Father’s Day is coming June 21, and if the gift card aisle is feeling a little stale this year, we’ve got five homewares that are sure to make your dad smile. Note: there are no hammers or beer coolers on our list — instead we look at the best gadgets and gizmos to make cooking more effortless, gardening more exciting and sleeping more sound.

Bundlpro Kitchen Tweezer Tongs

Pops might not know he needs a set of precision kitchen tweezers tongs until he has them. Four sizes tackle everything from flipping meat on the grill to grabbing that last pickle at the bottom of the jar. Built from rust-resistant steel, dishwasher safe and easy to grip, these tweezer tongs bring surgical precision to everyday cooking.

Amazon $33.99

Bee Cups Watering Stations

For the dad who loves his garden, this might be the sweetest gift you’ll find. These handcrafted porcelain flowers double as tiny drinking stations for bees, featuring a unique ultraviolet glaze visible only to pollinators, drawing them in the way real blooms do. Artful and eco-conscious with no plastic in its production and packaging, it’s a gift that gives back to nature too.

Amazon $12.80

Swiss Diamond Frying Pan

Give dad the gift of effortless cooking. These Swiss-crafted skillets have actual diamond crystals embedded in the coating; a gold medal-winning innovation that makes food glide off cleanly while the pan heats evenly edge to edge and holds up meal after meal. Compatible with all modern stovetops, it’s a Father’s Day upgrade he’ll reach for every single day.

Amazon from $97

Hazaki 4 Piece Steak Knife Set

Dinner will never be the same with this cool steak knife set on the scene. Forged in Seki, Japan, and finished with Canadian wood handles in Montreal, every detail reflects true craftsmanship. With balanced heft, the smooth, straight edge of these knives slices cleaner than serrated alternatives and stays sharper longer.

Knifewear $100

Endy Memory Foam Pillow

Great sleep is the gift that keeps on giving all day long. Engineered to cradle the head and neck, Endy’s memory foam pillow transforms an ordinary sleep into real recovery time. Breathable, cool and built to hold its shape long-term, the Endy pillow supports proper upper-body alignment, which means better sleep posture, and, yes, quite possibly quieter nights for everyone.

Endy | Amazon $145

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What do Vancouver’s Fairmont Waterfront, Mexico’s Rosewood Mayakoba and Victoria’s Rosemead Hotel have in common? Each of these design-led hotels have a deep connection with their local surroundings. Find out how to unpack their five-star style at home.

Coastal luxury

When you first enter one of the newly renovated suites at the Fairmont Waterfront , the narrative that informed its reimagining immediately becomes clear: A panoramic vista of the mountains, the ocean and the endlessly shifting light of the Vancouver sky instantly takes over.

That’s entirely by design, says Karine Bannon, designer behind the hotel’s fresh take and senior project director at Montreal’s CAMDI Design. The renovation of 96 guest rooms across the top four floors is the first phase of a longer transformation happening over the next four years at Fairmont Waterfront.

Bannon describes the guiding design concept as one rooted in place rather than convention. Instead of reaching for the obvious nautical references one might expect from a waterfront property, team CAMDI went deeper with a more atmospheric, sensory approach.

“The idea of coastal luxury was integrated into a palette and material selection that feels both refined and deeply connected to the surrounding Vancouver landscape,” says Bannon. “[We pulled] from the surrounding mountains, the driftwood, the fog, the natural light, the reflections from the harbour.”

The result is a suite that feels restorative and coastal. Strong stone finishes next to soft woven textures in dusky blues, greys and greens meet the warm modernism of sculpturally curved wood-toned furniture. Brushed gold accents cast a honey glow throughout.

Tropical modern

There’s a very good reason why visitors have been checking in to Rosewood Mayakoba in Mexico’s Riviera Maya since it opened in 2008. Spacious villas boast private plunge pools and overlook winding lagoons and dense jungle beyond. White sandy beaches are within easy reach via the vintage-inspired cruiser-styled bicycles parked at the front door.

The evolution of this five-star property is also a compelling study in creating an authentic sense of place. Studio Bando x Seidel Meersseman consulted anthropologists for a multi-million-dollar renovation to create decors inspired by Mayan culture and esthetics — but through a contemporary lens. Villas showcase a calming material palette of natural woods, and grounding terracotta, stone and beige neutrals. Many accent pieces — such as clay pots, embroidered textiles and woven baskets — are sourced directly from the Mexican communities that have produced them for generations.

Vancouver’s Treana Peake , founder of ethical lifestyle brand Obakki, has spent nearly 20 years sourcing handwoven textiles, ceramics and stone objects directly from these artisans. Her Rosewood Mayakoba x Obakki Artisan Marketplace collaboration sells pieces at the resort and online, with part of the proceeds supporting K’iin Beh, a bilingual non-profit school for local children.

Heritage maximalism

Rosemead House is Aragon Properties’ boutique hotel on Vancouver Island. Part of the redevelopment of The Olde England Inn estate in Esquimalt, the original family home was designed by Canadian architect Samuel Maclure in 1906. The Tudor-Revivalist manor changed hands many times, until Aragon’s president and founder Lenny Moy acquired its four-acre site in 2015. Ten years on and the property’s transformation comprises a hotel with 28 unique guest rooms, a spa, and a restaurant, as well as a residential development called Oakwoods .

Rather than leaning too heavily into a themed “English manor” esthetic, Aragon’s in-house senior interior designer Karen Wichert drew inspiration from its traditional interior while mixing in modern elements that maintain its character and elegance.

“The [esthetic] is more of a maximalist style that blends the antiques, the artwork, the wall coverings and the finishes, bold patterns and colours and details,” says Wilchert.

The palette features classic tones such as ivory, deep greens and blues. No two rooms are the same, and finishes include classic William Morris-patterned wallpaper alongside contemporary textiles to keep the look cohesive rather than overly decorated. Antiques curated from the Savoy and Dorchester hotels in London and clawfoot tubs are seamlessly blended with modern luxe creature comforts such as Duxiana king-sized beds and heated bathroom floor tiles.

The goal isn’t to recreate the room — it’s to recreate the feeling

We asked interior designer Nikki Renshaw, program director at Vancouver’s Interior Design Diploma and Certificate department at The Cut Design Academy, how to achieve a similar five-star style at home.

Her advice is to invest in timeless base pieces, not trend driven shapes. “If you’re spending money on a sofa, keep it neutral,” says Renshaw. “Trends change quickly. You don’t want to be stuck with something that dates your space.”

Instead, layer in personality through pieces that are easy to update, such as cushions, throws, wallpaper or paint, she explains.

“You’re looking for high-impact, easily changeable ways to transform your space,” adds Renshaw. “That’s where you can have fun with trends.”

She also suggests maintaining visual continuity between rooms with consistent colours, as keeping sightlines open and uncluttered creates a sense of flow.

“Make sure that what you can see from one room… supports the look you’ve got going on,” she says. “It creates this feeling of openness and airiness.”

When mixing heritage with modern, build intentional vignettes — groupings of threes and fives — and leave negative space so the eye can rest, says Renshaw.

To avoid a period-piece feel, she suggests blending modern elements with heirloom pieces.

“It should feel like it’s evolved over time. Not like a [theatre] set.”

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For Patkau Studio, furniture design begins much the same way architecture does: through material exploration, experimentation and an interest in how people emotionally experience space.

The Vancouver-based studio, an extension of Patkau Architects, has unveiled Maitake Eclos, a sculptural modular table created in collaboration with Cosentino using Eclos, the company’s newly developed mineral-based surface material. Made from recycled minerals and designed to look and feel like natural stone, the material offered the studio an opportunity to push its long-standing interest in fluid forms.

“When Cosentino first approached us with Eclos, we didn’t just see a new material, we saw an invitation to test its sculptural potential,” says John Patkau, founding principal of Patkau Architects.

“Our goal was to translate the fluid, organic forms we value into this innovative mineral medium. Maitake Eclos captures the tension between nature and precision, with sensuous forms that feel both rooted in nature and rigorous in their execution,” he says.

Originally developed in solid wood, the Maitake table system went through a series of different designs, says Patkau.

Rather than emphasizing the material’s rectilinear qualities, the studio leaned into curvilinear geometry, using CNC stone routing to create the table’s distinctive tapered edges and fluid profiles. The result is a modular system that can shift from restrained and minimal to expansive and highly expressive depending on how the pieces are configured.

A focus on flexibility

For principal Greg Boothroyd, adaptability was central to the design.

“One thing that makes this table unique is its adaptability to a client’s particular environment. If someone has a spot that demands a simple arrangement for a traditional setting, Maitake Eclos can do that. On the other hand, if someone has a setting that demands a complex organic arrangement, Maitake can also do that,” he says.

This table maintains a strong connection to nature through both its form and materiality.

“When you experience it, it is sensuous and calming,” says Boothroyd.

That tactile quality of the table appears to be resonating with audiences already. Officially launched during DesignTO in Toronto in late May, visitors responded not only visually, but physically.

“People loved the tables. They were coming up and touching them, some even crawling on the floor to get a better view of the sculpted edges,” says Anna Reynolds, Patkau’s director of operations.

The table series will also be shown, this month, at Copenhagen’s 3daysofdesign festival, and in Montreal and Vancouver this summer.

New possibilities

While Patkau Studio has previously worked with Cosentino’s Dekton material on architectural projects, the team says Eclos opens entirely new possibilities.

“We are eager to keep exploring organic geometries using Eclos. The unique full-body consistency and sculptural potential of this product open up many opportunities to scale these same fluid characteristics up into architectural applications,” says Boothroyd.

This collaboration also marked a significant milestone for Patkau Studio.

“What set it apart was Cosentino’s global reach,” says Zachary Morris, the studio’s head of product development and fabrication.

“It was a new experience for our studio to simultaneously fabricate our first Maitake Eclos tables on two different continents — in Toronto for North America, and in Cantoria for Europe,” he says.

New lighting

The studio is also preparing to launch the latest addition to its Minima Lightform series, continuing its exploration of adaptable, sculptural objects that bridge architecture, furniture and lighting design.

“The Minima 4 is a versatile lightform. Like Maitake, it can adapt to its environment. The table lamp version has an adjustable foot, offering two different poses. The pendant version comes in playful clusters of 3, 6, 9, or sky’s the limit with a custom configuration to suit any space,” says Morris.

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The Vancouver Island community of Port Alberni is set to star in a new TV show.

The B.C. town, which is home to some 18,000 residents, was chosen from a pool of hundreds of destinations across the country that applied for the first season of Hometown Takeover Canada.

Once a booming forestry town — Port Alberni was the site of the province’s first sawmill in 1860 — the town has seen a marked shift in its economy following the industry downturn, devastating wildfire impacts of recent years and more.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to shine a light on the people, businesses and community spirit that make Port Alberni such a special place,” said Port Alberni Mayor Sharie Minions. “Our city is built on resilience, pride and connection, and we are thrilled to share that story with viewers across the country.”

Selected from the submissions in a joint decision by Rogers Sports & Media and HGTV, the western Vancouver Island town’s handling of hardships and its resulting resilience is what made it the perfect pick for the show, according to host Bryan Baeumler.

“It’s a community that has faced significant challenges but has never lost its determination,” Baeumler, who shares the hosting duties with his wife Sarah, said. “There is a tremendous sense of pride, resilience and entrepreneurial spirit here. When you spend time in Port Alberni, you quickly realize this isn’t a town looking for a handout — it’s a town ready for an opportunity.”

The Canadian version of the U.S. TV series, which stars Ben and Erin Napier and is set in Laurel, Miss., the show will mirror its American predecessor. Both longtime renovation experts and TV hosts, the Baeumlers will bring their expertise overhauling homes and businesses to offer a reboot to the community that is said to be the ‘salmon capital of the world.’

“I think people will be surprised by just how real the impact is,” says Baeumler. “Unlike a traditional renovation show where you’re transforming a single property, these projects become part of the fabric of an entire community. Viewers can actually visit the businesses, parks, public spaces and neighbourhoods they see onscreen.

“We’ve seen firsthand in the U.S. how communities have experienced increased tourism, new business investment and renewed civic pride after participating in the show.”

The potential ripple effect, he notes, can be “enormous.”

Reached by Postmedia News by email, hometown host Ben Napier says being a part of the revitalization of small towns has been a dream come true for the couple.

“And now Sarah and Bryan get to experience that magic,” he said.

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The modest West Vancouver home that helped define West Coast modernism is among the stops on this year’s West Coast Modern Home Tour.

Designed by artist B.C. Binning, the B.C. Binning House has been called Canada’s first truly modern residence. A major restoration and expansion project was completed last year on the home.

Also on the tour is the Fells House. One of the tour’s architectural highlights, the cedar-clad residence exemplifies the West Coast Modern ideal of integrating architecture with the natural landscape. D’Arcy Jones Architects recently renovated the home, which was designed by renowned architect Ron Thom in 1959.

Other homes include Rockview House, designed by ABC Architecture Building Culture, 2024; Fuldauer House, designed by Erickson-Massey Architects, 1966; and Stigant House, designed by Bob Lewis, 1967.

Since it began, the West Coast Modern Home Tour has introduced visitors to more than 70 unique West Vancouver homes, from original mid-century to contemporary architect-designed dwellings.

The home tour is part of West Coast Modern Week 2026 (July 7 to 12).

When: July 11, noon to 4 p.m.

Cost : $160 (self-drive) & $180 (bus)

Tickets are on sale now at westvancouverartmuseum.ca

A quiet shift is taking shape in Vancouver homes, and across design feeds everywhere: Small, awkward spaces that used to be ignored are now being transformed. Every odd corner seems to have a purpose.

Giving awkward spaces a new purpose

Teresa Budd reworked a small landing above the entryway into a cosy dog nook, complete with a bed and a basket of toys. Frank, her wire-haired wiener dog, loves his perch as it’s perfect for peeking at visitors as they enter the home.

“Before Frank, we didn’t know what to do with the awkward space,” Budd shares.

Homeowners are reclaiming “builder shelves” that were a common inclusion in homes with vaulted ceilings in the early 2000s, transforming the once decorative dust collectors into bonus spaces.

Kaitlyn Bristowe, Canadian TV personality, podcast host, and entrepreneur, has tapped into this trend, turning an awkward upper-level loft ledge into a sitting area in her Nashville home, complete with a ladder for access.

A shift in how space Is used

To make better use of unusual spaces, designers and DIYers are creating “petite pockets” — mini-spaces optimized for work, play, or storage.

Vancouver interior designers Megan Dengerink and Neema Kulkarni, of Home|Made Spatial Design , have watched the shift unfold firsthand.

“We’ve seen this as an increased priority,” says Dengerink. “In Vancouver’s heritage houses, everybody was using all of the nooks and crannies for storage. There’s been a shift to using those spaces for something else: a small built-in bar in a closet or a home office in a corner, for example.”

On why this shift is happening, Dengerink points to housing costs. “With the rising cost of real estate, it used to be that people saw their rental place or first home as a starter spot. Now, more and more people are lifetime renters because the cost of living is so high.”

Kulkarni explains how that mindset shows up in design thinking: “Designers will look at both form and function. If there is a closet under the stairs, you’re thinking, this could be a great coat closet or storage, but your mind also goes to: what’s the potential for this beyond that?”

Designing ‘petite pockets’ in Vancouver homes

One recent project illustrates exactly how a “petite pocket” can be transformed.

“Harold’s office is a really good example. In a small bedroom, we were able to take a nook and turn it into an office,” says Kulkarni. “The space now functions as a guest room or exercise room, but the office can coexist with either. Not only is it used daily, but there is also a window that brings in additional light and makes the room feel bigger.”

Dengerink shares another example: “Maegan’s potting shed is a good example too. A small stand-alone building in the backyard, probably 60 square feet, was retrofitted into a ceramics studio.

“It takes something that was full of debris and turns it into a functional space that takes pressure off the main house and gives her an opportunity to do something she wouldn’t have been able to do at home otherwise.”

For those on a tighter budget, Dengerink suggests looking at vintage and second-hand pieces.

“There are so many options on the resale market, small mid-century corner cabinets designed to fit into awkward spaces but packed with functionality.”

For a simple DIY approach, says Dengerink: “Take the door off a closet, paint the interior walls, and it can become a library, bar, office — you name it.”

As small-space living and functional design continue to evolve in Vancouver, that space demand is also shifting.

“We’re increasingly getting inquiries from families about renovating single-family homes into multi-generational dwellings,” says Kulkarni.

“These aren’t just parents moving in with adult kids, these are families where the second generation is staying or moving back. If it’s not feasible to divide the home into separate apartments, petite pockets can be what makes that work. Creating pockets of privacy is key to successful cohabitation among adults.”

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Is it a house? A townhouse? A duplex? Is it detached? Semi-detached? These are the head-scratching questions that interested buyers ask when they tour Yewbrook Place, a unique development overlooking the Marine Drive Golf Club in Vancouver.

The answer, essentially, is yes. It is a house. It looks like a townhouse. It is semi-detached. It is a duplex, kind of. As Crystal Hung of Icon & Co. Boutique Inc. real estate marketing and sales agency puts it, “There isn’t even a category on MLS to categorize it, it’s so unique. It’s called a ‘bare land strata’, a big parcel of land that 13 homeowners share in a subdivision. They look like townhomes but they’re all individual single lots, with unobstructed views of the 105-acre golf course.

“There’s a lot more to it behind the structure when you enter the home .”

What’s inside

Hung says each structure is designed and built a bit differently. This particular home comprises two-and-a-half bathrooms, three bedrooms plus an open office over two levels connected by stairs and a private elevator. Four new terraces comprise almost 2,000 square feet with heaters above two of them.

The property was renovated twice since it was built in 1982, the last time, in 2023, cost more than $1 million.

The current homeowner, a construction executive, undertook an extensive overhaul, says Hung. “Everything was taken out — roofing, decks, drainage, mechanical, pipes, plumbing, electrical wiring, a lot of insulation, all window systems, the entire flooring was re-levelled, the rooftop deck was rebuilt and waterproofed, and interior and exterior finishes were upgraded. It’s basically a brand-new build.”

She says the homeowner spent $180,000 on the hardwood, tiles, and carpeted flooring alone. Roughly $20,000 of that was just on levelling and waterproofing, from the rooftop deck all the way downstairs. She also invested more than $100,000 on custom-made EuroLine Windows and patio doors.

“Because she’s a construction expert, she didn’t do it just for cosmetic reasons,” says Hung of the extensive renovations. “It was to be her forever home, and it was that long-term thinking she had in mind when she was renovating. She spent all the money and did the work (so it would be) very low maintenance. It’s like a house without the house problem. But she was being drawn too often to grandkids in Richmond …”

There are two gas fireplaces, and extensive skylights span the top of the main entrance, above the staircase and into the kitchen.

All three bedrooms are on the main floor, one of which is being used as a gym (and could also be converted to a home theatre). One features a Murphy bed, and another could be reconfigured to accommodate a live-in caretaker for a downsizer who wants to age in place. The primary bedroom is en suite with a jetted soaker tub and walk-in shower.

There’s also an open office space by the kitchen. “Being a female executive, she’s always in her kitchen and office,” says Hung. “It didn’t make sense to have a third seating room, so she turned it into an office.”

Kitchen appliances include a Wolf range and Sub-Zero refrigerator. There is also a wine fridge next to the wall stoves and a backup fridge by the elevator. Cabinetry, including in the library/TV room, was designed and crafted in B.C. by Nicole Mah Design. Customized Emtek hardware was also incorporated throughout the home.

The elevator was installed by Cambridge Cambrian Elevator from Western Elevator Ltd at a cost of $40,000.

The owner also had a Hydropool AquaSport self-cleaning, energy-efficient jetted swim spa installed for $35,000. “The coolest thing I learned about this pool is that you can swim stationary laps for a full-body workout, use the rowing system to work the upper body, and run or jog underwater for a cardiovascular workout,” says Hung. “The insulation layer inside of the system uses the same technology as NASA for protecting its astronauts from minus 273 degrees in outer space.”

The homeowner also enlisted Repel Technologies to integrate smart home technology, including a brand-new, top-of-the-line security system with the latest alarm sensors on all openings, glass break detectors on windows, CCTV cameras, as well as automatic blinds, temperature, AC, and lighting that can all be controlled with a smartphone or iPad.

The home comes with a two-car garage and an EV charging station, plus extra visitor parking.

“I think the bare land strata is an interesting topic that’s misunderstood,” says Hung, who notes that owners can undertake any renovations, additions or adjustments as long as they obtain the appropriate permits and follow architectural standards and strata guidelines to protect the integrity and esthetic of the complex. Each homeowner pays $900 in monthly strata fees for landscaping in public areas.

“It’s a great model because it’s gentle, it’s respectful, it’s clean, there are lots of benefits that, unless you live there, are not well-known. I think it’s a much better option than building six homes on one tiny lot.”

In the neighbourhood

Hung says she envisions the next homeowner as a downsizer who is looking for something safe and quiet, close to public and private schools, including UBC 10 minutes away, YVR 15 minutes away, and several top golf courses, including the private Marine Drive Golf Club, close by.

Stairs leading outside connect with a walkway that links to the Fraser River trail system and the Pacific Spirit Regional Park and beyond.

Grocery stores, shops and restaurants are a walk, bike or drive up West 57th Avenue, or seven minutes over to Dunbar Village and Kerrisdale Village on W. 41st Avenue.

Location:2236 Yewbrook Place , Vancouver

Listed for: $4,788,000

Year built: 1982

Type: Three bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms

Size: 4,330 square feet

Realtor: Listed by Crystal Hung, Icon&Co. Boutique Inc., Vancouver

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Philosophically, mirrors symbolize truth, self-reflection and vanity (which didn’t turn out so well, mythically, for Narcissus). Mystically, they serve as portals between the physical and spiritual worlds (go ask Alice). Practically, they allow you to check your look before opening the door. Usefully, they make a room seem bigger than it really is, brighten dark hallways, and infuse everything with balance, depth, atmosphere and style.

Mirror, mirror

“Mirrors create the illusion of space by reflecting both light and the surrounding environment,” says Arash Rezghi, director at Omid Glass Ltd . in Coquitlam, which custom crafts glass and mirrors for businesses and residences. “When placed strategically, such as across from a window or at the end of a room, they visually ‘double’ the space, making areas feel larger and more open.”

He says large, frameless mirrors tend to be the most effective at expanding a space visually because they create a seamless reflection. “Minimal or thin frames also help maintain a clean, open look. Vertical mirrors help emphasize height, making ceilings feel taller, while wide, horizontal mirrors can make a room appear broader.”

He says tall mirrors are ideal for entryways, small bedrooms and narrow spaces where you want to create a sense of height by drawing the eye upward. “Full wall mirrors are especially effective in smaller rooms, gyms, or basements, for maximizing the sense of openness.”

Lucila Diaz, founder and creative director at Harmony Sense Interiors in North Vancouver, agrees a well-placed mirror can open up a room through reflection, but she advises being careful about what you’re reflecting. “It will extend sightlines but if it’s extending to something not worth looking at, such as clutter, messy countertops, etc., then you’ll just double the problem. But if you’re reflecting (a clean, interesting space), then you’re doubling the clean space and distracting from clutter.”

Diaz says bathrooms, especially small bathrooms without a lot of wall space or windows, benefit greatly from a strategically placed mirror. Directly across from or beside a window, a mirror draws daylight into the room. Without a window, a mirror hung behind or near a light fixture, such as a sconce, boosts the light and brightens shadows.

She says mirrors that have integrated light all the way around are popular and functional, helping you see better when applying makeup or fixing your hair. Some come with a dimmer, adding warmth to the room.

A medicine cabinet with a mirror can also do double duty as a reflector of face and enhancer of space.

Diaz cautions against having more than two mirrors in a bathroom, especially if you’re placing them directly across from each other, because it can create an infinite reflection effect that can be disorienting and overwhelming, kind of like a funhouse mirror.

Mirrors that are embedded in furniture, such as end tables, coffee tables, curio cabinets, hall trees, or shelving, can also reflect light and expand a space without adding extra furniture to a room.

Outside, mirrors placed around a garden reflect flowers and greenery, creating the illusion of a larger space. Frames that match outdoor finishes give the impression of whimsical little windows around the yard.

Light up your life

“Mirrors enhance brightness by reflecting available light, whether natural or artificial,” says Rezghi. “In darker areas, like hallways or windowless spaces, placing a mirror near a light source helps distribute light more evenly and reduces shadows.”

Also, a mirror at the end of a dark hallway can help elongate the hall, says Diaz. “Placing a mirror next to a wall sconce, table lamp or chandelier extends the reach of the light and adds symmetry.”

A windowpane-type mirror hung opposite to or diagonally from a window is like adding another window, which works well — depending on the view. “You don’t want to just reflect a neighbour’s house,” says Diaz. “But if your window looks onto beautiful greenery, for example, then you can double the effect. Through the corner of your eye, you might think there’s another window on the other side.”

Too much of a good thing can be distracting or irritating, however. Mirrors that reflect harsh light can cause glare and shine that blinds. A simple angle adjustment, frosted glass fixtures or nearby lamps with diffusers can balance the brightness.

Shapes, sizes and hang-ups

When choosing the size and shape of a mirror, you should take into account the size and shape of the space it will occupy. A mirror that’s too large can overwhelm a room, while a mirror that’s too small can fade into the background. “You want it to be in proportion with the furniture or other elements that are underneath or around it,” says Diaz.

Hanging a mirror behind a cabinet, console or shelving can add depth, dimension and layering to a room and prevents furniture from appearing flat against a wall. A large mirror behind a sofa can reflect more light and give the illusion of a wider room.

Some experts advise keeping a mirror’s width roughly the same size as the furniture below it. A mirror that extends slightly beyond the edges of a console table, for example, feels more balanced. A wall mirror in a dining room can double the table and chairs, opening up the space. It can also reflect candles or the glow of a chandelier, warming up the room.

As for shapes, “Rectangular mirrors offer a modern (symmetrical) and structured look, making them suitable for most spaces,” says Rezghi. “Round or oval mirrors soften a room’s (angles) and are often used in bathrooms or above vanities. Custom shapes can also be used as design features to complement unique interiors. Clean, polished edges (work best) for modern and minimalist designs. Bevelled edges add a more classic or decorative touch, as they catch light and create subtle detailing, making them suitable for traditional or more formal interiors.”

When deciding on your mirror’s frame, consider whether it will go with the rest of the decor. “You don’t want the frame to be so ornate that it takes away from the mirror’s job of reflecting a beautiful space, complementing the beautiful console that it’s going above, or a gorgeous fireplace,” says Diaz.

Some experts claim metal frames are cleaner and more modern; distressed wood fits a rustic environment; and ornate gilded frames evoke classic or vintage style. A frame that matches other finishes or features of a room helps tie the space together.

Hang your mirror as you would hang a painting, advise some experts. Too high or too low will make the room feel asymmetrical or unbalanced. While standing, hang the centre of the mirror at eye level, roughly 60 inches from the floor.

“It’s also important to ensure professional installation, especially for large or heavy mirrors, to guarantee safety and longevity,” says Rezghi.

Mirror images

A mirror can reflect more than a room or a face, it can reflect your personal artistic flair. Whether it’s the size, shape or etching in the glass itself, bevelled or polished edges, the style and material of the frame or finish, or a unique antique, a mirror can be a piece of art in its own right.

Small mirrors often work well in groupings, says Diaz. “Make sure they are all clustered together, so they become almost like one piece of art. Don’t just put one on a wall, it will get lost. Group them so they look like a collection rather than scattered here and there.”

Diaz says she’s partial to antique mirrors. “I’m always looking for those that add that extra layer of beauty, extra layer of texture. With that aged look to them, they tell a story.”

In fact, whenever she sees an antique mirror, Diaz reflects on the many faces that have gazed into the looking glass over the ages. “Can you imagine, over hundreds of years, the people who have looked into them? The stories a mirror could tell if it could speak.”

Maybe it’s best not to go down that rabbit hole …

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At the northwest corner of Broadway and Alma, Leckie Studio’s 16-storey rental tower for Westbank brings sculptural concrete forms, family-sized rental housing and Musqueam-inspired public art to one of Point Grey’s busiest intersections.

Named The Raven by Westbank, the project takes its name from the public art installation above the building entrance. Spa:l’ (Raven) by Thomas Cannell features three ravens symbolizing transformation and protection. Inspired by nature and Musqueam traditions, the vibrant aluminum figures contrast with the building’s concrete architecture.

The building sits at the west end of the Broadway corridor, one of Vancouver’s busiest transit routes. Architect Michael Leckie says the site “called for an iconic building to anchor the busy transit corridor and urban axis.”

Rental housing with room for families

The project is entirely rental, with 164 homes spread across the 16-storey tower. Of those, 131 are market rental units, while 33 are secured below-market rentals intended for households earning between $30,000 and $80,000 annually through the City of Vancouver’s Moderate-Income Rental Housing Pilot Program.

The building includes a mix of unit types, from smaller apartments to larger family-oriented homes. In total, 59 of the residences are two and three-bedroom units designed for families. Four retail spaces are located at street level.

Every home includes either a balcony or terrace, providing private outdoor space. Residents also have access to rooftop amenity areas overlooking downtown Vancouver and the North Shore mountains. Landscaped terraces soften the building’s stepped form while adding greenery for residents and neighbours alike.

At the west side of the site, a pedestrian pathway leads to three townhouse units integrated into the development.

Stacked with purpose

The building’s most distinctive feature is its staggered massing.

Leckie says the stacked massing was “very ambitious” and “was achievable through rigorous unit planning to allow the building’s structural loading to transfer between volumes.”

The tallest portion of the building is positioned at the southeast corner, marking the end of the Broadway corridor while helping reduce shadowing on neighbouring residential buildings. The form then steps downward toward the west side, allowing it to transition more comfortably toward future lower-scale development nearby.

Standardized, but distinctive

For Leckie, one of the project’s greatest successes is the way the architecture uses standardization to support both design quality and construction efficiency.

“The architecture is designed with a rigorous approach to standardization as a means to maximize value in the construction process. The exterior cladding is a custom prefabricated concrete panel system that uses a standardized series of components,” says Leckie.

The result is a building that feels substantial without appearing overly heavy. Prefabricated concrete panels give the exterior a rugged, tactile quality, while the staggered form breaks down the overall scale of the tower.

Inside, Leckie Studio continued that durable architectural language.

“We intentionally used a robust and raw-feeling material palette aligned with the design brief for a rental building,” Leckie says.

Designed for daily life

The Raven places a strong emphasis on cycling as a way to get around. The building includes 273 bicycle parking spaces, along with a bicycle washing and tuning area and a dedicated elevator connecting secure bike storage directly to the lobby.

For a rental building on a major transit corridor, the focus feels practical rather than ornamental. The design supports residents moving through the city by bike, transit and foot, while the retail spaces add activity at street level.

The Raven is also being designed and constructed to meet the City of Vancouver’s Low Emissions Green Building requirements.

For Leckie Studio, the project brings together a demanding urban site, ambitious massing and a pragmatic rental brief. The result is a building that treats rental housing with a level of architectural care more often associated with condominium projects, from the public art at the entrance to the private outdoor spaces above Broadway and Alma.

“The building is intended to have a rugged yet refined character,” says Leckie.

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The Canadian Home Builders’ Association of B.C. (CHBA BC)’s Greatest Showman on Earth-themed gala awards celebration was a showstopper, engaging the audience in a circus theatre-style show. Hosted on May 23 at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver, the crème de la crème of the housing industry gathered under the big top for a night to remember.

As the curtain closed on the 34th year of the 2026 Georgie Awards, winners throughout 52 categories were honoured in home building, renovation, design and marketing.

One of the winners was an off-grid retreat on a remote island off the Sunshine Coast. Vancouver-based Lincoln Construction’s The Nest won Best Custom Home: $1 million to $1.5 million at both the Georgie and HAVAN awards. Perched atop Keats Island, the three-level, 1,063-sq.-ft. home combines cedar cladding, black steel, and a modern roofline that sits impressively alongside the canopy of trees and ocean.

Inside, The Nest’s warm and efficient layout was devised to maximize every square foot. Designed by Daria Sheina Studio, The Nest was conceived to seamlessly integrate with its Pacific Northwest surroundings, while setting a new benchmark for sustainable, prefabricated design. The cabin is powered by solar energy with battery storage, vaulted ceilings and clerestory windows.

Erik Lincoln, CEO and founder said: “The uniqueness is both in the intricate architectural elements, and in the owners vision and esthetics for a one-of-a-kind, picturesque cabin.”

Another top winner was Kelowna’s 3rd Generation Homes Ltd., in partnership with Su Casa Design, which took Best Single-Family Detached Home over 2,500 sq. ft. and Best Indoor Design Display Suite over $100,000 for The Oakhaven in West Kelowna.

Overlooking the lake and surrounding peaks, the 3,786-sq.-ft, contemporary farmhouse rancher is a four-bedroom home wrapped in timeless stone detailing on the exterior and European-inspired curved archways in the wet bar and doorways. The piece de resistance, says president of 3rd Generation Homes’ Gerald deVeer, is the wet bar. Off the living room, he says the wet bar offers an entertainment-style zone that adds a touch of elegance with its brick-inspired brown-black tile, and gold accent with seating for three.

The collaboration with Andy Friesen, principal designer at Su Casa, was invaluable, says deVeer.

Friesen went on to explain that the design team balanced transitional esthetic with a relaxed hint of SoCal-inspired style, creating spaces that felt both timeless and perfectly tailored to modern living.

“The goal was to offer a design that stood apart while still feeling cohesive within its setting. From the moment you enter the house, you are impacted by the views beyond,” says Friesen. “All of the main areas of the house were intentionally placed along the back of the house to capture the best part of the property, which is the view.”

Meanwhile, Whistler-based Coast Construction won Best Multiplex Home Projects for its triplex, Aspen Collective. Jennifer Raffler, marketing and administration manager, says the triplex, which also won the 2026 HAVAN award for Best Multiplex Development, stood out for its distinct yet unified design that focused on refined detailing and efficient layouts.

Each 1,200-sq.-ft., two-bedroom unit offers incredible views to the west and east of Whistler Valley, with boxed balconies, deep overhangs that define the rhythm of elevation, and glazing that captures site angles with dramatic mountain views.

In addition, the rock-stack retaining wall, native planting, and tree preservation zone integrate seamlessly into its forested site, whereas the palette of stone, steel, warm wood anchors architecture within its alpine context while delivering crisp, contemporary curb appeal.

Raffler pointed out that inside, each unit features engineered oak flooring, heated tile, and custom birch detailing in millwork. Unit two adopts bold tone with black cabinetry, quartz counters, and a stone fireplace, echoing a mountainside lodge, while the third unit’s sliding glass wall converts flex office into guest room.

“Unit one replaces kitchen island with dining table for open flow, framed by sculptural slatted stair,” says Raffler. “Compact but bright, each interior leverages light, proportion, and texture for comfort and individuality.”

Storage was integrated throughout with custom millwork, sightlines oriented toward natural views for efficient design that meets personalized use.

Once the black tie show ended and the awards were handed out, several winners, nominees and attendees kept the celebration going with dancing, a little gambling, and for those still hungry, there was a hamburger slider bar.

This year, 600 entries were submitted to CHBA BC in 52 categories. The big winner of the evening, with three awards was Everglade Development. They won for Satori Townhomes, Best Advertising Campaign, Best Corporate/Project Website and Marketing Campaign of the Year. A few other winners, including Hasler Homes Ltd., Alair Homes Squamish and Bhaus Construction, each garnered two wins.

For the full list of winners, visit georgieawards.ca/winners-and-finalists/

Last July I was invited to visit the Ball Corporation’s head office in Chicago to view their display gardens. As a garden communicator, I appreciated the great opportunity to see many new plant introductions from various companies around the world. I also had the opportunity to see how the plants compared to each other in various landscape situations, especially when used in containers.

It was also great to see some of Chicago’s best garden stores and their summer planters. At 40 C, in very sunny weather, it was the ideal time to evaluate their performance under challenging conditions.

What struck me most was the juxtaposition of unique plants brilliantly used together in combinations you seldom see. It was exciting to see a wide range of tropical plants blending seamlessly with everyday annuals.

Rex begonias, which we always baby by running them extra-dry for fear of overwatering and the resultant mildew, were showing off their unique colour variations as the focal points in many containers. They seemed quite at home when combined with New Guinea impatiens and sun tolerant SunPatiens, and were treated with no special care, even being watered overtop of their foliage like any other bedding plant. Many were in flower, adding another element of creativity to the containers.

Dracaena Massangeana were perhaps the most widely used in the containers, especially varieties like Limelight, with its neon lime green foliage, and wine-dark leaves of Ruby Red. In many cases they were used as the central focal point, replacing traditional canna lilies, phormiums and fountain grasses. Their vibrant colours added excitement to the planters alongside traditional bedding plants.

On the West Coast we seldom use caladiums, because they need significant heat and are not fans of rainy, cool weather. If we wait until the weather warms up in early June, I think we should find space for some in our containers. Their vivid leaves are truly spectacular. With a rainbow of stunning colours and patterns, from speckled white, hot pink and lime green to multi-hued reds, they add the pop often missing in many of our planters. They also thrive in the heat of summer, when many annuals fade and look tired.

Caladiums also tolerate warm shade and can add a much-needed lift to those darker areas. However, if you can acclimatize them to the sun, they make a refreshing new addition and are far more resilient than you might think.

In our part of the world, we have finally discovered the brilliance of mandevillas. They are now available in a wide variety of plant forms from upright to both trailing and climbing, so they make great ‘spillover plants’ for our containers.

Mandevillas are the ultimate top-performing heat lovers. In their many colours including hot reds, vibrant pinks, brilliant yellows and of course the ever-popular white, they deserve star billing in any container. It seems that the warmer the days become, the better they perform.

Mandevillas are just making their debut now in garden stores since they need that heat for optimum performance. Like caladiums, June is the beginning of their summer show and they elevate the look of any container garden. They play nicely with companion plants but are vigorous growers and can overwhelm if allowed. They are not frost-hardy, but you will enjoy them well into September and even October.

Coleus have now become a go-to plant for many combination containers, especially the sun- and heat-tolerant varieties like the Main Street series from Ball. The many hot foliage colours like rusty-ruby-red Beale Street, the hot lime variety Chartres Street, and multi-hued Sunset Boulevard and Franklin Street make all the difference. They add that punch of colour and they are so easy to maintain. Their colours are a natural fit alongside other vibrant tropicals, and for smaller containers, Ball’s dainty new miniature coleus MicroBlaze series is just delightful.

The popular tropical vine Pothos, or epipremnum, now comes in a wide range of colours and variegated foliage blends and they too were used extensively in outdoor containers. As a spillover, they offer a unique flourish, adding a surprising sense of depth and fun to the planters.

All these warmth-loving tropical plants add a whole new dimension to typical containers but combining them with the more traditional foliage plants increases the level of sophistication of the overall effect.

For added impact, don’t overlook the velvety silvers of senecio candicans Angel Wings, and c. aurea Silver Swirl as well as time-honoured Dusty Millers. Formerly called centauria, they create a dramatic contrast to all your other foliage and flowers.

The hot lime of a Japanese forest grass like hakonechloa aurea, is a must-have, and even some of our carex grasses like c. Everillo fit nicely in planters. Golden Creeping Jenny, lysimachia nummularia aurea, is another favourite for any landscape situation as well.

Ornamental sweet potato vines, especially the black, red and hot lime varieties also tie in beautifully with these combinations. They love the summer heat and perform well in either trailing or upright forms.

The secret to using tropicals is to set them outside in a sheltered spot out of the sun and the wind for at least ten days to acclimatize them to our particular conditions. Then, test them gently in your summer hot spots to make sure they won’t burn.

The beauty of containers is that they can be easily moved if necessary.

As we move into the warm summer months, we have the wonderful opportunity to kick up our outdoor planters this year, so why not take your containers to a whole new level?

I do thank the folks at Ball for their innovative leadership in introducing so many new plants and creative ideas to our horticultural industry.

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Weekly roundup of three properties that recently sold in Metro Vancouver.

3354 Peak Dr., Whistler

Type: Five-bedroom, four-bathroom detached

Size: 3,958 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $7,230,000

Listed for: $7,900,000

Sold for: $6,700,000

Sold on: April 1

Days on market in this listing: 196

Listing agent: Steve Cartner PREC and Martina Cartner at Rennie & Associates Realty

Buyers agent: Nick Swinburne PREC at Angell Hasman & Associates Realty

The big sell: This private sanctuary in Whistler’s Blueberry Hill neighbourhood epitomizes understated luxury blending rustic charm with refined modern updates. With a design esthetic that focuses on natural elements perfectly crafted to create a stylish interior, the result is one of sophisticated warmth showcasing soaring vaulted ceilings offset by exposed beams, full-height stone-surround fireplaces, a Shaker-style kitchen, and expansive windows that frame mountain and forest views. The interior is laid out over three floors with bedrooms on each level, and an energy-efficient system with air conditioning, radiant heat, and a heat pump. The property was built in 1996 on almost a third-acre lot and resides at the end of a cul-de-sac backing onto forested crown land ensuring that nature is front and centre, while Whistler Village, lakes, golf courses and trails are all nearby.

73 – 2212 Folkestone Way, West Vancouver

Type: One-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment

Size: 1,045 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $855,600

Listed for: $855,000

Sold for: $785,000

Sold on: March 20

Days on market in this listing: 28

Listing agent: Holly Calderwood PREC at Royal LePage Sussex

Buyers agent: Kathleen O’Donnell at Century 21 Queenswood Realty

The big sell: For a one-bedroom apartment, this unit is big on space with a floorplan laid out over two levels allowing for a loft room that could be used as a second bedroom or a home office. Add to the mix a penthouse location offering unobstructed panoramic ocean and city views from Mount Baker to Vancouver Island. It forms part of West Vancouver’s Panorama Village, a 32-unit pet- and rental-friendly complex that was built in 1976. The home was renovated in 2021 with slate countertops, European tiles and fixtures, wide-plank oak floors, radiant heat under stone floors, French wallpaper, and a wood-burning fireplace. There are airy 15-foot-high vaulted ceilings and a spiral staircase that leads up to the loft. New balcony windows were installed to the tune of $24,000, and there is balcony access from the principal rooms. The home comes with a parking stall, storage locker, and a monthly maintenance fee of $793.43.

125 – 6505 3 Ave., Tsawwassen

Type: Two-bedroom, two-bathroom townhouse

Size: 1,736 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $1,452,000

Listed for: $1,498,000

Sold for: $1,505,000

Sold on: Jan. 30

Days on market in this listing: Six

Listing agent: Darryl Sjerven and Karel Palla PREC at ReMax Select Realty

Buyers agent: Scott Franklin PREC at Homelife Benchmark Realty

The big sell: According to the listing agents, this detached single-level townhome offers the best of both worlds — the privacy of a house and the security and convenience of a gated strata. The home is located in the Monterra community within Tsawwassen’s Boundary Beach district and represents one of only two standalone units. The two-bedroom, two-bathroom rancher features air conditioning, a spacious kitchen that overlooks the adjacent family room with its gas fireplace, a primary bedroom with newer ensuite bathroom and walk-in closet, a laundry room, and an extra-large private patio that faces a park. A full-sized two-car garage completes the picture. Monterra provides residents with a number of amenities including a clubhouse with an indoor swimming pool, a sauna, and a party room. The home’s monthly maintenance fee is $663.87, and pets and rentals are permitted with restrictions.

These transactions were compiled by Nicola Way of BestHomesBC.com.

Realtors – send your recent sales to nicola@besthomesbc.com

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Innovative design trends often follow from the hospitality industry where stylish boutique hotels and restaurants create unique interiors that are dramatic departures from the conventional or popular styles of the moment. Those spaces feature esthetics that then become aspirational for homeowners such as the hotel-chic bedrooms that were all the rage not long ago as were spa-inspired bathrooms. More rare though is when the art world, specifically modern art, becomes the jumping off point for a new approach for using paint within the home.

A recent collaboration between British paint manufacturer Farrow & Ball and American artist Carol Bove at the Guggenheim Museum in New York became the inspiration for a fresh interpretation of using colour in a residential context. Joa Studholme, Farrow & Ball’s Colour Curator, worked with Bove to create custom colours to make the museum’s rotunda walls not only a backdrop to showcase her vibrant-hued abstract sculptures but also as part of the exhibition with its own colour story. The result is a graduated colour scheme of greys that begins on the ground floor with a deep hue and gradually winds up the spiral in varying degrees of lighter shades of the same colour family.

“Carol Bove’s team and the Guggenheim approached us to work with them on helping to bring the artist’s vision of creating a graduated ribbon of colour to life,” Studholme recalls. “We worked with their brief to create over 20 custom colours that operate as steps connecting each of our signature colours to the next in a seamless transition of colour as you move up the iconic rotunda.”

Seeing the bold effect of the graduated application of colour in a large public environment lead Studholme to wonder how it could be applied in a domestic setting and embarked on formulating how “the idea of graduated colour schemes can be embraced in the home.” The key is to use colours of the same colour family which produces a harmonious transition of the colours throughout the space. And while there is no rule to how many colours one can use, Studholme advises using no fewer than three, noting that the bigger the space, the more colours can be incorporated.

According to Studholme, there are endless possibilities when selecting a colour palette to create gradient colour schemes. As long as the tones are from the same colour family, she says, it will always work and will produce “a layered, polished effect.”

“Warming earth tones running from deep Tanners Brown through to glowing Stirabout work particularly well, as do neutrals, but my favourite is graduating from rich Preference Red through Dead Salmon to Scallop,” she says. (Note: the dead in Dead Salmon refers to the matte finish and not an expired fish.)

Just as there are no defined rules for the number of colours to create a gradient effect, there isn’t just one way to work with the various colours. Given that they’re all in the same colour family, there’s a lot of flexibility to where and how they can be applied, Studholme explains.

She cautions though that “the gradient of colour is much enhanced when the strongest colour is used at the bottom to ground the room and add depth and nuance with lighter colours above to open the space. The lightest tone should be used on the ceiling to unify the design, ensuring that the ceiling feels like an intentional element rather than an afterthought.”

The most recent paint trend favoured by many interior designers has been colour drenching where walls, mouldings, ceilings and even built-ins are done in the same colour and sometime the same finish. So for anyone who opted for that effect, the introduction of gradient painting doesn’t mean that colour drenching will disappear or feel passé as it’s been around since Georgian times, Studholme notes, adding that “there is definitely room for both forms of decoration in the modern home.”

And while colour drenching essentially envelopes a space in colour, Studholme believes that “rooms painted in graduated colours open up and out so there is a general uplifting feel of growth.”

The positioning of each colour and its finish should be intentional, and, while graduated painting can give the room an enveloping effect somewhat like colour drenching, it produces a sense of dimension and visual interest.

“The feel is seamless but never flat,” Studholme says.

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A 1910 Craftsman residence with original floors, stained glass and claw foot tub is one of nine sites on the 2026 Heritage Discovery Day tour .

Participants on the self-guided tour will have a chance to check out a curated selection of nine heritage properties in Mount Pleasant and Riley Park. Another stop on the tour brings together mid-century modernist roots with what later became typical Vancouver Special layout and design.

Since 2003, Heritage Discovery Day has showcased the stories behind the architecture, design and history of some of the city’s most interesting and distinctive homes. Last year’s event drew 600 people to Kitsilano.

Ticket holders are provided with a guidebook that includes information about the homes as well lesser-known places and spaces that have shaped the neighbourhood. Volunteers are also on hand to provide information.

Biking and transit are encouraged, although some sites are walkable and parking information will be provided.

Heritage Discovery Day

When: June 6, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tickets are on sale now at vancouverheritagefoundation.org.

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Ricardo Brites has spent much of his career helping move engineered timber buildings from ambitious design experiments into practical housing solutions.

Originally from Portugal, Brites completed his PhD in timber engineering before working in the United Kingdom during Europe’s rapid expansion of mass timber construction. At the time, Europe was already delivering large-scale timber buildings while North America was still cautiously testing the concept.

“I was part of projects with Lendlease, Mace, and Berkeley Homes when mass timber was transitioning from niche to near-commodity in that market,” says Brites.

Today, as director of engineering and VDC at Mercer Mass Timber, Brites works across Canada and the United States on projects ranging from libraries and universities to large-scale residential and commercial developments. His focus is not simply on promoting timber buildings, but on solving one of the industry’s biggest challenges — how to make them practical and affordable enough for mainstream housing.

“What drives me is not the structural performance of mass timber. That case has been made. What drives me is cost competitiveness,” he says.

Mass timber products such as cross-laminated timber, or CLT, are engineered by layering wood panels together to create structural components strong enough for multi-storey buildings. Increasingly, these systems are being paired with steel or concrete in hybrid designs that aim to balance performance, cost and speed of construction.

The most interesting and commercially viable work is almost always hybrid, says Brites.

That approach reflects a shift away from viewing timber as an all-or-nothing material. Instead, hybrid systems use each material where it performs best.

“A well-designed hybrid doesn’t compromise the timber story. It makes the whole building work better and land closer to budget,” says Brites.

One reason architects continue to gravitate toward engineered timber is the atmosphere it creates inside buildings. Exposed wood interiors can feel softer and calmer than conventional concrete structures, while the structural systems themselves often produce cleaner lines and more efficient interior layouts.

“There’s a quality to exposed timber that reads differently from any other structural material,” says Brites. “Warmer, quieter, more grounded,”

Brites says the bigger story is less about esthetics and more about industrialized construction.

One of engineered timber’s major advantages is prefabrication. Structural components are manufactured off-site using highly precise digital modelling, then delivered ready for installation.

“Prefabrication shifts where problems get solved. Instead of resolving co-ordination issues in the field, you resolve them digitally before a single component is fabricated,” he says.

That can shorten construction timelines significantly while reducing costly surprises during the building process.

Canada, particularly British Columbia, has become one of North America’s most active mass timber markets. Brites says the region’s progress has been driven by a combination of housing pressure, supportive policy and growing manufacturing capacity.

Projects such as UBC’s Brock Commons Tallwood House helped establish confidence in tall timber construction, while newer housing policies are encouraging more standardized mid-rise development.

Still, Brites believes the industry remains in a transitional phase similar to what Europe experienced years earlier.

“What we’re in now is a transition from early demonstration projects toward broader market adoption,” says Brites.

One of the biggest barriers is that developers often struggle to evaluate timber systems early enough in the design process. By the time cost estimates and engineering assessments arrive, many projects are already locked into conventional concrete and steel assumptions.

“By the time a project team had enough information to evaluate a mass timber solution properly, the design had already hardened around conventional assumptions,” says Brites.

To help address that problem, Mercer Mass Timber partnered with ZGF Architects and Fast + Epp to develop BuildSpec, a free digital platform that allows architects, engineers and developers to quickly test hybrid timber systems during the earliest planning stages.

The platform generates real-time information about structural feasibility, constructability and carbon impacts for mid-rise housing projects, helping teams compare systems before major design decisions are fixed.

“What previously required weeks of consultant co-ordination can now be explored at the massing stage in minutes,” says Brites.

For Brites, the long-term goal is not simply to create standout timber buildings, but to help the industry move toward repeatable systems that become more efficient over time.

“The housing supply problem in Canadian cities is not going to be solved by better-designed individual projects. It’s going to be solved by delivery systems that can produce good buildings repeatedly, predictably, and at a cost that works,” says Brites.

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Weekly roundup of three properties that recently sold in Metro Vancouver.

864 Vedder Pl., Port Coquitlam

Type: Five-bedroom, three-bathroom detached

Size: 2,744 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $1,644,000

Listed for: $1,775,000

Sold for: $1,700,000

Sold on: March 30

Days on market in this listing: 18

Listing agent: Rod Bahari PREC at Sutton Group — West Coast Realty

Buyers agent: Kyle Lamb PREC at Royal LePage Sterling Realty

The big sell: This five-bedroom family home has a cul-de-sac setting in Port Coquitlam’s Riverwood district and a lot size in excess of 6,600 square feet that basks in a southwest-facing aspect with a fully-fenced garden complete with a sun deck, pergola, and an outdoor barbecue area. Inside, the home is described as “move-in ready” with an updated kitchen resplendent with a generous-sized pantry, granite counters, and stainless-steel appliances, an adjacent family room with sliding glass doors to the garden, a gas fireplace in the living room bordered by full-height windows, and a conjoined formal dining area with chandelier lighting. All five bedrooms reside upstairs including a luxurious primary suite, while gleaming hardwood floors and designer paint colours including accent walls complement the decor. Updates include a new roof, furnace, and air conditioning, and there is a side-by-side double garage integrated into the home.

1407 East 28th Ave., Vancouver

Type: Three-bedroom, two-bathroom townhouse

Size: 1,317 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $1,172,000

Listed for: $999,000

Sold for: $995,000

Sold on: March 29

Days on market in this listing: Four

Listing agent: Cheryl Davie PREC at Stilhavn Real Estate Services

Buyers agent: Stephen Morris at Oakwyn Realty

The big sell: East Vancouver’s Kensington-Cedar Cottage neighbourhood is the venue for this duplex-style three-bedroom townhouse that is located to the rear of the Kingcrest Estates complex on the quieter side of the development. Constructed in 2007 at the intersection of East 28th Avenue and Knight Street, there are nine units that display Craftsman-inspired architecture with porches and eave overhangs. This particular unit enjoys an abundance of light thanks to a triple-aspect exposure on all three levels. It has two entrances — one through a private front door, and the other through an attached oversized single garage. The main floor features an open-plan design with adjoining living and dining rooms and a kitchen with walkout access to a patio. There are two bedrooms upstairs with a cheater ensuite bathroom, while the lower level has a third bedroom and full bathroom.

5045 10A Ave., Tsawwassen

Type: Three-bedroom, three-bathroom detached

Size: 1,675 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $1,368,000

Listed for: $1,270,000

Sold for: $1,175,000

Sold on: Feb. 13

Days on market in this listing: 17

Listing agent: Shafik Ladha PREC at ReMax Westcoast

Buyers agent: Mustafa Qaderi PREC at Royal LePage West Real Estate Services

The big sell: With a lot size of close to 9,000 square feet in the heart of Tsawwassen, there is plenty of space to consider a rebuild if desired. The current home was built in 1970 and features a functional two-level layout with the majority of the living space on the ground floor and three bedrooms upstairs served by two bathrooms. The L-shaped living and dining area (complete with bay window and a wood-burning fireplace) flows into the kitchen while the adjacent family room offers additional comfort and relaxation as well as providing access to a generous-sized laundry room with a two-piece bathroom, and an attached single garage. Cliff Drive Elementary School and Brandrith Park are nearby as well as transit and Tsawwassen Mills. According to listing agent Shafik Ladha, the property is currently tenanted for $2,400 per month.

These transactions were compiled by Nicola Way of BestHomesBC.com.

Realtors — send your recent sales to nicola@besthomesbc.com

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A home renovation may only involve a smaller project, but that doesn’t preclude incorporating a bigger design concept beyond mere functionality and updating materials. For a bathroom transformation in an older New Westminster property, the homeowner had a unique and highly specific request that defined the remodel plan: She envisioned reclining in the bath, a glass of wine in hand, while staring up at the stars.

Fulfilling that brief meant not just reworking the floor plan but making the bathtub the focal point of the space. Though an averaged sized bathroom at 80 square feet, the room felt smaller because it was long and narrow. For Rebecca Foster, principal and lead designer at Align Interior Design , the solution was to reposition the tub at the end of the room against the outside wall.

“It had just a tiny window there,” Foster explains. “We made that window bigger and centred it on the wall. There was no skylight there. We totally opened up the ceiling to make this beautiful skylight.”

To emphasize it as focal point, Foster’s concept involved adding an arch to frame the tub — an idea that came from the homeowner discovering an inspiration image of a built-in tub with an arch detail. Foster’s interpretation of the arch was finessed to integrate with the home’s mid-century modern style.

“It was a really traditional bathroom design in the inspirational image, and it didn’t suit the rest of her house,” Foster recalls. “So, we took the arched tub inspiration and modernized it in a way to make it feel a bit more transitional. The style worked with the current mid-century modern house.

“We wanted to make sure that all your attention was drawn through that arch to the window at the back and the skylight because, ultimately when you walked into the space, we wanted it to feel like natural light was flooding into the space and that bathtub just felt so inviting.”

For the colour and texture of the materials, the overreaching theme was a calming, beach vibe. Again, considering the mid-century style of the home, Foster eschewed any obvious coastal motifs or nod to seaside living. Rather she mixed textures and hues that are evocative of water and sand — a feature wall of aqua zellige tile over the natural-wood vanity and at either end of the tub, white shiplap on the wall opposite the vanity and creamy tiles on the floor accented with polished nickel hardware and plumbing fixtures.

“The back wall is just white zellige because we loved the texture of it and how it felt, very much like the flooring, like a sandy beach,” Foster notes. “We’ve got layers of texture. We’ve got the shiplap which is vertical texture. We’ve got floor tile positioned in a diagonal to give that texture.”

Foster continued the white zellige on the apron of the tub for both esthetic and practical reasons: there isn’t a visual break between the tub and the back wall, and the tile is impervious to water. Though as the tub is undermounted under the quartz ledge, which is slanted inward on the edges, the water flows back into the tub rather than the floor but remains the perfect resting spot for a wine glass.

The repositioning of the tub, while visually dramatic, also created greater functionality in the space introducing more creative storage — a built-in spot for a Kitty Litter tray — and a dedicated makeup station for the homeowner.

From the perfectly positioned window with the meticulous tile placement — no odd offcuts to break the visual flow — to the subtle mix of textures, the result is a fresh, serene space. Much of which Foster credits contractor Fifth Element Construction ’s attention to detail.

Foster says she’s pleased with the effect of all the textures play together without it being overwhelming with texture. “It just kind of layered the kind of warmth that you feel when you’re on a beach,” she says.

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Can you see them all? A record 10 private residences are featured on this year’s New West Heritage Homes Tour, showcasing styles that range from mid-century modern to Romantic Revival-era English cottage design.

Stops include a residence once inhabited by the head of the famed Hollywood Hospital, a pioneering centre for addiction treatment, and two homes designed by Vancouver architect R.A. Berwick.

Also on the tour is Irving House, the oldest intact house in the Lower Mainland. The restored home features the original 1887 metallic gold wallpapers in the parlours, which have been painstakingly cleaned to remove over 130 years of soot and coal dust. The hallway papers were redrawn and colour-matched to the original palate.

Now in its 44th year, the self-guided tour includes knowledgeable volunteers and a detailed guidebook. Details on all homes and venues on the tour can be found on an interactive Google map at newwestheritage.org .

New Westminster Heritage Homes Tour

When: May 31, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tickets and info: newwestheritage@gmail.com; 604-862-2867. You can also buy tickets online at newwestheritage.org

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Marie-Eve Baril knows the faucet game. Her parents launched Montreal-based Baril 40 years ago, after her mother became frustrated by how difficult it was to find beautiful faucets for the home.

Her parents began importing high-end Italian faucets and the company grew from there.

Today, Baril designs its faucets in Montreal and assembles them at its manufacturing facility in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, with products now sold across North America.

Since Marie-Eve Baril and her brother, Jean-Sébastien Baril, took over the company in 2010, the brand has expanded dramatically.

“We’ve grown about five or six times bigger in terms of volume and employees. We’re all across North America,” she says.

New collections inspired by fashion and nostalgia

This growth has not pulled the company away from its original design-first philosophy. It is visible in Baril’s latest collections, which lean into colour, tactility, nostalgia and softer forms.

To mark its 40th anniversary, Baril launched Archive 40, a limited-edition reinterpretation of one of the company’s original bathroom faucets from the 1980s. The pink-and-gold-toned design embraces vintage-inspired details and soft pastel finishes, with only 40 numbered pieces produced.

“We had fun with it,” says Baril.

One of their most striking collections is Marie Kitchen, created in collaboration with Montreal fashion designer Marie Saint Pierre. This sculptural collection includes tactile spherical handles and bright tangelo-orange accents inspired by food and colour.

“The sphere itself is not perfectly round. It’s organic. So when you touch it, you feel a movement on the sphere,” says Baril.

The collection was inspired by elemental forms and sensuality, she says: “The sphere was the earth and the spout was the thing that delivered the water out of the earth.”

A family business built on beauty

Despite the company’s growth, Baril says its original philosophy remains unchanged. Her mother started the business to bring beautiful products into people’s homes, and this hasn’t changed.

That design-first thinking feels increasingly relevant as kitchens and bathrooms continue to evolve into spaces that are as emotional and expressive as they are practical. According to Baril, homeowners interact with these spaces more intimately than they may realize. “The faucet, especially in the kitchen, is the product that you will touch the most in your house every day.”

Baril, now president of the company, says she always knew she wanted to work in business and eventually join the family company. As children, she and her brother regularly accompanied their parents to trade exhibitions and were immersed in conversations about suppliers, customers and design trends.

“We were hearing about faucets and customers and suppliers all the time at the house,” she says.

The company’s direction shifted after Baril’s father died while she and her brother were still young. Their mother continued running the company alone.

Some years later, her mother asked her to join the business, Baril says her answer came immediately: “The decision was made in like 30 seconds. I said I’m coming in,” she says. Her brother joined the company too, and they’ve never looked back.

It’s very difficult to be an entrepreneur and start a business, and Baril says she and her brother are grateful their mother had built a business with a solid customer base and brand recognition. Their job has been to structure and grow it.

Bathrooms and kitchens as emotional spaces

Baril says homeowners are increasingly moving away from harsh minimalist looks and embracing softer, more timeless forms.

“We see more rounder shapes,” she says.

And while trends continue to evolve, she believes quality and longevity remain essential. For Baril, that combination of beauty, practicality and emotional connection has remained at the centre of the company for four decades.

“Bringing beautiful products into people’s homes is still the basis of it,” says Baril.

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A property called Sunset Ridge Estate better back that up with views of awesome setting suns, and this Raymond Bonter-designed home definitely lives up to the name. On sunny days, of course.

Despite being situated in South Surrey, the Georgian-style estate faces more west than you’d expect, says listing agent Karen Conyers of Conyers & Associates, Sotheby’s International Realty Canada — perfect positioning to capture the day’s final rays glowing through the property’s mature trees onto the Nicomekl River and Boundary Bay beyond.

But even on cloudy days the property shines. Passing through the iron gates, designed by the home’s current owner and crafted by a local iron worker in the shape of the Tree of Life, you’re greeted by a lovingly landscaped garden of original plants, including 40 hydrangea bushes.

Around the back of the 1.27 acreage is a pool, hot tub and plenty of decking for outdoor entertaining — and catching those stunning sunsets. There’s also a pool house for storage, water tank and furnace, as well as full bath, toilet, changing room and two separate showers.

Down 120 wooden steps, fashioned from trees cleared during construction of the home, sits a rarity here: a private dock. “These docks were put in ages ago,” says Conyers. “My best estimation is that there are about a dozen on the river and that’s it. If you don’t have one, you cannot get one. The Coast Guard occasionally goes up and down the river looking for illegal activity and people putting in a dock when you’re not allowed to.”

This one was grandfathered in, but, alas, you won’t be able to park your yacht alongside. “It’s a tidal river,” says Conyers. So low tide drops down to about 12 inches and will ground a bigger boat. But you can certainly tie up a canoe, kayak or dingy, and leave your larger vessel at nearby Crescent Beach Marina.

What’s inside

Through the front doors, you enter what’s called a Grand Hall Plan, a wide-open foyer with 20-foot ceilings. To one side, French doors lead into an office and, to the other, similar doors open onto the dining room, each room’s ceiling stretching 14 to 16 feet. Adjacent is a butler’s pantry with wine fridge, which abuts the kitchen with two islands to encourage the joy of cooking (and helpful hands). One of the islands has a gas range top with griddle and pop-up vent.

A huge, British-made AGA cast-iron stove features two covered burners that stay hot, so no time or energy is wasted preheating, as well as four ovens, including a steam oven, a warming oven and the main oven. Radiant heat cuts down on fuel and evenly distributes warmth throughout the ovens to prevent food from drying out.

The creamy colour of the kitchen’s cabinetry, by Chilliwack-based Old World Custom Cabinets, complements the stove’s hue, says Conyers.

Other features include a Sub-Zero fridge/freezer, Travertine floor tile and granite countertops, including one long, unbroken single slab.

All of the home’s triple-glazed windows are German-made Euroline that tilt and swivel to catch the outdoor breezes. In addition to a formal living room with detailed millwork around the fireplace and floor-to-ceiling bookcase, there’s a cosy family room and conservatory, built in 2007, that takes in views of the outdoor deck and gazebo, pool, hot tub, ocean, mountains and, yes, sunsets, beyond.

The main floor primary bedroom features his and hers bathrooms, including a two-person jetted tub, large walk-in steam shower and dual closets. “It’s massive,” says Conyers. “It feels like you could fit three bedrooms in there. It has a fireplace and two accesses to the backyard — one that goes out directly to the hot tub and another that goes out to the garden/pool area.”

Six skylights infuse light throughout the house, and in-floor radiant heat adds warmth. “There’s a commercial hot water tank that holds at least 120 gallons and a boiler system to manage the hot water heat through the floors,” says Conyers.

Downstairs there’s a separate space that could be used as either an in-law or nanny suite with full kitchen, laundry, large bedroom, three-piece bath, and fireplace in the main living area. It has its own access to the outside and private grotto-type garden patio.

The garage can accommodate four cars with its deep middle section. “It also has a big storage room and a wash basin that would make a great dog bath area,” says Conyers.

“The owners maintain this house meticulously,” she says. “If there’s ever an issue it’s dealt with right away. Even the carpet is original and it looks brand new. There is not a crack or a leak; the sinks in the bathrooms look like no one’s ever used them. I’ve never seen a house this age in such good condition. It looks and works as if it’s brand new (but) you couldn’t build this house today for $6.4 million, with the acreage and dock. It would cost twice that much.”

At least the sunsets are free.

In the neighbourhood

There are several schools, including preschool, elementary and secondary, within driving distance, as well as a recreation centre, restaurants, grocery stores, pubs and shops in Ocean Park, five minutes away. White Rock, with even more amenities, is a 10-minute drive away.

Crescent Beach is a short drive in one direction, and the Historic Stewart Farm, which had, at its peak over a century ago, over 440 acres of farm and fields, is even closer in the other direction. The nine-hole Nico-Wynd Golf Course, three minutes away, is a fine way to while away an afternoon.

A 15-minute drive takes you to forested trails, including the historic Semiahmoo Trail, that meander near Anderson Creek and the Nicomekl River.

Location:13375 Crescent Road, Surrey

Listed for: $6,400,000

Year built: 2000

Type: Five bedrooms, eight bathrooms

Size: 8,526 square feet

Realtor: Listed by Karen Conyers, Conyers & Associates, Sotheby’s International Realty Canada

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