The tradition is back for another summer: Tickets are now on sale for the PNE Prize Home, this year in a new location in Surrey.

“We’re excited to introduce this year’s prize home in a brand-new community,” says PNE spokeswoman Laura Ballance in a news release. “Each year, we look for ways to evolve this long-standing tradition, and the 2026 home reflects that with its thoughtful design, vibrant setting and incredible prize package. We’re proud to continue creating something that captures the imagination of our guests year-after-year.”

The new residence, built by Foxridge Homes, is at 10100 Elderberry Cres. in Surrey’s northeast between Tynehead Regional Park to the west and Barnston Island to the northeast. It’s valued at over $2.3 million.

The 4,117-square-foot home is on three levels with seven bedrooms and 4 1/2 bathrooms, and includes a separate two-bedroom legal suite.

“The space is designed as a bright and welcoming family haven, complete with an art room and games room, blending soft neutrals with warm woods and playful pops of colour to create a home that is both stylish and livable,” says the PNE.

It includes furnishings from Paramount Home & Design, appliances and electronics from Samsung, a B.C. Hydro EV charger and a Husqvarna yard maintenance package.

Tours of the prize home begin June 20 and run until Aug. 15, every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Get free tickets through TicketLeader starting in June.

Tickets for the PNE Prize Home include the Surrey house package, and are eligible for a bunch of other prizes, including five vehicles from Chevrolet and Cadillac; five $10,000 cash prizes; two $10,000 Metropolis at Metrotown shopping sprees; two seven-day cruises for two with Celebrity Cruises, plus $1,500 cash; a 2026 Suzuki Boulevard M109R motorcycle; a Beachcomber hot tub package; and a Woody’s travel trailer.

There are also four bonus draws throughout the summer, each with a prize of a seven-day cruise for two with Celebrity Cruises, plus $1,500 in cash.

Tickets are on sale now with prices the same as last year: two for $35, six for $80, 15 for $165 and 30 for $285. They can be bought online, through the PNE call centre at 604-678-4663 or toll free at 1-877-946-4663, and at select mall locations after June 1.

Related

• FIFA Fan Festival free concerts: Here's the lineup
• Freedom Mobile Arch amphitheatre: See the new venue

Traditional Japanese homes often follow the philosophy of wabi-sabi, an appreciation for imperfection and asymmetry. If elements are flawed, worn out or unbalanced, rather than scrambling to fix them, the theory goes, it’s better to not only accept but celebrate a place’s peccadillos. The pursuit of perfection, after all, is an exercise in futility and an express train to stress.

The couple who commissioned the Sakura Estate in Coquitlam back in 1963 were not known to be Japanese themselves, but they obviously embraced the wabi-sabi sentiment when envisioning their new mid-century modern home.

“Its luxury comes from the materiality: it’s simple, reduced, peaceful,” says listing agent Trent Rodney, co-founder of West Coast Modern real estate agency. “Everything is locally sourced with a Japanese sensibility.”

That sensibility starts with the property’s namesake, the Sakura, a 60-year-old cherry blossom tree that presides over the front yard. Adjacent to the entrance courtyard, the covered two-vehicle carport’s eaves curve up like a pagoda. After passing through two motor court gates and continuing along a curved driveway, then over circular paving stones that look like lily pads, and across slate tiles, you pass underneath translucent tōrō lanterns, historically used to line and illuminate paths around Buddhist temples and shrines.

Hand set, locally sourced Squamish granite columns frame the entrance courtyard, and a skylight illuminates the pebbled pathway leading to the home’s double mahogany doors.

“Each element slows movement and creates a staged arrival in the entrance foyer that feels like you’ve entered the insides of a supersized Japanese lantern,” says Rodney.

The California-style pool in the backyard was inspired by American landscape architect Thomas Church, characterized by the kidney-shaped design that blends with the surrounding landscape. “Granite monoliths, tall vertical stones near the pool and outdoor fireplace, function as sculptural landscape elements and reference traditional Japanese stone garden placement,” says Rodney.

Japanese maples, cedar and wisteria ensure privacy, while a small balsam fir edging the pool evokes the bonsai and standing stones in many temple gardens.

“The architect for the Sakura, G. Douglas Wylie, collaborated with landscape architects Muirhead and Justice, both heavily influenced by Japanese planning,” says Rodney. “They approached the landscape and building as one, (which) are all linked to the Japanese origin hundreds of years ago.” In fact, this residence is one of only two of Wylie’s known designed homes, the other being the Taylor residence in New Westminster.

An outdoor living space with a built-in fireplace makes for a peaceful place to take in the property’s expanse of green lawn year-round.

What’s inside

The Japanese influence carries into the bungalow’s interior with sliding shoji screens that open onto a sunken living room encased in glass and cedar planes reminiscent of a Kyoto tea house. The exterior Squamish granite walls extend to the fireplace wall inside.

“The primary fireplace itself is described as “Wrightian” because its design recalls the fireplace compositions of Frank Lloyd Wright in the 1940s and 1950s, where the hearth functioned as the structural and visual anchor of the home,” says Rodney. “While Wright never built in British Columbia, his influence shaped many West Coast modern architects.”

During a later renovation, slate flooring was added to the kitchen and bathrooms to match the original material palette, while refined marble covers the entrance and formal areas, and new carpets were laid in the bedrooms.

Other improvements over the years include kitchen upgrades such as granite countertops, teak cabinetry with iron hardware balances, Thermador appliances, and a built-in coffee station. A suspended glass cabinet and shelving that divide the kitchen from the dining space reflects the mid-century design.

Rodney says this type of home is an endangered species, particularly in Coquitlam. “The highrises in the distance aren’t so distant anymore, they’re coming in closer. It is in a fast developing area, and when we have fast developing that’s when we lose these things. There’s no protection; the track record for these types of homes is demolition, a reality of the last 10 years. We’re trying to celebrate living with more intention and maximizing your sense of space, integrating indoor and outdoor with the Japanese principles, living in the entire site (and) maximizing available square footage.”

He says the home would appeal to creatives — filmmakers, musicians, art dealers, tech entrepreneurs — anyone looking for a sanctuary from the outside world. “These places can be inspiring, not just because they’re cool looking from an esthetic perspective but because they encourage us to slow down and embrace nature.”

In the neighbourhood

There are many public and private elementary, middle and high schools nearby, some within walking distance. The Vancouver Golf Club is a few minutes away, as are shops, restaurants and other services along Austin Avenue and North Road. A bit farther away are Lougheed Mall and Costco.

The Lougheed SkyTrain Station is also close by, as is access to the Trans-Canada Highway that takes you west through Burnaby and into Vancouver, or east into Surrey and the Fraser Valley.

Location:701 Dansey Avenue, Coquitlam

Listed for: $3,850,000

Year built: 1963

Type: Five bedrooms, four bathrooms

Size: 5,372 square feet

Realtor: Listed by Trent Rodney, West Coast Modern Real Estate

Related

• Property Watch: Ocean-view Bowen Island home’s expansive decks are perfect for year-round outdoor entertaining
• Property Watch: Oak Bay heritage home sprung from farmland to coveted neighbourhood

A furniture collection that doesn’t try to blend in, Vancouver-based design studio Marrimor unveiled five distinct pieces at Milan Design Week that are incredibly colourful, expressive and tactile. Presented at Alcova, they included the P2 coffee table, Drape swivel chair, Notch sectional, Concerto console and Bloop rug.

“A maximalist could place all five products in the same room and they would sing together and make a statement, but alternatively, just one piece in a room would provide a centrepiece for the space”, says Lauren Bugliarisi, cofounder of Marrimor, with designer Tanja Breadner.

A collection born from momentum

This new collection began not with a single object, but with a surge of creative energy following Milan Design Week 2025.

“We have a lot of creative energy right after Milan Design Week, when we’ve had a chance to talk about the pieces. Those conversations inform and inspire what we do the following year, says Breadner.

“Some of the pieces we’ve been conceptualizing for a while. We sketched the Drape chair before the Drape Sofa, which we launched in 2025. The lion’s share of this year’s collection was born right after we got home from Milan,” says Bugliarisi.

Designing without restraint

If there is a unifying idea behind the collection, it is freedom. Freedom of colour, material and form.

“We deeply desired to design products that weren’t restrained in colour, shape or material application because that’s what we find ourselves looking for in the market,” says Bugliarisi.

The result is a collection that can be layered or distilled.

Craft, collaboration and a few pivots

All Marrimor furniture is produced in Italy, along with most of their soft and hard goods. Their rugs are produced in Thailand and Nepal, depending on the technique required.

“We are committed to going wherever the workmanship is the best within any given category,” says Bugliarisi.

It’s an approach that does come with some challenges.

“Material play can come at the cost of production hiccups during the prototyping process. There were several times we had to pivot from one material to another, or tweak colours based on what was possible,” says Bugliarisi.

Their P2 coffee table, originally planned in a different finish, was reimagined in chrome due to material availability at the time.

“ In the end, the cool mirror-like finish is the perfect contrast for the luxe leather and wood accents,” says Bugliarisi.

Playful, but precise

“We’ve had the most successful show this year since launching our company. The five products resonated very well with our clients and attracted new retailers, agents, architects and designers alike,” says Breadner.

Visitors responded not just to the colour, but to the combination of playfulness and high-end execution, she says.

“As creatives, it’s a relief to put something out into the world and have people understand it. People have been pleasantly surprised by how colourful the collection is and the material selection, which is all we can hope for!” says Bugliarisi.

Amplified creativity

Alcova, at Milan Design Week is such a special show, providing a platform for so many incredible makers, brands and artists, says Bugliarisi.

“The large area allows for thousands of visitors to explore design and art in a relaxed and inspiring way,” says Breadner.

What comes next

Marrimore will show this collection at other design events, such as 3 Days of Design in Copenhagen and Art Basel in Miami.

As is their tradition, they’ve started the process of designing next year’s collection in the wave of creative energy that comes from Milan Design Week, says Bugliarisi.

“We will continue this momentum. Creatively, we are planning the next collection for 2027 and working on extending the existing product line,” says Breadner.

Related

• Facade of new east Vancouver building inspired by Coast Salish woven basketry
• Wood kitchens are making a comeback, but not as you remember them

Flowers, stunning outdoor containers and hanging baskets, richly perfumed flowering shrubs and fragrant herb gardens all make wonderful gifts for Mother’s Day, not only because of their beauty, but also by their connection to nature.

One of the most satisfying pastimes in our gardens and patios is watching pollinators like bees and butterflies coming to our plants for nectar and pollen, so selecting baskets and containers that attract pollinators creates added value and enjoyment.

Lavender has become so popular for those two reasons; both their beautiful perfume and the fact that they attract a wide range of pollinators. The hardy angustifolia lavenders are the best for our garden beds. But in containers on the deck or patio, the newer Spanish varieties, like Anouk, although not as winter hardy, will bloom all summer long and are a constant attractor. It’s nice to see them grown as a standard or small tree form that is very attractive, especially when underplanted with complementary annuals like lantanas, petunias, Angelonia, heliotrope and zinnias or perennials like nepeta, or beautiful, long-blooming Agastache or hyssop. All of these broaden the scope of pollinator attraction and add greater texture to your plantings.

They are not in bloom just yet, but the many new varieties of non-invasive and highly perfumed buddleias are very attractive patio plants and draw so many pollinators, including our local butterfly species. It’s a pleasure to enjoy their constant perfume and fascinating to see the beneficial insects buddleias sustain. Some of the best new varieties are Proven Winner’s Pugster, Miss, and Lo & Behold series, and the great new Darwin Chrysalis series which has a wide range of colours. All are very compact, ideal in containers and beautifully perfumed.

Attracting hummingbirds to our gardens and patios has become a huge event. There are many plants that help attract them: The narrow-tubed fuchsias, and perennial and annual blue salvias are good, but the best attractor is the hardy annual cuphea. This so-called cigar plant, with its long, narrow, orange tubes of nectar is the No. 1 hummingbird magnet, with Proven Winner’s variety called c. Vermillionaire being the most effective. I like to use them in hanging baskets, as well as in containers on the deck, for a constant attraction and food source.

Shallow bird baths are a great gift for year-round enjoyment. They provide an important water source for both birds and pollinators. It’s nice to watch these garden visitors, but it’s important to keep the water shallow, and a little muddy for the safety of small species.

If Mom has a primarily sunny deck or patio, one of the most welcome gifts is a reasonably good-sized container with a small tree that will live year-round. They not only help cool patios and decks in the summer heat but can also provide much needed screening and privacy.

Japanese maples, contorted willows, especially the red or yellow-barked varieties, styrax or Japanese snowballs, and sourwood or oxydendrums, make ideal patio trees. If you’re underplanting with pollinator plants, you’ll be surprised at what you attract to your garden. Hummingbirds love blue salvias and the Rockin’ series of blue, purple and fuchsia salvias from Proven Winners are some of the best for them. In the mixed planters in front of our office it’s great to see hummingbirds drinking nectar from the salvia, while others sit and wait in the curly willow trees.

Beautifully scented lilacs, which bloom around Mother’s Day, make a wonderful gift, but it’s both Proven Winner’s Bloomerang varieties and the new Flowerfesta series that bloom a second time in August for a much-anticipated return of perfume. They come in both tree and shrub forms so they can adapt to different locations.

With our ongoing food security issues, patio food gardens, which require minimal care, have become far more appreciated. Tumbler and Tumbling Tom basket tomatoes are still the very best for a constant supply of cherry tomatoes all summer long. Peppers are some of the easiest to grow in containers, and if you put some sweet Bell types in at least a twelve-inch container, you can enjoy red, yellow, orange, green and purple peppers throughout the summer.

Cucumbers have come a long way in their patio versatility. I love the new Mini-Me miniature Burpless varieties because they produce so many four-inch long miniature cukes in a matter of 45 days after setting out. Use a sturdy trellis for the vines to grow on, and the bigger the trellis, the more fruit you will harvest.

Hanging basket strawberries have also become increasingly popular because the newer everbearing varieties like Berries Hill Montana are huge, succulent, and will produce well into September.

Containerized herb gardens are a wonderful source of texture, fragrance and culinary variety to have handy on the patio. Be sure to use the most popular herbs like rosemary, chives, sage, thyme, dill and fun mints like Mojito. The strong citrus essence of lemon verbena is perfect when added to summer drinks and smaller bay trees provide a constant source of fresh leaves to enhance so many soup and stew recipes. Wait until we get quite warm weather before setting basil outside: it’s the heat lover of all herbs.

Although not super-hardy for winter, miniature roses, especially pretty when grouped with several colours planted together in larger pots, will bloom all summer and well into fall.

For sun-drenched summer patios, today’s hot new plants are the mandevillas. Coming in a range of colour from pinks, reds, whites and now yellows, they are one of the few plants that thrive in summer heat, and bloom until October. They are available now in shrub forms as well as trailing hanging basket types which can double as fast spreading vines. All of them flower heavily and add wonderful tropical accents to our patios and gardens.

The added value of attracting nature to our decks, gardens and patios is something Moms really appreciate and it’s the perfect connection to Mother Nature, too.

Related

• Brian Minter: Want an early veggie crop? Here's what you can plant now in Metro Vancouver
• Brian Minter: Add these B.C. gardening sales and events to your spring calendar

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

947 22nd St., West Vancouver

Type: Three-bedroom, three-bathroom detached

Size: 3,395 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $3,572,000

Listed for: $3,698,000

Sold for: $3,474,900

Sold on: Jan. 19

Days on market in this listing: 85

Listing agent: John Jennings at Royal LePage Sussex – John Jennings

Buyers agent: Holly Calderwood PREC at Royal LePage Sussex

The big sell: This West Vancouver home charms not just on the inside but on the outside too where thoughtfully landscaped gardens provide a lush and extremely private oasis with paved walkways, vegetable and herb gardens, and patios for relaxing or entertaining. The property was built in 1998 in Dundarave, incorporating many natural elements such as a stone-clad exterior and wood accents throughout the interior including exposed beams, hardwood floors, and wood-trim windows. Overheight ceilings and clerestory windows flood the home with natural light complemented by a neutral colour palette that enhances the feeling of space. The layout is divided between two levels with vaulted ceilings supporting chandelier lighting, polished concrete floors, a roll top bathtub, three fireplaces, and an outdoor stone-surround terrace reminiscent of an Italian villa.

5411 McColl Cres., Richmond

Type: Four-bedroom, two-bathroom detached

Size: 2,251 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $1,345,000

Listed for: $1,299,900

Sold for: $1,287,000

Sold on: Feb. 4

Days on market in this listing: Eight

Listing agent: Shafik Ladha PREC and Winnie Chen at ReMax Westcoast

Buyers agent: A.J. Schianni at Sutton Group Seafair Realty

The big sell: One of the advantages of this four-bedroom family home in Richmond’s Hamilton district is that it backs onto greenbelt as well as having a sizeable deck and garden to the rear from which to relax and enjoy it. The house itself was built in the early 1990s with more than 2,200 square feet of living space divided between two levels. The majority of the layout is on the main floor where there are three bedrooms on one side of the house including a primary bedroom equipped with an ensuite and walk-in closet, and an open plan living and dining room, a family room, and an updated kitchen with granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances on the other side. The upper level has a 24-foot-long recreation room that doubles as a fourth bedroom. Laminate flooring has been installed, as well as heat pumps, an upgraded roof and hot water tank, and a new EV outlet for added convenience.

32 – 2325 Ranger Ln., Port Coquitlam

Type: Three-bedroom, three-bathroom townhouse

Size: 1,450 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $952,000

Listed for: $929,900

Sold for: $905,000

Sold on: Feb. 11

Days on market in this listing: 10

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

Buyers agent: Sasha Hahn PREC at eXp Realty

The big sell: Mosaic built their riverfront master-planned Fremont community near the Traboulay PoCo Trail, Dominion Park, Fremont Village, and transit routes, as well as providing residents with the River Club, a resort-style facility with amenities that include an outdoor swimming pool, fitness centre, lounge, and children’s play area. This particular unit resides in Fremont Blue (the other buildings that make up the development are also named after colours) and enjoys an end-unit position. The three-level interior has nine-foot-high ceilings, a modern kitchen with quartz counters, and generous cabinet and preparation space, two bedrooms upstairs served by two bathrooms, a lower level with a third bedroom and full bathroom, and a fully-fenced yard mainly laid to grass. It comes with a single garage plus an open parking space, and a monthly maintenance fee of $415.80.

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

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

Related

• Sold Bought: Upgrades and versatile layout draw strong interest in Richmond home
• Sold (Bought): Competing offers push sale price of Kitsilano house over asking

Traditional Japanese spa culture is a time-honoured ritual of long, soothing soaks in mineral-rich hot springs, known as onsen, often taken in the great outdoors. Much more than a quick lather and rinse, the practice is designed to be purifying, relaxing, tranquil and restorative. In fact, the Japanese term totonou, meaning “sauna high”, aims to achieve a state of deep physical and mental relaxation and harmony.

But since most of us can’t easily jet off to the Japanese countryside to steep in a deep geothermal bath surrounded by snow-dusted mountains and verdant forest, we can incorporate just a bit of totonou into our bathing routine, whether it’s via a full-on renovation or simple decorative touches to bring a spa-inspired feel to an ordinary bathroom.

Renovate to rejuvenate

Yumi Murayama, founder and creative director of Vancouver’s Yu+Me Design Studio , says, “I’m Japanese- born and raised, and have been to many onsens in Japan growing up. Every time I visit, I make sure to go to one to relax and enjoy being in nature.”

She says others who travel to Japan and experience the onsen want to recreate it in their own bathroom. “If they have the space for it, I can design it.”

Well, not necessarily a whole mineral-bath-in-the- forest-beneath-Mount-Fuji recreation, but certainly something approaching a spa atmosphere.

Murayama says having a separate tub and shower in the same room is ideal so you can take a shower to cleanse then sink into the tub to soak, in the onsen tradition. To achieve that, she usually installs a steam shower, preferably with a built-in bench, to “sit, relax, and take a shower while breathing in the steam.” Then she’ll add a separate, free-standing deep tub to allow for that long, restorative soak.

She says having a toilet in the same room as a tub and shower is “strange” to Japanese people, who prefer to keep it in its own space. But since it’s near impossible to remove a toilet already ensconced in a bathroom, Murayama says she works around it when renovating for what she calls “a wet room that feels like a spa.”

She says you can also integrate waterproof LED lights to the shower to add warmth and ambience. And, although she hasn’t done it herself, she says more people are adding waterproof Bluetooth speakers — like Kohler’s Moxie removable, magnetically attached model — to infuse music or soothing nature sounds into the shower.

As for fixtures, she prefers Kallista for the combination of luxury, high-end designs and materials like solid brass, nickel and silver, and unique finishes. Also, they don’t splash. The custom-engineered aerator creates a splash-free stream and reduces water consumption.

The faucets and rain shower heads work on air-induction technology, which pulls in air and mixes with the water which, while still powerful, creates droplets that are lighter and softer on the skin.

When choosing a colour palette, Murayama prefers hues found in nature: oak or walnut browns, greens that evoke the forest, blues inspired by the ocean, off-white to reflect clouds. “The shapes of leaves, ocean waves, volcanic stones, and white sand, as well as the textures of seashells, also inspire me,” she says.

As for cabinetry, she says it depends on space, lighting, and storage needs. “If space is limited, like in a condo, we consider how to utilize the height rather than the width. Tall storage will go all the way to the ceiling to maximize space. We can also incorporate soft or motion-sensor lighting under the cabinet.”

Murayama loves to use marble to create a spa-style atmosphere, but most clients are hesitant because of its susceptibility to stain. Instead, she chooses quartz countertops which are easier to maintain.

She also recommends radiant floor heating to avoid the shock of cold tile on warm feet. “I like to add different textures to create depth and have the flooring different from the wall tile. I’ll use a different colour but keep the undertone the same to complement.”

For a recent project, her clients wanted a dramatic, stone-like look so she used terrazzo tile, a mix of materials like marble, granite, and quartz. “It’s not for everybody but it worked here.”

Lastly, ventilation is important when your new spa-inspired bathroom is generating a lot of steam. Murayama has replaced older systems with new ones like Panasonic’s WhisperChoice DC , which is super quiet.

Ultimately, she says, when creating a spa-like bathroom, you should first consider your personal lifestyle rather than copying someone else’s design. “Everyone interprets the idea of ‘spa-like’ differently. By understanding what it means to you, you can discover the perfect setting that allows you to truly enjoy the experience. There’s no right or wrong answer to the design; if you love it and want it, that’s the answer.”

Decorate to reinvigorate

If you’d rather not knock down a wall or tear out your tub in pursuit of a Zen-like bathing experience, there’s a simpler, more affordable way. Kelly Grimes, interior decorator and founder of Go To Your Room Interior Decorating and Design, says when creating a calming atmosphere, she recommends starting by decluttering. That means clearing out overcrowded counters, drawers and cabinets, and tossing expired products and half-used hotel toiletries. “A clutter-free surface instantly creates mental calm and allows a few intentional decorative pieces to shine.”

On a recent project, she incorporated custom shelving above the toilet that doubled as a space for must-have items while reflecting a more personalized decor.

“We also incorporated two pieces of art in the space: a vintage ocean print on wood panel, to connect with the soft feeling of the space; and a punchy-coloured piece to tie in with the calm greens that draw your eye all the way to the back of the room to visually enlarge the space. My client still tells me that every time she walks into her bathroom she feels like she is staying at a luxury hotel.”

For the toiletries you do keep, Grimes suggests decanting and presenting them in simple, matching pump bottles or onto trays to create visual cohesion. “A tidy, intentional display feels far more luxurious than a mix of branded packaging. Clear glass containers, small stone trays or even a single sculptural object made from marble or alabaster can add quiet elegance without cluttering the space.”

She also recommends updating mirrors and decorative hardware. “A new mirror can dramatically shift the style of a bathroom and is often more budget-friendly than replacing plumbing fixtures. Swapping dated cabinet pulls for something more refined can also elevate the overall look without construction.”

For colour, Grimes says the traditional all-white room doesn’t automatically convey serenity, as it can feel cold and clinical. “Pastels work beautifully in a spa-like environment as colour psychology plays an important role in how a space makes us feel. Warmer tones, such as soft peach, muted pink, or gentle terracotta can add a healthy glow, while pale blues and sage greens can feel refreshing and soothing.”

Grimes says she often recommends adding soft textures like plush towels, robes, and bath mats to soften the hard surfaces of tile, fixtures, hardware and counters to create a balance of materials. “Linens are one of the most effective and affordable ways to create a spa feel. Oversized, plush towels in cohesive colours, a soft bath mat underfoot and neatly displayed rolled towels can instantly elevate the experience.”

Also, selecting linens and accessories can complement tile undertones. “Soft, matte finishes and natural textures, such as woven baskets or wood accents, can help temper glossy or cooler tile and make the space feel warmer and more spa-like.”

She says rather than remove discoloured tile, a simple recaulking can refresh it. Also, a high-end customized shower curtain can hide older tile and bump up the luxe factor.

Grimes says switching your vanity light for a dimmable light is a relatively affordable upgrade that dramatically improves ambience. “I recommend warm lighting — around 2700K — which gives a soft, flattering glow. Cooler light temperatures can feel energizing, but for a spa-like environment, warmth is key.”

Candles, diffusers and bath salts are simple but powerful additions, says Grimes, because rejuvenation often comes through scent. “Popular spa scents include eucalyptus, lavender, sandalwood, camomile and light citrus blends. The key is subtlety; the scent should gently enhance the atmosphere rather than overwhelm it.”

Ultimately, a spa-like bathroom should reflect your own version of calm, whether that’s incorporating the Far East tradition of totonou or a simple West Coast refresh. “There isn’t one universal formula,” says Grimes. “It’s about creating a sensory experience through colour, texture, clarity, cleanliness, sound and scent that feels intentional and personal, no matter your decorating budget.”

Related

• Rosie Daykin makes the case for personal style over passing trends
• How designers are embracing historic design features in contemporary homes

“Home resides in a mother’s heart.” We couldn’t agree more.

With Mother’s Day on May 10, here are five beautiful homewares tested by Westcoast Homes for the mom who’s a dedicated cook or who simply appreciates style and comfort at home.

Le Creuset’s whistling kettle

There’s something about a statement kettle that turns the afternoon brew into a daily ritual worth savouring. A Le Creuset kettle is durable, easy to clean and pretty enough to leave on the stovetop permanently. With 11 colour options ranging from classic white to Le Creuset’s iconic Flame, there’s something for every kitchen colour palette. For any mom who loves a quality cuppa, it’s a gift that truly lasts.

Le Creuset | $135

Wall Flowers: A Love Letter to Wallpaper

Wallpaper is back in a big way. In this gorgeous coffee-table book , designer and Chasing Paper founder, Elizabeth Rees, explores the history of wallpaper and chats with designers and artists about the craft of its creation, presented alongside inspiring images. We love how it peels back the layers on an age-old decorating method, revealing a fresh perspective. Perfect for the maximalist mom who embraces personal expression and bold design moves.

Wall Flowers: A Love Letter to Wallpaper by Elizabeth Rees (Gibbs Smith)

Amazon.ca | $63

Maison Madison’s Giovanna oval platter

Martha Stewart approved: this handsome oval platter earned a spot on the queen of cuisine’s own Instagram. Handmade by artisans in Portugal, this solid, ceramic earthenware piece features a bold yellow scalloped rim that makes a springtime table setting feel special. Unlike flowers or chocolates, this is a gift that lasts, reminding mom of you every time she takes her treasured platter off the shelf.

Maison Madison | $143

Pure Parima’s floral printed sateen duvet cover

Modern Regencycore is having a moment. Soft florals and romantic prints are making their way from fashion runways into the bedroom. Pure Parima’s floral printed certified Egyptian cotton sateen duvet cover is a beautiful example. Available in two regency-inspired prints — lavender and vintage floral — the set includes a duvet cover and pillow slips with a noticeably luxurious feel. Designed for a soft landing at the end of every busy day.

Pure Parima | On sale from $230

Paderno’s Vida Colour Series coffee machine

When the whole household runs on coffee, a reliable 14-cup machine is non-negotiable. Paderno’s Vida Colour Series can be programmed the night before, has auto shut off, a keep-warm function, and a pause-and-pour option for those in a rush. It comes in three stylish colours, Blufin, Shortbread and Matcha, making the java station as good-looking as it is hardworking.

Canadian Tire | $119.99

The 17th annual Awards for Housing Excellence gala brought out a sold-out crowd of 542 to The Westin Bayshore recognizing excellence in homebuilding across Metro Vancouver. On April 18, The Homebuilders Association Vancouver (HAVAN) honoured the exceptional work of the industry’s builders, renovators, designers, and leaders across 67 categories. Throughout the evening, honourees were applauded for their creativity, craftsmanship and forward-thinking projects that helped to redefine housing and design in 2025.

“The range of winners across the categories this year speaks to the strength of our industry and how competitive our market has become, making a HAVAN Award a significant achievement,” says HAVAN CEO Wendy McNeil. “Each year, the program is reviewed to reflect the changing housing landscape, with categories that respond to how homes are being delivered today and the need to address housing challenges, including small-scale, multi-unit housing, multiplex, and modular solutions that support much-needed “missing middle” housing. These awards help homeowners identify professionals who consistently deliver industry-leading results.”

We reached out to six standout winners:

Vancouver-based Laura Grist Interior Design Inc. took home the Grand HAVAN for Interior Designer of the Year and Best Bathroom Renovation under 50 sq.ft for Hidden in Plain Sight, a condo’s reimagined powder room transformed into an elegant space.

“Getting the recognition that we’re ‘as good as we think we are’ is always nice when that’s confirmed,” says Grist. “This win is the culmination of 18 years of design, clients trusting us with their homes (and offices, and second homes… and then sending their friends), long-standing relationships with contractors and trades, and a team that’s been designing side-by-side for the past eight years.”

Vancouver’s HIT Quality Construction’s James Murphy, founder and chief builder, was honoured to take home three awards, including the coveted Grand HAVAN Residential Renovator of the Year.

“Receiving the Renovator of the Year is both an honour and a meaningful milestone for our team and us. Being recognized by our peers makes this especially significant, as it reflects our commitment to excellence, our passion for thoughtful design and craftsmanship, and the strong relationships we build along the way.”

North Shore’s Hasler Homes won three awards, including Best Custom Home: $5 million – Under $10 million, Best New Custom Kitchen: Under $175,000, Best Energy Labelled Home: Custom and Grand HAVAN Custom Home Builder of the Year.

“Winning the Grand HAVAN Custom Home Builder of the Year award is a meaningful milestone for both me and our entire team at Hasler Homes. It represents far more than a single achievement, it reflects years of dedication, craftsmanship, and a shared commitment to excellence,” says Greg Hasler, president. “Most importantly, it motivates us to keep raising the bar. This recognition isn’t a finish line; it’s a reminder to continue innovating, improving, and delivering homes that exceed expectations.”

Vancouver-based Foxridge Homes Ltd., a Qualico Company, took home three awards, including two Grand HAVAN Awards: Best Residential Community: Single-Family, and Grand HAVAN Single-Family Home Builder of the Year.

“These awards mean a great deal and truly belong to everyone on the Foxridge team. This recognition reflects the passion, commitment, and pride behind everything we do,” says Eric Andreasen, vice-president Foxridge Homes.

Surrey’s Zenterra Developments was awarded Best Townhome/Rowhome Unit: Less than 1,500 sq.ft., Best Multi-Family Condominium Unit – The Commons, Best Marketing Campaign and Grand HAVAN Multi-Family Home Builder of the Year.

“Winning the Grand HAVAN Award for Multi-Family Home Builder of the Year is a reflection of the people behind every Zenterra home,” says Derek Fenton, vice-president of marketing and sales. “Our team brings serious purpose to everything they build, and to be recognized by our industry peers for that work is something we don’t take lightly.”

Vancouver’s Renewal Development with Wesgroup Properties won Best Environmental Initiative.

“The construction industry has a significant environmental impact, be it in terms of carbon emissions or material waste. Our partnerships with the shíshálh Nation, Squamish Nation, Wesgroup, Bosa Properties, Anthem Properties and many others demonstrate that development can be done differently,” says Glyn Lewis, founder and CEO, Renewal Development. “Ultimately, the power of our home relocation — repurposing projects is the power of our example. To demonstrate what’s possible when partners come together to reimagine development.”

 

Vancouver-based NorthStar Development took home a new category in 2026: Best Modular/Prefab Housing Solutions award.

“This recognition is meaningful for our team at NorthStar Development because Estrella proves we can deliver urgently needed homes for local workers in a way that is both practical and scalable, with 80 per cent of homes offered at below-market rates,” says Gordon Wylie, President. “By using modular construction to achieve cost and schedule certainty, we were able to bring the first new apartment building to Prince Rupert in 30 years and support the workforce that is essential to the city’s continued growth.”

A full list of winners and photos of the projects are available at havan.ca

Related

• Wordsworth by Polygon Homes puts community fit over flash

Wesbrook Village is no stranger to Polygon. At Wordsworth , the developer’s sixth completed residential project in the neighbourhood, Polygon Homes and Francl Architecture are taking a more nuanced approach, one that aims to fold into the area rather than make a splashy condo statement. Completed in January, the 231-home project borders Mundell Park at the University of British Columbia’s Point Grey campus.

With fewer than 30 homes remaining, buyers can choose from move-in-ready condos, penthouses and cityhomes. Studios to two-bedroom apartments range from 470 to 896 square feet, with penthouses up to 1,144 square feet. Three-storey, three-bedroom cityhomes range from 1,565 to 1,625 square feet with sundecks, green sedum roofs and ground-floor patios, while penthouses include private garages with attached storage rooms. This new collection of concrete homes is designed to appeal to a wide range of residents, from students and faculty to young families and downsizers drawn to an active lifestyle.

For principal Walter Francl, that sense of fit begins at street level, where the cityhomes visually break down the scale of the project and help it sit more comfortably along the street. “The townhouses are a welcome rhythm as one walks down the streetscape at a very appropriate scale. They modulate the streetscape as you walk down it,” says Francl.

The cityhome facades feature canopied raised entries, eight-foot doors, charcoal grey brick and medium grey metal finishes. While earlier Polygon projects closer to Pacific Spirit Park drew on a more autumn-inspired palette, Francl says Wordsworth’s setting called for something more refined and polished in character: “This is a little bit more removed from Pacific Spirit Park. It’s back a block and has a more urbane feeling to it.” The darker brick, he adds, has an almost “metallic, iridescent quality” that plays off natural rock features found in the neighbourhood, while also feeling cohesive with nearby buildings.

That focus on community fit also shaped the design of the 16-storey tower, positioned at the north end of the site to minimize shadowing on park space and neighbouring buildings to the south. But with a 10,000-square-foot floorplate, the structure risked feeling broad and bulky. To soften its presence, the Francl team curved the north and south faces to give a more slender appearance, with balconies arranged “in a rhythm” to add further movement to the exterior. “They don’t repeat all the way up,” adds Francl. “They have a language that modulates the facade, and the curves add a certain amount of grace to the building itself.”

Inside the building, the shared spaces follow a similar approach. Rather than carving out an oversized amenity package, the team focused on a smaller set of practical features, including a fitness studio, concierge, electronic parcel system, dog wash and bike repair area, while also drawing on the broader neighbourhood amenities around Wordsworth. Polygon and Francl point to the project’s proximity to playgrounds, restaurants, shops, schools and the nearby Wesbrook Community Centre, which includes wellness programs, fitness facilities and space for meetings and events.

The cityhome patios open onto a semi-private courtyard and a pedestrian greenway, extending the main living space outdoors and providing direct access to parks and walking trails. Francl notes that the north-south orientation helps bring sunlight into the courtyard and patios. “It’ll be a really pleasant place to share with your neighbours,” he says.

All cityhome patios and penthouse balconies are fitted with barbecue gas outlets and hose bibs for flexible hosting, while the landscape design by Hapa Collaborative was carefully balanced to provide privacy without closing off views entirely. “The shared open spaces are really something that enhances a sense of community,” says Francl. “It’s where you meet your neighbours in the coming and going day-to-day” — an idea that also extends to the tower’s double-height lobby.

Designed to give a “sense of arrival,” the lobby leans into a calm West Coast-inspired palette. Developed in collaboration with Polygon’s interior design team, the space features limestone-toned porcelain flooring, sculptural Petite Friture Vertigo pendants and a curved marble feature wall that echoes the tower’s rounded form. The walls are clad in light wood panelling with vertical slot detailing that helps define lounge seating.

Francl explains that the lobby was designed for both residents and guests — somewhere to stop, talk and get a sense of the community they’re about to enter. “You get a real warm feeling as you come into the building and [realize] that’s the neighbourhood you’re living in,” he adds.

That same inviting, neutral palette carries into the suites, where interior finishes include engineered wood flooring, natural stone tile walls in ensuites, engineered stone countertops and backsplashes and natural wood or matte white cabinetry with integrated Bertazzoni appliances.

With Wordsworth marking the fourth project completed with Polygon in Wesbrook Village, Francl reflects on the evolving neighbourhood he’s helped shape: “There’s much more yet to come, and I look forward to being part of it and helping this grow into the community that it is becoming.”

Project: Wordsworth

Project address: 6138 Birney Ave., Vancouver, B.C.

Developer: Polygon Wordsworth Homes Ltd.

Architect: Francl Architecture

Interior designer: Polygon Interior Design Ltd.

Project size: 231 apartment homes and cityhomes

Price: One-bedroom homes from $688,800

Number of bedrooms: Studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments; three-bedroom cityhomes

Sales centre: 6138 Birney Ave., Vancouver, B.C.

Centre hours: Noon to 5 p.m. daily except Fridays

Phone: 604-882-0098

Website: polyhomes.com

Related

• Terrain draws on Squamish landscape with mountain modern homes
• New Abbotsford community offers a range of modern townhouses with farmhouse flair

The first, most striking feature of the property at 800 Taylor Road on Bowen Island is its sky-high peaked timber frame roof that sits atop 5,349 square feet of custom-built oceanview luxury.

The second-most impressive elements are the 2,400 square feet of covered decks and patios sprawled over two levels. The main floor’s expansive deck with built-in fireplace and two Bromic built-in heaters, built-in barbecue, bar fridge, counter space and cupboards allow for year-round outdoor entertaining.

The third-most striking feature is the 180-degree view over Howe Sound, coastal mountains, and the mainland. The current owners say they often spot surfacing whales and seals, as well as eagles soaring by at eye level.

And then there are the deer who pick their way down from the mountainside behind to nibble the green grass of the property’s front lawn.

What’s inside

The home’s accordion-type door opens up to create a smooth flow from the kitchen and dining room straight out onto the spacious porcelain-tile deck for indoor-outdoor entertaining.

Kitchen amenities include custom cabinetry, quartz countertops, Thermador appliances, a Wolf built-in espresso/coffee unit, a wine fridge and an attached, reclaimed fir six-seat dining table that stays with the house. Another larger dining table made of live edge monkeypod/raintree/suar wood can be negotiated as part of a furniture package.

Spread out over the engineered hickory flooring with radiant heating throughout are four bedrooms, three-and-a-half bathrooms, and a living room with floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace that extends horizontally to accommodate a built-in TV.

The oceanview primary bedroom with patio has a propane fireplace with built-in TV, bright spacious primary ensuite with a large shower, soaker tub, double sinks and, in behind, a roomy walk-in closet.

The main floor powder room, says listing agent Barry Thomas of West Vancouver’s Macdonald Realty, grabs a lot of attention from potential buyers. “There’s a copper sink and a full, floor-to-ceiling slate wall, which is reversed on the other side going up the stairwell to the loft area, which also features a bedroom and three-piece bathroom.”

Downstairs, two brick walls flank the games room, one surrounding a wood-burning fireplace (the fireplaces in the primary, living room and outdoor entertainment deck are all propane, says Thomas, as Bowen Island doesn’t have natural gas). Both the games room, which features a wet bar, and a bedroom lead out onto the covered flagstone patio where there’s a hot tub and fire pit.

“This home is a vertical two acres on a slope,” says Thomas explaining the lack of a large yard. “It’s primarily about the living space and the outdoor decks and patios. There’s a bit of a grassy area and the flat area of the driveway (with a three-car garage). It’s really about scaling back the gardening component of the lifestyle and having flowerpots and box gardens and really enjoying the entertaining versus becoming a slave to your property. That’s why it’s appealing to empty nesters in particular — they’ve already paid their dues with gardening and landscaping. They like the idea of low maintenance.”

He says what struck him overall about the home is its “sheer magnificence. It’s quite grand. It’s 5,349 square feet with soaring 24-foot timber frame cathedral ceilings, but when you’re in the home it doesn’t feel oversized. It’s quite warm and cosy and has a really lovely feel about it.”

He says that, in addition to interest from empty nesters who value the lower-level guest rooms for visiting family, he’s getting calls from Canadians living in the U.S. who are contemplating a return. “They want to be close to an international airport without necessarily living in Vancouver.”

In the neighbourhood

Built in 2017, the home is in the prestigious Queen Charlotte Heights subdivision, a quiet, scenic hillside above the main harbour on the east side of Bowen Island. It’s a quick 20-minute ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver.

Amenities such as grocery stores, restaurants, pharmacy, a new medical centre, and community centre are all in Snug Cove, less than a five-minute drive away.

Private and public schools are nearby, as are a marina and the Bowen Island Golf Club. Plenty of parks, including Crippen Regional Park, Cates Hill Nature Park, and Singing Woods Nature Reserve are a short drive away.

Since Bowen is an island just 12 km long and six km wide with 37 km of coastline, there are, of course, many beaches within a short drive, including Sandy Beach and Pebbly Beach near Snug Cove. September Morn Beach, a popular spot for swimming, kayaking and paddle boarding, is just a 20-minute walk away from the property.

Location: 800 Taylor Road, Bowen Island

Listed for: $3,195,000

Year built: 2017

Type: Four bedrooms, three-and-a-half bathrooms

Size: 5,349 square feet

Realtor: Listed by Barry Thomas, Macdonald Realty, West Vancouver

Related

• Property Watch: Oak Bay heritage home sprung from farmland to coveted neighbourhood
• Property Watch: Life aboard a floating dream home surrounded by 'living art'

In Vancouver’s Grandview-Woodland neighbourhood, just off Commercial Drive, a striking new residential building now stands where an older apartment block was destroyed by fire in 2017. The earlier building burned down around Christmas, displacing dozens of families and leaving many without their possessions. What has risen in its place is not just larger and newer, but more thoughtful in every way. The Chief Leonard George Building is a nine-storey project designed as Canada’s first mixed-use, tall mass-timber passive house building.

Designed for comfort

Achim Charisius, associate principal at GBL Architects and lead designer on the project, has been involved from rezoning to occupancy. From day one, the intention was not simply to replace what had been lost but to create a culturally meaningful building.

Charisius says the aim was for the building to feel safe, grounded and welcoming for the people returning to the site. This idea is carried by the building’s passive house design.

“Passive House (certification) originally was a comfort standard. It’s a very, very high air quality,” he says.

This is part of what makes this project so appealing. The building feels calm and pleasant to live in.

“It’s amazing when you’re in a passive house, because you hardly know just the city around you,” he says.

A facade with meaning

The building’s facade is inspired by Coast Salish woven basketry, one of the oldest art forms on the Northwest Coast. It is an image with beauty and emotional weight.

“For generations, these cedar baskets have carried food, medicines and children. This building follows that teaching as a contemporary basket that holds families, culture and community in an urban setting,” says Charisius.

In total, this building provides 81 homes, including studio apartments and several three and four-bedroom units, a rarity in a city where family-sized apartments can be hard to find. There is a child care centre on the ground floor, a generous shared amenity space and views to the North Shore mountains and Vancouver Harbour. The architecture feels considered without ever feeling cold.

Shaped around family life

Brenda Knights is CEO of BC Indigenous Housing Society (BCIHS) and worked with GBL Architects to bring this building to life.

She recalls when the fire at this site happened and how difficult it was for many of the tenants. The holiday season is already a tricky time for a lot of people, but added to this, families had to evacuate, scramble to find housing in an already punishing market and deal with the loss of belongings.

“We’ve had the first tenants return to the building. They’re just so excited,” says Knights.

“We often use the basket as a metaphor for the weaving of generations in our families. The basket is also a metaphor for how we used to live together. Its symbolism is meaningful to our organization as we seek to bring back traditional ways of living together,” she says. That idea runs through the whole project, from the larger family units to the child care and shared spaces for cultural programming.

Knights feels there is real strength in having grandparents involved in raising grandkids, as it was for her own children.

“I just can’t say enough about that intergenerational living and how it sets kids up for success,” she says.

From loss to renewal

Knights gives the best plain-spoken endorsement of the building’s energy-smart design. “When I walked through the building now, it’s such a comfortable temperature, I’ve never felt too hot or too cold,” she says.

“We are pleased the architects were able to bring back a wonderful sense of community for tenants, and where families can thrive in a positive environment.”

Related

• Wood kitchens are making a comeback, but not as you remember them
• Ramping up your home's curb appeal

Space is at a premium in many Canadian households, and my home is certainly no exception.

What started with a treadmill in the garage had slowly expanded to include a stationary bike, a power tower, free weights, and other assorted workout accoutrements. My home gym was steadily taking over an area where space was already in short supply.

And something had to change.

After searching for ‘home gym solutions’ online, I stumbled upon an interesting idea: the gym shed.

The project proposed the creation of a functional workout space on a budget, in a relatively contained structure, that doesn’t require any city permits. Check, check and check.

While we often look to outdoor sheds as a hideaway spot for patio furniture or garden supplies, the small structures are increasingly being reimagined as creative extensions of our main living spaces.

“We’re seeing Canadians rethink how they use their outdoor space, with sheds becoming a natural extension of the home,” says Jennifer Tang, online merchant, seasonal at The Home Depot Canada. “What started as ‘she sheds’ and backyard offices has evolved into wellness-focused spaces like home gyms, yoga studios and meditation spaces, reflecting a growing focus on convenience and multi-functional living.”

Rather than a repository for old outdoor gear or the lawn mower, I imagined a curated workout space that would offer privacy, as well as a reprieve from my current garage clutter.

Checking on building size limitations for my area, I knew the gym shed could have maximum dimensions of 10×10 feet or 8×12 feet. Leaning toward a structure that was easy to assemble (read: didn’t take too much skill with power tools) and also had water-resistant capabilities, I selected the Keter Resin Outdoor Storage shed . Billed as a medium-sized structure, the model measures a sensible 9×7 feet.

Made from the company’s composite material, which features a 10-year limited warranty and will not peel or rot, the stylish shed features functional details such as a steel-reinforced roof that can withstand a snow load of up to 50 kg/sqm, upper windows for natural light, a locking double door that opens wide for added ventilation and more.

“Shed kits like the Keter model are designed with ease-of-use in mind,” says Tang. “The panels are designed to snap and lock together intuitively using the innovative groove‑and‑lock system. Once the main structure clicks into place, you just secure it with screws. This makes for a reliable and low-stress experience for customers who want to take on a backyard project without needing advanced construction skills.”

Beginning my shed on a pre-existing concrete slab (as with any structural project, an even and flat base is essential), I kicked off my gym shed project around 9 a.m. on a Sunday and was finished about six hours later.

“It’s manageable enough to complete in half a day, and many people turn it into a shared project with family or friends,” says Tang of the design.

Once the structure was completed — and suitably admired — I put down interlocking rubber mats. I chose an option that was both durable and lightweight . It was easy to find a layout that provided ample coverage while also adding comfort for mat-based workouts such as Pilates or yoga.

In the preplanning stages of my gym shed, I’d measured the workout machines and gear that I already had, so that I was sure the shed I’d selected would provide enough space to fit everything inside. After a bit of playing around with the arrangement, I was able to fit my folding treadmill, stationary bike, power tower, and small collection of free weights inside with enough room to still have space (when the treadmill is in its stored position) to workout on the mat.

Electricity is essential in a gym shed, unless you’re going to just do mat-based or weight training workouts. Knowing I also wanted to add a small light source in my gym shed so that I could work out after hours, I purchased a heavy-duty, multi-prong outdoor extension cord that I could run from the side of the house to the shed. An easy solution for an electricity source, I like that I can also easily store the cord inside the shed when not in use.

As with any do-it-yourself project, there’s some room for personalization in a gym shed space. Upping the style factor of my project, I added a plug-in pendant light with a geometric metal design . I even added a small faux plant and a decorative storage basket to keep my yoga mat, resistance bands and bike shoes inside the shed.

Who says gym sheds can’t also be a little bit glam?

“With the right decor and storage, from gym flooring to mirrors and shelving, small touches can turn them into a functional, well-designed retreat,” says Tang.

While a workout space might not be everyone’s version of the ideal shed project, the flexibility afforded by different sizes and prices permit the freedom to create a flex space at home via a shed that can suit a variety of different needs and properties.

“As long as you consider safety precautions, weight limitations and community bylaws, you can let your imagination take over and use the shed in a way that uniquely works for your home,” says Tang. “It could be a meditation space for one, a crafting studio with a painting setup, or even a quiet book nook.”

Aharris@postmedia.com

Related

• Container gardening: Best time to transplant vegetables to ensure healthy growth
• How designers are embracing historic design features in contemporary homes

If you’re like me, the recent warm weather has spiked the immediacy of getting my food garden underway. It’s mid-April, daytime temperatures are in the teens, and hopefully, we’re past those sneaky night frosts.

I’m choosing the sunniest spots in our garden and using raised beds and containers for extra warmth in the soil so I can include a wider variety of cool-loving, early plants. My goal is to enjoy the earliest crops possible, as well as spacing out subsequent plantings for continuous harvesting, so I can still harvest late vegetables for Thanksgiving and beyond.

I will plant early seeds like radishes, peas, onion sets, and early potatoes now but mostly rely on pre-started transplants for other varieties, which will save me waiting weeks and months for harvest times.

I love pre-started lettuce and other salad greens because they grow so quickly this time of year. Butterhead and other Bibb lettuces like Buttercrunch are favourites, both for flavour and ease of harvest. Red leaf lettuce is perfect for adding colour to salads and sandwiches and Romaine varieties, like Green Towers, are the heart and soul of Ceasar salads. I’m also a fan of the blended lettuce mixtures like City Garden Mix, which has a good range of flavours and continues to produce all summer long.

It’s important to get greens like arugula started early as they will tend to bolt or go to seed when we get those sudden bursts of hot weather. The same is true of all those remarkable Asian greens and mustard greens. If you can find them already started in a four-inch pot, they will likely be ready to harvest just a few weeks after being transplanted.

Speaking of bolting, spinach is another crop that needs to be set out early. Fortunately, spinach varieties are all fast cropping, maturing anywhere from 30 to 45 days from transplanting started plants. The old standby is Bloomsdale Savoy, but there are many other varieties available today. It’s ideal to harvest as soon as the leaves begin to size up, because long days with higher heat will spark the bolting process.

Although not a true spinach, the well-known New Zealand Spinach or tetragonia tetragonioides, is a heat lover. It takes longer to produce, often taking up to 60 days, but will produce soft, tender spinach-like leaves all summer long.

Swiss chard is one of my favourite greens, not only for longevity in the garden and for the beautifully coloured foliage but also for the wonderful flavour. Both Celebration and Bright Lights are blends of red, yellow, pink and white stems, making them a garden showpiece.

Of all the brassicas, broccoli has always been a favourite. Purple-headed broccolis, like Summer Purple, are nice to spice up your salad plates. Most broccoli varieties will produce smaller side shoots if you cut out the central head when it’s young, providing a longer harvest. Now, the mini-head varieties like Aspabroc and Artwork, commonly called broccolini, have really become very popular.

Kale is still a hit in our younger gardening community. Not only are they the hardiest brassica, but they also perform well in hot summer. I love the Bor series, like Redbor, Winterbor and Darkibor. The latest trend is to let them grow large as garden specimens, which are especially attractive in fall and winter, while remaining edible.

Pure white cauliflower is a prized culinary specimen, and by making sure you have self-wrapping varieties you’ll be sure to achieve this. They also now come in vibrant purple, green and gold heads to add flair and flavour to any charcuterie board or veggie tray.

Cabbage is still popular, with smaller heads and faster harvesting varieties, like Fast Vantage, available today. Savoy types, with their wonderful, ruffled leaves, are the go-to favourite for cabbage rolls, and red cabbage is perfect for slaws, pickling and mixed salad plates.

Many growers are now starting beets, carrots and other root crops for transplanting. Beets produce wonderful greens for early harvesting, and as they are a fast crop, you can lift the younger “baby beets” to enjoy both the foliage and the smaller roots.

Onions are an early must-have. Multiplier sets will produce green onions only weeks after planting, and then all summer long. Although not huge, Dutch sets will produce medium-sized onions in early summer, so they’re great for a wide range of recipes.

If it’s the giant sweet Spanish onions you’re after, setting out transplants that have likely been started in January will be the fastest and best way to enjoy those spectacular giants in late August. Walla Walla is an all time favourite, but probably the best is a variety called Riverside Sweet Spanish. They are the most productive and have the best keeping quality of all the varieties. If you would like to show off just a little, then try either Ailsa Craig, or the biggest giant of them all, Kelsae. Not only are they sweet and wonderful, but they can reach the size of a soccer ball. In fact, Kelsae, which was developed in Scotland, holds the Guiness World Record for the largest onion — weighing in at 6.8 kg.

Don’t forget potatoes: Early varieties like Norland, Warba and Caribe can go in now for you to enjoy those fabulous nuggets in late June.

We’ll have to hold off until mid-to-late May to plant our warm-weather loving veggies, meanwhile it’s exciting to see the wide variety of cool, early vegetables we can safely get underway now. It’s a promise of some wonderful flavours, and somehow, when we’ve grown them ourselves, they always taste better.

Related

• Brian Minter: Add these B.C. gardening sales and events to your spring calendar
• Brian Minter: How gardening tools have changed to meet today's needs

When Lauren Webb and Josephina Serra toured a Yaletown condo created by merging two apartments, there were still obvious traces of the divide.

“When we did the walk-through, it was very obvious that it had been two units,” says Webb of the now-2,575-square-foot home.

One side felt under-planned; rushed through design and staging for sale. The other was a bit higher-end. But both lacked cohesion and character.

The new owners had hired Vancouver interior design studio Form Collective to pull the mismatched halves into alignment, redecorate and notch up the style — with touches inspired Las Vegas, where they have another residence.

Principals Webb and Serra realized quickly the place needed more than decor. The project grew into a deeper renovation, reworking parts of the floor plan while unifying the space in function and feel.

The owners’ first big ask was a backlit stone backsplash inspired by their Nevada home — rendered in translucent Cristallo Quartzite for “really wild pop factor.” Web says: “We were worried it would be too in-your-face, but we actually love it.”

For a secondary visual anchor, Webb and Serra extended an existing island with matching stone, adding a curved detail on one end to mimic curved lines of the condo’s outer wall. “We wanted it to be a statement piece and really welcoming to stand around it as well,” says Webb.

Overhead, a dropped wood ceiling panel with a backlit plate sets off a glittering linear light fixture. Stained shinnoki white oak millwork adds sleek storage and houses appliances.

Off to one side, a Samsung Frame TV poses as a painting when not entertaining the cook. This placement eliminated the need for a TV over a nearby fireplace, which backs onto windows.

Around the fireplace, they carved out a small family room. Working with bespoke furnituremaker WD Western Designers, they created a custom curved sofa. To maximize seating and sightlines without overwhelming the space, the company created a template on-site prior to fabrication.

Over the sofa, a print by photographer Gillian Lindsay grounds the space — a slightly gritty and less “Vegas” choice Serra fought for and the homeowner now loves, she says.

Throughout the home, original art and prints layer on character absent in the home’s past life, giving the feel of a collection gathered over time, adds Serra. One standout piece is “Generations” by Victor Goertz, an original acrylic depicting the mossy trunk of an evergreen tree in greens and pinks, hung between the entryway and kitchen. Another striking piece, “City in Pink and Green,” a print by David Tycho, picks up the same colour scheme the end of the main hall.

The homeowner had one other Vegas-inspired request: a home bar. “He kept joking that he wanted to charge cover like a nightclub,” says Webb.

By subsuming the footprint of a former home office, Webb and Serra obliged. The result feels like an intimate speakeasy, layered in leather-textured Black Negresco veined quartzite, against tan velvet stools and gold hardware. One unexpected detail here: millwork doors conceal two 24-inch-wide under-counter freezers where the homeowner, a sport fisherman, stores his catches.

The moody glam esthetic of the bar carries to an adjacent sitting area with leather loungers, and the home’s formal dining area around the corner.

Here, Art Deco-style bench seating complements an oval table and nature-inspired chandelier. The dining area opens to the home’s main living room, set into a corner of wall-to-wall windows. A custom metal fireplace by Vancouver’s New Format Studio adds a flash of brushed gold, against velvet and leather seating.

 

The home’s bedrooms each have their own spin on the Vegas theme. A guest room reserved for the wife’s mother channels a light motif, with a vibrant wall tapestry complementing colourful artwork. Another brings visual drama with a ceiling-high headboard in upholstered black Vant Panels, and punchy black-and-white bedside lamps from CB2. The primary bedroom veers mid-century, with a towering velvet-green headboard against dark metallic wallpaper. Burl nightstands, gold-disc light fixtures and a vintage Otto Bettmann photo of Tropicana showgirls round it out.

As the renovated space came together, a new duality took shape, says Webb. The kitchen side of the space reads “daytime” — light and airy — while a darker, nighttime vibe takes over on the bar-dining side.

Yet the whole space feels unified. “Anybody who walks in there now would never guess that it used to be two units, whereas when we first started, it was very obvious,” says Webb. “When the owner first saw it, she teared up, and that’s always a great feeling. She was so happy.”

So happy, in fact, that the homeowners rehired the duo to fly to Las Vegas for a week and decorate their home there — which they’d previously considered finished. Says Webb: “They didn’t realize what was missing until they saw how layered their space could really be.”

Project design: Form Collective

Project construction: Headland Construction

Project millwork: Sofo Kitchens

Related

• A forest-wrapped Lions Bay home is returned to its modernist glory
• Design-build brings gentle density to Burnaby’s Capitol Hill, in a stylish package

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

9231 Parksville Dr., Richmond

Type: Five-bedroom, three-bathroom detached

Size: 2,000 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $1,493,600

Listed for: $1,399,000

Sold for: $1,422,000

Sold on: March 2

Days on market in this listing: Seven

Listing agent: Adam Pospischil and Alex Wong at Engel & Volkers Vancouver

Buyers agent: Tracy Hu PREC at LeHomes Realty Premier

The big sell: Richmond’s Boyd Park is the venue for this five-bedroom family home that offers a number of reasons that attracted multiple offers when it was listed for sale. Namely, an air-conditioned interior that provides year-round comfort with a newly-installed heat pump, a floor plan that offers four bedrooms upstairs and a fifth on the main level for guests, elderly relatives, or home office use, 200 square feet of internal storage space, and upgrades that include hardwood floors, stainless-steel appliances, stone counters, and two gas fireplaces. The outside holds its own with a west-facing rear garden that backs directly onto the West Richmond Pitch & Putt Golf Course, a location just a few blocks from Hugh Boyd Secondary School and the West Richmond Community Centre, and covered parking as well as additional space on the driveway for larger vehicles.

2 — 275 West 17th Ave., Vancouver

Type: Four-bedroom, five-bathroom half duplex

Size: 1,969 square feet

B.C. Assessment: N/A

Listed for: $2,680,000

Sold for: $2,680,000

Sold on: Jan. 8

Days on market in this listing: 38

Listing agent: Jessica Chen PREC at Oakwyn Realty

Buyers agent: Val Brennan at Oakwyn Realty

The big sell: This newly-finished half duplex sold for bang on the listed price and features a larger layout than many with four bedrooms, five bathrooms and almost 2,000 square feet of internal living space. It forms part of a side-by-side duplex in Cambie Village just steps to shops, parks, restaurants, schools and the Canada Line subway route that connects downtown with Vancouver’s international airport. Built by Vandwell Developments, the home features floor-to-ceiling windows, a built-in sound system, sliding glass doors, front and back patios, air conditioning, radiant heat, and a stylish kitchen with waterfall countertops and sleek cabinetry. A staircase with seamless glass railings leads upstairs where there are two further levels with two bedrooms on each. There is a heated crawl space for extra storage but the piece de resistance is a rooftop deck with panoramic mountain and city skyline views.

201 — 39771 Government Rd., Squamish

Type: Two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment

Size: 1,198 square feet

B.C. Assessment: $797,000

Listed for: $819,900

Sold for: $807,000

Sold on: Jan. 30

Days on market in this listing: 83

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

Buyers agent: Art Power at Stilhavn Real Estate Services

The big sell: Squamish is home to the five-year-old Breeze condominium complex that occupies a convenient location near the many amenities that the town offers. This particular unit is a two-level, south-facing, two-bedroom, two-bathroom end unit with the added bonus of having a 16-foot-long open loft space as well as a penthouse position. Boasting a layout close to 1,200 square feet, the interior features vaulted ceilings, a Scandinavian-inspired kitchen with a streamlined design incorporating an island, quartz countertops, stainless-steel appliances and ample cupboard space, a primary bedroom on the upper level with a custom-built walk-in closet and ensuite bathroom, and a private deck with engaging mountain and Chief views. The unit’s monthly maintenance fee is $583.09 and it comes with underground parking, and a strata that permits pets and rentals with restrictions.

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

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

Want more expert mortgage info? Robert McLister shares Canada’s best national insured and uninsured mortgage rates, updated daily.

For a long while, dream kitchens have been sleek, pale and a little bit clinical. Crisp white cabinets and not a lot of softness. This popular look, though polished, can feel a little cold. Now the mood is shifting, says Vancouver designer Jenalee Nordstrom of Schédio Spaces .

People are really wanting to feel relaxed in their homes, says Nordstrom. This has always been the case, but after years of uncertainty, inflated costs and general fatigue, people are after homes that make them feel calm, in a way that outdoes any home design trends.

Wood is an innate, primal element that people find relaxing. We’re seeing the desire for this material in kitchens, she says.

This doesn’t mean a return to the fussy, orange-toned kitchens with ornate detailing and heavy upper cabinets.

“It’s not the heavy wood cabinetry of our parents’ generation,” she says, describing instead a new wave of kitchens that feel modern and contemporary, while also delivering warmth and ease.

This is not a passing whim, but part of a bigger design swing away from sterile to grounded.

Younger homeowners, especially millennials, are settling into longer-term homes and are investing in kitchens they want to live with for years, not just photograph for a season, says Nordstrom. Wood has moved from being a niche choice to a lasting one.

Light, warm and contemporary

To avoid the dark, cavelike wooden kitchens of yesteryear, choose your materials carefully, says Nordstrom. Tone, grain and contrast matter, as does restraint.

For homeowners who want a safe, soothing look, she likes keeping wood in the same colour family as the floor — not matchy-matchy, but harmonious.

For those willing to push things a little further, mixing tones can be beautiful. A cooler floor with warmer cabinetry, or a darker floor with lighter cabinets, gives the room more depth and personality. This approach can make a kitchen feel less staged and more lived in.

Nordstrom also distinguishes between sleeker grain patterns and more expressive ones. A subtler grain works well when paired with dramatic stone, because it lets the marble or quartz do the talking. A stronger, more visible grain brings more pattern and softness, which can be especially effective with simpler counters and backsplashes. In other words, wood can whisper or sing, so you want to really consider the design of the other materials you’re using.

For anyone nervous about committing, Nordstrom says:

“Use wood on the lower cabinet and keep the upper cabinet in a lighter tone.”

This way, your room gets warmth where it needs grounding, but the eye still reads the kitchen as open and airy. She has used darker walnut below with painted uppers, and the effect is rich without feeling weighty.

Flat-front doors keep things light, says Nordstrom. Wood already brings movement and interest, so it doesn’t need a lot of trim, fluting or fuss piled on top.

Veneer, solid wood and a new contender

Veneer is often the more affordable route, says Nordstrom. It gives you the look of timber without the same degree of seasonal movement, because the wood layer sits on a stable substrate. It is also useful for larger panels. The drawback with veneer can be durability. It can be harder to repair if it gets gouged or dented badly. Once damaged, you may need to replace a door rather than simply sanding it back.

Solid wood has a different appeal, she says. It’s durable, tactile and repairable. It can be sanded, refinished and restained later if tastes change. It also allows for carved detail such as fluting or reeding, but solid wood can be very expensive, depending on what you go with, and in climates like B.C., it does expand and contract.

“In humid winters and dry summers, doors can shift, seams can tighten or widen, and panels may need adjustment over time,” she says.

Nordstrom says she’s very excited about a new Cosentino product out called Amazonik , which gives the visual warmth of wood with the performance of Dekton. For busy kitchens, this is a great choice, she says. It can be used on fronts, counters and backsplashes, and avoids many of the headaches that come with real timber in wet or hardworking zones. It’s a game-changer for anyone who loves the look of wood but worries about movement, staining or hygiene.

Get your lighting right

Even the best wood kitchen can fall flat under the wrong lighting, says Nordstrom. For wood in the kitchen, she prefers lower-sheen finishes to let the grain read naturally, rather than glossy coatings that tip wood into something artificial and overly slick. A softer finish keeps the material looking honest and warm.

Your light bulbs really matter, she says. The colour of your lighting is going to change the colour of the wood.

“I really encourage people to use a slightly warmer interior light when they’re using wood if they want that relaxed finish. 2700 or 3000 Kelvin is the whitest that they should go.”

Related

• KitchenAid's new Spearmint mixer looks fresh as can be
• Herschel co-founder launches home goods brand focused on everyday essentials

For many generations, the advent of spring has meant saying goodbye to winter by doing a deep, thorough clean of their homes. Over the chilly season, when hunkering down, it’s not surprising that we overlook certain household tasks, and ignoring clutter would certainly fall into the category. A springtime cleanup is an opportune time to tackle the buildup.

Over time clutter can become almost invisible or just part of the furniture. How it gets to that point comes down to simply having too many things and no system in place for storing or organizing them, says author Laura Wittmann, a self-described organizing junkie.

“It all comes down to systems and stuff in general,” Wittmann explains. “Often, we just have a stuff problem, and it becomes clutter because we don’t have specific spots to put it. It just piles and clutter attracts clutter. Before you know it, all your surfaces are covered — your counters, dresser tops, any surface is fair game. It just seems to collect and before you know it, you can’t find anything you need to access because it’s buried.”

In her book Clutter rehab: 101 tips & tricks to declutter your home and organize your space, Wittmann offers simple, easy-to-implement methods to claw back the clutter that can overwhelm a living space. The easiest one to put into action, she says, is creating a “donation station” — a name which describes its specific function. Wittmann, uses this method herself and has placed a laundry basket in her linen closet where she just tosses items in when she notices that they’re no longer functional for her home.

“We all have things in our kitchen cupboards that we don’t love or need,” she notes. “In our head we’re thinking ‘I’ll have to get rid of that at some point,’ but that never comes. Just grab it and put it in the donation station right away. It’s the easiest way just having it there rather than grabbing a bag and walking around the house aimlessly.”

For Wittmann, having an organized home is all about functionality and efficiency — not making it Instagram-ready. If you get there, that’s great, she says, but don’t get caught up in colour-blocking your books or finding the trendiest storage container. Her house, where she uses mostly dollar store finds to keep items sorted, demonstrates that creating an efficient home doesn’t need to be costly. Most importantly it’s not as complicated as people envision it to be, nor does it need to be done on a large scale. She suggests taking a drawer and dumping it out and sorting through it, even while watching TV. Remove, sort and purge is the mantra she goes by.

She recommends looking for “like” items in the kitchen as a way to see what is being used and what can be purged.

“I noticed in kitchens people don’t have like with like,” she says. “They’ll have cups over here in another cupboard. I’ll suggest let’s just tackle cups. Remove all your cups and put them together… It’s way easier to purge at that point.”

To clear kitchen counters, she suggests putting everything in a box and only bringing things back as needed. Often people don’t return all the items finding that they’ve “fallen in love with the empty space.”

In Clutter Rehab, Wittmann offers an easy-to-follow approach that can be remembered with the acronym PROCESS: plan, remove, organize, evaluate, solve and simplify. The first three being the most important to achieve. The book’s information is presented in short bites, the entirety of the advice is easily digestible, and the reader can adapt it to their own needs.

“It’s a very easy read,” Wittmann says. “You don’t have to read it from cover to cover. Because it’s written as 101 tricks and tips for decluttering, you can pick and choose. There’s a list of them all and you can just jump in where you feel comfortable. It doesn’t have to be ‘do this first, do this second’ kind of thing.”

Out of all her tips for creating a more functional home, Wittmann urges people to foremost set up their house for the way that they live. “It doesn’t have to work for anyone else but you or anyone else that lives with that family. That’s all that matters.”

Though she shuttered her longtime popular blog the Organizing Junkie a few years ago and no longer works as a professional organizer due to a chronic illness, Wittmann is still in contact with readers via her Instagram account @orgjunkie. Most of her current content is in the IG stories format rather than posts.

Clutter rehab: 101 tips & tricks to declutter your home and organize your space

By Laura Wittmann | Ulysses Press, April 14, 2026, 128 pages, $19.99

Related

• How designers are embracing historic design features in contemporary homes
• From custom stair runner to Bauhaus-inspired rug collection

When Donna Balfour heard that the oceanfront property was hitting the market, she knew she had to act. “I knew right away it was for me,” she recalls. “It’s the perfect location on Robert’s Bay. As soon as it was listed, I bought it.”

Her quick decision wasn’t entirely impulsive. Balfour had long felt connected to Vancouver Island, from family ties in Victoria to summers spent in Oak Bay, and after settling in Sidney, she knew she wanted a home by the beach.

At first glance, the 2,667-square-foot home is a serene Scandinavian-meets-West Coast retreat, with warm wood tones, natural stone, vaulted ceilings and a generous covered deck overlooking the water. Designed by Jamie Banfield Design , The Sidney is the kind of place that invites slow mornings, cosy gatherings and evenings with a glass of wine in the tub — an interesting first impression for a home perched on a bay that doesn’t always behave so gently.

“When we got there, it was the view and [figuring out] how to capture that,” says principal designer Jamie Banfield. “There are stormy days there. There are really good sunsets and really good sunrises — there’s lots of different movement that’s happening there.”

Those movements in the landscape sparked a series of design changes. After reworking the floor plan to bring more usable living space toward the waterfront, the team also looked at how to make the home feel brighter and more open. They relocated the stairs and raised the roofline by eight feet, creating a vaulted ceiling with asymmetrical peaks that captures more light inside despite the home’s covered outdoor areas.

It was a dramatic decision, but one that paid off. “Jamie called me one day and said he wasn’t happy with the look of the outside of the house,” shares Balfour. “He asked me if I’d be willing to take the roof off to make the peak. It’s made the house so stunning from the outside and inside. The wood is gorgeous.”

The wood wrapping the ceiling continues outside, where thermally modified Lunawood cladding is paired with matte black and bronze metals for an exterior that feels both warm and durable in the coastal climate. Over time, the wood is meant to weather from a reddish brown to a silvery grey, reflecting the changing seasons. “They’re timeless,” says Banfield. “There’s no maintenance, but it’s also going to wear really well with the elements.”

Inside, the moody, nature-inspired palette layers dark walnut cabinetry, copper fixtures and blue-grey quartzite to echo the shoreline and shifting skies. “We wanted to give a nod to what we would find outside,” says Banfield.

But the design is about more than just views, light and cohesive colours. Banfield says the team thought carefully about the different “extremes” of how Balfour would use the house, from day-to-day life on her own to a full house when she’s hosting.

Rather than organizing the kitchen around esthetics alone, the design team laid it out by functional zones. “I think that’s something people miss a lot of the time,” says Banfield. “They’ll try to design it for a pretty picture instead of how it’s actually going to function.” One side acts as a more casual drinks station, with a coffee maker and bar fridge positioned for easy access to the deck, while the island anchors the main cooking and entertaining space. A separate butler’s pantry keeps a secondary oven and freezer used for baking neatly tucked out of sight.

Balfour notes the kitchen works just as well for her daily routines as it does for guests. “Last summer I had back-to-back company and loved it,” she says. “Everyone enjoyed cooking in that kitchen. There’s room for everyone and it doesn’t feel crowded.”

Outside, a 522-square-foot heated deck expands the kitchen and living space, complete with a built-in outdoor kitchen by Outerspace and room for everything from Balfour’s book club to casual barbecues. Yet it still feels comfortable when she’s on her own, whether for a quiet coffee at sunrise or an evening by the water.

And when the weather shifts, the home adapts with it. Accordion glass doors and oversized openings frame the ocean views while allowing the main living space to feel protected from wind and rain. “I don’t think many people think about that when they think about the waterfront,” says Banfield. “Storm watching is really entertaining to see, just watching how strong the water is and what it can do.” Below the upper deck, a flagstone patio off the principal bedroom offers a second sheltered spot to take in the shoreline.

For Balfour, it’s that balance that makes the home feel right year-round. “The home is very cosy, even on the deck,” she says. “It’s fun to watch the stormy weather. The summer is amazing and outdoor living at its best.”

Architectural design, interior design and furniture selection: Jamie Banfield Design Inc.

Builder/Contractor: Top of the Line Contracting

Related

• Custom Bowen Island retreat designed to disappear
• Personal taste meets artful living in this reimagined Yaletown loft

Improving your home’s curb appeal can sound costly. New siding, roofing, windows or landscaping, it’s easy to assume that creating a beautiful exterior for your home means a full overhaul.

To bring things down to earth, ask yourself, when someone arrives, what’s the first impression they have of your home? Your front entrance matters so much. It sets the tone before the door even opens. It can make a house feel crisp and contemporary, classic and composed, or warm and inviting.

Replacing your front door or the garage door can instantly transform the look of the facade, says Nathalie Perreault, design and colour specialist at BP Canada .

“It’s also a great opportunity to add a pop of colour, a trend that’s becoming increasingly popular. If the budget is tight, simply painting the door or adding stylish or colourful accessories can make a noticeable difference at a very low cost,” she says.

Plan your upgrades in phases

If a major update is on the horizon, Perreault recommends resisting the urge to do everything at once without a plan. You want to think long-term and break the work into manageable stages.

“First, it’s essential to prioritize exterior projects that protect the home and ensure long-term durability. If a homeowner can only afford one improvement per year, we recommend creating a long-term plan divided into realistic phases. This makes it easier to spread out the investments while keeping the final vision in mind,” says Perreault.

This kind of planning is not just practical, it also results in a more cohesive overall look. Instead of chasing one-off fixes, homeowners can make decisions that relate to the whole house, from roofline to trim colour to the tone set at the front step.

Your roof and siding are often the biggest investments, both visually and functionally, says Perreault. They protect the home, but also establish its overall personality. A soft, tonal palette can feel elegant and settled, and a higher-contrast combination can feel sharper and more architectural.

Her advice is to choose colours that will age gracefully. White, beige, grey, blue, green and black remain dependable for a reason. They sit comfortably with landscaping, brick, stone and natural light, and they don’t date a home as quickly as trend-driven choices can, she says.

The best time to install a roof is generally in late spring or fall, when weather conditions are stable and dry, says Perrault.

The mistake many homeowners make is focusing too much on what looks current, rather than what will still look good years from now, says Perreault. She warns against following trends too closely and says testing colours outside is essential. Light changes everything, as do surrounding materials.

Some of the most effective exterior upgrades are also the easiest to underestimate, says Perreault. The colour of the roof can dramatically change the overall style of a home, and gutters, too, can have more visual impact than many realize, especially when upgraded to a cleaner, more modern profile. Even refreshing window trim or standardizing mismatched frames can make a house look more polished without the cost of full replacement.

These are the details that help a home feel finished, says Perrault.

Stepping inside

Vancouver designer Maria Killam, founder and creative director of the Killam Colour System , believes many homes miss an opportunity right at the threshold.

“The best way to improve your entry is to add a table in the right size and scale with a lamp and a mirror above it… (This) goes a very long way to adding warmth and atmosphere when someone walks in the door,” she says.

It’s a lovely reminder that curb appeal does not stop at the porch. The experience of arrival continues inside, and the best homes create a sense of welcome that flows naturally from exterior to interior.

Killam also advocates for colour in spaces that are too often left flat and underwhelming.

“Hallways and entries can often feel dark and dingy, painted white or grey and will feel a lot happier in a pale blue, green or even a warm, pale beige. Beige is back, and an entry hall is the perfect place to experiment with adding a warm and welcoming feeling to your home,” she says.

Related

• KitchenAid's new Spearmint mixer looks fresh as can be
• From custom stair runner to Bauhaus-inspired rug collection

Most people want a home that reflects their personality, interests and family history but using collections, inherited furniture and travel souvenirs as decor in a way that feels intentional rather than cluttered is often the challenge.

Interior designers say the solution isn’t to hide these objects, rather it’s to edit collections, group special objects and, when appropriate, juxtapose them with modern elements.

Lori Steeves, founder and creative director of North Vancouver-based Simply Home Decorating says walking the line between curated and cluttered can be tricky.

“My biggest strategy successfully integrating personal items is to contain and group them rather than scattering them throughout the home,” says Steeves.

For smaller items she often opts to place them in shadow box frames to create a wall display, gather them on a tray, or group them in a cabinet where glass doors make them visible and also keep them dust free.

Grouping tchotchkes, curios and keepsakes also make one perceive the collection as one object instead of multiple items.

“That’s a great way to contain visual clutter,” says Steeves. “I encourage people to edit their belongings and their collections because sometimes it can be distilled down to just one really great item or a collection of three great items.”

Carla Bond-Fisher, founder and creative director of Kelowna-based Sticks + Stones Design Group , says the instinct is often to display everything at once because it all has meaning.

“That’s where spaces can start to feel heavy. If you don’t curate intentionally, the space can feel accidental rather than thoughtful,” she says, noting scale matters.

“If everything is small, the room feels busy. Balancing a large heirloom piece with negative space and a few intentional accents makes the space feel refined,” adds Bond-Fisher.

“Edit first. Choose the pieces that resonate most and give them room to breathe. Negative space is just as important as what you place in a room. It allows the eye to rest and gives meaningful pieces the attention they deserve,” she says.

Bond-Fisher also loves the impact of juxtaposition.

“A contemporary sofa paired with a vintage chair. An antique vessel styled on a very clean console. A traditional chandelier above a minimal dining table. Mixing eras thoughtfully creates depth and prevents a space from feeling overly traditional or like it came straight from a catalogue,” she says.

The foundational decor in a space is all-important, says Bond-Fisher noting if larger elements are clean and timeless, it creates a calm canvas.

“From there, layer in one or two meaningful pieces. Perhaps an antique sideboard or a significant artwork. Then support those pieces with smaller accents that don’t compete,” she says.

Steeves often encounters people who have inherited furniture and are grappling with how to present it in their space.

“Keeping a whole set of dining furniture — table, often rickety chairs and a sideboard — may not be the best way to honour a memory,” she says. “If you keep the whole set it can look like a museum or an old house from another era. Again, it’s about distilling it down to what’s most important,” she says, adding in most cases keeping the table makes most sense. Pairing a heritage table with contemporary chairs combines old with new and brings the whole space up to date .

“It’s all about keeping the one thing that’s the best of the lot to evoke that memory or remind yourself of where it came from and not be too literal about it. If grandma left me her dining set, she didn’t necessarily mean that I was going to have to take this into every home that I ever live in for the rest of my life,” says Steeves.

Bond Fisher says one of the biggest mistakes people make is treating every surface like a museum shelf.

“When every horizontal space is filled, nothing feels special. The eye needs negative space. Personal pieces deserve breathing room. They should feel intentional, not accidental. Keep what tells your story now,” she says.

Steeves says displaying personal items in a secondary space is also an option.

These may include family photos, collections and souvenirs bought on vacation.

“People can amass collections over time that often don’t form a cohesive grouping — or buy a souvenir like a ceramic pot on a European vacation. It can be difficult because these things may have a totally different esthetic or character to the rest of your home,” she says.

In these cases she encourages people to move these possessions into more personal spaces like hallways to bedrooms or gather them on a tray in a space outside the living room and dining room.

Steeves says there are so many decorative items in homes that are haphazard or unconsidered.

“We could have things that were a gift from a relative that you never resonated with but feel obligated to [display]. It’s really important to look at your space with a fresh eye now and then and think: what can I remove from here? What isn’t serving me or representing me anymore? What maybe drains my energy,” she says.

Sometimes people keep expensive decorative items although they regret the purchase.

“Because of your investment you feel like you have to hang on to it. But it’s really the opposite of what you should do. Anything that has guilt around it has no place in your home,” she says.

Steeves suggests taking a photo of a cluttered space is helpful.

“It disembodies it and you see it in a new way. Stand back, take a wide photo and look at it later with a critical eye,” she says.

She also cautions against the picture-perfect homes seen on social media sites.

“I just find there’s such a proliferation of AI generated perfect spaces that have no personality. Don’t strive to replicate these soulless, boring, impersonal spaces that you see online. What makes a space unique is incorporating your own quirks and items and things that represent you,” she says.

Over the years Steeves has incorporated many heritage items into homes such as pianos, used colours sparked by vacation memories as the colour palette for a complete design or integrated hobbies such as quilting or photography as meaningful art throughout the home.

One unusual injection of personality was inspired by a couple who had a boat and loved fishing.

“In the powder room in their home I suggested that we choose this outlandish fish wallpaper as a tongue in cheek reference to something that they really enjoy. At first, they were a little hesitant because it is a little over the top, but ultimately, they love it and they say everybody who comes into the house uses the powder room at some point and talks about the wallpaper. It’s a real conversation starter,” she says.

“Don’t be afraid to inject your personality. You should do what really works for your home, your space, your personality and family,” says Steeves.

Bond-Fisher believes we’re entering an era of slower, more thoughtful design. “People are craving homes that feel like them. Less algorithm, more authenticity.”

Related

• How designers are embracing historic design features in contemporary homes
• How designers translate travel into timeless interiors