Vancouver Home - Autumn 2018

AUTUMN ISSUE

THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE

A tour of wineries in the Okanagan

FACE-OFF

UPPING THE UPGRADE

Tina Cartier’s fascinating figurative art

The little reno that grew

A TASTE OF TOFINO Where to eat now

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BATHROOMS

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The latest design trends

SOFAS AND ARMCHAIRS

BATHROOM FIXTURES

EDGY ARCHITECTURE

Creating great living spaces.

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EDITOR’S LETTER

I AM FASCINATED BY CREATIVE PEOPLE – the folks who appear to effortlessly manifest innovation and beauty. Of course, many creative endeavours are anything but effortless. They require hard work and a lot of planning, and they can be accompanied by plenty of frustration.

In my position as editor, I have the pleasure of encountering many creative people.

They’re interior designers and architects who can visualize the transformation of a derelict building into a cozy, welcoming home.

Artists who can convert a tube of oil paint into a captivating canvas that is enjoyed for years. Landscape architects who can transmute a patch of weeds into a horticultural oasis. Where there was once nothing, there is suddenly beauty. These are the people I am privileged to meet in my work.

There is no shortage of creative people profiled in this issue. West Coast fashion designer Dorothy Grant comes to mind. She uses the symbols of her Haida culture – orcas, ravens, hummingbirds – in the clothing she designs.

There is also artist Tina Cartier, whose paintings of women are reminiscent of famous people. They’re not famous, she tells us, but they are powerful and swashbuckling.

I am also impressed by the work of Vancouver builder Avi Dhaliwal, who designed and constructed a spectacular home for his parents, overlooking Howe Sound. Inspired by architect Moshe Safdie’s Habitat 67, Dhaliwal applied his creativity to the shape of the building as well as its light-filled interiors.

Of course, creativity is manifested in many ways. Writer Julie Gedeon shows us how creative the chefs of Tofino are in her feature about where to eat in the Vancouver Island town, which welcomes hordes of foodies every year.

We also focus on trends in bathroom design in this issue. Prepare to be wowed by the impressive work being done by some very creative interior designers. Leanne McKeachie’s restoration of an Edwardian bathroom in Victoria is superb.

Finally, the creativity of the many British Columbians who work in the burgeoning wine industry is celebrated on these pages.

These folks are turning the Okanagan into a magnet for visitors who want to sip great wines, eat great food, and stare at great views.

Creative people make the world a better – and more beautiful – place for the rest of us.

STEPHANIE WHITTAKER Editor-in-Chief stephanie@movatohome.com There are several ways you can stay in touch with us: @movatohome @movatohome @movatohome

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CONTRIBUTORS

JIM TOBLER Jim Tobler is a writer, editor and industry consultant. He was the editor of NUVO magazine from 2000 to 2006 and of MONTECRISTO magazine from 2008 to 2017. He was also senior editor of Wine Access, Kiwi Collection’s Passport, and has written, with chefs, four cookbooks. His feature for this issue about the Okanagan Valley’s wineries is based on his almost two decades of tours and interviews in the region, which is a world-class wine-tourism destination.

SUSAN KELLY The power of myth was brought home to regular contributor Susan Kelly in the two features she wrote for this issue. “It was such an honour to interview Haida fabric artist and designer Dorothy Grant,” she says, “and learn more about how this highly revered artist weaves such empowering symbols into her work.” As well, the very private designer provided some insight into her personal journey in becoming an artist. Switching gears for her regular horoscope feature, Susan explores how the ancient imagery of the zodiac might be reflected in current home decor trends. “They are, after all, the signs that decorate the walls of our universe, each deeply rooted in myth,” she says.

PHILLIPA RISPIN Writer and editor Phillipa Rispin learned early in her career working for Vancouver Home and similar publications that “project creep” is an everpresent danger in home renovations. But sometimes, it’s welcome, and it produces such satisfying results as the revamped Port Moody home that she profiles in this issue. Also in this issue is a story she wrote about a Victoria bathroom renovated in Victorian style – almost literally. “Well, I guess you could argue that it’s Edwardian rather than Victorian,” she says, “but either way it’s a lovely room.”

Volume 6, number 5, Autumn Issue 2018 Date of issue: September 2018

6100 TransCanada Highway Suite 100, Pointe-Claire Quebec H9R 1B9

PUBLISHER Dr. Sharon Azrieli CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Stanley Kirsh

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Stephanie Whittaker ART DIRECTOR Randy Laybourne EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Carmen Lefebvre ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Neve Foltz

Julie Gedeon Elisabeth Kalbfuss

CONTROLLER Jenny Marques DIRECTOR OF SALES NATIONAL

DIRECTOR OF REGIONAL SALES BRITISH COLUMBIA Laura Cunningham

Susan Kelly Tracey MacKenzie Brenda O’Farrell

FOUNDER Leah Lipkowitz

Phillipa Rispin Karen Seidman

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Home Magazine Inc. 2018.

PHOTOGRAPHY Joshua Lawrence Duy Nguyen Amanda Oster Colin Perry Ema Peter Assaf Pinchuk Luke Potter STYLING Jillian Fritz Negar Reihani

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PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Wendy Loper

CONTRIBUTORS Cheryl Cornacchia

Chad Falkenberg

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CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Azrieli

Kelly Chicoine

Jim Tobler

JULIE GEDEON Writer Julie Gedeon yearns to return to Tofino after spending a week not only hiking the lush Pacific rainforest trails, but indulging in the resort town’s superb farm- and dock-to-table food. A staunch fan of West Coast fare, Julie notes that Tofino – thanks in large part to the now iconic Wickaninnish Inn – has cultivated extraordinary culinary talent and is redefining West Coast cuisine.

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All rights reserved. Any copying or reproduction of content without the written permission of Vancouver Home magazine is strictly prohibited.

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CONTENTS

18 ON THE COVER

THE LITTLE RENO THAT GREW Despite an intention to simply overhaul a home’s backyard, a renovation is quickly expanded to embrace several indoor rooms

48 NOT SO LOST IN SPACE

A condo design is inspired by old sci-fi TV shows

BON APPÉTIT

Tofino is a magnet for foodies thanks to its excellent restaurants that are creating a new West Coast cuisine

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WHITE AND LIGHT

The owners of a Vancouver penthouse ask their designer to create a space that is both white and on budget

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Stylux Design and Construction is a luxury design build firm, built upon the belief that designers, architects, consultants, tradesmen, and engineers should fully engage with clients in a truly collaborative process. Whether it be luxury renovation or a custom build, our approach always begins with clear project goals, and leads to a luxury home that reflects the clients' wishes and thrives with beauty and practicality.

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CONTENTS

30 8 EDITOR’S LETTER 16 THIS JUST IN

A selection of new items for your home

56 ABOUT FACE

Tina Cartier’s figurative art depicts strong, swashbuckling women

STARTING FROM SCRATCH

Designer Negar Reihani is given carte blanche in the redesign of a Yaletown condo

64 HEAVEN KNOWS

As stars and planets align and misalign this season, our decor choices are influenced by their movements

76 CHILL OUT AND CURL UP

A guide to the latest in sofas and armchairs

84 RIGHT ANGLES

A designer succeeds in redesigning a home with unusual dimensions and perspectives

SUGGESTING SAFDIE

When building a home for his parents, builder Avi Dhaliwal is inspired by the architecture of Habitat 67

92 RAISE YOUR GLASS

The Okanagan Valley’s wineries beckon as a destination for oenophiles

100 THE MAGIC TOUCH

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Architect James Tuer’s projects take planning, creativity and a little magic

104 VERY VICTORIAN

A bathroom in a historic home in Victoria is restored in its original style

118 GETTING OUR FIXTURES FIX

Vancouver Home’s guide to the latest bathroom fixtures on the market

124 OF STYLE AND SUBSTANCE

Artist Paul Ygartua discusses his need to experiment with various media and styles

128 FEAST YOUR EYES

Restaurants are being designed to connect diners with the chefs who prepare their meals

142 PULLING IT ALL TOGETHER

The owner of a design-construction firm ensures that all elements of her projects are flawlessly executed

146 THE POWER OF LEGEND

Fashion designer Dorothy Grant creates clothing that interprets Haida culture

150 WATER WORKS

Today’s bathrooms are sophisticated sanctuaries thanks to new technologies, materials and fixtures

158 DETAILS, DETAILS

A supporting player in interior design, hardware can greatly enhance a home’s look

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110 NEW HOTEL IN AN ANCIENT LAND The Orient Jerusalem Hotel offers luxe accommodations in a historic, sacred place

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DESIGN

1. THE JOY OF COOKING ….. OUTSIDE Danver’s stainless steel made-to-order outdoor kitchen cabinets have a powder-coat finish for a wide variety of colours. Custom sizes fit any space and accommodate all built-in appliances. They’re lightweight, so perfect for rooftops, and all hardware and screws are 304-grade stainless steel to withstand the elements: rain, snow and wind. They also include soft-close doors and drawers, adjustable legs, and various door styles.

Genesis Kitchens & Design 1037 Ridgeway Ave., Unit B, Coquitlam 604-937-7336 www.genesiskitchens.ca 1 2

2. TRAP THE BEAUTY OF TRAPEZOIDS Many wonderful geometric looks can be created with trapezoid-shaped tiles. The Trapez series features glazed ceramic tiles in a gloss or matte finish that measure nine-byfour inches. Eleven colours available. Ecotile contains 40 per cent recycled content.

Ames Tile & Stone www.amestile.com

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Discover organic wines that tell the story of our land.

Home of Haywire and Narrative wines. okanagancrushpad.com 16576 Fosbery Road, Summerland, BC | 250.494.4445 Open year round; visit our website for seasonal hours.

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DESIGN

FR OM T HE O U TSIDE IN The redesign of a backyard is the impetus to renovate much of the house as well

BY PHILLIPA RISPIN • PHOTOGRAPHY: DUY NGUYEN • STYLING: JILLIAN FRITZ

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DESIGN VANCOUVER AUTUMN 2018

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DESIGN

MOST PEOPLE RENOVATE A HOUSE and then turn their attention to the surrounding landscape.

The owners of this home in Port Moody, however, did it the other way around.

They had initially planned to redo only the backyard. “They wanted a better outdoor living space,” says Jillian Fritz, the interior designer on the project, who works for My House Design/Build/Team.

“There wasn’t much there initially,” she says, adding that the existing deck had been removed because of a leak. “You stepped from the back door down onto gravel.

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“Lifestyle is a huge thing for this family,” Fritz says, noting that the owners wanted a larger space for relaxing and entertaining, and where their two young daughters could play.

However, project creep took over, bit by bit. That emphasis on lifestyle led the husband, an avid cook, to start thinking about the kitchen.

“The kitchen wasn’t as workable as needed,” Fritz says. The homeowners decided that, if there were going to be changes and disruptions, they might as well renovate the kitchen, too.

On the patio, the pergola-like structure is roofed in glass to provide shelter while being as unobtrusive as possible. Lowkey, comfy furniture adds to the relaxed ambience. The turf is artificial, for good drainage and low maintenance.

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But then it seemed silly to redo only the kitchen if the rest of the main floor wasn’t going to flow with that updated room. What’s the use of having a terrific kitchen to cook in if you can’t hang out with guests at the same time, or easily access the outdoor entertaining space? In the end, the homeowners opted to have the dining room, living room and fireplace added to the redesign.

Of course, once that was decided, it made sense to have a multi-slide glass door installed to replace the existing sliding door, thus expanding the opening to the outdoors and providing easy access between outside and in.

But then . . . well . . . the master bathroom upstairs was tired and not as functional as desired. Might as well do that, too. •

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DESIGN

The multi-slide glass doors that give access from the dining area to the patio open to six feet wide. Hardwood flooring here and throughout is acacia, from the Rio Collection by Europlex.

Lighting: Kichler.

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The upshot of all this deliberation is summarized by Graeme Huguet, owner of My House Design/Build/Team: “Inside they have a remodelled main floor. It’s a beautiful work space but also a great entertaining space.

The outdoors, with a roofed patio that has lighting and heating, they can enjoy all year around.” And don’t forget the revamped master bathroom.

The house sits on a slope, and the backyard had already been terraced with interlocking stone retaining walls. This landscaping was left as is except for the replacement of the

grass with an underlayer of sand and draining rocks, covered with artificial turf. Now there’s no pooling after the inevitably generous amounts of West Coast rain.

The few steps down to gravel were removed and replaced with a larger poured-concrete patio. It was not a simple process, Huguet says. “Because the house is in a builtup subdivision and quite a ways up to the top of the hill, access is difficult,” he explains. “We pumped the concrete into the backyard, but the pump boom had to go right over the top of the house.” •

DESIGN VANCOUVER AUTUMN 2018

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In the kitchen, Fritz reconfigured the space to accommodate a 48-inch gas stove and a cased-in fridge to the left of it. She made more room for manoeuvring around the island by removing a pantry that protruded into the room, replacing it with a larger walk-in pantry. Cabinetry: Nickels Cabinets; island top: Brittannica quartz by Cambria; countertops: Carrick quartz by Cambria.

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DESIGN

The kitchen, dining and living areas all flow smoothly.

It’s a great space for entertaining and gives easy access to the patio. The fireplace surround is the same Brittannica quartz by Cambria used atop the island.

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DESIGN VANCOUVER AUTUMN 2018

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The owners wanted the patio covered but didn’t want the structure to be intrusive.

Fritz and and the My House team designed a post-and-beam supporting framework, with a natural-looking stain and capped it with a glass roof.

Ever mindful of ecological impact, the company used Western Red Fir glulam (glued, laminated timber) beams sourced from Penticton, thus keeping the environmental impact of transporting the wood as low as possible.

The roof glass is a special make – Azure Green Solar Cool glass by Cardinal Glass Industries – that keeps heat out while allowing through as much light as possible. •

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DESIGN

Within the house, walls on the ground floor and in the upstairs master bathroom were stripped down to the studs and rebuilt with efficient insulation. The kitchen was equipped with Energy Star appliances by Miele.

When it came to choosing the decor, Fritz addressed the husband’s desire for modern style and the wife’s wish for a less stark but contemporary look that would tie in with their home’s existing style. Fritz came up with a transitional approach that’s comfortable and welcoming but unfussy. The patio furniture and accessories are similarly lowkey. This approach is particularly suited to a home in which the interior and the exterior should not be radically different or clash for attention. The transition between indoors and out is aesthetically smooth.

In the master bathroom (top), the Caesarstone quartz countertop in Nougat contrasts against the dark cabinets. The reverse holds downstairs: Caesarstone quartz in Cement in the laundry (far left) and Cambria quartz in Carrick in the powder room. All cabinetry by Nickels Cabinets.

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The home’s two storeys still maintain the same footprint as before, but the 600-squarefoot patio is a whole new room.

“It’s a wonderful outdoor space,” says Fritz. “It has beautiful lighting, and heaters to allow for year-round use. The girls play out there with their puppy. The home is on a corner lot, and the back is open and airy. It’s my favourite aspect of the project.” •

DESIGN VANCOUVER AUTUMN 2018

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DESIGN VANCOUVER KITCHENS 2017

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DESIGN VANCOUVER AUTUMN 2018

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STARTING FROM SCRATCH Yaletown apartment reconfigured and redesigned to smooth, elegant effect

BY PHILLIPA RISPIN PHOTOGRAPHY: COLIN PERRY STYLING: NEGAR REIHANI

SOMETIMES, DOWNSIZING IS AN EXERCISE in winnowing out extraneous possessions and fitting the remaining ones into a smaller home.

But sometimes it’s starting from scratch, as the owner of this condo apartment in Yaletown did.

“The owner downsized from a bigger house,” says Negar Reihani, founder and principal designer of Space Harmony Interiors. “The house was traditional, but she asked for everything to be very different, very modern and contemporary. She also asked for design that was feminine but low maintenance, not too fussy. She wanted a sense of understated elegance.” •

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DESIGN

(Preceding page) A glamorous pendant light and original artwork serve to delineate the dining area from the kitchen and the TV room. Light: LH Imports; furniture: Suquet; artwork: Sunny Days by Caro. (This page) Dark wallpaper and furniture in the TV room were chosen to bestow a cozy feeling. Wallpaper: Hygge and West; side

Reihani was happy to oblige her client, who had looked at a portfolio of Space Harmony projects and picked out examples of what she liked, after which she dropped a little bombshell: she told Reihani to design the apartment “as if it were your own home,” and then she left the country.

Having carte blanche “is the best type of project,” says Reihani. “It’s exciting, but I also get nervous. I want to do extra for someone who trusts me.” Excitement, fear, worry – all the emotions flitted through her mind as she began the project.

It was clear from the outset that she would have to reinvent the space in the large-ish (1,100 square feet) but dated 20-year-old apartment. There were the entry, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, an apartment-scale “great” room of kitchen and living/dining area, and another living area at a right angle to the great room. Reihani and her team tweaked the layout to make it more functional, and also used design tricks to make the various public areas more delineated without creating a truncated look.

Of course, the designer confirmed all the basics with her client before renovation, redecoration and furnishing got under way.

Reihani also kept her client up to date by email, reporting on what stage the project was at.

“I got her approval about the layout, and for general ideas that gave the apartment a light, soft, contemporary look,” she says. “My client said ‘I love it. You don’t have to tell me any more. Just do it.’ It was fun because I incorporated some design features that I’d always wanted to do for other projects.” •

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tables: West Elm; rug: Surya.

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DESIGN

The kitchen was the most radically changed.

It had been rather claustrophobia-inducing, semi-enclosed and crammed with appliances and cabinetry. Reihani kept the coat closet near the front door but borrowed space from the hallway that led from the entry past the kitchen, having a run of streamlined floorto-ceiling cabinetry fabricated by Modaa Custom Kitchens installed in what had been another closet along the outside wall. The cabinetry holds the wall oven, a full-size fridge/ freezer, storage cupboards and drawers, and access to a storage room. This leaves the nowopen kitchen space with more work surfaces, incorporating the cooktop and the sink.

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DESIGN VANCOUVER AUTUMN 2018

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Next to the kitchen peninsula is the dining area, set apart by its glamorous pendant light over the table. Beyond it is the TV room, particularly striking in dramatic dark blue wallpaper with a gold geometric pattern. A welcoming sofa with a chaise longue extension is a slightly paler blue, and the room has a deluxe, muted mood.

That wallpaper was the only item to give the client pause. “She was worried that the room would be dark,” Reihani says. Feeling confident in her choice, the designer promised to remove the wallpaper and do the room over if the client didn’t like it. And, of course, that didn’t happen; now, according to the client, “This is my favourite corner.” •

(Opposite) The kitchen work area is compact but has plenty of counter space. The fridge is cased into the storage area, which lines the hallway and was originally a closet. Carrara-marble-look quartz on counter and backsplash: Vicostone.

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DESIGN

The bathrooms also received special care.

The master ensuite is small but creatively detailed, with the vanity area lined in marble-look quartz in an echo of the treatment in the kitchen. The main bathroom is also arresting, featuring a lighted stone niche apparently floating along the entire length of one wall, passing effortlessly through the glass partition wall of the shower. Reihani has great praise for her tile setter, from Equator Tiles, who not only took care of tiling but also figured out how to deliver that perfect floating niche effect.

Vicostone’s quartz in Dark Gray clads the niches in the bathroom (above). The cabinetry is a light-grey oak veneer. The wall in the main bathroom is Bianca Carrara marble from Creekside Tile; the penny rounds white glazed porcelain mosaic flooring is also from Creekside.

(Opposite, above) It was not possible to install lighting directly overhead in the living room, so designer Negar Reihani had lightboxes built to skirt the ceiling. The handsome live-edge wood credenza is from Moe’s, and the shaggy ottomans are from Homesense. (Right) A diamond-patterned nightstand in the guest bedroom echoes the geometric designs of the TV room.

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DESIGN VANCOUVER AUTUMN 2018

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There are many clever details in the decor that are subtle and attractive but functional – for instance, shallow light boxes around the perimeter of the living room ceiling (preventing drilling into the concrete ceiling).

“Details are everything,” says Reihani, her maxim well illustrated in this quietly elegant apartment. •

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TRAVEL

The Vancouver Island town is a magnet for foodies thanks to restaurants that are creating a new West Coast cuisine

Photos: Ramdy Laybourne

BY JULIE GEDEON

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TRAVEL VANCOUVER AUTUMN 2018

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TRAVEL

I KNEW A COUPLE OF SPECIAL RESTAURANTS awaited me in Tofino, but expected to eat fish and chips most days while visiting the Vancouver Island community.

Boy, was I wrong! Tofino, nestled among lush rainforests, pristine beaches, and hiking trails overlooking the Pacific Ocean, is a culinary magnet where I never ate the same dish twice or anything deep-fried during the entire week.

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The exquisite food is increasingly why Tofino, with its population of 1,876, welcomes an estimated million visitors annually, according to Nancy Cameron, Tourism Tofino’s executive director. “People are treated to phenomenal culinary experiences by renowned chefs excited by the farm-, forest- and dock-to-table opportunities here,” she says.

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Photos courtesy of The Pointe Restaurant

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Everything I’d read and heard about The Pointe Restaurant at the Wickaninnish Inn made it a dinner must and it surpassed expectations. I don’t remember the last time an establishment bothered to learn every guest’s name.

Our window seats overlooking the waves pounding The Pointe’s rocks and the evening’s surfers farther on Chesterman Beach made for a superb view. Every dish has Chef Warren Barr’s signature elements, such as Nootka rose with the dressed beets, strawberries and nasturtium accompanying the salmon tartare, and the sea asparagus in the chicken mole.

“We strive to offer the best of what is uniquely West Coast,” says Charles McDiarmid, the “Wick Inn’s” managing director.

“For instance, our chef achieves a citrusy f lavour with the spruce and hemlock tips gathered every spring.”

The Pointe offers diners such haute-degamme options as the Northern Divine caviar service and a memorable bottle from its renowned wine cellar. A new tasting menu with wine pairings is set every Saturday.

Yet there are choices for a special family dinner, too. The Wickaninnish Cookbook documents how the resort put Tofino on the culinary map.

Out of necessity as much as commitment to excellence, the Wickaninnish has always made its own bread, croissants, butter, desserts and even ginger beer. “When we opened this location in 1996, we were lucky to get one city delivery a week,” McDiarmid recalls. “As a result, we’ve attracted young people who know they can learn everything about the restaurant/hotel business at our relatively small operation.” •

The Wickaninnish Inn has celebrated its contribution to the farm-, forest- and boat-to-table cuisine with a cookbook outlining the first 20 years of its culinary history.

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TRAVEL

Nicholas Nutting and Jorge Barandiaran worked several years at “The Wick” before they opened the Wolf in the Fog as the chef and manager respectively; they promptly won enRoute magazine’s Best New Restaurant in Canada award in 2014.

They serve everything from vacation brunch, to quick lunchtime burgers and salads, after-school desserts, all the way to fine dining. “You choose your experience here,” says Barandiaran.

Everything receives chef Nutting’s Tofino touch, whether it’s the rhubarb granola or seaweed salad for brunch, chili squid and pork jowl for dinner, or Dark Chocolate Blackout dessert.

The Wolf in the Fog has done a modern take on traditional longhouse inspirations with several different wood textures including the magnificent chandeliers fashioned from Douglas fir shavings.

Photos courtesy of Wolf in the Fog

“Nick loves big f lavours,” Barandiaran says. “He borrows from global cultures to showcase local harvests and constantly push the boundaries of West Coast cuisine.”

The restaurant’s strong relationship with the Tofino Ucluelet Culinary Guild has led to such dishes as Hakurei Turnips and Perogies when turnips are harvested. “And when the chanterelles pop up in fall, we feature them as much as possible because they’re so aromatic,” Barandiaran adds. “The Guild are food artisans who want the best showcase for their produce.”

Always innovating, the Wolf’s kitchen has prepared a different Green Soul vegetarian plate every day since the place opened. And a block from the docks, the restaurant serves fish caught earlier the same day.

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Photos courtesy of SoBo

TRAVEL VANCOUVER AUTUMN 2018

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Chef Lisa Ahier at nearby SoBo (short for sophisticated bohemian) has also caused a culinary buzz with her minimalist approach to fresh ingredients to balance tastes above all else. “I want people to remember our fewer choices deliciously, creatively put together, so they can’t wait to have that dish again,” she says.

Her “taste the love: fresh food from here and there” mission is emphasized by her suppliers being credited on SoBo’s website.

Those long-term relationships result in black garlic, seasonal pickles, Nostrala cheese and other special ingredients figuring into SoBo’s vegetarian, meat and fish selections.

Ahier’s inventive but accessible dishes are featured in The SoBo Cookbook. “I wanted people to actually use it,” she says. Its popularity has led to SoBo Specials being slated for a 2020 publication.

SoBo’s cookie/pie counter and freezer stocked with chowders and ice cream sandwiches make it difficult to leave without getting something to go. •

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The Ice House Oyster Bar is still one of the two remaining ice houses in Tofino and a fish buying station, making the restaurant’s produce as

Location, location turned Alan Beesley into the Ice House Oyster Bar’s owner. “Initially, I just planned to modernize the ice house and fish-buying station, but then I realized the cold storage room had one of the best West Coast views I’d ever seen and it would be magical for a restaurant,” he says.

The Ice House has Tofino’s best sunset-watching but even on dreary days, the inlet’s tranquil waters and frolicking seals make it idyllic. Shucker Paul Bradley couldn’t be more knowledgeable about oysters, while Chef David Provençale knowingly applies French-style techniques to bring out the best in sustainable dock-to-dish fare. The locally caught halibut wrapped in seaweed is divine.

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Photos courtesy of Ice House Oyster Bar

fresh as possible.

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Photos courtesy of Kuma

A nightly lineup outside Kuma lured us to its Japanese comfort food. Mitsumi Kawai and Rob Leadley opened it three years ago with recipes from her restaurateur parents and culinary inventions by Chef Simon Burch.

The mound of “Bear” Tuna featuring local albacore with ponzu, ginger, garlic, green onion and crackers makes it difficult not to return. The Goma Eggplant tempura with sesame dressing is likewise delicious.

“Everyone is encouraged to taste different things by sharing the small and large plates,” Kawai says. •

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We actually planned one day around lunch at the Sea Monster Noodle Bar when I saw how packed it was and learned it closed at 6:30 p.m. The place is obviously a local favourite. “There wasn’t really a lunch spot when we opened in May 2016,” says owner Cam Young. “I wanted to fill that niche but still have personal time.” He and sous chef Thor Magnusson created their menu based on Magnusson’s extensive Asian palette and what Tofino residents sought as food when out of town.

While experimentation continues, there are some constants. “There’d be a revolt if we removed the Dan Dan,” Young says, referencing the Szechuan ground pork, gai lan, wheat noodle, peanut, green onion and cilantro combo. I personally adored the fish curry while regulars at other tables consumed the Pork Udon Soup or the Sticky Buns filled with pork or tuna.

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Photos courtesy of Sea Monster Noodle Bar

TRAVEL

TRAVEL VANCOUVER AUTUMN 2018

Even Industrial Way is an epicurean adventure with smoked, candied or tartare salmon at The Fish Store, hand-crafted loaves from the new Summit Bread Company, and a popular blonde ale or the kelp stout from the Tofino Brewing Company.

Back in or near town, there’s the Tofino Coffee Roasting Company, Chocolate Tofino, The Candy Jar, and other eateries. So little time, so much to sample … Oh, Tofino, I hope to return soon.

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To avoid disappointment, check the hours and seating/reservation policy of each restaurant ahead of time. Some take only online reservations, while others have a first-come, first-served policy. •

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HOME FROM  T H E FUTURE The redesign of a Vancouver condo is inspired by futuristic science fiction

BY ELISABETH KALBFUSS PHOTOGRAPHY: EMA PETER STYLING: CHAD FALKENBERG

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DESIGN VANCOUVER AUTUMN 2018

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The Dodo armchair by Cassina started its life in brown leather but was reupholstered in white by Bloom Furniture Studio. The standing lamp beside it that resembles a skyscraper is by Artemide.

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DESIGN VANCOUVER AUTUMN 2018

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GREG MAZUR TURNED TO THE SCIENCE FICTION TV SHOWS of his childhood for inspiration when his west end condo needed a refresh. We’re talking Star Trek, Lost in Space, Buck Rogers and Space: 1999.

“I liked the shows’ views of the future. Of course, they were wrong,” Greg says, laughing. “But the style stuck with me.” He even tracked down a replica of the lamp used on the moon base on Space: 1999, which he keeps in his study. That love of old sci-fi, combined with his choice of art and love of architecture – skyscrapers in particular – fused together to create a style he describes as retro-futuristic.

“I like how everything is clean, uncluttered

and white,” Greg says of his new space. “I did freak out after we started ordering things and there was no colour in it, so I started picking a few things with colour.”

He had bought the condo in late 2002, when it was still under construction. He loved how much light it had, but says he chose it mostly for the view. A 17th-floor unit, it looks out across Vancouver Harbour to Stanley Park. Its 1,300-square-foot layout includes two bedrooms, two bathrooms, kitchen, living and dining areas as well as an office and storage room. It’s his base when he’s in Vancouver, though he spends most of his time in Hong Kong, where his business is based. •

Both the sofa and table, with its divided surfaces, were chosen to fit in with the futuristic, edgy concept; both are from Livingspace. The black Knoll Barcelona chair is from the owner’s collection. The rug design is based on shards of glass and was made in collaboration with Colin Campbell Rugs.

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DESIGN

When he started talking with design firm Falken Reynolds Interiors about the redesign, he sent them a few photos to illustrate his colour preferences – white ceramic knives, a blue kettle – and told them he wanted to stick with a white/blue/grey colour palette. He also told them what he didn’t want: anything that seemed too trendy or of the moment.

“I find that interior design is like fashion.

When things are in, everyone goes nuts and buys them. I wanted nothing to do with that,” he says.

Renaud Marion’s flying car photograph with its Brutalist architecture helped inspire some of the furniture choices, including the cabinet. BD Barcelona cabinet: Inform Interiors.

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“Maybe one of the reasons we got along so well is that their style very much overlapped with mine,” Greg says of his designers. When they found they shared a love for the annual Milan furniture fair, the fit seemed perfect.

“It was definitely a collaboration. I would suggest things; they would go, ‘No.’ Or, conversely, they might make a suggestion, and I’d say, ‘That’s not me.’ ”

DESIGN VANCOUVER AUTUMN 2018

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Owner Greg Mazur loves architecture and collects models of skyscrapers He has more than 100, but displays only 10 or 15, “otherwise it would look cluttered,” he says. His favourites include the Kuwait Towers, Guangzhou Tower, Shanghai Tower and Jin Mao Tower.

Kelly Reynolds, principal at Falken Reynolds, says Greg’s own framed photographs, his collection of architectural models of skyscrapers from around the world, and his choice in art made it easy to get a feel for the look he wanted. In particular, he cites a work

by French photographer Cédric Delsaux: The Buick, Dubai 2009 that hangs in Greg’s office.

It shows Star Wars-like robots surrounding an old car in an abandoned, colourless area. “As soon as we saw his art, it fit with that futuristic feel, a lot of robots,” Reynolds says. “It was just such a good launching pad. •

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DESIGN

The guest bathroom was designed in white, but the master bathroom features darker tones. It has a fogless mirror that extends from the shower along the wall over the vanity.

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“Some of the tall lighting and the curved chairs, they’re really a take on an architectural form. That was the basis of the concept.”

The result is definitely original. One of the most striking pieces, an Italian credenza, in white of course, with front panels that resemble a collection of low-relief blocks was particularly difficult to track down. “We hunted all over for it,” Reynolds says. “We finally found one place that carried it, but no one had ever bought it before.”

In addition to sourcing new furniture, they also updated some pieces that Greg

already owned to make them fit the new look.

A Dodo armchair by Cassina beside the living room window was originally brown but was reupholstered in white leather.

In terms of style, Reynolds says, the result is probably closer to Blade Runner 2049 than the original Star Trek series. Whichever decade it’s rooted in, it’s definitely not your typical West Coast design. “Everything is harder. There’s a lot of leather,” he adds. It’s not family-oriented at all.”

Welcome to the future. With a great view, of course. •

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ART

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ART VANCOUVER AUTUMN 2018

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ABOUT FACE Mixed-media portraits by Montreal artist Tina Cartier depict strong, defiant women

BY JULIE GEDEON

TINA CARTIER’S PORTRAITS OF WOMEN reflect the seductive boldness of defying traditional norms. “I want to affirm strong women possessing loads of character and redefining what it is to be female,” says Cartier, a Montreal-area mixed-media artist.

Cartier’s solo exhibition, titled The Theory of “She,” opened at Galerie le 1040 in Montreal’s Plateau-Mont-Royal neighbourhood this past spring. More recently, the artist participated in the Mtl en Arts 2018 festival, and won the coup de coeur (public choice award).

Her works are also featured on ARTBOMB, the Canadian subscriber-based daily online art auction. •

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ART

Each portrait is brought to life through vivid colours and three-dimensional elements. “I use costume jewelry, spikes, beading, feathers and other things to give each portrait texture and depth,” Cartier says. “I also feature aspects of the culture that informed them.”

A lifelong artist, Cartier studied art at l’Université du Québec à Montréal and spent a subsequent year studying fine arts at Concordia University. “I’ve been doing the strong female portraits for about a year,” she says. “They’re my way of saying: it’s my time now as an artist. See me. I’m here, with a bang.”

Many of her subjects appear to be famous women but are rarely so. “I take the photographs of regular models or my girlfriends or even Barbie dolls and show how adding specific fashion elements transform them into Marilyn Monroe, Janice Joplin or Blondie,” Cartier says. “At the same time, I’m showing how each of these icons dating all the way back to Marie Antoinette have advanced the evolution of women.” •

(Above) Tina Cartier’s beloved grandmother, along with her personal love of boxing, inspired “She’s simply a badass fighting another badass” (48 by 72 inches). The canvas aims to uncover the fighting spirit of women in an age when they were pressured to behave like ladies. King Kong and Godzilla remind us that male monsters belong to a past era while the faint words “Fight Like A Girl” across the top of the canvas convey a rosier future.

(Opposite) Viewers assume that “She’s the wild, the free, the beautiful” is Cartier’s tribute to Mexican artist Frida Kahlo de Rivera, but the resemblance is at most a subconscious manifestation. “I just wanted a strong Latin American woman whose power shows through the artificial flowers in her hair and the exotic birds that I stitched with sequins on her shoulders,” Cartier says.

“And I guess Frida emerged.” The adorned epaulets imply how each generation of women in some way lifts the next.

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ART VANCOUVER AUTUMN 2018

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ART

(Above) “She came, she saw, she loved” is a modern interpretation of Marie Antoinette that emphasizes that women can be all floral and fine lace and yet strong of character. The real 3D lenses and media images are to remind today’s feminine queen that any prescribed look for women is an illusion and they should dress as they please.

Always informed by street art, Cartier’s pieces incorporate spray-paint graffiti and other urban elements that are part of the mainstream art scene. In one piece, street posters used as papier-mâché create a three-dimensional Asian gown. Cartier, who adores martial arts, wanted to convey that delicate women can still be street-savvy.

Her clients tend to be people in their thirties and forties. “I touch on their youth by featuring a Black Sabbath hoodie, bejeweled epaulets from the punk era, and other aspects of the 1980s,” she says.

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ART VANCOUVER AUTUMN 2018

Music from the 1980s figures prominently in a piece titled “She was a waitress in a cocktail bar when she saw you,” a work that was sold quickly. Cartier has us singing The Human League’s Don’t You Want Me, Baby, with the song’s lyrics in neon lights as part of the work. The Blondie lookalike’s garb is

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made of black-and-white photocopies of ’80s jackets along with recycled studs from the same era. The tape cassettes and boombox background give a nod to the lingering influence of the decade’s music in encouraging women to break with past stereotypes. •

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ART

“She knows nothing of borders and cares nothing for rules” (48 by 48 inches) features a punk rock queen with a spiked crown and furred and feathered epaulets adorned with pearls and necklaces. The message “I suppose it will make sense someday” suggests there’s no reason for her to explain herself to anyone – not even to herself.

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ART VANCOUVER AUTUMN 2018

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Photo: Alfredo Ziano

A Barbie doll in the work titled “She’s having breakfast at Tiffany’s” underscores the plastic public nature of the early 1960s female icons.

Marilyn Monroe’s dominance over Audrey Hepburn also emphasizes the idea that blondes indeed had more fun or at least supposed power and influence.

Cartier’s edgy images always portray women pushing aside societal boundaries, whether they’re stepping out of the supposedly idyllic 1950s into a boxing ring or into a sequined disco jacket and sunglasses, inspired by celebrity icons. Her subjects ooze attitude with their “I’m not budging” stance and typically pink or ruby pout.

The work titled “She knows nothing of borders and cares nothing for rules,” for example, reflects a young woman who reigns

over her own life. Her power derives from punk rock culture. “She’s a trashy queen, rather than a princess,” Cartier says. “Someone who knows her own mind and does what she wants.”

Cartier is currently working on The Theory of “She” Part II, which will pay tribute to Amelia Earhart, Coco Chanel and other notable women. The exhibit will be held at Galerie 1040 in June, 2019. Her work can be viewed on her website: www.tinacartier.com. •

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MAKE A PLANETARY PLAN FOR YOUR DECOR Let astrology guide you in interior design choices that will take you into 2019

BY SUSAN KELLY

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LIFESTYLE VANCOUVER AUTUMN 2018

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AUTUMN CAN BE AN AWKWARD TIME, decor trend-wise. With more time spent indoors, it’s natural to crave an interior refresh. And yet the trend reports for 2019 won’t be out for months. How to know which will have staying power? Will those funky fringed lampshades that are the darlings of Instagram now be next year’s chevron print (RIP)?

I believe astrology may help us to make future-proof design choices.

Home decor trends go through cycles, after all. And astrology is the study of cycles, as signified by the planets as they orbit and switch signs. A planet is said to be “in a sign” if, when viewed from earth, the orb appears to line up with it in the zodiac. Each planet proceeds at its own pace, sometimes spending years in a given sign. And every time one enters a new sign, it’s as if it embraces a whole new colour scheme, fresh upholstery and flooring.

When it comes to trends, astrologers look to the slower moving planets, the pack from Jupiter on out. Those planets indicate what resonates with the collective consciousness, the zeitgeist. Just for fun, let’s look at Pluto (which astrologers stubbornly still call a planet) and colour. From the late 1990s and for a dozen years, it was in the warmth-craving fire sign of Sagittarius. Then most decorators would

MOODY VERSUS BOLD COLOUR SCHEMES: Countering the sombre Capricorn palette is an emerging trend for very bright, in-your-face colours. This one seems to belong to Jupiter, now in the extreme and intense sign of Scorpio. It never does anything by halves, and I find clients of that sign prefer lots of black with punches of red — colours trending strongly for late 2018. And on November 9, Jupiter will enter the rollicking and exuberant sign of Sagittarius for a year. I find historically this sign brings a riotous circus of colour, pure primary shades of yellow, red and blue.

MAXIMALISM AND SUPERSIZING: Thanks also to two planets in ascetic Capricorn, minimalism will be around for a while, I think. But some of us find it boring, and a growing “maximalist” trend is emerging. This movement towards a return to lots of colour, pattern and personality I put squarely on the aforesaid Jupiter. That planet is all about “more is more.” It also likes exaggeration, and so statement sofas are in, the bigger the better.

Chandeliers, likewise, are taking on epic proportions. I believe these trends will continue through 2019.

have advised “warm neutral colours, shades of beige” as the way to go.

But by 2008, every colour expert I interviewed said grey would be the new neutral. I scoffed — then I checked my ephemeris. That same year, Pluto moved to Capricorn, a sober sign traditionally associated with the colour grey — which lo, has been the neutral du jour since.

This sign tends to view things in black and white, which may also associate it with the ongoing trend for all-white interior colour schemes.

Now Saturn has joined Pluto in the sign of the Goat. Given its reputation for a brooding moodiness, I find it not surprising that forecasters talk of how subdued or even sombre today’s colour choices are. Even everyone’s new favourite material, marble, is going from white to dark grey or black. This pairing lasts another two years, so painting the walls charcoal, dark grey or purple, or any deep shade of blue, especially navy should feel right. Many find these shades give a sense of safety and stability in an uncertain world, a very Capricornian attribute.

So what do the planets have to say about other major trends for 2018? Here is a look at six through the lens of astrology.

TEXTURE AND MORE TEXTURE: Last May, the planet Uranus packed up the moving truck and moved into Taurus for a seven-year stay.

This is the most sensual of signs, so going forward, homes must appeal not only to the eye.

Ambient sounds and scents will take on new significance. And de rigeur will be things that give tactile delight: woods with distressed surfaces, tiles with extreme 3D effects, furniture with a handmade feel or of rattan, and so on.

And you can blame this planet for touchable velvet being the ‘it’ fabric now.

CONTEMPORARY FARMHOUSE: The down-home look just might be the new black. This trend will have long-term traction, I think, due to the earth sign concentration and especially Uranus in Taurus. Uranus is about being forward-looking, inventive, even revolutionary, while Taurus loves tradition and authenticity.

Several pundits feel this look works best when edited, stripped down to the essence. Apron sinks, warm wood Shaker-style cabinetry, and such details as handmade tiles played against antique white walls.

GREENERY: Uranus in Taurus joins two planets in Capricorn, making it an earth-sign troika for the next two years and a bit. These signs aim to be the salt of terra firma. Practical, grounded and dependable, they value nature.

And so, houseplants — so long banished from contemporary schemes — have made a huge comeback in interiors of all styles. Especially trendy are colourful and hardy plants or those with intriguing patterned leaves. As well, some people green their spaces by applying olive green or chartreuse paint colour to walls, or perhaps a bold botanical-print wallpaper or fabric.

GO GLOBAL: People have always brought back treasures from their travels and have looked for ways to display them. But this trend calls for building an interior around that impulse, incorporating shapes, textures and designs from other cultures. This approach seems to work best in informal, even eclectic interiors. Think clay and terracotta tiles and global-inspired prints such as ikat. Accessories might be of rattan, shells or jute. This is one trend that might pick up steam as the year progresses, really taking off when Jupiter enters the sign of the traveller, Sagittarius, come November.

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DESIGN

D E R I INSP C

I N O B Y IITCECTURE

ARCA Hbuilderiscpreaarteenstsa in or h at home f ia Beach th r n Britan e spectacula th recalls bitat 67 Ha AN N S E IDM

BY KAR E LU KE P OTTE R RAPHY: PH OTO G

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DESIGN VANCOUVER AUTUMN 2018

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DESIGN

AS AN ENGINEERING STUDENT studying at McGill University in Montreal, Vancouver resident Avi Dhaliwal found himself intrigued by Habitat 67, the revolutionary, modular building designed by renowned Israeli-Canadian architect Moshe Safdie.

Seemingly a collection of interconnected cubes, the building – considered an architectural landmark – was conceived as Safdie’s master’s thesis at McGill and then constructed as a pavilion for Expo 67. It still sits on a manmade peninsula in the St. Lawrence River, overlooking downtown Montreal and the city’s Old Port.

“I thought it was phenomenal,” says Dhaliwal, who was studying structural engineering at the time and believed he would be designing bridges rather than homes.

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DESIGN VANCOUVER AUTUMN 2018

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The indoor/outdoor living space of this unique Britannia Beach home is part of its appeal.

The cool, modern interior is augmented by the stunning ocean and mountain views, on full display through oversized windows and 18-foot-long folding doors.

Fast forward about a decade, and Dhaliwal ended up starting his own single-family residential construction firm - Canvas Homes - in which he functions as the designer, engineer and builder. With some successes behind him, he was commissioned by his parents to build a home in Britannia Beach, near Squamish.

They gave him free rein, and visions of Habitat 67 started flooding his brain.

“It became my inspiration for the project, a chance to pay homage to that unique building,” says Dhaliwal. And so, the “cube house” was born, in all its modern splendour, on the slope of a mountain overlooking Howe Sound. •

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DESIGN

It wasn’t easy. The spectacular lot came with a 55-foot grade difference, making it difficult for excavation machines to manoeuvre, and challenging to pour a concrete foundation that was low in the front and 30 feet high in the back. Multiple retaining walls and site-grading were necessary and that’s where Dhaliwal’s training as a structural engineer was an advantage.

Builder Avi Dhaliwal created all the cabinetry in the home, along with the waterfall island and its adjoining table - all with four-inch edges. He used walnut wood in the kitchen to provide some contrast with the white oak floors.

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DESIGN VANCOUVER AUTUMN 2018

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Outside, the house is a collection of stacked cubes, boasting various textures and sizes to create a compelling structure. There’s western red cedar with a custom stain, acrylic stucco, HardiePanel siding, exposed concrete and anthracite brick on the chimneys.

Entering on the lowest level, visitors find themselves in an open foyer with soaring 22-foot-high ceilings and a taste of the modern decor and clean lines that define every room of the 5,700-squre-foot home. •

“I really let my imagination run wild with this house,” says Dhaliwal, who built it for his parents, and was inspired by the iconic Montreal building known as Habitat 67. The straight lines on the interior reflect the cubist look of the exterior.

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Go up a level on a staircase of open risers and the expanse of the main level, with its many windows and stunning views of mountains and ocean, is awe-inspiring. “It’s stunning, quite breathtaking,” says Dhaliwal. The living room has no walls or barriers, just a lofty, tiled, two-sided fireplace to provide a bit of separation between the kitchen and family room and the dining room and living room at the far end. Eclipse doors leading to a large, square terrace contribute to the indoor-outdoor sense of the space in the summer.

Dhaliwal’s mother, who loves to cook, wanted a separate dining room for entertaining. The height of the two-way fireplace was extended to provide more structure to the expansive main room and a defined dining area.

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DESIGN VANCOUVER AUTUMN 2018

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Custom-stained white oak floors are a unifying feature that bring warmth to the open space, which is made brighter by the white walls and vaulted ceilings. “I tried to keep it as open as possible,” says Dhaliwal, while balancing the less-is-more approach without going overly minimalistic “so it starts looking empty. You need enough details so it works.”

He used colour separation to define spaces.

Walnut is the wood that provides some darker contrast in the kitchen, with Shinnoki wood panels that are offset by Caesarstone quartz countertops in a colour called “Clamshell.”

The massive island with its integrated table appears to be floating and has an impressive four-inch edge on the countertops.

One nice touch that Dhaliwal added for his mother, who loves to cook, was the addition of windows where the kitchen’s backsplash would normally be; they allow her to look at the gorgeous views while she prepares meals. •

Visitors enter on the lowest level, where the soaring ceilings and L-shaped floating staircase can be fully appreciated. “Open stairs contribute to the open feeling,” Dhaliwal says. The stairs lead to a bridge at the uppermost level.

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DESIGN

Dhaliwal, who now lives in the house as his parents wanted to downsize, says for him, the pièce de résistance is the master bathroom.

Hands down the most expensive room in the impressive house, with the feel of a luxe spa, the bathroom features warm-taupe tiles and cool marble tiles, all highlighted by a unique backlit platform and niche areas. Some of the large tiles on the wall were so expensive and delicate that a broken one cost $2,000 to replace. The floor of the shower was constructed without a visible drain, so the water flows under a wall to a hidden linear drain to accommodate the oversized rain shower.

“It’s very special,” says Dhaliwal. “Almost too nice to use.”

His other favourite feature is the technology, which relies on the Control4 home automation system to control lighting, entertainment, security, energy, and other connected devices.

The sumptuous master bathroom was the most extravagant room in the house, according to Dhaliwal. The six-by-four-foot shower is accentuated by backlit niches and the tub and shower sit on a raised, marble platform that is also backlit. “It’s very special,” says the builder.

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DESIGN VANCOUVER AUTUMN 2018

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He says the up-and-coming Britannia Beach area, while still not very developed, is less than half an hour from downtown Vancouver, and the home will be a great house for a discerning buyer one day. Case in point: the large garage with 14-foot-high ceilings, tailored for luxury cars and ready to be equipped with a car lift to store extra vehicles.

“This is really a house for someone who likes the finer things in life,” says Dhaliwal.

He should know. •

With the mountains and Howe Sound very much on display from the house, Dhaliwal ensured the master bedroom would be a retreat where the homeowners could enjoy the serenity and splendour of the surroundings from the room’s own private treetop deck.

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LIFESTYLE

COME AND SIT A SPELL

LO F T L I FE The Udine modular couch brings whimsical design to loft living. The modules come in a choice of fabrics and can be configured as you wish so you can create your own unique look. Available at Maison Corbeil. www.maisoncorbeil.com

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This season’s sofas and armchairs encourage you to put your feet up and relax

BY TRACEY MACKENZIE

K

ick off your shoes and plunk yourself down into a comfortable sofa or armchair. The great indoors beckons as cool weather sets in. Here is our guide on where to find some of the most attractive sofas and comfy chairs on the market that will make your living room or den the go-to spot in which to chill.

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S O FA A N D A R M C H A I R G U I D E 2018

C O O L A N D C O N T EM P O R A R Y Designed by Michel Ducaroy, the famous Togo sofa from Ligne Roset is still the company’s most popular sofa since its debut in 1973. With an ergonomic design, foam construction and quilted covers, it stands the test of time. Available at Ligne Roset. www.ligneroset.com

O U T S I D E T H E B OX The low-profile Bowen chair from Anthropologie has a plush seat, T-shaped cushions and brass-finished legs. A less-is-more, understated design is sure to be popular with minimalists. Available from Anthropology in nine fabrics and two leathers. www.anthropologie.com

S M O OT H S W I V EL A dissatisfaction with the quality and functionality of products on the market drove Niels Bendtsen to create smart and thoughtful designs, as shown in this U-Turn swivel chair (2013). Featuring a discreet tapered base and smooth swiveling mechanism, it comes in both fabric and leather upholstery and in a variety of colours. Available at www.bensen.ca and in Vancouver at Inform Interiors www.informinteriors.com.

P LU M P P ER FEC T I O N A re-edition of the iconic Plumy Collection, originally designed by Annie HiĂŠronimus in 1980, will beckon to the couch potato in you. With seat and back cushions filled with goose feathers, which can be unfolded to facilitate various seating positions, the Plumy adapts to its environment. Comes in various sizes for both chair and settee. Available at Ligne Roset. www.ligneroset.com

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S O FA A N D A R M C H A I R G U I D E 2018

M O D ER N A N D M O D U L A R The LC3 Grand Modèle armchair, designed by Le Corbusier, was a modernist response to the traditional club chair.

G R EEN W I C H T I M E

With its externalized tubular frame and thick pillows, it’s

The Greenwich modular sofa features grey patterned fabric with caramel-

as relevant today as it was almost 90 years ago. Each chair

coloured leather to create the sofa that’s perfect for you. Choice of

is signed and numbered. Manufactured by Cassina and

configurations available to suit any room. Available at Maison Corbeil.

available at Design Within Reach.

www.maisoncorbeil.com

www.dwr.com

N OT F O R T H E FA I N T O F H E A R T A weathered finish highlights the hand-carved detailing on this 19th century-style French Empire fainting chaise. Originally designed for Victorian women wearing restrictive corsets, this chaise is now better used for relaxing and reading. Available in 142 special-order fabrics, it comes with two square pillows and a bolster. From Restoration Hardware. www.restorationhardware.com

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LO U N G E O N L E AT H ER The Library Leather chair from Restoration Hardware is a take on those found in the great reading rooms and libraries of Europe. Boasting antiqued-brass nailhead trim, a low-slung profile, and a deep seat with down-feather fill, this chair comes in a variety of colours and fabrics. www.restorationhardware.com

U N D ER S TAT ED EL EGA N C E Available in a variety of fabrics and metal colours, the Sara armchair boasts an understated, elegant shape. Shown here in velour, this chair is perfect for a tête-à-tête with a friend, and is made in Quebec. Available at Maison Corbeil. www.maisoncorbeil.com

S ER P EN T I N E S EC T I O N A L The Grace serpentine sectional sofa pays homage to

B LU E V ELV E T

one of Vladimir Kagan’s most iconic designs. Soft and

The Sven tufted velvet sofa is a modern take on a mid-century

sinuous, the feminine curves of this sofa offer ample

classic. Featuring crisp lines, luxuriously stuffed back cushions,

seating for ease of conversation and solid metal legs in

and a tufted bench seat, it has two matching round bolster

brass for a touch of luxe. Various colours available.

cushions to complete the look. Available in both loveseat and

www.anthropologie.com

sectional sizes, it’s also available from Article in four colours. www.article.com

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R EC L I N E A N D R EL A X The Milo Baughman Recliner 74 is a simple design with a lasting impact. First designed in 1966, this chair has now been brought back into production. It has three positions from upright, to feet up, to full recline. Available from Design Within Reach in both fabric and leather upholstery, and in a variety of colours. www.dwr.com

B EN C H B E AU T Y The minimalist Edlyn bench with its velour upholstery and brass legs adds glamour to your decor. Perfect for taking a much-needed break or for donning shoes, this bench is perfect in an entry foyer or bedroom and is available from Anthropologie in a variety of colours. www.anthropologie.com

S I X T I ES S EN S I B I L I T Y The Worthington sofa is Mid-Century Modern luxe at its best. Stately proportions and vintage leather with natural colour variations and creases make it a stand-out piece. Available in Oxford-black and brown at Article. www.article.com

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CL ASSIC CHAISE Classic features combined with clean lines makes the Sven daybed a popular choice. Natural leather that weathers over time make this tufted chaise with its matching bolster a beautiful addition to any room.

Available at Article. www.article.com

S C A L LO PED S E AT I N G Popular in the 1940s, the scalloped-shaped chair is making a comeback. The sinuous contours and brass legs of the Tulip chair add a touch of feminine flair to a boudoir or office. Available from Anthropologie in seven fabrics. www.anthropologie.com

FA S H I O N A B L E A N D FR EE - F O R M The Ploum sofa from the Ligne Roset Collection is a conversation starter. An asymmetrical construction and ample dimensions allow for comfort and visual interest. Available from Ligne Roset in a variety of dimensions and fabrics. www.ligneroset.com

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T H E L A I D B AC K L I FE The Cloud modular sofa is both versatile and comfortable. With its relaxed silhouette, low back, and sink-in cushions, this sofa is perfect for lounging. It’s also easy to customize with three slipcovered cubes – corner, armless and ottoman – and is available in a choice of three depths, 23 stocked fabrics and 161 special-order fabrics. From Restoration Hardware. www.restorationhardware.com

T I M EL ES S A N D T U F T ED Add soft colour to your living space with the Parmelee wingback chair.

Its design is timeless and elegant, and its nailhead trim and button-tufted upholstery make it an excellent piece for both living room and bedroom.

In a variety of colours. Available at Wayfair. www.wayfair.ca

C O M F O R TA B L E C LO U D Hit the hay in style on the Cloud sofa bed with its luxuriously tufted pillow and simple design. Easy to use, just lower the back and you’re good to go. Comes in red or charcoalcoloured fabric. Available at Maison Corbeil. www.maisoncorbeil.com

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AV I AT I O N A P P E A L Restoration Hardware’s Aviator chair is reminiscent of Second World War fighter planes. With a leather seat surrounded by aluminum and dotted with exposed steel screws, it’s the perfect addition to any fly boy’s or fly girl’s home. www.restorationhardware.com

C L A S S I C C H ES T ER FI EL D The Kensington sofa, designed by Timothy Oulton, is a reproduction of the classic chesterfield design. Deep hand-tufting, rolled arms and solid oak feet fitted with antique brass casters accentuate the look.

Available in a variety of depths, lengths and fabric colours. Cushions come in both standard or down-feather fill. www.restorationhardware.com

C O O L C O N T EM P O R A R Y The contemporary Como sectional sofa, designed by Timothy Oulton, is as versatile as it is sleek. Chunky cushions are perfectly proportioned for maximum comfort and support. The modular components allow you to create the configuration best suited to your room. Available at Restoration Hardware in two depths and 42 colours. www.restorationhardware.com

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DESIGN

CONSIDERING ALL THE ANGLES Odd-shaped rooms are no barrier to designing an elegant home

BY PHILLIPA RISPIN PHOTOGRAPHY: AMANDA OSTER

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INTERIOR DESIGNER KARIN BOHN had an intriguing problem. Her company, House of Bohn, was tasked with renovating this 25-year-old home in Surrey’s Morgan Creek district, and the problem presented itself as soon as the front door was opened: the foyer was not only an irregularly shaped quadrilateral with differing angles at the corners; it also had no fewer than six doors or arches leading to other spaces, as well as a sweeping staircase to the second floor.

The main floor is just under 2,000 square feet, and the staircase is central, with rooms that fan out around it. As Bohn explored the house, she discovered more unusually shaped rooms to challenge her.

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Those weren’t the only design angles to be considered. The house was to be home to a family of three generations – a couple, their two children, the husband’s parents and his siblings, so it had to suit various lifestyles and needs.

The homeowners gave Bohn a relatively relaxed design mandate. She says that the clients are open-minded and described their desired revamp of the house in terms of having a light and fresh palette. “They’re very trusting, and the creative process was easy,” she says. “They had seen my portfolio. They didn’t talk about particular styles. They wanted a design with a bit of a global influence, not specifically West Coast.”

Bohn acknowledges that by far her biggest challenge was the floor plan, “a little awkward, with odd angles. The foyer – it took days to figure out the layout, and how the floor inlay would line up.” •

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In fact, the foyer was a particular puzzle, with its several entry and exit points and angles.

“That was an interesting stairway,” says Bohn.

“I felt that I could make a statement with that foyer.”

The designer also describes the kitchen as having “interesting angles. It really has some dimension to it. My clients wanted something interesting, bright white but a little bit more – thus the atypical coffered ceiling.”

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Over the course of two years, Bohn and team renovated the home’s 3,400 square feet to meet her clients’ needs. The result is definitely light and bright, and the effect is evident immediately to anyone entering the foyer. Except for the imposing double front doors, nearly all surfaces, including the floor, are white. Light enters around the front door, augmented by an overhead chandelier and sconces on the walls. The effect is to banish

shadows, minimizing angles and discontinuities in sightlines.

The white is tempered by the rich stain on the stair risers, treads and handrail. Hammered copper drum tables, brass fittings on the luminaires, and a medium-brown geometric pattern inlaid in the marble tile floor all add warmth and provide a sense of being grounded rather than lost in white space.

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The hardwood floors in most other areas of the ground floor are from Bohn’s own collection with Divine Hardwood. As part of the Cosmopolitan line of engineered hardwood oak, they have the same rich colour – called “Old Money” – as the stairs. In the family room, wood beams outline shelves and fireplace, giving the room’s back wall a sense of solidity.

The family room is open to the formal dining area, which has a spectacular sideboard made of walnut. Light floods both spaces from generously sized windows. More light from the large kitchen spills through a glass-paned door into the dining area.

The kitchen is certainly bright and light, as desired, but here too the warmth of the floor grounds one’s perspective. The frame of the island and the built-in desk nook are the same wood as that on the family room wall. The kitchen’s most impressive feature is an eye-catching, extensively coffered ceiling that’s a masterpiece of geometric design. •

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The double-height living room has a slightly more formal ambience than the family room; however, the upholstery and soft furnishings are a mix of colours to provide a welcoming feeling.

A restrained palette and surfaces rich in detail and materials provide a quietly elegant ambience in this home, tempered by generous touches of colour and the organic warmth of wood. It’s a sophisticated and welcoming place for multiple generations to live in happily. •

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LIFESTYLE

MANY REASONS TO RAISE A GLASS A fast-developing wine-producing region, the Okanagan Valley is a magnet for those who love the grape

BY JIM TOBLER

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PHIL MCGAHAN WANDERS AMONG orderly rows of vines, showing a visitor his vineyard. One side of the vineyard is nestled against a 15-metrehigh rocky bank, ref lecting summer heat onto the plants. Above the bank is a pasture, home to a herd of wild horses. “They come down here for a visit once in a while, usually in the early morning,” says McGahan, winemaker and general manager of CheckMate Artisanal Winery in Oliver, B.C. “This really is a spiritual place.”

Spiritual, yes. But also, a place that is fast developing as an attractive tourism destination, thanks to its burgeoning wine industry.

Four hours by automobile, 50 minutes by airplane, but seemingly a world away from Vancouver, the Okanagan Valley is a small but formidable wine-producing region in a rain shadow between the Coastal and Monashee mountain ranges, carved out by receding Ice Age glaciers. The region drew 3.5 million visitors last year, and tourism here employs 15,000 people.

Photo courtesy of Painted Rock by Jon Adrian

“The diversity of microclimates in this area is really remarkable,” says McGahan. “It means we can make some completely distinctive, high-quality wines.”

The region’s wineries now number almost 200; many have restaurants to accompany the nearly ubiquitous tasting rooms, and accommodations for visitors who want to stay. From Kelowna in the north to Osoyoos in the south, vast stretches of finely groomed vineyards are evidence of an industry in full bloom.

Photo courtesy of Painted Rock by Jon Adrian

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Photo courtesy of Summerhill by Kevin Trowbridge

Drew MacIntyre, who owns Lake Breeze Winery and MacIntyre Heritage Reserve, agrees that the region is evolving. “We probably could not have made our Heritage wines a few years ago,” he says. “But as we learn more about the soils and what the fruit can be, we can really elevate the quality.”

MacIntyre is not afraid to pour Okanagan wines in tastings with iconic vintages from Bordeaux, Tuscany, or Sonoma. “We are not competing against those guys. We’re just saying there is pretty fantastic wine here in the Okanagan,” he says.

The climate is predominantly cool, which is an advantage in an era of global warming that is affecting wine regions around the world. Microclimates abound and are a distinguishing feature of the region.

In the north, where Mission Hill Family Estate forged a reputation for quality, there is plenty of chardonnay, riesling and pinot noir. Such establishments as Quails’ Gate Estate Winery, CedarCreek Estate Winery and Summerhill Pyramid Winery offer dining as well as tasting rooms that boast magnificent views to savour as you sip and swirl.

Summerhill’s proprietor Ezra Cipes notes that when his father, Stephen, first considered making high-end sparkling wines here, “most people thought he was crazy. But over time, and with fully sustainable practices, the wines now are even better than we thought they could be.” •

Photo courtesy of Summerhill by Kevin Trowbridge

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Farther south, in Penticton and Naramata Bench, with its cluster of high-quality wineries, the region’s climatic diversity is obvious.

Here, pinot gris, sauvignon blanc, cabernet franc, even syrah have started to appear in tasting rooms, such as those at Poplar Grove Winery, where house-made cheeses win awards alongside the wines. Lake Breeze Vineyards, Hillside Winery, Serendipity Winery, Van Westen Vineyards, and even an extraordinary fruit-wine establishment – Elephant Island Winery – are all part of the neighbourhood.

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In nearby Summerland, the innovative Haywire, with its custom-made fermenting egg-shaped tanks, foudres, and organic farming principles are turning heads.

Farther south is first Okanagan Falls, then Oliver. Here, the northern tip of the Sonora Desert, which begins in Mexico and stretches into B.C., shows another aspect of how this wine-producing region has developed so quickly, going from good to great. Features of the climate include low rainfall, more daylight in June and July than in the Napa Valley, and large diurnal swings in temperature, especially in the crucial autumn growing season.

Photos courtesy of Poplar Grove Winery

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Photos courtesy of Burrowing Owl Estate by Gord Wylie

This means that such grapes as cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and syrah can achieve maturity with soft tannins and sumptuous fruit to produce wines that are enjoyable at a young age, while there is still potential for aging. The Black Sage Bench is gaining more international acclaim for its microclimate that makes Bordeaux-style wines a reality.

In Oliver, nestled against a stark, heat-distributing rock face, is Burrowing Owl Estate Winery, long a leader in quality and, along with Mission Hill Family Estate, one of the first to gain international recognition. Yes, real burrowing owls live in the nearby hills, beneficiaries of an ecological stewardship program funded by the winery. Big red wines are the specialty; and as vines mature and techniques evolve, these are sought after and often sold out far in advance of September.

The tasting room is augmented by the splendid Sonora Room, a restaurant known for fine dining. There are eight sumptuous guest bedrooms as well, so this is a place to take a leisurely stroll under the stars as you make your way from dinner to bed. •

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Photo courtesy of Liquidity by Lionel Trudel Bottom photos courtesy of Painted Rock by Jon Adrian

In Okanagan Falls is Liquidity Wines, where founder and owner Ian McDonald has decorated his winery, restaurant, and serene guest room with fine art. “I wanted to make it clear that this region belongs on the world stage for quality of wine but also for wine and food experiences,” MacDonald says. “We are situated in the midst of some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. Our winery should reflect that.”

Painted Rock Estate Winery, also in this area, offers a beautiful tasting room, event facility, and bountiful red wines. At a recent dinner in Stockholm, King Olaf of Sweden rose from his seat and proclaimed that he loved the Painted Rock merlot, and hoped it was available for purchase in Sweden. Owner John Skinner explains the king’s enthusiasm: “That merlot really started to take off in the 2009 vintage. It has got better with each vintage, and I believe as a region, we are breaking through.”

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Middle photos courtesy of Liquidity by Jon Adrian

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Photos courtesy of Le Vieux Pin Winery

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Following the sale of his first winery business, Canadian wine industry icon Don Triggs started Culmina Family Estate Winery in the province’s first sub-appellation, located south of Oliver on the valley’s west side. The land here features ancient riverbed soils unique to the new “Golden Mile Bench” sub-appellation. Culmina is a boutique winery dedicated to making highest-quality wines. “We could have built a winery almost anywhere in the world,” says Triggs. “But I knew this was the place - the place where we could grow the exceptional fruit required to make distinctive, great wines.”

Finally, Osoyoos: the southernmost part of the valley ends at the 49th parallel. Significantly warmer than in the north, this is where the red varieties can achieve full ripeness consistently, and over a wide swath of territory. It underscores the diversity of the Okanagan’s climate, with microclimates giving winemakers many options.

At Le Vieux Pin Winery in Oliver, Rasoul Salehi says “it took us some time to really understand these soils, but over time, with plenty of experimenting and study, we are now able to make wines that express the place they are grown in. We are proud to pour our wines at any table, anywhere in the world.”

As grape varieties improve and are matched to ideal soil types, or terroirs, the wines will continue to improve.

The recreational opportunities in the Okanagan – from golf through cycling and water sports on the lakes – mean visitors can find a range of activities in addition to wining and dining. And those who prefer to cook for themselves will find local produce to create their own haute cuisine.

This is a region in which to explore and expand your wine palate in breath-taking scenery, where attention to detail and passion for wine promise visitors a memorable stay. •

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ARCHITECTURE

MAKING MAGIC

Architect James Tuer knows how to translate his clients’ wishes into the beautiful homes they want

BY BRENDA O’FARRELL

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BUILDING A HOME is about creating shelter from the outdoors. It’s a basic concept that gets complex as degrees of scale, style and sophistication are added. However, when Vancouver architect James Tuer sets out to build a home, he begins with a whole different premise that blurs the lines between the outdoors and the sheltered interiors. He employs a full range of techniques to do this – including a little bit of magic.

“I really enjoy buildings that bring the outdoors inside,” says Tuer, the principal at JWT Architecture and Planning. The use of wood and windows is key, he explains, but being conscious of how a building interacts with its environment is perhaps the most important concept. And that is where his expertise as a registered landscape architect comes into play. It is also where the magic is revealed.

Understanding what he calls “the site influences” is crucial. This includes how to use the grade of a lot, knowing what to screen, how best to take advantage of the views, and, ultimately, “understanding the sun.”

“I call it the magic of south,” Tuer says, as he begins to explain his design process that captures the warmth and brilliance of the natural light to draw it inwards.

“My architecture blurs the line between traditional architecture and contemporary architecture,” he says, adding that his buildings “have a place in the West Coast and in the West-Coast climate.”

Every building he designs is connected to its milieu. “They have an identity that is attached to where they are located,” he says.

“They are not in Anywhere, U.S.A.”

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This gives each house a distinct look. Although Tuer’s use of wood is evident in most of the homes he designs, no two are alike.

When pressed, though, he admits that his one signature element is the windows. “Windows are the most important part of the project,” he says. “Often, my windows are larger than life.”

But sometimes, less can also be more, adding a little something that leaves a distinctive mark. “Even small windows can be used to break up siding, and instill or add intrigue and interest,” he explains. •

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A graduate of the University of Oregon with a master’s degree in architecture in 1999 and a degree in landscape architecture from Guelph University in 1990, Tuer started his own boutique architectural firm in 2006. He has always been drawn to Scandinavian Modernism and its use of natural wood, he says. “Scandinavian design has a long history of working with wood in a very modern fashion.”

The winner of Fine Homebuilding’s Best New Home award in 2014 and Best Small Home award in 2017, and named Western Living’s Designer of the Year in the eco-design category in 2015, Tuer enjoys “the warmth of wood and the ability to be very expressive with it.”

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“I am keenly interested in the sculptural aspects of the building as well as creating highly functional floor plans.”

That expression is where he blends the science of architecture with the art of aesthetics. Or, as he explains: “A building…it has to stand up, so it has to have a basic structure, but you can turn that work into poetry.”

A function of this artistry is viewing each building as a sculptured object. “One of the things I do is like cinematography – I rotate around the building,” he says. “I am keenly interested in the sculptural aspects of the building as well as creating highly functional floor plans.”

Tuer’s ability to draw in three dimensions quickly, often as clients try to explain what they are looking for, helps in the collaborative effort, he says. And this skill helps his clients be part of honing the look and features of the house they are hoping to build. “It takes great clients to make great buildings,” he says.

“Every client is different. I try to figure out how to get them to a finish line.”

Crossing that finish line marks a great victory, such as when a client had some outof-the-box thinking.

“I think they liked that I could incorporate their ideas. It felt like it was their creation, and I just translated it for them,” Tuer says.

Watching their suggestions and desires being built gave them ownership of the design.

And Tuer knows exactly how important being a part of the process is for a client who is looking for a unique house. His own home on Bowen Island was built to showcase his approach. Constructed on what he describes as a “challenging lot” with a dramatic 30-foot grade variance, it was featured on the cover of Resorts of the West and effectively launched his career. “That was my showpiece,” he explains. It had three different roofs, different rafter layouts – oversized rafters, double rafters. “And I packed it full of really neat details.”

Sometimes you have to see the magic to be able to believe. •

Spotlight on: James Tuer, JWT Architecture www.jwtarchitecture.com

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TIME TRAVEL Century-old bathroom is lovingly restored

BY PHILLIPA RISPIN PHOTOGRAPHY: JOSHUA LAWRENCE STYLING: LEANNE MCKEACHIE

THERE ARE REALLY ONLY two ways to update heritage homes: Use contemporary materials and products that keep to the spirit of the original design, or be totally anarchic by ignoring tradition and going with an aesthetic that suits your fancy. The worst approach is a pastiche of old style with a few jarring contemporary or wrong-period or poorly done, quaint items. •

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This bathroom in a heritage house in Victoria on the edge of Oak Bay is a fine example of the first approach. Indeed, interior designer Leanne McKeachie of Leanne McKeachie Design even used brand new floor tiles that almost exactly replicate the original hex-anddot pattern.

The 115-square-foot bathroom is part of a luxury rental apartment on the top floor of a two-storey house. The ground floor is commercial space, and the basement contains another rental apartment.

“Originally, we were going to make this into a more functional bathroom by just adding a shower,” McKeachie says. “But as happens with a lot of renovations, it blossomed.” The bathroom update turned into a complete gut job.

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“The owner said ‘If we’re going to do it, let’s do it right. Make it a showpiece,’ ” McKeachie recalls. “He wanted to be true to the original architect’s design intent. In fact, when years ago he had painted the house, he chose colours from a historical palette from that era to be sure the colours were on point.

“Our biggest challenge was trying to figure out how to refurbish the cast iron tub,” she says. “It had lived a long life, being salvaged from the Empress Hotel years ago.” The contractor on the project searched diligently to find trades that could re-enamel the tub, replate the brass feet, and cover old holes and drill new ones for the plumbing fixtures. •

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People were shorter a century ago, and the original pedestal sink was rather low. It too was refurbished, and then it was given an addition to the base to raise it. “These are beautiful antique pieces, part of the character of the house,” McKeachie says.

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One of the room’s very welcome features is a heated floor that extends into the curbless shower. There was no shower in the bathroom’s original incarnation, and the enclosure itself is about as contemporary as you can get. However, being glass and frameless, it lets the shower recede in prominence and the room keep its sense of spaciousness.

The major architectural change in the room was the annexation of an area about two feet by two feet from an adjacent hallway to make space for built-in storage and a pullout laundry-sorting shelf. No matter how charming a traditional century-old bathroom can be, we don’t want to live without our modern conveniences, do we? •

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TRAVEL

A NEW HOTEL IN AN ANCIENT LAND The Orient Jerusalem Hotel offers luxe modern accommodations in a historic, sacred place

BY SHARON AZRIELI • PHOTOGRAPHY: ASSAF PINCHUK

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WEDDINGS, CONFERENCES, ANCIENT HISTORY, and all the politics you’d ever want to discuss. They all meet here.

These are some of the elements you will find at the Orient Jerusalem Hotel. During my stay there, some of the world’s greatest thinkers and Nobel Prize winners were convening on one of the subterranean floors for a conference on neuroscience with the health sciences branch of the government of Israel. At the same time, a wedding was taking place on the hotel’s roof, affording guests a spectacular view of the old and new cities of Jerusalem.

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This juxtaposition is a metaphor that captures well the diversity of this tiny country and the lovely Orient Jerusalem Hotel itself. The hotel is the newest of Isrotel’s chain of 19 across the country, including those in the Ramon crater, the Dead Sea, the Royal Beach Tel Aviv, Eilat, Carmel Forest, and Mitzpe Hayamim.

This one recently opened after four years of construction. Located in the heart of Emek Refaim, the old German Colony, it is across the street from Israel’s first train station, built by the British in 1892. The huge hangar-like space has been transformed into a cool hang-out for shows, ice cream stores and food trucks. •

Photo by Ori Ackerma

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Photos by Ori Ackerma

Because the Orient had to fit into such a compact urban area in West Jerusalem and is within walking distance of the Old City and main tourist sites, hotel staff offer a high-quality “Jerusalem experience” for their guests.

The typical lavish Israeli breakfast, served for a wonderfully longer time than usual to allow guests to sleep in, and representing foods from the city’s various neighbourhoods, is served on an underground f loor called “minus two,” and outside in a lovely, sunny and airy courtyard.

The hotel’s main building descends two storeys below-ground and is 11 storeys aboveground in a relatively narrow space that permits it to fit in with the surrounding urban landscape. It’s a marvel of architectural complexity and beautiful interior design choices. The design’s oriental theme features a Moroccan look in tiles and fixtures, a rooftop infinity pool overlooking the old and new cities, underground conference centres and an indoor spa, which has another pool.

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The lobby and the bar (which is an extension of the lobby and open to the public) feature the colours, materials and crafts of Jerusalem. The drama of the building’s grand atrium of glass and Jerusalem stone is amplified by accents of mosaic tiles.

The 243 guest rooms feel American.

They’re not as small as their European counterparts, and each has a balcony.

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The furnishings are attractive and include huge studded headboards and colourful ceramic lamps, olive-wood table tops and original Israeli art.

The copper sinks and tiled floors in the Orient’s bathrooms are luxurious by Israeli standards; original ceramic pieces are incorporated as holders for soap and toothbrushes.

There are also separate shower stalls and bathtubs. •

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Photo by Ori Ackerma

IF YOU GO: • Take a pair of sturdy closed walking shoes (the streets are cobble-stone and it is hot).

• For spa treatments, book in advance.

• Choose a season other than summer, which is very hot.

• Pack water and fruit for sightseeing.

For visitors seeking accommodations in historic structures, there are the 39 rooms in the two 19th-century Templer buildings just outside the hotel, where families can reserve entire f loors and be treated to the arched windows, wrought-iron bed frames, copper-clad bathtubs and blue-and-ivory palette that harken back to Templer times. Members of the Templer sect – Christians who broke from the Protestant church and settled in the Holy Land to prepare for Messianic salvation – came to Jerusalem in 1873 from Württemberg, Germany. They bought a tract of land in the Refaim Valley – hence the name of the main street of the German Colony – Emek Refaim, or Valley of the Spirits – where the hotel is located.

The Isrotel chain wanted to connect the new hotel to the German Colony neighborhood, notable for the historic Templer buildings. The company was meticulous in its preservation of original facades, says Eyal Ziv, the architect who oversaw the project’s preservation and restoration details.

No efforts were spared in the construction and design here of the new and the preservation of the old. The Orient Jerusalem feels like a fine hotel in Europe or the U.S. •

Orient Jerusalem Hotel www.isrotel.com/orient

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DESIGN

BATHROOM FIXTURE GUIDE

Photo courtesy of Batimat

If a bathroom or powder room renovation is in your immediate future, you’ll want to explore products that are on the market: faucets, tubs, vanities and toilets. Here is a guide to help you find the right products for your bathroom.

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BATHROOM FIXTURE GUIDE 2018 A FRESH IDEA The Fresk FR08 is a new bathroom faucet with push drain by Riobel. Eight inches high, this faucet is also available in single hole, single hole lavatory and single hole lavatory without drain. Available finishes are brushed nickel and chrome.

Available at Riobel www.riobel.ca

SHUI SWAY Rustic style meets modern sleekness in the Shui Comfort collection, designed by Paolo d’Arrigo for Cielo. The harmonious, soft shapes of the washbasins, bathtub and sanitary wares combined with the natural warmth of the wood and black accessories make for a winning combination.

Available at Batimat www.batimat.net

SPACE SAVER The Barcelona 2 from Victoria + Albert Baths is compact and easy to install in bathrooms in which space is at a premium. A void space under the tub conceals waste plumbing, making it a smart choice for remodeling projects in which you do not want to disturb the existing flooring. Still roomy enough to relax in, this tub has plenty of wow factor. Shown in Anthracite colour.

Available at Victoria + Albert Baths www.vandabaths.com

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PAINT A KANVAS Part of the Aquabrass Kanvas Collection, the Grafitti free-standing bathtub is handpainted stone resin. The interior has a glossy white finish with press pop-up drains. Sure to be a conversation starter, this bathtub is a work of art in the bathroom.

Available at Batimat www.batimat.net

FUNCTION AND FASHION The Hutton extra-wide vanity from Restoration Hardware can be sold with your choice of a honed-marble or quartz countertop or without the countertop. The top center drawer is decorative, while all other drawers and cabinet doors are functional and adorned with brass hardware.

Available at Restoration Hardware www.restorationhardware.com

FASHIONABLE FAUCET The 1Art lavatory is a contemporary faucet set that’s available in a myriad of finishes and accents. Mix and match the finishes online to view all the possibilities. Shown here in a red finish with antique matte brass accents.

Available at The Rubinet Faucet Company www.rubinet.com

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BATHROOM FIXTURE GUIDE 2018 GET A HANDLE The high-end Ikon single-handle bathroom faucet from MaestroBath is a masterpiece of Spanish design. Complete with complex geometric lines, it has been manufactured with the utmost attention to detail. It has a fixed height to accommodate integrated or drop-in sinks. Shown in polished gold, this faucet also comes in polished chrome, black and white.

Available at Wayfair www.wayfair.ca

STAINLESS AND STUNNING The Soriano collection from Victoria + Albert is a new line of stainless steel faucets. Italian-made, these contemporary-style fixtures have a sleek silhouette and a simple design. Available in four configurations to complement sinks, tubs and vanities as well a new concealed shower collection.

Available at Victoria + Albert Baths www.vandabaths.com

STREAMLINED SILHOUETTE A combination of neutral colours and textures define Scavolini’s DeLinea vanity (Design by Vuesse). The cabinetry has a streamlined silhouette thanks to doors with a recessed profile. The base is wall-mounted and the unit features a dedicated line of accessories, including matching faucets, shelves and towel rails. Available in white, brass or aluminum finish.

Available at Scavolini www.scavolini.com

TUBULAR BRASS The Metallo washstand from Victoria + Albert Baths has a tubular brass construction with a practical towel bar and a shelf for storage. Equally at home in a traditional or industrial-inspired bathroom, it’s available in two sizes. Shown here is the Metallo 113 in black.

Available at Victoria + Albert Baths www.vandabaths.com

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BATHROOM FIXTURE GUIDE 2018 SHOWER POWER The Momenti three-way system by Riobel has a hand shower rail, shower head and spout. It comes in chrome, chrome/black, brushed nickel, brushed nickel/black, polished nickel and polished nickel/black finishes.

Available at Riobel www.riobel.ca

GOLD GLEAM The clean lines of the elegant Caso wall-mount bathroom faucet from MaestroBath were inspired by the abstract designs of modern architecture. Combining rectangle and circle shapes, this faucet has an easy-to-use single handle control. Shown here in a brushed gold colour but also available in polished chrome and polished gold.

Available at Wayfair www.wayfair.ca

LEAD-FREE LUXURY This two-piece Italian-made waterfall bathroom faucet by MaestroBath is a focal point in any bathroom. It has an adjustable height to accommodate any type of sink and is easy to install. Made of lead-free brass, this faucet will be at home in both traditional and contemporary decor.

Available at Wayfair www.wayfair.ca

SIMPLE STYLING Simple geometric shapes define the Scavolini Juno Collection (Design by Vuesse), which balances design and functionality.

Superior quality, a wide range of accessories, and enhanced modularity guarantee style and originality in the bathroom.

Available at Scavolini www.scavolini.com

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BATHROOM FIXTURE GUIDE 2018 BRASS BLING Channeling the aesthetic of the 1950s, the Hudson metal double washstand was created with an open-back sink and matching storage space. The washstand is sold as a set with your choice of a honed-marble or quartz countertop. Many finish options are available and the Hudson also comes in a single, extra-wide single and powder room washstand models.

Available at Restoration Hardware www.restorationhardware.com

FEEL THE QI The Scavolini Qi bathroom line (Design by Nendo) offers a spare, contemporary aesthetic. The Qi Cristalplant floor-standing washbasin, along with slanted, backlit mirror, large shelves in decorative melamine, and white containers create a simple but strong visual impact.

Available at Scavolini www.scavolini.com

WORK OUT AND WASH Perfect for doing a quick workout, this small-space combo called Gym Space, designed for Scavolini by Mattia Pareschi Design, merges the gym with the bathroom. A reinterpretation of the gymnastics bars is used as a base onto which such sports equipment as benches, elastic training bands and TRX systems may be added. Use the bars also to secure bathroom accessories such as lights, soap dishes, shelves, storage elements and a mirror.

Available at Scavolini www.scavolini.com

ADD COLOUR TO THE BATHROOM This pressure-balance shower valve with stops and two-way diverter was designed by Matthew Quinn and is available in various finishes and accent finishes. Mix and match the finishes online to see the possibilities. We show it here in Blu Jean finish with red accents.

Available at The Rubinet Faucet Company www.rubinet.com

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ART

MANY INSPIRATIONS AND STYLES

Artist Paul Ygartua is influenced by his background and his travels

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FOR ALMOST FOUR DECADES, Vancouver artist Paul Ygartua has amassed an astonishing body of work in a variety of styles: figurative abstract, European impressionism, neo cubism, surrealism and abstract expressionism. He is prolific and internationally acclaimed. We asked the artist about his work and life.

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QUESTION: Paul, you come from a Basque father and a British mother. How does the combination of these two cultures inform your art?

ANSWER: After jumping ship in Liverpool to escape the Civil War in Spain, my father became a political refugee. My parents met at a dance during the Second World War. My mother was an artist, my father an engineer, and both my grandfathers were master chefs. I grew up in an artistic environment with a diverse cultural perspective. I was fortunate to be exposed to other cultures, which gave me more understanding and appreciation of the world.

My mother gave me the opportunity to paint and draw when I was very young; I painted alongside her from the age of six during our summer holidays in the Basque Country. She insisted that I go to art school; she knew that was my direction.

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My father’s strength – his pride of being Basque – had a profound influence on me.

Q: You and your wife, Joanne, travel extensively and have residences around the globe. Does geography have an impact on your art?

A: We are nomadic by nature and feel at home anywhere in the world. We speak three languages, making it interesting not only to visit other countries but to live there and experience daily life like the locals. I am constantly surprised and intrigued by the people of the world.

Travelling to different cities and countries has a great impact on my art, particularly the cities of the world. From the politics to the culture, these influences inspire my creativity. •

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Q: You are an artist who is known for various styles. Why do you create art in so many styles?

A: It is part of my inner journey to transcend through styles, to identify myself with original interpretations of existing expressions.

I am always looking to improve on each work, to fine-tune my coordination between

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body, mind and spirit, with emphasis on reaching the point whereby my hands are moving almost without me consciously guiding them. Speed is an integral part of the process as it forces one not to dwell on exactitude; rather it forces a continuous flow of inspiration and passion.

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Q: Do you have one favourite style that you prefer working in than others?

A: I enjoy moving from one medium or one style to another. It’s essential to continually search for new subjects, new ideas. High energy, imagination and freedom of expression through experimentation challenges one to achieve a completely original thought, to re-create original thought with a three-dimensional form.

This is the power of creation and the challenge to influence a viewer, to enable others to experience the same emotions, the same high the artist experiences through the energy expressed at the moment of creation.

Q: As a resident of British Columbia, you have been deeply influenced by aboriginal culture. How is this reflected in the work you produce?

A: I feel a real affinity towards West Coast aboriginals due to my Basque heritage. The

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Basques have an ancient history and are considered to be among the first peoples of the world. My upbringing gave me a deep understanding of the importance of one’s heritage. I feel compassion for the aboriginal crusade in Canada to preserve their culture. I believe that the preservation of one’s heritage is an obligation. I have always admired the culture and rituals of West Coast aboriginals.

It seems to be a never-ending story whereby I am constantly drawn in; there is a force that embodies my spirit that always takes me back to the West Coast aboriginals. The subject matter constantly inspires and fascinates me to capture the spirit of the extraordinary masks and totems.

Whether it be abstracted or my latest interpretation in reverse plexiglass, which is exhibited at the Eagle Spirit Gallery in Vancouver, it is an ongoing journey that is challenging and exciting.

Q: How do you perceive the future of your art?

Where will you go from here?

A: I have a contact with a professor in Barcelona who approached me to think about an installation for a museum there. I would like to work on more important projects and more in an abstract form. Abstracts are a culmination of every other style; they have no beginning, no end. There’s limitless composition, colour and texture. There are possibilities that enable the artist to project large canvases for spacious areas, buildings, foyers, etc. It all leads to large installation art for amazing spaces or museums. •

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A FEAST FOR THE SENSES Visually pleasing interior design in restaurants aims to connect diners with the people who creatively prepare their meals

BY BRENDA O’FARRELL

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CONNECTING CUSTOMERS WITH the creative workings in the kitchen: That is one of the themes in today’s restaurant design. Gone are the days when chefs toiled behind doors that would swing open and closed as the wait staff scurried back and forth, forging a detached link between cook and customer. The modern dining experience is a much more intimate affair. The trendiest restaurants today not only provide their guests with a table in a

highly designed setting, but also offer a spot from which to watch the culinary creations come to life.

Being on-trend means immersing guests in the complete dining experience.

Let’s take a look at how some of today’s avant-garde eating establishments blend form and function, providing a full menu for all of the senses.

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FIGO

Photos: Evan Dion

Figo is a perfect example of the new wave in restaurant design. Located in the heart of Toronto’s downtown core, it offers romantic Italian dining. The 4,200-square-foot establishment was conceived by Toronto’s award-winning Studio Munge.

Among its most spectacular features is the graphic archway between the dining area and open kitchen. Made of 4,000 hand-placed tiles, the archway perfectly frames the action in the kitchen, allowing diners to watch as their artisanal dishes are created, as if they were viewing a live stage production.

The ceiling above the dining area at Figo also helps set the tone. Featuring a large custom floral application in light shimmering pastels, the surface above the entire seating area, adds a touch of romance and charm, creating the impression that visitors are dining in a country village in Italy.

The cathedral-style wine cabinet in the bar-lounge catches the eye, as well, contributing to the Old-World sophistication that permeates the space, while the curved custom-made glass tables and white marble bar provide a contemporary touch.

Figo Toronto 295 Adelaide St. W, Toronto 647-748-3446 www.figotoronto.com

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HOOGAN ET BEAUFORT Hoogan et Beaufort is an upscale restaurant in Montreal’s Rosemont borough. Housed in a building that once served as a train-manufacturing facility in the former Angus rail yards district, it has 28-foot ceilings and 2,700 square feet of space. It strikes a balance between contemporary and traditional styles, with an industrial vibe.

Designed by the Montreal-based APPAREIL Architecture, the restaurant pays homage to its industrial past. In fact, its name, Hoogan et Beaufort, honours the two farmers who originally owned the land that was purchased to create the Angus rail yards in the late 1800s.

The old wooden beams in the ceiling, along with custom-made refurbished finishings provide an unpretentious feel, while the open-flame kiln-like oven on full display provides an enchanting rustic charm.

Hoogan et Beaufort 4095 Molson St., Montreal 514-903-1233 Photos: Felix Michaud

www.hooganetbeaufort.com

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KŌST AT BISHA Kōst is a rooftop restaurant that sits atop the Bisha Hotel in Toronto’s entertainment district. Its use of white Canadian oak gives the entire space a beach-house ambience.

Wooden trellises clad the surface of the ceiling, while the use of the light-coloured wood extends to the walls, beams and tables.

The look reflects the openness of the high-rise location.

Designed by Studio Munge, the custom seating features oak bar stools with apricot-coloured velvet upholstery, woven rattan chairs, and banquettes finished in ivory and orange, while the light oak tables feature interlocking tile insets. The look is light and airy, while the layout allows guests to take in views of the city’s skyline as well as the action behind the bar or in the kitchen, visible just beyond a marble counter in peach, seafoam-green, and cream tones.

Kōst 80 Blue Jays Way, 44th Floor, Toronto 437-800-5938

Photos: Maxime Bocken

www.kosttoronto.com

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FOIEGWA The open-kitchen concept is also at the centre of the hip new Montreal restaurant Foiegwa.

This self-described “Americanized French diner” takes its name from the American pronunciation of “foie gras.”

Designed by the gauleybrothers, the restaurant is located in a former Belle Province fast food outlet at the corner of Atwater Avenue and Notre Dame Street in the city’s St. Henri district.

The open kitchen is framed by white tiled walls that are filled with sketches by local artist Marc Tremblay. The framed drawings are of famous Montrealers, much along the same line as those seen in the iconic New York City restaurant Sardi’s.

In addition to the open kitchen, the use of wood and black marble imparts an upscale look. Although used sparingly, the natural wood accents frame the tile walls and coordinate with the tan-coloured banquettes and upholstered stool chairs.

Foiegwa 3001 Notre Dame St. W., Montreal 438-387-4252 www.foiegwa.com

Photos: Mathieu Derome

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DESIGN VANCOUVER AUTUMN 2018

LE SUPER QUALITÉ Although considered a diner in every sense of the term, Le Super Qualité in Montreal’s Villeray district is on trend with its look that includes a view of the kitchen and the use of wood.

Designed by architect David Dworkind, this Indian snack bar draws inspiration for its style from a few sources. The bright-blueand-yellow colour scheme is taken from the palette used on Indian commuter trains.

Rough plank cladding in a blue-painted finish is also used along the base of the counters.

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Photos: David Dworkind

Wood is prominently used in the seating area, where the bright colours are balanced by the natural wood tabletops, while stainless-steel countertops and accents, such as custom lighting pendants, match the gleaming surfaces in the open kitchen.

Le Super Qualité 1211 Rue Bélanger, Montreal 514-398-0184 www.lesuperqualite.com

Restaurant-goers, it seems, like to be connected with those who create their meals.

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DESIGN

WHITE

AND

LIGHT

A penthouse condo defies Vancouver’s overcast weather by being designed in an all-white palette

BY KAREN SEIDMAN • PHOTOGRAPHY: EMA PETER

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WHEN DESIGNER JAMIE DECK got her instructions from a young couple who were decorating their new penthouse condo in a trendy area of Vancouver, there were two main conditions: Keep it on budget and make it white.

Well, it is white. “They love modern design and wanted a bright, organic, modern home,” Deck says of the couple, Melanie and Chris Adkins.

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As for the budget, Deck, owner of Shift Interiors, says they worked on a high-low premise, going for some custom items but reining in costs by also using inexpensive Ikea pieces that fit the condo’s modern decor.

“The budget was the challenge to get the look they wanted,” Deck says. She offset the cost of some premium items, such as the stylish Bensen sofa, with some inexpensive

ones, including the Ikea console that sits beneath the TV in the living room and offers great liquor and wine storage as well as a bar that opens up when the homeowners entertain. Next to that console is a custom light-oak cabinet. And that sits next to the inexpensive but trendy dining room chairs from Article. •

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The whiteness of the condo is complemented by such black accents as this contemporary-style chair, while a nature photo, by photographer David Haakonson, adds colour to the space. Art image on the right by Playtype.

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The dining chairs, from Article, were inexpensive and wipeable, an appealing feature for a young couple who wanted their 1,200-square-foot condo to be predominantly white.

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When intermingling such items, Deck says, it’s difficult to tell the high-end pieces from the low-end ones. It all just looks great. She has mastered this technique so flawlessly that in some instances the custom pieces blend so perfectly with the lower-end items that they create a whole new entity. That seems to be the case in the condo’s office, where Deck used custom-made floating shelves interspersed with boxes from Ikea to create a unique wall storage space.

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“The open-concept shelves add layers of texture,” she says. “Having that architectural element on the wall is quite beautiful and creates a really timeless look.”

That, she says, is exactly what her design firm wants to achieve for clients: a clean, timeless, long-term design. “Where are you going with your life?” is the question she wants her clients’ homes to answer. •

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“Her use of neutral tones really creates a calm space and allows for the beauty of the outdoors to come in.”

Designer Jamie Deck used Oxford White by Benjamin Moore, a “warm white,” on the walls to prevent a stark aesthetic. The custom-made bed, from CF Interiors, provides additional and much-needed storage.

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Despite the couple’s request for an all-white look, with a few black elements – which Deck encouraged them to include for some dramatic effect – she believes the outcome is surprisingly warm and inviting. “It’s contemporary-modern but not cold-modern,” she says. The designer can take credit for part of that, including the decision to use Benjamin Moore’s Oxford White paint, which creates a warm white, and for integrating texture and richness from the wood floors and accents. But part of the warmth comes from the panoramic views; wraparound windows and a balcony on the 1,263-foot corner penthouse condo brings the outdoors inside.

The condo faces northwest and has sweeping views of the mountains and all the way from

Burnaby to Queen Elizabeth Park, with parts of downtown.

“It’s a modern space but around it is organic, there’s greenery and mountains that bring in colour and warmth,” Deck says.

And let’s not forget that this is Vancouver, where the weather can best be described as grey. The pervasive white, the wall-to-wall windows and the skylight all work to make the home bright and warm even on those dull, overcast days.

Another challenge Deck faced with the project was creating ample storage space.

Some cabinetry helped, but she also chose a bed from CF Interiors and customized it to create storage. It lifts from one end to store winter clothing.

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A staircase in the condo leading to a private rooftop patio provided an opportunity for custom storage underneath; it houses overflow kitchen appliances and dishes, shoes and books. “All of the storage that she created is a condo owner’s dream,” says homeowner Melanie Adkins.

She says Deck overcame all obstacles to provide her clients with the stunning, white contemporary home they wanted. “We are beyond thrilled with the home that Jamie created,” Melanie says. “She took all of the ideas that were in our heads and brought them to life. Her use of neutral tones really creates a calm space and allows for the beauty of the outdoors to come in.” •

(Left) Storage was a critical issue but the staircase up to a private rooftop patio gave Deck some extra space to add customized storage units. “This is where extra kitchen supplies, books and shoes are stored,” she says.

A mix of custom-made shelves and Ikea boxes create a unique wall unit in the office. The whole condo, highlighted by wrap-around windows and stunning views, has an almost “mystical” feel, according to Deck.

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PULLING IT ALL TOGETHER

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Designer/builder Aida Ziari ensures that her clients’ renovation projects are perfectly orchestrated

BY BRENDA O’FARRELL

DESIGN VANCOUVER AUTUMN 2018

NEATLY PACKAGED RESOLUTION. It is what most people strive for – in conflict, chaos, divorce, sometimes life in general and, definitely, during renovation projects in particular.

To describe the notion, a familiar phrase is often employed, such as “when things come together.” As in: “Don’t you just love it when things come together?” Or: “We kept working at it until we got it just right. It took a while, but suddenly things came together. It was like magic.”

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In some ways, Aida Ziari and her company, Stylux Design and Construction, are the corporate embodiment of the phrase. The name of the Vancouver-based company makes it clear that the firm is about “design and construction.” These are the “things” that come together in Ziari’s world. And the results are, in fact, often magic. But despite the seamless execution, which is not always common in a renovation or construction project (hence the previous reference to chaos, conflict and divorce), not all parts are equal. •

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The calendar might say it’s 2018, but a woman in the construction business still gives some people pause. But once you get past that, stand back and behold the magic.

“To prove myself, I have to work a lot harder than a man,” says Ziari, who is CEO and head interior designer. Then she adds, “It has got definitely easier than when I started.”

Ziari is an industrial engineer, an interior designer and a licensed builder. It’s a rare combination. “I am not a general contractor who says: ‘Go and choose your product and tell me what to do, where to start, where to finish,’ ” she explains. She handles it all. Her aim is to deliver what she calls a “no-headache” renovation.

“Sometimes I get resistance from contractors because I am a woman,” she says. “But, at the same time, if you show you’re capable,” and her voice trails off. “I can sell design, but for building, I definitely have to prove myself.

“I study so hard. I keep myself up to date. If someone asks me a question, I have an answer. I can’t say I don’t know,” she says, explaining how if a client asks a male builder a question about a detail for which he does not have the answer, he can simply say he will look into that, do some research

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or simply assure them he will “come up with something.” But if a woman does that, Ziari says, many people view it as a crack in her armour, a sign that she, in fact, doesn’t know what she is doing. And it erodes the credibility she works so hard to build.

The result is that every detail in her work – from beginning to end – is planned. And that goes for small projects, such as bathroom renovations, to major contracts, such as the construction of a new house or the addition of an extension to an existing home.

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Ziari also owns and operates North Shore Home Makeover Centre, a showroom that is open to the public, which contains all the finishings homeowners need: paint, wallpaper, fabric, hardware, lighting. But this is no big-box reno store. Everything in it is unique and sourced from around the world.

The combination means clients don’t even have to go shopping for the long list of items needed when building or renovating. “When they come to me, it’s going to get so easy for them. They will enjoy the process,” she says of her customers. “It will be one of their best experiences doing a renovation.”

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And that is why some of Ziari’s larger projects involve clients who first hired her to do smaller renovations. They not only loved the results, they loved the compliments they received from friends and family about the look. And they kept turning to her to do bigger and bigger projects. “I am a very innovative designer,” Ziari says. “I love the technical stuff.” It’s a powerful combination – a neat package, you could say, to resolve renovation needs and to ensure that “things come together.” •

Stylux Design and Construction Office: 504-100 Park Royal S., West Vancouver Showroom: 775-333 Brooksbank Ave., North Vancouver 604-235-1935 www.styluxconstruction.com

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THE POWER OF LEGEND Fashion designer Dorothy Grant creates clothing that interprets Haida culture

BY SUSAN KELLY

VANCOUVER FASHION DESIGNER DOROTHY GRANT has been interpreting Haida legends through haute couture — and was the first to do so — for more than three decades. And she seems to be on the way to becoming a legend herself.

Surviving in the ultra-competitive world of fashion for that long might be enough to qualify her. But how many designers can say their unique pieces are found not only heading down major fashion runways but also on display at 16 museums around the world, including the National Gallery of Canada?

Among the many awards on her wall is a 2015 Order of Canada for her “contributions to the fashion industry as an artist, designer and mentor.”

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The symbols that appear on her work — ravens, hummingbirds, orcas — may be particular to the Haida culture. Yet Grant has discovered that they have universal power.

“I call my work’s appeal multinational,” she says, “because it’s not just about the First Nations. I always talk about Yaagudaang, a Haida word for having respect for all things

and, more importantly, yourself. It’s something I want people to feel when they wear my work or see it in a show or museum.”

It’s a feeling many celebrities have resonated with over the years. Grant designed the tuxedo that Duane Howard, an actor in The Revenant, wore to the 2016 Oscars ceremony: an impeccably tailored form-skimming suit

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“But sometimes you have to stand in your power and proclaim: ‘I was born to do this.’ ”

with raven and eagle motifs embroidered in silk on the lapels. “I remember vividly the great pride I felt when wearing it,” he says. “Everyone backstage kept asking who designed it. It had even more meaning for me because she worked in my family crest; I’m of the Nuu-chah-nulth nation.” Grant watched from Mexico on the big night, keeping an eye on the online likes and shares, which hit a half-million in one day.

Non-celebrities, both women and men, also enjoy the feeling of empowerment her designs give them. The lucky ones go to the

Tsawwassen studio she calls her second home for a final fitting. When we caught up with her, she was completing a bespoke suit for a male client in Alaska who finds it difficult to find clothing that fits his six-foot-nine frame, and a wedding dress for a woman in Hawaii.

Grant was also putting the finishing touches on five dresses to be shown at the Santa Fe Indian Market. That major showcase for indigenous fashion is but one of many shows she participates in each year.

And yet the designer’s life might have taken a very different turn. She was reminded

of this fact while preparing a speech accepting an honorary doctorate from Simon Fraser University last June. She thought of the students who would hear her, and the many choices before them. And how when she was their age in the early 1970s she was determined to become a computer programmer in a secure and lucrative career. Yet she abruptly walked away from that path to pursue a passion for Haida art. “I have sacrificed a lot to get to where I am today,” Grant says. “But sometimes you have to stand in your power and proclaim: ‘I was born to do this.’ ” •

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She went on to study at the Helen Lefeaux School of Fashion Design, dabbling with fabric art and designing dance costumes.

She fell in with a group of artists, including the renowned Bill Reid, who provided the seed idea. She had a vision of how Haida art might translate into fashion. But it couldn’t be static; it had to fit the body and flow with it as it moves.

Today, Grant continues to work in her own way. She remains aloof to fashion trends, preferring to follow her own artistic instincts, and unlike other designers, does not produce collections. Every garment in her Feastwear and Gold Label lines of womenswear and the men’s suits is made to measure for clients who approach her, usually through her dorothygrant.com website; only the handbags, shawls and scarves are off-the-rack.

She designs her own fabrics; a New York City company has them printed for her overseas. And she uses the fabrics exclusively for

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her garments.

The trouble with legends is they are often open to embellishment. To ensure her own story gets a true telling, she has started working on an autobiography. The need to get her life and work on paper was brought home to her two years ago while she was at a National Art Gallery exhibit in Ottawa.

A young student asked for her autograph, saying she was studying Grant and her work in a course at Carleton University. The designer suddenly realized that, since she has

turned down numerous offers to write her story over the decades, they likely had scant information to fill the curriculum.

With three chapters completed so far, she has found the writing process an introspective one. “It has made me think about my cause and effect,” Grant says. “What I do, my art, is my cause. Until now, I never really realized the effect it has on thousands of people who are watching. And that gives me more incentive to continue with the book. Because it’s my story, my history.” •

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WATER WORKS Today’s bathrooms are sophisticated sanctuaries thanks to new technologies, materials and fixtures

BY CHERYL CORNACCHIA

TORONTO INTERIOR DESIGNER DVIRA OVADIA recently designed a Toronto home with seven bathrooms, and to each of them she gave its own distinct style. The current vast range of materials and fixtures makes that task easier than it would have been a few decades ago.

The bathroom, once an afterthought in interior design, is now as much a showpiece as any other room in the house. New materials and the introduction of technology have helped to transform this once-humble space into a sanctuary. •

Photo courtesy of Fleurco

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From new composite materials such as marble-like porcelain to such fixtures as wall-mounted toilets, technological advances are making their mark on the emerging 21st century bathroom.

Then, there’s marble. An engineered porcelain alternative to this venerable, old stone is less expensive, more versatile and requires no maintenance. It comes in standard tile sizes, such as 12-by-12 inches or 12-by-24 inches, as well as in large sheets measuring three-by-five feet or even six-by-five. Large sheets allow for a seamless look, an aesthetic now in vogue that once was possible only with standard marble slabs. Especially popular in the large sheets are porcelain substitutes for Calacatta Oro marble as well as Statuario Venato, says Anthony Gaudio, general manager of Amati Canada, a bathroom and kitchen design shop in Thornhill, Ont. “You can’t tell the difference from the real McCoy,” he says.

Technology has also had an impact on the design of toilets, showers and bathtubs, opening up new possibilities for customization. There are new digital shower systems that can be preprogrammed for each member of the family and controlled remotely with an app; toilets with built-in bidet functions; and wall-mounted toilets that look positively space-age.

The Geberit in-wall carrier system allows for the hanging of a toilet bowl on the wall at one’s desired height. The tank is concealed in the wall, creating a minimalist look that’s ideal for small bathrooms. (The average toilet tank measures 12 inches from the wall, bringing the fixture out 28 to 30 inches).

European-style bidets have always been a niche market in North America but technology is changing that, too. The Toto Neorest and the Duravit SensoWash are among the new cutting-edge toilets with washing and drying functions - even heating functions built into the seat.

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Photo courtesy of Cantu

“Some people find it a little much when they see it,” says Francesca Pietrobon, showroom manager at Muti Kitchen and Bath in Toronto. “They joke ‘Will it make my coffee, too?’ “ However, travellers passing through Tokyo’s Narita International Airport will see Toto’s smart toilet installed there in the public washrooms.

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Photo courtesy of Cantu

Even showers are multi-tasking fixtures.

Digital technology means that showers can now double as steam rooms, Turkish baths, hammams and saunas - all of which can be controlled from a panel on a wall or remotely. Some systems even offer aromatherapy, chromatherapy and music functions. Mr. Steam, Steamist, Effegibi of Italy and Kohler are among the manufacturers of these digital-control steam and shower systems.

Ashley Watson, assistant showroom manager at Cantu Bathrooms and Hardware in Vancouver, says having technology “in your home is a must-have.”

“Health and wellness is of great importance on the West Coast,” Watson says. “Incorporating a steam shower in your home is a great way to provide self-care in our oftenbusy lives. The combination of steam with aromatherapy allows you to relax after a long day at the office by adding some lavender, and can help you fight off a cold with eucalyptus.

After playing soccer in the rain, from the convenience of an app, you can remotely set your steam shower to be ready when you arrive home. It’s an incredible health benefit.”

Photo courtesy of Batimat

The fact that they can be pre-programmed for different users is especially appealing, adds Karine Perreault of Batimat, a high-end plumbing supply shop serving the Montreal market.

Another factor influencing shower design is new linear drains, such as those offered by ACO Canada. These shower-floor drains allow designers to create unique shower rooms and spaces. There’s no longer a need for a shower base or curb. •

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Not surprisingly, as the shower has become the preferred way to wash, bathtubs have declined in regular use. But, like landline telephones, many people assume they need one. This has repurposed the bathtub from a functional item to a showcase piece, a work of sculptural art. Built-in or drop-in tubs have given way to standalone soaker tubs in a vast array of styles. They are often installed as a focus of the bathroom.

Photo courtesy of Fleurco

Photo courtesy of Amati

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Photo courtesy of Dvira Ovadia

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Photo courtesy of Muti Kitchen & Bath

Innovative accessories are also available.

Vanity lighting has moved away from wall sconces and bar lights to pendulum lighting, although chandeliers continue to be popular when paired with ornate vanity mirrors.

Va n it ies a re now more f requently wall-mounted and off the floor. And small is big. Rather than an 80-inch vanity of yesteryear, the norm is now two smaller vanities, often placed side-by-side but not exclusively.

Erin Brick, marketing manager at Fleurco, a Montreal-based manufacturer of high-end shower doors, tubs and other bathroom fixtures, says floating vanities are especially popular because they make a bathroom feel more spacious. And while bathrooms may be shrinking in size, the need for storage has stayed constant. For that reason, Brick says, Fleurco has brought back the medicine cabinet. The company’s updated version is mirrored, and can be mounted or recessed, bevelled or flat-edged. “Functionality is required for smaller bathrooms,” says Brick. “It has a modern, clean look.” •

Photo courtesy of Muti Kitchen & Bath

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Photo courtesy of Dvira Ovadia

Photo courtesy of Fleurco

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Recessed shelving remains in fashion, too, especially in the shower where it keeps things looking clean. And cocktail tables are the new cool thing, usually placed beside a soaker tub.

The colour palette hasn’t changed much; neutral and natural greys, whites and beiges continue to dominate. Espresso-coloured millwork is out; lacquered white and neutral tones are being used on bathroom cabinetry.

Muted earth tones are slowly bringing colour back into style. Simas of Italy has unveiled a collection of coloured ceramic bathroom fixtures in browns, blacks, greens and blues.

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Photo courtesy of Amati

Photo courtesy of Cantu

After years of chrome faucets, rain heads and slide bars, brass and gold-tone plumbing fixtures are making a comeback alongside the stalwart matte black. Totally new is textured finishes on chrome plumbing fixtures, an engineered 3D-look we will likely see more of in the next few years.

To be sure, many changes in the bathroom are being driven by technology but demographics is also exerting its influence. Higher toilets, such as Kohler’s comfort-height versions, cater to anyone with back problems or bad knees. Showers without curbs, meanwhile, are an offspring of the U.S. federal Americans with Disability Act (ADA).

All in all, there has never been a better time to make over and personalize the bathroom, says designer Dvira Ovadia, of the eponymously named Dvira Interiors. “Today’s design fits with today’s culture. People want things cheap, low maintenance, carefree and to look luxurious,” she says.

Whether a bathroom is large or small, Ovadia says, she likes to take the wall behind the vanity and make it a design feature. “It’s one of my signatures,” she says. “It adds another layer. That’s the wall you are facing all the time. It should be special.”

Photo courtesy of Batimat

Photo courtesy of Cantu

Ovadia says a pearlized mosaic accent wall behind a white lacquered vanity was one she recently designed that she particularly loved.

She says it showed off everything in the room, especially the mix of brushed brass, crystal and chrome plumbing fixtures, lighting accessories and vanity pulls and knobs. “The all-over look was both modern and classic,” she says. And it garnered a NKBA (National Kitchen and Bath Association) award for her design company. •

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DETAILS, DETAILS …

Hardware may be a supporting player in interior design, but it can greatly enhance a home’s look

BY BRENDA O’FARRELL

IT HAS LONG BEEN ACCEPTED that the devil is often found in the details. When it comes to a home, however, Simone Greenwood would suggest the details should actually be a little devilish.

Or brassy. Even black.

Because for her, the details are a matter of style. And in her world, that all falls under the heading of hardware – the knobs, handles, hinges and accents that dress up a home. She believes these details can make a strong statement, not to mention a stylish one.

“We call it jewelry for your home,” says Greenwood, the co-owner of Bradford Hardware, a Vancouver-based hardware specialist and design centre. And just like jewelry, hardware adds the sparkle. Of course, Greenwood points out, there is also the irony.

“It’s one of the last things that is purchased.

It’s one of the last things you end up deciding on,” she says, highlighting hardware’s ironic position in the purchasing pecking order given its important role in bringing together a room’s sophisticated, finished sense. “It’s the one area that can really make a difference in the look.”

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Even if it is purchased last, it is one of the first things Greenwod notices when she walks into a house. She is attracted not only by the look of the hardware, “but the feel of the hardware,” she says, explaining that the way the mechanisms work is important, too.

Admittedly, she does this because she’s a self-proclaimed “hardware nerd.” In fact, when she and her husband and business partner watch a movie, they often pause the film to inspect, discuss and debate the hardware found on cabinets and doors in a scene. But if hardware is done right, she suggests, it will be what guests will notice, too.

Which brings us to the question: How do you choose?

“There are just so many details when it comes to hardware,” Grenwood explains. “A lot of people are indecisive – for sure. They do ask us for our opinion.” So she offers two suggestions.

First, if you really want to see the difference good hardware can make, take an inexpensive piece of furniture and jazz it up with high-end pulls or knobs. It will

transform the unit. Or, if the budget ends up being tight, and choices have to be made, go big on the hardware for your front door.

“If you can, funnel some of your budget there,” she says. “Sometimes, it’s the only thing a visitor is going to see or touch.” You won’t regret it.

Hardware can add a personal touch, too.

And Greenwood says that is what you will find at Bradford. In fact, visitors to the showroom often walk out with a gift – a little something from Greenwood’s home – eggs or apples.

That’s right, eggs from the chickens she keeps at her small farm in Langley, or apples, when they are in season.

“The best thing is our customers,” she says.

So why not share a little piece of her home with them? The details matter. •

Bradford Decorative Hardware 101 1626 W. 2nd Ave., Vancouver 604-569-0783 www.bradfordhardware.com

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BUYERS’ GUIDE

HOME FROM THE FUTURE Falken Reynolds Interiors www.falkenreynolds.com 604-568-9487

DETAILS, DETAILS Bradford Decorative Hardware www.bradfordhardware.com 604-569-0783

MAKING MAGIC JWT Architecture www.jwtarchitecture.com 604-947-2768 ~ 604-999-7110

A FEAST FOR THE SENSES Figo Toronto www.figotoronto.com 647-748-3446

PULLING IT ALL TOGETHER Stylux Design and Construction www.styluxconstruction.com 604-235-1935

Hoogan et Beaufort www.hooganetbeaufort.com 514-903-1233

CONSIDERING ALL THE ANGLES House of Bohn www.houseofbohn.com 604-629-3400 TIME TRAVEL Leanne McKeachie Design www.leannemckeachie.com 250-891-3306 INSPIRED BY ICONIC ARCHITECTURE Canvas Homes www.canvashomesbc.ca STARTING FROM SCRATCH Space Harmony www.spaceharmony.ca 604-500-0120 ~ 604-782-1450 FROM THE OUTSIDE IN My House/Design/Build/Team www.myhousedesignbuild.com 604-694-6873 WHITE AND LIGHT Shift Interiors www.shift-interiors.com 778-668-0659

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Kōst www.kosttoronto.com 437-800-5938 Foiegwa www.foiegwa.com 438-387-4252 Le Super Qualité www.lesuperqualite.com 514-398-0184 ABOUT FACE Tina Cartier www.tinacartier.com 438-887-2410 THE POWER OF LEGEND Dorothy Grant www.dorothygrant.com 604-425-1427 A TASTE OF TOFINO Wickaninnish Inn www.wickinn.com 250-725-3100 Wolf in the Fog www.wolfinthefog.com 250-725-9653

The Ice House Oyster Bar www.icehousetofino.ca 250-725-4239

Liquidity Wines www.liquiditywines.com 778-515-5500

Kuma Tofino www.kumatofino.com 250-725-2215

Painted Rock Estate Winery www.paintedrock.ca 250-493-6809

Sea Monster Noodle Bar www.seamonsternoodle.com 250-725-1280

Culmina Family Estate Winery www.culmina.ca 250-498-0789

Sobo www.sobo.ca 250-725-2341

Le Vieux Pin Winery www.levieuxpin.ca 250-498-8388

A NEW HOTEL IN AN ANCIENT LAND Orient Jerusalem Hotel www.isrotel.com/orient

WATER WORKS Dvira Interiors www.dvira.com 416-457-8827

MANY REASONS TO RAISE A GLASS Checkmate Artisanal Winery www.checkmatewinery.com 250-707-2299

Fleurco www.fleurco.com 514-326-2222 ~ 1-800-993-0033

Lake Breeze Winery www.lakebreeze.ca 250-496-5659 Summerhill Pyramid Winery www.summerhill.bc.ca 250-764-8000 Haywire www.okanagancrushpad.com 250-494-4445 Burrowing Owl Estate Winery www.burrowingowlwine.ca 877-498-0620

Amati Canada www.amaticanada.com 905-709-0881 Muti Kitchen and Bath www.mutikb.com 905-844-3773 Cantu Bathrooms and Hardware www.cantubathrooms.com 604-688-1252 Batimat www.batimat.net 514-735-5747

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IN OUR NEXT ISSUE

The days are shortening as we move closer to the winter solstice. While it may be dark and cold outside, we are surrounded by warmth indoors. In our upcoming Winter issue, we’ll show you ways of brightening the interiors of your home for the dark months ahead. And don’t miss our holiday gift guide, which will give you some excellent suggestions on how to find perfect presents for those you love.

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