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WESTERN LIVING // JAN/FEB 2017
A Calgary Designer’s Fab Retreat in the Arizona Desert
Home and Away
Working Lunch Turn Your Desk into a 5-Star Restaurant
Inside a Glam Punta Mita Getaway
SEKTION/VOXTORP white kitchen
135/lin.ft.
$
© Inter IKEA Systems B.V. 2016. Also shown: SEKTION/LAXARBY black-brown kitchen $149/lin.ft. Handles/knobs, countertops, appliances, sink, faucet, delivery and installation not included. While supplies last. Selection may vary by store. See store for details.
Welcome to your winter wonderland. We’re for kitchens so cozy they make winter days melt away. Spaces that have appliances, countertops, and cabinets that don’t just look wonderful, they work wonderfully. And spaces that seem to call everyone together because there’s no better place to be. Stop wondering and start planning at IKEA.ca/kitchens
FEATURING THE UTURN CHAIR, BY BENSEN MADE IN VANCOUVER
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2500 Rock Bay Ave Victoria, BC 250.384.2554 • grShop.com
French Art de Vivre
Photo Michel Gibert. Special thanks: TASCHEN *Conditions apply, contact store for more details.
Apercu. Corner composition in leather, design Sacha Lakic. Aircell. Armchair, design Sacha Lakic. Bells. Cocktail tables, design JoĂŤl Escalona. Manufactured in Europe.
VANCOUVER - 716 West Hastings - Tel. 604-633-5005 - vancouver@roche-bobois.com CALGARY - 225 10 th Avenue SW - Tel. 403-532-4401 - calgary@roche-bobois.com
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2421 Granville Street
5049 Still Creek Avenue
Sandy’s is proud to be the exclusive retailer of Rachel Ray’s new furniture collections. Visit us on United Boulevard and be the first to preview all of her beautiful furniture designs.
Sandy’s Furniture Family Owned and Operated Since 1976 Upstate Dining Room The beautiful transitional trestle table features a warm cherry finish with thoughtful distressing.
Highline Sofa Table This Sofa Table is also a desk, featuring a drawer to hide your laptop. There are matching occasional pieces for this table desk in this collection.
Soho Bed This King Arched Panel bed has a retro feel and a soft grey finish.
Highline Curio This bunching cabinet features adjustable glass shelves and a silverware tray drawer. The cabinet also lights up when you touch it!
Celebrating 40 Years!
1335 United Boulevard, Coquitlam • 604.670.3087 www.sandysfurntiure.ca/winter-sale/western Mon - Wed: 9:30AM - 6PM • Thurs & Fri: 9:30AM - 9PM Sat: 9:30PM - 6PM • Sun: 11AM - 5PM
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Secret Garden Rose-coloured marble and the natural Mexican flora and fauna inspire a vibrant dream home in Punta Mita (that’s almost more garden than house). Find the full story on page 48.
JA N UA RY/ F E B R UA RY 2 017
Cover: Laura Moss; this page: Petr Myska
B R I T I S H C O LU M B I A // V O LU M E 4 7 // N U M B E R 1
W ELCOME TO PAR ADISE 48 // Tropical Beauty
In the luxe resort town of Punta Mita, Mexico, designer Robert Bailey creates an idyllic vacation home for a Vancouver couple that’s essentially “a garden and a roof.”
54 // Fun House
Vancouver designer Mitchell Freedland gets playful with his Palm Springs rancher, incorporating bold colours, quirky patterns and plenty of California cool.
60 // Phoenix Rising
Calgary designer James McIntyre turns his Arizona vacation home into the ultimate design experiment with a one-of-a-kind Morocco-meets-Tom-Ford vibe. westernliving.ca / j a n u a r y / f e b r u a r y
2 0 1 7 1 5
WL // contents
design 25 // One to Watch
Andrea Wong crafts beautiful bags to weather West Coast storms.
26 // Shopping
Sweet seating, cozy textiles and edgy accessories we love right now.
27 // Openings
An iconic carpet shop makes a move, a mod new accessories store and more hot rooms.
28 // Great Spaces
An underutilized bar in Victoria’s iconic Empress Hotel gets a royal makeover.
food 70 // Bites
Pile crepes and lemon curd high to make our favourite new dessert.
72 // Give Your Lunch
a Promotion
72
Ditch the brown bag and up your office lunch game with our creative cubicle-friendly recipes and tips.
No one knows Seattle’s Capitol Hill better than cocktail master Jamie Boudreau.
84 // 48 Hours in Las Vegas
How to do Sin City like a saint: think yoga classes, fresh-pressed juice and vitamin C-infused showers.
86 // A Beach to End All Beaches It’s on the other side of the world, but this Australian beach is well worth the trip.
86 1 6 j a n u a r y / f e b r u a r y 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca
plus 90 // Trade Secrets
Designer Allison Holden-Pope shares her secret for grounding an open-concept space.
Salad: Tracey Kusiewicz; airplane: One and Only Hayman Island
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travel 82 // My Neighbourhood
WESTERN LIVING EDITORIAL
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EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Anicka Quin ART DIRECTOR Paul Roelofs EXECUTIVE EDITOR Stacey McLachlan FOOD & TRAVEL EDITOR Neal McLennan ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR Jenny Reed ASSOCIATE EDITOR Julia Dilworth ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR Natalie Gagnon STAFF WRITER Kaitlyn Gendemann CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Amanda Ross, Nicole Sjöstedt, Barb Sligl, Jim Sutherland, Julie Van Rosendaal CITY EDITORS Karen Ashbee (Calgary) Jyllian Park (Edmonton) Rosemary Poole (Victoria) EDITORIAL INTERNS Tiffany C. Lockhart, Andrea Garza, Daniela Rodriguez Chevalier EMAIL mail@westernliving.ca
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WL // EDITOR’S NOTE
Q& A This month we asked our contributors, what’s your favourite trick for making a desk-side lunch a little more appealing?
Car Ja , “In t‍ ה‏gâ€? 25 I like to switch things up from the usual salad and play around with some gai lan or bok choy, change up the chicken with pork belly and top things off with pearl onions. For real.
Ku icz, “Gi Â?ur LÂ?Â? a  o€ ‚Оâ€? 72 When I lunch at my desk, I love a chopped salad sprinkled with sunflower seeds for crunch, topped with Little Creek Okanagan’s Original salad dressing. For an afternoon caffeine fix, I go with my favourite green tea: Organic India’s Tulsi Jasmine.
Behind the Scenes Photographer Evaan Kheraj finds the perfect angle to capture our One to Watch, Andrea Wong, in her leatherworking studio in Vancouver’s Chinatown. Spot the winning shot on page 25.
ANICK A QUIN, EDITORIAL DIRECTOR ANICK A.QUIN@WESTERNLIVING.CA 2 0 J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca
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Anicka Quin portrait: Evaan Kheraj; styling by Luisa Rino, makeup by Melanie Neufeld; dress courtesy Nordstrom; watch courtesy Tiffany & Co. Photographed at the Aviary, theaviary.ca.
A BETTER USE FOR DESK DRAWERS
There was a period when the hanging-file drawers in my desk held actual paper files: urgent stories I was working on, budgets for upcoming issues, planning documents for down the road. But over the years, those paper files migrated to digital ones on my computer desktop—and though my top drawer is still used as a home to pens and notepads (and Advil—thank you, Advil—for those more stressful days), the other two have become my office pantry. The migration was gradual. It started a few years ago when a colleague and I had a two-person lunch club—bringing lunch for each other on alternating days in an attempt to move beyond the basic sandwich. I stocked a salt shaker for the days we’d have avocado toast. (I’ve since swapped that for a little box of Vancouver Island Salt Co.’s orange and lime sea salt—perfect on hard-boiled eggs.) Minijars of marinated artichokes or mushrooms are at the ready to amp up a green salad; tuna in olive oil is a quick hit of protein for said salad or a topping for crackers on I’ve-onlygot-time-for-a-snack production days; raw almonds are ready for when I need to take the edge off. And there’s an ocean’s worth of tea to make up for the Red Rose our coffee service delivers. (Okay, it’s Canada’s tea—but my Irish granny couldn’t drink it, and neither can I.) Our favourite foodie, Julie Van Rosendaal, has given me even more inspiration for restocking my desk pantry—and rethinking my office lunch—with her story this issue, “Give Your Desk Lunch a Promotion� (page 72). I’m putting her ginger-miso dressing into rotation on my kale salads, and I’ve still got room in my desk for a snack-at-the-ready box of Pocky (who doesn’t?). If you’ve got your own tricks to share, drop us a line on Facebook, or send me a quick email and let me know what’s in your lunch box. We’ll feature the best tips on our letters page next month. Here’s to great meals together, from my desk to yours.
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LETTERS, ETC.
Tweet, message, ’gram or email (mail@westernliving.ca)— we love to hear from our readers!
SCANDI-STYLE
PARTY PICK
Readers loved this two-toned Saskatchewan kitchen from Crystal Bueckert of Saskatoon’s BLDG Studio and Rhine Artisans.
Ooh là là! Chef Dan’s recipe for his gratin dauphinois is in the current issue of @Western_Living—perfect for your next dinner party! @AU_COMPTOIR (Find it on our WL Recipe Finder!)
Likey! @MFGR_DESIGNS
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That island and that huge dovetail corner—beautiful. @FRASERVALLEYCRAFTSMEN
Can’t wait for you to build me something! @ecosmartdevelopments
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Let’s Round-Table This
There’s something wonderfully intimate about gathering around a round table with friends over food—here are seven of our favourite round-table dining spaces.
Make This Wild Salmon Wellington Fight winter chills with a hearty, freshfrom-the-oven salmon wellington recipe created by Chef Lucas Harrison of Fresh Ideas Start Here.
2 2 J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca
Tour Kate Duncan’s New Digs
Furniture maker Kate Duncan invites us into her new live/work showroom to chat brunch, built-in cabinets and finding a space to call home.
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Round table: Martin Tessler; salmon wellington: Jasmine Ganasi; Saskatchewan kitchen: Natasha Hnidy; Kate Duncan: Brit Kwasney
@ORISHIASTEPHENSS
When was the last time you were truly amazed? Truly inspired?
ALL-NEW 2017 SHOW WITH LIVE ORCHESTRA FROM NEW YORK
“Stage magic! A must see!”
A show you must see at least once in your life.
— Broadway World LA
Queen Elizabeth Theatre JAN 29-31
Tickets: ShenYun.com/Van | 888-974-3698 code: Don’t miss it - book your seats today! Promo WTLMGZ
Experience Heavenly Realms Travel to celestial realms to experience magical and magnificent kingdoms, where flowers of blessing for all of humankind are scattered by heavenly maidens. Their beauty, purity, and grace will touch your heart and soul with joy.
“If heaven is the way we saw it tonight, count me in!” — Nathaniel Kahn, renowned filmmaker
Travel Back to Grand Dynasties The two-hour Shen Yun performance consists of about 20 pieces, moving from one story, region, and dynasty to the next. Stunning animated backdrops, exquisite handmade costumes, high-flying leaps, and thunderous battle drums all serve to transport you to another world.
“An amazing experience! Exciting to watch and really inspirational!” — Stewart F. Lane, Six-time Tony Award–winning producer
Myths & Legends Come to Life Timeless stories from ancient records and classics told through classical Chinese dance are not only fun to watch, but also celebrate traditional values like loyalty, filial piety, compassion, selflessness, and tolerance, bringing joy and inspiration to children and adults alike.
“5,000 years of Chinese music and dance, in one night!” — The New York Times
Enchanting Melodies by Ancient Chinese Instruments The ability to seamlessly harmonize the disparate sounds of Chinese
instruments and a Western symphony orchestra is what makes the Shen Yun Orchestra unique.
“Beautiful Sound, Strikingly intricate melodies.” — NYTheatre.com
The BC Home + Garden Show is the most trusted resource for every home improvement project, inside and out. With big names like HGTVs Bryan Baeumler, star of Bryan Inc, plus more than 425 exhibitors and a slew of exciting new features, there’s real advice, real inspiration and real experts at every turn. Satisfaction guaranteed – or the price of admission is on us! SEE CELEBRITY GUEST EXPERT
THE FLOFORM LOUNGE PRESENTED BY WESTERN LIVING MAGAZINE Study up on this year’s must-have home styles in the latest issue of Western Living Magazine, with a well-deserved glass of wine in hand. Located steps away from the Main Stage, you can sit back without losing out on any of the action – talk about the best of both worlds.
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ONE TO WATCH
In the Bag
Evaan Kheraj
andrea wong, Vancouver accessories designer
Tough Stuff Wong’s totes and bags are designed to withstand coastal weather conditions, making use of waxed canvases and oiltanned leathers.
Andrea Wong’s collection of minimalist bags may be beautiful, but it’s also a stylish example of craftsmanship and thoughtful functionality. “I like to create items that simplify everyday life,” says the Vancouverbased designer. Her Pender bag, named after both the Vancouver Chinatown street and the Gulf Island, highlights her skill for fashionable pieces with a practical edge. Here, a pocket rests on the lower-back area of the outside of the bag—spacious enough for large phones but also accessible without having to take the bag off. And the satchel easily transforms from a cross-body bucket bag into a classic backpack: ideal for city dwellers and island explorers alike.—Carlo Javier
westernliving.ca / J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y
2017 25
WLDESIGN // SHOPPING
A a’s Pi Mrs. Meyer’s Clean
$6, available at London Drugs, londondrugs.com There are a few only-in-America things that always end up in my cart on the occasions I find myself in a Target south of the border: Tazo peachy green organic tea, Gilligan and O’Malley pjs, and Mrs. Meyer’s dish soap. As of January, however, the latter will finally be available a little closer to home. The cultfave brand features naturally derived, environmentally sensitive ingredients (think coconut, palm or olive oil), works like a charm and smells really, really great. My personal fave is the honeysuckle scent, though basil comes in at a close second. And I’ve just made more room in my Target shopping cart.
For more of Anicka’s picks, visit westernliving.ca
Deep Freeze
NOTEWORTHY New in stores across the West
Tickled Peach
There’s something inherently affable about the Muuto Visu lounge chair ($1,065) and its squat-wide-stance stature—now even more endearing upholstered in soft peachy pink. Vancouver Special, Vancouver, vanspecial.com
2 6 J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca
Feeling Blue
The stacked combo of futuristic-looking aquamarine glass on cherrywood in Ligne Roset’s Hampton table ($4,163) is a sleek homage to German-American architect Mies van der Rohe’s Seagram Building in New York. Livingspace, Vancouver, livingspace.com
With a geometric criss-cross on dreamy forms of snowpacked ice, it’s not hard to warm up to the hand-knotted Glacier Blue rug (8 by 10 feet, $15,200), designed by Toronto’s Creative Matters. Salari Fine Carpet Collections, Vancouver, salari.com
OPENINGS
Hot new rooms we love
VANCOUVER Burritt Bros. Since its launch in 1907, Burritt Bros. Carpets and Floors has outfitted such iconic Vancouver buildings as the Orpheum Theatre and the Hotel Vancouver. Four generations later, they’ve relocated to Fraser Street—shared with sister carpet company, Colin Campbell—in a space that boasts 30-foot ceilings, tons of natural light and plenty of space to display full-sized rugs and flooring samples. They’re marking the move with the launch of a new rug collection that showcases the shared history of Burritt Bros. and Vancouver: Aerial ’48, for example, is a new rug based on an archival photo of the 1948 Fraser River flood. 8385 Fraser St., burrittfloors.com —Andrea Garza
On the Fringe
This is peak coolness: the grandma-chic yarn pompoms in oh-so-’80s colours on the Tabula Rasa Idris cushion ($924). Provide, Vancouver, providehome.com
Cop This Kettle
One of Danish designer Erik Magnussen’s iconic kettle designs gets a metal makeover and our morning routines are the better for it. Find the Stelton EM77 vacuum jug ($215) in trendy brass, copper and mirror. Atkinson’s of Vancouver, Vancouver, atkinsonsofvancouver.com
VANCOUVER Stittgen Fine Jewelry Having recently celebrated their 65th anniversary, custom jewellery designers Stittgen Fine Jewelry renovated their West Vancouver location, increasing the size of the gallery and adding more private viewing areas to showcase Stittgen’s designs and products. The custom black and white displays and furnishings give the boutique a sleek, mod look with ample seating and room to browse. 1457 Bellevue Ave., stittgen.com —Andrea Garza
All About That Base
Rally Co.: Erin Wallis
A mod architectural frame of powdercoated steel or rich Brazilian walnut sets the stage for Modernica’s Case Study desktop cylinder planter (from $105) in so-hot-right-now matte stoneware. Chester Fields, Victoria, chester-fields.com
VANCOUVER ISLAND Rally Co. This modern 700-square-foot gift shop is a new gem in downtown Courtenay. The store, complete with floor-to-ceiling windows and vinyl-plank flooring, carries a coveted collection of home accessories, local pottery, paper goods, body-care products and notecards. You can also find delicate jewellery by Vancouver-based Wolf Circus, moon wall hangings and plants. 338 5th St., Courtenay, B.C., rallyco.ca —Daniela Rodrìguez Chevalier
WLDESIGN // great spaces
By ROSEMARy POOlE
FOR QUEEN AND COUNTRY Victoria’s crown jewel gets a chic makeover.
Tasked with giving Victoria’s storied Fairmont Empress Hotel its first renovation in over a quarter century, Rob Polacek and his team at the Puccini Group found themselves walking a tightrope, balancing Edwardian architecture with modern design and darkness with light. The new Q Bar, formerly an underutilized space at an adjacent restaurant, masters the mix. Original millwork was restored and kept in a rich walnut stain, while custom chandeliers were added to reference the clouds that roll into the city’s Inner Harbour outside. At the centre of it all, a waterfall-edged quartzite bar is accented with warm brass lighting and ringed with traditional bar stools upholstered in olive-green leather. Massive pop art-style portraits of Queen Victoria from Julie Coyle Art Associates keep the atmosphere convivial and supply a metaphor for the redesign itself. “We didn’t want to change the old lady,” says Polacek. “We just shortened the hem of her dress a bit and made her beautiful again, all the while making sure that her personality was still there.”
Carrying a Torch
Rock It
Striation wallpaper ($88 per roll) subtly weaves metallic tones into a geode-meetsdamask pattern. anthropologie.com
Cloud Cover
Artemide’s Logico lamp (from $435) is made of hand-blown glass and is available in multiple sizes and configurations. livingspace.com
MORE INSPIRING SPACES Find more great rooms to pin and save at westernliving.ca 2 8 j a n u a r y / f e b r u a r y 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca
Brandon Barre
Cedar and Moss’s Vista Tall sconce ($158) is made of solid brass components in a waxed finish—a fitting companion to dark millwork. Made in Portland. cedarandmoss.com
The West Lives Here
(and Tweets, Instagrams, Facebooks, Pins, Wins)
WesternLiving.ca 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.
The hottest shop picks.
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Envious of the beautiful kitchens you see on television design shows?
You don’t have to be on screen to have a beautiful kitchen. You just need to know where the pros go. And why. We caught up with Merit Kitchens’ Julie Johnstone to chat pedigree,quality and everyone’s favourite local design show (and how Merit Kitchens shines bright in every episode). What makes Merit Kitchens unique? It’s the people - dedicated craftspeople, technical specialists and customer service professionals. Many have been with Merit for over 20 years. Their knowledge and expertise are why we’ve been designing and building beautiful cabinetry for over 40 years.
Julie Johnstone Design Consultant, Merit Kitchens
Why do clients love your cabinets so much? I think it’s because we truly believe that cabinets can transform a house into a home. We start with only the best raw materials and European hardware. And by using the delicate touch of hand-finishing, we reveal the wood’s beauty and natural grain.
Why has Merit Kitchen been so successful? I’d say it’s because our cabinets combine beauty with intelligent design. We stay on top of current trends so customers can choose from the latest storage innovations, door styles, finishes, and decorative elements. In short, we honour history and tradition while embracing modern trends and technological advances to deliver better cabinets for the kitchen, bathroom and throughout the home.
Do you have your own questions about kitchen or bathroom cabinets? Merit Kitchens may just have the answer. Visit us online to learn more about cabinetry, and Julie’s response to some frequently asked questions.
Beauty on the inside. And out. Modern, contemporary designs and quality European craftsmanship. Merit Kitchens—an experience for life. Canadian-made, German-engineered.
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Toll Free: 1-800-663-2992 merit-kitchens.com
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AYA KITCHENS Living Refined
DESIGN
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AyA is a Canadian cabinet manufacturer working directly with residential builders, developers, interior designers, and home owners through over 30 locations across North America.
1. Combining styles in this stunning kitchen
AyA offers innovative, quality cabinetry at competitive prices. AyA products respond best to customization and to projects that up-sell the finishes. With a vast array of over 2000 door style and finish combinations, an AyA kitchen can range from traditional, to contemporary and everything in between.
2. Contemporary Custom Fireplace Surround
Founded by AyA Kitchens, AVANI was created to better serve the luxury kitchen market in North America. AVANI is a highly curated, strictly modern, custom made collection featuring clean lines, warm textures, movement and fine hidden details. Competing directly with Europe’s best brands, AVANI kitchens are designed with the highest possible attention to detail and quality.
Created by the Western Living advertising department in partnership with AyA Kitchens
with AyA’s Transitional Fairfax Latte and Modern Cirrus Rye Walnut doors
featuring AyA’s Manhattan Rye White Oak
3. Master vanity in AyA’s Manhattan Barley Walnut door featuring a tall cabinet for linen storage combined with open cabinets below to portray a Spa-like feel matched with a gorgeous thick countertop and waterfall detail
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BURRITT BROS. Hain Hardwood Floors
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The Hain Hardwood Collection; responsibly harvested, state of the art production facility, and a family run company. A perfect fit for Vancouver’s Flooring Fashion House, Burritt Bros. Carpet & Floors. These handcrafted hardwood floors are naturally oiled providing a beautiful matte finish, and produced in over 70 different colours and styles to suit any flooring project. Available in regionally harvested European Oak, American Walnut, Maple, Cherry, Ash and Siberian Larch, Hain also produces single boards in 23’ lengths, taking floor fashion to a whole new level of sophistication. The Hain Hardwood Collection is like no other, the perfect blend of sustainability, attention to detail and cutting edge design. Visit the new Burritt Bros. Carpet & Floors showroom to see the very latest in flooring fashion from Hain Hardwood. Created by the Western Living advertising department in partnership with Burritt Bros.
DESIGN
1. Herringbone - Classic Herringbone is back in trend:
a) Smoked Oak, shown in a brushed and Rawoptic oil finish – Select & better grade b) European Oak, shown in a brushed and Pearlgrey oil finish – Select & better grade
2. Walnut- The warm brown shades and the elegant grain give an air of relaxation and solidity, the fine surface ensures comfort: American Walnut, shown in an oil finish – Select & better grade
3. Ash- For something unique, with a lively appearance, medium colour and structure variations: a) Ash, shown in a brushed and ice grey oil finish – Select grade b) Ash, shown in a brushed and Titanblue oil finish – Select grade 4. Oak- wide planks and a special grade make this product a distinctive choice for your space: Oak, Planed by machine, light smoked brushed and oil finish – Select grade
60 - 8385 F����� S�. V��������
B������F�����.��� | 604.879.8432
Vancouver’s Flooring Fashion House
SPONSORED REPORT
GINGER JAR FURNITURE Indoors & Out
DESIGN
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4 3 Celebrating 37 years as a local, family owned and operated company, Ginger Jar Furniture is the North Shore’s largest showroom of fine contemporary indoor and outdoor furniture and accessories. In their 20,000 square foot showroom, discover fashion forward European designs for your home, with brands like Rolf Benz, Gamma, Thayer Coggin, Cierre, Manutti, Gloster, Calligaris, Bontempi, Fiam, Lloyd Flanders, Draenert, Vondom, and Stressless. They are also recognized for their contract services in designing show suites, hotel foyers and pool sides, lounges, and dining areas. Also check out OMG it’s small by Ginger Jar, your destination for big style in small spaces; featuring multifunctional collections; trendy, fun accessories like Sid Dicken’s tiles and Fatboy beanbags; and amazing pendant lighting. Purchase from the showroom and take it home today or custom order your ‘perfect’ piece.
Created by the Western Living advertising department in partnership with Ginger Jar Furniture
1. Icarus Shade: Full-scale leaf design includes 360° rotation and a
telescopic pole allowing the leaf to extend overhead or be positioned as a shade barrier. Customizable finish.
2. Stripe: Navaho inspired barcode textile comes in 4 different colour schemes - red, green, orange and blue - on dining, lounge and pool collections.
3. Ekka: X-leg dining table with premium smooth sanded teak wood
top and centre storage box. Available in two sizes. Customizable finish.
4. Stones: Organically designed resin lounge furniture by Stefano Giovannoni & Elisa Gargan; made in Spain. Customizable finish.
new
product
CARA A sofa you instantly fall in love with – this is the Rolf Benz CARA. A system range with functions that meet high standards in terms of both comfort and design. Graceful proportions and elegant lines come together with a unique statement within the Rolf Benz collection. Design Anita Schmidt
exclusively at
1420 Fell Avenue at Marine Drive North Vancouver | 604.988.7328 gingerjarfurniture.com
For more beautiful finds for your smaller spaces
1400 Marine Drive North Vancouver | 604.988.2789 omgitssmall.com
SPONSORED REPORT
INSPIRATION FURNITURE DESIGN Home and office furniture with an attitude
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4 1. Gordon Deep Wood Dining Table Featuring an
3 INspiration Furniture Vancouver has been at the historic Sigurdson’s Mill building in False Creek since 2002. The building, which covers three stories and five levels with original 110-yearold timber construction, is home to BoConcept Vancouver, INspiration Furniture, Natuzzi Italia Gallery, Stressless Comfort Gallery, and the Formitalia D gallery - all under one roof.
irregular solid wood edge, this majestic dining table features an 8 cm thick“Honeycomb” table top. This special construction design eliminates warping or cracking, but still gives a natural solid wood look.
2. Indy Chair The futuristic looking chair comes in many
colors, as well as base options. Also available as an office chair with wheels, graphite metal 5 spoke design or walnut base.
Being the industry leader in contemporary and modern furnishings, at all price points, INspiration Furniture is Vancouver’s fastest growing furniture company. There is never a shortage of excitement, as new product lines and brands are introduced every season.
3. Amadeus Bed Upholstered bed covered in synthetic leather or soft leather with matte bronze, white or graphite embossed lacquered steel feet. Optional: back headboard covered in soft leather or leathertex. Slats included. Available in Queen or King.
INspiration Furniture Vancouver also has strong ties with its sister store - Rapport International Furniture in LA and Palm Springs. All five stores are owned and operated by both Steen and Peter Skaaning, both trained cabinet makers in their native country Denmark.
4. Batik Desk Minimalist desk with base in White or Graphite embossed lacquered steel with profiles in Canaletto Walnut. Top in White or Graphite embossed lacquered wood with storage container in Canaletto Walnut.
Created by the Western Living advertising department in partnership with Inspiration Furniture
Italian design and craftsmanship, west coast life style.
MON-WED & FRI 10 - 7 | THURS 10 - 9 | SAT 10 - 6 | SUN 11 - 6
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www.INspirationFurniture.ca 1275 WEST 6th AVE. VANCOUVER BC T: 604 730 1275 FREE COVERED PARKING AVAILABLE
SPONSORED REPORT
JASON GOOD
DESIGN
Fine Quality Woodworking
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Jason Good Custom Cabinets Inc. is a locally owned and operated custom millwork company specializing in high end cabinetry and woodwork. Everything is manufactured in Victoria, primarily sourcing local materials and products. Jason is a committed and hands on business owner who has developed his expertise through his passion for fine quality woodworking. Leading his way with innovative thinking, Jason Good Custom Cabinets has been recognized for multiple Gold Care Awards and also by the National Kitchen and Bath Association for design achievements. Each project is tailored to suit the clients’ individual needs and design aesthetic. Jason’s values focus on using only the highest grade materials, showcasing the beauty of raw materials, precision and commitment to quality craftsmanship. Created by the Western Living advertising department in partnership with Jason Good Custom Cabinets Inc.
1. Half inch Neolith countertops in Arctic White are modern and fresh
2. Integrated receptacles are seamless and add to kitchen’s effortless aesthetic
3. Fully integrated appliances create smooth and harmonious lines throughout 4. The bright orange door is a modern take on a Dutch door and compliments the array of finishes and textures in the mudroom
Architect D’Ambrosio
250.384.4663
|
Victoria BC
|
jasongoodcabinets.com
SPONSORED REPORT
JORDANS HOME
DESIGN
Discover Caracole
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If you are looking for a beautiful turn in a new direction, discover Caracole. They create high-style furniture, filled with personality, and offered at an exceptional value.
1. Vision Airy Cabinet LED string lighting is concealed along the inside edge of
Inspired and sophisticated, they love to incorporate a-ha moments and multi-functional practicality, like hidden electronic charging stations, innovative storage options and other special details. Caracole is about creativity, expression and whimsy...right down to the product names!
architecturally-inspired is light in scale and large on impact.
When you think of Caracole, think of a highly edited portfolio of furnishings - from classic to modern in detail - defined by exceptional style. Each piece is a breath of fresh air, infinitely adaptable and ultimately unique, to take your home in a beautiful new direction.
Created by the Western Living advertising department in partnership with Jordans Home
the cabinet’s interior, casting dramatic modern light on displayed art, and may be adjusted with a touch-control for three levels of light.
2. High Rise Table The perfect urban statement, our 54” round table’s intricate, 3. Blended Family Sofa Launch a great urban oasis starting with our tailored, mid-size sofa. Sleek lines and vertical tufts ensure it will always look neat and stylish. 4. Just Friends Chair This updated, cane-back, wood chair steals its design from Thonet’s bent wood style. Its eye-catching details make it the perfect chair to add into a space to infuse it with personality. 5. Convenience Ottoman This cleverly-styled, innovative ottoman offers a convenient twist, a stylish wooden tray is incorporated into its design! At rest, the tray neatly slides over the upholstered top creating a convenient hard surface.
RICHMOND | COQUITLAM | LANGFORD | JORDANSHOME.CA
SPONSORED REPORT
WINDOWWORKS
DESIGN
Where Vancouver’s designers go for inspiration
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4 At Windowworks, exquisite beauty meets practicality to create innovative window treatments and coverings that enhance any home. Their wide selection of services includes window coverings, accessories & custom upholstery. Windowworks is home to the largest custom drapery and upholstered furniture workroom in Western Canada. For over 25 years they have proudly constructed all types of custom window treatments as well as furniture, bedding, decorations, and accessories. When you visit their Richmond showroom, you’ll find nothing less than the highest quality material, expert craftsmanship, and above all, unmatched customer service. As a family-run business, service and reliability are at the heart of everything they do – allowing decorating projects to be completed with ease. When they couple your vision with their expertise, you can be rest assured that your windows are covered. They now carry incredible wallpaper and custom hand-knotted area rugs from JF Fabrics™. Created by the Western Living advertising department in partnership with Windowworks
5 1. Custom waterfall roman shades 2. Re-upholstered heirloom chair 3. custom hand tufted furniture, headboards, ottomans 4. Modern layered roman shade 5. Handwoven heirloom area rugs
13331 Vulcan Way Unit 10, Richmond, BC | 604-231-1433 | windowworks.ca
SPONSORED REPORT
CLEAN, DEFINED, REDESIGNED Sleek Burnaby Mountain remodel earns maison d’être two Georgie nominations
T
he team at maison d’être design-build inc. is excited to have four finalist nominations in the 2017 Georgie Awards: the prestigious Grand Georgie Awards’ Residential Renovator of the Year, Best Condo Renovation under $250,000, Best Condo Renovation over $250,000, and Best Kitchen Renovation over $125,000. These last two nominations were earned for the transformation of the Burnaby Mountain condo whose former design didn’t take full advantage of the breathtaking views of the Lower Mainland from this elevation. “Although the condo was spacious,” says Robert Capar, President of maison d’être, who led the renovation, “it had its issues: a shortage of heat, poor lighting, (the living room had only one bare light bulb over an electric fireplace), out-of-proportion kitchen cabinets, and a general lack of visual flow.” “Removing the view-obstructing wall between the kitchen and the living room was a priority,” continues Capar. With the wall removed, two distinct living areas were defined with drop-ceiling lighting panels, area rugs, and furniture placement, as well as by installing a three-sided open-biofuel fireplace, which carries the eye through the hearth from the living to the dining area. One stunning focal point of the redesign is the elevated dining bar expanding from the kitchen island via floating panel. Capar’s favourite element, though, is “the blue back-painted glass—a striking feature—above the island.” Resized baseboard heaters and radiant floors keep this renovation warm and cozy, and the scratch-resistant, large-format tiles now throughout the home mean that the resident dog can run freely. Ultimately, Capar indicates, “the clean lines and sleek finishes of the kitchen’s high-gloss two-tone cabinets and the overall symmetry of the space suit the taste of this detail-oriented homeowner, who’s very happy with the results.”
A SOLID HISTORY OF INNOVATIVE DESIGN & DETAILED CONSTRUCTION 118 west 2nd avenue, vancouver | 604.484.4030 | maisondetre.ca Created by the Western Living advertising department in partnership with maison d’etre
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
Great Escapes
Petr Myska
Just north of Puerto Vallarta, Punta Mita is a luxe residential community you might recognize from your celeb-spotting Instagram account (Mindy Kaling and Vince Vaughn are among the regulars). It’s also a magnet for Western Canadians—like the homeowners who have the good fortune to call this ocean view over Bay of Banderas their own. They called on Vancouver designer Robert Bailey to make it feel like home—take a tour of the rest of their getaway on page 48.
westernliving.ca / J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y
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WL HOMES // MEXICO
TROPICAL B
BEAUTY In the luxe resort of Punta Mita, a Vancouver couple finds an idyllic slice of home away from home. by SUSAN BRYANT photographs by PETR MYSKA
westernliving.ca / J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y
2017 49
“The home is really a series of pavilions,” says designer Robert Bailey, “with the living space under this giant palapa roof.”
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acations have a way of creating could-we, should-we moments. This place is fantastic. Could this be our life? Should we talk to a realtor? Could we come back every year? When Wayne Deans visited the resort enclave of Punta Mita back in 2007—then just one hotel and a handful of private homes—he very quickly went down that path. “The woman I was with decided we needed to take a 10-day vacation, and I said, ‘Just tell me where I’m going,’” says Deans, who ended up spending the time at the Four Seasons Punta Mita. “And I fell in love with the place. I was playing golf every day—and met up with a realtor. I ended up buying a house before the year was out.” While Punta Mita suits Deans and his partner, Leslie La Vie—he still golfs every day, teeing off early and back at his desk by the time his colleagues in Vancouver are just getting started at work—the home wasn’t quite what they were looking for. He called on Vancouver designer Robert Bailey—who’s worked with Deans on several of his properties—to come down to take a look. “It’s easy for me to work with Robert; we’re always on the same page,” says Deans. “He knows exactly what I like, and I know exactly where he’s going with stuff—we’ve never had a single disagreement.” Much of the flow of the home worked well (it was designed by celebrated Mexican architects Alfonso López Baz and Javier Calleja) and was designed so that the homeowners feel as though they’re outside most of the year. “The home is really a garden and a roof,” says Bailey. “It’s a series of pavilions, with the living space under this giant palapa roof.” Bailey was tasked with refurnishing the home and turning those great open areas into a warm, livable space. “All of the colour is really
5 0 J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca
Tropical Retreat Wayne Deans and Leslie La Vie relax in their living room with rescue dog Missie (above, right). The home’s main living space (opposite) is open to the garden on one side and the pool on the other; designer Robert Bailey selected outdoor furniture from Dedon and B&B Italia that’s deceivingly sturdy—it can handle guests in bathing suits by day and cocktail attire by night.
The bedrooms are a testament to that bold colour that Bailey references—bright purples in the master bedroom, vibrant Missoni bedding in a guest room.
Great Outdoors The roof deck was previously empty; Bailey brought in flooring and bold furnishings from Dedon (top left). Deans is an avid gearhead—that’s the nose cone from the F1 Ferrari that Michael Schumacher drove to win the 2004 Formula 1 World Championship mounted on the wall (bottom left). Colour Perfect Bold hits of colour pop up in the space, like the splash of fuchsia in one hallway (top right), and the Ferrari-red glass backsplash in the kitchen (above, right).
5 2 J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca
Sleep Zones The bedrooms pivot around the pool in the courtyard, ideal for a morning dip. The master (opposite, top left) features a poppy orange leather Tufty bed; the guest bedroom (opposite, bottom left) gets bold Missoni bedding. Views to Thrill The master bathroom is lined with rosecoloured marble. Bailey replaced the existing cabinets with dark wood, which balances out the orange tones from the local wood used in the existing window frames— and that great garden view.
driven from a couple of things,” says Bailey. First, the rose-coloured marble used for the flooring throughout the home started as the base point, he explains. And then much of the colour was drawn from the flora and fauna around the property—the pinks and purples of the bougainvillea and other wild plants that line the gardens. “Mexico’s a very colourful place,” says Bailey. “We didn’t want to do the same as what we’d do in Vancouver.” In the main living space, all the furniture is made from synthetic wicker and deceivingly outdoor-sturdy fabrics. A pair of B&B Italia chairs, designed by Patricia Urquiola, takes its cues from the popular plantation chairs of the ’60s, chosen by Bailey for their delicate open backs, which allow those sitting opposite them to still see to the garden beyond. Lounges from Dedon in aquamarine blue and a cool neutral round out the conversation zone. And for a conversation starter, overlooking the room in stately S e e S o u r c e S at w e S t e r n l i v i n g .c a
beauty is a life-sized antique horse—a discovery from a vintage artifacts store in nearby San Pancho, its warm patina developed from years of use as a tack stand in a stable. The bedrooms are a testament to that bold colour that Bailey references—bright purples in the master bedroom, vibrant Missoni bedding in a guest room. And though the gardens contribute to much of the colour in the main areas of the house, Bailey couldn’t resist one bold punch of fuchsia on a wall by the outdoor eating area—a nod to famed Mexican architect Luis Barragán, much loved for his use of colour. The space is flexible enough to suit La Vie and Deans, whether they’re in alone for the evening or have a crowd of 75 gathered around the high-top tables by the pool. At the end of the night, there’s one thing in particular that Deans cites as the reason he keeps coming back. “At night, all you hear are the waves crashing on the beach below the house. It’s quiet and peaceful.” westernliving.ca / j a n u a r y / f e b r u a r y
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WL HOMES // CALIFORNIA
FUN HOUSE 5 4 J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca
A Vancouver designer gets playful with his Palm Springs rancher. by BARB SLIGL photographs by KERRY PUCKETT
Hello, Sunshine When designer Mitchell Freedland purchased this 1962 tract house in Palm Springs, “it wasn’t what anybody wanted,” he says, “including me.” He’s transformed it into a mid-century beauty.
westernliving.ca / J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y
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M 5 6 J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca
id-century-modern design may be synonymous with Palm Springs, but when Vancouver designer Mitchell Freedland looked for that go-to butterfly-roof bungalow, he was outbid nine times. Instead, he found a nondescript Hollywood Regency rancher—one that’s all about location, location, location—and a chance to be less precious about design. When the Canadian dollar was at par several years ago, he began a hunt for a vacation home and easy warm-weather getaway. What he finally bought was this 1962 tract house in a faux Beverly Hills Regency style with diminutive Tuscan columns. “It wasn’t what anybody wanted,” he says, “including me.” But its charms sold him: namely, the 11,000-square-foot property with a pool and views of the San Jacinto Mountains. Set in Racquet Club Estates, surrounded by those iconic butterfly-roof houses that made the Alexander Construction Company famous and now draw crowds during Palm Springs’ Modernism Week, the three-bedroom 1,450-square-foot
Bright Idea To open the space up, Freedland removed walls between the kitchen, living and dining rooms. The rose-coloured shag rug was replaced with silver travertine flooring, and a consistent colour palette throughout unites the open space. The Big Finish The space is elegant but deceivingly rough-and-tumble for an indoor-outdoor lifestyle: the French bergère chairs, for example, are covered in sturdy cowhide; the floors easily handle wet feet from the pool. “It’s a second home, and it wasn’t meant to be a precious home,” says Freedland.
There’s a touch of Hollywood glitz throughout, channelling the Beverly Hills Regency look with gilded elements, gold leaf, California shutters, Chinese screens and other Asian antiques—including a huge granite 1930s art deco Buddha that took three people to lift up on its pedestal.
5 8 J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca
rancher was intended to be one of the coveted steel houses designed by Daniel Wexler. But the prohibitive cost of steel morphed that plan into a more clichéd take with fake pediment and columns, popular in the heyday of the glam Hollywood racquet-club era that gave the neighbourhood its name. Despite the home’s great history, location, views and charm, it needed lightening, brightening and more airiness. Freedland gutted the interior and removed walls between the kitchen, living and dining rooms. “The challenge was trying to open it up,” he says, while instilling “a connectivity of materials that add a cohesiveness to the space.” So the rose-coloured shag carpet was replaced with silver travertine flooring throughout. Oyster-white walls now juxtapose charcoal Caesarstone countertops in the kitchen and bathrooms. To match those new counters, the existing bathroom cabinetry was painted a similar hue of dark grey, set against more of the travertine. Everything is a contrast of white and greys with pops of sunny yellow. “It’s very consistent but playful,” says Freedland. And “it definitely has a Palm Springs vibe to it,” he adds of the colour and material palette, similar to the Avalon Hotel Palm Springs (formerly the Viceroy), designed by Kelly Wearstler. Vintage bergère chairs in a distressed finish are now reupholstered in black cowhide, and sleek sofas are also a slate shade. Black lampshades are lined in gold; mirrors give sparkle and the illusion of depth. There’s a touch of Hollywood glitz throughout, channelling the Beverly Hills Regency look with gilded elements, gold leaf, California shutters, Chinese screens and other
M 5 6 J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca
id-century-modern design may be synonymous with Palm Springs, but when Vancouver designer Mitchell Freedland looked for that go-to butterfly-roof bungalow, he was outbid nine times. Instead, he found a nondescript Hollywood Regency rancher—one that’s all about location, location, location—and a chance to be less precious about design. When the Canadian dollar was at par several years ago, he began a hunt for a vacation home and easy warm-weather getaway. What he finally bought was this 1962 tract house in a faux Beverly Hills Regency style with diminutive Tuscan columns. “It wasn’t what anybody wanted,” he says, “including me.” But its charms sold him: namely, the 11,000-square-foot property with a pool and views of the San Jacinto Mountains. Set in Racquet Club Estates, surrounded by those iconic butterfly-roof houses that made the Alexander Construction Company famous and now draw crowds during Palm Springs’ Modernism Week, the three-bedroom 1,450-square-foot
WL HOMES // ARIZONA
PHOENIX RISING
The bold redesign that got Calgary’s James McIntyre to break his own rules. by JACQUIE MOORE photographs by LAURA MOSS
westernliving.ca / J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y
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6 2 J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca
F Moroccan Nights In McIntyre’s bold and exotic Tom-Ford-esque living room (left), a life-sized portrait of Lady Gaga holds an eclectic audience—from the sumptuous black velvet loveseat and club chair by Joseph Hoffmann to the wild, enigmatic scribbles of the Ecriture II rug from designer Christian Astuguevieille. Back in Black Eschewing the de facto desert palette, the Calgary-based designer paints his Phoenix home with a darker brush (right). Rich, moody hues dominate the expansive rooms, with McIntyre ebonizing the home’s ash floor and light wood beams.
aced with a circa-1979 sunshine ceiling and swaths of plush peach carpeting, few mortals would have the confidence and clarity to envision a contemporary, deeply personal haven with a Moroccan/ Indian/Tom Ford vibe—particularly in a Spanish colonial home in a desert city. If all that sounds like an unworkable pastiche of eras and styles, then you haven’t met James McIntyre. McIntyre is the principal designer at Calgary fi rm McIntyre Bills. He’s known locally for his elegant lines and ability to inject warmth and wow into masculine, understated interiors. He’s also in demand among snowbirds south of the border—Arizona and Palm Springs, in particular—for his deftness in combining bright whites and pops of colour with desert earth tones. A few years back, he leapt at an opportunity to live out his childhood affection for Phoenix and, breaking a couple of his own rules of design, dramatically reimagined his own home away from home. McIntyre grew up visiting his grandparents in Mesa, just outside Phoenix, and taking family holidays to the Grand Canyon. The landscape got into his bones early on. “I always loved the ruggedness, the cacti, the succulents,” he says. “When I started designing for Calgarians with homes in Arizona, it felt like my destiny to spend part of my time there.” Still, McIntyre never envisioned himself in the stuccoed, arch-and-wrought iron-heavy Spanish revival home he eventually purchased in Phoenix’s Biltmore Estates neighbourhood. “I was looking at modern houses but reluctantly agreed to let my realtor show me this place,” he says. Fresh vacuum lines on thick carpet, and rows of dated oak cabinets and ivy wallpaper in the kitchen were no match for McIntyre’s exquisite imagination. Starting with the home’s exterior, the designer took nearly two years to methodically renovate and redesign to his heart’s content. “Since this is my place and mine alone,” he explains, “I made choices I wouldn’t necessarily suggest to a client.” Driven by a long-held dream of a vine-covered courtyard, McIntyre put a portico and wrought-iron gates at the front entrance (the vines grew at speeds never seen in Cowtown: dream fulfilled). He also followed his passion for West Hollywood glamour with black
“My house is an unselfconscious mix of things I love,” says McIntyre. “I think that gives it a warm, relaxed feel, which makes friends feel very welcome here.”
basalt floors in the bathrooms and showers, and solid brass knobs on all the doors. In the kitchen, McIntyre chose striking highgloss black-lacquered cabinets—not a direction he would steer a busy family (“even I get fingerprints on them”)—with brass buckle pulls (another nod to West Hollywood). Eschewing desert earth tones, he channelled his passion for a “Moroccan vibe” with rich, moody hues. McIntyre ebonized the home’s ash floor and light wood beams and gave the kitchen an exotic-lounge feel with Moroccan-style star lanterns, antique brass hardware, a grey quatrefoilprint rug and a Moorish fi xture over the nearby dining table. A delightfully incongruous pair of Chinese Foo dogs above the kitchen sink is, says McIntyre, further proof that personal passion, above all, dictates the home’s aesthetic: “My house is an unselfconscious mix of things I love—I think that gives it a warm, relaxed feel, which makes friends feel very welcome here.” Likewise, McIntyre’s living room is divided into two parts that suit his personality. A formal side, featuring black velvet sofas and a fragmented mirror, sits naturally alongside a casual, speakeasy-style salon, presided over by a life-sized portrait of Lady Gaga. The room is enveloped in dark grey velvet drapes, reminiscent of a Tom Ford interior McIntyre was struck by on a visit to New York. A solid white marble Ganesha—Hindu god of removing obstacles— serves to remind him of a memorable trip to India and, perhaps, that nothing need stand in the way of pleasing and meaningful design. S E E S O U R C E S AT W E S T E R N L I V I N G .C A
Bring the Drama Striking high-gloss black lacquered cabinets with brass buckle pulls run virtually floor-toceiling in the galley kitchen (the earthy brown-and-black marble countertops sit just out of view). These are just a few of the references to McIntyre’s passion for West Hollywood glamour that can be spotted throughout the Spanish revival home.
SEE SOURCES
westernliving.ca / J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y
2017 65
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...you dream it, we create it TREVI COLLECTION Introducing the best of 2016 with Valley’s Trevi bath Collection. Inspired by the fabled architects of Florence and Rome, this BOLD European design combines Italian simplicity with sustainable Canadian manufacturing To create a lush, lavish focal point for your dream designer bathroom.
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presents
2017
Explore the Best of the City under one roof with this exclusive culinary experience.
OD FO E N WI R E BE 7 01 2 , 4 Y2
Restaurant Award winning chefs create one-of-a-kind dishes paired with the best wine and beer in the city at the Coast Coal Harbour Hotel. For ticket information visit VanMag.com/event-bestofthecity PRESENTING SPONSOR
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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
Layered Luxury A mile-high stack of crepes, layered with lemon cream, makes a stunning dessert that’s very much on trend these days. It’s perfect for brunch celebrations—and for those who want something other than the old-fashioned two-layer cakes people used to eat all those years ago (kidding—we still love us some birthday cake). Turn the page to where Julie Van Rosendaal shows us how you can make this crowdpleaser with just a modicum of effort.
Pile Up One of the great tricks of this recipe? Use store-bought crepes and save some time.
westernliving.ca / J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y
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WLFOOD // BITES RECIPE
(H O M E ) C H EF ’S T I P I love making classic risotto, but if I want to change the flavour profile I’ll put a chunk of Gorgonzola in the freezer for several hours to harden it up, then I’ll grate it just like a Parmigiano and add it to the dish. It also works like gangbusters with carbonara. Easy, and makes you look more talented than you are—is there anything better? —Neal McLennan, Food Editor
Lemon Cream Crepe Cake LEMON CREAM 1 cup sugar 6 large egg yolks Zest of 1 to 2 lemons ½ cup lemon juice ½ cup butter, cut into pieces 2 cups whipping cream CREPES 6 large eggs 1½ cups half and half cream 1 tsp vanilla 1 cup all-purpose flour Ÿ cup icing sugar Ÿ tsp salt Butter or lard, for cooking Fresh berries, for serving Icing sugar, for dusting
1. In a medium saucepan, whisk together
sugar, egg yolks, lemon zest and juice. Set over medium-high heat and bring to a simmer, stirring almost constantly until mixture thickens. Remove from heat and stir in butter; set aside for a few minutes, then stir once butter has melted. Refrigerate until well chilled.
BITES
What we’re eating and drinking
2. Once curd has chilled, whip the cream until
stiff. Gently fold in the curd and return to fridge.
3. To make the crepes, blend eggs, half and
half and vanilla in a blender. Add flour, icing sugar and salt and pulse again to blend until smooth. Brush a well-seasoned cast iron or non-stick 8-inch skillet with butter or lard and set over medium-high heat. When it’s warm, wipe it out with a paper towel and set back over heat. Cook a scant Ÿ cup of batter at a time, pouring it quickly into the hot skillet and tilting it quickly so it evenly coats the bottom of the pan, for about 30 seconds per side or until golden. Transfer to a plate or cookie sheet as you cook the rest. You should have about 16 to 18 crêpes. Set aside to cool completely, or refrigerate.
4. To assemble your cake, place the first crepe on a plate or cake stand and spread with about ⅓ cup of the lemon cream. Continue stacking the crepes, gently spreading with cream (being careful not to squish out the cream underneath), finishing with a crepe. Set in fridge, if there’s room, for an hour or two to make it easier to slice. Top with a pile of berries and dust with icing sugar just before serving. Serves 8.
7 0 J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca
N l’s W e Pi
Lady Gaga
There’s solidarity in Brunello. BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2010 $75
If you think politics is an old boys’ club, try being a winemaker in Tuscany, where it’s not uncommon for a family—sorry, for the males in a family—to have made wine for generations. So in comes force of nature Donatella Cinelli Colombini, who takes a sisters-are-doing-it-for-themselves approach to making wine: the whole operation is run by women, which would have been just a neat gimmick but for the fact that the results are almost universally lauded. Her Brunello di Montalcino 2010 ($75) is a pleasing mix of soft fruit with a backbone of earth and leather that goes for finesse over brute power—what a surprise.
N l McL n
O P EN I N G S
Peaked Pies 975 DENMAN ST., VANCOUVER
Whistlerites have long known the glory of an Aussie steak, bacon and cheese pie, peaked (i.e., piled with mushy peas, potatoes and gravy), as the perfect après-ski treat. Now Vancouverites are getting in on the hearty, low-cost fare with this new West End spot. A perfect place to dream about Whitehaven Beach (see page 86). peakedpies.com
Mabou
1006 17TH AVE. SW, CALGARY
So Janice Beaton may have closed Farm, her restaurant and cheese shop, but she wasn’t about to leave her legion of devotees hanging. Not only is her new restaurant, Mabou, in the same stomping grounds, she has also kept a few Farm faves, like the amazing mac and cheese, to complement new offerings like Empire Provisions sausages (at just $10). janicebeaton.com/mabou
Yalla
1101 BLANSHARD ST, VICTORIA
This downtown spot offers a fresh take on Middle Eastern food stalls. Husband-andwife owners Joel Pollock and Pam Smith keep things simple with a short menu of falafel, shawarma, hummus, a pair of salads and fries—oh, there’s fries—made from Kennebec potatoes and spiced with hawaij, a spice mix found in Yemeni cuisine. Indeed, it’s the thoughtful attention to spices, dressings and accoutrements where Yalla really shines. letsgoyalla.ca
GADGET
Fine Tuned
If you’re investing in a beautiful piece of whole tenderloin, then it’s time to ditch that 20-year-old supermarket meat thermometer you’re still using and upgrade to this thin digital CDN ProAccurate Quick-Read Thermometer ($37) that doesn’t poke huge holes in your roast and, go figure, accurately tells the temperature—both of which are key to medium-rare perfection.
See more gadgets at westernliving.ca
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WLFOOD // DESK LUNCH
G I
V E Y O U R L U N C H A P R O M O T I O N Make This!
Eating lunch at your desk gets a bad rap. But trust us, it can be a revelation. Here’s your playbook to eating healthy, tasty food with style as you crank out that killer set of blueprints or annual report. recipes by JULIE VAN ROSENDAAL // photography & styling by TRACEY KUSIEWICZ 7 2 J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca
Curry-lime dressing. Find the recipe on page 77.
Veg Out
Mashed avocado, roasted squash, pear, arugula, crumbled feta, almonds, togarashi and fried onions.
1 WE PROPOSE A TOAST Sandwiches have long been a lunchtime staple, but the recent rediscovery of toast as a delivery vehicle for delicious ingredients has opened the door to mealtime possibilities beyond the ripe avocado; whether you call it an open-faced sandwich, toast or tartine, you can pile any number of tasty things on a single slice and call it lunch. Many arguments can be made in favour of the tartine over the two-slice sandwich: not only does it cut your bread consumption in half while exponentially increasing the bread-to-filling ratio, a tartine is nice to look at on the plate, its elements gently layered,
Mangia, Mangia
Brie, prosciutto, olives, roasted tomatoes, almonds and arugula.
unconfined by a lid. Two open slices seem like more than they do served pressed together— and if you pack the elements separately, you can easily assemble your lunch right before you eat it, eliminating forever the risk of a soggy sandwich. When building your tartine, start with a foundation of good bread, then raid your fridge and pantry, considering flavours and textures, going for layers of creamy, crunchy and salty. On the base, you could start by smearing soft cheeses like goat, Boursin, ricotta or brie, ripe avocado, hummus, almond butter or even a layer of soft butter. Follow
with thinly sliced cured meats like ham, salami or prosciutto, shredded chicken, good tinned tuna, thinly sliced cold steak or flaked salmon from last night’s dinner, or go veggie with cold roasted root vegetables or squash, roasted tomatoes, sliced avocado or sautéed mushrooms. Top with salty cheeses (shaved Parmesan or Gouda or crumbled feta), perhaps some peppery arugula or baby spinach, perhaps some briny olives, and something to add crunch, like thinly sliced radishes or sweet-tart apples, toasted almonds or pepitas. Grind over some salt and pepper and you’re good to go. westernliving.ca / J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y
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WLFOOD // DESK LUNCH
2 HAVE SALAD, WILL TRAVEL Cold-hardy kale does as well in the lunch box as it does in the garden—practically wilt-proof, it’s tamed by dressing, improving with time in the fridge. Thinly sliced Brussels sprouts—cousins in the brassica family—pair well with kale, or you could try adding some shaved fennel or bitter radicchio to the mix. Use this crunchy slaw as a base, and add chopped apples or pears, roasted veggies, shredded chicken, a handful of cooked grains, chickpeas or marinated lentils—even a cold poached egg.
Kale Salad 1 small bunch kale 6 to 8 big Brussels sprouts ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan, aged Gouda or pecorino ⅓ cup sliced or slivered almonds, toasted Wash and shake kale leaves dry; pull the leaves off the stems, discarding stems and finely chopping or slicing leaves into a wide bowl. Halve Brussels sprouts lengthwise and thinly slice to shred them, discarding the tough ends. Add shredded sprouts to the kale.
Dressing ⅓ cup olive oil 3 tbsp lemon juice 1 tbsp grainy mustard 1 garlic clove, finely crushed 2 tsp sugar Salt and freshly ground pepper To make the dressing, shake or stir together olive oil, lemon juice, mustard, garlic, sugar, salt and pepper. Drizzle over kale and Brussels sprouts and toss to coat; add Parmesan and almonds and toss to combine. Serve as is, or add any additions you like. Serves 2 to 4. 7 4 J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca
3 DRESS FOR LUNCH The ingredients for most dressings can be poured into a jar and shaken up quickly, then stored in the fridge all week to drizzle over salads or used to transform cold leftovers (boiled potatoes, cooked pasta, lentils, quinoa, rice, roasted veggies) into a meal in a bowl. Beyond your usual vinaigrette (3:1 oil to vinegar, a squeeze of mustard, salt and pepper), here are a few go-to dressings that can help turn leftovers into lunch.
Creamy Tahini ¼ cup tahini 2 tbsp lemon juice 2 tbsp hot water (or enough to achieve a drizzling consistency) 1 garlic clove, finely crushed Salt and pepper Use with: kale salads, grain and lentil bowls, roasted veggies, cold potatoes.
Ginger-Miso ⅓ cup olive or canola oil ¼ cup rice vinegar 1 tbsp miso (or to taste) 2 tsp sesame oil 2 tsp honey 1 tsp finely grated ginger Use with: cold noodle salads, slaws, chicken, grain and lentil bowls.
Curry-Lime ½ cup olive or canola oil 2 tbsp apple cider or white wine vinegar 2 tbsp lime juice 2 tsp honey 1 tsp curry paste or powder Use with: chickpeas and black beans, quinoa, fish, green salads, slaws.
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WLFOOD // DESK LUNCH
4 GET LUNCH DONE LIKE DINNER Keeping future lunches in mind while preparing dinner will ensure you have some surplus cooked veggies, grains, pasta or pulses (beans, lentils and chickpeas) to use as a starting point. Don’t think of them as leftovers so much as your own homemade convenience food.
Peanut Noodles with Chicken and Veggies Cold spaghetti and roasted chicken can be reassembled with peanut sauce that can be made ahead and stashed in the fridge for up to a week. Add crunchy carrots, broccoli, snow pea pods, peppers, cucumber—whatever you like or have on hand. Quantities are up to you.
PEANUT SAUCE ¼ cup peanut or almond butter 1 tbsp brown sugar or honey 1 tbsp sesame oil 1 tbsp soy sauce 1 tbsp rice vinegar or lime juice 1 tsp grated ginger 1 garlic clove, crushed Pinch curry powder or red pepper flakes Cold cooked spaghetti or soba noodles Chopped roasted chicken Grated carrots Broccoli florets Thinly sliced red peppers Chopped green onion Chopped cilantro Chopped peanuts, cashews or almonds (optional) To make peanut sauce, blend all ingredients by hand or in a food processor until smooth, adding a few spoonfuls of hot water to thin to your desired consistency. Toss to taste over cold spaghetti or soba noodles, roasted chicken and veggies, and top with cilantro and/or chopped peanuts, cashews or almonds. Serves as many as you like. 7 6 J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca
Sheet-Roasted Salmon, Asparagus and Tomatoes A simple fillet of salmon and veggies can be roasted together on one sheet in about 10 minutes; if you make more than you need, the cold, flaked fish and veggies are perfect for packing along with grains like quinoa, barley, wheat berries or farro, or some cold cooked lentils. Try adding a handful of arugula or baby spinach and drizzling it all with tahini dressing. 1 fillet salmon or steelhead trout Asparagus spears, tough ends snapped off Handful of grape or cherry tomatoes Olive oil, for cooking Salt and freshly ground black pepper Preheat oven to 425˚F. Lay salmon on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet and scatter asparagus and tomatoes around it. Drizzle everything with oil, rubbing it all over the fish and tossing the veggies with your hands to coat well. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast for 10 minutes, until veggies are just tender and edge of salmon flakes with a fork but the meat is still juicy in the middle. Serves as many as you like.
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Gutter Credit
THE PERFECT DESK PANTRY MARCONA ALMONDS These round little Spanish wonders are perfect for a quick fix—and their high price tag will hopefully discourage overconsumption!
LESLEY STOWE VEGGIE CRISPS From the Vancouverite who reinvented the cracker come these new savoury snacks made for the midday nibble.
VANCOUVER ISLAND SEA SALT Sea salt makes (almost) everything better, and Andrew Shepherd’s version is local and delicious.
POCKY The Japanese know a thing or two about work culture, and these chocolate-dipped sticks stay “fresh” for ages.
TOGARASHI The PC Black Label version of this workhorse Japanese spice mix works like a dry charm here when sprinkled liberally. Persian za’atar also works well. HOT SAUCE An inherently personal choice, but make sure it’s one that doesn’t need refrigeration after opening.
Go with something with a little more viscosity, like Valencia or Cholula, over, say, Tabasco. DRIED MANGOES They’re odourless and they keep forever—these healthy little blasts of sweetness are a simple way to end a desk meal.
WLFOOD // DESK LUNCH
7 SMELLY FOOD PROXIMITY TOOL Tin Soldier
The gentlemen’s hardware gold lunch box tin ($32). cb2.com
In the Can
Klean Kanteen food canister (from $20) kleankanteen.com
6 YOU’RE BETTER THAN PLASTIC It’s not just that you’ll get your container confused with everyone else’s, and it’s not about that sneaking fear of what happens when plastic interacts with microwaves. It’s that bringing a small, manageable sense of occasion is never a bad idea.
No one’s saying you can’t bring that leftover trout almandine for lunch; you just need to know the limits of your olfactory footprint in order to be a good officemate.
Wasa Crispbread Your coworker’s lap ▼ ▼ Tinned tuna 2 cubicles ▼ ▼ ▼ Hard-boiled egg 3 cubicles ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ Tinned salmon 4 cubicles ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ Kimchi - 7 cubicles ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ McDonald’s 10 cubicles ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ Sardines Only at home!
Mix ingredients. Season to taste. Serve over 17 days.
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Fair Isle
Roderick Eime
How far is too far to go for a great beach? What about, arguably, the greatest beach in the world? Our travel editor, Neal McLennan, flew from Vancouver to L.A., L.A. to Brisbane, Brisbane to Hamilton Island and then boarded this here float plane to make it to the soft white sand of Queensland’s famed Whitehaven Beach. So was it worth it? Turn to page 86 to find out.
Soft Landing Whitehaven has sand that’s almost pure silica, giving it a distinctive white glow.
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WLTRAVEL // MY NEIGHBOURHOOD
2
3 Forget the Space Needle or Pike Place Market: Capitol Hill is the true heart of the city.
The decadent ice cream from Kurt Farm Shop is made from custard.
KING OF THE HILL
No one knows Seattle’s Capitol Hill better than cocktail master Jamie Boudreau. Since opening its doors five years ago, Seattle whisky bar Canon has been a vital part of crafting the Capitol Hill neighbourhood’s hip, laid-back flavour. The room is lauded for its killer spirit selection, inventive cocktails and warm vibe (it’s received accolades from everyone from World’s 50 Best Bars to the Tales of the Cocktail festival), and the man in charge of it all is Jamie Boudreau, a former Vancouverite who has dedicated his career to creating the ideal cocktail experience. Here’s where you’ll find him when he’s not behind the bar. 8 2 J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca
1 We often feature spirits from local Oola Distillery on our menu. If they have their cask-strength bourbon, be sure to grab a bottle before they sell out. And they always do.
4
2 Located in an old KFC, the Rancho Bravo building has no signage, but the lines will assure you that the food here is good. Try the tamales if you can—they sell out on a daily basis. 3 Elliott Bay Book Company is huge and beautiful. Getting worn out wandering the room and thumbing through pages? Well, that’s what the café inside is for. 4 Chophouse Row has some great foodie gems and stores in a beautiful courtyard setting. Get your ice-cream fix at Kurt Farm Shop or a glass of wine at Upper Bar Ferdinand. 5 Half distillery, half bar, Sun Liquor creates vodka, gin, rum and bitters, and the staff deftly uses these ingredients in their own cocktail creations. The still is visible from your bar stool.
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Jamie Boudreau: Andrew Fawcett; Oola: Nicole Kandi; Elliott Bay Book Company: Giulia Duepuntozero; Capitol Hill panorama: Purple Puppy/Flickr; Kurt Farm Shop: Kevin Scott / Olson Kundig
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WLTRAVEL // 48 HOURS IN LAS VEGAS
BY SEAN DEVRIES
Vitamin C-infused showers, yoga, fresh-pressed juice and artisan-roasted coffee—how to spend a weekend on the Strip without feeling stripped.
HEALTHY VEGAS
There’s no gentle way of saying it: you just don’t have the constitution for the 24-hour party town like you used to. Instead, live it up on the Strip and leave feeling better than when you arrived.
Exit the air-conditioned airport and take off your sweater as the suffocating 40-degree heat greets you. Even the weather in Vegas radiates excess. Head to the MGM Grand (mgmgrand.com). With more than 5,000 rooms, 170,000 square feet of gambling space and 2,500 slot machines, this behemoth is perhaps the Strip’s most iconic example of over-the-top exhibitionism. So why are you here? Because you’re ensconcing yourself in a room on the Stay Well Floor. Recently expanded to 171 rooms, it features Vitamin C-infused showers, therapeutic lights, air and water purification and a mini-bar decked out like a health food store (opt for yogurtcovered raisins paired with a coconut water). Instead of Wayne Newton, Deepak Chopra welcomes you with a TV message guiding you through the myriad of other life-enhancing 8 4 J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca
features in the room. Start the weekend off on the right foot with an Aria Indoor Hike (aria.com). It may be the only training session on the planet engineered to help you party better. Steve “Rocket” Rosen spends an hour taking you through the sprawling property with its $40-million art collection, fire hall and shopping mall. Your forced march includes countless stairs, lunges, crunches, sprints and step-ups. The idea—using the hotel property to work on your core will ensure you have the balance and control to avoid a fall down the stairs after a few drinks.
SATURDAY Up early: check. No hangover: check. Keep the bliss going with a yoga session. And because the Strip just has to make a show
of everything, your class includes dolphins. The 60-minute Yoga Among the Dolphins (mirage.com) takes place in a private room inside a dolphin sanctuary. As you switch to warrior pose, your underwater friends look right at you through the window and laugh. No breakfast buffet! Instead, hit Della’s Kitchen (delanolasvegas.com) for huevos rancheros made with local beef and housemade salsa or a quinoa cereal depending on your commitment to the cause. Down a
Chill a Little
The Pool Café at the Mandarin Oriental (top left), is perfect, but apply sunscreen first or the Energizing light in an MGM Grand Stay Well room (inset) will show you the harsh results. Reward yourself with the veggie hash from the Pantry (above).
Mandarin Oriental pool: George Apostolidis
FRIDAY
Good Clean Fun
If you do your dolphin yoga at the Mirage (left), you can have huevos rancheros from Della’s Kitchen (above) or even an absinthe tasting (below, left) at Aria’s Sage (below).
fresh-pressed juice (try the Green Pastures, bright with kale, pineapple, cucumber, celery, ginger and lemon) and artisan brewed-toorder coffee served at the table. The Pool Café (mandarinoriental.com) at the Mandarin Oriental offers so many healthy options, the menu comes with a wellness dictionary to help you navigate. Try the Vegas Hangover Remedy (coconut water, strawberry, pomegranate and Thai basil) and then dig into the skirt steak quesadillas. Looking out at the eighth-floor pool, you’ll notice the absence of a few Vegas fixtures—DJs, bouncing beach balls and champagne hose downs. Here the bubbly stays in the glass—a nice touch—while you Zen right out. It’s Vegas and you’re sprouting a halo! There’s still time to partake in just a little Sin City. Sage (aria.com) is an oversized,
over-the-top velvet-cloaked room serving up some of the city’s most indulgent meals (like the Wagyu beef tartare with slow-poached egg). Fine, do it. You’ve been good. Just be careful when it comes to their absinthe tasting (they have the largest collection in North America)— it rarely leads to good decisions. Which is how you end up at Britney Spears’ show.
SUNDAY You almost made it. Well, cure that hangover at the Pantry. This 24-hour café dressed up like a family kitchen at the Mirage has a wide variety of healthy options on the menu (egg-white omelettes and veggie hash and a whole series of choices marked “Smart Plate” with fewer than 700 calories). Strangely, the chicken and waffles doesn’t qualify. But you’re going to eat it anyway. It was the absinthe. westernliving.ca / j a n u a r y / f e b r u a r y
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WLTRAVEL // australia
Gutter Eric Fidler Credit
A BEACH TO END ALL BEACHES
8 6 J a n u a r y / f e b r u a r y 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca
Gutter Palms: Credit Duncan C.
I Sandy Solitude Whitehaven’s isolation—you can get there only by boat or plane—means it’s almost never crowded.
It’s the time of year where beaches are a lifeline to surviving the grind of winter—so why not check out the best one in the world? by NEAL M C LENNAN
love Aussies, but it’s fair to say that they, as a nation, are prone to hyperbole. A huge rock in the middle of the desert becomes “one of the most amazing sights in the whole wide world.” Aussie rules football? “Quite simply the greatest sport ever invented.” Mel Gibson? “Great bloke; just likes the drink is all.” So, decades ago, when a fellow from Perth opted to tell me about the greatest beach in the world, a swath of sand so white and so pure that it was like a talcum powder factory, I paid him little heed. Ditto when I heard the same refrain a few years later from a graphic designer from Sydney. But when my server in Whistler again piped up about this patch of greatness, I had to bite: “Where is this beach?” She looked from side to side before whispering, “Whitehaven Beach, near the Whitsundays,” and disappeared. Literally. As in she took forever to bring the mains. I filed Whitehaven away on my evergrowing bucket list and promptly forgot about it until a chance trip to Brisbane had me Googling “best beach in Australia,” trying to jog my memory. The sand on Whitehaven Beach is among the whitest anywhere on earth.
Composed of 98 percent silica, the sand on Whitehaven doesn’t retain heat and has a fine, powder-like consistency. Yeah, that’s it. It was enchanting enough to keep me on track even after finding out that this would be no mere day trip—from Brisbane to the Whitsundays was 1,100 kilometres, and once there I still had to get either a boat or a float plane to get to Whitehaven. But, I thought, bucket lists aren’t exactly supposed to be easy. My jumping-off point: Hamilton Island, the most developed of the 74 islands that make up the Whitsundays and home to what the check-in clerk at the airport says is a “sixstar” hotel. Ah, Aussies, you never disappoint. But it turns out this isn’t the typical hyperbole: the entire island is owned by the Oatley family, who made their fortune with Rosemount wines, and they’ve lavished some serious shiraz money on Qualia, the island’s flagship lodging. So much so that instead of planning my conquering of the world’s greatest beach, I spend my days hanging out in my room—in a rare form of reverse hyperbole, all the “rooms” are actually quite large villas—playing with the mechanized blinds, using binoculars to watch people golfing on westernliving.ca / J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y
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WLTRAVEL // AUSTRALIA
Sweet Dreams The ridiculous infinity pool at Qualia, the ultra-posh resort on the car-free idyll that is Hamilton Island.
a neighbouring private island and even finding a moment to sneak in a little spa time. And any wanderlust I experience I solve by hopping in my own little golf cart (cars are verboten on Hamilton Island) and tooling around to check out a marina full of serious racing sailboats, a hiking path to a lookout or just the joy of driving on the road in a golf cart. My sand quest has been derailed by the soft belly of luxury. It is reinstated by the float-plane flight I had prepaid for several weeks prior to secure an excursion rate. So on my third day I drive my golf cart to the dock and am greeted by my suspiciously dude-y pilot, wearing swim trunks and a white pilot’s shirt so unbuttoned to midchest as to make a mockery of the whole uniform thing. “Who’s ready to see the best goddamn beach in the world?” he asks. Rhetorically, I assume, given that I and my three fellow travellers had all purchased not-inexpensive plane tickets to fly to said beach. But as the plane climbs and we get a view of the other Whitsundays (most are uninhabited, though there’s a swanky, brand-new One and Only resort that just opened on neighbouring Hayman Island), my inner wisenheimer fades. God, this area is gorgeous, and just as I’m thinking that it’s not the destination that’s important on a journey but the corollary things you discover en route, the pilot pipes into the headsets: “There she is.” In an area of great beaches, Whitehaven stands alone. It makes you 8 8 J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca
realize that beaches are constantly evolving things, and while we fly over numerous stretches of sand flanked by the same perfect 26°C crystalblue water, only Whitehaven has the unique luck to be at the crossroads of tides, current, ocean-floor geography and dumb luck that enable it, and it alone, to draw its sand from the world’s largest deposit of ultrafine silica, itself a product of the volcanic turmoil of 100 million years ago of the now-submerged microcontinent of Zealandia. Five kilometres away you have a plain old beach, but here I’m looking at magic. The pilot dips the wings, makes a large, showy bank low over the water (crashing in clear, warm water seems so much less scary than in the Strait of Georgia) before dropping the plane down a few feet from the shore. Trousers are rolled up, wicker picnic baskets are placed on heads and we wade to shore in a scene straight from a Ralph Lauren ad. “We eat in an hour, so go explore.” Some of our group frolic in the water, some set about gathering up the natural pumice stones that dot the beach (all for naught, it turns out, as you can’t bring them with you). I kick off my flip-flops and stroll. There’s a sailboat moored at one end of the beach, but other than that we’re alone. At first it seems as if I’m in some sort of relaxation virtual reality demo. The only sounds are the waves lightly lapping the shore, the only sensation a gentle breeze and the feeling of walking on sand so fine it seems almost like cornstarch. After a while I decide to play a
DAY TRIP First off, was I the only person who thought the Great Barrier Reef was located just off shore? Well, it’s not, at least in these parts, but a three-hour catamaran ride or a 30-minute heliride (you land on a floating dock à la James Bond) brings you to the heart of one of the world’s unquestioned natural wonders. Damn the hyperbole—it’s simply among the greatest places in the world to throw on a snorkel and kick your way around the fantastical world just below the surface. It would be daft to hit Queensland and not see this tragically underthreat marvel.
Sandcastle: Victoria Pickering
Ugia nonet essimus. Im sita cori dus, soloriorist, et, non perum quia volor re quibus eum simpore ssimodis esto iunt volum venimus aectio te por aut aut recae sumquas accabor empeditibus.
game: I keep my strut constant but close my eyes. Counting to 10 is easy, but after that the sensory deprivation starts to kick in. I veer too far right and the water reminds me to correct my course; too far left and I feel the slope of the beach get steeper. By 60 every step seems a dice roll, though I know there’s nothing possible before me so I persevere. By 80 I’m so weirded out that I make a pact: get to 100 and you can stop. But I keep going until finally, for a reason I still can’t fathom, I open my eyes at 137 steps. I turn around and stare at a wildly veering path that looks like it was made by the aforementioned Mr. Gibson on a bender. The rest of my group is still clearly visible, hanging around near the plane. I keep walking until I get far enough that I can barely make them out, and then I turn around and head back. Lunch ensues, gigabytes of pictures are snapped and for the return trip our pilot ditches the epaulettes altogether and flies back shirtless. Aussies. Soon—too soon—I’m back in my villa, but this time no amount of pampering can banish Whitehaven from my thoughts. Was it the “greatest beach in the world”?” Of course not. The solitude was great, but I didn’t have my wife, my kids, my friends—elements that make any of the dumpy beaches near Edmonton that I grew up with unbeatable. It was—at least that day—the nicest beach in the world, no hyperbole needed.
CASTLES MADE OF SAND Not all great beach days require trans-Pacifc travel. Bruce Grierson recounts the creation of some (temporary) magic on his family vacation. On Lake Huron’s southern shore, within sniffing distance of the French-fry shop on Port Elgin’s waterfront, lies a beach so magnetic, tourists and locals alike lemming up after dinner to stare out across the water, awaiting what National Geographic once dubbed “the world’s second-best sunset” (after Bali). But by day, what makes this beach great is the sand: fine, white and, three inches down, pliable as pizza dough. In other words, prime sandcastle sand. One recent summer, during our annual pilgrimage to my wife’s family beachside cabin, we decided to build a castle for the ages. It was one of those projects that, started by kids, grows in scope until it actually requires blueprints, and the kids grow bored and drift away, the sand pails disappear and the garden tools come out. Three days later we had a sandcastle so big and complicated, the kids weren’t allowed to touch it (which is wrong on a lot of levels). It looked like a wedding cake designed by the Aztecs, the terraces rounded off by one gentle overnight rain. In a possible allegory of how liberals become conservatives, we toggled from creators to guards, now that we had something valuable enough to protect. One morning a young man ambled up the beach. “Rad castle—one of the best I’ve seen,” he said. “Mind if I jump it?” My seven-year-old daughter’s eyes widened in horror. The castle was easily 15 feet across and as tall as an adult. He explained that he was from Toronto and was an expert in parkour—that dark art of urban guerilla gymnastics. He backed way up and, before we could mount any organized resistance, started sprinting toward it. When he hit the moat, he launched himself. The kids closed their eyes. The young man soared over the castle, clipping the turret with his toe and shearing off the top half-inch, then tucked and rolled and popped magically to his feet, like Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka. And then he was gone. —Bruce Grierson westernliving.ca / J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y
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MODERN DR AMA
A dark, textural feature wall brings balance to this bright modern space. 9 0 J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca
DESIGNED BY
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What do you do when an open-concept layout is just a little too open? You add in a dramatic slate-coloured fir-slat feature wall to ground the space. Or at least that’s what designer Allison Holden-Pope did when she took on the renovation of a mid-century Vancouver house. “With a light, airy palette, a darker accent draws you in,� says Holden-Pope. The grey-black hue here references the exterior finish of the house, as does the texture of the wooden slats (a nod to the pattern of the fence outside). “It’s all about tapping into a consistent architectural language,� the designer explains.
Janis Nicolay
WL // TRADE SECRETS
ASBESTOS
danger hiding in plain sight
Often present in homes built before 1990, asbestos can be found in more than 3000 different building materials. It’s colourless, odourless and deadly. As a homeowner, you should make asbestos testing and removal a priority before work begins to ensure the health and safety of everyone working on your project.
thinkasbestos.com