Western Living BC, September2017 by NextHome

WESTERN LIVING // SEPT 2017

A N N I V E R S A RY

PM 40068973

Designers of the Year

Ones to Watch: The Very Best in Architecture, Furniture, Rising Stars Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll Want to Know Interiors and More

PLUS The Langley Farm Where Design Meets Garlic

The Furniture Company That Created a Luxe Philippines Getaway

Photo: Michel Gibert, image for advertising purposes only. Special thanks: Stone Sculpture museum of the Kubach-Wilmsen Foundation. *Conditions apply, contact store for details.

Kenzo Takada dresses the Mah Jong

Free spirited and audacious designer Kenzo Takada, known as "the most Parisian of Japanese fashion designers," has designed an exceptional collection of fabrics and ceramics for Roche Bobois. To dress the Mah Jong sofa, he drew inspiration from traditional kimonos of the NĹ? theater. He reinterpreted the motifs and colors, creating delicate and sophisticated harmonies that symbolize the three times of the day: Asa (morning), Hiru (noon), and Yoru (evening).

Mah Jong. Modular sofa system, design Hans Hopfer. Upholstered in NĹ? Gaku fabrics, Yoru version, designed by Kenzo Takada for Roche Bobois. Manufactured in Europe.

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Experience the before and after

See more stories #CCBeforeAfter

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8 0 0 . 3 3 6 . 9 1 74

1275 W 6th Ave Vancouver, BC Canada • 604. 730. 1275 •

www.INspirationFurniture.ca

Cover: Robert Lemermeyer. This page: John Sinal.

Modern Marvel This year’s architectural design category winner specializes in stripped-down regional modernism. Read his full profile on page 56.

S E P T E M B E R 2 017 B R I T I S H C O LU M B I A // V O LU M E 4 6 // N U M B E R 7

DESIGNERS OF THE YEAR 55 // The Winners

The entries came pouring in from all across Western Canada for our 10th anniversary of our design competition. We’re delighted to present the cream of the crop.

96 // The Finalists

The scope of the talent on this year’s finalist list demonstrates the strength of Western Canada’s flourishing design scene. These are the ones to watch.

96 // The Judges

This year’s all-star panel of judges includes local heroes, international icons and tastemakers for some of the biggest design brands in the world. westernliving.ca / s e p t e m b e r

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WL // contents

124 25 food 100 // Bites

design 25 // One to Watch

An abandoned factory inspires Geoffrey Lilge’s latest design project.

103 // Accidental Farmers

A designer and her family take on farm life on their idyllic Fraser Valley property.

26 // Shopping

Mix-and-match modular sofas, whimsical area rugs and more cool new products.

A Scandinavian-meets-Japanese online boutique and other shopping hot spots.

32 // Great Spaces

How to transform a 100-year-old room into a chic, modern Italian restaurant.

36 // Sofas We Love

Sleek and stylish seating that will instantly update your living space.

44 // Icons

Architect Kengo Kuma sits down with Western Living for an exclusive Q&A.

49 // Homes Tour

A sneak peek into a stunning modern dream home from architect Kevin Vallely. 1 6 s e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca

travel 118 // 48 Hours in Austin

103

Soak up the scene (and the barbecue, of course) in the live music capital of the world.

121 // Wanderlist

Where to get your sweat on during your next California road trip.

122 // My Neighbourhood

DSquared2’s Dan and Dean Caten share their version of Mykonos, Greece.

124 // Island of High Design

The Dedon resort in the Philippines turns an island paradise into a laboratory of luxury.

plus 130 // Trade Secrets

Designer Gillian Segal reveals her trick for revamping a dated feature fireplace.

Geoffrey Lilge: Cooper & O’Hara; Pagoda: Pascal Kerouche; Purity Farms: Janis Nicolay

30 // Openings

Restaurant openings, chef’s tips and a killer salmon recipe from Ocean Wise’s Ned Bell.

WESTERN LIVING GENERAL MANAGER | PUBLISHER Dee Dhaliwal EDITORIAL EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Anicka Quin ART DIRECTOR Paul Roelofs EXECUTIVE EDITOR Stacey McLachlan 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 Christine Beyleveldt, Lexy Dien, Alec Regino, Aryn Strickland ART INTERN Lydhia-Marie Bolduc-Gosselin

EMAIL mail@westernliving.ca

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2017-07-21 5:01 PM

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WL // EDITOR’S NOTE

ANICK A QUIN, EDITORIAL DIRECTOR ANICK A.QUIN@WESTERNLIVING.CA 2 0 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca

Q& A This month we asked our contributors, what piece of great design can you not live without? T s O’Ha & B C ‫פ‬r P ‫ה‬rs “D rs t‫ ה‬ar” For O’Hara, it’s a Hydro Flask water bottle. “It stays cold for hours, even if it’s sitting in the sun.” For Cooper, it’s a messenger bag. “I’m known to live out of mine. From cameras and a laptop to lunch and anything I need to take on the day.”

T s i e P ‫ה‬r “D rs t‫ ה‬ar” A soother! I have a five-month-old daughter and she’s a testament to the desperate need of that genius design. We gave one to my two older children, and I also needed one as a kid—so it’s been a lifesaver for myself and my parents.

Behind the Scenes Stylist Jennifer Stamper gets the grill ready for our Chicken with 40 Cloves of Garlic recipe—not for the faint of heart—on-site at Purity Farms. Find the recipe, and the story behind the garlic producers, on page 103.

VISIT

Anicka Quin portrait: Evaan Kheraj; styling by Luisa Rino, makeup by Melanie Neufeld; outfit courtesy Holt Renfrew, holtrenfrew.com.

DESIGNING COMMUNITY

Over the years, whenever I’ve been asked what work I’d do if I weren’t editing a magazine, my answer has always been immediate: I’d open a knitting store. Don’t get me wrong—I know how lucky I am to love both what I do and the people I work with. But, still, I’ve always had this little fantasy of creating a (licensed!) space where locals could hang out, grab a glass of wine and work on a project together. I’ve come to realize that my alternate world is less about the knitting (though I can whip up a mean toque if you ask me to) and more about creating a great community space for people to find connection through an activity they cherish together. And that’s what I love most about our Designers of the Year Awards—in particular, the event that caps off the creation of the issue you’re reading right now. Ten years ago, we held our first Designers of the Year in a show suite for the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Vancouver (the following recession meant that particular project never came to pass). We’d predicted about 150 guests, but it was close to 300 that ended up cramming into a fairly tight space. The sound system wasn’t quite up to par, but the mood was electric—it was the start of one of the buzziest design awards programs in Canada. Since then, that awards night has grown to 700 guests each year, and the vibe is just as thrilling. Last year, no less than three of our winners teared up during their acceptance speech (as did the crowd listening). We’ve seen an incredible roster of judges join our annual panel—Karim Rashid, Barbara Barry, Jonathan Adler, to name a few—and a just-asincredible lineup of winners, including the nine highlighted in this issue. Yes, it’s a competition—there’s a real rush to being named Designer of the Year, after all—but on awards night, the community of designers we have here is one that’s incredibly supportive of each other’s work. There’s great cheer for every winner up on stage and lots of laughter as everyone catches up over a glass of wine. And that’s a community I feel privileged to be a part of—no knitting required.

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WL // @WESTERNLIVING

LETTERS, ETC.

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

DESIGN Outside the Box

Take a peek inside Vancouver architect Tony Robins’s controversial and stunning Cube House (he was named Architecture, Interior and Eco Designer of the Year in 2014).

westernliving.ca/homes-and-design

WALKIN’ ON SUNSHINE This brightly coloured bedroom in architects Jeremy Sturgess and Lesley Beale’s Vancouver loft is just one of the six cheery yellow designs our readers loved last month. #alltheyellow Love it!!! @CHARLESTONANDHARLOW

@KITINTERIOROBJECTS

WL AROUND TOWN

My favourite place to sleep.

SHOPPING Simple Pleasures

At Victoria’s Hold General Store, owner Marla Ebell turns a stylist’s eye on everyday objects.

westernliving.ca/shopping

RECIPE Pour Me Another One The Western Living crew, ready to get the party started at our 2017 Foodies of the Year awards hosted by Trail Appliances. From the left: Art Director Paul Roelofs, Associate Editor Julia Dilworth, Editorial Director Anicka Quin, Travel Editor Neal McLennan and Publisher Dee Dhaliwal.

We’ve collected 18 brand new cocktail recipes from the West’s best bartenders, including this sunset-hued beauty made with pisco, homemade sea buckthorn syrup and orange bitters.

westernliving.ca/recipes

2 2 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca

@WESTERN_LIVING

WESTERNLIVING

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Cube House: Ema Peter; Sturgess condo: Ema Peter; Hold General Store: Kelly Brown

@JEREMY.STURGESS

UPTOWN

$1098

DESIGN

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

Consummate Creator Geoffrey Lilge, Div. 12, Edmonton

Cooper and O’Hara

When Geoff rey Lilge surveyed the remains of a shuttered steel chair factory ravaged by a fire in 2014, he saw an opportunity. “The metal shop was basically still intact,” Lilge says. “It was full of specialty tooling made to manufacture steel tube seating—the medium that essentially launched modern furniture.” From its ashes, the already well-established Edmonton designer of OnOurTable fame formed his next project: Div. 12. The new collection is rooted in an appreciation for modernist design and the beauty of natural materials. “I wanted to create a diverse collection that works in both residential and commercial settings,” says Lilge. “Good design should work anywhere.”—Alec Regino

On the Road Catch Div. 12 on display as part of Studio North during this year’s Interior Design Show Vancouver, September 28 through October 1.

westernliving.ca / S E P T E M B E R

2017 25

WLDESIGN // SHOPPING

A a’s Pi Rust and Bone

Ariane Prin’s evolving Rust collection ($125 to $1,320) sees particles from key cutters and metalworks around London muddled with gypsum and acrylic. Provide, Vancouver, providehome.com

Mah Jong Sofa

From $1,450, available at Roche Bobois, roche-bobois.com Already a playfully colourful (and ridiculously comfortable) design, the iconic Mah Jong sofa from Roche Bobois gets a creative update this fall from Japanese designer Kenzo Takada. The founder of Kenzo reinterpreted the look of vintage kimonos for his Nogaku collection of fabrics, with colour schemes that coordinate with different times of the day: Asa (morning), Hiru (midday) and Yoru (evening). It’s the last one that seems the perfect fit for the Mah Jong, I think—paired with bowls of popcorn and a media screen for a great movie night in.

NOTEWORTHY New in stores across the West

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

Grass Fed

Each Natural Weave basket chair ($899) is hand-woven in rural Jaipur using date palm leaves and wild grasses that are dried, coiled and sewn into an organic basket shape. CB2, Vancouver, cb2.com

2 6 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca

Bell Jar

Apparatus Studio’s new Lantern series (from $4,379) pairs finely fluted porcelain shades with contrasting brass construction and a series of spheres. Inform Interiors, Vancouver, informinteriors.com

Dream Weaver

The Hayon x Nani rugs (from $1,775) depict whimsical sketches by “it” designer Jaime Hayon—catch him speaking at IDS Vancouver on September 29—for Nanimarquina’s 30-year anniversary. Gabriel Ross, Victoria, grshop.com; Inform Interiors, Vancouver, informinteriors.com

BAKER . M

GUIRE . LEE . ARKETIPO . DELL AROBBIA . SANGIACOMO . SABA . GAMM A . ALIVAR

Furniture Showrooms: 1855/1880 Fir Street Armoury District Vancouver 604.736.8822 Mon - Sat 10 -5:30 pm broughaminteriors.com

EX C EPTIONA L IND OOR & OUTD OOR FUR NIS H INGS

WLDESIGN // SHOPPING

Top Table

BoConcept’s new Billund round dining table ($1,179) offers space-efficient seating for four and can also convert to a console table. BoConcept, Vancouver, boconcept -vancouver.ca

Green House

From the storied Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, Get Plants ($52) makes the case for integrating plants into your interiors and—bonus!—offers advice on how to keep them thriving. Indigo, across the West, chapters.indigo.ca

Against the Grain

Ikea’s new Östernäs leather handles ($13/ two-pack of tabs; $15/ two-pack of handles) are treated to withstand daily use in bathrooms and kitchens. Ikea, across the West, ikea.ca

Double Play

The Traverse collection from Willow and Stump and Lemonni is a happy marriage of pattern, colour and thoughtful details: trays ($85) have cutouts allowing for charging cords, and upholstered benches ($1,395) convert to ottomans. Willow and Stump, Vancouver, willowandstump.com

Stool of Thread

Gutter Credit

Whether used as a seat or side table, Gus Modern’s Nova upholstered stool (from $465) in this pin-sharp upholstery will serve in style. Chester Fields, Victoria, chester-fields.com; OMG It’s Small, Vancouver, omgitssmall.com

2 8 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca

EXCLUSIVELY AT

I N T E RI O R S

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WLDESIGN // shopping

OPENINGS Hot new rooms we love

Hand-Forged Platinum Sapphire and Diamond Ring

By alec regiNo

Victoria John Fluevog After closing its doors in Victoria in the ’70s, the famous Fluevog is finally making its way back to town, joining a stretch of shops on Lower Johnson. Eager shoe shoppers can enjoy the store’s custom brass-and-wood furnishings, formulated by Vancouver-based woodworking specialists Chapel Arts, as well as its carefully curated “Flueseum.” 566 Johnson St., fluevog.com

2832 Granville Street, Vancouver 604.736.6016 | mjjewellers.ca

SquamiSh The Fjord Store Andy Meakin’s online Fjord Store (named after Howe Sound) is the new kid on the block, but its selection of modern-Scandinavian-meets-Japanese-minimalism home wares has already captured our hearts. Many of the shop’s Nordic and Japanese brands have never been sold on Canadian soil (from sleek Skagerak dining tables to one-off Reiko Kaneko ceramic vases). Bonus: on the website you can shop by price point. thefjordstore.com

Queue Bedroom Suite Locally Made

www.creativehome.ca

CreativeHFSEP1/3_WLBC.indd 1

Solid Wood 2017-08-03 9:29 AM

North VaNcouVer The Lemonade Stand It seems only fitting that the Vancouver-based Herschel Supply Co. plans to open its first free-standing Canadian store downtown, but that’s next year. Until then, enjoy Herschel’s Lemonade Stand, a pop-up shop in North Van where you can buy exclusive Herschel merch alongside cold-pressed lemonade by the Juice Truck. (On now through September.) 4377 Gallant Ave., herschel.com

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Best Condo Renovation over $250,000 Best Kitchen Renovation over $125,000

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WLDESIGN // great spaces

CLASSIC COOL

A hip Italian eatery celebrates its historic roots in style. What do you do when tasked with renovating a restaurant in a century-old building? Celebrate the gorgeous historic design details without sacrificing modern comforts. That’s just what Jade Kwok did when she took on the redesign of Italian restaurant Cibo Trattoria in Vancouver. “We didn’t want to start from scratch,” says Kwok of the 100-plus-year-old downtown Vancouver building. “We wanted to highlight the existing features.” To achieve that balance between old and new, Kwok and her team took the original materials (terracotta floors, raw timber columns and brick walls) and added modern light fixtures, pops of colour and textured fabrics throughout. The brick walls tell the history of the place, in Kwok’s view: “You can’t find that new anywhere. It’s got the perfect texture.” The tinted glass details on the chandeliers provide industrial glamour, while soft wool upholstery layers in comfort. There’s a playfulness to be found in this space, too: a portrait by Bruce Pashak hangs above the bar, so Kwok covered a wall across the room with more faces . . . though ones printed on rows of ceramic plates, not canvas. “It’s a conversation starter,” Kwok laughs. —Maansi Pandya

Head to Head

This large portrait (Becoming You) by local artist Bruce Pashak acts as a focal point behind the bar. brucepashak.com

Face Off

A collection of quirky Fornasetti plates (from $228) lines the white-painted brick wall. fornasetti.com

MORE INSPIRING SPACES Find more great rooms to inspire at westernliving.ca 3 2 s e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca

This Troy Lighting Epic light fixture (from $954) adds a hit of glitz to the heritage-inspired space. robinsonlightingandbath.com

Allison Kuhl

Light It Up

TOPS ON TOP Cindy Crawford on Silestone Countertop

Colour: Eternal Calacatta Gold

A product designed by CosentinoÂ®

Feel the new velvety texture

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ROUND TABLE New Arrival! This mixed media table can be customized completely to suit your space!

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BUFFET New Arrival! This unique buffet features four drawers with fun metal hardware!

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WLDESIGN // SOFAS WE LOVE

BY BARB SLIGL

UNSTRUCTURED

These seven sofas offer curious shapes and configurations with copious lounging prospects—whether it’s cuddling up to a polar bear or leaning against a wave-like curve.

Get Cozy

The name really says it all. Cosy by Francesco Rota for MDF Italia (from $7,000) is a collection of padded modular elements (seats with different depths and lengths, backs with different heights, additional poufs and cushions). It’s about making your own composition and version of cozy. livingspace.com

Deep Hibernation

The fanciful Pack sofa (from $28,000) by Francesco Binfaré for Edra takes its name from the ice floes upon which polar bears find respite. Join the rather abstract furry (and ecological, of course) figure lying on its side (both bear and backrest) for your own hibernation spot at home. informinteriors.com

Place Setting

The Platz sofa by Désirée (from $7,500) appears to almost float with its slim metal base and deep, generous cushions and armrests that extend beyond its footprint, creating a platz or “place” for seating that’s refined but also very relaxed. bloomfurniturestudio.com

Mod Times

Herman (from $7,600) evokes some character of its name—solid and affable—but this customizable sofa, designed by Italian architects Manzoni and Tapinassi for Natuzzi, makes it very easygoing indeed. inspirationfurniture.ca

3 6 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca

Swing Set

Soft and yielding while straitlaced and simple, the Swing sofa from Alivar (from $11,995) maxes out in comfort while it minimizes extraneous design. Get even more play out of this sofa with a “service ledge” or side table upon which to keep accoutrements, be it cocktail or book. broughaminteriors.com

Fine and Dandy

Made in Italy, the Wolf sofa (price upon request) is part of designer Giuseppe Viganò’s “fashion-oriented lifestyle” in the Dandy home collection for Gamma. Lanky yet relaxed, the Wolf is highbacked with a bit of insouciant slouch and leather-clad in a mix of ensembles that’s tailored for any leader of the pack. gingerjarfurniture.com

Wave Length

Part of a new sofa-and-armchair collection from BoConcept, the Adelaide (price upon request) is sinewy and sensuous seating that carries some surf-like lines and the beachy allure of its moniker. Bodacious, curvaceous, stripped down and oh-so-inviting. boconcept-vancouver.ca

clean and cozy designer’s pick

Carrie McCarthy

“My go-to sofa is the Edward by Bensen. It’s roomy for entertaining, watching family movies, or even for hosting an overnight guest. My clients love it; it works in smaller spaces and condos or grand spaces. Its clean lines with tufting detail create a sheltered feeling and a harmony of modern and traditional. In my own home we have the sectional in a lovely grey cotton viscose—we love it.” bensen.ca Carrie McCarthy is a VancouVer-based interior designer, st ylist and founder of carrie Mccarthy studio. her pender island hoMe was featured in the noVeMber 2015 issue of Western Living. carriemccarthy.com

westernliving.ca / s e p t e m b e r

2 0 1 7 3 7

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2017 IS THE YEAR TO GO GREEN! “Greenery” is the pantone designer colour of 2017. Green is back in every shade from spring to emerald. It’s easy to introduce just by bringing some outdoors in — try jade plants, fig trees, succulents or anything that thrives in your area. Another easy step is bright new pillows, or a statement rug. If you’re feeling adventurous, paint a place that will be a smile-inducing surprise, like the inside of a closet, a door, or your powder room.

DIY vs. DIFM? There’s a definite shift happening in home renovation and design trends, a shift that has many of us choosing experts to do-it-for-me. Do-it-yourself is a great choice for so many fun projects, like a family gallery wall or creating an indoor garden spot. But there are always those mind-boggling tasks that require design experience, measuring skills, installation talent and more. More and more Canadians are realizing the cost of hiring a professional compares very well to the real costs of first-time mistakes, time spent doing and redoing the job, and our own personal level of satisfaction with the final result. Summertime motto: put the pros on the jobs you keep postponing because they are just too much! (Save the fun stuff for yourself.)

Warmer and richer? Yes, please. Whatever your style, from sleek and modern to cozy and traditional, 2017 is a welcome move to a softer, richer look and feel. Think 3D fabrics. Velvet pillows. Choose organic bamboo or wood tables. And wallpaper is back, but we’re over the florals. Try marble or other sleek, contemporary finishes. Put on a little lux.

Peace out. It’s amazing what getting a little help can do to reduce your stress level. Try it - take something off your list and give it to somebody who is a rock star in the category. Yes. Do it. Seriously.

“Okay, so I am a little pleased with myself.” “I finally got smart and got the experts to do it for me. And I also got a no-surprises price.” With Budget Blinds, you don’t lift a finger. You relax, and enjoy a very exclusive combination of design-driven products, expert service, no-surprises pricing, and our no-questions-asked warranty: the best in the business. We’re the largest custom window covering company in North America, and that means more buying power, and more choices. We bring the store to you and take care of it all, measure and install. And our no-surprises pricing delivers an upfront price that is a custom fit for you. We believe everyone at every budget deserves style and service. And that’s a beautiful place to be. 2017windowfashions.com | (866) 789-0520 ©2017 Budget Blinds is a trademark of Budget Blinds, LLC and a Home Franchise Concepts Brand. Each franchise independently owned and operated.

WLDESIGN // ICONS

1550 Alberni

THE EXPLORER

Though Kengo Kuma has a lot on his plate right now—he’s currently working on both a 43-storey curving tower on Vancouver’s Georgia Street corridor and a stadium for the Tokyo Olympics—the internationally renowned Japanese architect (and judge for our 2016 Designers of the Year awards) found time to sit down with Western Living to talk scale, structure and the importance of having a little fun. 4 4 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca

B Y S TA C E Y M c L A C H L A N

This Vancouver residential tower you’re currently building (1550 Alberni) is striking: the curved form and lattice-like wall are unusual. Can you tell me a little more about the concept behind the project? The unique shape of this building isn’t coming from our personal style—it’s coming from a conversation with the neighbourhood. Normally, skyscrapers are more of a sculpture, but our approach is different. The thing about Vancouver is that it’s close to the ocean and the mountains, and we wanted each unit to have a view of that. That’s what naturally shaped the building. It seems like you might actually enjoy it when someone tells you something’s impossible. Yes, it’s very exciting when we get a chance to realize something new. Like for this building [in Vancouver], we designed a special

joinery for the soffit. People thought it was impossible, but based on the understanding of the client, we found time to create that special, unique detail. You’ve been doing this for 30 years. How do you keep things fresh? We are very lucky because when we do an overseas project, we have the chance to do these big projects. In Japan, it’s divided: you’re either a firm that does big projects or a firm that does small ones. And when we change from scale to scale, that brings us new challenges. Do those big and small projects inform each other in any way? Experience from a small project can be applied to a bigger scale. Going back and forth is very necessary for our design process. We try to integrate smallness into bigness, and bigness into smallness.

Kengo Kuma: Ash Tanasiychuk; Tetchan Yakitori Bar: Erieta Attali

Q& A

Aitoku Kindergarten

There’s so much playfulness in your projects. You built a nursery school with an undulating floor, and a noodle shop covered in colourful yarn. How important is a sense of discovery in a space? For each project, we don’t want to repeat our design. Some architects repeat themselves—it’s their brand, they’re a business. But our approach is very different. For each project, direct conversation with the client is a direct conversation with the place. We can create a singularity. The Yakitori project [with the yarn] is one example of that, but everything is a very special occasion.

Tetchan Yakitori Bar

What’s the importance of tying nature to an urban space? Moss is a main material for the garden for this Alberni project. Not an easy material, very tough. But the client understands the value of that kind of culture. It’s kind of a cultural project. The garden design is the essence of each culture: Japanese, Chinese. For that project we finally can design our gardens as culture. Do you think Western Canada has its own architectural identity? Vancouver is a mixture of street cultures and skyscrapers. In Europe, it’s only street culture, and in America, only skyscrapers. East and West meet here; that’s a unique part of it. We try to translate that mixture into the detail of anything we build here. What drew you to architecture in the first place? I was born in a small house. My generation faced modernization and industrialization and there was such a big contrast. I began to think, what kind of space do we need? We need good experiences; we need human experience. westernliving.ca / S E P T E M B E R

2017 45

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Ibus qui as pos alit eum ad ulparc ieni me vereste ceaquae eatio re rumq uuntmi nt ur si beatus eration se quibus porehe ndemstriking aut. Henimagnim nonet alis consed With et officias angles andet exerferumet volectatur aut omnimin ullanih ilique. incredible outdoor living by XXXXX XXXXXXX spaces, this North Van house is the perfect marquee for this year’s Modern Home Tour.

Ema Peter

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ON THE EDGE westernliving.ca / S E P T E M B E R

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WL HOMES

Architect Kevin Vallely designed the Edge House to allow for lots of light while preserving privacy, which the clerestory windows (top left) in the living room achieve. The patio by the front entrance (top right) is still relatively private, thanks to a cedar screen and sunken design.

For more homes on the tour, visit westernliving.ca

Sometimes, zoning restrictions can be a frustration—and can stifle creativity and originality in design, resulting in cookie-cutter neighbourhoods. But every so often, great designers and architects can take on these restrictions as a challenge to create something different. Architect Kevin Vallely designed the Edge House for friends who were keen to build a unique home in North Vancouver’s Edgemont Village. It’s an area that’s been afflicted with monster homes in the past, and, in an effort to shift that dynamic, city bylaws now dictate that the square footage of any home’s second floor cannot exceed 75 percent of its first. It’s a sledgehammer approach to a problem, but still Vallely found opportunity in it. The angled roofline of the home creates a striking profile, but it also allows for a 450-square-foot roof deck just outside the main hallway on the second floor. In fact, the home is surrounded by outdoor living spaces. On the main floor, the kitchen and living room

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pivot around an outdoor space, the roof of which provides the support for the roof deck above. Its position outside the main living areas creates seamless indoor-outdoor living, while the covered aspect means the patio can be used well into the fall—particularly when the heaters kick on. And, near the front entranceway, there’s another outdoor oasis, one that’s private despite its proximity to the road. Slightly sunken a few steps and screened in with landscaping and a cedar slat fence, it’s an ideal sunny spot for a morning coffee. And the Edge House comes by its name in more than one way, says Vallely. “There’s the shape of the building itself, with the strong edge on top,” he explains—though its location might have also been inspiration for taking an edgier approach to design overall. “I loved the idea that it was really on the edge of the city and the mountains.” The Edge House appears on this year’s Modern Home Tour in Vancouver on September 16. For tickets and info, visit mads.media/2017-vancouver-mads-modern-home-tour

Ema Peter

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DESIGNERS OF THE YEAR 2017

WLSTYLE // TITLE

Architects who celebrate simplicity. The industrial designer whose work takes a natural spin. The furniture maker who embraces tradition. Meet our 2017 Designers of the Year: the thoughtful, talented, innovative creatives and makers who are transforming the Western Canadian design scene right now. Check out videos of our winners at westernliving.ca 5 5 M O N T H 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca

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architectural design

Pure and Simple

a n n i v e r s a ry d o t y 2017

Javier Campos designs stunning, stripped-down spaces with modernist heart. B y s ta c e y M c L a c h L a n // P o r t r a i t B y c a r Lo r i c c i

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Here and There Javier Campos, pictured opposite in his East Van studio, is this year's Designer of the Year for Architectural Design. Our judges loved his regionally minded modernist projects, like this moody Wallace House.

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John Sinal

“Our work is really dumb,” insists Javier Campos. He is sitting in his small but sunlit studio in East Vancouver, surrounded by tiny, intricate architectural models, magazine covers featuring his work, and national design awards, so it’s a little difficult to really take him seriously on this one. Another factor hurting his argument: his portfolio of projects looks anything but dumb. From off-the-grid residences in Baja California Sur, Mexico—where sleek white forms have been crafted into modernist desert shelters—to his asymmetrical urban laneway homes in the Pacific Northwest, Campos has honed his guiding principles (sustainability, context) to create stunning modernist spaces. But the principal of Vancouver design firm Campos Studio—and this year’s Designer of the Year for Architectural Design—is not trying to be modest, necessarily. Rather, he’s emphasizing the ultimate pursuit: simplicity. “Light, wind, volume, form, all these things: the tool palette isn’t very complicated,” he says, stroking the floppy golden retriever who also works in his office. “Good architecture is simple and dumb . . . it’s just hard to do.” His humility didn’t fool our judges. “Despite Campos’s self-proclaimed ‘passive approach,’ I find the work bold with a lot to say, both in its approach to site and in its development of form,” says DOTY judge and architect Michael Shugarman. “Yet I also find the work

resolves itself elegantly in plan, section and material.” This thoughtful consideration of space runs in the family, it seems. As a kid, Campos loved spending time at the home of his great uncle, a Chilean architect who cut a Corbusier-like figure. “I used to go over and sharpen his pencils and look at his stuff,” says Campos. “He would explain to me all about his house, how the sun came in in the winter and not the summer, how you can control the wind.” It was a pivotal time and a pivotal space, one that would eventually lead him to a career of his own in design—albeit with a few detours to study science and earn an art history degree along the way. He started taking on work while he was still at UBC, and his early designs—like a critically acclaimed hair salon on Vancouver’s Robson Street—tended to buck convention. “Someone once said to me, ‘You didn’t know what you were doing, did you? If you did, you wouldn’t have tried any of this,’” says Campos. “Basically, if you don’t know anything, you can make anything up.” That just-wing-it attitude was appealing enough to attract a commission in 2000 to design a property in Mexico—Campos’s first freestanding residential project. So he spent six weeks living in Baja Sur California, experiencing the landscape and the environment firsthand before starting the design process. It was his first foray into critical regionalism: modernism that

“Someone once said to me, ‘You didn’t know what you were doing, did you? If you did, you wouldn’t have tried any of this.’”

Down Mexico Way Over the years, Campos has crafted four different off-the-grid homes in the remote Mexican community of Los Zacatitos, both under his own name and with his former firm, Campos Leckie Studio. Each minimalist design is, at its core, a reflection of the climate, defined by the elements and a relationship to shade and water.

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Ema Peter

“We want to get to a point where sustainability becomes integral, essential and invisible. The goal is to make it so you don’t have a distinction. You don’t notice that those elements are there.”

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Jewel Box This striking asymmetrical laneway home in Vancouver (this page and opposite) seems to glow from the inside thanks to the contrast of the handstained black shakes of the exterior. The bright and airy open-concept floor plan with clever built-in storage makes the space feel bigger than its 550 square feet.

bows to its surroundings. But it certainly wasn’t his last. Modernism, in Campos’s world, isn’t just straight lines and glass and something infinitely repeatable, but instead something clean and stripped down that’s also responsive to its surroundings. So a home in Mexico gets a wall perforated with holes to prevent the bedrooms from getting hot in the desert sun, while a Vancouver residence is stained charcoal grey to stand out in sharp contrast in Canada’s weak winter light. “That’s part of looking at how it fits into its context,” says Campos. Another key component throughout his work is a commitment to passive sustainable design. “We want to get to a point where it becomes integral, essential and invisible,” says Campos. “The goal is to make it so you don’t have a distinction. You don’t notice that those elements are there.” Passive ventilation methods and shade canopies are regularly created through structure; solar panels, underground water tanks and grey-water recycling for irrigation are incorporated into many projects. Though each piece from his portfolio (whether from his own design firm today or from his previous stints with Design Collective, Acton Ostry or Campos Leckie Studio) shares some modernist DNA, they’re all achieved from a ground-up design philosophy that starts with function. “We never work from an idea to development. We work inside out,” says Campos. “That means it’s ugly for a long time before it gets to look like something good.” He pauses, smiling. “Good and dumb.” westernliving.ca / s e p t e m b e r

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arthur erickson memorial award

Harmony in Practice

Calgary’s MoDA designs spaces that challenge the idea of architectural perfection in lieu of great storytelling and ultimately true livability. B y n e a l m c l e n n a n // P o r t r a i t B y c o o P e r a n d o’ h a r a

6 2 s e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca

You can learn a lot about a firm through their renderings. Freed from the strictures of budget, clients and engineers, they allow an architect to capital-D Dream Big, and dazzle with their imagination and creative power. Scan most architectural firms’ websites and you’ll see image after image of literal castles in the sky, untethered by the grind and monotony of daily life. Not so Calgary’s Modern Office of Design and Architecture (MoDA), the winner of this year’s Arthur Erickson Memorial Award for an emerging architect. On the MoDA website, you’ll find snow falling, neighbour facades that are less than perfectly scrubbed, and even lawns that look like they could use some mowing. Oh, everything still looks beautiful, but our judges revelled in the fact that this was a beauty grounded in the experience of the everyday, a practical exploration of modern living. “If anything, I think we’re more interested in telling stories with our designs,” says founding partner Dustin Couzens, “than in creating some version of perfection.”

Canmore building: Robert Lemermeyer

a n n i v e r s a ry d o t y 2017

Couzens met co-founder Ben Klumper when both were master’s students at the University of Calgary’s architecture department. After graduation, both went on to work for different firms, but it was, oddly, music that brought them back into each other’s artistic spheres. Couzens, a guitarist and vocalist, began to jam with drummer Klumper—and while there was no danger of any Grammys, the experience did convince the pair that they possessed the temperament to work together on a creative pursuit. In 2013, the two founded MoDA. Right out of the gate, their ambitions were different than many of their peers’. While many new firms target the more manageable single-family dwelling as a reasonable scale to start, early on MoDA was convinced that both their talents and passions lay in reimagining how Calgary approached traditional multi-family dwellings. But city developers, always with a mind to the bottom line, weren’t chomping at the bit to give a young firm a shot at overhauling the paradigm. “Basically, we started out by cold-calling developers and asking them to sit down

Past and Present Ben Klumper and Dustin Couzens of MoDA (above, right) were commissioned to convert a large house into a mixed-use commercial structure in Canmore, Alberta (left and centre). Rather than demolishing the house, they “ghosted” it in white paint and designed the rest of the new building as a modern interpretation in charred cedar and glass.

Check out videos of our winners at westernliving.ca

westernliving.ca / s e p t e m b e r

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with us and hear about our approach,” recalls Klumper. They were able to persuade a few pioneers that they could deliver projects that were out of the norm, which would be good for sales while still being very budget friendly—good for developers’ profits. It’s how projects like Village, a soon-to-be-finished 78-unit complex in Calgary’s Bankview neighbourhood, came to be. The design reimagines the idea of communal living by embracing the village atmosphere created by the developer’s required density. Variegated roof lines in the melange of townhouses, studios and lofts that make up the development create the appearance of an English town re-imagined for the 21st century. It’s not yet ready for occupancy, and already the design has been showered with awards. Not surprisingly, the firm’s days of cold-calling seem well in the past, as developers approach them as the conduit to designs that inspire (and inspire to purchase). In between, the two squeeze in time to work with the U of C and help volunteer and lecture with Calgary’s popular and influential D.talks series. It’s all about rethinking the Calgary design ethos. “We’ve long been a traditional city, but that’s quickly changing,” says Klumper. 6 4 s e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca

DOTY ALUM ARCHITECTURE AND INTERIORS 2011

Heather Howat Battersby Howat, Vancouver

Who has been influential to the Western Canadian design scene? Patkau Architects and Peter Cardew. Can you share any memories from your awards night? Feeling happy and honoured to be recognized for both architecture and interior design! How do you think design has changed in Western Canada over the last 10 years? There is a new openness to modern design out there now. What’s inspiring you now? Travel is the key to broadening our horizons and inspiring us these days. What’s your proudest design moment? When our clients have moved in and let us know how happy they are in their custom home we’ve designed with them.

Turbulentarch

It’s all about rethinking the Calgary design ethos. “We’ve long been a traditional city, but that’s quickly changing,” says architect Ben Klumper.

Thoughtfully Urban MoDA’s Village project employs “modulating density”: a mix of townhomes, lofts and studios allows for variegated roof lines that, despite its density, creates the feel of an English town reimagined for the 21st century.

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INTERIORS

22 Calibre

Designer Denise Ashmore brings both a relaxed and refined coastal elegance to a body of work spanning two decades. B y a n i c k a q u i n // P o r t r a i t B y c a r lo r i c c i

Finding Balance Designer Denise Ashmore in her own home (opposite), which was designed to feel like a treehouse perched over Douglas Park. In the Whistler home seen on this page, she shifted from a classic cabin vernacular to a more modern space with vintage accents, like the rug. 6 6 s e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca

a n n i v e r s a ry d o t y 2017

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Whistler home, this page and previous: Ema Peter

When designer Denise Ashmore decided it was time to shift her career from the world of commercial design into residential, she didn’t even consider starting slow—it was legendary firm Ledingham Design or bust. After a year’s stint in Australia post-design school, she’d spent seven years designing public spaces, exhibits, residential sales centres and stores in Vancouver, but she was reluctant to get into residential design until she’d had the life experience to reflect back to her clients. “I felt I had to learn how to live in a house of my own,” she explains. “The experience you get as a person, as you age and work through your life, as you have kids, it just gives you a different sensibility and sensitivity about design, especially for the people you’re designing for.” And when she was ready, she was determined to prove to principal Robert Ledingham that he needed her on his team. “I really respected him as a leader in design, and I just knew that’s where I wanted to work. I tried a couple of times to get in the door,” she recalls. “I already had that architecturally minded training, but I had to beg him to give me a job, because I really wasn’t a residential designer—I was showing all these snippets of my commercial portfolio that seemed residential.” The late, great Bob Ledingham did see that residential spark: her years of multidisciplinary design in both Vancouver and Australia had shaped a coastal-influenced aesthetic that was a good fit for the firm, and the pair worked together for the better part of a decade. “Bob taught me that, architecturally, you need to get the bones of a house

correct,” says Ashmore, who, with the support of her mentor, launched her own firm, Project 22 Design, in 2012. “He always taught us you don’t really need to decorate if you’ve designed the house properly— that’s something you can add to make something more comfortable or to personalize it, but a house works well when it’s well designed.” It’s a sentiment that DOTY judge and designer Douglas Cridland saw reflected in our Interior Designer of the Year’s current work. “I loved her ability to take the architecture of a space and not just embellish it, but layer onto it,” said Cridland. Since creating Project 22, Ashmore has designed more than 20 residences, which range from a 360-square-foot laneway studio to a 6,000-square-foot home, all with that relaxed-yet-refined coastal aesthetic that still permeates her work. One of Ashmore’s largest projects is also her most personal: her own family home. (It’s also the naming origin of her firm—coincidentally, the house sits on lot 22 of West 22nd in Vancouver.) She and her family lived in the existing badly renovated 1923 home that was on the property for a couple of years before plans came together for the new home, which she developed in collaboration with Measured Architecture. Where the previous house was closed off from views to Douglas Park and the mountains, the new three-level home feels like a tree house, lofted above the park, with terraced outdoor spaces in both the front and backyard that capitalize on the setting. It’s also the location of her office, in a laneway house in the rear, providing the perfect on-site lab for clients to see how materials work

“There are no shortcuts to establishing a high-quality professional design practice,” said judge Robert Bailey, “and Project 22’s work shows a depth of knowledge and ability, gained over time through thoughtful project engagement.” Local Talent In her Whistler project, Ashmore brought in local artisans, including Diane Rudge, who created the wall-hanging in the main room (bottom left), MTH Woodworks for the Bloom side tables in the bedroom (top centre) and Matthew McCormick for the lighting in the powder room (top right).

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in real life. “It’s great to have this home as a model, to show clients this is what concrete floors look like, this is what a reveal is and this is how marble ages in your kitchen,” Ashmore explains. “I chose all of those things very specifically to use as an education.” And Ashmore holds client care as one of the central tenets of her business—she tries to take away the surprise that can sometimes come from poorly communicated design processes. “I think that the design process can be overwhelming and scary,” she explains. “We’ve developed a process for walking clients through the project from start to finish. We have a questionnaire, and we do it in baby steps.” That questionnaire focuses from the more obvious questions—Do you work from home? How often do you entertain?—to more specific, but just 7 0 s e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca

as important ones: Do you need space for a Christmas tree? Are you right- or left-handed? (The latter would affect how a single-lever faucet would be placed in the bathroom, for example.) The process leaves clients feeling as if they truly know what the house will look like before they even walk in the door. It’s that trusting relationship with her clients that seems to have created such resonating work. “There are no shortcuts to establishing a high-quality professional design practice,” said judge and designer Robert Bailey, “and Project 22’s work shows a depth of knowledge and ability, gained over time through thoughtful project engagement.” Cridland agrees: “Her clients must love her. She has a great sense of who she is and who the client is.”

Janis Nicolay

Small Is Beautiful For a renovation of a South Granville apartment, Ashmore incorporated extensive storage and small-space concepts, including disguising the TV projector behind millwork (right) and incorporating a Murphy bed in the office (left).

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robert ledingham memorial award

Confident Restraint

Designer Stephanie Brown strikes the perfect balance between timeless and contemporary. B y j u l i a d i lw o r t h // P o r t r a i t B y c a r lo r i c c i

7 2 s e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca

Stephanie Brown was a Prairie kid living in a rural Alberta—“We didn’t even have one stoplight, just four-way stops everywhere,” she says—when her family started building a new home on an acreage. Like most small towns, Vauxhall (population 1,200) wasn’t flush with architects and building professionals, so Brown’s parents sourced rudimentary (and pre-internet) books of house plans in 2D sketches, with layouts covered in measurements and mysterious scribbles. Those books should have been dense, dull and incomprehensible to 12-year-old Stephanie, but she was utterly captivated. “I could pick them apart, critique things, imagine what the layouts would look like,” recalls Brown. “Suddenly, I was really paying attention to floor plans of other people’s houses and imagining renovating my friends’ homes and my family’s, thinking about what I would do to make them better. It became an obsession.” After design school, then more than a decade of honing her skills at Calgary firm McIntyre Bills, then moving to Vancouver to start her own,

Canmore home: Phil Crozier

a n n i v e r s a ry d o t y 2017

Stephanie Brown Design, in 2012—which was “scary as hell,” she says— Brown still feels that pull to reimagine people’s homes for the better. “Home isn’t just a roof over your head, but also a space that, of any place you go during the day, should really mean the most to you,” says Brown. “It’s exciting finding all the different ways that you can still make it special. And elevating it to be something beyond your average house.” Traditional, modern, minimalist, pied-à-terre—the designer, and winner of Western Living’s 2017 Robert Ledingham Memorial Award for an emerging interior designer, has successfully created a wide scope of design styles thanks to her ability to speak to the heart of what homeowners are looking for. It’s this understanding of design principles and thoughtful, restrained execution that made Brown stand out to our judging panel. “I am impressed with her attention to classic detailing,” says DOTY judge and designer Douglas Cridland, “and her ability to spin it into a hip, contemporary feel.” And it’s from this place of expertise that she can so deftly bend the rules.

Mountain Modern Designer Stephanie Brown (left) brings a sophisticated take to a retreat in Canmore, Alberta (centre and right). Accents of black and bronze, and wide-plank flooring against a soothing grey-and-taupe palette create a “fresh rustic” look that reads stylish, elegant and calming all at once.

Check out videos of our winners at westernliving.ca

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“I literally started out of my dining room. Somewhere deep down, I had always hoped to have my own design firm.”

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INTERIORS 2010

Alda Pereira

Alda Pereira Design, Vancouver

Smart Study For this Calgary home, “I had to find careful ways to mix European influences with Upper East Side New York,” she explains, “plus a touch of their Indian heritage and some midcentury-modern design.”

How do you think Western Canadian design has changed over the last 10 years? I think there is still a morphing of a West Coast style—we are seeing the influence of Nordic and Japanese design locally, but we have many furniture/lighting artisan studios that are developing a strong and influential style. What’s inspiring you now? I am and have always been inspired by natural beauty and natural materials. I am surrounded by that here on the West Coast and continue to explore natural materials in new and different ways.

Phil Crozier

Traditional that doesn’t look dated, modern minimalism that’s warm enough for a young family, or, as is the case with her project in Canmore, Alberta, a vacation home that couldn’t be further from “rustic mountain lodge” (nary a log wall, mounted stag or bear pelt in sight). The now-renovated home started from a place of pine flooring, slate tile and red feature walls. “We knew that’s exactly what the homeowner didn’t want,” says Brown. It took a bit of finessing to get the contractors on board. “They were like, ‘What do you mean you don’t want wood beams and you want the doors to be grey?’ It was really a new concept to them that an interior can still read and feel rustic but be elegant at the same time,” explains Brown. “We could achieve the mountain context in more subtle ways.” With ongoing projects in B.C., Alberta and Nova Scotia (and vacation homes in Maui), Brown is thrilled at how far her firm has come. “I literally started out of my dining room,” she says, noting that she took the big leap while in the midst of her own home renovation. “Somewhere deep down, I had always hoped to have my own design firm. I think that’s where I found this determination,” she says. “We’ve launched our new website after five years, the little bits of press we have, and now this award—I just feel like we have this energy and momentum happening right now. Of course, this is when I’ve just had a baby, too,” she laughs. “But I kind of thrive on chaos.”

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furniture

Less Is More

Designer Kate Duncan takes a simple, no-nonsense approach to furniture making.

B y K a i t ly n G e n d e m a n n // P o r t r a i t B y c a r lo r i c c i

Modern Classic Furniture designer Kate Duncan (top) in her Parker Street studio; her Shelley chairs (below) feature a sloped and curved back cradle to increase comfort.

Trying to find Kate Duncan at Parker Street Studios is like trying to find a two-by-four in a haystack. You know exactly where she is. And it’s not just because of her boisterous laugh or the happy golden retriever that trails behind her—she’s one of only two women in the wood shop. It’s a dynamic our Furniture Designer of the Year is familiar with—Duncan spent two years studying gender equality in trades programs while completing her master’s degree at BCIT. “It’s traditionally so male-dominated,” she explains. “To get access to the information, to actually learn how to be a woodworker, you have to subscribe to this hyper-masculine culture.” And though she’ll be the first to admit that she’s lost some of her femininity along the way (“I have short hair, I swear a lot, I slouch”), there are some things she just won’t sacrifice. “Some people don’t get it,” says Duncan of her tendency to stick with simple manufacturing and joinery techniques. “They don’t understand that I’m not trying to be trendy. I’m trying to be traditional.” At first glance, Duncan’s furniture designs—the angular Shelley dining chair westernliving.ca / s e p t e m b e r

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DOTY ALUM FURNITURE 2013

Brent Comber Brent Comber Originals, Vancouver

with its leather-upholstered seat, the Alexandra bed with its secret compartments and drawers, the mid-century modern-inspired Nicole table with its three-legged base— are understated, but upon closer inspection, “there is clearly a sensitivity to material, form and detailing,” says judge Thom Fougere, creative director of EQ3. Part of this aesthetic comes from wanting to build a piece of furniture that will last (“It’s not disposable, it’s not a waste of time”), but it also comes from taking a letthe-sticks-fall-where-they-may approach to woodworking. Duncan gleefully tells the tale of when she and her apprentice were given first dibs on a new load of black walnut: “We had this idea of making a dining table, and then there was this one super-wide stick and we thought, ‘That’s a bench,’ and now, all of a sudden, we’re making a bench,” she laughs. Or there’s the time she took her circle jig to a maple slab that was originally intended for a headboard—it’s now one of her two live-edge Pare tables. “It’s nice to let the sticks show up and let them do what they’re going to do,” she says.

Careful Construction Duncan’s Debra collection (top and below) is crafted from North American hardwoods using traditional detailing, including dovetails in the drawers and classic solid brass knife hinges, which require precision installation.

one to watch

STUDIO BROVHN

“It’s always easy to look at something when it’s very minimal and think that it’s really simple,” says Miguel Brovhn, founder and principal of Vancouver furniture design company Studio Brovhn. But putting his bachelor’s degree in architecture to use, Brovhn applies the latest in technological advances to design his collection of minimalist metal and wood feature pieces. The Glacier coffee table (right), inspired by Icelandic glaciers, is made with powdercoated aluminum and lasercut with a clean pattern of parallel lines. While many designers start off with a sketch pad and pencil, Brovhn starts by looking at how a piece can be fabricated and works backward from there. “We are very intrigued with materials and textures,” he says. “Even just psychologically. When you look at a material—does it feel warm or cold?”—Aryn Strickland 7 8 s e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca

Has anything changed about the work you do since you’ve won? Everything is still driven by story. I’m involved in larger projects with well-known brands who want to bring their own story to life, but I’m also working through my own personal projects, such as my first upholstered chair. How do you think design has changed in Western Canada over the last 10 years? It’s more collaborative and accessible. On the other hand, smaller studio space is harder to find and less affordable closer to most cities now. The quality and variety of work, however, has improved. What’s inspiring you now? I’ve been drawing on the colours and life found within the intertidal zone around Ucluelet for some upcoming pieces. What’s your proudest design moment? The first time I could prove good design doesn’t hinge on technology. Perseverance and understanding the process made me feel good about my future as a designer.

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industrial

Natural Connection

Designer Annie Tung creates pieces that evoke an organic reprieve in a hyper-connected world.

B y j e s s i c a B a r r e t t // P o r t r a i t B y c a r lo r i c c i

Organic Design Industrial designer Annie Tung (top) brings organic influence to her designs. Her Peak vase (right) expresses the fragile relationship between nature and industry—much like a flower blooming from a crack in the pavement, nature overcomes human obstacles.

If there’s a category of design that gets to surprise and delight its end user, it’s not often the function-first world of industrial design. But designer Annie Tung’s body of work takes more than a few thrilling turns through disciplines ranging from taxidermy to jewellery to art installations (she was also a finalist for Maker of the Year), and her craft-inspired approach to functional objects ultimately won her this year’s Industrial Designer of the Year title. Despite the range in her portfolio, it’s the 33-year-old’s affinity for non-traditional materials, from concrete to acrylic, that becomes the connective tissue uniting her work, injecting an element of surprise into everyday objects. “The aim is to make something that looks different or unexpected,” she says. “But it’s a familiar typography.” From her Eclipse lamp—a marble sculpture that doubles as a lighting fixture—to the mesh enclosure around her cocoon-like Long Time chair, Tung’s work evokes an organic reprieve in a hyper-connected world and a poetic point of view that resonated with our judges. “I can feel the designer is aware of the importance of analog flow of time within the modern digitized world,” said judge Masaaki Kanai of Muji. The driving force behind Tung’s creativity is a dual curiosity surrounding materials and process. “I try to work westernliving.ca / s e p t e m b e r

2 0 1 7 8 1

DOTY ALUM INTERIORS 2008

David Nicolay Evoke International, Vancouver

with natural materials whenever possible,” she says. “I’m always asking myself, how can I explore that at the same time with an idea that fits?” That line of inquiry, first piqued while studying jewellery design and metals at the Ontario College of Art and Design, has served her well. Since graduating in 2007, Tung has amassed an impressive list of accolades and exhibitions, including a prestigious residency with Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre. In 2013, Tung was compelled to expand her repertoire toward product design, and left her hometown of Toronto to pursue a master’s degree in design for luxury and craftsmanship at École cantonale d’art in Lausanne, Switzerland. “I thought the approach there was more interdisciplinary and more fluid than it is in North America,” she says. Love brought Tung to Vancouver in 2015, and she wasted no time in leaving her mark on this city’s design community. She snagged the emerging design award at the 2015 LAMP exhibition with her Eclipse fixture, which led to a working partnership with local lighting company Andlight. And we can look forward to more surprises in Tung’s repertoire as she discovers the influences that await her on the West Coast. “Being from Toronto, I’m not much of a camper, so I’m like, okay, take me to the big trees, take me to the desert.”

Singular Focus Tung’s Love spoons feature an erotic poem in Braille on the back, meant to be “read” by one’s tongue (top left). Her Long Time chair creates a cocoon-like environment (top right); Rise vases (bottom right) put the focus on single stems.

Who has been influential to the Western Canadian design scene? Battersby Howat. They really set a new tone for West Coast modernism in residential design. Who are you most excited about right now? I am very excited to see the work of architects such as Herzog and de Meuron, Bjarke Ingels, Kengo Kuma and Ole Scheeren come to life in Vancouver. Has anything changed about the work you do since you’ve won? Evoke has grown to a studio of 17 designers. We take a very collaborative approach, where the best idea wins. What’s inspiring you now? We have had the great fortune to work with Studio MK27 on a project in Whistler. Their work is a highly rigorous modernism that continues to inspire our own work. What’s your proudest design moment? It’s still just the everyday experience of working with all the designers in our studio on an ever-growing list of creative client projects.

one to watch

8 2 s e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca

Left: T. Shabani

KO JÚBILO

It was a visit to a friend’s graduation presentation at Emily Carr University that first opened Ko Júbilo’s eyes to the power of industrial design. “His presentation showed me the potential of how design could affect the world we live in,” Júbilo says. After getting his own degree and working for studios in Vancouver and London, Júbilo started experimenting with projects in his garage before opening his atelier in 2015. Though he takes on a variety of works, his philosophy is consistent: “My approach is driven by innovation and the interplay between concept and materiality. It’s a more minimal aesthetic that relies on the efficient use of form and material.” His Lightway project melds together doors and light fixtures, highlighting passageways through the interaction of shadow and material; his Beam shelf rethinks shelving as a light source (right). “I’m always fascinated with taking on new types of projects,” says Júbilo, “and finding the intersections between different techniques and disciplines.”—Alec Regino

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landscape

Humble Perfection

Straub Thurmayr brings creativity and a little wildness to its architectural landscape designs.

B y j a c q u i e m o o r e // P o r t r a i t B y t h o m a s f r i c k e

Growing Change Dietmar Straub and Anna Thurmayr (top) create experiential landscape designs, such as this modern renovation of a Munich child-care centre.

A quip on Dietmar Straub’s favourite T-shirt sums up his and his business partner/spouse Anna Thurmayr’s approach to their work: “Because good enough isn’t enough.” It’s unlikely that either landscape architect in this duo needs the reminder to strive for perfection. Ironically, one of the guiding principles of Straub Thurmayr Landscape Architects is to “find beauty and spontaneity in imperfection.” Turns out that takes brilliant planning and ingenuity. Straub and Thurmayr came to Winnipeg from the northern slopes of the Bavarian Alps nearly a decade ago in search of balance. They both teach at the University of Manitoba, in part so that they can spend less time thinking about the commercial viability of their landscapearchitecture business and more time adroitly solving problems with beauty and innovation. As they had done in Germany, the couple has built their business here by approaching every project with high levels of curiosity, pragmatism and capacity for creative risk. Their clients are pre-emptively asked about their comfort with risk and experimentation in relation to the design process. “To us, the question of risk is: ‘Are you okay with us identifying and testing out new materials and ideas within your project?’” says Straub. westernliving.ca / s e p t e m b e r

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DOTY ALUM FASHION AND JEWELLERY 2010

Danielle Wilmore Pyrrha, Vancouver

Greening School The pair’s rehabilitation of this 40-year-old school ground in Schoellnach, Germany, included the introduction of tree gardens (left), meadows (below) and “fun...ctional” fields for soccer and rainwater filtration.

For those who have spent time in a Straub Thurmayr garden, the answer to that question is an exuberant yes. The couple has won more than two dozen national and international landscape-architecture awards—and with every project, says Thurmayr, they aim to create an appealingly “humble” garden that “does not make a spectacle of itself but gives everyday spaces their own energy by injecting a sensual feel.” It’s an aesthetic that has often resulted in spaces that DOTY judge Misty March calls “expressive… lively… ephemeral… wild.” (Straub, as humorous as he is eloquent, put it another way: “Bloody cheap but sexy!”) Straub Thurmayr’s Folly Forest transformed a section of one of Winnipeg’s most vulnerable neighbourhoods by reclaiming bricks and cracked asphalt as imaginative design elements intended to draw visitors in to think, play and relax. Locals are delighted—no matter that the pair are characteristically critical of their work. “It’s a constant cultivation of doubt,” says Straub. “Without that, you give up seeking something that might be new or different.” Wisdom that could, with a little editing, fit onto a T-shirt.

Who are you most excited about right now? In less than a year we’ll be breaking ground on our new studio for Pyrrha: a 9,000-square-foot space that will be dedicated solely to our design and manufacturing process. We’re thrilled to be working with our good friend Omer Arbel of Bocci Design on the project. Has anything changed about the work you do since you’ve won? Since we won, we’ve become a B Corporation, and recently we upped the ante and became certified carbon neutral. For many years we have been casting with reclaimed metals, but we wanted to do more and be more accountable to our customers and to ourselves. What are you excited to work on in the future? We are designing our new space with the intention of producing product in new categories, like personal accessories and small housewares. Whatever we design, we want to always be able to produce it in Vancouver, and in-house.

CLAIRE KENNEDY DESIGN

“Plants were my first love in landscape design,” says designer Claire Kennedy. After volunteering and studying in the University of British Columbia’s Botanical Garden, she quit her account executive job and now, 25 years later, Kennedy’s passion for nature serves as the pivotal philosophy behind her firm, Claire Kennedy Design. Though she’s based in Vancouver, her work sees her collaborating with architects on plenty of island projects too, such as a 10-acre property on Bowen Island (right). There, a driveway winds through native woodlands to the gorgeous contemporary home by Frits de Vries Architects. Kennedy placed varieties of ornamental grasses and perennials with aromatic leaves and flowers to thwart the local environment’s challenges, such as drought and deer. The interdependence of the local surroundings to the house is important to Kennedy. “The strength of a landscape is in its connection to the home.”—Alec Regino 8 6 s e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca

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maker

Pattern Recognition

Designer Vikki Wiercinski takes inspiration from the Western Canadian landscape for her vibrant, elegant work.

Tea towels: Aspen Zettel

B y j a c q u i e m o o r e // P o r t r a i t B y c o o P e r a n d o’ h a r a

Design for Living Vikki Wiercinski of Mezzaluna Studio (top) designed her Abstract Garden tea towels (above, left and right) in the dead of winter as an ode to spring.

Vikki Wiercinski had nearly finished her degree at the University of Alberta—and was still unclear on the focus of her craft-practice—when one of her classmates handed her a book on wallpaper. “She said, ‘I thought of you because I know how much you like patterns.’” Shortly after that, another classmate gave her a swatch of Marimekko fabric; she, too, had noticed pattern in Wiercinski’s work. “I clearly remember having every inch of my mind blown,” says the designer. “I thought, ‘You can do this? This is a design thing?’” Indeed, her penchant for sketching repeated abstract shapes in vibrant colours—largely inspired by the Western Canadian landscape—has been the foundation of Wiercinski’s elegant work. Her patterns are reproduced on everything from functional ceramics to concrete cladding and a widely anticipated calendar. As it turns out, however, Wiercinski’s first product has remained her most enduringly successful. After a few years doing corporate design work while sketching shapes and colours in her free time, Wiercinski was moved to have one of her abstract compositions silkscreened to westernliving.ca / s e p t e m b e r

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DOTY ALUM ROBERT LEDINGHAM MEMORIAL AWARD 2015

Kevin Mitchell Mitchell Design House, Calgary

several white tea towels to sell at a local craft fair. They were an instant hit—and, years after she established her Mezzaluna Studio, still are. Her Abstract Garden series, which was also featured in Uppercase magazine (issue No. 32) is, as the artist puts it, “an ode to fresh warm air, new blooming shapes, and the smell of earth and grass.” Certainly, the patterns are pretty enough to frame, but they’re perhaps more deserving of the startling doses of joy they bring to otherwise mundane daily tasks. Edmonton-based designer and DOTY judge Geoffrey Lilge was struck by Wiercinski’s “keen awareness of her own personal style” and by the polish of her work, in which “every detail has been considered.” This fall, Wiercinski closes the loop on her trajectory from disbelieving student to bona fide textile artist as she serves as an artist-in-residence in Finland, Marimekko design house’s original home. After that, she’ll oversee a pattern from her Neon Prairie series go up on a mural at Jasper Place Leisure Centre. Once that’s in place, Wiercinski half-jokingly suggests, she might like to retire to an Australian beach. We sincerely hope not.

Pattern Play Wiercinski’s Midnight Dispatch pattern, cast in concrete outside a fire station west of Edmonton (top, left and right), reflects the lightness and mood of the winter Prairie sky. She designed one-off decals for her Plate series (above).

Has your work changed since you’ve won? I won just as I was starting my own company, so everything changed! My style has remained the same, aside from the fact that I’ve embraced white and love it. It’s such a stark contrast from the body of work I did previously. I still gravitate to that Prairie palette and muddy tones, but I’ve definitely started introducing a much lighter hand. Can you share any memories from your awards night? I was so nervous. I certainly didn’t anticipate meeting so many new people and felt quite overwhelmed! The one regret I had at the Vancouver awards night was not having a speech prepared, so I forced myself to say something in Calgary. I made a joke about how my friend told me to imagine everyone in their underwear and commenting on how there were so many questionable choices that evening. The rest probably sounded like the Charlie Brown schoolteacher.

R ACHEL SAUNDERS

When Rachel Saunders quit her day job at a clothing company in L.A. almost three years ago, she was moving home to follow her dream to work with her hands. Today, this Victoria-based ceramicist is living it, getting her hands dirty crafting earth into stunning vessels. “I think one of the most engaging and beautiful parts about handmade pottery is the material itself,” she says. “It’s so neat to see all the different colours and imperfections that can come out of an organic matter that literally comes from the earth.” To highlight the raw material, she leaves most of her vessels unglazed or brushes only the inside with a translucent gloss. Her designs pair the rich clay of the Pacific Northwest with forms well suited to ikebana, the art of Japanese floral arrangement that stresses balance—evident in the sleekly designed Torus vase (right). “I was making these strange shapes that wouldn’t really fit the standard bouquet,” she confesses.—Christine Beyleveldt 9 0 s e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca

Bottom-right: Guy Ferguson; Others: Aspen Zettel

one to watch

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fashion

Heads Up

Designer Claudia Schulz takes the vintage art of millinery into the chic and modern present. B y s ta c e y m c l a c h l a n // P o r t r a i t B y c a r lo r i c c i

Trevor Brady

Top Shop Designer Claudia Schulz (top) designs hats that are more than just a tool for keeping the sun off one’s head. Her latest collection, Folklore (right) takes a contemporary twist on hats worn by women in South American cultures.

When Claudia Schulz first approached a local milliner 15 years ago and asked to be tutored in the art of hat-making, she wasn’t bringing a lot of experience to the table. “I come from a social work background. I remember her asking, ‘How are your sewing skills?’ and me just responding, ‘Well . . . I’m crafty!’” Schulz laughs. Schulz had grown up in Berlin, collecting hats from vintage stores and on her travels; newly immigrated to Canada and without a work visa, she had time on her hands to try designing for herself. Despite Schulz’s lack of skills, that milliner took her under her wing, and from there, she continued honing her craft solo (“I’m a bit of an autodidact,” she says), studying up on new techniques and experimenting as she went. Her signature style began to evolve: classic shapes were deconstructed; sensible materials took on a sculptural edge. A mention in Daily Candy in 2008 catapulted her brand into the public eye, and coverage in Wallpaper, Glamour Italy and other design and fashion publications followed. Since then, she’s become a global name (her designs sell westernliving.ca / s e p t e m b e r

2 0 1 7 9 3

DOTY ALUM INTERIORS 2009

Mitchell Freedland

Mitchell Freedland Design, Vancouver

She’s Tops Schulz’s single-cut shapes provide flexibility and movement, based on minimalistic design principles that showcase simple lines—such as those seen in her recent Folklore (left) and 2016 Urban Warrior collections (below).

everywhere from New York to South Korea). But Vancouver remains her home base—hand-carved hat blocks imported from England are scattered throughout the live/work Gastown studio she shares with her photographer husband and their teenage son. Judge Barbara Atkin calls Schulz’s work “a modern, global view of the fine craft of millinery” and praises her for “understanding old-world craft and reinventing it for modern times.” And that spirit of invention continues, even now. “Playing with the materials and coming up with a good design and something different and new . . . that really keeps me going,” says Schulz. It’s why she picked up straw for the first time last year and tried her hand at some woven designs. The Isa fedora, one of her experiments and part of her summer collection, features whimsical, messy knots of coloured embroidery thread. Somehow it looks both totally familiar and unlike anything you’ve ever seen. “Trends have a little influence,” says Schulz, “but for all these years, I’m just kind of doing my own thing.”

Who has been influential to the Western Canadian design scene? Arthur Erickson for architecture and Robert Ledingham for interiors. Can you share any memories from your awards night? Anxious anticipation. What’s inspiring you now? Nature, always, and the accomplished work of Atelier AM. What are you excited to work on in the future? The possibility of retail environment branding. What’s your proudest design moment? When a client is moved to tears of joy when entering their new home. What do you think the future of our local design scene will be? What do you think it needs? It just keeps getting better with time. As a small centre, access to great suppliers is always a challenge. The ones we do have are to be commended for their effort to bring their vision of the world to us.

one to watch

9 4 s e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca

Hats: Trevor Brady

BECKI CHAN

Cast in sterling silver, each piece of jewellery in Becki Chan’s Grey line is inspired by her sculptural work, featuring minimalistic geometric designs, with clean lines that are combined and repeated. “I have always wanted to turn my sculptures and conceptual architectural models into jewellery,” says Chan. Born in Hong Kong but now residing in Vancouver, Chan is a jack of all trades when it comes to her career: her experience spans sculpture, spatial design, brand interiors and public installation . . . and now, over the past two years, jewellery design. From her studio in Vancouver, she focuses on using silver and gemstones to create pieces that are artful yet wearable, like the Rift ring collection (right), which features a number of bold linear designs, each with slight variations in the metal as they are all handcrafted. “I want quality,” says Chan. “I want something that is beautiful and that is going to last.”—Lexy Dien

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ARCHITECTURE

INTERIORS

Michael Green is a Vancouver-based architect known for his firm, MGA, as well as for his research, leadership and advocacy in promoting the use of wood in the built environment. His 2013 TED talk “Why We Should Build Wooden Skyscrapers” has been viewed more than a million times.

Robert Bailey is a registered interior designer and the principal behind Robert Bailey Interiors, a boutique design firm in Vancouver. In 2013, he was named Western Living’s Interior Designer of the Year and received an Award of Merit at the IDIBC Shine Awards.

Brigitte Shim is a Canadian architect and a founding partner of Shim-Sutcliffe Architects, a Toronto-based practice established in 1994. It is widely regarded as one of the most innovative and successful architectural practices in Canada. Michael Shugarman is the principal architect for Calgary’s Shugarman Architecture and Design, a multidisciplinary practice that also incorporates interior design along with urban and furniture design. FASHION Barbara Atkin served as vice-president of fashion direction at Holt Renfrew from 2005 through 2015 (part of a 28-year career with the company) and was recently named a “Fashion Visionary” by Fashion Group International. Michael Budman and Don Green founded iconic Canadian fashion brand Roots and spent decades as leaders in the retail industry and as advocates for environmental matters. Dan and Dean Caten are designers, twin brothers and founders of DSquared2, an internationally acclaimed fashion brand known for its edgy designs and elaborate runway shows. FURNITURE Mikael Axelsson, designer at Ikea of Sweden, has studied design in Stockholm, Barcelona and Wellington and is also a trained mechanical engineer. His celebrated industrial design work has been exhibited internationally. Thom Fougere studied architecture at the University of Manitoba before working in furniture and product design. In 2011, after his studies in architecture, he was appointed creative director of Canadian furniture design house EQ3 at the age of 24. Shauna Levy is president of Canada’s design museum, Design Exchange, and co-founder of the internationally acclaimed Interior Design Show. She has secured travelling exhibits from prestigious cultural institutions across the globe and curated exhibitions featuring Canadian and international designers.

Douglas Cridland’s 35-plus-year career has produced a portfolio that includes residential, retail and office spaces—many of which have been featured on television and in national publications. He was named WL’s Interior Designer of the Year in 2016. Rachael Gray is principal architect for Gray Partnership, based in New York City. Her more than 20 years of experience includes terms at the helm of Work Architecture and Design and Gray, Watt and Partners. Alda Pereira is a Vancouver-based interior designer with plentiful accolades. Her work has been featured in Metropolitan Home magazine (where she was named “one of North America’s bright new design talents”) and on The Oprah Winfrey Show. LANDSCAPE Misty March is a principal with Hargreaves Associates’ New York office and holds degrees in landscape architecture from Cornell University and the Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Most recently, she completed the planting design for the 30-acre Downtown Park in Oklahoma City. Kelty McKinnon brings a diverse background in landscape architecture, public art and environmental studies to her role as director and principal at PFS Studio. For nearly two decades she has specialized in projects within the public realm, committed to the creation of unique, innovative and meaningful urban space. Dr. Nancy Pollock-Ellwand serves as the dean of the Faculty of Environmental Design at the University of Calgary. She has a broad background in design, with degrees in landscape architecture, architecture and planning, and she leads a faculty that delivers the only accredited Albertan programs in architecture and planning. Paul Sangha established Paul Sangha Landscape Architecture in 1999, a firm focused on excellence in design, detail and service with the pursuit of becoming one of the world’s premier residential design firms. MAKER

INDUSTRIAL

Jonathan Adler launched his first ceramics collection in 1993. Now his empire encompasses myriad product lines and 25 stores worldwide, each dedicated to bringing style, craft and joy to life.

Paolo Cravedi is managing director of Alessi U.S.A., a world leader at the forefront of groundbreaking design concepts. Prior to Alessi, he was the managing director for Kartell U.S.A.

Brent Comber is the fourth generation of his family to call North Vancouver home, from where he acts as principal of Brent Comber Studio. His wood furniture, art and installations have found homes across the world.

Masaaki Kanai is chair and representative director of Ryohin Keikaku Co., where he is responsible for sales and merchandising for the beloved Japanese minimalist brand Muji. 9 6 s e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca

Geoffrey Lilge is an Edmonton-based designer and founder of Div. 12, a manufacturer of restaurant furniture. His new collection of seating and accessories launched in May 2017.

ARCHITECTURE

Ko Júbilo

Campos Studio

Landon Dix Design Studio

DeJong Design Associates

Maurice Laurent Dery Shipway Living Design

Frits de Vries Architects and Associates

Solus Decor

JWT Architecture

Willow and Stump

RNDSQR

INTERIORS

Rockwood Custom Homes and Dean Thomas Design Group

Alykhan Velji Designs

Russell and Russell Design Studios

Cabin Fever Interiors

Vallely Architecture ARTHUR ERICKSON MEMORIAL AWARD FOR AN EMERGING ARCHITECT Arno Matis Campos Studio MoDA One SEED Architecture and Interiors Platform Architecture

Amanda Hamilton Interior Design Enviable Designs Heffel Balagno Design Consultants MāK Interiors Measured Architecture Project 22 Design RNDSQR Rockwood Custom Homes Sophie Burke Design Stephanie Brown Inc.

RNDSQR

LANDSCAPE

Studio North

Aloe Designs

Vallely Architecture

Botanica Design

FASHION Andronyk Claudia Schulz Dina Gonzàlez Mascaró DSign Step Grey by Becki Chan Joanna Baxter (Lover Fighter)

Claire Kennedy Design Haven Garden Design Straub Thurmayr Landscape Architects MAKER Andrea Wong Annie Tung Béton Brut

Nicole Bridger Design

Kalika Bowlby

Shannon Munro

Mezzaluna Studio

Shelley MacDonald Jewellery

Rachel Saunders Ceramics

Stittgen Fine Jewelry

Studio Brovhn

Westerly Handmade Shoes

Ulla Clark

FURNITURE AdrianMartinus Designs Arostegui Studio Design-Built IZM Jeff Martin Joinery

ROBERT LEDINGHAM MEMORIAL AWARD FOR AN EMERGING INTERIOR DESIGNER Alykhan Velji Designs Andrea McLean Design Office

Judson Beaumont

Angela Robinson and Tanya Schoenroth

Kate Duncan

Gillian Segal Design

Sholto Design Studio

Hazel and Brown Design Company

Studio Brovhn

Project 22 Design

INDUSTRIAL

RNDSQR

AdrianMartinus Designs

Shipway Living Design

Annie Tung

Stephanie Brown Inc.

See 10 years of judges and finalists at westernliving.ca/doty/

Thank you to our event sponsors PLATINUM

MEDIA

Capilano Audi

CityTVâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Breakfast Television

GOLD

Adera Natural Stone Supply Caesarstone Coast Appliances Jordans Home Smeg

SW Event Technology

MULTI-MEDIA

Once a Tree Furniture XPRT Technology Solutions

FLORALS

CATERER

Forage

PRIZE

Banner Carpets Provide Home Suquet Interiors Switzer Cult Creative

The Flower Factory

BEVERAGES

Steamworks Brewing Co.

Photos from Western Living Designers of the Year 2016 event

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

Fresh Catch

Kevin Clark

“Sustainable seafood” is a term that gets tossed around a lot, but what does this mean to the average Western Canadian hitting the supermarket after work on a Tuesday? With Lure, the first cookbook from Okanagan-born chef and Ocean Wise proselytizer Ned Bell, everything is illuminated. It’s a how-to guide, a glossary, a catalogue of 80-plus go-to recipes for every Pacific fish and shell-dweller, categorized and unpacked with helpful intros (not to mention pastel illustrations and gorgeous photography) and everything you need to know about local seafood— from buying to preparing to cooking. To give you a taste of this new tome (out mid-September), turn the page for Bell’s fresh take on Wild Salmon Bake with Sauce Vierge.

Bon Poisson For this party-ready salmon bake, chef Ned Bell keeps the prep simple with a classic French sauce.

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WLFOOD // BITES RECIPE

GADGET

Wild Salmon Bake with Sauce Vierge With Roma tomatoes, shallots and chives, this bright and simple recipe for sauce vierge from chef Ned Bell is going to make salmon fillets singâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and save you time on the prep side, too.

Sauce vierge 4 Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced (about 3 cups) 1 large shallot, finely chopped (about Âź cup) Â˝ cup chopped flat-leaf parsley Â˝ cup chopped fresh chives 3 tbsp chopped fresh tarragon Â˝ cup extra-virgin olive oil Zest and juice of 1 large lemon Sea salt and coarsely ground black pepper

Hamilton Beach Digital Dehydrator $90 thebay.com

BITES

What weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re eating and drinking

Salmon 1 salmon fillet (2 to 3 lb) Olive oil, for brushing the salmon and for drizzling Sea salt and coarsely ground black pepper Â˝ lemon

1. Sauce vierge: Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Season to taste. Set aside to marinate for 30 minutes. 2. Salmon: Preheat the oven to 350Â° F. Line a

baking sheet with parchment paper. Brush the skin of the salmon with olive oil and season both sides with salt and pepper.

3. Place the salmon skin side down onto the

prepared baking sheet. Add the lemon cut side up beside the salmon, and bake for about 20 minutes, depending on the thickness of fish. An instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part should read 120Â°F to 125Â°F. Set aside to rest for 2 to 3 minutes.

4. Add a few generous spoonfuls of sauce vierge on top, drizzle with olive oil, and serve with the charred lemon. Serves 8. Chefâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s notes: Alternatively, preheat the grill and cook on the grate skin side down. (The barbecue acts like an â&#x20AC;&#x153;ovenâ&#x20AC;? with the lid closed so you cook the fish evenly.) EXCERPTED FROM LURE BY NED BELL AND VALERIE HOWES. PHOTOGRAPHS BY KEVIN CLARK. COPYRIGHT 2017 BY CHEFS FOR OCEANS; RECIPES COPYRIGHT BY NED BELL. EXCERPTED WITH PERMISSION FROM FIGURE 1. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO PART OF THIS EXCERPT MAY BE REPRODUCED OR REPRINTED WITHOUT PERMISSION IN WRITING FROM THE PUBLISHER.

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GET ON BOARD WITH A DEHYDRATOR We asked WL Foodie of the Year Karen McAthy (of Blue Heron Creamery) why every home chef needs a food dehydrator: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re indispensable when it comes to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;saving the seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and creating deeper flavours for plant-based cooking or raw food. I use a dehydrator to make candied nuts and dried fruits (tossed pear slices in maple syrup and cardamom), drying out vegetable ends and turning them into flavour powders (such as tomato powder or mushroom powder) and drying out herbs for fall and winter.â&#x20AC;? Bonus: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dehydrators are also great if you make yogurt (keeping the yogurt container inside the dehydrator on low heat provides consistent, even heat).â&#x20AC;?

N lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s W e Pi

Cornering the Market FEUDO MACCARI SAIA 2013, $38

Savvy wine buying is, in some ways, the opposite of real estate: with real property you want the worst house on the best street, but if you dip your toe into the lowest-price wine in a pricey area like Bordeaux, prepare to be disappointed. Instead, the key is to find an area with great fundamentalsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;old vines, a long history of winemakingâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;that hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been discovered yet, and then go to the top of the market for their best bottles. In Burgundy this strategy might cost you $5,000 a bottle, but on the southern coast of Sicily you can spend $40 and be a baller. Case in point: the $38 Feudo Maccari Saia 2013,, a wine made of the often humble Nero dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Avola grape, which delivers a wallop of red and black fruits, some mint and some savoury notes in an opulent package that will see you through the coldest fall day.

N l McL n

o p en i n g s

Calcutta Cricket Club 340 17 aVe. sW, calgary

Who Cody Willis (Native Tongues Taqueria, Two Penny) Why we’re excited Oft-under-represented Bengali cuisine takes centre stage, with a cosmopolitan room from artist Maya Gohill (her very first interior design project).

Foxtrot Tango Whiskey Bar 777 Douglas st., Victoria

Who Rock star B.C. bartender Shawn Soole (Clive’s, Little Jumbo) Why we’re excited It channels a 1950s L.A. lounge and will immediately rise to the forefront of the capital’s must-visit watering holes.

C H e F ’s t i p

e V en t

Are You Kale Salad-ing Wrong? With chef alDen ong, royal Dinette

“Kale is such a robust leaf; it needs a bigger sauce than a light vinaigrette,” says Ong. So for salads, dress raw kale in a thicker and fattier dressing. The chef recommends a celery remoulade (find his recipe for this mayo-based dressing at westernliving.ca). “You can let the leaves sit in the sauce for about three to five minutes before serving.” Find Chef Ong’s recipe for celery remoulade (and more!) online at westernliving.ca/recipes

Great Canadian Beer Festival september 8 anD 9 royal athletic park, 1014 caleDonia aVe., Victoria

This is a pretty major lineup of some of Western Canada’s best brewers big and small (this year’s is still to be announced). Always a well-produced, well-attended end-of-summer event. gcbf.com westernliving.ca / s e p t e m b e r

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250.384.4663

Victoria BC

jasongoodcabinets.com

ACCIDENTAL FARMERS How a forgotten Langley farm inspired an interior designer and her IT executive husband to get into the garlic business.

by STACEY McLACHLAN // photographs by JANIS NICOLAY // recipes by JULIE VAN ROSENDAAL // food styling by JENNIFER STAMPER

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WLFOOD // purity garlic farm

ydney Carlaw certainly did not set out to be a garlic farmer. But when the interior designer and her husband Vance, an IT executive, moved onto a five-acre rural property in Langley, B.C. three years ago, taking up farming just seemed like the natural thing to do—never mind that they were also busy with their careers and raising two daughters. “When we bought this property, people were shocked. Everyone kept asking, ‘What are you doing? How can you possibly take care of this?’” says Sydney. “Hearing that was a little overwhelming.” But it was a place simply too magical to pass up. It’s easy to see why. “Bucolic” is the only word to describe what’s happening at Purity Farms. A turn onto the shady gravel driveway, and the bustle of the Lower Mainland fades into the background, replaced by the sound of rustling leaves, birds chirping lazily and the spa-like burble of a trickling stream, which runs in a rivulet underneath the house and out to the other side. It seems like the kind of place that’s always dappled in sunlight, even on an overcast day. It’s no wonder that Sydney decided to move her interior design firm onto the property, too, into a renovated barn just steps away from the garlic patch—who would want to leave? Incredibly, the farm is only five minutes from the freeway and a stone’s throw from the Carlaws’ former suburban home, where they lived for four years. That former residence also happened to be the

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house that gave Sydney her start in the interior design business: her contractor was stuck for design help, Sydney offered to take it on, and recommendations and new projects snowballed from there. In fact, it was while Vance and Sydney were on the hunt for another design-and-flip project that they stumbled across the farm for the first time. “We just fell in love with it,” says Sydney. “We saw so much character and it felt so different . . . like walking into a different world.” It’s hard to believe now, looking at the lovingly manicured pathways and neat rows of sprouting garlic, but the expansive property had sat vacant for two years, after the elderly homeowner passed away and his children sold it. The Carlaws had some serious work cut out for them: dealing with an overgrown yard, precariously perched peach trees, dusty old barns and even a herd of sheep that came with the place. “There were so many times in the two years of fixing this place up that we were like, ‘Are we crazy?’” says Sydney, shaking her head. But they kept plugging away, fixing it up one piece at a time. The buildings were first. Renovating the interiors of the lowceilinged ranch house took just two months—Sydney rushed to get it done so they could actually live on the property as soon as possible.

Work It Out The entryway (opposite, top) to Sydney Carlaw’s design studio—a converted barn—feels more like a home than a workspace, thanks to details like a farm-appropriate horse print (sourced from HomeSense) and rustic-chic accents like sconces from Restoration Hardware. Old Meets New Though the studio barn’s kitchen (above) has been thoroughly updated with fresh marble countertops and new drywall, Sydney (pictured opposite, bottom) incorporated some of the original structure into the design, like the stone foundation and a long wood beam.

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WLFOOD // purity garlic farm

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The 1970s building has been reimagined as a modern farmhouse, with rustic ceiling beams painted warm grey and the original stone fireplace still at the centre of the elegant-but-unfussy design. Next, they fixed up the old barn with refinished floors, whitewashed walls and cottage-chic furniture, creating a dreamy workspace for Sydney’s interiors firm, Purity Designs. Throughout the renovations, they attempted, slowly but surely, to tame the wilderness that lay beyond the front porch. The previous homeowner was a true man of the land: he would make his own bamboo brooms and raise new varieties of flowers in his greenhouse to sell to VanDusen Garden. “To see a plastic hose here seems foreign because everything’s so natural,” says Sydney. The more they explored the property and saw all the work and love he’d put into it, the more it seemed like a shame to let his legacy be lost. And so, an interior designer, her IT executive husband and their two daughters found themselves considering the farm life. Garlic seemed like a low-maintenance project for first-timers, so the Carlaws started the process of learning, well, everything. “The first year it was honestly all YouTube,” laughs Sydney. “It went from basically zero knowledge to this,” agrees Vance, waving a hand to the

The Harvest Unsurprisingly, garlic is frequently on the menu in the Carlaw household. “I love it cooked with just olive oil as a spread on a baguette, I love it in pasta, I love it on everything. I think most meals are better when you can squeeze some garlic in,” says Sydney. The whole family pitches in come harvest time (above). Farmyard Fancy Whitewashed walls (opposite, top right) give the vintage barn a fresh new look. Exposed wood beams (opposite, top left) keep the cozy-country vibe strong.

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WLFOOD // purity garlic farm

Counting Sheep “Honestly, just watching them graze on the property is so beautiful to look at,” says Sydney. The herd has grown since the Carlaws moved in, with two new lambs joining the family each spring. “My daughter has named them all . . . one’s after a football player.”

fields of garlic bulbs. “It’s definitely been a learning curve.” But there was help to be found both online and offline. A garlic farmer in Maple Ridge—Al Kozak of Gusto Garlic—showed Vance the ropes and supplied his very first garlic seeds. They decided to plant hardneck garlic: Yugoslavian and Russian Red, mild varietals that chefs love. (Comparatively, Portuguese and Korean garlic are spicier, with a sharper taste.) And, lo and behold, things started to actually grow. The rich, natural soil fostered by the previous owner has been a huge factor in their successful harvests so far. “A big part of it is that the previous owner tilled all the land by hand, used no chemicals or pesticides at all,” says Sydney. A diverse ecosystem that calls the backyard home—insects, songbirds and owls—helps maintain a healthy, natural environment that produces big, flavourful bulbs. Now the farm produces more than 6,000 bulbs a year on the three-quarter-acre garden patch. It’s a solid amount for a hobby farm: enough to reap the therapeutic benefits of working with the soil, enough to teach the kids about where food comes from. Planting takes place in mid- to late October, and the plants are harvested between mid-June and mid-July—though this year things 1 0 8 s e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca

are delayed slightly thanks to a rough winter and some rogue sheep snacking. As a family, they cure and then dry the bulbs, a process that takes about two weeks. Two years in, they’re making connections with local restaurants and other farms. “There’s this new younger generation that’s trying to make everyone more interested in knowing where our food comes from,” says Sydney. “Those kinds of things are what excite us.” Herbs may come next, to complement their organic offerings. There are talks of collaborations with a local beef farmer and of hosting long-table dinners right here on the farm. Because, really—who would want to leave? As a teenager, Sydney lived in the forests of Austria for a summer in an Upward Bound program, so she’s no stranger to the magic of nature. But then you grow up, you move to Yaletown, and priorities change. “You get caught up in stuff,” says Sydney. But it’s hard to imagine her swept up in the rat race as she sits curled up on the porch, basking in the morning light. “I’ve realized how important it is to have a space you feel is restful, whatever that might mean to you,” says Sydney. “I think there’s something to be said about our soul needing nature and beauty, and being surrounded by that.”

Exclusive Limited Time Offer

The Cottages on Osoyoos Lake is pleased to introduce our most exclusive offer to date. We’ve recently released our “Meritage” home plan that will only be offered on 11 lots. These 11 hillside homes with vineyard, mountain and lake views are loaded with features not offered with our other home plans.

The Meritage plan features include:

Potential buyers must be on our mailing list for information and updates on the release of these homes. Please contact our sales team at 1.855.742.5555 or by e-mail at info@ osoyooscottages.com to be added to the list.

• Views of Osoyoos Lake, vineyards and mountains

• Over 3,000 square feet of living space on three levels • 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms • Residential elevator

• Separate guest suite with ensuite

• Parking for up to 7 vehicles • Master bedroom suite on upper level, with direct access to over 600 square feet of rooftop patio • Loft/recreation room with direct access to rooftop outdoor kitchen

Visit our Display Homes » 2450 Radio Tower Road, Oliver, BC See website for open hours.

1.855.742.5555 osoyooscottages.com

WLFOOD // purity garlic farm

Garlic Feast (opposite, clockwise) Garlic-Parmesan Fries, SlowRoasted Leg of Lamb with Garlic and Rosemary, Chicken with 40 Cloves of Garlic

garlic tips The best time to buy garlic

Buying during midsummer through into the early fall is best. Garlic is harvested mostly in the mid- to late summer—this is when it’s biggest, the most flavourful and will last as a bulb in a cool, dark place for a few months.

Slow-Roasted Leg of Lamb with Garlic and Rosemary Lamb and garlic get along so well together; slow-roasted, a leg of lamb can be pulled apart to serve wrapped in soft pita—and topped with a garlicky yogurt sauce. If you think of it, stir the sauce together a day or two before you plan to use it—the flavours will improve with some time in the fridge.

Lamb

Garlic-Parmesan Fries Garlicky fries are tossed with garlicky oil later on in the baking process so that it doesn’t burn and turn bitter in the oven as the fries brown. 2 lb russet potatoes, scrubbed 3–4 tbsp canola, peanut or other neutral vegetable oil Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste 4 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1. Preheat the oven to 425°F. 2. Cut your potatoes into thin, even

sticks. If you like, transfer them to a bowl of cold water as you go to prevent them from oxidizing and turning grey. If you do, drain them well and pat dry with paper towel before proceeding.

3. In a large bowl, toss the potato

sticks with 2 tbsp oil to coat, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Arrange in a single layer on a heavy baking sheet. Roast the potatoes, turning occasionally, for 20 minutes or until pale golden and soft.

4. In a small ramekin, stir the garlic

into the remaining tablespoon or two of oil. Remove the fries from the oven, drizzle with the garlicky oil, sprinkle with Parmesan and gently toss on the sheet to coat. Return to the oven and bake for another 10–15 minutes, until golden and crisp. Serve immediately. Serves 4–6.

1 bone-in or boneless leg of lamb, without the shank Olive or canola oil, for cooking 1 head garlic, separated into cloves and peeled Salt A few sprigs of rosemary A wineglass of red wine

Garlic Sauce 1 cup plain full-fat or Greek yogurt 2 garlic cloves, peeled, finely crushed 1 tbsp lemon juice Big pinch of salt

1. Rub the lamb all over with oil. Brown

it in a large skillet set over high heat, or toss it on a hot grill for a few minutes, turning it to brown on all sides. Sprinkle it with salt as it browns.

2. Meanwhile, toss about half the gar-

lic cloves into the bottom of a large braising pan or slow cooker. Put the lamb on top, and crush or finely grate a few more cloves of garlic and rub it over the surface of the meat. Toss in a few sprigs of rosemary and pour some wine in around the lamb, cover (if the bone sticks out, cover the lid with foil to seal in the heat) and cook in the oven at 300˚F for 3–4 hours, or on low in the slow cooker for 6–8 hours. Meanwhile, whisk together the yogurt, garlic, lemon juice and salt, and refrigerate until needed. (The sauce can be made up to 3 days in advance.) Slice or pull apart the lamb and serve with rice, pita or naan, drizzled with the garlic sauce. (The juices left over in the pan can be simmered down to a gravy or used to make soup.) Serves 8 or more.

Chicken with 40 Cloves of Garlic

What to look for

This is an old-school recipe that originated in the early ’90s, but there are few tastier dishes for garlic lovers. Some versions are made with chicken pieces or whole birds, but thighs are flavourful and cook evenly. Be sure to have some crusty bread on hand to mop up the sauce and spread the soft garlic cloves onto. Olive or canola oil, for cooking 8 chicken thighs, with skin and bone Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper 3–4 heads good-quality garlic, separated into cloves and peeled 3–4 green onions, roughly chopped A few sprigs of fresh thyme 1/2 cup (or a big splash) white wine or chicken stock 1/3 cup whipping cream

1. Set a braising pan or shallow Dutch

oven over medium-high heat. Add a drizzle of oil and brown the chicken thighs all over, sprinkling them with salt and pepper as they cook. Transfer to a plate and add the whole garlic cloves to the oil and chicken drippings in the pan. Add the green onions, thyme (pull the leaves off the stems if you like) and wine or chicken stock and cook for about 5 minutes, scraping the bottom of the pan to loosen any browned bits.

2. Return the chicken to the pan, placing the thighs on top of the garlic. Cover, turn the heat down to low and cook for 40–45 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. Transfer the chicken to a platter and add the cream to the garlic and juices in the pan; cook, stirring almost constantly and squishing some of the soft garlic cloves with the back of a spoon, for 2–3 minutes, or until the mixture bubbles and thickens to the point where your spoon leaves a trail on the bottom of the pan. Serve the chicken topped with the garlicky sauce. Serves 4–6.

Give the bulb a good squeeze and if it’s firm, it’s ripe and ready. It also shouldn’t have a strong garlicky odour; if it does, it could be mean the bulb is already moldy inside.

Storing it properly

Keep the head whole (don’t separate into cloves) and store at room temperature in a dry and dark place—not in the fridge. Keeping garlic in colder temperatures will make the garlic sprout. An open paper bag in a pantry is ideal.

How long it lasts

A broken head of garlic (with the cloves separated out) will keep for about three to 10 days. Roasting your garlic is an easy way to make it last longer: if it’s refrigerated, roasted garlic lasts for two weeks; if it’s frozen, it lasts up to three months.

The best garlic gadget

Silicon garlic peeler scrolls: wrap garlic cloves in the silicon scroll and roll on a countertop. You should hear the crackling of the outside skin as it comes away from the clove. When the crackling stops, voilà, the clove is peeled. Oxo Good Grips Garlic Peeler with Case ($10). bedbathandbeyond.ca

How to reduce the smell

Many opinions on this, but the crowd favourite is drinking either green tea or milk and eating an apple to help your breath before that big date. –Aryn Strickland

For more garlic tips, visit westernliving.ca

westernliving.ca / s e p t e m b e r

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WLFOOD // PURITY GARLIC FARM

Sweet Surprise Though roasted garlic ice cream wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be for every kid, these garlic-loving girls, Jolene (left) and Jessica, jumped at the chance to taste-test.

Roasted Garlic Ice Cream Yes, garlic ice cream is a thingâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;roasting caramelizes the natural sugars in a head of garlic, mellowing it out and enhancing its natural sweetness. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a surprising combo, but pairs well with the sweetness of honey and slight tang of sour cream. 1 head garlic Canola oil 1 cup full-fat sour cream 1 cup half and half 1â &#x201E;2 cup whipping cream 1â &#x201E;3 cup runny honey Pinch of salt

1. Slice the top off the head of garlic and drizzle the cut end with a bit of oil. Wrap in foil and roast directly on the oven rack (you can do this while something else is baking) at 350Ë&#x161;F for 45 minutes to an hour, or until the cloves are very soft and golden. (This can be done ahead and stashed in the fridge for up to a week.) 2. Once cooled, squeeze the soft garlic out of their

skins into a blender. Add the remaining ingredients and pulse until the mixture is smooth. If you like, pour the mixture through a sieve to get rid of any bits of garlic. Freeze in an ice cream machine according to the manufacturerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s directions. Transfer to a loaf pan or other container and stick it in the freezer for an hour or two if you want a firmer texture. Makes about 4 cups (1 L).

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B ld If you can get your hands on some black garlic, buy itâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the sticky cloves are heated over low temperature for weeks, a process that darkens and breaks down the garlic in a similar way caramelizing them over low heat on the stovetop does. With a texture similar to sticky dates, black garlic cloves are smooth, sweet, earthy and mellow, and crazy high in umami. They can be used the same way you might use roasted garlicâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;whiz a clove or two into vinaigrettes and dressings, purĂŠe some into potatoes, mash it into pan sauce or serve the cloves in their golden papers on a cheese and charcuterie board to spread on crackers or crusty baguette. Black garlic is pricey, so youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll want to display it properly.

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n June 22nd, 2017 Western Living celebrated their 10th Foodies of the Year at Trail Appliances. The top ten brightest food minds in the West were announced. The winners were chefs, restaurateurs, farmers, producers, sommeliers, winemakers and brewmasters shaping the way we eat in Western Canada today. For the full list of winners go to: westernliving.ca/ food-and-wine/foodies-of-the-year 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.

Attendees check out products at Trail Appliances before the awards Smeg’s signature candy colored houseware appliances CityTV’s Thor Diakow, emcee of the evening, picks a raffle winner Our Selfie Station live in action for attendees to enjoy Nihal Elwan and team of Tayybeh graciously accept their award Scrumptious appetizers prepared by Dirty Apron Culmina Family Estate Winery serves one of their signature wines Caesarstone Team behind their stunning counter samples City Editor Jessica Barrett and Staff Writer Kaitlyn Gendemann put their skills to the test with Kitchen Craft Shogo Hayakawa and Hiroshi Yamaji accept the award on behalf of Minoru Tamaru, owner of Group Restaurants Editorial Director Anicka Quin with winners Suzanne and Jayne Bradbury of Fort Properties Guests pose for a picture before the awards Joshua McVeity, Western Living’s Publisher Dee Dhaliwal, and Fred Lee Food Editor Julia Dilworth welcomes guests in front of Blomberg Appliances’ display

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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

One Man Is an Island And his name is Bobby Dekeyser. Doesn’t ring a bell? If you missed his footballing career, don’t worry: it’s his second act as the founder of design powerhouse Dedon that we’re most interested in. And not just because it’s the undisputed king of high-end outdoor furniture, but because the founder decided to build an ultra-luxe exotic island escape in the Philippines near the company’s factory and invite the world to come experience the Dedon dream. Who’s game? See page 124 for the full story.

Pascal Kerouche

Dude Chillin’ Park Bobby Dekeyser relaxes on some of his own furniture, at his own resort. Must be nice, Bobby.

westernliving.ca / s e p t e m b e r

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WLSTYLE TRAVEL // title // 48 hours in austin

B y M a x M i tc h e l l

The premises boast a lobby that doubles as a listening lounge, a wild collection of modern art and a live music venue.

AUSTIN POWERS UP

sauce for dipping. Expect a lineup on Friday and Saturday nights.

The “Live Music Capital of the World” pairs cowboy crooners and blue-ribbon barbecue with a side of some down-home hospitality. friday Named after the legendary Texan troubadour Townes Van Zandt, the Hotel Van Zandt has interiors as finely crafted as its namesake’s ballads. The premises boast a lobby that doubles as a listening lounge, a wild collection of modern art (including pieces by Townes’s son, JT) and a live music venue with acts expertly curated from in and around Austin. A complimentary can of Twisted X Austin Lager when you check in will make you feel particularly cool. At first glance, the dark interior is an odd choice, but you’ll find it provides an instant cool-down when ducking back inside to escape the sweltering Austin heat. When the sun begins to set, it’s time to hit Rainey Street, conveniently located a half block away. Thanks in part to a 2004 rezoning and some brave entrepreneurship, what 1 1 8 s e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca

was once a residential pocket is now a series of detached bungalows, stripped down and transformed into individual bars, each with its own vibe. There is a no-cover-charge culture on Rainey, which means your evening will be commitment-free. Don’t like the band? Move on. You’re going to find something you love and probably sooner than you think. Most of the bars are kitchen-less, so for a quick, warm meal head to the south end of Rainey, where you’ll find a small food truck lot that features a wide variety of late-night fare. You won’t be disappointed if you opt for a grilled cheese sandwich or a Korean rice bowl, but the lot’s crown jewel is the fried chicken served up by Ms P’s Electric Cock. The name may be juvenile, but the chicken is sophisticated: boneless, deep-fried in peanut oil and served with a side of sweet ’n’ tangy

If you were out late on Rainey the night before, you’re likely in need of hydration and some sustenance. Grab a breakfast taco or two from the hotel café and (this is important) make sure to wash it down with a bottle of local favourite Topo Chico. It’s hard to put your finger on what’s so compelling about this Mexican mineral water. Maybe it’s the hint of mysterious sweetness or the way the retro glass bottle feels in your hand. Either way, stick a fresh-cut lime wedge in there and think of it wistfully the next time you drink a Canada Dry. Once you’re feeling rejuvenated, head toward Congress Avenue and the Texas State Capitol Building. The site is rich with political history, but it’s worth the visit for the renaissance revival architecture alone. The building boasts ornamentation in the interior that is shockingly detailed.

Urban Cowboy

Austin’s skyline (above, left) is mighty impressive, but it’s the sleek hotels like the Van Zandt (above, right) and the quiet spots like Perla’s (inset) that are the real surprises.

Top, from left: Sean Pavone ; Perla’s patio: McGuire Moorman Hospitality

saturday

Food: Ashlyn Allison; bat bridge: Earl J. McGehee; Capitol Building: Wasin Pummarin

Here you’ll find all the staples like brisket, ribs and pulled pork expertly prepared and delivered in quantities that won’t send you into cardiac arrest. Everything from the glass transoms to the doorknobs feels crafted by masters. You’ll have to pass through a metal detector before heading inside, but the hassle is worth it. After soaking in some history, leave the capitol site and head south for a barbecue lunch. Places like Franklin’s and La Barbeque tend to attract the most attention from Austin’s BBQ enthusiasts, but they sell out quickly and offer less-than-comfortable seating. For a more refined dining experience, head back down Congress Avenue, hang a right on Cesar Chavez Street and keep an eye out for Lamberts. Here you’ll find all the staples like brisket, ribs and pulled pork expertly prepared and delivered in quantities that won’t send you into cardiac arrest. Order a craft beer (Pearl Snap is the local standard) and offer a toast to all the tourists on the other side of town eating barbecue on a picnic table under the scorching Texan sun. From Lamberts you can walk the multitude of riverside trails or do some light shopping, but make sure to be near the Congress Bridge just before sundown. There’s not much to see during the day, but when the sun sets North America’s largest urban bat colony pours out from under the bridge, flying into the night sky to feed. The whole event lasts

less than an hour, but it could be the thing you talk about the most when you return home. Once the bats have dispersed, you’re a short walk to the Continental Club. Featuring a hot-rod Americana aesthetic and tight musical acts that run the gamut of rock, jazz, blues and country, this iconic live music venue has been crankin’ tunes since 1955 and is a bastion of American music. The space is smaller than you might think so expect a dense crowd.

Sunday After staying out two nights in a row, it’s probably time to engage in some clean living. The Sandra Bullock-owned deli and flower shop Walton’s Fancy and Staple offers an elegant selection of healthy breakfast and brunch classics elevated by bright flavours and a restrained creative touch. Case in point: their avocado toast boasts a perfectly soft-boiled egg and a disciplined drizzle of spicy sauce. Being surrounded by the fragrance of freshcut flowers is a bonus. Leave Walton’s and head back across the Congress Avenue Bridge toward South Congress to check out the lineup of oddball shops. Here’s a short list of things you’ll find for sale: Mexican wrestling masks,

vintage nudie playing cards, taxidermied cats, taxidermied bats, postmodern pepper grinders (more expensive than you’d think!), taxidermied snakes (less expensive than you’d think!), sugar-skull moulds, bolo ties, vintage human anatomy charts, conch shells, belt buckles the size of your head and, maybe most importantly, more Topo Chico. For your last Austin meal, Perla’s patio on South Congress is a top choice. Austin isn’t known for its seafood, but Perla’s grilled octopus is some of the best we’ve tasted. Pair it with the bright and crunchy Little Gem salad. Important: make sure to get a seat closer to the building, away from the giant tree that houses a gang of local birds known as grackles (think crows, but smaller). These birds don’t care that this is your final taste of Austin. They’ll use your table as a buffet and as an outhouse (we were bombed six times during our meal). Thankfully, Perla’s staff is quick to replace any spoiled food.

Big and Bold

The state Capitol Buliding (above) is the town’s most imposing monument, unless you count the famed bat bridge (left), which houses thousands of the furry little fellas. Then there’s some local star power in the form of Sandra Bullock’s Walton’s Fancy and Staple (inset).

westernliving.ca / s e p t e m b e r

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WLTRAVEL // 48 hrs in austin

NEW BRAUNFELS A musical side trip.

Fifty minutes outside of Austin lies the surprisingly robust city of New Braunfels. Fiercely proud of its German-settler history, the town of 70,000 has a decidedly Deutschland flavour. But it’s the live music (and the wurst, and the craft beer) that make it a perfect getaway.

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Krause’s

A modern, airy take on the traditional German beer hall. Save the beer for later (see below), but try the schnitzel or the impressive sausage platter.

New Braunfels Brewing

A fearless brewing company, this small outfit is focused on new and interesting flavours despite the outcomes. They recently had the audacity to bottle a pickle-based brew that was as courageous as it was horrendous. Try the weird stuff, but enjoy their sours.

But that’s just the beginning. See more at WesternLiving.ca. The West lives here. Daily. Gruene Historic District

Home to Gruene Hall, Texas’s oldest dance hall. A place that commands so much respect that artists like Maren Morris, Lyle Lovett and Willie Nelson continue to play there despite the small capacity. Stayed out too late? The Gruene River Inn is a friendly accommodation just a 10-minute walk from the hall.

Gruene Historic District: Heather Cowper

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.

wanderlist // WLTRAVEL

b y k a i t ly n g e n d e m a n n

1 Ride the Waves in Huntington Beach

There’s a reason it’s called Surf City, USA. Wake up early to find a spot along the city’s 14-kilometre stretch of beach, home to some of the best waves in California, for a morning lesson with Toes on the Nose (huntingtonbeach .regency.hyatt.com); afterward, recharge with a graband-go acai Banzai Bowl (banzaibowls.com).

2 Pump the Pedals in Coronado

Forget the trendy, dimly lit spin studios and instead reserve a beachside bike at Hotel del Coronado (hoteldel.com). It’s strange to be audibly separated from your fellow cyclists— music and motivation are delivered via headphones—but sweeping views of the Pacific more than make up for it.

3 Sweat It Out in Santa Monica

One 55-minute sweat session at Shape House (shapehouse.com) will relieve stress, improve skin and burn up to 1,600 calories—and the only thing you need to do is lie back (wrapped in a heated infrared blanket) and catch up on your fave Netflix series.

Kayak: mihtiander; Shape House: Claire Leahy

FEEL THE BURN

5 Rest Up in San Diego

Our five favourite ways to work out under the Southern California sun. SoCal is renowned for many things: wine, traffic, movie stars—not to mention some of the best beach bods on the West Coast. So before you hit those Southern California roads, add these fitness destinations and activities to your itinerary, make like the locals and work up a sweat (while still taking advantage of that sweet California heat).

4 Go Deep in La Jolla Hop in a kayak and paddle out to sea with the guides at Everyday California (adventure.everydaycali fornia.com). They’ll lead you through an ecological reserve (keep your eyes peeled for seals and cetaceans swimming nearby!) to the seven sea caves that dot the coastline, all while sharing tales from La Jolla’s storied past.

Life’s all about balance, right? Spend an afternoon lounging poolside at Aquavie’s rooftop deck (westgatehotel.com) before making your way to chef Richard Blais’s Juniper and Ivy ( juniperandivy.com), where you can indulge in buttermilk biscuits with smoked butter, mole sweet potatoes, and barbecued carrots with jalapeno chimichurri and pickled apricots.

westernliving.ca / s e p t e m b e r

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WLTRAVEL // MY NEIGHBOURHOOD

3 Cut through winding alleys to the major shopping streets, where big-name designers mingle with local retailers.

The turquoise waters of the Mediterranean Sea at Psarou Beach bring us back year after year.

The marble floors of the spa were sourced from the neighbouring Naxos Island.

2 1

Dsquared2 founders Dan and Dean Caten love the Mykonos lifestyle. Not only are identical twins Dan and Dean Caten co-founders of fashion house Dsquared2 (and Designers of the Year 2017 judges), but theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re travel partners, too. Each summer, the design duo heads to Mykonos, Greece, for their annual vacation, where they take a break from the fashion scene to soak up the sun, stroll the streets and dance the night away. 1 2 2 s e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca

2 We love beach life, and the beautiful Psarou Beach is the perfect place to enjoy it. 3 We love to walk in the tiny streets of Mykonos and have a coffee while looking at the windows and shopping for handmade beaded jewellery. (And, of course, we always stop by our boutique.) 4 Belvedere Hotel Six Senses Spa lies among lush gardens of cypress trees, bougainvilleas and wild laurels, right in the heart of Mykonos Town. We come here to take care of ourselves and relax with special treatments. 5 When we want to get away from the crowd and enjoy a different evening, we go to Cine Manto. This botanical garden offers an open-air movie theatre where you can watch films under the stars.

5 Top, from left: f8grapher; street: Jennifer Barrow

GREEK SQUAD

1 Located right on the seawall of the old harbour of Mykonos, we often go to JackieOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Bar for sunset cocktails and the live performances and music.

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Gutter Credit Pascal Kerouche

1 2 4 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca

DEDON ISLAND // WLTRAVEL

ISLAND HIGH DESIGN

Gutter Credit

Swing Shift

The well-appointed digs at the private Philippine resort owned by the Dedon furniture company.

The moment I realize I have really arrived at the private island resort run by famed outdoor furniture maker Dedon is when I kick off my shoes to sink into the swinging—Dedon—daybed dangling from the coconut-leaf-roofed veranda of my villa. On a mattress of cushions so soft and perfectly squishy, swaying to the gentle rhythm of the sea breeze, it takes only seconds to feel like I am floating on a cloud, far away from the real world. Underneath me on the wooden floor sits the only relic from my city life: my shoes, which won’t move from their exact spot for the length of my stay. by ANNICK WEBER

westernliving.ca / S E P T E M B E R

2017 125

ere, on the southern coast of the coral-ringed Philippine surfing mecca of Siargao, being barefoot is celebrated as an all-encompassing art form. Set amid a beachfacing tropical garden with fragrant hibiscus and toe-tickling grass, this collection of nine private villas, airy pavilions and plenty of secluded outdoor seating areas invites sans-shoe strolling and lounging at every step. “It’s not unheard of that guests step behind the bar to mix a cocktail or two,” the resort’s general manager, Nicolas Morell, says over an aperitif, reflecting on how the spot channels a stay-at-the-houseof-a-close-friend vibe. Just as it is totally legitimate to look over the chef’s shoulder in the kitchen or swan-dive onto the giant sun loungers—because that’s what one does among friends. And since the friendly owner of this resort also happens to be the founder of

1 2 6 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca

a world-renowned design brand, you will repeatedly ask yourself whether you have barefoot-stepped inside an immaculately curated photo shoot set-up for a home decor magazine. Bobby Dekeyser—former soccer star turned entrepreneur—opened Dedon Island in 2012 as a “live-in showroom” for his now-legendary outdoor furniture business. Thanks to a cast of collaborators that reads like a who’s who of contemporary design (think Philippe Starck, Barber and Osgerby), the Dedon brand has been earning accolades since the 1990s for applying to the outside the attention to looks traditionally associated with indoor furnishings. The namesake resort, which is conveniently located an hour’s flight from Dedon’s production facilities in Cebu, was to give Dekeyser both a pied-à-terre in the Philippines and an “outdoor living lab” where he, his team and guests can test and, of course, enjoy the collections in situ.

Pascal Kerouche

WLTRAVEL // DEDON ISLAND

Chill Pill

Massage: Mau Mauricio; other images: Pascal Kerouche

The resort sits on a bathtub-warm, reef-ringed swath of the Pacific (above), and in addition to the note-perfect blending of native architecture and high design (below, centre and right), it offers other relaxing creature comforts (below, left).

The furniture testing and resting part surely doesn’t fall short on me. I relax from my early morning yoga sessions on an oversized princess-and-the-pea-style beach bed, I sip calamansi lime juice on a circular couch that rises from the saltwater pool, and I shelter from the afternoon sun in an egg-shaped Nestrest pod that hangs from a picture-perfect crooked coconut tree. Within the four walls of my spacious two-floor private villa, the Dedon experience continues. Designed by a duo of long-standing collaborators to the brand, Daniel Pouzet and Jean-Marie Massaud, each abode is sustainably built with local materials, featuring Indigenous woodcarvings, a Zen-inspired bathroom and Dedon touches wherever the eyes fall—from custommade woven planters to beach baskets crafted from the brand’s pioneering synthetic fibre. Were my mission to laze on each and every Dedon seat, swing and

sofa dotting the sprawling grounds, I would need to extend my visit infinitely—or to not roam outside of the resort. However, adventure manager Sean Hartley’s bespoke activity suggestions are far too tempting to decline for the sake of idleness. “Whether it’s paddle boarding or surfing, we like to take our guests out of their comfort zone to throw them right back in after,” Hartley explains as we standup paddle through the Philippines’ second-biggest mangrove forest. And yes, just the afternoon before, I had stood—or had attempted to stand—on a surfboard, braving the waves at Siargao’s famous Cloud 9 surf break. Returning to Dedon Island after an exertion-filled day, there is no better way to soothe tired muscles and refuel than dozing off to a sumptuous full-body massage, followed by a fresh seafood dinner with the sound of the ocean as a backdrop. On my last day, I jump aboard the resort’s motorboat for an westernliving.ca / s e p t e m b e r

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WLTRAVEL // DEDON ISLAND

Hang Time

Dedon’s outdoor designs (right and below, left) have been hallmarks of style since the company’s founding in 1990. The resort exists because the company’s production facilities are nearby, so it acts as a luxe realworld testing facility (below, right) for the lucky guests.

1 2 8 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca

Details

New daily direct flights from Manila (1 hour, 40 minutes), launched in February 2017, save visitors a stopover in Cebu or a ferry trip from Surigao. Nightly rates begin at $700 USD. Rumour has it that a big hotel group may be looking to add to the few dozens of boutique accommodation options around Surigao, but development still remains distant enough on the horizon to deny it.

Manila

Cebu

Dedon Island Resort Surigao Pascal Kerouche

island-hopping tour that takes me to pristine, palm tree-fringed islets, each tinier and more idyllic than the last. On Guyam Island, local children run around the powdery beach, playing and chatting away in their Surigaonon dialect, while on Daku Island, I watch fishermen return with the morning catch on colourful wooden bangka boats. These island communities rely largely on fishing and farming—but also increasingly on tourism, which, since the island was first discovered by travelling surfers in the 1980s, has been on a slow but steady rise, and the Dedon resort represents the pinnacle of this trend. After a final pit stop at Naked Island—a treeless patch of white sand surrounded by crystalline waters—we cruise back to Dedon Island, whose sea pagoda and hanging loungers catch my eye from afar. Back on land, I sit down on a woven footstool, brush the sand off my toes and slip into my shoes. The moment to head to the airport has arrived.

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

WL // trade secrets

Gillian Segal, Vancouver

The Look

GREY ON GREY

This Yaletown condo featured a dated ’90s black-slate-and-cherry-wood fireplace, but rather than tear it out “and open a whole can of worms,” says designer Gillian Segal, she decided “to paint the mantel the same colour as the walls.” It was an instant update: a coat of Benjamin Moore in Sweatshirt Gray on both the fireplace and the wall softens the ornate detailing and creates a modern feel. “It lets your eye go and focus on the art, because it’s so white against this grey background,” says Segal. From there, the soft pastels in the NG Collective painting inspired the rest of the decor picks: a grey sofa with powder-blue cushions from the Cross, a subtly striped blue-and-grey rug, and the blush-pink lip sculpture on the mantel that seals the look with a kiss. 1 3 0 s e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 7 / westernliving.ca

Tracey Ayton

A monochromatic backdrop lets the art be the star.

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