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» VOLUME 54 » NUMBER 6
54
HOMES + DESIGN p. 15 Gift Guide
We scoured the West to find a collection of gifts to delight the homebodies in your life.
p. 24 One to Watch Vancouver artist Jennifer Latour turns living florals into un-real sculptures.
p. 27 The Room
p. 32 The Kitchen A relocated and rejuvenated kitchen in Victoria makes the heart of this home beat again.
p. 36 The 101: Flooring Everything you need to know before you start pulling up those floorboards for something new.
THE GOOD LIFE
27 15
p. 64 L’Esprit de Grand-mère A non-alcoholic nightcap created in memory of bartender David Lawson’s grandmother.
p. 66 Country Comfort Make this warming and hearty chicken parsnip stew from the West Coast Kitchen Garden cookbook.
HOMES FEATURES
p. 69 Basking in Banff
p. 38 Festive and Fabulous
A trip to the newly unveiled Rimrock resort highlights Alberta’s best features.
Knight Varga Interiors turns a masculine library into a Christmas party pad for a charity event.
p. 72 Local Getaways
p. 42 In the Moment
Winter trips across B.C. are for vacationers of all speeds: from seasoned skiers to bonafide foodies.
A holiday home designed by Alykhan Velji is all about the small details.
p. 48 Merry in the Mountains
PLUS p. 82 In Living Colour Peruse our favourite picks in the season’s deep and sophisticated oxblood hue.
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A thoughtful renovation by Pure Design makes an alpine vacation home winter-ready.
p. 54 Open Invitation Project 22’s Whistler makeover is warm, welcoming and anything but precious.
COVER: Janis Nicolay; this page: Knight Varga library: Janis Nicolay; Project 22 living room: Ema Peter; Knight Varga kids room; Jennifer Latour: Pooya Nabei
Inside kids’ spaces that are designed for free play and big imaginations.
VANCOUVER
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a publication of canada wide media limited ceo & group publisher Ryan Benn group vice president, publishing & operations Nina Wagner
Inside Information I WAS RECENTLY INVITED on the Measure Twice Cut Once podcast from HAVAN, and during the taping the hosts asked if my years of covering so many incredible homes—and meeting the people who create them—have influenced how I look at my own home. The short answer: of course, happily so. While I leave it to the pros for the big projects, there are many tricks and tips I’ve learned from designers over the years that I put to use when styling my own space—a lucky side effect of a job I already love And there’s no better time of year for collecting inspiration than when we’re prepping our holiday issue: that’s when gifted designers bring a particular Midas touch to their work. One of my personal favourites in these pages is the formerly cigars-and-leather-influenced library at Cecil Green Park House at UBC, which the design team at Knight Varga transformed into a feminine bachelorette pad for last year’s Homes for the Holidays fundraising event. There are so many lovely details throughout the space (find it on page 38): bird decorations
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10 November/December 2026
atop the napkin holders on the dining table, fairy lights around a garland-laden bedframe, a “tree” constructed from books, even a dress form with a skirt made from evergreens. (Our senior editor, Stacey McLachlan, took one look at that showstopper and messaged me, “I know what I’m wearing for our next Designers of the Year.”) The entire room is rich with dothis-at-home ideas that I can’t wait to try for myself—all those little moments of delight that provide an extra bit of glow at this time of year. I’m already picturing the ways I could create my own warm vibes at home: an atmospheric holiday hug that will surround so many special moments— a Secret Santa exchange, my friends coming over for mulled wine, wrapping up some just-right gifts to surprise my niece and nephew on Christmas morning or just enjoying the latest page-turner by the light of my (library-inspired!) tree. What little golden details are you looking forward to creating over the weeks to come? Whatever they are, I hope the ideas in this issue help make them sparkle that much more brightly. For now, all of us here at Western Living wish you a happy holiday season, filled with as many delightful moments as you can dream of.
Darcy Matheson (BCBusiness), Stacey McLachlan (Vancouver) senior editor Mihika Agarwal (BCBusiness) managing editor, food & culture Kristi Alexandra assistant editor Kerri Donaldson wine & spirits editor Neal McLennan contributing editors Melissa Edwards, Alyssa Hirose, Amanda Ross
editorial interns
Medina Mohammed, Nibras Sharar email mail@westernliving.ca
design creative director Jenny Reed art director Stesha Ho (Vancouver and BCBusiness)
digital vice president, digital Darcy Matheson group digital marketing manager Rebekah Ho brand partnerships & digital copywriter Sandrine Jacquot social media & content creator Xiao Qing Wan
sales representation vice president of sales Anna Lee vice president, custom publishing & agency services Chad Brealey senior media specialists Brianne Harper, Mira Hershcovitch, Cathy Huynh
manager, partnerships & sales operations Erin Samuda email sales@canadawide.com european sales specialist S&R Media, Sylvie Durlach tel +33 1 44 18 06 65 email srmedia@club-internet.fr
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operations manager Emily Heffring director of circulation Tracy McRitchie executive assistant & event producer Julie Fisher events & office manager Julia Jarman procurement manager & business support specialist Natasha Jayawardena
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address Suite 130, 4321 Still Creek Drive, Burnaby, B.C. V5C 6S7 tel 604-299-7311 fax 604-299-9188 web westernliving.ca email sales@canadawide.com PRIVACY POLICY From time to time, other organizations ask us if they may send some of our
subscribers information about products and services that might be of interest. If you prefer that we not provide your name and address, please contact us at the address listed above. You can review our complete Privacy Policy at westernliving.ca. WESTERN LIVING MAGAZINE is published 6 times a year by Canada Wide Media Limited, Suite
130, 4321 Still Creek Drive, Burnaby, B.C. V5C 6S7. Phone 604-299-7311; fax 604-299-9188. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form—print or electronic— without written permission of the publisher. The publisher cannot be responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. This publication is indexed in the Canadian Magazine Index and the Canadian Periodical Index, and is available online in the Canadian Business & Current Affairs Database. ISSN 1920-0668. Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement #40065475.
Anicka Quin, Editor-in-Chief anicka.quin@westernliving.ca Follow Anicka on Instagram @aniqua
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editorial vice president, content Anicka Quin editors-in-chief Anicka Quin (Western Living),
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Anicka Quin portrait: Evaan Kheraj; styling by Luisa Rino at LizBell Agency, styling assistance by Cheyenne Hoffman; makeup by Melanie Neufeld at LizBell Agency; outfit courtesy Mine and Yours, mineandyours.com
EDITOR'S NOTE
What if an emergency department was designed to see patients faster? At the new St. Paul’s Hospital, a new emergency department model will provide more privacy and dignity for patients, more bed capacity, and more efficiency that will fundamentally change what it feels like to be a patient needing emergency care. And that’s just the beginning. On the pages ahead, discover how Vancouver’s new Teck Emergency Department at the Jim Pattison Medical Campus is transforming care and helping more people across British Columbia heal better. Learn more at helpstpauls.com
On the Jim Pattison Medical Campus
THE JIM PATTISON MEDICAL CAMPUS
Continuing a legacy of Healing Better For generations, St. Paul’s Hospital has earned the trust of countless patients by helping them heal better, from first breaths to some of life’s most vulnerable moments. Next year, that legacy enters a new era with the Jim Pattison Medical Campus (JPMC), unlocking new possibilities for health care and research in British Columbia. Home to the new St. Paul’s Hospital and the Clinical Support and Research Centre (CSRC), this once-in-ageneration campus will be the most advanced and comprehensive medical campus in Western Canada. Bringing researchers and clinicians together will help accelerate discoveries from the lab to the bedside. Designed to improve access, privacy, comfort, safety and healing, this is where you and your loved ones will turn for some of the province’s most specialized care.
INSIDE THE NEW ST. PAUL’S HOSPITAL—OPENING 2027 Emergency care designed to be faster and calmer The brand-new Teck Emergency Department will help patients be seen more efficiently with fewer steps, by having registration and triage happen at the same time to help reduce wait times.
Additionally, a new pod model divides the ED into four separate zones—each operating as its own mini emergency department, including one dedicated exclusively to mental health patients—along with a separate ambulance entrance to support a calmer environment. “The new emergency department at St. Paul’s is going to be a completely different experience for patients. It is time for a new space. Patients are going to feel more supported, more respected, and more comfortable.” –Dr. Erin Kenny, St. Paul’s Emergency Department (ED) lead More patients will also be assessed and cared for in singleoccupancy or secluded exam rooms to support optimal privacy. These new approaches are helping reduce time spent in central waiting areas and create a more seamless, transparent experience.
Technology centered around people Technology in the new hospital is designed to make care easier and more connected, from bedside tools that support communication and comfort to digital systems that simplify appointments and access to health information. Single-occupancy rooms for all patients Every inpatient will have their own individual, digitally connected room designed to bring comfort, dignity, and seamless care throughout their healing journey. NICU that supports family bonding That same commitment to privacy and family-centred care for all patients extends to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, where parents and babies can heal together in a single-occupancy room that supports bonding, reduces stress, and promotes better health outcomes. Easier to get there The campus includes more than 1,100 parking stalls and over 100 electric vehicle charging stations, supporting
access today and sustainability for the future. It’s also just a four minute walk from Main Street–Science World SkyTrain Station, making the hospital easier to reach for patients, families, staff, and visitors. More room for life-saving procedures The hospital includes more operating rooms, some up to 30% bigger than current ORs, giving care teams the space they need to perform advanced procedures safely and efficiently. A new approach to aging well The Shinozaki Family Centre for Healthy Aging will be BC’s first centralized hub for seniors care, connecting home, hospital, and specialized services to help older adults age with dignity. By bringing geriatric specialists, assessments, and outpatient care together in one place, it will connect each person to the right mix of medical and community supports, while purpose-built spaces—including a simulated home and mobility gym—support real-world assessment and independence.
A resource for everyone in BC More than just a downtown hospital, St. Paul’s Hospital has served people from every corner of British Columbia for over a century. More than 40% of patients come from outside the Lower Mainland for specialized care they can’t find elsewhere, including adult heart transplants. Whether you live in Burnaby, Prince George, Nanaimo, Castlegar, or anywhere in between, the new St. Paul’s Hospital located on the Jim Pattison Medical Campus is designed to advance breakthroughs, expand access to leading experts, and deliver better outcomes for every patient, with stronger support for families at every step. We’re gearing up to open in 2027, but we need your help to cross the finish line.
Together, we can build a future where care is stronger, more human, and right there when it matters most. Help us build an extraordinary future of Healing Better in British Columbia.
On the Jim Pattison Medical Campus
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The Homebody Gif t Guide
Sorry to anyone who’s invited us carolling, but our favourite holiday tradition might well be putting together our annual gift guide. Scouring the West’s coolest shops and maker studios to find the best bets for everyone on your shopping list is a surefire way to get us in the holiday spirit, and this year we’ve gone out and about, above and beyond to scout all the best reasons to stay in with our curated list of homewares to delight. So pick a room, any room, and gift the homebodies in your life something special from our wish list to make it their most beloved spot in the house. By Stacey McLachlan
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For the Ki tchen
Une Toast Is it any surprise at all that the Parisienne Market in Chilliwack is chockablock with antique French champagne coupes ($25 each)? theparisiennemarket.com
A Cut Above Each Arbol bread knife ($45) is crafted to order by Canadian master woodworker Stéphane Dumont. simons.ca
Pop Art This artful cast-iron bottle opener ($50) from Japanese design studio Saikai is extremely pleasing in the palm— and on the eyes. providehome.com
Latte Life Feeling Blue These Unika Maré plates ($55) are wheel-thrown in stoneware clay and inspired by the rhythm of the tides. cocomain.ca
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It’s admittedly a bigger splurge than a Mr. Coffee, but the “coffee playlist” app feature for queueing up drink orders from guests makes the Bosch 800-Series espresso machine ($1,999) worth it, we promise. trailappliances.com
Cheers to That Handmade in Provence, these collectible small French carafes (from $58) are modelled after classic British pub pint glasses. gildandco.com
It’s Serving All of Janaki Larsen’s Overspill plates ($165) are hand-thrown, so no two of these soft-edged platters will be exactly alike. inform.ca
Chill Out Use these stainlesssteel freezable Sky ice cubes ($80) from Georg Jensen in your drink and lift a cold glass to the ingenuity of Danish design. inform.ca
Twin Flames
Cut Ups
Muuto describes its new anodized aluminum Pair candle holder set ($114) as “playful yet refined” and we can’t help but agree. livingspace.com
Upgrade the dinner party vibe with this full cutlery set in tortoise shell from Parisian brand Sabre ($124). thecoastgoods.ca
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For the Living Room
Think Pink The pale rose Ripple Portable lamp ($295) from Ferm Living projects a soft, diffused light through rippled glass. fullhousemodern.com
Piece by Piece Villager Puzzles offers a beautiful array of designs from Canadian artists celebrating special landscapes, like this 1,000-piece ode to Manning Park ($32) by Bowen Island painter Anja Jane. makevancouver.com
Paper Trail These pretty, stripey Vinterfint paper ornaments ($20) from Ikea come in a set of six. ikea.com
Double Duty While you’re recharging the portable Pedrali Filicudi lamp ($325), it can be used as a minimalist flower vase. bloomfs.com
That’s a Wrap The only thing more exquisite than the feel of this wool-silk woven stole ($250) is the striking, colourful pattern. lappartementvancouver.com
Happy Endings Books are made from trees. Solid wood PI book ends ($279) designed by Alain van Havre for Ethnicraft are also made from trees. It just makes sense. grshop.com
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A L E G A C Y O F I N N O V AT I O N L I K E
No One Else
LEGENDARY PERFORMANCE AND INDUSTRY-LEADING INNOVATION
THERMADOR.CA
Design: Lisa Brooks Designs (Kitchen) and James Wheeler Designs (Interior) Photographer: Emily Followill Photography
H O M E S&D E S I G N | G I F T G U I D E 2 0 2 6
For the Garden
Rest Is Best King Living’s Lode outdoor ottoman (from $485) is designed to withstand harsh Australian weather, but it’s an artful addition to a Canadian backyard, too. kingliving.ca
Drip Drop These mouth-blown glass Mercury water globes ($97 for two) are a self-regulating (and extremely elegant) watering solution for their favourite thirsty house plant. oldfaithfulshop.com
Park Life Maybe it’s not picnic weather yet, but the foldup Slowtide packable picnic blanket ($90) with carry strap will have them ready to lounge in the park when the sun returns. walrushome.com
The lush terrycloth Bongusta bathrobe ($250) wraps the wearer up like a hug. thecolourmarket.com
Snip Snip
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Stowaways Stak glass storage containers ($20 each) from EQ3 are, well, stackable, and ideal for stowing cotton balls and all the other vanity essentials. eq3.com
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The team at Herschel has expanded their talents to the world of towels; the latest collection for their new Typical brand ($54 each) is made of stretchy, absorbent patented long-staple cotton. typical.net
For the Bath Post-Bath Bliss
These mini Sentei garden shears ($115) are manufactured using the same method as Japanese swords—but use them for pruning, not duelling, please. itsumo.ca
Dry Wit
photography by Andrea Ferrari
1706 West 1st Ave Vancouver BC Canada V6J 0E4 • www.livingspace.com · www.baxter.it
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For the Bedroom
Cool Nights Hot sleepers will happily snuggle under the lightweight mulberry-silk duvet ($250) from Vancouver brand Little Cocoon. littlecocoon.ca
Make a Wish
They’ll never forget your special day again with this cardstock Karel Martens birthday calendar ($68), designed in 1968 and finally now in print. sortdays.com
Makes Scents Hang this paper Closet Tag air freshener from APFR ($30) in your closet and pick your outfit every morning accompanied by the luxurious scent of fig, cedarwood and marigold. figurelecture.com
Forest Floored This coordinated five-piece pillow set ($495) takes its inspiration from nature; may the moss-coloured velvet cushions and abstract rock design spark dreams of hikes through the woods. inspirationfurniture.ca
Tick Tock Jasper Morrison and Hay have teamed up on a versatile table clock ($170) with a detachable stand. Hang it on the wall or sit it on the table to check the time: either way, isn’t it nice to have one less reason to look at your phone? kitinteriorobjects.com
Wrap It Up This super-soft alpaca wool throw ($295) is a fave of Sömn co-founder Julie Wu. somnhome.com
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Hand-engraved 18K gold necklace with silk-like finish. Experience its infinite styling possibilities.
1457 Bellevue Avenue, West Vancouver | 604.925.8333 STITTGEN.COM
H O M E S&D E S I G N | O N E T O W A T C H
Woman in Stem Vancouver artist Jennifer Latour turns living flowers, branches and cacti into strange new species that seem ready to walk away. By Kerri Donaldson | Portrait by Pooya Nabei
JENNIFER LATOUR’S sculptures begin with living plants, but nature is only the first draft. The Vancouver-based artist takes flowers, branches and cacti apart, then rebuilds them into improbable hybrid species: lilies sprout legs, flowers bloom from other flowers and delicate stems hold entire miniature ecosystems in precarious balance. Latour began developing the work during the first pandemic lockdown, drawing on more than 20 years in film makeup effects and a lifelong appetite for experimentation. Her sculptures now travel much farther than the small home workspace where many are assembled, via photos appearing in galleries and landscapes from London to Utah. We spoke with Latour about recurring dreams, unruly flowers, the artistic benefits of Vancouver’s slower pace and the one natural force determined to ruin everything.
Wild Flowers no.12, 2025
How did you find your way into this work? During lockdown, I was in survival mode and constantly trying little creative projects to calm my nervous system. Then I started having this recurring dream about giant flowers growing out of a field, with other flowers growing from their stems. By the fourth or fifth time, I thought, “I need to see if I can make that.” I’d already been working with photography and makeup effects for film, so I was good with my hands and understood how things could be bonded or balanced. I started playing. It brought together my love of creature design, characters,
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architecture and nature. I posted one of the first pieces near the end of lockdown and it caught the attention of a gallery in London.
How does one of your sculptures actually come together? The idea is usually very loose. It might start with a shape I see in a building, a strange plant or especially a tree. I’ll take branches or flowers apart and rebuild them, making small holes in the main stem and balancing other flowers from it using small dowels. Sometimes everything has to be reconfigured because of the weight. There’s a lot of patience and a lot of things falling apart and being put back together. Everything is alive when I make it. Once it’s finished, I photograph it. I like that play between photography, sculpture and painting.
Was there a piece that made you realize, “This is what my work is”? My Shapeshifters series. I took a lily, flipped it upside down and gave it legs. I cut the stem and somehow it just stood there. It came alive. That was the moment Alexander Calder met me, in my head. I imagined how he might have felt when he made his first mobile: you’ve done all this work and then suddenly one piece starts walking.
ON MY MIND
Bound Species no.37, 2023
OBSESSING OVER: Alexander Calder. MAKING: Shapeshifters.
Wild Species no.32, Ireland, 2025
LISTENING TO: Slowdive. EXPLORING: Living sculpture. VISITING: Seaside towns. SAVING UP FOR: The Faroe Islands.
What’s harder about this work than it looks?
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY: Less is more.
Things fall apart constantly, sometimes just as I’m about to take the photo. I can step on a creaky spot on the floor and suddenly the whole thing is done. And then there’s weight and weather. Some flowers are too heavy to use the way I want to. The wind is my nemesis.
PERSONAL MOTTO: “Stay curious.” SEE MORE: Find Latour’s work at jenniferlatour.com, on Instagram at @bonjourlatour and through Open Doors Gallery and Addition Agency.
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Swing low The tree swings in this playroom designed by Knight Varga are constructed for longevity: they’re anchored into the ceiling and structurally sound for even an adult-sized swinger. “We’re imagining teenage years, too,” says designer Trish Varga. See more of the space on page 28.
Courtesy Knight Varga
H O M E S&D E S I G N | T H E R O O M
Small Wonders A pitched-roof “tent,” a figure-skater’s feminine retreat, a playroom with its own Main Street: these kids’ spaces are built for big imaginations. By Anicka Quin
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THE ROOM
Hidden Gem
room to grow Designer Nicole Varga hand-placed every flower in the second-storey window boxes.
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Courtesy Knight Varga
Talk about a reveal that’s worth the wait: this playroom that includes a bakery, a reading loft, a slide, a tree swing and more is also a secret: the entry is hidden behind a bookcase. “When the family first moved to the house, the mom told the kids there’s a hidden playroom,” says designer Nicole Varga of Knight Varga, who designed the home in West Vancouver with co-founder Trish Knight. The kids were thrilled to discover the space themselves. “They ran up and down the hallway a few times before they thought, wait a minute...” Of course, once inside the room, who would ever want to leave? The design team converted a former bedroom into this dream space, fulfilling a wish list from the owner that included a make-believe kitchen, an art studio and a climbing wall. The “Main Street” vibe comes via shiplap on the “patisserie” and art studio walls and real shingles on the roof. Upstairs (via a wee ladder) there’s a reading loft for quieter moments, where a very on-theme Bella Books wallpaper from Kravet lines the walls. And, of course, the colour palette is as playful as it comes, with bold pinks, yellows and greens throughout paired with a richly patterned wildflower wallpaper that lines the room. “The homeowner wanted a lot of colour,” says Trish Knight, then, with a smile, she adds: “And you know, I’m an ’80s girl at heart, so I love pink and green.”
bunny hug
THE ROOM
The greens, pinks and burgundies in the bedding are drawn from the wallpaper. “It’s often our starting point—from there, we’ll introduce colours throughout the room,” says Cote.
Shellard Photography
Flower Power Designing a show home might seem like an impersonal venture—the eventual homeowner’s wants and needs don’t exist yet—but designer Rochelle Cote and her team layer plenty of personality into this space. “We put an emphasis on making it as personal as we can,” says Cote, who worked on the home with the Calgary-based Minto Homes. The future family, she imagined, would be in their mid-30s with a couple of kids, and this bedroom belonged to seven-year-old Lily, who loved figure skating and spending time outside. “We made it as young-girl friendly as we could,” she says, “but it’s also quite versatile.” To keep it youthful but transition-friendly, Cote opted for boldly patterned wallpaper from York on the feature wall, offset with lighter millwork and a rattan headboard on the bed. The sweet artwork of bunnies, deer and geese is the youngest element of the room, but can age up as Lily gets older, too. And the curvy lampshade, chosen because its ruffles mimic the movement in the wallpaper, will as easily suit this being a guest room or the crash-pad for a figure-skating teen. “A lot of different people could see themselves in this room,” says Cote.
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zoo-topia Leavitt purchased the little horse on the Blu Dot bookshelf from a school fair when he was in grade 3. “I bought it from someone who was visiting from Morocco, and found it many years later in my parents’ barn,” he says. “And ever since then, anytime we go anywhere, we buy Zayn a little animal that he puts on his shelf—his little collection from around the world.”
TENTS MOMENT The tapestry on the wall (below) was a souvenir from San Miguel de Allende, and the wooden toucan and woodpecker heads (left) are from Argentina. The pendant light from Allied Maker was custom designed to line up with the angle of the ceiling.
THE ROOM
Designer Ben Leavitt isn’t afraid of colour. “There are 26 different paint colours in my house,” says the principal of Vancouver’s PlaidFox Studio with a laugh. “Every room is a different colour.” For his son Zayn’s room, he wanted to make the space fun, but its small dimensions led him to opt for a more neutral palette. “But in a very busy pattern to make it come to life,” he says. He loved the idea of the room feeling like a tent (“not a circus tent, a real tent,” he notes) and the vaulted ceiling contributed to that effect, hand-painted in tan and white vertical stripes that soar overhead. And while the overarching space is neutral in tones—sage-green millwork, a mustard-coloured area rug—it doesn’t mean it’s without bold moments. “I find when you’re building a colour story, you just need a few really fun pops of colour that are found nowhere else in the room,” he says. In this case, there’s a Sundays side table in cherry red, along with orange bedding, a pink throw blanket and blue and green pillows. “An all-around fun colour mix.” Zayn is still a toddler, but there’s plenty of room for him to grow in the space, from the crib that will transform into a bed when he’s big enough to room for him to add his own touches when he’s older, too. “I didn’t want it to be overly designed—I wanted to leave enough gaps that, as we travel, we can fill his bookcase and walls with fun stuff.”
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Ema Peter
Where the Wild Things Are
Vitoria Regia BQ6716
PORT COQUITLAM
RICHMOND
Unit 106, 1551 Broadway St., Port Coquitlam, BC V3C 6N9
Unit 160, 12571 Bridgeport Rd, Richmond, BC V6V 1J4
Office: 604 949 3046
Office: 604 260 7898
CALGARY | EDMONTON | WINNIPEG | TORONTO | CAMBRIDGE MONTRÉAL | OTTAWA | QUECBEC CITY | HALIFAX
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NEW COLLECTIONS
H O M E S&D E S I G N
the KITCHEN
For All the Marbles A Victoria kitchen is relocated and rejuvenated by Hansenbuilt Design. By Alyssa Hirose Photos by Dasha Armstrong
IF THE KITCHEN IS THE HEART of the home, this 1911 character home in Victoria’s Fairfield neighbourhood needed a transplant, stat. Designer Sarah Donald—brought on by the young family of four to redesign the space—explains that the original kitchen didn’t get much natural light... but there was a bedroom that did. “We relocated the kitchen from one side of the house to the other,” explains the principal designer of Victoria-based Hansenbuilt Design. By moving the home’s heart, Donald and her team created an airy oasis nestled in a tiered wraparound deck. The indoor and outdoor spaces blend seamlessly, allowing the family and their guests to spill out into the backyard on clear days. A palette of rich neutrals reflects the home’s history, with warm whites, unlacquered brass and a mix of dark and light wood tones. Then there’s the wow-factor: the countertop and backsplash are a stunning Italian marble that buzzes with blues, browns and creams. “We had a tough time finding it... we wanted something that had a lot of movement,” says Donald. Meticulous storage quietly tucks away clutter to let the countertop material shine, and allows room for the kitchen’s dedicated juice bar/pantry and intimate built-in dining nook.
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On Island Time The kitchen island, custom built by Victoriabased Woodshop 506, is made from a darkstained oak that contrasts with the otherwise light and bright palette. “We wanted to create a furniture piece that was a nod to the heritage of the house,” says Donald. The island provides extra counter space, drawer storage and some casual bar seating (plus more opportunity to show off that gorgeous blue-veined marble). The designer and woodworker aimed for the piece to look like it had been passed down from generation to generation—for now, it’s brand-new, but it’s built to be in the family forever.
DESIGNER:
Hansenbuilt Design L O C AT I O N : Victoria, B.C.
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H O M E S&D E S I G N | T H E K I T C H E N
Behind the Scenes Don’t let the beauty fool you: this is not just a show kitchen. The homeowners are avid cooks, and the space is full of hardworking, but hidden, storage. Bench seating lifts up to reveal space for kitchen linens; a built-in vented produce drawer stores potatoes and garlic; kick-out step-stools slide out to help reach the top shelves. A garage-door style cover descends to conceal the microwave. “We really wanted to maximize functionality,” says Donald.
Secret Ingredients 2 1
1. Oxford Stone (cabinets), farrow-ball.com 2. Perrin and Rowe Georgian
Pocketful of Sunshine Like a secret after-hours lounge, the cozy dining nook can be completely sealed off from the kitchen using the handcrafted glazed oak sliding doors. “The husband and wife can sit in the evening, have a drink and close the doors... it’s a bit of an adult sanctuary,” says Donald. The pocket doors were made by Kris Hansen, Donald’s husband and the head of Hansenbuilt Construction (the construction counterpart of Hansenbuilt Design). The doors are solid and extremely heavy, but thanks to soft-close tech, you’d never know it.
Era Bridge kitchen faucet in unlacquered brass, splashes.com 3. Corchia Picasso marble, rock-solid-countertops.ca 4. Maritime White (walls), benjaminmoore.ca 5. Glazed solid oak pocket doors, hansenbuilt.com 6. Dark-stained oak island cabinetry, woodshop506.com
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H O M E S&D E S I G N | T H E 1 0 1
THE 101
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FLOORING Choosing the hardwood, tile, vinyl or concrete for your next reno? Get in at the ground level. By Alyssa Hirose
The Trend Buttered-toast warmth For the buttered-toast look without the wood, there’s glazed porcelain—like W Circles (from $13.95 per square foot) from Ames Tile. The low-maintenance tiles mimic the ring patterns inside trees. amestile.com
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Grey had its day. But the cool tones present in so many vinyl and whitewashed wood floors can feel rather gloomy, and now designers are noticing a movement toward warmer, more natural woods— sometimes going as far as the orange-y pre-2000s pines. Golden oak, deep walnut, honey pine and dark chestnut bring a cozier vibe to modern homes. Good riddance, greige.
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The warm brown tones in Hakwood’s Forza hardwood (from $22 per square foot) have a cabin retreat feel. The subtly grained European oak makes a beautiful flooring... and wallcovering, and ceiling. islandfloors.com
The Expert Advice Three foundational tips from Natalie Fu, creative director of Studio Fu. Width to the Wise Not sure what size material to go with? Every space is different, but in general Fu suggests choosing six- to seven-inch-wide hardwood or vinyl planks: “Typically, the wider the board, the more luxurious it looks and feels,” she says. But large-format planks or tiles also leave much less room for error when it comes to installation. Fu warns that a flat surface is mandatory if you’re choosing a substantial material, so make sure a meticulously level base is achievable before making your selection.
MORE FLOORS WE LOVE Natural Confetti Terrazzo is timelessly playful, and the gold and blue fragments glowing from Artistic Tile’s Veronese Crema terrazzo ($47.60 per square foot) are born from a variety of different Italian marbles. It’s a bold but refined choice for flooring and would add a cool texture to a spa-like primary bathroom. (It’s suitable for shower walls, too.) fifthandfir.com
Research the Elements
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TIPs Treat wood like a neutral. Wood, obviously, is not black or white, but in a design context, it behaves the same way: natural tones will pair well with just about any hue in the rainbow, so add pops of colour to keep your space bright.
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Mix and match. Not all warm woods in your home need to be exactly the same temperature (in fact, having identical materials can look too matchy-matchy). Your tawny teak media unit can absolutely look chic with black walnut hardwood; choose a few different tones for a lively look.
3
Roll it out. Keeping flooring consistent throughout your home can make your space feel more cohesive: if you can, use the same material in your kitchen, living room, hallways and bedrooms. That said, the toasty wood floors don’t need to be the star of every room. Using area rugs will add to the warm mood. Plus, rugs dampen sound and can be easily rotated, swapped or changed seasonally.
Hardwood is usually as pricey as it is gorgeous, and Fu points out that choosing a cost-saving option doesn’t mean cheaping out on material. “Technology has improved so much; we are far from the rolled vinyl flooring from the ’70s,” she says. Modern vinyl is very durable and can look virtually identical to natural wood. Other popular materials, like concrete, are sleek but very hard, which can lead to injury (“it may not be the best surface for aging in place,” says Fu). Microtopping— a thin cement coating—can create the same effect with a softer landing.
Go Barefoot Flooring is a long-term commitment, so don’t be afraid to really test out the materials. Fu recommends bringing samples home with you instead of just looking at them in the warehouse or store. That way, you can place them on the floor to see how they look in different lighting and at different times of day. “Also, take off your shoes and socks and feel it with your feet,” she adds—it might feel silly, but on-the-ground research pays off.
Hot to Go The Japanese shou sugi ban technique is becoming more popular for home exteriors due to its durability, but charred wood has another superpower: it’s beautiful. This moody porcelain tile (Versace Ceramics’ Eterno collection in Carbon, $23 per square foot) mimics the burnt look. fontile.com
Whole Grains All of Northern Wide Plank’s hardwood floors are made in Canada, including the Iconic Sedona (from $26.90 per square foot). It’s made from North American white oak that’s been glazed with a reactive smoked oak stain, bringing out the wood’s natural, organic patterns. ethicalflooring.com
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H O M E S&D E S I G N | H O M E S F O R T H E H O L I D A Y S
The concept for the room started with this mannequin. “We’d seen a fashion show where women were wearing what looked like Christmas trees, walking down the runway,” says designer Trish Knight. “We thought, how fabulous would that be—this fabulous girl in her fabulous apartment and this is her big Christmas party.”
“Lighting is just so important anytime, but I think it’s really important during the holidays,” says Knight. “It needs to be warm and low—so we added a little bit to absolutely everything.” Even the bed frame is glowing with twinkle lights, along with a lush garland from Hilary Miles Flowers. The bedding is from St Genève in soft blush tones and creams.
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Festive and Fabulous Knight Varga Interiors turns a masculine wood-panelled library into a bachelorette’s perfect Christmas party pad for the annual charity event Homes for the Holidays. By Anicka Quin | Photos by Janis Nicolay
The bow-sporting sheep— dubbed “Philippe Sheep” by the duo—is actually a bench from Once a Tree. He was a particular hit with kids, who loved to climb and sit on him.
HEN DESIGNERS Trish Knight and Nicole Varga of Knight Varga Interiors agreed to participate in the 2025 Homes for the Holidays charity event at Cecil Green Park House in Vancouver, they knew which room they wanted to transform with holiday spirit: the library. “With its wall panelling and the brick fireplace and all the books, it reads very masculine,” says Knight. “And we wanted to turn it into the ultimate bachelorette pad.” Recent editions of this longtime annual event bring together designers to help raise money for YWCA BC’s Housing Action Fund. Each designer is assigned a space at
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H O M E S&D E S I G N | H O M E S F O R T H E H O L I D A Y S
The team designed this ingenious “tree” in the bookshelf by flipping books around to their paper edge in a triangle design, and then outlining the shape in white lights.
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“The tabletop is always important with Homes for the Holidays, because we want to give people ideas they can do at home,” says Varga (centre, with designer Isabelle MacMillan, left, and Knight, right). Hilary Miles Flowers created the arrangement down the centre of the table, and the design team clipped ornamental birds to the napkins— each designed as a pretty pink bow. Real candles bring a warm flickering glow to the table.
UBC’s historic Cecil Green—from the entry to the conservatory to the porte-cochère—and is then paired with a florist and a retailer to magic it up for the weekend. It’s a little injection of warmth on what is typically a rainy November weekend—and a chance for visitors to bring a few ideas home to their own space. “We want Christmas to be over the top when you walk in the door,” says Knight, “but we want you to be able to take something away, too.” For this big-city bachelorette design, Knight and Varga brought in furniture and decor from Once a Tree, and even had a bathtub delivered from Robinson Lighting and Bath for the event—though the clothes on the rack nearby actually belong to Varga. “Nicole has a fancier life than I do,” jokes Knight. “Well, my clothes do,” Varga quips back. Homes for the Holidays runs November 21 and 22, 2026, at Cecil Green Park House, homesfortheholidays.ca
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IN THE MOMENT
Alykhan Velji’s holiday home decorating has many strings attached. By Alyssa Hirose | Photos by Jess Hogan
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MIRROR MIRROR The antique mirror makes the cozy dining space feel larger, and the mismatched holiday decor on the credenza below can easily be moved to make a serving station for big family dinners. “It’s super easy for entertaining,” says Velji.
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H O M E S&D E S I G N | I N T H E M O M E N T
SKIRT AROUND Instead of a traditional tree skirt, the Christmas tree stand is concealed with a woven cover. The candlesticks are sourced from a variety of stores, including local Calgary shop Labode, as well as Homesense and Crate and Barrel.
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WISH LIST FOR A custom-built home—even when it’s checked twice—sometimes won’t cover all of the specific details required for everyday living. Luckily for the owner of a brand-new house in Calgary’s Willow Park neighbourhood, designers like Aly Velji are even more thorough than St. Nick. Velji was first contacted about the project a few months after the client had moved in, so the homeowner had by then settled into her daily routine. “There were certain areas in her home that just weren’t quite right,” the designer explains. The furniture needed a refresh; the kitchen and living room required more storage; the placement of the dining room light fixture was off. So, the creative director of Alykhan Velji Designs and his team worked their magic. They de-waterfalled the kitchen island to create more room for tucking away appliances and other cooking essentials. They designed and installed a custom built-in TV bench with both open and closed storage (plus a nook for an ottoman that can be pulled out for extra seating in a pinch). The dining area light was adjusted and a too-small art piece was replaced with antiqued mirrors arranged in a tile pattern, which quickly became the room’s showpiece. “I just love antique mirrors—they have more character than just plain mirrors, adding variation and texture to a space,” Velji says. These small renovations made a big difference to the homeowner’s daily experience, so as the holidays approached, she sought out Velji once again to decorate for the season. “She said, ‘I trust you, this is your budget, just go to town,’” the designer recalls with a laugh. In this case, “going to town” didn’t mean drenching the home in red and green— instead, Velji took cues from the existing neutral palette to add a layer of elegant cheer.
“I feel like a lot of people take holiday decorating a little too seriously and think everything has to be matchy-matchy. We’ve really mixed and matched different styles here… the client didn’t want anything too overly fussy.”
TINY TREES The miniature faux evergreens placed in the living room can be moved around throughout the years (or even day to day). “You can place them anywhere,” says Velji.
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FRUIT SALAD “Kitchens are functional spaces, and sometimes you don’t want to clutter them up with too much stuff,” says the designer. To keep the countertop clean, he chose a few simple vases and bowls to fill with boughs and pomegranates.
That showstopper antique mirror in the dining room was decked out with faux wreaths, and the credenza below was dressed up with tapered candles, ceramic and wooden trees, and a wooden bead garland. The candlesticks vary in material and sit at various heights, and the ceramic trees show off a range of patterns and colours. “I feel like a lot of people take holiday decorating a little too seriously and think everything has to be matchy-matchy,” the designer says. “We’ve really mixed and matched different styles here… the client didn’t want anything too overly fussy.” Many of the decorations are natural, and some are even edible: there are pomegranates on the kitchen island and a bowl filled with dried citrus slices in the dining room. A touch of holiday whimsy shows up too, in the form of velvet ribbons. They’re artfully tied around candlesticks and the evergreen boughs that hang over the backs of the kitchen stools. At the top of the Christmas tree, instead of the traditional star or angel, there’s a chocolate brown bow. “It’s a little bit old-school,” Velji explains, adding that the bows are a nod to festive ’80s decor—they pack a cute and playful punch and they’re not pricey. “You can buy beautiful ribbons from the dollar store,” he says. The rest of the tree is adorned with ornaments made from fabric, glass and wood, lights shaped like candlesticks and vintage-inspired brass bells. “Really textural ornaments make the tree sing,” says the designer. That same texture continues outside, where statement planters overflow with bright greenery, willow boughs and branches dotted with cheery red berries. The front-door wreath is, of course, done up with several bows. Instead of an overtly Christmassy makeover, this home shows off the subtle strengths of simple touches, tactile materials and the gentle combination of old and new: “It’s just about adding personality,” Velji says. When in doubt, put a ribbon on it.
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NEW TRADITIONS Velji says the homeowner wanted Christmas decorations that “she could use over and over again,” so the designer focused on textured, neutral details that vibe with the home’s existing palette.
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MERRY IN THE MOUNTAINS A thoughtful renovation by Pure Design makes a Whistler vacation home holiday-ready (and ready for the rest of the year, too). By Alyssa Hirose |
Photos by Janis Nicolay
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Tall Order Designer Ami McKay of Pure Design lights a candle in the dining room, where a sizable table from the Table Factory sits below a woven Forestier pendant light. The chairs, from Four Hands, were chosen for their aesthetic and for their height (the homeowners are tall).
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Warm Welcome McKay tied ribbons around the tree branches in the entryway vase (another easy holiday DIY). The natural festive decor matches furnishings such as the woodsy CB2 mirror.
End of the Roll The gifts under the tree are wrapped in scrap wallpaper, which McKay collects (for holidays and beyond). “I always hold on to it for the potential; it’s for anything,” she says. “Anybody can use wallpaper for any event.”
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OR 25 YEARS, the only items on the to-do list in this Whistler retreat were family ski trips, cozy game nights and building holiday traditions. “It’s very easy to fall into a comfort level with a ski home,” says the homeowner. “People want to go out and play, come back and relax—they aren’t too concerned with appearances.” After two and a half decades, the family was beginning to contemplate some light home improvement when not-so-festive disaster struck: a flood throughout the main floor and basement turned their refresh ideas into a renovation plan. Ami McKay, founder and creative director of Vancouver’s Pure Design Inc., was brought on to transform the space (once it had dried out, of course). She and her team, including senior designer Anna Astren, first focused on preserving the home’s 25-year Whistler legacy. That meant keeping the substantial cedar beams that framed the main living spaces and allowing that warmth and grand geometry to guide the rest of the design. “Instead of a typical Whistler reno, instead of whitewashing any of the wood, we really wanted to maintain it,” says Astren. Other modern updates, like splashing the walls with a limewash paint to bring in texture and movement, gave the space a more contemporary feel. The kitchen was entirely renovated—shakerstyle cabinets were traded in for solid fir, with integrated appliances and lower cabinets that have handles carved directly into them. “To bring in another layer of architectural interest, we did a metal-clad upper cabinet,” Astren explains. The previous space was quite small, so the team extended the countertop into the dining area, and added open wraparound shelving. It’s a cute spot to store woven baskets, ceramics and other bits and bobs from the family’s travels. And, during the holiday season, it’s an opportunity for festive decor.
“It’s very easy to fall into a comfort level with a ski home,” says the homeowner. “People want to go out and play, come back and relax—they aren’t too concerned with appearances.”
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Beam Me Up From the start, the clients and design team agreed that the timber posts and beams would be preserved—and the fireplace, too. “The property itself is really special; we didn’t need to mess with any of that,” says McKay.
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Flowers Forever The bells, the baubles, the hanging bark and even the dried florals on the Christmas tree can be removed and stored for next year.
So Metal Instead of an all-fir kitchen, senior designer Anna Astren chose oxidized steel upper cabinetry to balance out the softness of the wood. “It’s very West Coast, very solid and grounding,” she says.
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Serene Screen The ensuite bathroom didn’t quite have enough room for a water closet, but the homeowners requested some separation between the toilet and the rest of the space. A Japanese-inspired wood screen offers some extra privacy.
“We got crafty, us girls,” McKay says with a laugh. Instead of using typical ornaments, the team embraced DIY decorations. Dried limes purchased from the grocery store were threaded with string to create garlands; presents were wrapped in wallpaper left over from previous Pure Design projects. Instead of a full holiday makeover, there are small, playful touches, like pinstriped linen bows plump with stuffing. Over her eight years as a florist and 25-plus years owning her own interior design firm, McKay has built an extensive history with holiday homes—in fact, it would probably rival a certain bearded Christmas icon. “I’ve done so many Christmases,” she says, “but I tend to always go back to those natural aspects.” The tree in this Whistler home is a prime example: it’s a natural fir—not a typical lush evergreen, but not quite a sparse Charlie Brown tree, either. Branches are hung with dried florals and long pieces of birch bark (the latter also handcrafted by the interior design team). It looks right at home with the year-round furnishings, especially the stunning driftwood chandelier,
made by Cameron Mathieson of Nelson-based Lightness. The original sofa was reupholstered; at family gatherings, it’s still a great place for the homeowners to sit and listen to their son play the piano. Because the home had served the clients so well for so long, they weren’t determined to renovate everything: the primary bedroom, for example, just got some new linens and replacement lighting. “It was already this beautiful, terracotta-y deep paint finish from a decade ago,” McKay says. “It looked so good.” That richness of colour inspired the team for the ensuite bathroom, so they opted for a forest green Venetian plaster for the walls. “We wanted to go for a spalike feeling, but not in the traditional sense... we really wanted to lean into the moodiness,” says Astren. Marble countertops and French brass fixtures were chosen for the patina they would develop with time. McKay herself got a chance to try out the serene ensuite post-holiday decorating. Making paper chains, dried citrus garlands and birch tree ornaments and wrapping gifts with scrap paper was serious labour—“We were like little elves working away,” she says. After washing the glue and glitter away, the designer immediately noticed the shower’s no-spot glass: “I was like, how is this so sparkly clean? It’s remarkable,” she recalls. The true magic is felt in the functional updates—a kitchen big enough for communal cooking, comfy living room seating around the piano, shower glass that always looks pristine. It’s a Christmas miracle.
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Natural materials, durable finishes and an unfussy approach to hosting make this contemporary Whistler cabin from Project 22 Design warm, welcoming and anything but precious.
OPEN INVITATION By Vivian Chong |
Photos by Ema Peter
Beyond the Slopes The landscape was designed by Alexander Suvajac and includes a fire pit and cedarwrapped hot tub.
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“When you walk up the stairs, you’re in this compression,” Ashmore says, “and then you all of a sudden arrive in this space upstairs that’s really open and warm.” 56 November/December 2026
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Warm Welcome Wall hooks and a custom bench by Mountain Design greet guests in the hemlockwrapped entryway, while large-format porcelain flooring provides a durable surface for mountain gear.
OST PEOPLE WOULDN’T start designing a mountain home by asking how many people can use a bathroom all at once. For designer Denise Ashmore, though, the request wasn’t entirely surprising. Her team at Project 22 Design has worked with homeowners Gord and Leann Ahrens since 2010, across four projects and more than one interesting bathroom layout. In the latest home, a newly built modern Whistler cabin, the layout—with a separate water closet behind a lockable door, with a private shower and sink area—allows more than one person to use the bathroom at the same time without sacrificing privacy. It’s the kind of detail that reflects Gord’s years of living in Whistler and developing homes there, as well as his experience working on ski resorts in Japan. “He’s done that consistently in most of his builds,” says Ashmore, “because he knows how it is to live and work in Whistler.”
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Table Talk The dining area is defined by A-N-D Spotlight pendants, stained-oak Bensen chairs with saddle-leather seats and a walnut Lock and Mortice table. “We brought in the walnut as a point of contrast, deciding to warm it up and not make it feel too Nordic,” explains Ashmore.
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Private Retreat The primary bedroom features black-stained hemlock and floor-to-ceiling windows oriented toward the views, while trees and a solid deck railing outside keep the space from feeling exposed. “It’s a real sanctuary,” says Ashmore. “You can very much feel like you’re in your own little world up here.”
Morning Rush The private shower room is part of a clever bathroom layout that allows multiple family members to use the space simultaneously during busy mornings. To create contrast, the designers chose tiny tumbled-limestone tile, so that light from the window could cascade across the texture.
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Known as Ambassador, the 3,600-squarefoot home sits in Whistler’s White Gold neighbourhood, close to the village and ski lifts, on a quiet corner lot that backs onto Fitzsimmons Creek. Designed for a family of five that regularly welcomes visiting friends and family, the home is built for the realities of mountain life while providing a cozy, inviting retreat. Its warmth comes as much from the natural materials palette as from the way people move through and use the house, balancing spaces for gear, guests and daily routines. “It’s intentionally designed, but there’s a casualness to the planning and the thought put behind it,” says Ashmore. Behind that easygoing feeling was some careful manoeuvring on the home’s oddshaped lot. Working with C.S. Clark Design and contractor Sean Cooper of Creekworks Construction, Ashmore’s team fine-tuned the home’s layout to make the most of the property’s limited views and natural light. Using a reverse floor plan, the design team placed the kitchen, dining and living areas on the upper floor and reserved those “peekaboo” glimpses of the mountains for the spaces used most during the day. The primary bedroom is also located upstairs, tucked at one end of the floor for privacy. Downstairs, two guest bedrooms, a bunk room, the aforementioned bathroom and a separate TV room offer plenty of space for teenagers and guests to spread out, while a dedicated ski room doubling as a laundry space neatly handles the less pristine parts of coming home from the slopes with wet gear. Throughout the home, an earthy palette of soft whites, wood tones, muted greys and natural stone creates a relaxed atmosphere, echoing the forested surroundings. On the upper level, saddle-leather dining chairs and a dark leathered quartzite island sit against rough-sawn hemlock walls and smooth-finished hemlock ceilings. And against all that wood, large-format porcelain tile flooring resembling poured concrete provides a quiet, more industrial base on both levels—one durable enough to stand up to wet boots, salt and mountain life.
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Cozy Comforts Hemlock clads the walls and ceiling of the open-concept living area, where a fireplace, TV and Coolican and Company lounge chairs offer a casual spot for après-ski conversations or watching the game. The designers chose surface-mounted pendant light fixtures from Flexalighting over recessed lighting for a more utilitarian, cabin-like feel. The coffee table is from Bensen, and the blue artwork is by Vancouver-based Origins.
“None of it is precious,” says Ashmore. “The walls are durable; the floor is durable. No one has to worry about damaging this. It’s just going to get better with time.” But nowhere do warmth and function come together more clearly than at the entry, where, Ashmore says, “hemlock is the star of the show.” Guests enter the home to a hemlock-slatted wall and oak bench, while a line of 20 wall hooks offers a practical, unfussy alternative to closed closet doors. “You instantly feel like, ‘I can put my stuff where I want. I’m here; I’m welcome,’” she explains. The slatted wall then wraps around the corner into the staircase, leading guests through an intimate “compression” zone before they arrive on the upper floor, while wood-wrapped ceiling joists frame skylights filtering light from above. “It really gives you a moment to collect yourself, and then you’re up in the mix of it all,” says Ashmore.
“None of it is precious,” says Ashmore. “The walls are durable; the floor is durable. No one has to worry about damaging this. It’s just going to get better with time.”
Overhead, that rhythm of compression and expansion continues in the sloped ceiling, which rises and falls across the upper level. Higher ceilings create a sense of openness in the kitchen and dining areas and draw the eye toward the view outside, while lower ceilings help make spaces like the living room, primary suite and office feel more intimate. The shifting heights offer a gentle nudge toward the home’s gathering spaces, where a 10-foot-wide window above the counter brings in additional light and retractable glass doors open the kitchen to the deck for indoor-outdoor hosting. The rounded forms of the Lock and Mortice walnut dining table, Bensen dining chairs and walnut coffee table also help keep circulation between rooms loose and informal. For Ashmore, that freedom and casual atmosphere are part of what makes a cabin: a public-private space grounded in its setting, shared with family and friends throughout the seasons. It might look as simple as a welcoming bench for your things on your way through the front door, a clear path toward the living spaces and hosts calling down, “Come on up, we’re just upstairs.”
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GIVE THE GIFT OF THE KEG BECAUSE TIME TOGETHER IS THE BEST GIFT OF ALL
Buy in-restaurant or online at thekeg.com
Your guide to living luxe.
the good life Golden opportunities We came for the cross-country skiing, but stayed for the wolf tours, book shops and everything in between in Golden, B.C. Read more on page 76.
Courtesy Tourism Golden
Après Everything From the slopes of Sun Peaks to the hottest restaurants in Victoria, these great winter getaways are made for every type of vacationer (page 72). P L U S : Pair a comforting winter stew with a zero-proof nightcap (page 64).
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T H E G O O D L I F E | S P I R I T- F R E E C O C K TA IL S
Chez Solange Makes 1 drink 30 ml HP non-alcoholic gin (or your favourite non-alc or traditional gin) 30 ml brown sugar syrup (see recipe below) 15 ml Noa amaro (or your favourite non-alc or traditional amaro) 10 ml lemon juice 2 dashes black walnut bitters Put all ingredients in a martini shaker with ice. Stir, then remove ice and dry shake. Pour into a coupe glass and garnish with grated cinnamon or coffee.
Brown Sugar Syrup Makes 1 drink 500 ml chamomile tea 500 ml brown sugar 1½ tbsp cinnamon 175 g melted brown butter Infuse the tea, sugar and cinnamon into the melted butter overnight. The next day, put the mixture in the freezer. After one hour, remove from the freezer and trim away the butter cap. Storage instructions: Store in the fridge to preserve the syrup. Will keep for up to two months.
L’Esprit de Grand-mère Vancouver’s Michelin-starred French restaurant St. Lawrence celebrates the season with a warming winter cocktail—minus the spirits. Recipes by David Lawson | Photos by Kristi Alexandra WHEN ST. LAWRENCE’S once-beverage director David Lawson (now coowner of the spot’s sister restaurant, Chez Céline) was developing this spiritfree winter cocktail, he channelled his own grandmother to create a recipe that combines long-infused chamomile tea, brown sugar, cinnamon and a brown butter fat-washed syrup to capture her memory. “When he was young and visited his grandmother, the house would smell like brown butter and cinnamon,” says current bar manager Vivien Laforest. “So, he just wanted to do something for her.” This ode to Lawson’s grandmother is called the Chez Solange, and it appears on the restaurant’s cocktail menu each winter.
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PRESENTS
FINALIST ANNOUNCEMENT PARTY Before the trophies get handed out each fall, we throw a party just to find out who's up for them— because every finalist deserves their own night to shine. On June 17, 2026, we filled the Thermador Experience and Design Centre with this year's entrants to unveil the finalists for our 19th annual Western Living Designers of the Year competition—presented by Thermador—in an evening of good food, better company and the very first look at who was in the running to be name our 2026 Designers of the Year.
THE GOOD LIFE | WEST COAST KITCHEN GARDEN
Country Comfort Sabrina Currie’s West Coast Kitchen Garden brings comforting home dishes to the plate (or bowl) with a focus on local coastal ingredients. Recipe by Sabrina Currie | Photo by DL Acken
Chicken and Parsnip Stew Serves 4 At first glance, the ingredient list looks long but it’s really just pantry staples and herbs. Everything goes in the pot to simmer together, so it’s a really easy recipe.
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
2 tbsp olive oil 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs 1 cup diced celery 1 cup sliced carrot 3 cloves garlic, crushed 1⁄4 cup all-purpose flour 4 cups chicken stock 2 cups sliced leeks 2 cups round slices of parsnips 2 cups peeled, diced russet potatoes 1 tbsp grainy mustard 1⁄2 tsp dried oregano 1⁄2 tsp dried rosemary 1⁄2 tsp dried thyme 1⁄2 cup whipping cream Salt and ground black pepper Fresh herbs and bacon bits, for garnish (optional)
Turn the heat down to medium and add the celery, carrots and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the veggies are translucent and just starting to get some brown bits, about 5 to 7 minutes.
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Place the oil in a large Dutch oven and turn the heat to medium-high. Once the oil is hot, add the chicken, skin side down, and sear until browned. Flip and brown the other side, about 10 to 12 minutes in total.
Stir in the flour and let it cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Whisk in the stock until the flour has dissolved, then add the leeks, parsnips, potatoes, mustard, oregano, rosemary and thyme. Bring the stew to a gentle boil, then place the pot in the oven, uncovered. Bake until cooked through and browned on top, about 45 minutes. Remove the stew from the oven, stir in the cream, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve hot, topped with fresh chopped herbs from your garden or some bacon bits, if using.
westernliving.ca
Holiday WINES
winter cheers
By Neal McLennan It’s been another bonkers year for people trying to make a living by fermenting grapes, so we figured we’d spotlight a few local vintners who are making holiday-friendly wines that skew just a little away from the mainstream. Here’s to ringing in a new year that is (hopefully) a little more stable for all involved.
Unsworth Pinot Gris Saison Vineyard 2025 $31
Pinot gris is usually the epitome of reliable—and not always in the most exciting way. But Unsworth grows the grape on arguably the best vineyard on the Island, keeps the alcohol low and doesn’t shy away from a little residual sweetness knowing that the wine’s salinity will bring balance to your dinner table.
Township 7 Seven Stars Rigel 2023 $35
There’s no more denying how good B.C. bubbles are and Township 7 has been at the forefront of this welcome quality charge. But one of their more affordable offerings—this quirky, floral absolutely enticing 100-percent riesling sparkler—shows that we don’t have to mimic champagne to ascend to greatness in all things effervescent.
1 Mill Road Rose of Pinot Noir $38
So, our red choice isn’t all that red, but in the hands of winemaker Ben Bryant, rosé pinot noir has all the finesse and a decent amount of the heft of the OG. It has the texture and tension to stand up to a lot of heartiness on the plate with a flex that will convert the die-hard red drinkers to the hidden power of pink.
Excerpted from West Coast Kitchen Garden by Sabrina Currie. Copyright © 2026 by Sabrina Currie. Photographs copyright © 2026 by Sabrina Currie and DL Acken. Published by TouchWood Editions. Reproduced by arrangement with the Publisher. All rights reserved. westernliving.ca
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THE GOOD LIFE | THE HOTEL
T HE H OT E L
Rimrock Banff, Emblems Collection
Basking in Banff
300 Mountain Ave., Banff, Alberta
The reimagined Rimrock puts design at the forefront of resort hospitality.
Courtesy Rimrock Banff, Emblems Collection
By Sara Harowitz
EVERY PART OF the newly reopened Rimrock Banff is designed around one thing: the view. That might seem obvious—especially given the historic hotel’s perch on the side of Sulphur Mountain, offering a uniquely intimate vantage point of neighbouring Mount Rundle in all its jaggedpeaked glory—but it wasn’t always the case. In the hotel’s previous incarnation, guestroom furniture was curiously oriented inward, facing walls or televisions instead of outward to Banff’s iconic landscapes. Many of the windows were framed in stained-glass designs, further diminishing the mountain views. And in the reception area, a floating corridor spanned the length of the lobby, blocking what should have been floor-toceiling vistas. So when the current team took over, they knew right away that those elements needed to change. “All of the rooms have been redesigned so that whenever possible—in your bed when you wake up in the morning, or when you’re sitting on the couch—you can see the view,” says Rimrock general manager David Garcelon. The windows were also freed of their stained-glass motifs. And the lobby was fixed, too: that floating corridor was removed—a big job, admits Garcelon, because it involved rerouting all of the electrical wiring—so that, now, when guests enter the hotel, the first thing they see is the Rocky Mountains.
Fire and Fare The hotel’s Social Bar (above) features a hammered copper fireplace. Parker’s Table (right) serves up a must-try bread cart experience.
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THE GOOD LIFE | THE HOTEL
W H I L E YO U ’ R E T H E R E
Each room has been designed so that a view of the mountains is the first thing you see, like the Rimrock Suite (left) and Infinity Suite (right).
“The idea now is you walk through those front doors and you’re really drawn to the view, and you want to come into the space,” says Garcelon. “You want to sit down, you want to have a cocktail, and you think, ‘I’ll check in later.’ It’s not like arriving at most hotels.” The Rimrock’s history dates back to 1895, when Banff was just starting to be discovered as an international vacation destination for well-heeled leisure and adventure seekers. Over the decades, the property has had many iterations (and many names); most recently, in 2023, it was acquired by developer Oxford Properties Group, which committed to an extensive top-to-bottom renovation that began in October 2025 and finished in July of this year. Designed by Venice, California-based Studio Collective, with Calgary-based Frank Architecture and Interiors handling the architecture, the reimagined Rimrock is elegantly restrained. Natural materials—including locally sourced slate and limestone; earth tones such as rich beige, pistachio green and light cream; and tactile textures including soft knits and plush leathers—subtly bring the outdoors in. Inspired by the expansive terrain of the Rockies, the interiors use smooth, flowing lines and layered, asymmetrical shapes to enhance the view of Banff’s natural surroundings, instead of taking away from it. Every detail feels thoughtfully considered—be it the hammered-copper fireplace that anchors Social, the hotel’s expansive lobby lounge with that million-dollar view; the custom-commissioned sculpture, inspired by Banff’s scenery and created by New York City artist John Sheppard; or the minimalist Crushgrind salt and pepper grinders on the tables at the high-end dining concept Parker’s Table (named after Elizabeth Parker, a journalist and co-founder of the Alpine Club of Canada). When you’re having dinner at Parker’s Table, be sure to partake in the bread cart experience, which features a miniature, mountain-like mound sculpted out of Calgary’s Terroir artisan butter. In this new era of the Rimrock, even the food is an homage to the scenery.
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Bike: Embark on a two-hour guided ebike tour (bookable through the hotel) that takes you to some of Banff’s most iconic sights (hopefully with wildlife spotting along the way).
Feast: Indulge in the Rimrock’s In-Robe Dining experience, which includes a curated four-course meal and wine pairings—delivered right to your door.
Climb: Get up
The resort’s juice bar and recovery room features a bouldering wall.
close and personal with the Rockies during the Via Ferrata experience at Mt. Norquay: a guided adventure, booked through the concierge, that combines hiking and rock climbing.
Soak: Relax in the Rimrock’s 9,600-square-foot Bathhouse, which features a salt sauna, steam room, hot pool, vitality pool and outdoor infinity pool.
Reflect: Explore Banff’s relationship with its Indigenous Peoples at the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, which showcases a diverse range of visual art.
The Listening Lounge is one of many gathering spots made for retreating at Rimrock Resort.
Courtesy Rimrock Banff, Emblems Collection; Irina Strelnikova/Shutterstock
5 IDEAS FOR A TOP-SHELF STAY
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Premium Pressure
CLIMATE CHANGE HEATS UP INSURANCE RATES p.13
OFF THE DEEP END Can non-developers save the housing market? p.18
MILLER TIME! AT HOME WITH THE CANUCKS’ STAR FORWARD P.11
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WHY CAN’T WE BUILD MORE? What’s Really Holding Up Our Housing Supply p.56 Since 1971
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D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4/JA N UA R Y 2 0 2 5
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Celebrating the Visionaries Redefining Design Across Western Canada
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G E TA W A Y G U I D E | S U N P E A K S
A stressed-out urbanite gets the locals’ experience in a laidback Thompson Okanagan ski town.
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Reuben Krabbe
By Darcy Matheson
Peak living Sun Peaks Village is lovingly referred to as “Whistler 30 years ago” by locals, with its unhurried pace and touches of whimsy.
Reuben Krabbe, Sam Egan
AS A SELF-PROFESSED CITY SLICKER living at about eight out of ten on the overwhelmed scale most days (taking the SkyTrain, shuttling rambunctious young boys to endless activities and youth sports, all amid the hustle and bustle of East Vancouver) there are very few moments in my life when I am truly by myself. So, when I get the rare long-weekend escape from East Van and find myself completely alone halfway down Sun Peaks’ iconic Five Mile ski run—in the dry, cold middle of the Thompson Okanagan, about 50 kilometres north of Kamloops—you best believe I’m taking a minute to savour the silence. On the resort’s landmark run, which meanders nearly eight kilometres down Tod Mountain, I’m treated to sweeping views across B.C.’s Southern Interior. It’s truly the perfect day on the slopes: an inversion over the valley means the base is a mild 0 degrees while the summit sits at -9. With ridgelines rolling out in the sunshine in every direction, it’s the kind of bluebird day that reminds you why you schlepped all your gear out and sojourned to the mountain. Locals here wistfully describe the small community of Sun Peaks as “Whistler 30 years ago”—before year-round mass tourism and chain eateries moved in. It’s unhurried here, with touches of whimsy, which you feel to your core as you make your way to the base chairs through the twinkle-light adorned European-style village. While I’m waiting in line for the Sunburst Express, the resort’s iconic high-speed quad, a local tells me it’s a
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G E TA W A Y G U I D E | S U N P E A K S
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Tube Time
Bottoms Bar and Grill
EAT
Fuel up for a day on the slopes with a hearty brekky burrito at Vertical Café (consistently rated the top breakfast spot in the village): it comes loaded with eggs, cheese and veggies. Head to Mountain Pizza for the Grannie Greene’s ’za, topped with mushrooms, green pepper, onion, tomato, olives and mozza (the pie was named for Nancy Greene, the Olympic gold medallist and ski legend who still hosts weekly small-session meet and greets during ski season here). For a group nosh, order the Mountain Board ($48) at Mantles overlooking the village and receive a curated selection of local Vernon charcuterie and artisanal cheeses. Pair it with a glass from the B.C. wine list, or the signature Canadian old fashioned, made with bourbon from Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery.
APRÈS
Lovingly referred to as the “locals’ living room,” Bottoms Bar and Grill is nestled at the base of the mountain and is the perfect skiout après spot, serving up craft beers, big cocktails and hearty
westernliving.ca
carbs like the hot and honey fries ($17) tossed in southern spice and sprinkled with feta, or classic pub nachos with housemade tortilla chips. At Sun Peaks Grand Hotel Fondue Stube (open seasonally from December) you’ll be greeted by Euro throwback decor as you dig into a hearty classic Swiss cheese fondue, with a Swiss chocolate fondue For the classic resort experience, to end the experience if you’ve the ski-in, ski-out Sun Peaks got a sweet tooth. Another ooeyGrand Hotel is home to the gooey option is the happy-hour only heated outdoor pool in the raclette at Mantles, where you village, along with three slopeside can gather your favourite ski hot tubs. For families or bigger bunnies around a tabletop grill groups, Bear Country Vacaand melt traditional raclette tion Rentals manages a wide cheese over meats and seafood. selection of condos, townhomes and chalets, many with full kitchens and private hot tubs, with one to six bedrooms. There Beyond the slopes, the resort’s are dozens of privately owned NHL-sized outdoor rink at the vacation rentals on Airbnb and Sun Peaks Sports Centre, a VRBO as well. short walk from the village, offers public skating. Tube Time, a lift-accessed tubing park with curving lanes off Sundance From Vancouver, it’s about a Mountain, makes for a no-skillfive-hour drive via Highway 1 and required thrill. And on-mountain the Coquihalla (snow tires manski and board lessons run on a 3:1 datory after October 1). The closstudent-to-instructor ratio (best est airport is Kamloops Airport, in class among Canadian resorts) just 45 minutes away, with direct for group lessons, with options flights from Vancouver, Calgary, for every age and ability. Edmonton and Victoria.
sTAY
EXPLORE
GETTING HERE
(Tube Time) Zuzy Rocka
busier-than-normal weekend here. But the lift line is only four minutes long, a fraction of a typical wait at Whistler’s base—or at any other mountain, for that matter. Moments of silence, reflection and solitude reveal themselves at intervals throughout the day as I work my way through different runs. At one point, I end up on the back side of the mountain, in the gladed terrain of Gil’s back-country run— not lost exactly, just wandering, with no real sense of how long I’ve be on my own out here. But despite the quiet, this is no small operation. Sun Peaks boasts that it’s Canada’s second-largest ski resort by terrain, with 4,200-plus acres of skiable terrain over Tod Mountain, Sundance Mountain and Mount Morrisey. Between the gooey cheese fondue après in the village, the families with young kiddos lacing up at the skating rink and the firepits where folks gather round with hot chocolate (or a hot toddy) after a day on the slopes, it simply feels different here from the resort’s biggest rival—and that’s the secret locals don’t want you to spill. The timing of my visit feels significant, too. While an unseasonably warm January hammered conditions around Vancouver (with some mountains announcing brief or early closures amid heavy rain and sustained high temps), Sun Peaks has new snow and fresh tracks. Compared to the climate back at home in East Vancouver, it seems like a different season altogether here, and I’m looking forward to coming back before I’ve even left.
the peak spots
LEARN MORE
This project is supported by the BC Government’s Buy BC Partnership Program; delivered by MNP LLP with funding from the Government of British Columbia.
G E TA W A Y G U I D E | G O L D E N
GOLDEN RULES With Nordic trails, waterfall hikes and glowing attractions, Golden proves that you don’t have to be a ski pro to love winter in the Columbia Valley.
Dave Best
By Claudia Laroye
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IT TURNS OUT THAT HAVING a groomed ski trail to yourself is exactly what it’s cracked up to be: my surroundings are blissful and quiet, apart from my laboured breathing and the swish and glide of my cross-country skis. Above the sugar-dusted treetops, I can see a bluebird sky and a spectacular view of the snowcapped mountains lining both sides of the Columbia Valley, home to the industrious town of Golden. Located along the busy Trans-Canada Highway corridor that bifurcates the city between auto-oriented retail and the downtown commercial district, Golden is too often a drive-by instead of a rightful stopover for travellers. I’m always pleasantly surprised by the variety of things you can do here in all seasons, but especially in winter. Golden’s reputation as an elite skiing destination, thanks to the legendary Kicking Horse Mountain Resort and acres of epic backcountry heli-skiing, is well-earned. But my slope style leans more no-pro than Go Pro, and with the wide array of wintry pursuits I can do both on and off the slopes, that’s no problemo here. From waterfall walks to new nighttime illuminations, Golden rules with loads of accessible and exhilarating winter fun for all speeds of people.
Dave Best, Agathe Bernard, Courtesy Tourism Golden
On an active day
all speeds Golden’s Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Centre provides interpretive walks (top). The hike to Wapta Falls (middle) is mostly flat and leisurely. Snowmobiling or crosscountry skiing on Golden’s groomed trails will keep you moving for an active day (opposite and bottom).
As one of the communities that anchor B.C.’s celebrated Powder Highway, Golden punches above its weight on the heart-pounding winter adventure scale. The slopes at Kicking Horse—known as the “Champagne Powder Capital of Canada”—have a fearsome reputation as an advanced ski hill, with the fourth highest vertical drop in North America. But there’s plenty of room for beginner and intermediate skiers like me to enjoy an annual snowfall of more than 24 feet covering 120-plus runs, five alpine bowls and 85-plus chutes across 3,486 acres. This ski girl at heart can’t tackle all that terrain without refuelling at the mountaintop Eagle’s Eye Restaurant. After waffling over menu choices ranging from beefy chili to a stacked halloumi burger, I dig into a steaming, savoury Thai bowl while admiring the snowy mountain views through the floor-to-ceiling windows of what is literally Canada’s most elevated dining experience, at 7,700 feet above sea level. Steep and deeps aside, I find that there’s more than one way to get my heart rate up. Shifting to a more horizontal plane, I clip into my rented cross-country skis at Dawn Mountain Nordic Centre on Kicking Horse Mountain. Setting out to conquer a few snowy miles of the total 33 kilometres of groomed Nordic classic and skate ski trails, I learn quickly that lighter layers are the key to not overheating despite the dry cold. My visit does not coincide (perhaps fortunately) with Golden’s annual two-day Huckleberry Loppet ski event. There are prizes and distances for all ages and abilities, but the winners of the longer-distance events will receive the ultimate reward: a full pound of local huckleberries.
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G E TA W A Y G U I D E | G O L D E N Courtney Room
Golden has acres of deep-powder snowmobiling terrain to fulfill a need for speed, including the primary sledding areas of Gorman Lake, Silent Pass, Westbench Trail and Quartz Creek. Quartz Creek is the town’s marquee riding area with easy access from the Trans-Canada. Sled across groomed trails that are as accessible for beginners as they are a thrilling day out for advanced snowmobilers.
On a slow day
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VIBRANT VICTORIA Victoria’s culinary culture is hotter than ever, with a wave of chefs from both coasts making it the foodie spot to visit. By Treve Ring Once easily categorized by “West Coast cuisine,” Victoria’s current dining scene is as much driven by international experience as it is by local ingredients, with chefs from both hemispheres gravitating to Vancouver Island. Propelled by an influx of youthful talent wanting an escape from big-city expenses and that big-city pace (there’s a reason it’s called “Island time,” after all), the demographic, skyline and energy of B.C.’s capital has grown swiftly and positively. As a writer who’s been covering the food and drink community here for the past 25 years, I can attest that the scene in Victoria has never been as thriving, and it’s all fuelled by passionate entrepreneurs and by the area’s bounty. There’s never been a better time for a foodie to visit—and here’s my personal dining shortlist, organized by tenure.
Taylor Roades
Winter hibernation finds the larger furry predators (mostly) asleep in their dens, but at Golden’s Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Centre, I leave my ski poles at home and take a walk on the wild side. The outdoor educational facility is focused on wolf conservation and provides interpretive talks about these beautiful, often-misunderstood predators and their critical role in the environment. After learning about the adopted residents from the centre’s staff, I stroll along the two-kilometre interactive walk with members of the wolf pack, including Flora, the facility’s 14-year-old “wolf ambassador,” on an unforgettable 90-minute hike through their natural habitat in the beautiful Blaeberry Valley. Located approximately 30 kilometres east of Golden, the hike to Wapta Falls is a relatively flat and easy 10-kilometre winter walk that leads to the largest waterfall on the Kicking Horse River. On the day I do the trek I wear my high-top hiking boots, but if it’s been very cold and snowy, take the hint and be sure to strap on ice spikes or snowshoes. Follow the path from the highway parking lot over a few low, rolling hills to the base of the falls for an up-close-and-personal view. Bowling has rightly been at the heart of Golden’s nighttime pursuits thanks to the classic 1960s-era wooden lanes of beloved Golden Bowling, but I’m also looking forward to the unveiling of the city’s newest non-ski attraction: Golden Skybridge is debuting TrailGlow on Boxing Day as a family-friendly immersive light and sound show that begins after sunset (around 5:45 p.m. on December 26) at the plaza and makes its way across the Lower Skybridge to the Touch the Sky Deck. The show will operate every evening over the Christmas and Family Week holidays, then Friday to Sunday until the end of February. Golden Skybridge will also operate the Giant Canyon Swing, the “Ice” Climbing Wall and axe throwing activities during the winter season. I love the city’s compact downtown and the collection of independent shops and restaurants by the river. Golden’s River Walk opened in 2021, redeveloping the riverfront with a lovely riverside walkway with seating areas and access to local cafés, restaurants, bars, bookstores (don’t miss the second floor of Four Points Books) and shops. It connects to the Kicking Horse Pedestrian Bridge, the longest (at 46 metres) freestanding timber-frame bridge in Canada, and to the Golden Stroll, an interactive walking tour that brings the community’s history to life through a series of videos you can watch by scanning QR codes along the Rotary Trail. On my way out of town, I grab an oat-milk cappuccino and brekkie burrito at Bluebird Café before hitting the road for the journey home. I know it won’t be long before I’m back where Golden rules in winter with a bevy of activities for everyone.
G E TA W A Y G U I D E | V I C T O R I A
with nearby Le Croissant Chaud
THE NEW KIDS
(@lecroissantchaud.ca), a satisfy-
One of the most anticipated new
ingly decadent and refined French
restaurants is the freestanding loca-
bakery and café led by young
tion of Birdman (birdmanvic.ca),
French-trained chefs.
extends into the wee hours from
Lumache
THE JUVENILES
the tight team at Wind Cries Mary
Ugly Duckling (uglyducklingres-
(windcriesmary.ca)—one of our
taurant.ca) has proven that fine
classy small-plate, cocktail-laden
dining needn’t be excessive, with
juveniles that gets buzzier every
its pristine, ever-changing set
year. Diners here eat messy: digging
menu that is clearly chef Corbin
into fried Rossdown Farms chicken
Mathany’s love letter to nature (now
doused in smoky-sweet Birdman
with equally stacked pairings to
sauce and served alongside ad-
match) in a tiny jewel box of a space
dictively crunchy, fan-like waffle
in Chinatown. Chobap Sushi
.com) is a fantastic departure to the
fries (dusted with chicken salt,
Bar (chobapsushibar.com) is one
deliciousness of casual German
no less). Similarly, Dough Eyes
more room to plan reservations for,
snacky fare, while Café Malabar
(dougheyespizza.com) opened this
with eight lucky seats achieving
(cafemalabar.ca) immediately trans-
summer, the freshest pizzeria from
the thoughtful omakase dishes
ports you to the fragrant sensory
the super strong team behind Café
of chef Clark Park. Sitting at the
overloads of South India’s Kerala.
Brio (cafebrio.com) and Brasse-
bar is like being in Park’s home,
Both are reflective of the welcome
rie l’Ecole (lecole.ca), two of the
and it’s one of the most coveted
international influence colouring
city’s OGs. You won’t find a classic
dinner invites in town. Rabbit
Victoria’s culinary scene.
margherita here, but all is forgiven
Rabbit (rabbitrabbitwinebar.com) is
when you discover the N.V., a stun-
another diminutive—and smart-
humble spots is the fine dining
Vanderheide, alongside talented
ning white-sauced pie with fontina,
dressed—room; visit here for Top
destination restaurant Marilena
wine director Peggy Baudon,
pecorino, zucchini and olives.
Chef Canada alum Billy Nguyen’s
(marilenacafe.com), with its luxuri-
leading the aforementioned Café
Asian-inspired small plates (such as
ous seafood towers and deepest
Brio’s romantic and effortless
ex-Vancouverites James Frost
my own favourite, the albacore tuna
wine program (courtesy of the Top
Italian into the next generation. As
(formerly of La Quercia and Livia)
crudo with fragrant yuzu dill tartare),
Table masterminds). I still dream of
ever, the house-cured meats remain
and sommelier Heather Dosman,
matched with thoughtful wines by
the mouth-melting otoro (a bluefin
a must-order, as does the dreamy
is proving the delicious charm of
the glass. It’s bar-hoppingly close
tuna belly) sashimi, a dish bested
rotating seasonal contorni. And,
handcrafted pasta and slow-food
to Matadora Tapas (matadora.
only by their outrageous wagyu
more recently, Brasserie l’Ecole
methodologies, which are best
ca), where lust-worthy pintxos and
A5 sashimi. If you are still scaling
has cemented itself as the brilliant
experienced via their eye-opening
smart cocktails await—or, you could
verticals and horizontals, it’s worth
French bistro you want in your
tasting menu. Emmaline’s (em-
invent your own vermut flight from
swinging by the Courtney Room
neighbourhood. I can’t not order
malines.ca), courtesy of another
their long list. Adventuresome drink-
(thecourtneyroom.com) for its
Brass’s endive salad, lashed with
ex-Van hospitality patriot, Elizabeth
ers know to stop by Tourist Wine
impressively thorough cellar, and
lardon and fresh hazelnuts, but the
Bryan, has brightened up Quadra
Bar (touristwinebar.com)—and
to catch the creative new menu
Salt Spring mussels in Pernod is my
Village with its casual bistro fare of
newly next door’s Café Tourist—for
from ex-Torontonian chef Julie
epitome of Island comfort food. I’ve
rotating seasonal home cooking—
constantly rotating plates and
Hyde. Their bar remains one of the
been going to both Brio and Brass
sharing the ’hood’s glow up with
glasses, all with a naturalist, mini-
best happy hour secrets of the city
since each of them opened more
stellar stalwart Part and Parcel
malist vibe. And when downtown’s
(it isn’t documented on their own
than 20 years ago, and they remain
(partandparcel.ca) nearby. For the
omnipresent seagull population
website, but others have done the
top of class.
quickest bite downtown, pop by
has you also craving shellfish, pop
legwork to whisper about the $12
Otto Charcuterie (ottocharcute-
into the cozy corner spot of Shuck
cocktails).
Lumache (lumache.ca), from
Chobap Sushi Bar
The natural opposite to these
Ugly Duckling
owners Sam Harris and Vincent
From the inside, it’s clear what unites all these diverse spots. Our
rie.ca), a small-scale, ultra-local
Taylor’s (wanderingmollusk.com)
sandie shop rightfully famous for its
for the freshest (and most fun)
mortadella with pistachio pesto and
oysters in town, guaranteed. Eva
Two longtime legends have been
league of keen locals, always look-
ricotta on fresh focaccia. Cap it off
Schnitzelhaus (evaschnizel
impressively revitalized under new
ing to support their own.
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westernliving.ca
THE OGS
supportive, collaborative community of producers are buoyed by a
Don Denton, James Frost, Dom Hall
the hot new fried-chicken joint that
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IN LIVING COLOUR
Opulent Oxblood With a name as striking as the colour itself, oxblood has its 17th-century origin in the bovine-derived pigment used to dye leather, paint and fabric. Its modern counterpart has the same cozy decadence and drama, making for a winter-perfect home upgrade.
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By Katie Nanton
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1. Bewitched CSP-450 paint by Benjamin Moore (from $119 per gallon), benjaminmoore.com 2. Alley pendant suspension lamp by Jonas Wagell for AGO Lighting (from $757), lightformshop.com 3. Atlas stool by New Works ($650), providehome.com 4. TL-4472 sectional sofa with round dormeuse by Tonino Lamborghini ($49,995), inspirationfurniture.ca 5. Passage rug by Roche Bobois ($9,050), roche-bobois.com 6. PS 2026 side table ($59.99), ikea.com 7. Scarpa 925 upholstered chair by Karakter X Cassina (from $3,197), inform.ca 8. Tokie coffee table by Minotti ($6,450), livingspace.com
82 November/December 2026
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westernliving.ca
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PRESENTS
Every September, our Designers of the Year issue arrives packed with the best residential design work in Western Canada—but the real reason we look forward to it is the night that comes with it. On September 10, 2026, we filled Inform in Vancouver with 400 designers, past winners, and designobsessed friends to mark our 19th annual Western Living Designers of the Year awards presented by Thermador—and to celebrate a region that keeps proving it belongs on the national stage.
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