SPRUCE Spring 2023

VICTORIA’S HOME & D E S I G N MAGAZINE

Spring Issue

PM41295544

INSPIRING HOMES AND INTERIORS

A local couple brings their Hornby Island retirement dream to Victoria.

PAGE 26

sprucemagazine.ca

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SPRING 2023 DEPARTMENTS

8 26

CONTENTS 26

22

HIGH FIDELITY

HOME REINCARNATED

BY DANIELLE POPE

11

SPRUCE IT UP Bloom into comfort by clearing space and planting floral patterns throughout your house this spring.

32

BAYSIDE RETREAT

16

Listening rooms give music lovers a place to unwind, and are becoming luxury staples.

A couple brings their Hornby Island retirement dream back to Victoria through this renovation.

This waterfront home turns two decades of design work into a luxurious coastal escape.

BY NESSA PULLMAN

BY NESSA PULLMAN

BY DANIELLE POPE

50

42

FILLING IT IN

An architecturally distinct new housing development meets a gap in the neighbourhood — and the housing market.

BY KIM PEMBERTON

EDITOR’S LETTER Bringing a sense of play into your design efforts can stoke delight.

ASK THE EXPERT Victoria horticulturist Manon Tremblay shares how to create a functional luxury garden space.

BY DANIELLE POPE

18

VENTILATION CHECKUP

DESIGN INSPO Interior refresh: These three effective methods will enliven your space this spring.

Why it’s so important to know just how clean the air is in your home.

BY CAROLYN CAMILLERI

BY WENDY McLELLAN

54

REAL ESTATE Forevering your home: A look at what your house and investment will need in the long run.

BY SHANNON MONEO

56 16

56

THIS ROOM Playrooms inspire the youngest residents, with designs meant to evoke creativity.

BY DANIELLE POPE

58

32

11

FINISHING TOUCH Finding the perfect front door leads to complex design decisions for homeowners.

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t e u q u o b less

e m i t a

VICTORIA’S HOME & D E S I G N MAGAZINE

PUBLISHERS Lise Gyorkos,

Georgina Camilleri

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Joanne Sasvari EDITOR Danielle Pope PRODUCTION MANAGER Jennifer Kühtz DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Jeffrey Bosdet LEAD GRAPHIC DESIGNER Janice Hildybrant ASSOCIATE GRAPHIC DESIGNER Caroline Segonnes DIGITAL MARKETING CONSULTANT Amanda Wilson MARKETING COORDINATOR Claire Villaraza ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Lauren Ingle PROOFREADER Lenore Hietkamp ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Doug Brown, Will Gillis,

Cynthia Hanischuk, Brenda Knapik

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Carolyn Camilleri, Wendy McLellan,

Shannon Moneo, Kim Pemberton, Nessa Pullman

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Dasha Armstrong, Jody Beck,

Lia Crowe, Joshua Lawrence, Ema Peters

CONTRIBUTING AGENCIES Getty Images p. 18, 49, 50, 51, 52,

54, 55; Living4Media p. 13, 19; Unsplash p. 20

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GENERAL INQUIRIES info@sprucemagazine.ca LETTERS TO THE EDITOR letters@sprucemagazine.ca SUBSCRIBE TO SPRUCE subscriptions@sprucemagazine.ca ADVERTISING INQUIRIES sales@sprucemagazine.ca ONLINE sprucemagazine.ca INSTAGRAM @sprucemagazinevictoria FACEBOOK sprucevictoria TWITTER @sprucevictoria

ON THE COVER

Home Reincarnated. See story on page 26.

Photo by Ema Peters.

Spruce magazine is published by Page One Publishing 580 Ardersier Road, Victoria, BC V8Z 1C7 T 250-595-7243 info@pageonepublishing.ca pageonepublishing.ca ADVERTISE IN SPRUCE MAGAZINE

Spruce is Victoria’s home and design magazine.

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Ideas and opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of Page One Publishing Inc. or its affiliates; no official endorsement should be inferred. The publisher does not assume any responsibility for the contents of any advertisement and any and all representations or warranties made in such advertising are those of the advertiser and not the publisher. No part of this magazine may be reproduced, in all or part, in any form — printed or electronic — without the express permission of the publisher. The publisher cannot be held responsible for unsolicited manuscripts and photographs.

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SPRUCE | SPRING 2023

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EDITOR’S LETTER

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SPRUCE | SPRING 2023

here’s something deeply satisfying about opening the door to your favourite room. Perhaps it’s where “ADDING A SENSE your beloved chair rests next to a picturesque OF PLAY INTO YOUR window — novel and a cup of tea perched nearby, inviting you to pause. This is the feeling designers aim to inspire in OWN HOME DESIGN every space we’re meant to love: delight.

CAN BE A SHORTCUT Welcoming in a new season brings with it an TO FINDING MORE opportunity to take stock of what in our home delivers us AREAS OF DELIGHT.” this feeling, and what needs a little revising to get there.

Springtime takes a playful approach to this assessment: Where does movement come easily in your home, and where is it stuck? While that will look different for everyone, adding a sense of play into your own home design can be a shortcut to finding more areas of delight.

In this edition of Spruce, I had the chance to interview a horticulturist who creates beautiful exteriors. It struck me how she starts each project by first examining the flow of the space and noticing what’s already working. Starting from that place of “yes” gives us an immediate opportunity to capitalize on more of what we want, rather than focusing on what to take away or what to change. By leaning into what’s working, we have a greater chance at enhancing the very best details we find.

Another story in this issue focuses on the simple art of making room for play. Though playrooms are largely designed to inspire our youngest residents, even mature family members require stimulation and room for exploration. One designer remarked that a space does not have to be complicated to provoke enjoyment. In fact, the simpler we make it, the more play can emerge. The discussion caused me to reflect on where I’ve made room for play in my own home — especially with a one-year-old — and where function has taken over. Every member of the house deserves a space that fuels contentment.

To help inspire your own changes, this Spruce will take you on a journey — one that travels from refreshing your interior to bring balance into your home (see Design Inspo), to ogling over “listening rooms” for the most technical music fans. Keep practical renos in mind when it comes to “forevering” your home (see Real Estate), and “Ventilation Checkup” will make sure you’re up to date in utilizing air movement. Playful design takes a front seat in the “Bayside Retreat” home profile, featuring a family’s two decades of renos that include an award-winning rec room, a waterfront deck and a hidden elevator. Another home showcases a couple’s inspiration in recreating their Hornby Island residence right here in Victoria, while the final home captures a condo project created to build a sense of community within our city.

Whether you’re on the path to a large-scale reno or only need a contemporary tweak, this issue will plant big inspiration to launch you into your new season — equipped with play and all.

Danielle Pope, Editor

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SPRUCE IT UP

Blossom into Comfort

PLAYING WITH SPACE, ADDING LAYERS AND PLANTING FLORAL PATTERNS THROUGHOUT YOUR HOUSE WILL PUT A TOUCH OF SPRING BACK IN YOUR STEP THIS SEASON.

A BLOOM FOR EVERY OCCASION

Flowers are one of this season’s top trends and according to design experts, “folksy” floral prints are showing up everywhere, from wallpaper to duvets and art. These accent patterns are meant to bring nature indoors while creating a calming or invigorating space, depending on your hue.

Bright, bold colour arrangements are popping up as this year’s choice, with lush purples and vivacious yellows topping 2023 floral trends. For those who prefer neutral tones, dusty pinks and delicate wallpaper in pastel tones still have their place.

For a low-commitment burst of flora, stick to the vases and try out bold living arrangements, or step it up with a floral chandelier — using fixtures, hanging wires and low-beam ceilings — to create an overstated blooming vibe.

Left: Song Tree (Pink Cherry) wallpaper from the Rebel Walls Brocade Collection.

Above and below: Mykero duvet set and Pieni Unikko (Beige) peel-and-stick wallpaper, both from Marimekko.

SPRUCE | SPRING 2023

11

SPRUCE IT UP

READING NOOK LIFE-INSPIRED LITERATURE TO HELP TURN A NEW PAGE OF DESIGN IN YOUR HOME.

Ready, Set, Still When were you last still? It’s the opening question of Natalie Walton’s book, Still: The Slow Home. In a world of ever-increasing speed, Walton takes an investigative look at a collection of people around the world who have infused their lives with the “slow living” movement — living Sustainably, Local, Organic and Whole. It’s a philosophy that has people chopping their own wood, baking their own bread and reducing the hum of electronics that pervade so many homes.

Walton leads the reader through a visual tour of home design and the effect it can have on wellbeing. When it comes to slowing down, Walton poses its simplicity: “This can begin today, right now. And there is no easier place to start than at home.”

PLAYING WITH THE UNKNOWN

O

ne furniture company is putting play at the forefront of its designs, with an eye on the unknown. The “Loose Parts” project, produced by Victoria-based independent design company Part & Whole, is a furniture collaboration program driven by “a sense of playfulness and the potential for unexpected results.”

Last spring’s first collaboration featured the work of Nigerian designer Nifemi Marcus-Bello, known for his community-led and conscious ethnographic design approach. The vibrant yellow LM Stool was produced in Victoria and featured as part of the 2022 NYCxDESIGN Festival. Though sold out locally, the piece is still available at New York-based furniture store Lichen.

While Islanders wait for the next edition of “Loose Parts,” we can find another chance to play through Part & Whole’s new collection of sofas: the Total, defined by its slim, tailored silhouette, and the Chord, a 1970s-inspired modular sofa system with quilted supergraphic topper and intuitive configurability.

Available at partandwhole.com Above: The Chord draws inspiration from the low lounge sofas of the 1970s. Left: The LM Stool was the first “Loose Parts” collaboration.

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SPRUCE | SPRING 2023

A Dash of Hygge This spring, the Danes will help you clear your way to comfort. My Hygge Home

by Meik Wiking offers a striking look at how home design can literally transform our lives. Weaving in the Danish ideals of hygge — a characteristic of coziness and contentment — with design principles, case studies and how-tos, Wiking aims to turn your home into your ultimate happy place.

Acknowledging the need for safe spaces while living through the age of a pandemic, the book examines everything from the amount of light in a room and visible green space to the layout of furniture and the composition of colour. My Hygge Home was made to lend a hand in designing spaces we love and homes where we can thrive.

 TRENDING IN FLOORS

ARE MEDIA/LIVING4MEDIA

LAYERS UPON LAYERS Carpets are seeing a resurgence this year, with an emphasis on layers. While hardwood floors aren’t going anywhere, outfitting one or more rooms with a full-coverage feature carpet is becoming the boldest way to make a statement, and borders are in vogue. Often considered the “little black dress” of home décor, carpets can please maximalists, who will aim for rich contrasts, and minimalists, who will choose wall-complementing colours.

The current trend is creating bespoke carpets: layering carpets on wood, tile or even other carpets, then intentionally leaving space for the borders to show. Natural textiles are leading this trend, from jute and sisal to seagrass and wool. Patterns are leaving their mark as well, from classic checkerboard to rainbow-shaped curves. Carpet tiles in contrasting colours are also making a functional appearance, abandoning their presence at the office and creating colour blocking that’s easy to replace in the event of a spill. For those ready to show off their most audacious sides, choose bold heritage prints to work in a little extra carpet glam.

PEEL AND STICK Looking for an easy room redo? Vinyl wall decals offer a creative solution. Cutouts Canada — based out of a boutique in Langford Station — offers custom and pre-made decals for every room. If committing to a feature wall or repaint seems intimidating, vinyl creates a professional painted look and is easy to apply and remove, making it possible to personalize your walls every season. Specialized decals can be applied to walls, doors, windows and furniture.

Designs range from special occasion and contemporary looks (think geometric shapes) to playful prints. Co-creators Bartosz Bos and Jordana Bingham launched their company as an Etsy shop in 2017, after seeking solutions to customizing rented living spaces. The pair is passionate about creating spaces that reflect the personalities of those living in them.

Available at cutoutscanada.com

FORTY SOLID WINKS Enjoy your dreamiest sleep this season with a custom-built mango platform bed. The Willow Bed, made by Monarch Furnishings, brings contemporary rattan webbing into its design, calling forward mid-century motifs while offering a modern appeal. The structure is created completely of solid mango wood — from the bracing to the slats — sustainably sourced from mango farms in Indonesia. For those looking for a classic design, the Retreat Bed can be specially ordered and features an elaborate canopy for draping romantic textiles to bring extra dimension to your sleeping area. Canopies capture a feeling of coziness, perfect for oversized rooms, and build separation from the outer world. Those who prefer open space while they rest, however, will appreciate the Milano, which offers decorative horizontal slats on the head and baseboard — also fabricated from solid mango wood.

Available at monarchfurnishings.com

SPRUCE | SPRING 2023

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SPRUCE IT UP YOUR FRIDGE IS CALLING Smart fridges aren’t new in the world of tech design, but their features are starting to sound like something out of the movies. Beyond adjustments people can control from their smartphones, this year’s top-rated smart refrigerators can even text you back, share photos of what’s inside, dispense custom ice cubes and clean up after themselves.

Samsung’s “Family Hub” four-door line offers the ability to see inside the fridge from anywhere (through your smart device) and search recipes based on what’s inside. The fridge will even send cooking instructions to the smart oven. Its upgraded model comes with a fingerprint-proof finish, a smart divider that can cool at different temperatures, and an auto-fill pitcher for ice water on demand.

Meanwhile, the GE Profile smart line features built-in wifi and a voice assistant that can send alerts if the fridge door is left open.

LG’s smart freestanding side-by-side model includes “InstaView,” where users can knock twice to illuminate the window panel and see its contents without ever opening the door. Its craft ice maker creates custom ice (crushed, cubed, rounded), and its water dispenser removes nearly 100 per cent of the bacteria found in its nozzle every 24 hours.

Available at westcoastappliance.ca Left: The InstaView feature on LG’s smart fridge lets users knock to see inside.

Right: Samsung’s “Family Hub” fridge lets family members peek in from their smartphones and share images instantly.

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SPRUCE | SPRING 2023

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Bidet fans may be excited to see the newly released Joy & Fortune “Super Egg” — an egg-shaped smart toilet with self-sanitizing UV rays and specialized wash functions for all members of the household. The seat features a digital interface and artificial intelligence voice control that can auto identify people for custom wash preferences, then completely sterilize its bowl between uses. While the product is currently available overseas for a hefty shipping fee, Victorians can experience minimalist style and maximum hygiene through Kohler’s Karing Intelligent Chair — an elongated and compact smart bidet that offers hands-free functionality, personalized settings, UV cleaning, an LED nightlight and pre-mist cleaning along with an air dryer for a tidy experience.

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Top: The Joy & Fortune “Super Egg” offers custom wash preferences for every family member.

Above: Kohler’s Karing Intelligent Chair has personalized settings, a nightlight and an air dryer.

Garden Makeovers Garden Coaching 2D & 3D Modelling Land Planning Site Design SPRUCE | SPRING 2023

15

ASK THE EXPERT

BY DANIELLE POPE

Digging Up the Dirt VICTORIA HORTICULTURIST MANON TREMBLAY SHARES TIPS ON HOW TO PULL OFF A FUNCTIONAL LUXURY GARDEN IN THE ISLAND’S WEST COAST CLIMATE.

I

n a city lauded for its extravagant gardens, springtime welcomes with it a certain fervour for digging up the dirt. It takes experience, however, to create an oasis of flora and fauna in west coast weather.

That’s why Spruce asked Manon Tremblay, certified horticulturist and principal of Manon Tremblay Garden Design, for her wisdom on how to create a functional outdoor space: one that helps people, plants and pets enjoy as much time outside as nature allows.

Tremblay has been in the industry for over 20 years, studying and teaching at Victoria’s Horticulture Centre of the Pacific, and acting as head gardener at Abkhazi Garden. She has owned two landscaping companies — her current one launched in 2014 — and she oversees projects ranging from edible and pollinator gardens to winter shade spaces.

What do you do with a space dominated by sun or shade?

An all-sun space would be ideal for a food garden or a rose or flower garden. If we want food in the garden, we need to think about fencing it in with gates to protect it.

If we are working with shade — and I love working with shade gardens — we think about what will continue to look beautiful, year round. You can make these lovely winter shade

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SPRUCE | SPRING 2023

ALL PHOTOS BY LIA CROWE

How do you help people decide the best way to use an outdoor space?

The first task is inquiry. How do you currently use this area? What’s important to you? Some people want a space where they can host a nice dinner with friends and have a table fit as many people as possible. Others want a quiet place to sit and have a drink. Consider what your life requires. Do you have kayaks you need to store? How do you move in this area, and does it make sense? A lot of what I focus on is functionality.

Then we do a site analysis. We consider things like screening; where are the neighbours, do you need privacy, or are we leaving openings for the sun? How does the weather behave here; are we close to the ocean, is there a lot of sun or wind? With all of that info, the design is already starting to take form.

“I DEFINITELY HAVE A STYLE. I LIKE TO CREATE DIFFERENT ‘ROOMS’ IN THE GARDEN.”

Creating a winter shade garden with green grasses, Japanese foliage, succulents and a sitting area can make space for quiet introspection in Victoria’s temperate climate.

gardens with many Japanese plants, for example, which are very conducive to having a little bench and a quiet introverted space. You lean into it rather than fighting it, because you want your plants to be happy.

How do you advise people who aren’t sure what they want?

I’m always in favour of choosing food plants when you can, using native plants, creating meandering paths and planting in groupings. If I’m working with a family, we’ll often keep lawns if they want to play soccer or have room for kids to play, but otherwise I often advocate for removing lawns and using plant groupings — like a series of lavender, a group of grasses and a number of sage plants in an area. A lawn can become the neutral space with a busy garden in the back. But, if you remove the lawn, you can do so much more with repeating patterns, or work with shades of leaves and dark colours that repeat softly so it’s calming.

Do you always have a vision for an outdoor space?

I definitely have a style. I like to create different “rooms” in the garden. For edible veggies, I suggest

using raised beds, but we can also integrate beauty within these beds — you can have grapes or kiwis growing above you. We can build an atmosphere with wide stepping stones, a pergola, a table to dine at, surrounded by creeping vines and flowers.

Suddenly, you have a room that inspires you to be in the garden, and it’s nice to reflect that edible nature with a place people gather to eat.

If your dream is to have a nighttime lounge with a fireplace and chairs, then we want to create an open space to see the stars with your family. We might use more Japanese maples and ferns, and choose interesting plants in contrasting colours.

In either case, you want to have some kind of screening from the neighbours so it feels private.

We also want to inspire you to look up, which you can do with vertical height from trees or vines, so if you’re looking out the window to the garden, there are some flowers to meet your eye.

When working with heritage plants, what do you pull and what do you keep?

A lot of this comes down to knowing the plants and considering the emotions you are feeling. With a heritage rose, for example, when it’s doing well

you know the location is perfect and you need to plant around it. You would then focus on companion planting. If a plant is suffering, you can consider what your connection is to this plant and consider transplanting it to a new location, if it’s a plant that can handle that.

What are some of the most common misconceptions you’ve heard from people around gardening?

The biggest misconception is around what a “low-maintenance” garden means, especially when it comes to flowers and food plants. If you want to have many edible plants, you do need to tend to them more; they take more time and water. Lawns also require a lot of water and care. Even drought-tolerant plants need support. And, every plant, edible or not, will need a good prune once a year.

A garden is always changing, which means these aren’t ever going to be projects that are installed and complete, as is. Plants will always need some attention. It’s important to do your research.

SPRUCE | SPRING 2023

17

DESIGN INSPO

BY WENDY M c LELLAN

Interior Refresh ENLIVEN YOUR SPACE WITH THREE EFFECTIVE METHODS FOR THIS YEAR’S SPRING RENEWAL. The first signs of spring show themselves — from those little shoots of green in the garden to the hint of warmth in the air — and our desire for renewal is ignited. First on the list for consideration is our living space.

“Spring is always about freshness … we want something new,” says Victoria interior designer Sherry Willing, owner of Make It Real Design. “In spring, we think of words like rejuvenation — we are craving balance and also wanting to create change. We are eager for winter to get out.”

To help accelerate that change, Spruce spoke with local experts to find the three most effective ways to recreate your home this season.

“WHAT WE REALLY WANT TO DO IS INCREASE SPACE SO THE IMPORTANT THINGS CAN BE APPRECIATED.” 18

SPRUCE | SPRING 2023

1 Air out the old

With spring’s return, Willing says the urge to clean and clear space is strong, but people often confuse change with bringing new stuff into their space.

“When we talk about refreshing we often think about adding more, but it’s also important to think about removing and making room in our space,” she says.

“It’s like in the garden; you clean up the winter debris to make room for new things to take hold. What we really want to do is increase space so the important things can be appreciated.”

Another method can quickly accomplish a sense of change. Michele Putters, interior stylist with Spaciz Design Company, suggests rearranging the furniture in a room to alter perspective and consider incorporating fresh accents.

Another option is repurposing furniture, like turning a guest room dresser into an entry hall table or buffet.

“You’re not looking to bring in clutter again. It may mean editing what you have,” Putters says. “Spring is an opportunity to lighten up; change textiles — the pillows, throws and bedding.”

STRENGTH & QUALITY

ARE MEDIA/LIVING4MEDIA

Above: Benjamin Moore’s colour of the year, Raspberry Blush. This image: Layering replaces grouping this year, by placing prints, frames or mirrors in front of or behind one another.

PEOPLE ARE READY TO EMBRACE COLOUR, LIKE BENJAMIN MOORE’S CHARTREUSE.

2 A dd in layers and colour

While neutral shades remain popular, this season’s trend is to add in textures and natural colours, Putters says. Greens and rusts are current favourites, and one hot new colour is a brown-based raspberry.

“Layering has become a bigger trend — a change from grouping,” Putters says. “For example, you might have a mirror above an entry table. Placing a print in front and leaning it on the mirror creates a layering effect that is really appealing right now. It’s art as an accessory.”

Curtis Vertefeuille, owner of Moe’s Home Victoria, says spring this year is all about calm — but with colour.

“The trends are about refreshing and resetting in this post-post-pandemic life,” he says.

Vertefeuille notes that burgundy is a popular colour this year, and building texture with accent pieces is a quick way to add style. A more subtle approach to layering, he says, is using a diffuser and experimenting with scents to match your spring mood.

Nicole Fulton, interior designer and owner of Nanaimo-based Black Caviar Décor, says after two years of working from home and seeking spa-like atmospheres, people are ready to embrace colour — like deep magenta and chartreuse.

“All the paint companies are leaning toward colour,” Fulton says. “It’s indicative that everyone is ready for a little excitement. And, if you don’t want a whole wall or a couch, there are lots of other ways to bring colour into your space.”

Options include adding new throws, pillows, colourful art or even area rugs to accent your space.

info@green-island-builders.com

green-island-builders.com

SPRUCE | SPRING 2023

19

CARLA UNGER

3 Get inspired by nature

Bringing nature and greenery into living spaces is a particular passion for Fulton.

“One big trend now is creating moss walls or moss art with preserved moss,” she says. “Not everyone has a green thumb; preserved moss doesn’t need light or water, and it’s a good way to bring greenery into a basement apartment or a place without many windows.”

Fulton is currently working with Vancouver’s Tejamossco to design a moss wall for a meeting space. Victorians can find moss walls and art pieces through companies like Modpots.

In mind of bringing more nature indoors, Vertefeuille says vibrant florals and rounded edges are coming back as a nod to 1970s culture. While adding real plants will always bring balance and a sense of airiness to a room, for those who can’t bear the idea of caring for another living thing, there are excellent faux options available.

Whether real or artificial, lighting is a final resource for creating design focal points and bringing a natural touch throughout the home, adds Fulton.

“They are pieces of art, as well as [resources] for ambience,” Fulton says about light sources, from lamps to sculpture pieces. “It’s top of mind right now: quality lighting to use for art and function.”

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Clockwise from the top left: Moss art from Modpots is an easy way to add nature to your home while guaranteeing minimal maintenance.

Flowers breathe life into a space even when they’re inanimate, and adorning your room with a floral feature wall welcomes vibrant energy throughout the year. The Core Light from Barter Design gives a modern nod to 1970s motifs and fuses the popularity of rounded shapes with natural materials to create a sculptural statement piece.

BRITTANY CAREY PHOTOGRAPHY

BUSINESS PROFILE

NZ BUILDERS Company unveils new look — maintains dedication to sustainable, climate-resilient homes.

NZ Builders, a custom home building company based in Victoria, has recently undergone a rebranding, introducing a new logo and look. The company’s commitment to quality craftsmanship and service remains unchanged.

Damon Gray, the company’s founder and general manager, originally from Orewa, New Zealand, came to the Pacific Northwest more than twenty years ago to start his building company. After performing dozens of costly renovations on newer homes that had deteriorated due to rot and mould, Gray quickly realized this unique climate required more than the traditional building techniques still being used.

NZ Builders introduced a concrete insulated panel (CIP) tilt-up system for residential construction, and Gray’s own home was the test project. The home

received international recognition for its innovative design features and was the first net zero-ready home on Vancouver Island.

NZ Builders has earned a reputation for building some of the first net zero-ready and Passive House homes on the Island.

The industry’s growing understanding of the impact that climate change has on our infrastructure has helped us to develop tools and technology to build not just for today’s environment, but for the changes we are to expect in the future.

“Everybody deserves to live in a healthy, comfortable home, and we feel it is our responsibility to educate our clients about how the decisions they make in the initial stages of building will help protect the health of their family and their investment long term,” says Gray.

NZ Builders’ rebrand is symbolic of

a shift to focus solely on durable, highperformance custom homes and upgrades that consider the future climate and energy costs. The company has also shifted to Hybrid vehicles to further cut down on its environmental impact.

Gray says more homeowners and builders will need to factor in these considerations as the industry approaches the BC Building Code’s Step Code 5 requirements, coming into effect in 2032.

“We can still build architecturally stunning homes that push the envelope of building science, while creating something sustainable,” says Gray. “It’s far easier to upgrade your kitchen or finishings later when you have the extra budget, but if the foundational structure of your home is deteriorating, that’s a much bigger and more costly fix.”

nzbuilders.com | monolithsystems.ca | 1-888-592-6444

Dedicated listening rooms help music lovers tune in and unwind, and are becoming increasingly popular luxury features in homes — for good reason.

HIGH FIDELITY

BY NESSA PULLMAN

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N

o matter where in the world you are from, music is one of the most treasured art forms — one that can immediately transport you to another place, allowing you to lose yourself in the melody.

These past few years, people have been spending more time at home, and many have examined how to make their living space more enjoyable. For audiophiles and music enthusiasts of all levels, having a dedicated space to set up audio systems and indulge their senses has been a popular choice. Now, designers are getting behind these spaces to make sure their esthetic beauty aligns with their technical capabilities. Behold: the listening room.

“People are looking for places to retreat to,” says Pamela Billinghurst, of Pamela Billinghurst Interior Design. “Somewhere they can escape from their busy lives for a few hours.”

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Whether you’re a vinyl collector, CD buff or exploring the world of digital streaming, a listening room will create the best environment to experience those beloved tunes.

Paul Barlow, manager at the high-end audio equipment store Sound Hounds, says a proper audio setup in the right space is the key to an optimal listening experience. A room tucked away from other household demands allows you to fully immerse yourself in sound and, ultimately, the experience that comes with it.

“A dedicated room will allow for the groundwork that creates a high-quality sound,” he says.

There is much to consider when it comes to building such a room. Tim Agar, principal at Horizon Pacific Contracting, has been building an increasing number of these luxury rooms into homes over the past few years.

“The room itself is the most important instrument,” says Agar. “It will determine how good — or how bad — the equipment you bring into the space will sound.”

Above: Creating a vibrant listening room is one part personality, one part technical know-how.

The design of this room, part of a Vancouver project, incorporated a system capable of nightclub volume levels, but without distortion so listeners experience high fidelity.

Left: This music room, featured in a Horizon Pacific Contracting build, was a wish-list item for these homeowners. They wanted to create a space with elegant tones and acoustic considerations that would allow for dramatic listening without music overtaking the house. Historic Bank of Canada doors create a stately entry to this room, and a heritage fireplace mantel adds character to this space.

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“THE DESIGN [OF THE ROOM] IS A MATHEMATICAL FORMULA TO GIVE THE SOUND PERFORMANCE BACK TO THE LISTENER.”

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When designing these rooms, Agar uses a technique called staggered framing, meaning the room is separate from the rest of the house, which minimizes acoustical transference. The size and shape of the room is also very important to ensure optimal sound reflection.

“The design is a mathematical formula to give the sound performance back to the listener,” says Agar.

Once the room is built, that’s when the stereo equipment comes into play. Thoughtful placement is how you create the proper sound for both equipment performance and the listener.

There is a science behind the method.

“You want to create a listening triangle,” says Barlow, “with equal distance to the speakers and the listener.”

DEDICATION TO SOUND

sothebysrealty.ca Sotheby’s International Realty Canada, Independently Owned and Operated.

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Mark Pocock, a local music enthusiast, says his listening room has allowed him to experience songs more intentionally.

When Pocock first moved into his Saanich home in 2016, he knew exactly which space would be dedicated for the purpose. Since then, improving the room’s acoustics has become a pet project — from the technicals, like adding broadband absorption to reduce sound reflections and corner absorbers to reduce low-frequencies, to enhancing the auditory equipment with strategically placed subwoofers.

He has more plans, such as adding diffusion equipment to the back of the room to make the space sound bigger.

The “listening triangle” creates a superior audio experience by setting equal distance between the speakers and the listener. Comfortable seating is ideal for enjoyment, and adding rugs, window drapings or sound-dampening materials is essential for minimizing sound reflection within the space.

“I try to recreate the original intent that the artist laid out when they recorded it,” says Pocock.

“Nothing else compares to the feeling of holding that 12-by-12 album cover in your hand while you listen to your favourite song.”

With the right equipment, listeners can hear the high-resolution song in its entirety — without missing a single sound. The way most people typically hear music, whether on the radio or through music-streaming apps, songs are condensed, resulting in a low-quality sound that’s melded together.

“It’s a whole new experience when you get to extract the nuances of the composition and production,” says Pocock, adding that when hearing an original song, uncompromised, it’s possible to pull apart each instrument, voice and melody that created the overall sound.

It’s like getting a front-row seat to your favourite band — only from the comfort of your own home.

Beyond the technical details, Billinghurst says there are a few key design elements needed in these rooms.

“Furnishings, lighting and seating play a huge role in the overall experience,” she says.

To create sound absorption and minimize sound

reflection, soft and textured surfaces such as rugs, window drapings and plush cushions are favourable. To set the mood even further, dimmable warm and layered lighting is preferred.

“A rich, dark and moody colour palette can help separate the space from other rooms in the house,” says Billinghurst, “which sets the tone for a relaxing place, away from household chores.”

DUAL-PURPOSE ENTERTAINMENT Listening rooms present an opportunity for more than auditory fanfare.

The space can earn dual use as a library, home theatre or bar to create an ever deeper sanctuary for unwinding. For Pocock, his space doubles as a home theatre, with a front projection system and a drop-down screen that can be easily accessed or hidden depending on the need. Though simply having the space to display a lifelong collection of records while sitting in a favourite chair and transporting yourself to another realm is not a bad way to spend your time.

Though the pandemic may have triggered some popularity as people explored new hobbies, record sales have been in a resurgence for decades, making listening to vinyl a premium choice for fans of all ages. And the music trend isn’t going anywhere — it’s interwoven into the places that make up our lives and the very fabric of who we are.

“I have loved music my entire life,” says Pocock.

“Now, I finally have a dedicated space I can escape to and put on a few of my favourite records. It’s therapeutic for me.”

A Sound Investment

Outfitting a listening room takes more than just acoustics and esthetics. To ensure those records sound as magnificent as the artists intended, choosing the right sound system for your space is imperative. The experts at Sound Hounds have offered this technical breakdown as a guide.

ENTRY LEVEL This collection is curated for those ready to invest in an affordable system made to bring music to life.

NAD C316BEE Integrated Amplifier $649 | NAD C538 CD Player $550 Project Audio T1 Turntable $530 | Monitor Audio Bronze 50 Speakers $659

MID LEVEL Music aficionados will appreciate the superior sound created by this system.

Rotel S14 Amplifier, DAC, Streamer $3,249 | Project Audio Debut Pro Turntable $1,190 Project Audio Phono Box S2 Phono Preamp $249 | Bowers Wilkins 704 S3 Speakers $5,000

HIGH LEVEL For those devoted to the best sound systems available, this set reflects a quality only found at this price point.

McIntosh C2700 Preamp $11,900 | McIntosh MC462 Amplifier $14,000 McIntosh MT10 Turntable $16,800 | Bowers Wilkins 802 D4 Speakers $36,000

ULTRA-HIGH LEVEL When the only thing that matters is the music, this system is unparalleled for bringing sound luxury to life.

Moon 850P Preamp $45,000 | Moon 610LP Phono Preamp $10,000 Moon 780D v2 Streaming DAC $21,500 | Moon 888 Monaural Power Amplifiers $160,000 VPI Vanquish System Turntable $207,900 | Sonus Faber Aida Speakers $196,000

FROM CONCEPTION TO COMPLETION OF YOUR DREAM SPACE

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Our passion is building, our trade is carpentry, and our purpose is constructing unique homes for a lifetime of memories.

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■ CUSTOM RENO

BY NESSA PULLMAN PHOTOS BY EMA PETERS

After retiring to Hornby Island, a health diagnosis forced this couple to move back to Victoria — where they recreated their dream home.

HOME REINCARNATED

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W

hen Karen and Dick discovered they had to sell their newly built home in the coastal woods of Hornby Island and move back to the city, they reached out to their architect to ask for his help — again.

“Having to give up a home we poured our heart and soul into was hard,” says Karen, noting that a health diagnosis made the move unavoidable. “I called D’Arcy and said, ‘Please, work your magic again.’ ” After working together with the couple on their Hornby house, D’Arcy Jones, principal of D’Arcy Jones Architects, understood what needed to be done to create a home worth leaving for. Knowing that, this time, another new build was not in the cards, the couple searched the market for a house that would make them feel something.

“When we walked into this bungalow in Fairfield, we both looked at each other and said, ‘This is just like our Hornby house!’ ” says Dick.

With its single-level modern shell and stucco interior walls, this house had sincere reflections of their island home — on a much smaller scale. Rounding out at 1,140 square feet, this home would afford the low maintenance of a condo-sized space, yet provide a large yard with lush greenery, reminiscent of their forest dwelling. The 1970s interior, however, needed a few improvements to make this a no-fuss space for the couple to call home.

The exterior landscape surrounding this home was designed by Bianca Bodley of Biophilia Design Collective.

This lush garden provides the outdoor haven the homeowners wished for, using ornamental grasses and flowering perennials for colour, and a modern boxwood hedge adorned with roses and thyme.

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“[Karen and Dick] love modern and refined spaces,” says Jones, “but with a touch of rustic.”

This Spanish-mission-style home with mid-century elements had a great foundation, but some important alterations would help it along. First on the wish list was to welcome in more light, which Jones did by widening all of the windows and doors to their maximum capacity.

The move had the bonus effect of bringing the outdoor scene inside.

“I said to them, ‘Let’s make it feel like there are no walls in the house,’ ” says Jones. “They lit up at that.”

Second on the list was to make better use of the space the home had — which would include adding a new office and a second bathroom for guests. Because space was limited, Jones had to get creative in making this work. To carve out room for the office, he took out the mudroom and extended the kitchen wall to keep it open concept.

On the other side of this wall, Jones designed a laundry and storage area alongside an office nook that overlooks the garden.

For the powder room, Jones took the existing bathroom’s footprint and created two bathrooms: a powder and an ensuite.

“It was like a puzzle, trying to make everything fit,” says Jones.

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Above: The rear of the house was opened to bring the outdoor elements in through floor-to-ceiling windows. The deck in the undercover patio was redone in modern cedar, creating a pathway out to the new black rectilinear pavers in the surrounding garden.

Left: The homeowners opted for a non-traditional office nook by building a desk out of raw cedar, which matches the exposed beams throughout the rest of the home.

The original exposed beams in the ceiling were painted white to coincide with the home’s bright esthetic. The dining room was moved underneath the existing skylight, where the contractor applied a metal rod across the window to hang the iconic Newton Bubble Lamp, found by the homeowners.

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“IT WAS LIKE A PUZZLE, TRYING TO MAKE EVERYTHING FIT.” Opposite the living area is the “disappearing kitchen,” which was a request by Karen, who despises clutter. Every single appliance is hidden — including the soap dispenser and electrical plug-ins — and can pop up from the counter when needed. A coffee station, breakfast nook and compost bucket all disappear into sleek cabinetry, making this kitchen as minimal as it is functional.

The couple loves to cook, so creating a professional-grade kitchen was a must. In such a small space, however, Jones knew the kitchen would take up most of the visual. To work with that, he opted for sleek white cabinets with quartz countertops — sans backsplash — to let the oversized window shine.

For the island, Jones continued with the existing maple flooring to create a worktop and casual eating area. Karen requested an industrial stove, so Jones got creative in designing a completely stainless steel cooking alcove to make it a standalone piece that pops against the monochromatic space.

“Art, food, design and architecture are what [this couple] is all about,” says Jones.

“They need a home that reflects what they love.”

The bungalow is embellished with the clients’ lifelong collection of paintings and ceramics from local artisans of Hornby Island — which fit in perfectly with the textured stucco walls and exposed cedar beams throughout the home.

“D’Arcy was able to bring back all the parts that made our Hornby home so special,” says Karen, “which made us not regret the move for a second.”

TREAT YOUR ROOF.

Remove that moss and keep your roof looking like new.

RESOURCE LIST Architect: D’Arcy Jones Architects Construction manager: Prevost Built Plumber: Granger Plumbing & Heating Electrician: Amped Electrical Contracting Doors: Lumberworld Windows: Westeck Windows and Doors Roofing: Alpha Roofing & Cladding Drywall: Vic City Drywall Tile: Lang Custom Tile Painting: Andrew Tuttle – The Paint Crew Kitchen/bathroom millwork: Victoria Millwork & Joinery Custom millwork: Victoria Millwork & Joinery Finishing carpentry: Prevost Built Floor refinishing: Heritage Hardwood Flooring Glass: Royal Oak Glass Landscape: Biophilia Design Collective Pavers: Yorkshire Landscapes Countertops: Colonial Countertops Stainless steel nook: Silver Fern Stainless Engineers: Ron Wedman Engineering Services

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■ RENEWED BUILD

Bayside Retreat

This waterfront seasonal home incorporates two decades of design work into a luxurious transitional style, created to escape from it all.

BY DANIELLE POPE | PHOTOS BY JEFFREY BOSDET

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I

ván Meade was relatively new in Victoria’s design scene when he received an inquiry from a woman named Kathy. The message said she and her husband had recently purchased a seasonal home up Island and were looking for a designer who could transform the mansion-sized space into one that would work for their family.

Specifically, starting by turning the downstairs volleyball court into something more useful.

That was roughly 20 years ago. Back then, Meade was established in his home country of Mexico, but was still building his name here.

“At first, I thought someone might be playing a joke on me. Who was this dream client?” says Meade, principal designer of Meade Design Group.

“I knew there were other, bigger names she was talking with, too, and I was just young — but we really connected. Six months passed and I thought, ‘Oh, well.’ Then she called me to say they wanted to move ahead.”

DAYDREAM IN THE MAKING For the past two decades, Meade’s team has been working with the couple on evolving this four-level, 4,880-square-foot home into a space made for family gatherings: one that’s seen multi-phased changes through the years, starting with that basement reno.

While that first project was completed more than 17 years ago, the unused indoor volleyball court was ultimately transformed into a loft guest space, rec room, gym and pool table area, specially designed for grandkids and parties. It was even featured on HGTV as one of the top rec rooms in North America and its mid-century motifs have stood the test of time.

Since then, the home has evolved to bring transitional design into its other levels, including a completely renovated kitchen and living floor, bedroom level and bathrooms. The home now features a hidden elevator for accessibility, a massive, wrap-around deck, a renewed laundry space and a functional media room for family movie nights. For a home that can sleep at least

20 people, the changes have come as the family and friend circles have expanded — Meade included.

“We joke that they are my Canadian family now, and I’m often at their holiday gatherings,” says Meade.

“I get to experience the house, first hand, and see what is and isn’t working.”

Kathy, who prefers her last name omitted for privacy, says buying the home and its nearly one-acre property hadn’t been the initial plan but, back in 2003, few options on the Island worked as a family retreat.

“We had intended to build, and it would have been nothing like this one — west coast and edgy — but nothing fit the bill. Our real estate agent suggested looking [up Island] … and when we first saw the house from the outside we said, ‘I don’t think so,’ ” says Kathy. “The next day there was a showing, though, and as soon as we walked through the door everything felt right. We knew this was it. By the time we got home, we decided to purchase it.”

Although they opted to keep the home’s existing floor plan, the family knew some renovations would

For the past two decades, Meade’s team has been working with the couple on evolving this four-level, 4,880-square-foot home into a space made for family gatherings.

This bespoke, transitional-style kitchen combines a functional space for creating large family meals with luxury, high-end appliances, including a gas range, for these cooking enthusiasts. The kitchen was entirely redone with a new pantry and refreshed dining area, with added seating for welcoming guests.

One of the home’s most impressive features is the “James-Bond-style” elevator, hidden behind a hutch. The hutch was a beloved piece for this homeowner, but when its placement didn’t fit, it was transformed into a lift disguise. The elevator, outfitted with elegant wallpaper, is a custom creation for this home to bring accessibility to Kathy’s 94-year-old mother. It travels directly from the dining area to her room.

be needed and, since Kathy didn’t know any designers on the Island, she started flipping through the phone book. Meade seemed to understand her vision instantly.

PIECE BY PIECE While Kathy acknowledges few renos happen over a 20-year span, it took time to understand how the space would be used.

At first, the family only visited occasionally, replacing things like stairs on the worn-down goat path linking the home to the water. Now, they spend whole summers there. Of the home’s two lower levels, the volleyball court was the first to be revised.

“The remarkable thing about that space is, nearly two decades later, it stands the test of time. You would not walk into that area and say it’s dated,” says Kathy. “But it was a very important first collaboration [with Meade].

It took time, and he became a very good family friend in the course of that.”

Practical changes came next, including a high-end kitchen makeover, a new pantry and refreshed living areas, more seating in the family room and a “James-Bond-style”

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elevator hidden behind a hutch to create accessibility for Kathy’s 94-year-old mother.

More recently, as the family grew, one upper bedroom was transformed into a bed, office and extra bathroom upstairs, the laundry room was reconfigured and a beautifully oversized wrap-around deck was added to take advantage of the spectacular views.

“With Iván’s magic, three of the four bedrooms on the upper levels are like masters now, which is wonderful given the family we have,” says Kathy. “There is a full walk-in closet in the master bedroom, and that bathroom now has this incredible window overlooking the bay, which is one of the most beautiful views in the house.

My friends have joked that we should have parties just in that bathroom.”

DESTINATION FAMILY TIME Because this is one of Meade’s largest and longest-standing projects, he’s seen the property’s transformation from the beginning. He says every step has been built upon the last to keep the home evolving to the family’s changing needs.

For a house that can sleep at least 20 people, having casual and comfy gathering areas is vital to this seasonal home. The sitting/living room invites visitors to cozy in for a chat by the fire, and the nearby entertainment space (below) offers the perfect setting for family movie nights. As the circle of family and friends has grown over time, this is one area of the home designer Iván Meade is still perfecting, as his own time with this family has offered insight into which rooms work well and which are still evolving. A motorized Roman shade system is used on the windows throughout this level of the home to add privacy and customize the impact of light throughout the day.

The oversized primary suite in this home features an extensive walk-in closet and ensuite. The bedroom is lifted with feature ceiling wallpaper

by Kravet in Roscoe Grey, while Phillip Jeffries “Serengeti Weave” in Delta Blue covers the walls. A Kalossi table lamp is layered in front of the Oyster Bay Hempstead accent mirror by Perigold, and a customdesigned bench adds dimension to the space.

“Sometimes, you don’t have to tackle it all at once. This house is one of those generational homes made to stay in a family for a long time. We worked strategically and created this design that feels contemporary without being pretentious,” says Meade. “It’s a place they can come and unwind and relax and be comfortable, but it’s still elegant.

It has become a destination for the family to enjoy together.”

Kathy says this destination was especially supportive in the last few years with the state of the world. She’s happy they took the time to make all the changes over the last two decades.

“For a seasonal home with lots of people and kids, you want something low maintenance that still looks really great, because it’s also a space we entertain a lot — at least, before the pandemic.

During the pandemic, we brought my mother here and it was a place you could just wait things out. I’m so grateful for the changes we’d made at that time, like the elevator,” says Kathy. “But that downstairs area is still one of my favourites. There have been some great parties down there.”

C I B C WO O D G U N DY

The only Value of Ourin Team The constant life isApproach change.

The Watkins Group St. Andrew’s Square II 730 View Street, 9th Floor Victoria, BC V8W 1J8 250 298-4845 1 800 561-5864 karen.king@cibc.com www.watkinsgroup.ca

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From its vantage point, the primary ensuite showcases one of the most exceptional views in the house, flanked by the “Brighton Pavilion” wallpaper mural by Schumacher. The Tosca Matte freestanding bath with its dramatic black finish becomes the room’s centrepiece, partnered with a Colinet matte black one-handle tub filler and hand shower.

A large Hampton chandelier floats overhead, creating striking contrast with the Lunada Bay mosaic tile floor in “Vanadium.” The Incognito “76 Shaker” shower door aligns with the room’s black-and-white theme.

Left: The home’s many bedrooms create opportunities to add bursts of personality throughout the house. In this room, Kravet wallpaper in neutral “Margate” decorates the space, with a Fairmont slim nightstand in “Meyer Dove” from Urban Barn accenting the sleeping area. Meade has dedicated attention to layering textures into each area, with a focus on custom linens, throws, pillows and rugs adding dimension to each room.

Above: This guest bath features undercabinet lighting, with Vicostone Tartufo honed granite countertops creating a dramatic contrast, and Gluckstein Elements Lowell wall sconces lighting the space.

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The guest shower brings in themes from the primary ensuite, with Carrara porcelain tile walls punctuated by a stainless steel niche in matte black. The Moen matte black shower arm and 10-inch rainshower showerhead gives this space a modern spa appearance, and the marble Legend side table/stool acts as the perfect accent piece. Phillip Jeffries “Statue” vinyl wallpaper in extra fine arrowroot adds modern elegance to this space, with the Lunada Bay mosaic tile floor creating a connection throughout the home.

RESOURCE LIST MAIN FLOOR Designer: Iván Meade, Meade Design Group General contractor: Pine Lodge Contracting Millwork: CSD Design Countertops: Canary Custom Surfaces Upholsterer: JD Upholstery

25 years of finely crafted, handmade cabinetry, furniture & millwork

Window coverings: Monika Kurc (Installer: Select Blinds) Entry tile: Hourigan’s Flooring Kitchen backsplash: Bullnose Tile and Stone

259 Esquimalt Road 250.360.2123 douglasgrantcabinetmakers.com

Kitchen switch plates: CB2 Kitchen hardware: Restoration Hardware Kitchen/dining lighting: Visual Comfort Lighting Studios (formerly Circa Lighting) Kitchen/dining ceiling and laundry wallpaper: Brewster Home Fashions Powder room tile: Lunada Bay Tile

Victoria, B.C. owes much of its personality and appeal to the unique homes that line its streets.

Powder room/elevator wallpaper: Maxwel Fabricsl Living room window treatment fabric: Fabricut Living room art photography: Iván Meade UPPER FLOOR Designer: Iván Meade, Meade Design Group General contractor: Paul Hofmann, Hofmann Construction Millwork: ProNautic Window coverings: Monika Kurc (Installer: Select Blinds) Wallpaper installer: Superior Decorating Upholsterer: Alexandria Upholstery Countertops: King’s Granite Custom glass work: Parker Glass Plumbing and hardware: The Ensuite Bath & Kitchen (*less toilets) Tile supply: Island Floor Centre Primary window treatment fabric and trim, storage bench fabric: Fabricut Primary wallpaper (walls): Phillip Jeffries Primary wallpaper (ceiling): Kravet Ensuite lighting: McLaren Lighting Ensuite wallpaper: Phillip Jeffries Ensuite mural: Schumacher

Buyers and sellers, find your character homes at

w w w.V I C TO R I AC H A R AC T E R H O M E S . c o m Andrew Hobbs* 250-884-2766 *Personal Real Estate Corp. | Island Realm Real Estate

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FILLING IT IN AN ARCHITECTURALLY DISTINCT NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENT MEETS A GAP IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD — AND THE HOUSING MARKET.

EMA PETERS

BY KIM PEMBERTON

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A modern space with no ornamentation was a wish-list item for one of the homeowners.

An oversized island takes centre stage in the minimalist kitchen, with white quartz countertops paralleling clean white cabinetry.

The inset kitchen sink punctuates this design with an industrial-style gooseneck faucet.

The gourmet kitchen also features a Bosch wall oven and cooktop, set against a quartz backsplash to emphasize simplicity in its look.

THIS PAGE: JEFFREY BOSDET/SPRUCE MAGAZINE

F

irst-time homeowners Catherine Prowse and Cameron McNab may have different tastes in architecture, but, when it came to buying their home in Victoria, they both got what they wanted in a boutique condo project in James Bay. The couple, who moved from Vancouver to Victoria in June, bought into a 12-unit condo project called Rotunda by Aryze Developments. The new development showcases the impact of improved housing density in the downtown core.

“I’m really into traditional places and my husband is all about modern, but this is the perfect combination for the two of us,” says Prowse.

Prowse says her husband got the contemporary style he prefers, with clean-lined cabinetry and no ornamentation in the living spaces, while the traditional exterior of the development satisfied her desire for a building with heritage appeal.

The building’s architecture is a combination of classic red brick that fits into the “old-world feel of James Bay,” says Prowse. The exterior also has a contemporary metal facing that suits her husband’s appreciation for modern design.

The building’s unique architectural style was designed by D’Arcy Jones Architects and features an open-air courtyard, oversized windows and bright, airy living spaces. Yet its shape is what sets it apart.

“THE BUILDING IS COMPACT, HAS GREAT WALKABILITY FOR ITS RESIDENTS AND IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS WE’VE DONE.” Luke Mari, Arzye Developments co-founder

EMA PETERS

Rotunda was designed with a stepped-back profile, featuring five storeys from the rear and four storeys at the front of the property. The staggered levels of the building make the most of its site, allowing the individual apartments to maximize views.

Prowse says, along with their desire to find a condo development with interesting architecture, the couple wanted to be close to downtown so they could walk to grocery stores, restaurants, entertainment and other amenities offered nearby.

James Bay’s historic Legislature District is perfect for this, she says.

Rotunda was an infill project for the company — one that makes use of otherwise empty space — and its architecture was in keeping with the historic neighbourhood of James Bay, says Arzye Developments co-founder Luke Mari.

“As a company, most of what we do is infill housing for sustainability reasons,” he says. “Cities have to reduce climate change and greenhouse gasses. This building is compact, has great walkability for its residents and is probably one of the most sustainable buildings we’ve done.”

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JEFFREY BOSDET/SPRUCE MAGAZINE

That sustainability comes from transforming a site that once had just one single residential home into a development that now provides housing for 12 families. While Aryze has produced many individual custom homes in the past, the company is primarily focussing on creating multi-family residences, Mari says. Rotunda is Aryze’s third multi-family building.

In January, the City of Victoria passed a housing initiative which puts more developments like Rotunda on the horizon. The initiative allows for improved density in areas commonly considered residential by allowing townhomes of up to six units to be built on any mid-block lot, and up to 12 units on corners, without rezoning. This “middle” housing currently accounts for just five per cent of new home construction in Victoria, with apartments, condos and detached houses making up the other 95 per cent.

When it comes to Rotunda, Mari says Jones was inspired by the late Vancouver architect Peter Cardew, who was highly regarded for his creative ways of designing spaces on deeply constrained sites.

One of the design features Cardew often used in his residential work was including a courtyard, which is a central design feature of Rotunda. The building’s courtyard allows all of the units to benefit from a cross-breeze, which Prowse says was wonderful to have this past summer.

“When it was really hot, all we had to do was open the window and patio doors and it felt like a cool breeze was in the house. I thought it was a really smart design,” she says.

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EMA PETERS

The courtyard in Rotunda is a striking feature of this development, bringing additional light and airflow to each unit. D’Arcy Jones Architects took inspiration from Vancouver architect Peter Cardew for this build. Cardew often included interior courtyard spaces in his multi-family residences, and this condominium focuses on its use of indoor and outdoor space, despite its location in the dense downtown core.

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THIS PAGE: JEFFREY BOSDET/SPRUCE MAGAZINE

The couple bought their twobedroom, two-bath condo in September 2021 and moved in shortly after completion. Prowse says, after living in a very small rental, they have appreciated the generous size of their new home, with more than 1,000 square feet in their unit.

Inside the couple’s open-concept space, engineered white oak wideplank hardwood flooring offers a natural touch. The living space opens onto a patio, giving the room a spacious feel. The kitchen has integrated white wall cabinets for a clean, minimalist appearance, with oversized quartz countertops and backsplashes elevating the look. The Moffat refrigerator and Bosch wall oven add a touch of culinary luxury.

Prowse says the condo gives the couple everything they could want, from the ideal location and architectural style to the added bonus of feeling like they are living in a singlefamily house — a far cry from their previous living arrangement.

“We were basically living in a closet [before] and, with two adults working from home, it was interesting,” she says.

“Here, we’ve got quite a bit more space.

We don’t have to go into an elevator.

We can just walk outside.”

Homeowners Catherine Prowse and Cameron McNab both work from home and were able to create an office nook along one wall in their 1,000-square-foot condo.

While the home feels roomy to this couple, used to a smaller living arrangement in Vancouver, they were mindful to select furniture pieces (like a space-saving dining set) that enhance the condo’s contemporary esthetic while capitalizing on space.

DENSITY BY DESIGN

LO C A L LY H A N D C R A F T E D D E S I G N E R K I TC H E N S

Infills like Rotunda are one way to increase housing density in cities with high housing needs. The City of Victoria’s recently passed “Missing Middle Housing Initiative” allows houseplexes, corner townhouses and other dwellings alongside singlefamily homes in areas traditionally considered residential.

Here are four more ways developers in some cities increase density without relying on highrises.

DREAM KITCHENS REALLY DO COME TRUE 1 Duplex, triplex and fourplex apartments

These buildings act as a middle ground between single-family living and highrises or midrises.

These developments keep the scale of the areas and offer the feel of single-family living, complete with front doors, while doubling, tripling or quadrupling the density.

2 Townhomes and row homes

Townhomes create stacked density, often with units built against each other. These developments give homeowners a chance to maintain ownership over a unit on shared property. Row houses are typically lined up next to each other in rows, making strategic use of the land around them (rather than expansive lawns or alleyways), but offer ownership over both structure and land.

3 Community houses

Transforming old mansions and large singlefamily homes into condos preserves the heritage fabric of a city, rather than leaving these buildings to be torn down. This style of development allows for increased housing with the option of a primary owner renting or selling.

Built for life

|

Built for inspired living

4 Accessory Dwelling Units

These units, termed ADUs, are found as second homes in the yard of a single-family house.

Often heralded as garden or in-law suites, these livable structures give opportunities for tiny house fans to thrive and can double the density of a lot without requiring heavy renovations or teardowns.

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VENTILATION CHECKUP How clean is the air inside your home?

You might want to find out.

BY CAROLYN CAMILLERI

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W

e tend to think of pollution, airbourne allergens and contaminated air as something that happens outside. Sure, we notice indoor odours, good and bad, but unless we are varnishing woodwork or cooking something aromatic, we may not think about the air in our homes at all. Or at least, we didn’t until the pandemic.

Reader be aware: The following reality check may cause you pause, but the good news is solutions abound, and they have everything to do with the importance of hidden infrastructure — like ventilation.

Germs and allergens that affect health, as well as moisture and mould that deteriorate a home’s structure, can be lurking inside a home at significantly higher levels than you might imagine. That’s not all: dust, wood smoke, fumes from craft supplies and cleaning products, and even carbon monoxide, radon, asbestos and formaldehyde can be unexpected house guests.

“A home can have more pollution indoors than in downtown New York,” says Don Gulevich, owner of Coastal Heat Pumps.

He’s not exaggerating.

According to studies by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the air inside a home could be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air. How at-risk you Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are broadly found in building are and from what depends on materials during the construction of a home and require significant ventilation for clearing. Culprits like glue binders, countertops, a number of factors, but indoor carpets, paints and finishes can affect the air quality of a home. air quality is serious enough that the Government of Canada has online resources devoted to the subject. It’s an even greater worry with increased flooding, forest fires and allergens resulting from climate change.

One of the biggest sources of indoor air contaminants, however, is new and newly renovated homes.

“There’s so much in the building materials in the construction of a home, and they’re called VOCs — volatile organic compounds,” says Gulevich, listing culprits like the binders in glue for cabinets and woodwork, countertops, carpets, paints and finishes. “You know that new-home smell? That’s just all the stuff gassing off.”

Indoor air quality can be further affected by the increased emphasis on reducing energy use and preventing heat loss by sealing drafts, improving insulation and upgrading doors and windows. Yes, we absolutely want to do this — but if we aren’t partnering this with appropriate ventilation, we can run into trouble.

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• Open windows to create a cross breeze where possible, or create a chimney effect by opening one window on the ground floor and another on an upper floor.

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• Check exhaust fans in bathrooms, the laundry room and kitchen to ensure they are clean and in good working order. Consider upgrading to automated fans.

• Keep your ventilation systems clean and well maintained, including filters and ducts.

• Clean portable fans regularly, as well as window screens.

• Check your dryer vent to make sure it is clear and able to vent to the outside.

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GO WITH THE AIR FLOW Ventilation is important for maintaining air quality, ensuring a comfortable temperature and managing moisture. At a basic level, it’s about moving the air.

“This is why I’m such a proponent of forced-air systems,” says Gulevich. “You can do things with the air — you can purify the air, you can filter the air, you can humidify it and just circulate the air.

It’s so important for your own personal health, but also for the health of your home.”

Forced-air systems use ducts to push air throughout the home. Heat pumps, conventional furnaces and built-in air conditioners can all be considered forced-air systems.

“Some may think just from the name ‘forced air’ that it’s noisy. It isn’t,” says Gulevich. “But just that alone — having the air filtered and circulating, the temperature even — has a huge effect on air quality.

It’s not sitting stagnant.”

Filter care in a forced-air system is a critical part of maintenance. Filters should be high quality and changed often — even quarterly, in some cases.

“Think about it. What would you like the filter to do? Clean the air. If it gets dirty in two or three months, then it’s doing what it’s supposed to do,” he says.

System maintenance is another regular consideration to avoiding costly problems.

No matter what kind of system you have, an annual checkup by a professional is strongly recommended.

“It’s like having an oil change on a car,” says Gulevich. “A good quality heat pump system should last you 20 to 25 years, but if you don’t maintain it, you’ll have problems within 20 months.”

VENTILATION PRIMER

What does it mean to have proper ventilation?

Here’s a quick breakdown to showcase a few options.

Natural ventilation: This occurs when outdoor air enters through windows and doors and flows freely into your home. How well natural ventilation works depends on the ability to create a cross-breeze, when outside air comes in through one opening and pushes inside air out through another opening. The downfalls: doors slam, papers blow off tables, and there goes your heat in the winter and your AC-cooled air in the summer. Relying on natural ventilation may mean uneven temperatures, security issues and unfiltered air from outside, which

presents particular risks with allergens, forest fires and hightraffic areas.

Mechanical ventilation: This recreates natural ventilation using fans that either push old air out (exhaust fans) or bring fresh air in (supply fans). Relying on exhaust-only ventilation goes against modern building codes for very good reasons. Solely using exhaust-only fans can create negative pressure (compared to outdoor air), which can backdraft fuel-fired appliances, fireplaces and woodstoves.

Supply fans are commonly

GETTING EXPERT HELP In a perfect world, we would have all home functions like heating, ventilation and air conditioning checked regularly. In reality, we may wait until we have a problem.

These problems are often apparent — like clay in a crawl space with no moisture barrier, allergens in a home where occupants have respiratory issues or moisture that causes visible mould. Yet sometimes, Gulevich says, they go unnoticed.

In one home he visited, heat was produced primarily from electric baseboard heaters.

To conserve energy, the door to one unused bedroom was closed and the room’s heat was turned off. When he looked inside, water had condensed on the windows and a band of black mould had formed where the wall met the ceiling. The room had become a health hazard and the structure of the home itself had been compromised.

When people call for guidance, assessments start with questions for homeowners.

“The first question will be about what kind of heating system they have now,” Gulevich says.

“Is there duct work or not?”

If there is concern with particulates in the air, then it’s a discussion about filtration systems.

If there is concern about germs and viruses, then it’s about air purification. If a homeowner is wanting to change their heating system, the discussion is about new options. If they specifically don’t want that change (or can’t because they are in a condo), the discussion is about portable air purification systems and ductless heat pumps.

Heat pumps fall under the umbrella of forced-air systems, which can control temperature, circulation and air filtration. Because they prevent the air from sitting stagnant in a house, these systems have a positive impact on air quality.

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used with furnaces and deliver warmed, filtered fresh air through ducts. For this system to work best, exhaust fans, especially in bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms, are needed to prevent positive pressure — a condition that can cause condensation, mould and damage to the home structure. For this reason, supplyonly ventilation also does not meet modern building codes. The goal, of course, is to achieve balanced ventilation using both exhaust fans and supply fans to ensure good air flow and prevent pressurization and depressurization.

“AS SOON AS YOU SHUT OFF YOUR BASEBOARD HEATERS AND TURN ON YOUR HEAT PUMP, YOU’RE GOING TO BE DROPPING YOUR HEATING BILL BY AT LEAST 50 PER CENT.” A SYSTEM MEANT TO VENT Converting a home from electric baseboard heaters to a heat pump system is a daily occurrence at Coastal.

“As soon as you shut off your baseboard heaters and turn on your heat pump, you’re going to be dropping your heating bill by at least 50 per cent,” he says. “You’ll immediately start filtering the air, you’ll immediately start circulating the air and you’ll immediately be eligible for rebates.”

He notes that installing air ducts into a home that doesn’t have existing ducts is a bigger and more costly project, but is doable. In rare cases, where ducts can’t be added everywhere, a combination of ducted and ductless heat pumps is recommended specifically because of the air flow they create.

The other bonus in shifting to a forced-air system is that, despite the name, heat pumps also cool a home — something Islanders have grown to appreciate in recent years.

“If you set your thermostat for 22˚C, then forget about it, you will be absolutely amazed at how comfortable your home is,” Gulevich says.

And with a ventilation system operating year-round, you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing the air inside your home is fresher and cleaner — sometimes, even more so than the air outside.

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REAL ESTATE

BY SHANNON MONEO

Forevering Your Home CONSIDERING WHAT YOUR HOUSE WILL NEED IN THE LONG RUN WILL TURN YOUR INVESTMENT INTO A LEGACY.

G

reater Victoria home prices will likely never plummet.

For those fortunate enough to be homeowners, turning a residence from “starter” to finisher may well become the game plan.

BC Assessment Authority has boosted the region’s property values by an average of five to 15 per cent, so buying a home will remain a very costly proposition. Staying put and making the most of an existing dwelling is increasingly gaining traction.

“In B.C., we’re losing turnover. People are looking at staying in their homes for the next 15 to 20 years,” says Graden Sol, the Victoria Real Estate Board’s 2023 chair. “There are even younger clients who say, ‘This will be my forever house.’ ”

CAPITALIZE ON SPACE Squeezing the most out of everlasting space is becoming a priority for homeowners, be they new parents, multi-generational families, seniors or even empty-nesters. As one registered interior designer notes, the undeniable limitation comes down to dollars.

“You can renovate anything,” says Lawrie Keogh, manager of interior design at LIDA Homes. “It just depends how much money you want to spend.”

If someone doesn’t have tens of thousands of dollars to spend on a renovation, however, the prudent choice is to select carefully from the getgo. Those looking for a forever abode would be wise to go with the single-level home, with street entry and an open floor plan.

“It’s all about the layout of the house,” Keogh says. “Accessibility is the main thing. You don’t want to feel cramped.”

With an open-concept design, rooms can be created as needed, if they don’t already exist. Yet Keogh says not to disregard multi-level homes.

In two-storey houses, for example, the primary bedroom and ensuite, kitchen, living room and entrance could still be kept at street level, with a guest bedroom, office, den, small second kitchen or gym space in the basement or on the upper level. The ideal scenario would see a lower level that could be converted to a caregiver suite, if need be.

“People are designing with practical features on one level,” Keogh says.

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Ensuring your home has wide hallways and accessible features, like the ability to live primarily at walk-out level, will add flexibility for aging in place.

ANATOMY OF A FOREVER HOME When looking to buy, keep in mind the flexibility needed for different stages of life. Single-level dwellings are the gems of forever homes.

Walk-in, curbless showers are made for aging in place.

Look for a U-shaped kitchen, which can often be more easily reconfigured.

Non-slip flooring throughout the home will offer safety for years to come.

Find potential space for an elevator if the home is on two levels.

A single-level dwelling allows maximum accessibility for all family members.

MAKE ROOM FOR A PLUS-ONE Another option, now that local restrictions around garden suites are being relaxed, is to consider a property that has space enough to build a standalone structure for a caregiver. This can serve families needing in-law suites, nanny retreats or extra space for a support caregiver. RE/MAX Generation top Realtor Jason Leslie is a big fan of keeping the main-floor primary bedroom in mind for young and old alike.

“Once you have that, you don’t go back,” he says.

“Everyone wants the main-floor bedroom.”

A big must-have for the forever home is a high walkability score in the neighbourhood. Being able to walk to needed services and having space to get exercise for health is important, especially for seniors, Leslie notes.

Sol, also a Realtor with Royal LePage Coast Capital, is seeing more homes being lifted to create an additional floor below. At a cost of about $80,000 to $100,000, the process is gaining traction in areas like James Bay and Fairfield, particularly with older homes. Keeping height restrictions in mind, it can be less expensive than building a small suite, where the cost is approximately $300 per square foot, Sol says.

When space is at a premium, more drastic renovations can help capitalize on square footage.

Converting a garage into a living space can increase usable area in a home, as can putting on a new roof with a truss system, which can add living or storage room. Utilizing a laneway may offer space to build an office or living quarters and, if the property has a big yard, adding a new structure increases spatial opportunity. However, property owners must do their due diligence — zoning regulations, setbacks and floor

area ratios should be top of mind, and some renos may require extensive permitting.

Depending on local bylaws, floor area, for example, requires that only a certain percentage of the lot (not all of it) can be covered by a structure or structures, making larger lots more appealing. In the case of a 40 per cent ratio, a 5,000-square-foot lot has a structure limit of 2,000 square feet. Though some homes will include more than one storey, height restrictions can limit this in certain regions.

FIND THE ACCESSIBLE APPROACH Some modifications force homeowners to balance competing priorities. Borrowing room from the kitchen is one way to approach renovating a groundlevel floor into a forever space. Shrinking the kitchen may be an extra challenge in some scenarios, given counter configuration, plumbing and electrical outlets, Keogh says, but if less counter space is needed, these changes are often successful. U-shaped kitchens are the most amenable to such modifications because one side can often be easily removed.

If the ground level has only a powder room, one wall could be knocked out to boost the small bathroom to a larger version. A den, for example, could become a primary bedroom with another wall knocked out.

Accessibility modifications, like walk-in tubs or stair lifts, can overcome some issues while causing others.

Sol says in older homes, with narrow stairways, lifts can make it difficult for others to utilize the stairs.

KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR There are tangible features in most forever homes, especially those for aging families, according to Keogh.

Wide hallways and a well laid out floor plan ensures wheelchairs or mobility devices have space to move.

Look for levers, not handles, on doors; lots of light; wider hallways and doorways to accommodate walkers or wheelchairs; nonslip, textured flooring; if carpeted, not plush, which restricts wheeled items; curbless showers that are accessible and sloped so water drains; proper bracing/backing so that bathroom grab bars can be installed.

One item she has experience with is inhome elevators, which can be installed inside or outside of the home.

“It’s not as expensive as you think,” Keogh says. “If you don’t need it right away, plan for it and the space can be used as a storage area and switched to an elevator when you need it.”

With all of these considerations, as Sol poses, “At what age does someone decide it’s their forever home?”

In Greater Victoria’s pricey market, the forever-home clients are most often aged 40 and up, he says. Sol has encountered people who think their current place is it, but then plans shift — whether due to a divorce, job change or health problem.

Leslie recommends starting out with the intention of buying a forever home, given that finding qualified tradespeople to do renovations and then sourcing the needed materials continues to be challenging in this region.

Rather than settle on a home that won’t check boxes later on or that could be too impractical to change, Leslie has a simple motto: “It’s better to pay up front.”

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THIS ROOM

BY DANIELLE POPE

Playing with Design

S

implification is one of today’s most popular design principles, and it isn’t just for grownups.

Even our youngest residents require inspiring, clean and simple designs for stimulation and development. That’s why designers are focusing on how to create beautiful playrooms using minimalist philosophies — think Montessori and Waldorf-inspired — that build the most engaging areas for children.

To help demystify the process, Spruce asked some of our region’s experts about the essential features families should include, what to highlight and what to leave out to fashion a room specially made for play.

THE PHILOSOPHY OF PLAY Understanding the historic philosophies behind play can offer insight on modern playroom design etiquette.

The Montessori Method focuses on providing children with pathways to independence and capability. While the term has become a buzzword for parents today, the philosophy was created in the early 1900s by Italian physician and educator Maria Montessori, who believed children thrive when given independence and choice. Waldorf education, regarded in the same era for its use of simple, nature-based toys, was inspired by Rudolf Steiner’s ideas that children learned best by using their imaginations.

How does that translate into playful design?

Designers say everything from colour palette and size of furniture to choice of toys can be influenced by those principles alone.

“From a design standpoint, we’re aiming for a space that can stimulate minds without overwhelming them,” says Sara Peddle, registered interior designer with Western Design+Build. “We don’t want to create an overly complicated area with lots of gadgets … kids will play with whatever you give them.”

Peddle brought some of these ideas into the recently completed Little Phoenix Childcare Centre, connected to the Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre. The daycare takes a trauma-

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ALL PHOTOS: DASHA ARMSTRONG

PLAYROOMS INSPIRE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CREATING SPACES PERFECTLY SUITED TO OUR YOUNGEST RESIDENTS.

informed approach to creating safety while inspiring children. From neutral colour tones and child-sized tables and toilets to soft hardware options and nature-based themes (like felt acoustic clouds overhead and a “river” tiled into the flooring), the space is geared for young spirits.

“We wanted to focus on keeping the atmosphere natural and welcoming, while building independence for these kids,” says Peddle. “One play station was simply a lowheight table full of leaves, and the kids loved it.

It was really eye-opening.”

BATTERY-FREE ZONE Playrooms focused around these child-centred ideals have a few things in common. To support independent play, activities are kept within reach so children can choose what interests them. Toys are rotated and limited in number to offer space for play — think eight to 10 options placed on an open shelf, rather than overflowing toy boxes.

Montessori playrooms concern themselves with making each activity serve a purpose for development and mastery, while Waldorf themes focus on wooden toys and objects that stimulate discovery and imagination. Both schools typically steer clear of battery-operated toys, thought to act as busy-making distractions.

On a practical level, to keep the area functional as well as calming, thoughtful storage can reduce clutter while adding charm.

Playrooms present the perfect opportunity to create a space that stimulates young minds without becoming overwhelming. Child-centred design focuses on building a simple, welcoming and tactile environment — this was the theme Western Design+Build used in their recent work on the Little Phoenix Childcare Centre (pictured) connected to the Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre.

“The main thing that makes a room memorable is its personality,” says Jenny Martin, principal of Jenny Martin Design. “A playroom should encourage creativity and be a reflection of its homeowners. Designing a space that truly captures the family it’s designed for is what makes the process so special.”

Martin doesn’t hesitate to go bold, using a combination of colour, pattern and décor to create playful spaces. However, she says, storage and functionality should remain a priority.

“It’s really important to understand how a space will be used. Depending on children’s interests, different storage solutions and room layouts will be more useful than others,” she says. “For an arts-and-crafts lover, it’s important to have lots of storage for supplies, while another family might need an open-concept layout, leaving more space to run around. Custom shelving, hidden storage and baskets are some of our favourite ways to contain the chaos.”

CHILD-LED DESIGN While play is at the helm of this design, scale is crucial in supporting children’s autonomy. That means size-appropriate furniture and placing items, like coat hooks, within reach — typically less than a foot off the floor — enhances independence.

Thoughtful storage can keep the area functional and allow kids the opportunity to know where to find (and replace) items.

Technical adjustments, such as “light tuning” with dimmable lights, can take circadian rhythm into account for naptime prep.

Even hardware choice should be scrutinized: silicone door handles offer a safe and touchable surface.

Scale is crucial in supporting autonomy.

That means selecting size-appropriate furniture, placing items within reach and creating cozy spots for someone just a couple of feet tall.

“We have to remember children are so much smaller than us, so things like large patterns can be overwhelming,” says Laura Thomson, senior designer and project manager with Western Design+Build. “Where we mount things matters. Kids feel very independent when a coat hook is at their level, say, 11 inches off the ground. It helps them feel like they are their own little person as they grow into such a big world.”

Thomson says tailoring a space to your child should include technical adjustments — as simple as switching out the lighting and as involved as customizing the views.

“If you have the budget, look at different shapes of windows,” she says. “Integrating something like a bubble window gives children a special nook they can sit in and look out of, and even interact with their friends. Think about window height and how they get there, too.”

If window renos are out of scope, Thomson suggests “light tuning” by incorporating circadian rhythm lights — either overhead or via lamps — that can be adjusted to emulate the sun setting in preparation of naptime.

Creating a tactile environment is key, and though add-ins like sensory bins and different fabrics can achieve this, another option is through hardware. Thomson has outfitted some child-based projects with silicone door handles, offering safe and touchable surfaces.

A PLACE FOR MISTAKES As with any youthful space, safety is paramount. However, Thomson says making that safe space isn’t just about childproofing, picking kid-friendly plants and securing the windows. It’s also about leaving room for mistakes.

“Of course, we make sure there are no hazards, so electrical outlets are placed higher off the ground and concealed behind millwork. But it also comes down to choosing resilient materials,” says Thomson.

“Residential carpet tiles are a wonderful option, because if they’re impacted beyond repair, one can be replaced. We can also use wall protection, like laminate paneling, so you never have to worry about a rogue crayon and, when the time is right, you have your walls back.”

Some also lean into the mess with “chalkboard” feature walls, which come in a variety of colours and can be easily wiped off.

“One of the things we run into is the idea that everything has to be Instagrammable, but it’s not about that — it’s about the end user,” says Peddle. “A playroom should not really be about what the adult wants to see; it should be about what supports the kids and what will enrich their lives. It’s about so much more than pretty pictures.”

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FINISHING TOUCH

CHOOSING THE PERFECT FRONT DOOR CAN BE ONE OF THE MOST COMPLEX DESIGN DECISIONS HOMEOWNERS WILL MAKE.

W

hen Barry Moore talks with clients about outfitting a home’s windows and doors, the conversations are typically quick and straightforward. When it comes to picking the front door, however, that’s another story.

“I get to do some very large homes, and I can go through the window-and-door package in an hour to two hours. The front door — that might take a year,” says Moore, general manager with Pella Windows and Doors.

How to outfit the face of a home isn’t a choice most take lightly. It’s often the first flash of design visitors confront in a home, and door style says plenty about those on the other side of it.

“It always surprises me how emotional a front door purchase is. It doesn’t seem to matter whether it’s a million-dollar home or something smaller; it’s always an emotional decision,” says Moore.

“People often know what they don’t like more than what they do.”

Trending right now in the world of door design

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is a resurgence in traditional home styles, as well as contemporary looks: oversized, pivot-style front doors with glass elements, including white glass.

Moore says large, solid plank wood doors are an especially “in” look, along with horizontal and vertical doors, featuring panels of wood and glass.

“In order for a door to be up to code, you do have to see through it, but there are creative ways to do that, like having glass on either side,” says Moore. “You have to be able to see who’s on the other side without opening it.”

Pamela Úbeda, architect and principal of Coast + Beam Architecture, says architects share a very particular way they look at doors.

“Doors are all about public and private. Who can see it [the door], and who do you want to see inside it? How much do you show; how much do you keep private?” she says. “The door itself is the threshold and is part of the entry sequence to the home.”

In one particular project Úbeda worked on, the homeowners had a completely private west-facing

This contemporary, horizontal wood-and-glass door was built by Westeck Windows and Doors and is a fusion of composite material — made to look like walnut — with metal inlays on the exterior and glass paneling. When architect Pamela Úbeda worked on this home with her clients, the family requested a “bulletproof” door that would stand up to the wear of five kids under age seven (when the home was built). Durability was key, and so was the fact that a work-from-home setup made an elegant entryway a necessity.

front, which meant it would be affected by sun and weather, but it didn’t need the shrouding a street view may require. As well, the entryway had to be both durable for a large family and present well for clients visiting this work-from-home setup.

“This project really allowed us to play with texture and light,” Úbeda says. “We created a framed view from inside and outside, but one where you can see though these slats for visual interest. Clutter had to be kept clear in this entryway, and the structure supported that.”

JODY BECK

The Door Next Door

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