply can’t resist getting all Scarlett O’Hara breathy about cornbread panzanella salad, a Southern spin on the classic Italian salad. I do declare that this citrus-dressed salad, crammed with homemade cornbread croutons, crunchy sweet peppers, sautéed fresh corn and creamy avocado, is a marvelous meal in a bowl. As God is my witness, you’ll never be hungry again…”

Find the recipe on page 49.

Southern Exposure Simple ingredients meet imaginative preparations in the new Lick Your Plate cookbook.

westernliving.ca / M A Y

2016 47

WLFOOD // BITES GADGETS

C H EF ’S T I P

Cold Comfort

BITES

What we’re eating and drinking

If you don’t know the difference between iced coffee and cold brew, it’s time to set you straight. The former is a bitter mess that’s essentially very strong, hot coffee, cooled down on ice.

The latter is a smooth, almost creamy pleasure that’s the perfect summer drink. The key to cold brew is a long steep—12 to 24 hours—with freshly ground coffee beans with a very coarse grind. The good news is hardware, like the Mizudashi from Hario ($28) is ultra-affordable, which means you can splurge on a solid burr grinder like the Dose Control from Breville ($170). Pair them together and you’re in for less than many a drip coffee machine, and you’re on your way to gloriously smooth cold brew nirvana. hario-canada.ca; breville.ca

Searing a Steak 101

NICO SCHUERMANS, CHAMBAR BACKGROUND: Most people tend to sear their steaks by pouring oil directly into the pan they’re using and then cooking the steak directly on top. This technique usually results in a burned piece of steak.

NICO’S TIP: Brush oil onto both sides of the steak and season with some salt and pepper. Let sit for a couple of minutes before placing it in the hot pan. This will let the sugars in the meat caramelize (sear) better while cooking and lessen the chance of any kind of burning. Flavour is also brought out very well with this technique.

For other chef’s tips, youtube.com/ westernlivingCA

O P EN I N G S

Fanny Bay Oyster Bar

Little Henry

762 CAMBIE ST., VANCOUVER

1209 1ST ST. SW, CALGARY

The legendary purveyor of the West Coast’s most famous oysters is landing in Vancouver’s stadium district with a 50-seat room at Cambie and Robson. While there will be a 16-seat classic oyster bar, there will also be a full menu—with an emphasis on seafood— for those sad folks who aren’t interested in crafting an entire meal around bivalves. fannybayoysters.com

Calgary’s going gaga for the terrifically named new restaurant, Ten Foot Henry (inspired by a giant wooden cartoon character that’s a local legend), and now those who don’t have time to sit down for the full experience can saddle up to the just-opened Little Henry, an attached sandwich and coffee bar with food to go from its own takeout window. tenfoothenry.com

4 8 M A Y 2 0 1 6 / westernliving.ca

RECIPE

Cornbread Panzanella Salad SERVES 6–8 | PREP 20 MINUTES COOK 45 MINUTES SALAD 1 tbsp butter 3 ears fresh corn, kernels removed Ÿ tsp paprika Ÿ tsp chili powder Ÿ tsp kosher salt Ÿ tsp freshly ground black pepper 8 cups chopped romaine lettuce 1 red bell pepper, chopped 1 yellow pepper, chopped 1 large, ripe avocado, chopped Ÿ cup chopped fresh basil Lime dressing (see recipe) Cornbread croutons (see recipe) 1 large jalapeùo pepper, seeds removed, chopped, for garnish (optional) For the salad, in a medium skillet, melt butter over high heat. Add corn kernels, paprika, chili powder, salt and pepper. Cook 2 to 3 minutes until corn is golden. Remove from heat and cool. Place lettuce in a large serving bowl. Add red and yellow peppers, avocado, basil, sautÊed corn and cornbread croutons. Gently toss with dressing to combine. Garnish with chopped jalapeùos. Serve immediately.

CORNBREAD CROUTONS 1 cup flour 1 cup yellow cornmeal Ÿ cup sugar 1 tbsp baking powder ½ tsp kosher salt

N l McL n N l McL n

Ÿ tsp cayenne pepper 1 cup buttermilk Ÿ cup melted butter Ÿ cup honey 2 eggs Preheat oven to 400°F. Line an 8-inch-square baking pan with parchment paper and coat lightly with nonstick cooking spray. In a large bowl, combine flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, salt and cayenne pepper. In a medium bowl, whisk buttermilk, melted butter, honey and eggs until combined. Pour wet ingredients into flour mixture and gently mix together (do not overmix). Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until edges are golden and a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean.

Remove from oven and let cool.

Once cornbread has cooled, lower oven temperature to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut cornbread into 1-inch cubes and place on parchment paper. Bake for 10 minutes, flip cubes and continue baking for 10 minutes more. Remove from oven and let croutons cool completely before using.

Excerpted from Lick Your Plate.

Copyright Š 2016 by Julie Albert and Lisa Gnat. Published by Appetite by Random House, a division of Penguin Random House. Reproduced by arrangement with the publisher.

All rights reserved.

LIME DRESSING Âź cup fresh lime juice Âź cup olive oil 2 tbsp vegetable oil 2 tbsp chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley 1 tbsp honey Âź tsp kosher salt Âź tsp freshly ground black pepper Place lime juice, olive oil, vegetable oil, parsley, honey, salt and pepper in a container with a lid.

Shake well to combine.

N l’s W e Pi

A Drop in the Bucket OK ANAGAN CRUSH PAD NARRATIVE RED 2014 $20

I know we don’t know each other, but I’m here to tell you that your red wine is too warm. And while technically your kitchen at 5:45 on a sunny May day is “room temperature,� it’s not the room temperature that’s specified for serving red wine. That’s more like a cool, windowless room in your basement. (Think any room in your house where you’d be uncomfortable in shorts—that’s the room for room temperature.)

But on top of this, there are some red wines—gamay, bardolino, beaujolais, basic pinot noir, zweigelt—that actually lend themselves to an even colder presentation, especially in the summer months. As in dunk-them-in-an-ice-bath colder. These wines’ main traits—light and fruity—can turn to thin, sloppy and unfocused when served too warm. The key here is selection: a bottle like OCP’s Narrative Narrative, which is a juicy blend of gamay and syrah with very light tannins, takes the cool like Steve McQueen, whereas a more structured take on gamay (Blue Mountain or Haywire, for example, where the nose and subtlety are more important) should stick with the aforementioned room temperature. Fire up the ice buckets!

westernliving.ca / M A Y

2016 49

1953 2016

63rd

COMPLETE EXTERIOR RENOVATION SERVICES WINDOWS • DOORS • SIDING • SUNROOMS • STONE PATIO COVERS • ALUMINUM AWNINGS AND MORE

1953 THE POPULATION WAS 156,748 TODAY, IT IS 1,195,194

Rusco Industries is a family run business since 1953 and is the contractor of choice for residents in Calgary and Area.

CALL US FOR YOUR FREE IN HOME CONSULTATION AT 403-250-9951 or email: info@ruscoindustries.com

Visit our showroom at #3, 1430 49th Avenue NE Calgary | rusconindustries.com

TRAVEL

T H E W E S T // W O R L D W I D E // W E E K E N D G E T AWA Y S // N E I G H B O U R H O O D S // R O A D T R I P S

Life’s a Beach

Vairdy Frail

We’ll be real: it takes forever to get to Hornby Island. There’s a ferry from the mainland to Nanaimo, an hour-anda-half drive up the Island Highway, a ferry to Denman, a race across the island to a third ferry terminal, and one final boat that delivers you unceremoniously to your destination. But for your troubles you’ll find the best beach in Canada.

Tribune Bay (aka “Big Trib”) features soft white sand that stretches for miles; big, bleached driftwood logs that make the perfect backrest; flat expanses ideal for chasing after Frisbees or bocce balls; and, importantly, enough space to separate yourself from the rowdies.

The water is tropical-warm, shallow and safe for swimming. Plus, if you walk far enough in the right direction, you’ll stumble across a taco stand. What more do you need from a beach day? Get into the Gulf Islands: our ultimate travel guide is just over the page.

Sands of Time Even on an overcast day, Hornby Island’s Big Trib remains one of the most beautiful beaches in the country.

westernliving.ca / M A Y

2016 51

THE ULTIMATE GULF ISLANDS PRIMER

Gutter Credit

These magical isles are closer than you’d think, yet happily exist in their own orbit—one that includes hiking, kayaking and taking things seriously easy.

5 2 m a y 2 0 1 6 / westernliving.ca

WLTRAVEL // GULF ISLANDS

Galiano Island

Mayne Island

Salt Spring Island

North Pender Island

Duncan • South Pender Island

• Swartz Bay

VANCOUVER ISLAND

SALT SPR ING ISLAND

Rock of Ages The romance of a weekend on Pender Island is all about those moments in between, when a swing in a hammock is all you need to do that night.

Destination BC/Reuben Krabbe

Gutter Credit

FACT SHEET Salt Spring or Saltspring—locals seem to prefer the former NAME ORIGIN Given by Hudson’s Bay Company officers who were interested in obtaining salt from the 14 briny springs on this island SIZE 182.7 sq km POPULATION 10,234 LOCAL LUMINARIES Raffi, Robert Bateman

“Barb,” the woman behind the counter calls out to a regular, “can I interest you in raffle tickets to support StageCoach Theatre School?” I’ve popped by Salt Spring Books, a spot in Ganges village that’s both a hub for its impressive selection of magazines (The New Yorker and People for the weekend, thanks) and for locals selling raffle tickets, apparently. It’s a moment that’s reflective of what makes Salt Spring unique from its other Gulf Island counterparts: people spend their lives here, raising their kids, farming sheep, turning a passion for pottery or cheese or puffins into a small business. Locals are southsiders, whether or not you live on the south side of the island (phone number prefi x: 653). Northsiders (prefi x: 537) are more likely to be vacationers—those of us who marvel at the Ganges farmers’ market and aspire to one day grasp the brass ring, to figure out how to stay on this idyllic little slice of the coast.

Because a weekend spent meandering along the winding roads of Salt Spring has me carefully planning my exit strategy from the big city. Ganges Harbour is ground zero for those first inklings of the itch: a handful of shops and westernliving.ca / M A Y

2016 53

WLTRAVEL // gulf islands

I’m tipped firmly into I-can-definitely-do-this-move when Salt Spring Island Ales appears at the end of a farm road.

restaurants that manages both the functional (Mouat’s Trading Co., built by an island family back in 1907, still serving as your spot for both bedsheets and pet food) and the touristy (Old Salty—built by the same family, fewer bedsheets, more hand-carved seagulls). At Saturday lunch hour, Barb’s Buns buzzes with soccer kids clutching cheesy bread sticks and dreadlocked yogis opting for fresh-pressed carrot, beet and ginger juices as I settle in by a window seat with The Rosie Project and the butter tart to end all butter tarts.

But outside of Ganges, the island stretches out into grassy farms and rolling hills, and though an official Salt Spring Island Studio Tour map winds you through the makers and producers dotted all over the island, each spot feels like a surprise discovery hidden in the woods. David Woods’s Salt Spring Island Cheese farm is much more of a production than Moonstruck Cheese (where a trailer and a refrigerator, avec honour box, are all that’s there to greet you), but small-town charming all the same. The woman sampling goat cheese “ruckles” and cardamom raspberry jam enthusiastically supports my choice to pair their blue Juliette with rhubarb and pink grapefruit jam-a-lade.

Further south, way into southsider territory, I’m tipped firmly into I-can-definitely-do-this-move when Salt Spring Island Ales appears at the end of a farm road (mental note: pick up organic bacon from neighbouring Furness Farm on the way home). I wind up the narrow staircase to be warmly greeted by the accountant-turnedtasting-host-for-the-day, who’s living the Salt Spring 5 4 m a y 2 0 1 6 / westernliving.ca

Tree House Cafe, Salt Spring Island

dream: she moved here with her girlfriend last year from the Yukon, and between tastings of Earl Grey IPA and the herbal Gruit, tells us of their plans to open a restaurant below the apartment they’ve just purchased. With Salt Spring Island Ales on tap, of course. My dreams of joining their ranks get an affirmation when her partner shows up to take her home—“She gets it. Check out her boots,” she says, pointing at my Blundstones—and I mentally Breakfast Club my fist in the air.

And then there’s the Fritz movie theatre. On this Saturday night, cars line the four corners of the roads outside the former community hall, its whitewashed, wood-panelled walls now upgraded with Dolby surround sound speakers next to the sign establishing the space was once the practice home of the Salty Wheels Square Dance Club. (Alas, square dancing doesn’t hold the attention the way The Revenant does.) High-tech, yes, but anything but fancy: 10 bucks (cash only) gets you access to decent chairs, real butter on your popcorn and a packed house on most nights.

And though my book (and a roaring fire) calls back at the Stonehouse B&B, where I’m making my home for the weekend, I can’t resist a late-night check-in at Moby’s Pub on the water for Brome Lake duck wings and a roasted Brussels sprout salad. The musician onstage is playing blue-eyed soul, and one solo guy is swaying on the dance floor, though I suspect he’ll soon be joined by the dozens crowding the tables around it. We all want a slice of this island life, at least for tonight.—Anicka Quin

Signature DiSh

Salt Spring Island goat cheese bites rolled in muesli, with apricotginger chutney and warm naan at the Tree House Cafe.

reSt YOur heaD

Owner John Lefebvre first built the six-suite clutch of buildings at Stonehouse B&B for friends and family who came to visit him on Salt Spring, but converted the elegant home into a bed and breakfast a couple of years ago. With its views of the rolling hills over Ganges Harbour and a stunning stone sculpture installation from local artist Ron Crawford, the vibe is more Tuscan villa than folksy retreat—transporting in the best way. You’ll be warmly hosted by renaissance man Michael Coughlin—painter, linguist, author, trained chef and just plain charming man—whose weekend Bennies sprinkled with rosemary flowers (plucked that morning from the garden, natch) and fresh basil are the stuff dreams are made of.

Canadian Tourism Commission

The Gulf Islands' mail run: Harbour Air Seaplanes

Waves lapping at the stones provide the soundtrack as I lock eyes with the seals bobbing comfortably in the cloudy waters.

PENDER ISLAND

Destination BC/Reuben Krabbe

FACT SHEET Pender (technically North and South Pender Islands) NAmE origiN Captain Daniel Pender, Royal Navy, who sailed the HMS Plumper, HMS Hecate and the steamship Beaver to survey the coast of British Columbia between 1857 and 1870 SizE 36 sq km PoPulATioN 2,245 loCAl lumiNAriES Err . . . . Raffi lives a short boat ride away

When you live in Vancouver, you don’t have to get very far from the city to find a little greenery or an ocean view or even some wildlife. So while the majesty of nature is in abundance on Pender Island—beautiful coastal forests, 33 public ocean access points, we get it, Pender—that’s not exactly what I’m seeking out.

Rather, it’s that specific type of quiet you find only on an island: a stillness that’s underscored by the occasional chirp or twitter or lazy rustling of leaves, and—more importantly—the knowledge that you have nothing to do and nowhere to be. It’s a peace that has you surrounded.

It’s Higgs Beach, where smooth pebbles and shiny purple mussel shells crunch beneath my sneakers. The waves, lapping at the stones, provide the soundtrack as I lock eyes with the seals bobbing comfortably in the cloudy waters: a real spa vibe, aurally speaking. Down on South Pender (Pender’s actually made up of two islands, connected by a one-lane bridge that seems specifically designed for high-stakes games of vehicular chicken), farmland rolls for miles, rippling, green and dotted with the occasional

mellow cow that seems strategically placed for ambience.

Hiking Mount Norman (Norm, to the locals), I’m alone but for the beams of sunlight that break through the treetops to cinematically spotlight the forest floor ahead. It’s almost too picturesque, like a parody of a tranquil forest.

Communing with nature here on Pender doesn’t necessarily mean hiking boots and a camp cot are required.

Instead, outside a retro-cool Airstream trailer—my accommodation for the weekend at Woods on Pender, a resort that channels summer camp by way of Ace Hotel— I continue to revel in the scenery as I soak in the awfully romantic cedar tub for two. I’m supplementing the experience with a glass of wine from Sea Star, Pender’s best (and only, if you’re going to get technical about it) winery, which runs tastings out of a modern concrete and glass space up island. So yeah, I’m not exactly roughing it, but, surrounded by towering trees and those chirps and rustles, this sort of civility feels perfectly natural.

And when I’m missing a modicum of bustle, it’s not too far to be found. I could drive down the winding main drag, lined by twisted and peeling arbutus trees, to grab a pint on the dock at Port Browning and watch sailboats come and go. I could mingle with the locals at the community centre, where there’s a hula hoop fitness class going on upstairs and a wonderfully unfocused farmers’ market downstairs (would you like some feather earrings to go with your fresh eggs?). There are signs everywhere promoting an upcoming bingo night. But for now: quiet is good. Quiet is nice. —Stacey McLachlan

SigNATurE DiSH

People actually call ahead to reserve the beef tenderloin at Coffee Kitchen.

rEST Your HEAD

The aforementioned Woods on Pender, a collection of refurbished rustic-modern cabins, lodge rooms and Airstream trailers, plays to the urbanites who prefer simpler luxuries: a cozy bed, a stiff cocktail and highly Instagrammable sleeping quarters.

westernliving.ca / m a y

2 0 1 6 5 5

Named after Lieutenant Richard Charles Mayne, son of the first commissioner of the London Metropolitan Police and an officer on the HMS Plumper Size 21 sq km PoPulatioN 1,071 local lumiNarieS Writer Grant Buday, designers Kerry Johnson and Ian McLeod, photographer John Sinal

Mayne Island is a place where boats are propped up in front yards in every possible state of disrepair, doors are left unlocked (and open, actually, with a screen door), residents use the honour system for trading books or selling flowers in public wooden huts, and, instead of bus stops, you’ll find designated car stops (occasionally with complimentary plastic seating) for picking up hitchhikers along the road. It’s the quintessential small-town beach community that’s been head-scratchingly left off the tourist map.

Here, you’re going to see a lot more nature than civilization, and yet this isn’t the destination to do a ton of active, outdoorsy stuff like hiking, as I find a grand total of only one skyscraper-height peak at the centre of the island and a smattering of even-keeled walking trails (that won’t have you breaking a sweat or an ankle). A pre-trip Internet search of Mayne Island activities actually lists “doing nothing” as the headliner. So what’s the draw? For one, unlike its neighbouring isles, even at the height of “busy” season here, there isn’t the seasonal influx of tourists 5 6 m a y 2 0 1 6 / westernliving.ca

crowding up the few beaches, taking up all the good patio spots or disrupting the lives of locals with a youthful bevy of drunken antics. There are no bucket-list sights or activities that you absolutely must see or do on the island, and that is a big part of its charm. You can literally put zero effort into exploring and just enjoy yourself walking around without a trace of FOMO. And the best way to explore the island without a major trajectory is by bike. I find frequent excuses to stop, like the well-curated book store, Miners Bay Books, which is just a demi-pedal from the Farm Gate Store and café, packed with supplies and locally made jams, soaps and snacks. A stop in at Nomads Essentials in “downtown” Miners Bay will give you a sense of what locals do in fact get up to. A walk up the wooden stairs into the converted house reveals shelves of Mayne Island-crafted goods: chicly packaged dry shampoo and body polish from the Healthy Ox, a line of natural toothpaste and deodorant from the local Dr. Ariel Jones, and Nomads Essentials, whose artisan soaps and home products are crafted by owner Barbara McIntyre (who, the cashier tells me, is normally there herself to give hugs to customers).

Getting off the bike is good, too. You can stroll Campbell Point Trail, a grassy walk that wraps around Bennett Bay. Here I find a local meditating on a rock in front of churning waters that twist and thrash continuously between the shore and Georgeson Island. I briefly consider joining her—even after only a few days on Mayne, it seemed like the logical thing to do.—Julia Dilworth

SigNature diSh Western sandwich from Sunny Mayne Bakery: seared green and red peppers, onions and mushrooms mix in with eggs and cheese in between two toasted slices of whole wheat, seed-packed bread. reSt Your head Mayne Island Resort is the easy choice. It’s right on the water in picturesque Bennett Bay, and bikes and helmets are free for guests. But this is also prime Airbnb territory, so a search for rental properties is a savvy choice.

John Sinal

MAYNE ISLAND

WL // sources

For complete retailer listings, please visit the manufacturer’s website.

Poured Vision

Pages 30 -36 Architects, McLeod Bovell Modern

Houses, Matt McLeod and Lisa Bovell, Vancouver, mcleodbovell.ca.

Pages 30 & 31 POOL Poured-in-place board form pat-

tern concrete awning, Poured-in-place concrete pool deck construction by Bosma Construction, Vancouver, buildwithbosma.com. Curtains, Windowworks, Richmond, B.C., windowworks.ca. Sliding door, glass guardrail, Atlas Meridian Glassworks, North Vancouver, atlasmeridian.com. Paola Lenti Float chairs, Livingspace, Vancouver, livingspace.com. Accoya railing, Upper Canada Forest Products, Calgary and Edmonton, ucfp.com; installation by IGK Finishing Carpentry, Vancouver, igkfinishingcarpentry.com. Pool, design by McLeod Bovell, construction Alka Pools, Burnaby, B.C., alkapool.com. 1966 Adjustable Chaise, Kit, Calgary, kitinteriorobjects.com; Inspired Home Interiors, Edmonton, inspiredhomes.ca.

Page 32 LIVING ROOM Curtains, Windowworks, Rich-

mond, windowworks.ca. Large knit pillow, Natural Wool Knits, Penticton, B.C., naturalwoolknits.com. Montauk Hugo sofa, Montauk Sofa, Calgary, montauksofa.com.

Zoe Luyendijk Studio Layer 39 Lake rug, Salari Fine Carpet Collections, Vancouver, salari.com. Kentwood Percheron floors, Floor Trendz, Calgary, floortrendz.ca; Imperial Floors, Edmonton, imperialfloors.net. Guitar, homeowner’s own. Custom design Accoya handrail, Upper Canada Forest Products, Calgary and Edmonton, ucfp.com; installation by IGK Finishing Carpentry, Vancouver, igkfinishingcarpentry.com. Benjamin Moore Simply White, West Hillhurst Paint and Design, Calgary, westhillhurstpaint.com; ColourSpec North Decorating, Edmonton, paintedmonton.com. Poured-in-place board form pattern concrete wall, construction by Bosma Construction, Vancouver, buildwithbosma .com. Ergon Back2Back Frontside tile, Stone Tile, Calgary, stone-tile.com. Steel staircase with oak treads, Steel plate railing, custom design by McLeod Bovell

Modern Houses, Vancouver, mcleodbovell.com.

Custom sliding door system, Atlas Meridian Glassworks, North Vancouver, B.C., atlasmeridian .com. Foscarini Twiggy floor lamp, LightForm, Calgary and Edmonton, lightform.ca.

Page 35 DINING ROOM Desk, painted steel and

smoked glass doors, custom design by McLeod Bovell Modern Houses, Vancouver, mcleodbovell .com. Ergon Back2Back wall tile, Stone Tile, Calgary, stone-tile.com. KITCHEN &Tradition BH1 Spinning pendant, Inform, Vancouver, inform interiors.com. Custom cabinets and concealed pulls, McLeod Bovell, Vancouver, mcleodbovell .com. Caesarstone Blizzard countertop, Jade Stone, Calgary, jadestone.ca; Atlas Granite, Edmonton, atlasgranite.ca. Blanco faucets, The Ensuite Kitchen and Bath Centre, across the West, emcoab.ca. Quartzform countertop, Upper Canada Forest Products, Calgary and Edmonton, ucfp.com; White Wood, Winnipeg, w-group.ca.

Vetrolite glass tile, Stone Tile, Calgary, stone-tile.com.

Page 46 BATHROOM Kentwood Percheron wood flooring cabinets, custom design by Munro Woodworking, Port Coquitlam, munrowoodworking.ca.

Acritec Dali bathtub, B.A. Robinson, across the West, barobinson.com. Aquabrass Volare faucet, Robinson Lighting and Bath, Calgary and Edmonton, robinsonlightingandbath.com.

Full Service

Pages 38- 41 Designers, Amanda Hamilton, Amanda Hamilton Design, Calgary, amanda hamiltondesign.com; Alykhan Velji, Alykhan Velji Designs, Calgary, alyveljidesigns.com; Kristin Peila, Corea Sotropa Interior Design, Calgary, coreasotropa.ca.

Trade Secrets

Page 58 Designer, Oliver Simon Design, Vancouver, oliversimondesign.com.

DIARY

Park Show: Kelly Hofer

The coolest events

Calgary ParkShow May 27 and 28 One part fashion show, one part art exhibit, ParkShow 2016 is a coming-out party for a new generation of talent. A selection of artist-run pop-up shops round out the evening. ourparkonline.com

Edmonton Fabloomosity Mother’s Day Workshop May 7 Pop in to the award-winning florist—sorry, “floral atelier”— pre-Mother’s Day to get your gift covered: while the kids fashion a creative gift for mom, a spread of treats and beer keep the grown-up set entertained. fabloomosity.com

ViCtoria Colour Your Palate May 11 Think of it as Victoria’s version of Iron Chef—only this battle of the culinary prowess raises funds for ArtsReach programming and is inspired not by an ingredient, but by a colour of the rainbow. artsreach.ca

KIYA HOME Deerfoot Meadows 8180 11 Street Southeast Calgary 403.265.5492 info@kiyahome.com kiyahome.com

Exclusive brand partners with

WL // TRADE SECRETS

DESIGNED BY

T‍ ה‏L k

BOLD AND BLUE A punch of colour gives this kitchen some serious personality.

5 8 m a y 2 0 1 6 / westernliving.ca

“You’ve got to be a little brave for colour like this,� laughs designer Greer Nelson, one half, alongside Jamie Hamilton, of Vancouver duo Oliver Simon Design. Though this vibrant blue is peppered throughout the whole home, in the kitchen it gets the star treatment, showcased on a modern-rustic barn-style door. And when the bravery turns to boredom? “Just paint it a new colour,� says Hamilton. “Way easier than changing the backsplash.�

Tracey Ayton

G r N n & J H n

Get much more personalized advice from a Scotiabank advisor.

Invaluable mortgage advice starts with personal relationships. Our advisors can sit down with you at a branch, or connect with you where or when it’s convenient.

You can get answers to all of your questions, even the ones you didn’t know you had.

Talk to us about the mortgage that’s right for you. www.scotiabank.com/homeownership

®

Registered trademarks of The Bank of Nova Scotia. All mortgage applications are subject to credit approval, residential mortgage standards and maximum permitted loan amounts.

NEVERTOOTIMELESS THE VINTAGE INSPIRED ARTIFACTS ® FAUCET COLLECTION. FIND THE STYLE AND FINISH THAT TRULY REFLECT YOU.

KOHLER.CA

©2015 KOHLER CO.